When Emily began her Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the University of Pittsburgh, she knew she wanted an internship that would help her connect classroom learning with real-world community impact. What she found at SHIM exceeded her expectations, offering meaningful relationships, hands-on experiences, and a deeper understanding of what it means to support a community.
A Path Inspired by Helping Others
Emily’s journey to social work has been anything but traditional. Before pursuing her MSW, she worked in advertising, including time at Twitter while living in New York City. After becoming a mother and navigating the challenges of raising two children, her career took an unexpected turn.
When her son struggled with sleep as an infant, Emily connected with a sleep consulting company that recognized her strengths and invited her to complete specialized training to join their team. Today, she works part-time as a pediatric and adult sleep consultant, helping families and individuals address behavioral sleep challenges.
Through that work, she began noticing that sleep problems were often symptoms of larger life struggles.
“Working with adults and teens, I realized there were so many other things affecting their sleep,” Emily said. “People were dealing with stress, financial challenges, family concerns, and other barriers. I wanted the skills to help them beyond sleep.”
That realization led her to social work, where she was drawn to the profession’s ability to create change at the individual, community, and state level.
Choosing SHIM
After moving to the South Hills of Pittsburgh during the pandemic, Emily became familiar with SHIM through the community.
“I would see the SHIM signs while driving by,” she recalled. “When it came time to choose an internship, I wanted to be connected to the community where my kids are growing up.”
While her MSW program could have placed her at a variety of organizations, SHIM stood out because of its broad impact.
“What SHIM provides is really unique,” Emily said. “There are so many different avenues and programs. You’re helping people of all ages, backgrounds, and circumstances. I wanted to learn as much as possible and make the most of my internship experience.”
Learning Through Every Program
Emily embraced that goal wholeheartedly. Over the course of her internship, she immersed herself in nearly every aspect of SHIM’s work. She assisted with basic needs services, supported walk-in clients, observed mobility mentoring sessions, volunteered at food pantries and the clothing closet, participated in youth programming, contributed to nurturing parenting classes, and helped at SHIM’s annual event.
The Power of Human Connection
While Emily appreciated the breadth of experiences, the moments that impacted her most were one-on-one interactions.
Her work with a senior CheckMates client, conversations with pantry visitors, and support for walk-in clients all reinforced the importance of simply being present.
“Getting to talk with people and hear their stories had the biggest impact,” she said.
One memory that stands out involved a food pantry client whose husband had passed away only a week earlier.
“She unexpectedly found herself needing food support,” Emily recalled. “Being able to tell her that we’re here for her during a difficult time was meaningful.”
Another powerful experience came while assisting an immigrant family during a period of heightened uncertainty surrounding immigration policies.
A woman arrived seeking help completing passport applications for her family.
“It felt like she was coming to me with her life in her hands,” Emily said. “There was a real sense of responsibility. Let’s figure this out together. That’s the kind of daily impact SHIM has—when people are scared about their future, SHIM is there to help them create a plan.”
Understanding Community in New Ways
Throughout her internship, Emily developed a deeper appreciation for the communities SHIM serves. She was particularly inspired by the strength and resilience of immigrant families and the sense of mutual support she witnessed among community members.
“They’re willing to help each other and share where they need help,” she said.
She also gained a broader understanding of the network of organizations working together to support local residents.
“There are so many support services that I didn’t even know existed,” Emily said. “It was impactful to see the partnerships SHIM has built and how connected everyone is.”
That collaboration reinforced SHIM’s mission in a very tangible way.
“‘Neighbors helping neighbors’ really sums it up,” she said. “There are as few barriers as possible. That’s what community should be.”
Shaping the Future
The internship also helped Emily refine her professional goals. While she initially envisioned a future private therapy practice focused primarily on adults and sleep-related concerns, her experiences at SHIM reignited her interest in working with children and adolescents. Seeing the impact of SHIM’s youth programs reminded her how important it is to invest in young people. At the same time, her work with older adults reinforced the importance of connection for aging populations.
“I realized both children and older adults have unique needs, and there’s a lot of work to be done there.”
As she continues her MSW program and moves toward advanced fieldwork and licensure, Emily remains open to where those experiences may lead.
For future SHIM interns, Emily has one piece of advice:
“Do as much as you can. There are so many things to do, people to meet, and opportunities to learn. Raise your hand whenever you can because there’s so much to learn from everyone here.”
When asked to describe her SHIM experience in just a few words, her answer came quickly:
Impactful. Engaging. Formative.
Looking Ahead
Emily still has two years remaining in her part-time MSW program, but she is already thinking about how she can continue making a difference. And while her internship may be ending, she doesn’t see her connection with SHIM ending anytime soon.
“I’m excited to keep learning how I can impact others and how communities create impact together,” she said.
A Final Thank You
Emily credits much of her growth to the SHIM staff and mentors who welcomed her throughout the internship, particularly chief programs officer Courtney Macurak and Mobility Mentoring Manager Olivia Montana, whose guidance as fellow social workers helped shape her experience.
She also expressed admiration for the broader SHIM team and their dedication to serving the community.
“SHIM is always looking for the gaps and figuring out how to help,” she said. “If you’re looking to donate your time or your money, SHIM will make good use of it.”
For Emily, that commitment to meeting people where they are, and helping neighbors help neighbors, will remain one of the most lasting lessons of her time at SHIM.
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