Joanna Marroquin, The Social Work Librarian

I'm a Social Worker, working in a Library. It's Community Social Work at it's best while being a Public Servant. I've been in the field for over 12 years starting with Foster-Kinship Adoptive families, moving toward early intervention of 0-3 year olds, then moving toward being a coordinator & then supervisor for Kinship families throughout Arizona. I did a stint in Public Health working at a Community Health Center having oversight of a national campaign of health insurance enrollment (Medicare, Medicaid & ACA) before moving onto the Phoenix Public Library (PPL). With PPL I've been able to work in underserved communities, support the needs of literacy with youth, teens and worked in empowering adults in supporting to start and grow their dreams of owning their own small business or nonprofit organization. Supporting access to information that can truly be life changing for folks. People don't realize that what libraries have to offer is more than just books these days. I've also volunteered with community organizing and grassroots campaign groups, immigrants and unaccompanied minors, and church community project days. What it comes down to is that people and my community are important to me. If we help people to do better, they in turn give back to our communities and then it's better for us all. Cause & effect.