Nathan Parsons

Orientation, and modules completed.

Today I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Blazer Kitchen. This was a fun experience, and I was able to meet some new people involved with the social work profession. Some of my duties today included stocking the shelves with packs of mashed potatoes, and Chef Boyardee cans. One of the challenging tasks today was unloading the truck. The truck was full of diapers of all sizes, and we used teamwork to unload the truck. Today, the key take away was about learning the different kind of items the Blazer Kitchen supplies the community with. For example, just today I noticed baby care products, produce, beans, noodles, lots of rice, and Halal meat. There are definitely much more items to explore, and work to be done so I look forward to going back soon.

Attend Birmingham City Council meeting.

Attended virtual monthly community meeting with hosted by One Roof.

To earn 1 hour service learning time I posted Youth Towers flyers outside of Judge Fortune’s courtroom on the bulletin board.

I was able to attach Birmingham City Council meeting. What I found interesting about this session was Mayor Woodfin addressed the Crime Commission Report that was recently published. As a social worker, advocacy for nonviolence aligns with our core values.

Handed out Youth Towers pamphlets at the 2025 Alabama Department of Mental Health Peer Conference.

Attending my first city council meeting was an inspiring experience, especially as a social work student. What I liked most was seeing UAB social workers being acknowledged by the city of Birmingham for their dedication and impact. Mayor Woodfin officially declared March as Social Worker Month, recognizing the vital role social workers play in our community. A significant moment was when UAB social workers were commended for their efforts in assisting Bankhead Tower residents. Elizabeth Caine, MSHA, MBA, associate vice president and administrator for UAB’s Center for Psychiatric Medicine, spoke on behalf of UAB Medicine. She praised the social workers who had stepped in to support residents in need and highlighted this year’s theme, “compassion plus action.” The most challenging part of the experience was trying to get a good audio recording, which made it difficult to fully capture all the details of the discussion.

Had the opportunity to sit in for an initial intake assessment with a client at Youth Towers.

Completed service hours at Youth Towers Linden Dr. location.