By Brynne Irish

The College of Professional Programs is excited to recognize Hawa Bangoura for February’s Student Spotlight. Hawa is an undergraduate student in the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program.

Hawa will soon graduate from EWU with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work and a minor in Psychology. She is currently interning with the nonprofit organization, Communities in Schools.

As Hawa grew up on the other side of the state in Federal Way, WA, she thought EWU was the perfect distance away from her family and hometown, not too far but still far enough for her to start her new journey. EWU was a top pick for Hawa, one because she was interested in seeing a different side of the state, but most importantly, she found that EWU had a good Social Work program which solidified her decision to attend EWU.

The Social Work program caught Hawa’s attention the most, and she decided to pursue this academic area of study because she felt that the social work field is very important but there are not enough social workers to do the work required. Hawa knew that she wanted to pursue a career where she would be helping others, and she believes that the real-world system is in need of more social workers. She expressed that “sometimes when people think of social workers, they may often think about the more negative side to it, such as taking children away from their home or how there is this narrative that social workers don’t get paid enough.” Hawa believes that this is what a lot of people can see or hear, and it steers them away from the social work field. She also mentioned that social workers can be present and helpful in many different settings, such as schools, hospitals, juvenile centers, and much more. However, “there just seems to be a lack of social workers when we need them and their support,” which is another valuable factor of why she is very passionate in contributing to improving the system.

Through her experience in EWU’s Social Work program, Hawa expressed how every faculty member and mentor in the program has been very helpful and has made it clear to the students that they have their best interest at heart, which Hawa found to be very reassuring.

Hawa is currently an intern with Communities in Schools, which is a nonprofit organization. For her internship, Hawa works at Sunset Elementary School in Airway Heights alongside the Student Support Coordinator there. She shared that in her role, she has learned how to do case management and how to help students who may be dealing with any behavioral issues. Additionally, Hawa and the Student Support Coordinator work with a caseload of kids with a big focus on social and emotional learning. One thing that had surprised Hawa during her time in the social work program was that when dealing with clients, “we aren’t necessarily telling them how to solve their problems, we actually help them solve their own problems instead of just doing it for them.”

One challenge Hawa expressed that she faced was adapting to the college lifestyle and learning to become more independent.

I managed to overcome this challenge because I have such an amazing good support system through my program, family, and friends.

While one of her greatest achievements is making it this far into college because “at the beginning, I was unsure of how far I would get, but I am so grateful and proud of what I have accomplished and how much I have grown through my college experience.”

If I had to give one piece of advice to others who may be interested in the social work program, I would say make sure you plan out how to manage your time as much as you can, while also making sure you take care of yourself by prioritizing your own self care.

Hawa also expressed that she would encourage other students to join any club that interests them because through EWU’s clubs you can build connections that can further help you when you’re done with college.

Lastly, Hawa shared that she plans to get her Master of Social Work (MSW) after finishing her bachelors degree. Five years from now she sees herself having her Master’s degree in Social Work and potentially leaving the state or remaining local.

The College of Professional Programs is honored to feature Hawa for all of her hard work, her passion for social work, and helping others!

by Mya Brossoit

The College of Professional Programs is proud to recognize EWU School of Social Work Alumna, Bethiah Streeter.

Bethiah graduated from Eastern Washington University with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree in June of 2018. Hired by Spokane Public Library (SPL) in May 2022, she serves as the Social Services Manager and is the first ever Social Worker to work at SPL. In this role, Bethiah leads the SPL Welcome Team that gives EWU Social Work students the opportunity to intern and gain hands-on experience providing support to community members and patrons in locating resources like housing, healthcare, employment, and mental health.

Streeter praises the opportunities and resources Eastern provided during her attendance at the university. This useful support improved her education and readied her to enter the workforce.

The EWU Master of Social Work program “….provided some great educational materials and opportunities to get first-hand experience via practicum internships.” – Bethiah Streeter

While Bethiah remembers her time at Eastern fondly, she endured several hardships in pursuit of her degree. As a single mom, Streeter balanced demands of schoolwork with raising her family. From battling homelessness and unemployment, to pursuing academics in a non-traditional fashion, Bethiah has overcome many real-world hardships, refusing to settle for anything less than reaching her full potential.

As a homeschooled kid it was such an interesting experience in my adult life to go to college and I am so very thankful to have had the opportunity! – Bethiah Streeter

She now returns the gift of education and support to current students chasing their dreams. The Welcome Team at Spokane Public Library now supports Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) interns Muriel Burns, Shiphrah Thomas and Nicki Haney. This internship runs through the school year from September to June offering students the unique opportunity of shaping social work in their community library system. Throughout her experience, as both student and professional, Bethiah places great value on the opportunities, resources, and real-world experience Eastern builds into the Master of Social Work program.

Bethiah recognizes Jamie Wiggins and the late Dr. Lu Brown as pivotal mentors in her journey through college. She tells of the wonderful faculty at Eastern and their deep authenticity.

I love how real so many of the teachers are and how much pride they hold in their positions and interactions with students. – Bethiah Streeter

Reflecting on her success, her collegiate journey, and her life experiences, Bethiah encourages other students to “trust the process and do everything with a passion.” She suggests never taking new college relationships for granted, always striving for success while enjoying time as a student.

Grades matter but have fun learning through the process! -Bethiah Streeter

The EWU College of Professional Programs and the School of Social Work thank Bethiah Streeter for sharing her inspiring story, her role at Spokane Public Library, and her dedication to helping future Social Work professionals along their path to success.

Learn more about the Master of Social Work (MSW) program in the School of Social Work at EWU.

Learn more about the Spokane Public Library Welcome Team.

• Additional Information: The SPL Welcome Team actively provides supervised patron support services. EWU School of Social Work interns involved with the program gain valuable experience as they work in various Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Social Work settings during program development. The program, based at the Central Library in downtown Spokane, conducts supervised intern support services in all seven SPL locations, supporting population needs across the metro area.

Spokane Public Library forming Social Work Welcome Team 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | February 22, 2022

For more information, contact:  Amanda Donovan, Director of Marketing & Communications, 509-444-5319 

When the Central Library reopens after renovation later this year, it will include a recording studio, a business lab, the Inland Northwest Special Collections, a radio station, a café, a River Rumpus children’s playspace, and several event spaces packed with programming, including a social stair and the 300-person capacity nxʷyxʷyetkʷ Hall. It will also be managed by a Social Worker leading a team of social work interns from Eastern Washington University, along with traditional library staff.

Spokane Public Library is joining a growing number of libraries nationwide—from Denver to Indianapolis—in adding a Master’s in Social Work to the staff.

“We’ve seen an increasing need for additional support for some of our customers that is outside the expertise of traditional library staff,” said Andrew Chanse, Executive Director, Spokane Public Library. “By hiring a social worker at Central, we will be able to better serve the unique needs of some of our customers who may be experiencing life challenges.”

The Library is building a Welcome Team to address the social needs of our customers without creating an additional burden for front-line staff. Modeled after the highly successful CARES Team at the Spokane Fire Department, the Welcome Team will put interns from Eastern Washington University’s social work program into Spokane Public Library to help connect individuals with the resources they need. A newly created position with a Master’s degree in Social Work will supervise the internship hours.

“By making this staffing change, we can synergize with EWU and make a real difference in our community and ensure that the Central Library is a welcoming place for all,” said Paul Chapin, Customer Experience Manager at Spokane Public Library who developed the program and partnership. “By adding a social worker to our team, we will be able to better serve the unique needs of all our customers. The Welcome Team will not only help people who are experiencing homelessness but will also serve any population that may be facing life challenges.”

“Eastern Washington University’s mission is to expand opportunities for personal transformation,” said Dr. Jonathan Anderson, Eastern Washington University Provost. “This partnership highlights an important investment by Spokane Public Libraries and Eastern Washington University that positively impacts our downtown community.”

“The need is there, we can’t ignore it, so we can adapt to meet the needs of all customers as well as continue to offer traditional library services,” said Lara Hemingway, Chair of Spokane Public Library Board of Trustees.

Visit the Spokane Public Library website.