New Team Member // Rachel Mazzaro, Macro Social Work Intern

Hi Everyone! My name is Rachel Mazzaro and I am currently a graduate student at the University of Michigan getting my masters degree in Social Work. Specifically, I am studying community organizing with an emphasis on children and youth in families. I have the pleasure of spending the entire year working at DAA for my field placement!

I was immediately drawn to this opportunity as soon as I looked through the DAA website. It was exciting to see a school committed to to not only high academic achievement but developing habits of character so that students can become changemakers within their own communities and the world. As a community organizer, I wanted to learn more about how a school can effectively engage with their community. It has been awesome to see so much community support, specifically from local organizations that have committed to providing engaging enrichment programming for DAA students after school. I have the pleasure of working with DAA’s Enrichment Coordinator, Ms. Strader, during after school programming and have loved getting to know the students! On Mondays I supervise the swimming group and I have continued to be amazed of their courage to get in the water and try something new even when it might seem a little scary.

I have also had the opportunity to work alongside DAA’s amazing founder and Director, Kyle, and learn from the best when it comes to community partnerships, fundraising, family engagement, coordinating volunteers, marketing / social media, website development, event planning, and the list could go on! I am really excited about what this year will bring and to be part of the process of making DAA the best school it can be in partnership with the dedicated, compassionate, and fun loving students here.