Welcome to Cassandra Mendoza, MA, our new Curriculum & Training Specialist!
We recently caught up with Cassandra Mendoza, one of our newest TXICFW team members, to learn a bit more about her! Cassandra is the new Curriculum & Training Specialist, and is currently developing the “The TX Social Work Child Welfare Academy,” the capacity building arm of the Texas Permanency Outcomes Project (TXPOP). We are so excited to have her on the team!
Hi Cassandra! Tell us a little bit about what you were doing before joining the TXICFW team.
After college and before entering my social work program, I worked at an after-school program in the southside of Chicago. I provided academic tutoring and educational programming for students K through 12. This experience introduced me to the barriers faced by black and under-funded communities in urban settings, the importance of listening to parents/caregivers, and the power of community.
What excites you or interests you most about the work you do?
I’m looking forward to building relationships with parents/caregivers by providing the space to hear them and validate their experiences. Parenting is hard and as a society we do a really bad job of supporting parents, especially those that are marginalized. I feel very fortunate when families entrust me with their experiences.
What is something you hope to achieve in your career?
I feel like I’m still figuring this one out, to be honest. But ultimately, I want to help others build systems of safety that push us from and further form systems of oppression.
What are some of your personal hobbies?
I like listening to pop culture podcasts, consuming diaspora poetry, and dabbling with astrology.
To learn more about Cassandra, visit her staff profile.