Imagine a career where your passion for helping others has the power to shape entire communities. That's the inspiring journey of Monique Hill, a social worker turned public administrator who's making waves in Fort Worth, Texas. From the halls of a historically Black college to the heart of city government, Monique's story is an example of the impact one person can have when they combine compassion with civic leadership.
Her unique blend of social work expertise and administrative savvy offers valuable insights for anyone looking to make a difference in their community – whether you're familiar with social services or not. Join us as we explore her path, guiding principles, and lessons learned along the way.
A Foundation in Social Work and Education
Monique’s path to public service began with a deep-rooted passion for helping others. She explains, "I am a social worker turned public administrator. My first love is and always will be social work." This commitment led her to pursue a comprehensive education in the field.
She proudly shares her educational background:
"I have a bachelor's and a master's in social work. I'm very excited to say that I got my bachelor's degree at a historically Black college, which is Grambling State University. I have a master's in social work with a focus on children, youth, and families, and social and economic development from Washington University in St. Louis."
As her career evolved, she recognized the need to expand her skill set, earning a master's in public administration from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). This diverse educational background has equipped Hill with a unique perspective that blends social work principles with administrative expertise.
The Transition from Social Work to Public Administration
Her transition from social work to public administration was not without its challenges. She reflects,
"Moving into public administration was on-the-job training because that wasn't my natural way of working. I'm used to working with people and understanding theories, and human behavior."
However, she found that her background in social work provided a strong foundation for her new role. She explains,
"I started with my love, which is social work. It's all about how you work with people and communities. Certainly, my focus is on how you build capacity in communities. It's about relationships, understanding people, working from a strength perspective, being very accepting of where people are, and meeting them where they are."
This people-centered approach has been instrumental in her success as a District Superintendent for the Neighborhood Services Department in the thirteenth largest city in the United States. She notes, "The most valuable part for me was inherently being able to work with people. Compassion and respect for people are crucial in our jobs."
She is acutely aware of the unique responsibility she carries. She emphasizes the importance of transparency and ethical decision-making: "
As an African American woman, I ensure that I make decisions transparently, whether in front of community members or behind closed doors. We shouldn't do anything harmful to our community members, especially those who are more vulnerable."
Her leadership philosophy is rooted in several key principles:
1. Transparency and Trust
"It's crucial to be transparent but also to understand the timing and context of the information you share. Building relationships and trust with the community is essential."
2. Understanding Community Needs
"You need to understand the community's concerns, history, and needs before starting any project."
3. Effective Communication
"Communication is a must. You need to understand the different forms of communication and cultural diversity to know why things are important to certain groups of people."
4. Patience and Service Oriented
"Patience is key when communicating. Our citizens are our customers, and we must work with one another. You must be service-minded and oriented because this job is about our community and making it a good place for our citizens."
5. Forward-Thinking
"We need to be forward-thinking and understand how decisions may impact the future."
The Importance of Continuous Learning
Monique is also a strong advocate for lifelong learning and professional development. She shares her approach to staying informed and expanding her knowledge:
"I visit a lot of websites that focus on mental health because of its impact on society. I rely on resources like the Hogg Foundation and reconnect with professional organizations like the National Forum for Black Public Administrators. I try to sign up for a lot of webinars and go to organizations when they're talking about topics that kind of scare me a little bit and I don't feel as comfortable, just to challenge myself."
She acknowledges that this process can be challenging, but she emphasizes its importance: "Sometimes that's hard for me because I don't want to ever look like I don't know something, but you just don't know what you don't know."
Community Engagement and Relationship Building
One of her core strengths is her ability to engage with communities by meeting them where they are. She stresses the importance of building relationships before launching any project:
"Community members need to know who you are. You can't start a project without building relationships first. Attend community meetings and events, observe, and understand the community before presenting new ideas. Informal conversations are important for building alliances and trust. Each neighborhood is unique, so do your homework, ask questions, and understand the community's leaders and concerns."
She also emphasizes the importance of observing and learning from others' engagement techniques: "When I see someone or a group engaging with communities, I pay attention to the techniques and tools they are using. Their body language, the order of presenting information, and tone are all important."
Career Advice for Aspiring Public Servants
For those considering a career in public service or social work, she offers this valuable advice based on her own experiences:
1. Follow Your Passions
"My recommendation is to think of the things you like to do and figure out how your skills can be transferable to certain jobs."
2. Research and Ask Questions
"Ask people who are doing that job questions, find out what they 'actually' do, how long they've been there, what parts of their job they love, and what parts of the job they hate."
3. Be Prepared for Unwritten Responsibilities
"You also have to understand that all jobs come with duties that are not written in the job description!"
4. Seek Internships or Field Placements
"One great thing about social work is that to graduate, you must do a field placement, which is like an internship. These experiences are pivotal in determining what part of the job you want to do."
Her own career path was shaped by her field placement experiences:
"Mine was with Child Protective Services in Louisiana. The part of the job that I really enjoyed was teaching. I watched a colleague who eventually became my mentor teach people how to bring themselves out of the situations that led them to CPS and provide them with the skills to succeed. I fell in love with this aspect of the work."
A Proud Achievement: The Como Community Center
One of her most significant accomplishments in her current role has been the development of the Como Community Center. She shares: “It was a challenging process with some adversity from the community. It was important to strategize and communicate effectively with the community, respecting their history and desires."
Navigating the project gave her many opportunities to use her skills in community engagement and relationship building. She explains,
"That community is very vocal. They wanted to be heard and respected and there were some hurt feelings from things they felt were done to them in the past. During the process, the community really came together and created a Como Leaders Group to include many voices that represented everyone."
The success of the project has had a lasting impact: "The center was completed in 2019 and to this day, the group still meets and is seen as the voice of the community. Beyond having a very beautiful facility in that community, when I go over there and see so many kids running around and people using the space for events, I feel like we captured and delivered what the community asked for and needed."
Looking to the Future
While she has achieved much in her current role, she continues to set her sights on broader impact. She shares her long-term aspirations:
"Although I haven't yet reached the point where I can lobby at the state level, I hope to one day influence legislation to better support families and communities. For now, I have a more immediate impact at the local level, but I hope to affect the law at some point about how we handle and support these families and communities."
Conclusion
Monique Hill's experiences remind us that true community transformation doesn't happen from behind a desk or through policy alone. It requires active engagement, continuous learning, and a willingness to meet people where they are. Her emphasis on relationship-building, transparent decision-making, and culturally sensitive communication provides a roadmap for aspiring public servants and current administrators.
As cities across the nation grapple with complex social issues, her insights offer a promising path forward. It shows that by combining social work principles with administrative skills, public servants can create more responsive, empathetic, and effective government services. As she continues to make her mark with the City of Fort Worth and dreams of influencing policy at higher levels, her people-first approach serves as an inspiration and a practical guide for anyone looking to make a meaningful difference in their community.
Her examples for how to create positive community transformation reminds us that at the heart of every policy, project, and public service initiative are the people it is tasked to serve. By keeping this focus, we can work towards creating more vibrant, equitable, and thriving communities for all.
Additional Information
Check out these resources and organizations shared by Monique:
Hogg Foundation for Mental Health: A part of the University of Texas at Austin that focuses on mental health policy, research, and community engagement. It aims to improve mental health services and outcomes through policy recommendations and initiatives, such as expanding mental health peer support services and addressing workforce shortage
National Forum for Black Public Administrators: A nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of Black public leadership in local and state governments. Founded in 1983, it has over 2,500 members across more than 350 jurisdictions and focuses on leadership development and professional growth for African Americans in public service.
City of Fort Worth, Neighborhood Services Department: The department focuses on enhancing community well-being through various programs and services aimed at improving neighborhoods. It consolidates social services, community development, and housing assistance to empower residents and foster better living conditions.
Grambling State University: A historically Black university located in Grambling, Louisiana. It is known for its strong emphasis on education, research, and community service, offering a range of undergraduate and graduate programs.
Washington University: A private research university in St. Louis, Missouri known for its strong emphasis on research, teaching, and community service. It offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across various disciplines, including arts and sciences, business, engineering, and medicine.
University of Texas at Arlington: A public research university located in Arlington, Texas. UTA offers a diverse range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs and is recognized for its research initiatives, innovation, and commitment to student success.