OPD is starting a series highlighting the amazing subject matter experts who provide professional development trainings at the Steve Hicks School. Michael D. Romero, LCSW-S is an award-winning Musician and Social Worker from Austin, TX. Romero, founder of Tonality Counseling, PLLC, has served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras and as a U.S. State Department Musical Ambassador. Currently, he teaches at the University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work, provides counseling, and writes songs and puppet skits for youth and families on various topics along the childhood journey.
Romero’s latest focus utilizes his studies and lived experience with caregiving for persons with dementia, blending creative and technological tools to support caregivers and their loved ones. Michael has professional development trainings coming up on November 15, 2024 (Using Music, Games, & Tech to Support People with Dementia and their Care Partners) and March 28, 2025 (Puppets, Guitars, Drumsticks, Stories & Games! An Exploration of Creative Intervention in Social Work and/or Play Therapy).
Learn more about Michael below:
What renews your passion about social work?
Noticing moments of spontaneous joy that happen in work with people and learning, as well as observing others who give a lot of themselves to make the world more equitable, representative, livable and kind.
Why does your focus in social work matter to the world?
I find a lot of value in the power of play and ‘being with.’ Play/humor/music are fantastic at connecting us all to each other.
What is a specific issue in society that you feel can be solved through trained social work?
I’m excited to see the discussions and actions on privilege, anti-racism, environmental justice that happen in class. Social Work has a lot of power to influence and change major systems.
When did you realize that you can make a difference in the world?
I’ve been extremely privileged to have numerous caring adults, teachers, and mentors in my life. One of my fondest memories was working at Zavala Elementary with Communities In Schools – there, I found that my interests in music and Social Work could coexist and inform and grow one other. There, I found so much joy in collaborating with young people and educators.
What is something about you, that is not on your professional CV, that would surprise your social work colleagues?
I used to ride a motorcycle and enjoy fixing things via instructions on YouTube!