My name is Brittany Gutierrez, and I am a Psychology major at UTRGV who has been officially accepted into the International Social Work: Comparative Program in Ponce, Puerto Rico from June 6–21 through UTRGV’s Education Abroad program. During this 14-day academic experience, I will study social welfare policies, mental health systems, and community-based service delivery in Puerto Rico through a social justice lens. We will engage directly with organizations such as Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico, Fundación Rafael Hernández Colón, Fundación Hogar Niño Jesús, ASSMCA, Casa Solidaridad, Foundation for Puerto Rico, public schools, and other community agencies. This is hands-on, real-world learning—not a tourist experience. I’ll be connecting with people, learning from their stories, and seeing how social work supports real communities.

As a psychology student, this program will deepen my understanding of mental health access, community resilience, and culturally responsive services—skills essential for my future career supporting mental health and community well-being. I am passionate about making a difference, and this experience will help me become a more effective advocate for those in need. I especially look forward to learning directly from people and communities, which is the heart of why I chose psychology and social work.

Your support will help me experience this program fully, learn from real communities, and grow into the mental health professional I hope to become. Any contribution, big or small, makes a real difference. Thank you for being part of my journey and helping me reach my dreams.