City & State New York has published an interview with University Settlement CEO Melissa Aase by correspondent Laurel Dumont.
The interview covers Melissa’s early motivations for becoming a social worker and becoming involved in settlement house work, the previous experiences she is drawing on as a leader as our sector navigates the challenges presented by the highly regressive new federal budget, and how organizations should meet this moment:
Now is the time for organizations to be clear-eyed about what we do best and what we might set aside for another day. We need to do what we can to resist the destruction of systems of care while also ensuring we are conserving our strength for the long haul. But we shouldn’t be hunkering down: It’s our ethical and moral imperative to be brave, too.
Leaders should do whatever we can to conserve and build up our workers’ capacity and resources and even consider stepping back from certain activities to retain more resources for basic needs.