UH Graduate College of Social Work

Advocacy Director and possibility model, Joelle Espeut, started at the The Normal Anomaly Inc. in 2021. She aspired to live up to the organization’s tagline – Eliminating barriers, creating new norms. Through her role, she championed efforts to build direct services, capacity building, research, technical assistance, and advocacy programs.

Among those efforts is the TAC-SAGES, a research partnership with the SUSTAIN Wellbeing COMPASS® Coordinating Center, nested within the Graduate College of Social Work. Led by Joelle and a collective of Black Trans Women, Phase 1 of TAC-SAGES is a greater Houston-based qualitative study focused on the joy, experiences, and dreams of other Black Trans Women.

“My ‘Why’ and my purpose continues to be visibility and representation for Black Trans Women. The decisions I make always center around a 12-year-old Joelle that lived in the Midwest, who didn’t see herself or have any hope for the future. Because I know that there are countless Joelles that exist, and I want to continue to be a model for them.”

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT - The Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW) is offering SUMMER Elective Options open to all UH Masters level students during SESSION 4. To enroll, please contact: [email protected] with your name, major and course you are interested in taking. Don’t wait, spots are limited and filling up fast!

SOCW 7339 Grant Writing | Section 14039
Online Asynchronous Session 4

In Texas, Juneteenth holds a special meaning. In the Lone Star State, especially in the Houston-Galveston area, June 19th is seen as a day that marked the first small step towards emancipation for enslaved African-Americans.

In the 160 years since the release of those 250,000 Black people from slavery, the resulting freedom continues to inspire and uplift the people of the present. Many steps have been taken to give Black people agency and liberty — but many steps still need to be taken, particularly in providing resources for well-being.

In the field of social work, only 39% of Black and African-Americans who reported mental health concerns received professional care, compared to 52% of non-Hispanic whites. The disparity is emblematic of the extreme shortage of Black social workers. Only a fifth of all social workers are Black, creating a shortage for patients who wish to culturally relate with a trusted practitioner. While June 19 serves as an important day of celebration, it also reminds us that meaningful work remains to address these inequities and strengthen representation within the profession.

This Juneteenth, may we not only recognize the past, but also recognize the state of the present, and the shape of the future— one where all communities can easily access both freedom and resources.

Join the Graduate College of Social Work as we honor the legacy of Dr. Amber Mollhagen and the newly established Amber Mollhagen Graduate Student Scholarship to Advance Social Work Practice.

Your donations will directly support GCSW students. Learn more about this scholarship here: https://giving.uh.edu/gcsw/mollhagen

Tecolotl is a Houston-based collective founded by im/migrant, q***r, trans, and people of color. The organization intersects language justice, community planning, popular education, and collective action. For co-founder José Sánchez, the work is personal. His own background as the interpreter for his immigrant parents inspired his commitment to language justice and community care.

Today, the organization invites Houston community members to join their cause: supporting people across multiple languages and cultures to participate fully, build power, and transform their communities.

“For us, language justice is one way we practice that belief. It is how we build spaces where people can understand, be understood, share their stories, ask questions, make choices, and take action together. Ultimately, we hope this collaboration helps build a Houston where language is not a barrier to care, where LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities feel affirmed, and where people have the tools and support they need to thrive.”

Monica Roberts is fondly remembered — both in Houston and across the country — as a pioneer for the transgender community she proudly represented. As a journalist and activist, Monica wrote about the living experience of trans women, especially among fellow women of color. She is celebrated for her extensive coverage on transgender homicide victims, which eventually brought the topic into national attention.

She was known for being an inspirational speaker whose words touched the lives of her supporters. Her blog, TransGriot, remains a testament to her enduring impact on the LGBTQ+ community in her native Houston and across the country.

We are pleased to share that the Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW) at the University of Houston is hiring an Assistant Dean for Student Affairs to begin Fall 2026. Now is an exciting time to join the GCSW and the vibrant city of Houston, Texas. Please share the link below with your networks!

Find additional information regarding the positions and opportunities here: https://careers.uh.edu/jobs/assistant-dean-for-student-affairs-graduate-college-of-social-work-houston-texas-united-states

FLAS, Inc. prioritizes increasing and enhancing health and wellness resources for the Latin@ community. Project Director Kimmy Palacios says that the most challenging and rewarding aspect of her work is gaining trust from the people they serve.

That starts with providing quality health education, but that’s only square one. Gaining trust also requires raising the self-esteem of the women in the community, breaking down barriers in transportation and language, and transforming overall attitudes towards health.

Throughout June, we invite our followers to learn and engage with organizations who support to LGBTQIA+ Houstonians from all walks of life.

Are there any groups or individuals who provide service to the local LGBTQIA+ community? Tag them in the comments!

✨️ A Year in Reflection: Leadership, Growth, and Charting Our Path to Excellence

A message from University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work Dean Yarneccia D. Dyson as she reflects on her first 365 days! https://www.uh.edu/socialwork/about/about-our-dean/a-year-in-reflection/