For Karla Rodriguez, the journey looked different but led to the same place. After years of working in the hospitality industry, COVID-19 prompted her to pivot her career path toward social work — motivated by personal loss, resilience, and a desire to help others navigate hardship with dignity.

Together, the two interns became part of United Community’s Family Achievement Program (FAP), where they helped launch the Job Confidence Series, a workshop initiative designed to help clients build confidence, resilience, and practical skills during the job search process.

Meeting People Where They Are

United Community’s mission centers on helping families and individuals achieve self-sufficiency while removing barriers that often stand in the way of opportunity. For Hadley and Karla, that mission became deeply personal through their daily interactions with clients.

Hadley, originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, came to the internship while completing her Bachelor of Social Work degree at Appalachian State University. With a background in visual communications and design from the Savannah College of Art and Design, she brought a unique perspective to client support — one focused on accessibility, clarity, and problem-solving.

“One of the biggest takeaways for me is how much it matters to meet people where they are,” Hadley said. “Removing barriers to access — whether that’s language, transportation, or just knowing where to look for help — is just as much a part of social work as direct client care.”

That philosophy showed up immediately in her work. One of her first clients needed ESL classes but faced long waitlists and transportation challenges. After weeks of persistence, Hadley connected the client to a newly launched virtual ESL program, complete with a laptop for online learning.

“It was the first time working with a client and feeling capable of making a difference for them,” she said.

She also developed tools aimed at making services more accessible, including a bilingual psychosocial assessment and an online community resource hub that simplifies the process of finding local support services.

Karla’s path to United Community was shaped by her own life experiences and a career built on adaptability. Growing up in a Puerto Rican family in Tampa, Florida, she spent years in fast-paced hospitality environments before pursuing her Master of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University.

“In hospitality, I learned how to stay steady under pressure and focus on solutions,” Karla explained. “In social work, I’ve learned how to bring that same resilience into client-centered work while being more intentional about communication and reflection.”

Throughout her internship, Karla conducted client intakes, connected families to resources, helped address food insecurity, and participated in community outreach efforts. But like Hadley, she quickly noticed a recurring challenge many clients faced: discouragement during the job search process.

Turning Observation Into Action

The idea for the Job Confidence Series emerged after FAP Director, Gina Macanlalay, challenged interns to create a workshop based on trends they observed among clients.

Karla noticed that many job seekers were applying for positions but rarely following up. Through conversations with clients, she realized the issue often stemmed from burnout, uncertainty, and a lack of confidence rather than lack of effort.

“Many clients believed employers should contact them first,” Karla said. “There was uncertainty around expectations, and a lot of discouragement after repeated rejections.”

Together, Hadley and Karla transformed those observations into a workshop series designed to empower clients with both practical skills and emotional encouragement.

The Job Confidence Series covered topics like communication skills, interview preparation, body language, professional follow-up, handling rejection, and rebuilding confidence after setbacks. The workshops also introduced clients to United Community resources, including access to computers, mock interviews, case management support, and community centers.

“It’s been really meaningful to be part of something that helps people feel more capable and empowered as they take their next steps,” Hadley said.

What made the workshops especially impactful was the interns’ ability to combine technical guidance with empathy and lived understanding. Rather than simply teaching job search etiquette, they focused on helping clients rebuild confidence in themselves.

Growing Alongside the Community

For both interns, the experience at United Community became transformative in unexpected ways.

Hadley says the internship gave her a realistic understanding of what social work looks like beyond the classroom while reinforcing the importance of self-awareness and self-care in ethical practice.

Karla found herself blending lessons from hospitality with the collaborative, reflective nature of social work.

“One of the most important lessons I’ll carry forward is the value of persistence and curiosity,” she said. “Asking questions, learning from experienced professionals, and staying open are all essential to truly meeting client needs.”

Both interns describe their time at United Community not just as professional training, but as an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a larger mission.

Whether helping a client access education, building tools to simplify services, or encouraging someone not to give up on their job search, their work reflected United Community’s broader commitment to dignity, accessibility, and opportunity for all.

For Hadley, the motivation comes back to a simple belief: To whom much is given, much is expected.

And for Karla, the work represents something equally powerful: the chance to turn hardship into hope for someone else.

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