Abigail Randow Amorim, MSW '03
Abigail is the Executive Director of The Brazilian Alliance in the United States. She founded the Alliance in 2003, as a result of her Masters in Social Work Community Project at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. The Brazilian Alliance (Aliança Brasileira) is a nonpartisan and nonprofit community based organization dedicated to advance and improve the wellness and quality of life of Brazilians and Brazilian-Americans living in the United States. As Executive Director, she is responsible for the financial, marketing, public relations, operation and functioning of the organization as well as the supervision of staff and interns.
Other Current and Past Leadership Positions:
Community Liaison, Parkville Business Association Responsible for the marketing, public relations, and advocacy of the association.
Interim Executive Director, CT Coalition for Mutual Assistant Association Responsible for grants reports and services for refugees and immigrants
Founder of the Cultural Diversity Society - a student organization whose goal was to break down barriers and stereotypes among different ethnic groups.
Chairperson of the Social Committee, Hispanic American Cultural Council
What inspired you to become a social worker?
What inspired me to become a social worker was my parents’ work as community leaders when growing up in Brazil! They were members of the Legion of Good Will and as part of their volunteer work there, they organized toy and food drives which we would bring to children’s orphanages, jails, day cares and hospices. They wanted to show us that other people were not as fortunate as we were and that giving back to the community was part of our obligation as citizens. I usually borrow JFK’s quote but change it to “Ask not what your community can do for you…ask what you can do for your community!”
How has your education at the UConn SSW prepared you for your career? Was there one person or learning experience that had an impact on you?
My extra curriculum activities at the school have helped me to get to know the school’s professors and staff in a way that they have inspired me to push the limit and do better and better. Their commitment to social justice brought me back to my own family values. Their respectful attitude, professionalism and understanding towards other colleagues were also inspiring. I must say that part of that experience I credit to my internship at the Center for International Social Work Studies and director Lynne Healy. Dr. Healy’s dedication to the advancing of the Social Work profession at local and international levels, her generosity, compassion and charisma made me want to become like her…a proud, yet humble, but most importantly, a genuine person and leader!
What has been your most rewarding accomplishment as a leader? As an immigrant and a leader, one of my accomplishments is having people of all ages come up to me and tell me that I am an inspiration or a role model to them. To witness young adults in the Brazilian community willing to pursue higher education, to witness older adults getting inspired to do better by learning ESL, and seeing them progress to better jobs, helps me feel a great sense of accomplishment. However, my ultimate and most rewarding accomplishment as a leader is helping develop new leaders and knowing that true leaders will always have followers to continue their work.
http://ssw.uconn.edu/index.php?path=ssw/alumni_leaders/amorim.html
