Community Care in Action: MSW Student Aminata Kante
Aminata Kante engages with young field day attendees (2024).
Born and raised in the Bronx by parents who immigrated from the Ivory Coast, MSW student Aminata Kante is intentional about using her voice and knowledge to support the youth in her community.
“Growing up I always wanted to be that cool guidance counselor,” said Kante, who is pursuing her degree through NYU Silver’s Extended pathway. “You know the ones that grab you out of class and let you sit and talk if you’re having a hard day? I always wanted to be that for someone.”
Kante played basketball as a child and remembers making some of her most influential relationships on the court. As she grew up and witnessed the cultural and environmental pressures that her fellow basketball players faced, she developed the seed of an idea: an old-fashioned field day where kids could get together, have fun, play basketball, and access community resources. In 2021, Kante realized her vision and in 2024, she hosted her fourth annual summer field day in the Bronx neighborhood that she grew up in.
“People love it,” Kante said. “Every summer people ask me about my field day plans for next year.”
The event includes a basketball tournament for people of all ages, food, and other games. This year, Kante collaborated with summer day camp programs in the area to implement fun and engaging activities for younger children. She also secured monetary donations beforehand through crowd funding and was able to give young attendees a full backpack of school supplies for the coming school year. The excess supplies were donated to another social work agency in the Bronx.
“I beg you to go for it. If social work comes across your mind as a dream or goal, you owe it to yourself and your community to try.”
Kante’s Path to Silver
Kante’s higher education began at SUNY Plattsburgh where she completed an undergraduate degree in women and gender studies with a minor in sociology. Inspired by her undergraduate psychology and social science classes, she chose to pursue an MSW the next year.
It was the application process that drew her to NYU Silver. “While the essay questions from other schools felt daunting, Silver’s application forced some welcome introspection and seemed intent on getting to know the whole applicant,” said Kante. “I just remember enjoying the process much more. I found myself dreading other applications.”
She was also compelled to choose NYU Silver because the school offers a flexible, part-time Extended MSW pathway, since she works full-time at NewYork Presbyterian as a patient financial advisor to put herself through school. It enabled her to develop an individualized study plan with her academic advisor that she will complete in three to five years.
Doing What You Love
Following her social work passions while working full-time has been challenging, said Kante. She has had to navigate work, a demanding class schedule, an internship, and the financial burden of graduate school all while trying to practice self care. Ultimately, however, her love of community, passion for social work and goal to provide a safe space for youth keeps her going.
Despite the difficulties, Kante has been positively impacted and inspired by her social work education. A summer Advanced Social Policy course taught by Dr. Olatunde Olusesi reaffirmed to Kante the importance of doing what you love, despite what it might take to get there.
“Dr. Olusesi taught with such passion and that came through more than anything ” she said. “He told us a story about going back home to Nigeria where people didn’t understand becoming a social worker, but he still makes a positive impact in his community.”
Kante relates to Dr. Olusesi’s story, being a powerful presence in her own community with a family that does not entirely understand the social work profession. Still, she knows that her family is glad that she’s pursuing a true passion.
To prospective students who worry about managing an MSW workload, Kante says, “I beg you to go for it. If social work comes across your mind as a dream or goal, you owe it to yourself and your community to try.”
Looking Towards the Future
Kante intends to continue her annual summer field day indefinitely and is interested in planning other youth-focused events over the course of the year to expand her work in the Bronx. She also considers engaging more with families inspired by her current practicum placement with LIFT NYC. There, Kante works as a coach for parents with young children and supports them through educational, financial, and emotional aspirations.
“I still want to do my events and activities and everything for children, but now I also think about working with parents who are trying to better themselves for their kids.”