Although Alumna Jovita Woodrich (MSW, 2007) possesses the heart of a social worker, her journey to the profession was not a direct path. She enjoyed serving others and observed similar behaviors in her parents, who were originally from Guyana in South America and consistently lent a helping hand to others during her childhood. “They grew up in a culture where everyone helped everyone else. Even if you had very little,” she described, “you give a little of yourself to someone else. You didn’t think about it separately from your existence. No one called it volunteering or even helping. It’s the heartbeat.”

She also attributes her dedication of service to her faith. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Florida, she worked briefly for her church, which had a deep commitment to empowering and serving individuals. Jovita recognizes this now as social work in its approach, but at the time, she lacked a context for the profession. It wasn’t until a friend in the MSW program at Florida State University told her about the opportunities and versatility that came with the degree that she recognized the potential there for her interests. After some research, she realized the foundation of social work “based on empowering and providing resources, leading people, and being taught by people” were the exact notions she was looking for in a career.

After being accepted into FSU’s MSW program, the world of social work opened up to her. Jovita discovered through her coursework the areas that appealed most to her and coincided with her passions. She noted that, like her interest in public relations, she felt a connection to supporting organizations and advocating for the profession. She also found herself interested in policy because of the passion of her instructors.

She recalls taking a course on policies and programs and serving as a teaching assistant for Dr. Melissa Radey and feeling as if a “lightbulb turned on in my brain.” The words of retired faculty member Jim Hinterlong also stuck with her when he described policy “like trying to hit a fly with a hammer” because it is a complicated and challenging process that requires patience and conscientiousness. Group discussions with Dr. Karen Randolph also provide internal insights as students discussed difficult and even divisive issues in ways that had them confront their own biases.

From these influences, she found the tools that prepared her for internships with the Big Bend Homeless Coalition and the Hope Community. These experiences further sparked an interest in Jovita to serve in the area of affordable housing for persons experiencing homelessness. After graduating with her MSW, Jovita spent a year in case management with Hope Community before diving headfirst into affordable housing, which eventually led her to Goodwill Industries.

During her time with Goodwill, she progressed from operations manager to director, and eventually to vice president (VP) of affordable housing. As a VP, she oversaw thirteen accessible housing facilities for persons with disabilities and the elderly in the Big Bend region, including the development of two of these facilities. The job was a stimulating and challenging position that she loved, but after seven years, she acknowledged the need to step away to avoid burnout. She began to pursue other opportunities through which she could serve her community.

As director of volunteer services for Volunteer Florida, Jovita found an opportunity to serve her community on a state level, taking her knowledge of Florida beyond her beloved Big Bend region. The role also incorporated her public relations and social work skills synergistically.

Volunteer Florida, a state service commission, initially served as an organization to support national service, including Americorps programs. The organization’s role expanded over the years to include an emergency response team and the fostering of volunteerism, which is where Jovita serves.

“We are the lead agency for volunteers and donations before, during, and after disasters,” Jovita explained. “Our emergency response team is really busy right now. It’s not just natural disasters like hurricanes. But currently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are in the emergency operations center working with Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters, or VOAD partners, working in conjunction with state and federal governmental partners.”

It’s through fostering volunteerism that Jovita shines. “I love getting to problem solve. The critical thought that goes into making connections between organizations or to a resource,” she stated. “And I enjoy helping people understand the nature of volunteerism and its value.”

Her work focuses on volunteer training, resources, and organizational support to mobilize volunteers. This includes their latest resource, Volunteer Connect, that was launched in November 2019 as the primary statewide volunteer opportunities platform. The tool allows organizations to post and manage their opportunities and for the general public to find volunteer opportunities that interest them. “It’s all about connection.”

Jovita’s contributions to her community don’t begin and end at work. They continue through the connections she makes with fellow social workers and community members. Since meeting fellow FSUCSW alumna Liz Joyner through The Village Square, a non-partisan educational forum, she has facilitated one of their local programs on race called Local Color that focuses on hometown connectedness.

“I just have all these incredible women around me who are in the helping professions,” she expounds, “There’s just something about us and how we see the world.” She credits much of her success to the influence of these women that include Liz Joyner, her mentor Donna Warlick from Goodwill Industries, and her coworker and fellow FSUCSW alumni Catherine (Cat) Keen.

Cat is the national service program director at Volunteer Florida and works directly with Jovita, who also was her nominator for this year’s 25 Women You Need to Know in Tallahassee. Cat was recognized as one of the 25 Women You Need to Know in 2017. She currently serves as the president of Club 25, a service organization comprised of 25 Women You Need to Know honorees that seek to empower women and girls through support consist of financial, time and collection projects in the community.

“I have served with Jovita Woodrich at Volunteer Florida for many years. I am inspired by how Jovita lives the values of social work, in her relationships with colleagues and community,” stated Cat. “Jovita’s lived experience, wit, and deep compassion for humanity drive conversations towards an important meeting place, a common ground. She is a gifted communicator, creator, and friend.”