Ms. Ana G. Bonilla-Galdamez is a License Clinical Social Worker and received her MSW from Catholic University Washington, D.C. (Children and Adolescents Clinical Track) Her Graduation Paper: "Abandono and Reunificacion: The Silent Tragedy of Central American Adolescent Immigrants" and her Bachelor’s of Art in Psychology-Cum Laude from St. Bonaventure University in Olean, New York.
Ms. Bonilla was born in El Salvador and immigrated to the US with her mother fleeing the civil war at 12 years old. Like many other immigrants she arrived to the US with no resources, enduring trauma, and without speaking English. As an adult, Ms. Bonilla was diagnosed with multiple learning disabilities which she addresses every day.
Ms. Bonilla is a determined, motivated, and resourceful social worker with 23 years of experience working for the Alexandria City Public Schools. She has worked in the high school level and the elementary school level. She has a wealth of experience in client service provision, to assist students and their families in crisis and promote wellbeing through assessment, liaison, crisis intervention, counseling and advocacy.
Versatile and energetic service-focused social worker and program coordinator with a strong commitment to serving the needs of disadvantaged children, youth and their families, including immigrant, gang- involved youth, homeless, and special-needs populations. Empowering racially, ethnically and linguistically diverse parents and families through parent training, community parent resource centers, and other family supports. Outreaching to underserved communities. Outstanding ability to build and maintain relationships with people of diverse levels, cultures and backgrounds. Able to empathize with and counsel diverse client population including those undergoing significant emotional distress.
Her work has been recognized nationally by NASW as the National Social worker of the year in 2015, Washington DC. The NASW –Virginia Chapter has recognized her as the Social Worker of the year 2014 Williamsburg, VA. She was awarded The Frederic Milton Thrasher Award for Superior Service in Gang Prevention in 2010 by The National Gang Crime Research Center, Chicago, Il.
.