Juan Carlos is a bilingual Mexican-American graduate student who will complete his degree in 2026. A recipient of the CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement, he represents the School of Social Work through meaningful academic engagement and a strong commitment to community-centered and culturally responsive practice.

He currently serves as a therapist trainee at Casa del Sol, an outpatient mental health clinic in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood, where he provides services primarily to immigrant families from Latin America. His work reflects a sustained dedication to culturally responsive care and the use of bilingual services to reduce barriers to mental health support and improve access to care for underserved communities.

During his first year in the program, he completed a social work internship at Manzanita SEED Elementary School in Fruitvale, where he provided therapy to children and developed early intervention skills within a school-based setting. These experiences strengthened his clinical foundation and reinforced his commitment to serving youth and families in community-based environments.

Juan Carlos lived in Mexico throughout his childhood, and his early experiences relocating to the United States with his family shaped his path toward social work. These experiences continue to inform his approach, grounding his work in empathy, cultural humility, and intentional service.

He is especially committed to addressing the underrepresentation of Latino men in social work and hopes his path encourages others to pursue similar careers. Guided by compassion and informed by his cultural identity, he remains dedicated to serving immigrant communities.