Hakima Siyad is a graduate student pursuing her Master of Social Work at St. Cloud State University and currently works as a Social Worker with Ramsey County, where she conducts MnCHOICES assessments to help children, adults, and individuals with disabilities access long-term services and supports. In addition, she is completing a clinical internship in the Emergency Department at Children’s Minnesota, providing crisis intervention and psychosocial assessments for children and families experiencing acute trauma. A Somali refugee and first-generation college student, Hakima brings a trauma-informed, culturally responsive approach shaped by work across county systems, healthcare, and community-based settings. Her experiences navigating complex public systems and frontline clinical environments have reinforced her commitment to reducing systemic barriers, advancing equity in mental health and social services, and strengthening outcomes for underserved communities, with the long-term goal of becoming a licensed clinical social worker.