Life & Work with Lori Berman of Scottsdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Berman.

Hi Lori, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started with Swift Your Foundation as a teenager in high school. I also volunteered as a college student as support staff. I earned my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in social work from ASU. Swift influenced my career choice. I wanted to make a bigger impact on children and families in our community. I reengaged with Swift when my oldest daughter began volunteering. Now both of my kids are involved as volunteers. Recently, I volunteered for 3 years as the camp social worker, joined the board of directors, served as the secretary, and am now the Board of Directors President.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It is hard to do all of the work at Swift on a shoestring budget. We rely on individual donations, corporate and independent sponsors, and grants. We have much more to do and must raise the funds to do it all.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I love being a social worker. I have worked with children, seriously mentally ill adults, the homeless, and hospice. I love to volunteer. I have volunteered with the Phoenix Fire Department doing crisis intervention. Along with the fire department, I have volunteered with the Paradise Valley Unified School District on numerous committees, including the executive committee for the United Parent Council. I have served on parent groups within the school district for 14 years. The work I do with Swift is as a volunteer. I have volunteered 10 years total for Swift. Have a small private practice and work part-time for Adobe Care and Wellness.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I have learned to be flexible, stretch outside the box, and be adaptable. Our general mental health needs some care. I have learned to be adaptable in how we provide services, run meetings, and care for each other. One thing that has gotten stronger is the need for kindness to everyone.

Image Credits
Swift Youth Foundation