Introduction
To celebrate Black History Month, we asked African American social workers to talk to us about their career.
Lenwood V. Patterson, MSW
San Bernardino Children and Family Services
and
Rainbow Bridge Community Services
Ontario, California
Mr. Patterson
Q. Mr. Patterson, where did you earn your social work degree, where are you working, and what are your areas of expertise?
I received my Master of Social Work Degree at California State University, San Bernardino School of Social Work. I work at the San Bernardino Children and Family Services and part-time at the Rainbow Bridge Community Services, which is a co-occurring disorders residential program for the LGBT community. My areas of expertise would be child welfare and substance abuse, particularly substance abuse in the LGBTQ population.
Q. Why did you choose social work as your profession?
I chose social work as my profession because of its macro and micro components. I also felt it would be the best career to use my life's experiences. These experiences included being from a broken home located in the inner city (Baltimore ,Maryland). Both of my parents were alcoholics, and for the brief period they were together, they were constantly beating, shooting, and stabbing. I was physically, sexually, emotionally, and spiritually abused. In trying to overcome these experiences I was led down a dark path of drug addiction, contracted HIV/AIDS, and at the young age of 16 attempted suicide.
I believe by obtaining my graduate's degree in spite of all the above experiences, in addition to being a survivor of HIV/AIDS for 23 plus years, with no opportunistic infections. I have been recovering from drugs and alcohol for the past 20 years, and resolving issues associated with becoming a proud African-American gay male in a successful marriage in addition to adopting a special needs five-year-old son. Social work was the natural choice career wise where I could bring all my experiences, good and bad, and know that they would not be a detriment but, in fact: an asset!
Q. If you were able to make one lasting impact on the world, what would it be and what would be your strategy for achieving it?
If I could make a lasting impact on the world, it would be to instill in the human race that no one needs to suffer at the expense of others. I know this is an ambitious goal, but looking back on my own life experiences, I believe all things are possible and achievable. The strategy I would use to achieve such a lofty goal is to take care of my own small corner of the world by expressing love, compassion, and most of all – patience! These qualities would hopefully instill in others that they, too, are worthy of what life can bestow on them. Likewise, I continue to pray and ask God to show me how to remain humble, so that others may be touched through me; which is what I hope this writing will do. I know this may not sound too clinical or be measurable as other techniques, but sometimes the best techniques can not be put into words or measurements — they just happen!
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