While many recent graduates spend their first summer celebrating the completion of their degrees, Danielle Redhead is investing hers in Houston's next generation.
Just weeks after earning her Master of Social Work from the University of Houston
Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW), Danielle continues to serve as a Project-Based
Learning Associate Intern with CASE for Kids at the Harris County Department of Education. Through an extended practicum, she
is helping prepare high school students for life beyond the classroom by supporting
workforce readiness, career exploration, and youth development programming.
By the end of the summer, Danielle will have completed nearly 800 practicum hours—an experience that reflects both her commitment to social work and her passion for creating opportunities that extend beyond individual practice.
From the beginning of her trajectory, Danielle knew macro social work was the right fit. While she values the importance of micro practice, she has always been drawn to community engagement, systems-level thinking, and creating change that reaches entire populations.
She approached her year at GCSW with one goal in mind.
"I wanted to be a sponge during my year at the GCSW," Danielle said. "I wanted to take advantage of every opportunity available."
That mindset shaped her graduate experience. She stepped into leadership roles as a cohort communicator, studied abroad in Taiwan, attended professional conferences, and embraced opportunities that challenged her to grow personally and professionally. Along the way, she found a network of faculty and staff who encouraged her to pursue new experiences and expand her perspective.
Those experiences laid the foundation for her practicum with CASE for Kids, where classroom learning transforms into community impact.
Throughout the summer, Danielle has worked alongside staff supporting the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, a federally funded initiative that provides afterschool and summer learning opportunities across Harris County. At the Texas ACE Chávez High School summer site, students participate in an Earn and Learn program that combines career exploration, workforce readiness, and paid work experience.
Over six weeks, students explored career pathways, completed mock interviews, developed time management and communication skills, practiced mindfulness, and reflected on their personal strengths and career goals. Whether a student dreamed of becoming a welder, a pilot, a storm chaser, or pursuing college, the focus remained the same: helping each young person identify a pathway that aligned with their interests and preparing them to pursue it with confidence.
The experience also highlighted an important lesson about community. Although many students lived only minutes from the community center where the program was held, several had never visited it before. For Danielle, it was a reminder that access to opportunities isn't simply about proximity—it's also about awareness, relationships, and intentional outreach.
Much of Danielle's work has been guided by one of social work's foundational principles: the strengths perspective. Rather than focusing on deficits, she encourages students to recognize their abilities, celebrate one another's successes, and view challenges as opportunities for growth.
That philosophy extended well beyond the curriculum.
Believing that recognition can leave a lasting impression, Danielle found small but meaningful ways to celebrate students throughout the summer. She distributed CASE for Kids Career Youth Expo shirts, tote bags, and mindfulness journals; surprised the group with donuts on their final day; and created personalized certificates to recognize each student's accomplishments. These moments weren't required by the program, but they reflected her belief that every young person deserves to feel seen, valued, and encouraged.
"Recognition matters," Danielle said. "Sometimes it's the little things that remind students someone believes in them."
Working directly with students also reaffirmed what she hopes her future career will look like. While Danielle is passionate about program development and systems change, the summer reminded her that meaningful relationships remain at the heart of effective macro social work.
Connecting with students, watching their confidence grow, and witnessing their willingness to support one another reinforced her desire to pursue a career that balances strategic leadership and direct community engagement.
Looking ahead, Danielle hopes to continue advocating for equitable educational opportunities, particularly for students from under-resourced communities, first-generation college students, and historically underserved populations. Whether through program development, organizational leadership, or policy advocacy, she is determined to create systems that remove barriers and expand opportunities for young people.
Graduating from GCSW may mark the end of one chapter, but Danielle views it as the beginning of another.
"I'll always be a student," she said. "There will always be something new to learn and someone I can learn from."
As she begins her career, Danielle carries with her not only the knowledge gained in the classroom but also the lessons learned from mentors, colleagues, and the students she has served. She credits the faculty and staff at GCSW, along with her supervisors and colleagues at CASE for Kids, for creating an environment where she could challenge herself, grow as a leader, and discover the kind of social worker she hopes to become.
Reflecting on the past year, Danielle says the greatest rewards came from embracing uncertainty. Leaving a full-time job to return to graduate school required faith, but it also opened doors she never imagined.
Her advice for future students is simple:
"Take the risk. You don't know what will happen until you bet on yourself. For me, it led to opportunities beyond my wildest dreams."