A Big Thank You to Our Outstanding MSW Intern, Olivia!

We bid farewell to our MSW Student Intern, Olivia Clark, this Wednesday. Olivia dedicated nearly 450 hours working with Friends & Co, furthering our mission to alleviate social isolation and loneliness among older adults in our community.

With over eight years of experience working with older adults, Olivia brought a wealth of knowledge and passion to her role. Having previously served in community mental health in Bremerton, Washington, as a Care Coordinator and Community Hospital Liaison, Olivia’s transition to studying Social Work and Public Policy at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities was a natural progression.

Throughout her time with us, Olivia helped with various aspects of our programming, including Coffee Talk, Holiday Cards Connect, and facilitating sign-ups and assessments for our Phone and Visiting Companion programs. In addition to general programming, Olivia spearheaded and collaborated on several impactful projects that will leave a lasting impact.

Olivia reflected on her experience: “One of the best parts of my time with Friends & Co was connecting with and getting to know all 8 team members and beginning to understand their own work before setting my learning goals. I was welcomed and encouraged to work with each team member on my goals. I’m going to miss the team and our wonderful volunteers on Coffee Talk. Some of my favorite memories from the year are visiting Let’s Do Lunch, sending out the holiday card connect cards, planning coffee talk socials and volunteer appreciation week with Emma, and co-facilitating Community Conversations with Jethra.”

Olivia’s contributions underscore the significance of initiatives aimed at combating the loneliness and isolation epidemic among older adults in Minnesota. Through her dedication and support, Olivia made an impact on the lives that Friends & Co serves, and we are extremely grateful for the contributions she made during her time with us. Thank you, Olivia!