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SP2 Alumni Honored at Greater Philadelphia Social Innovation Awards

Katherine Streit, Karen M. Hudson, and Darcy Walker Krause at the Greater Philadelphia Social Innovations Awards

Authored by: Alina Ladyzhensky

Photography by: Provided

Alumni

03/18/19

Two alumni of the Penn School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) were selected as winners in their respective categories at the 2019 Greater Philadelphia Social Innovations Awards.

Karen M. Hudson, PhD, MSW, LSW, a 1980 graduate of the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at SP2, won first place in the Healthy Communities category. Hudson is a field instructor and lecturer at SP2, as well as a Program Leader of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Homeless Health Initiative (HHI). Through her work at HHI, she has been a tireless advocate for ensuring that children living in homeless shelters have access to pediatric healthcare.

“What a triple honor it was to be nominated, awarded, and to do so with my fellow students, colleagues, and changemakers,” Hudson said.

Darcy Walker Krause, JD, MSW, CT, a 2012 alumna of the MSW program and one of Hudson’s former students, was a second place winner in the Anti-Violence award category. Krause, who serves as Executive Director of the Uplift Center for Grieving Children, was recognized for her leadership and dedication to assisting children and families experiencing grief, loss, and trauma.

Bringing the evening full circle, Katherine Streit, MSW 2013, a former social work student and HHI intern of Hudson, was on hand to support and congratulate Hudson and Krause. Streit presently serves as a Training Coordinator at the Uplift Center for Grieving Children.

“At SP2, Katherine and I had the opportunity to learn how to become social change agents from Hudson, and it was a supreme honor to share in these changemaking awards with her,” Krause said.

Continuing the evening’s SP2 connection, Tiffany Yau, currently a student in the Nonprofit Leadership program, won a first-place award in the School Collaboration category.

Now in their 10th year, the Greater Philadelphia Social Innovation Awards celebrate the region’s most passionate social innovators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers whose work and social impact strengthens local communities. The theme of this year’s awards was “Innovating Ideas, Revolutionizing Realities”— and through their visionary efforts and years of service, the winners undoubtedly exemplify that mission.

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