Kinzel’s inspiration to take on his new role as Vice President of Equity and Community Development at Family Service of Rhode Island (FSRI), started early in his life, growing up in a low socioeconomic neighborhood in South Providence and witnessing his community struggle with substance abuse, mental health and access to social determinants of health resources.

“Growing up in South Providence, in an underprivileged neighborhood without resources was challenging. I witnessed individuals struggle with addiction; my neighbor incarcerated to life in prison for drug distribution and conflict with law enforcement. Having a front row seat to this as a youth, motivated me to give back.”

The drug distributor Kinzel lived near was later commuted by President Obama in 2016, in a wave of 330 nonviolent drug crimes overturned in a bid to correct the systemic injustice.

With that childhood experience as his lens, Kinzel started his journey with FSRI in 2014 just after finishing his undergraduate degree. He had a few friends that worked at FSRI, and they encouraged him to apply. Initially, he worked as a Case Manager in the Home Base Department; engaging with Providence youth, through FSRI’s Youth Diversionary Program. It allowed him to provide support to youth who needed it.

“It was an opportunity to support youth that live in my community, facing the same barriers I did,” he said. “I really enjoyed it. It reminded me how resilient our youth are, despite the circumstances.”

He then moved to the Community Health Team, and worked as a Community Health Worker, and moved up to Behavioral Health Clinician, then Clinical Supervisor for the Community Health Team. After earning his master’s degree in Social Work while working full-time, he’s now stepping into his new role as the first-ever VP of Equity and Community Development at FSRI.

“I’m certainly looking forward to FSRI having a greater impact on the communities we serve and continue to push the envelope for equity internally and externally”, he said.

Kinzel says he stays motivated by his own experiences and the agency’s commitment to equity and the belief that we can make change.

“It’s just one of those things that’s embedded in me,” Kinzel said.

Kinzel’s advice to young social workers coming into the field reflects his own determination, resiliency, and love for the role he says is at the heart of all communities.

“Stay the course,” he said. “Someone once told me, social work is one of those professions that you don’t choose—it chooses you. And it’s for a reason. It comes with a lot of challenges, both personally and professionally. But stay the course, the end result will ultimately benefit you personally and the communities you serve.  Explore all your options. Don’t box yourself in. FSRI has given me the opportunity to do that.”

In his free time, Kinzel says he is learning to be more mindful of how his time and energy are spent. Things like reading, exercise, and spending time with family and friends keep him grounded in both his home and work life.

“I truly enjoy sharing my experience with others and providing a platform for others to provide resources for each other.”

Intrigued by this unique model in social services, she reached out to former Vice President Susan Erstling and applied to an unpaid internship at FSRI doing direct response with police. She hoped to bring back what she learned to her master’s studies– and the rest is history!

Now, after eight years of learning, growing, and mentorship through various roles at FSRI, she’s been promoted to Vice President of the Home Division.

“The scope of programs (at FSRI) really allowed me to grow,” Kayla said.

Realizing early in her internship that she may not be cut out for the intensity of the GO Team, Kayla shifted gears and was hired on full-time at FSRI in 2015 doing general outpatient work with children and adults dealing with trauma.

“I realized I didn’t love doing direct response with police,” she said. “It wasn’t something that used my skills. But I was fortunate enough to go on to have a lot of hands-on experience in a variety of other roles. That’s not something you find at all organizations.”

Promoted from clinician to clinical trainer and then clinical director, the varying roles helped her hone in on her personal strengths.

“I oversaw the trauma training institute here at FSRI, which allowed us to partner externally to develop a really trauma-informed community here in Rhode Island,” she said. “I’ve been given so many opportunities here where I wasn’t stifled. That’s one of the most beautiful things about FSRI.”

Kayla found her sweet spot at FSRI in addressing equity in access to services for those who she saw were easily falling through the cracks. One Spanish-speaking mother she worked with had been unsuccessfully trying to navigate it alone for four years on behalf of her child. But without Spanish-speaking staff at her child’s school, she couldn’t get IEP testing or supports put in place. With Kayla’s help, she was able to finally make it happen.

“It was really eye-opening to see that the systems were not designed to give her access to them,” Kayla said. “That skill of understanding systems and the knowledge that the systems are not designed equally was an experience I’ll always remember, and take with me as we build programs moving forward.”

Kayla’s advice to young social workers is simple.

“Go where your passion is. Take your time in school to figure out what that is, and know that it will change over time,” she said. “It’s ok to absolutely hate what you think you’re going to love.”

In her spare time, Kayla says she enjoys spending time with her two dogs, two cats, and caring for over 100 houseplants.

“I love staying busy. My partner will tell you I’ve never relaxed once in my life,” Kayla joked.

In addition to her new role at FSRI, she and her partner are looking forward to spending the foreseeable future renovating an old Victorian house.

“They have always been my daughters,” Candace gushed. “Even before they were my daughters.”

Candace began at FSRI writing grants in 2010, after moving from Pennsylvania to Rhode Island to be nearer to family.

“It was the best way to start because I learned about all the departments and the broad scope of services we offer and the diversity of our clients,” she said. “It was so impressive.”

After a year of grant writing, Candace moved into a development director role, heading up a grant proposal program that she herself had applied FSRI for and was accepted. The resulting program was the “Together Forever” project, which focused on so-called “hard to place” kids.

She then managed a small team supporting foster parents through a DCYF program, and that led her to feel compelled to become a licensed foster parent herself.

“My experience at FSRI has been life-changing in so many positive ways,” she said.

Her passion for victim’s services and helping those in our community in their times of crisis helped inform her vision for the Hope Department, as well as the goals of her predecessor, retiring Vice President Diane Shemtov.

“It’s a huge vision, but I feel really good about it,” she said. “I’m looking at things like economic mobility, partnerships with colleges and universities to build people up. It fits my vision of the program very well. You see a lot of things and the difficult circumstances our clients face every day is a beautiful entryway in trying to help people immediately after victimization.  I want to get those folks surrounded with as much support as possible so that trauma doesn’t disrupt a family’s ability to thrive.”

She stays motivated to do the work by her daughters and their experiences.

“Their resilience is the most amazing, humbling, beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” she said. “Their stories are probably similar to other young people that we serve. I’m so grateful that I have them.

She also describes herself as FSRI’s “biggest fan,” and respects the leadership and mentorship she’s encountered during her tenure.

“The culture at FSRI throughout my career has been nothing but supportive,” she said. “Margaret (Holland McDuff) has been a model for agency commitment and commitment to staff. I’m proud of what we do, and the way we do it.”

In her spare time, Candace enjoys spending time with her daughters, her dogs Journey and Nori, doing yoga, and – joking that “taking naps” is her big favorite.