U-M SSW's First Paul D. Coverdell Fellow Kimson Bryant, MSW Candidate, 2014

Kimson Bryant is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) who served in St. Kitts and Nevis, located in the Eastern Caribbean. Her primary role as a PCV was as a youth development volunteer, working in a local high school's guidance and counseling department. She also did HIV/AIDS education, outreach, taught prenatal classes and dance classes. Additionally, she held a role in the Peace Corps as a representative for the Volunteer Advisory Committee and a member of Peace Corps peer support network.

What she enjoyed most about her time in the PC was being "truly immersed in the community there. I came in as a PCV and left as family." She was grateful for the opportunity to be a part of enriching lives and believes that even if one life was enriched, she was successful. She believes serving in the Peace Corps is "the hardest job you'll ever love." She also greatly appreciated the support of the local and regional Peace Corps staff.

After returning from St. Kitts to the U.S., Bryant knew she wanted to do community-based work in Detroit, and the Coverdell Fellows program seemed like a perfect fit. She was introduced to Detroit as an undergraduate student at U-M and worked with youth in Detroit, which served as a foundation for her passion for community development and cemented her interest in the Peace Corps. Now, Bryant is interested in working with older adults and their ability to access services, as well as HIV/AIDS outreach.

Bryant believes her previous Peace Corps experience and her MSW experience will integrate well, as she has different cultural knowledge and a tangible experience to relate her education to. She is looking forward to increasing her "toolkit" for being more effective in community work and program improvement and is honored to be the first Coverdell Fellow at the U-M SSW.