WeSocialWork

We (Laurel & Melanie) met as social work colleagues who shared a fascination with technology — how it could help or harm the work we do. What began as a professional collaboration grew into a close friendship, shaped by honest conversations, shared struggles, and the kind of creative problem-solving that happens when you find someone who truly understands.

Over time, we found ourselves drawn to online communities where social workers could show up as themselves, ask real questions, and figure things out together. Those spaces became some of the most sustaining parts of our work, and we’ve come to value them deeply.

We started WeSocialWork because we want more people to experience what we’ve found: connection, support, and the freedom to grow without burning out. We’re doing this because we love working together, we believe in what we’re building, and we think social workers deserve spaces that make the work feel more sustainable and alive.

At the end of the day, the best work happens when we’re not doing it alone.

I’ve been a social worker since 1998, and my career has been anything but linear. I’ve worked in community mental health and healthcare, taught in classrooms and online, directed programs, launched new ventures, and spent years exploring how technology can actually support, rather than undermine, social work practice.

Along the way, I’ve taken risks, made mistakes, and learned that the most meaningful paths are rarely the straightest ones.

Today, I’m a professor, licensed clinical social worker, and accredited coach. I spend my time teaching, researching, writing, and collaborating with social workers and educators navigating burnout, career transitions, ethical dilemmas, and the constant pressure to do more with limited resources.

I’m drawn to questions without easy answers:
How do we stay grounded when the work feels overwhelming?
How do we use technology ethically and effectively?
How do we build careers that feel meaningful without sacrificing our well-being?

My work — through research, coaching, and community building — is about creating space for people to discover their own answers.

I believe creativity is a form of problem-solving, clarity is an act of care, compassion matters for ourselves and each other, and connection is the foundation of sustainable change. I’m committed to transparency, sharing what I’ve learned (including what hasn’t worked), and helping people align their work with their values.

Melanie and I started WeSocialWork as a way to give back — by sharing tools, strategies, and honest conversations with people doing hard, necessary work. This is where I get to practice what I value: growing without burning out, leading with integrity, and building something that matters.

When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me hiking, reading too many books at once, or exploring my next creative project. I also write at www.laureliversonhitchcock.org and would love to connect there.

My career has been shaped by a persistent question: how do I do meaningful work without losing myself in the process?

I care deeply about social work, but I’ve also experienced the challenges many in the field know well — overwhelming bureaucracy, inadequate pay, systems that fall short, and being pulled away from the parts of the work that feel most meaningful.

My background includes work in child welfare, psychiatric hospitals, the Veterans Administration’s Housing First program, and the tech industry, where I worked on Meta’s Equity team as a user experience researcher focused on making technology more fair.

I spent 12 years as a tenure-track professor and researcher, teaching social work students to bridge evidence, ethics, and empathy in practice. I valued that work deeply, but ultimately realized that working full-time in a university environment constrained my creativity. During that time, I published over thirty peer-reviewed articles, presented more than a hundred conference sessions, and delivered keynotes.

The work I’m most drawn to now is more focused: helping organizations adopt both the spirit and practice of motivational interviewing, and supporting social workers who are exploring entrepreneurial, creative, and innovative career paths.

Today, I work as a trainer and consultant, focusing on organizational culture, implementation science, technology, and what it actually takes to make systems more human-centered. I’m interested in both the practical and the philosophical:
How do we build workplaces that don’t drain people?
How do we implement change that lasts?
How do we honor complexity without making the work harder than it needs to be?

I believe in experimentation, honest reflection, and sharing what I’ve learned — including what didn’t work. WeSocialWork is a place where Laurel and I get to model what we believe: that it’s possible to grow, lead, and contribute without burning out.

When I’m not working, I’m usually reading, experimenting with a new idea, or finding ways to recharge. I’m always learning, always iterating, and always interested in connecting with people who care about doing this work well.