Meet Hannah!

Meet the PCA’s graduate VPE intern, Hannah!

Learn more about how she juggles being a part-time graduate assistant and violence prevention educator at the PCA, the best advice she has received, and hear more about her favorite books!

If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please call our 24/7 interpersonal violence helpline at 303-556-2255.

Request an Appointment with an Advocate at
https://www.thepca.org/online-appointment-request

Request a Violence Prevention Presentation at
https://www.thepca.org/prevention-education

Instagram @phoenixauraria

Transcript

Meet Hannah!

Tue, Feb 28, 2023 8:58AM • 20:36

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

hannah, work, violence prevention, advocacy, phoenix, feel, learning, pca, question, awesome, educator, denver, survivor, people, advocate, person, interesting, center, arizona, drew

SPEAKERS

Carolyne Lanyero, Hannah Ginn

Carolyne Lanyero 00:00
Hello and welcome to the Phoenix Cast I'm Carolyne, one of the VP interns here at the PCA and I am your host for today. And I'm also joined with Hannah.

Hannah Ginn 00:24
Hi Carolye and Phoenix Cast listeners.

Carolyne Lanyero 00:27
Hi, Hannah, can you please introduce yourself?

Hannah Ginn 00:30
Yeah, my name is Hannah again, I use she her pronouns.

Carolyne Lanyero 00:33
Awesome. And so just diving right in learning a little bit more about you? What's your major or area of study?

Hannah Ginn 00:42
Yeah, so I am in a Master of Social Work program. This is my second year. I'm a student at the University of Denver.

Carolyne Lanyero 00:49
Awesome. And so thinking about like your history at the University of Denver, like, what got you involved there? What drew you to that program?

Hannah Ginn 01:00
Yeah. So I'm originally from Phoenix, Arizona. And when I picked Denver and the University of Denver, I knew that I wanted to stay in the west of the United States just to be closer to home closer to family back in Arizona, and I specifically liked DU's program, because I have an interest in like policy work and macro social work. And so DU has a really good macro social work concentration.

Carolyne Lanyero 01:25
Awesome. And so just comparing Arizona to Colorado? Is there one that you like better? Or do you think you'd go back to Arizona, after you finish up your degree,

Hannah Ginn 01:34
Probably not immediately, like, I have really enjoyed my experience in Colorado. And I think I really want to continue to like live other places and see what else is out there. But probably one day, I'll go back to Arizona, like I said, most of my family is still there. And so I really like the idea of taking what I've learned in Denver in my career, back to my home community and trying to improve services there and becoming more involved in where I grew up.

Carolyne Lanyero 02:01
Awesome. And so focusing here on the PCA just to start, how did you find out about the PCA? How did you get involved?

Hannah Ginn 02:09
Yeah, so I started working at the Phoenix Center in my first year of graduate school. So this was my con-, or my foundation, your internship, I was working as a an advocacy intern, um, I in undergrad, I minored in women's and gender studies. And that was kind of my main area of interest was I wanted to work with survivors I was really interested in like gender and sexuality. And so I really liked the Phoenix Center because it closely aligned with the work that I wanted to do and my personal values. So last year, I was doing advocacy. And then I was asked to stay on part time as a graduate assistant. So one day a week, one day a week, I do advocacy with survivors. And then two days a week, I am a violence prevention educator with Carolyne with Racheal and the rest of the VP team.

Carolyne Lanyero 02:54
Awesome. And so when balancing your role between being an advocate and between being a VPE, what are kind of the differences or similarities that you found? Like what does being an advocate mean versus being an educator?

Hannah Ginn 03:07
Mhmm, I mean, there's a lot of overlap. And I think I've really enjoyed doing them simultaneously. Because, you know, I think one is always informing the other. So you know, when I'm giving a presentation, or when I'm talking with people at events, or tabling so a lot of the times I can say, these, this is the things that I'm actually seeing every day, in my role as an advocate, here's the language that I use, here's the real life experiences that I'm seeing. And then vice versa. As an educator, you know, you're learning to talk about these issues, and you're talking about violence on a really personal level. And I feel like using that language and using those experiences also helps me as an advocate. So although like you're doing different things, you know, advocacy is like a very unique environment where you're working one on one with people. I think there's a lot of overlap. Yeah, I that's probably what I'd say about that.

Carolyne Lanyero 03:57
Yes. Fantastic, though, when also looking at your different roles, what does your day to day kind of in the office look like?

Hannah Ginn 04:05
Yeah, so right now, I would say it's kind of everyday looks a little different. Racheal and I are currently going over all of our existing Phoenix Center curriculums, our existing workshops, and educational materials to try to not necessarily improve them but maybe like make them up to date make them more closely aligned with like, Racheal's style of education or like my perspectives on these topics. And then also just like kind of helping out the other VPEs as things come up. So going to tabling is going to events, helping with putting together like our materials, and then advocacy can look completely different but still within the same vein of everyday looks different and you kind of never know what you're walking into even if you think you know what your day is going to look like. But that generally looks like working with clients having scheduled appointments. Sometimes clients drop in

Carolyne Lanyero 05:00
So you mentioned that you all were like revamping and kind of going through and changing a little bit of the curriculum. So when you're doing that, what are the things kind of you're looking for? Like, do you have an example of something that you've been able to change and update a little bit? And what does that look like?

Hannah Ginn 05:18
Yeah, Racheal and I just completed our kind of curriculum overview of our bystander intervention presentation. So the one that we had that was current, or the one that the Phoenix Center had before was good, but I think with bystander intervention, specifically, we've had a lot more of like a critical look at what bystander intervention should look like or can look like and how your different identities impact your ability to intervene, for example. And so kind of taking more of the the critical lens of taking a critical lens into bystander intervention and going a little deeper with it.

Carolyne Lanyero 05:53
Awesome. You mentioned in both your roles, they can kind of look pretty different in your day to day, and there's a lot that is pretty much like would you say like unexpected?

Hannah Ginn 06:02 Yeah

Carolyne Lanyero 06:03
Overall, So how do you go about managing that? Like what different tips or tricks and tools do you use to help you navigate all the differences and the variability?

Hannah Ginn 06:14
Sure, I think kind of like letting go of your expectation of what violence prevention work or survivor advocacy works looks like. So like I said, a lot of times, you'll come into the office thinking that you know, exactly what your day is going to look like. And then it looks completely just completely different from what you thought it was going to be. So really being flexible and remaining calm in crisis, or remaining calm when things don't necessarily go the way that you expect things to go. And then, of course, a lot of just like, checking in with myself, checking in, like how I'm doing so even as someone who remains relatively calm in crisis situations, or who was pretty good at being flexible, and just going with the flow, still checking in with myself and being like, you know, can I see a crisis drop in client right now? And is that something that I feel up to? And luckily, we've got a pretty good support system here at the Phoenix Center and good supervisor and good teams who will let me say no to things what I needed to.

Carolyne Lanyero 07:18
And so I just want to mention also that this Yeah, this episode is long overdue, because Hannah has been working here for a while, and she's been here as a VPE for a while. And is it true? You're graduating?

Hannah Ginn 07:31
I will be graduating in June, actually. Oh,

Carolyne Lanyero 07:33
Yeah. DU has an interesting schedule. But so I guess, with the remaining time that you have here, what are some of the things that you're still looking forward to you still hope to do kind of make your mark type situation?

Hannah Ginn 07:47
Yeah, I mean, I think because I am graduating, it puts a different lens on the work. So a lot of figuring out like, do I like advocacy? Or do I like prevention? What do I want to do upon graduation, because this is my first year doing prevention, I'm still really looking forward to learning all of what that entails. So what is, you know, what does that day to day look like? What does Racheal do every day? What kinds of workshops? Are we facilitating? How can we be creative in the ways that we're delivering this material, this education? That's probably what is most present on my mind right now? Like, what can I still learn in these roles? Even if I've been doing them for a while? And which of them are what kinds of things do I want to do after graduation? You know,

Carolyne Lanyero 08:36
And looking back on your time, like through out and you've mentioned, like, what you're able to take away how are some of the things - how have you grown and how have you developed during your time here at the PCA?

Hannah Ginn 08:47
Yeah, I think I'm a much better or a much different person than I was, you know, even two years ago, before I started at the Phoenix Center. And before I started graduate school, I think I have grown much more confident in myself and my abilities as a social worker, as a survivor advocate, as an educator. And I think a lot of that has to do with the people that I've worked with, I feel, you know, on one hand, like much more knowledgeable, talking about violence, much more comfortable supporting people, but also I think I've just had the opportunity to grow and develop myself, because people here have really shown that they invest in me and care about me and have been able to support me in that professional development, but also like personally,

Carolyne Lanyero 09:38
Hh, what a good answer. And so kind of moving away from the PCA and the professional work life, what's some of the best advice you've ever been given?

Hannah Ginn 09:50
That's a really difficult question. I would say it's probably kind of within the same vein of what I've learned at the Phoenix Center. I think a lot of times, I have been told here to not be so hard on myself all of the time, because that's something that I've like really struggled with just living up to expectations, or, you know, like this idea of a, what a perfect social worker what a perfect survivor advocate needs to be. And so a lot of times that can really translate to really feeling like I failed a client or that an appointment didn't go as perfectly as I would hope it would. But very rarely do they go perfectly, because we're doing crisis intervention, violence prevention work. And so I think that's probably the best advice that both people here and people in my personal life have given me to just, you know, the the perfect expectation done, it doesn't exist. So not being so hard on yourself, trying your best.

Carolyne Lanyero 10:48
And actually, that's an interesting segue into another question I'd wanted to ask um, essentially, it was going to ask, like, if you could go back and change one decision in your life, what would it be? Or would you even go back and change that decision?

Hannah Ginn 11:05
As much as I would love to say that I would never change anything, I'd probably change a lot. I think, maybe less of a decision. But if I were to go back to like my younger self, I would probably, like either pick up a hobby, or like stick to a hobby, you know, like playing a sport or learning an instrument or learning to draw or paint or something. That's something that I've like, always regretted is never really like sticking to something. And I feel like getting into a hobby is never as easy it is when you're a kid you pick up on things and try everything.

Carolyne Lanyero 11:44
Dang. Well, this is great segues into all my questions.

Hannah Ginn 11:47 You're very welcome

Carolyne Lanyero 11:48
I think you're a mind reader, but I was gonna ask you yeah, like what type of hobbies? What do you like to do? What are you up to?

Hannah Ginn 11:55
I'm a big reader. I love to read in my free time. So I'm usually reading something. I also, I like to embroider. So that's kind of like, my hands activity. And then everyone at the Phoenix Center knows I'm a really big sports fan. Specifically, I watch baseball and hockey, and most recently, Formula One. But yeah, that's kind of my thing. If you let me talk about it, I could talk about it for a very long time. I'm really interested in interpersonal violence prevention work within sports. So that would kind of be like a dream career.

Carolyne Lanyero 12:31
Hmm. And that's fantastic. You also mentioned that because - everyone listeners out there, we do want Hannah to do a podcast episode surrounding interpersonal violence and sports. So potentially, hopefully, look out for that soon. Also, I also do like to read. That's awesome. I'm always looking for book recommendations. Do you have any books that you love that you always like to recommend to others?

Hannah Ginn 12:55
Yeah, definitely. I think my favorite book of all time is probably The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. And then I also like a mystery thriller. And my favorite one of that is probably In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead.

Carolyne Lanyero 13:12
Oh, interesting. What do you like about each of them? Can you give us like a quick synopsis?

Hannah Ginn 13:17
They're both like, honestly. So they both have like elements of interpersonal violence. And so that's probably something that draws me to it as someone who is like deeply involved in this work and really cares about it. But they're also like big cast of characters really long, but all encompassing stories. They both have like queer representation.

Carolyne Lanyero 13:40
Awesome. I see she is well versed in literature. And also, this is another question. I feel like it can reveal a lot about a person, do you believe in second chances?

Hannah Ginn 13:50
I think the circumstances really depend, like, what I might forgive someone for is different than what other people would. But in general, I would like to think so. I think pretty fundamental to my worldview, and my approach to things is that everyone has the capacity to change, which I think is also pretty important for like violence prevention work, you know, we wouldn't do this work if we didn't think that we could educate people and potneti- , hopefully change their minds on some of the topics that we work around. So yeah, I would like to think that I do for most things.

Carolyne Lanyero 14:27
For most things, that's very open minded. That's a nice view to have. When you're thinking about someone who truly like touches your heart or makes you truly happy. What aspect about that person really warms you up inside?

Hannah Ginn 14:42
I'm, I guess someone that shows that they care about me in the ways that they know I like to receive, like love and care. So someone that really takes the time to get to know me and recognizes like this is something that Hannah loves is something that not the Hannah does not love and kind of adapt their style of affection or their style of love to how I also receive love.

Carolyne Lanyero 15:08
Oh, awesome. And so along that same vein, how do you - what are your love languages? How do you like to receive or give love?

Hannah Ginn 15:17
I think I like - that's very difficult not a physical touch person, not a words of affirmation person. I do like a good gift, I think, you know, not necessarily like something monetary. But just something that shows like, hey, I was - this reminded me of you, or I was thinking of you or I went out of my way to do this, to get this thing that I know you like, again. So that's probably how I receive love the best. As far as like how I show love, probably quality time, because I do value like my own personal alone time. So when it's someone that I want to demonstrate that I care about them, I can do that by saying like, Hey, I'm willing to give up some of that, like, personal introvert time that I have.

Carolyne Lanyero 16:10
Awesome. And so these next questions - thank you for your deep insights. These next questions are not as deep, kind of silly, but I feel like, like I always like to say with all the other intros we've done, I feel like it tells you a lot about a person. So listeners, please tune in. This is very important. But just to start, so we have numbers. I don't know if anyone else has a child like assigned personalities to numbers or like colors or would like be put them in like scenarios. Maybe that's just something I did. But Please assign personalities through numbers.

Hannah Ginn 16:43
Okay. I feel like two is kind of mean.

Carolyne Lanyero 16:47
Oh, interesting. Yeah. Okay. Okay, go on.

Hannah Ginn 16:50
I don't know that I have a reason for it. I just think it I wouldn't get along with two. I do think I would go on with three.

Carolyne Lanyero 17:01 Okay,

Hannah Ginn 17:02
I think three is very friendly.

Carolyne Lanyero 17:04
Okay. Wow, okay, keep going. This is intriguing.

Hannah Ginn 17:09
Um, maybe I just I think even numbers are mean and odd numbers are kind. That's like, that's the pattern that I was following.

Carolyne Lanyero 17:18
Hmm. Interesting. Indeed. And you don't know exactly where this came from? Or why that is?

Hannah Ginn 17:25
No, what, what is your answer?

Carolyne Lanyero 17:27
Um, well, I mean, I feel like one you know, very spunky, out there doing a lot of stuff. I felt that two was just a cool person. I thought that she was a sweetheart. Because just so rounded -

Hannah Ginn 17:40 Not what she said to me

Carolyne Lanyero 17:41
Oh, interesting. Okay. Yeah, I see there's personal beef here. Interesting. Well, I could like go on forever. So we're just gonna skip my thoughts and everything's but if you want to learn more about it, hit me up.

Hannah Ginn 17:54
I will ask you as soon as this gets turned off.

Carolyne Lanyero 17:57
Okay. Perfect. Okay, so good to know. So everyone out there odd numbers are nice. I mean, even

numbers are mean.

Hannah Ginn 18:04 Yes.

Carolyne Lanyero 18:05
And so moving on to the next question. Looking at this room. We're in Hannah's office, by the way at the moment. Look, it's a pretty good sized room, would you say? How many pennies do you think could fit in this room?

Hannah Ginn 18:18
Um, social workers famously can't do math. So I would say a good 5 million.

Carolyne Lanyero 18:26
Okay. That's what drew you to that number.

Hannah Ginn 18:29
It feels like it needs to be a lot, but a million felt too small.

Carolyne Lanyero 18:34 Mhmm

Hannah Ginn 18:35 Yeah.

Carolyne Lanyero 18:36
Okay, intriguing. Okay, I guess we'll never know, though. But nice process. And then our last question, if animals could talk, Which animal do you think would be the nicest? Which animal do you think would be the rudest?

Hannah Ginn 18:50
Um, I feel like rudest I'd probably say like, monkeys and apes.

Carolyne Lanyero 18:57 Oh, interesting. Go on.

Hannah Ginn 18:58
Because I feel like they're so intelligent that they probably have a lot of resentment around being like caged and in zoos. I would say I'm a little frightened of them for that reason. Like, I think they're too intelligent that I kind of don't want anything to do with that. I feel like the obvious like kinda answer is dog. So I don't really want to say that.

Carolyne Lanyero 19:21 Yes, please be unique.

Hannah Ginn 19:22 Probably cows.

Carolyne Lanyero 19:24 Oh, cows. Okay.

Hannah Ginn 19:25
Cows just seem very lovely.

Carolyne Lanyero 19:27
They do and they seem chilled out. Wow. Okay. Thank you for those great answer. And thank you for joining me today. Is there anything else you would like to add anything you'd like the people to know?

19:38

No, I guess I would just say that I really loved being a part of the violence prevention team. So thank you, Carolyne, for inviting me onto your little podcast. I really loved working with you. And I think you're a great both violence prevention person but also person in general and you're in wonderful podcast host.

Carolyne Lanyero 19:55
Oh, well. Thank you. Everyone. Hannah is fantastic. Thank you for joining us today. Be sure to share this podcast with whoever follow us on our Instagram and also look out for some of the different events that we have coming up and here especially in April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Thank you all so much for listening and have a great day.