Meet a social work student supporting voting initiatives in Cleveland

As Clevelanders, Ohioans and Americans across the country head to the polls to vote in midterm elections today (Nov. 3), Case Western Reserve University student Kierstyn Klahn knows she has played a role in supporting them.

A Master of Social Work student at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Klahn is completing her fieldwork placement at Cleveland VOTES, a nonpartisan organization that helps drive civic engagement across Northeast Ohio.

Klahn joined the Cleveland VOTES team as a policy and community engagement intern in September, less than a month after arriving in the city to begin her master’s program. Originally from Salamanca, New York, Klahn found herself rapidly acquainting herself to the region’s political landscape while jumping into her work at the nonprofit.

While voting is at the heart of the organization’s work, other forms of civic engagement are deeply ingrained in what they do, which Klahn has seen firsthand.

So far, she’s had the opportunity to engage with several initiatives, including The Democracy Collective, Equitable Civic Engagement Fund programming and Cleveland Power Alliance. She’s dug into research surrounding municipal housing preservation laws in other cities to better understand where they succeed and what challenges they present to determine how this type of legislation could come into play locally.

During today’s election, she will participate in election protection efforts.

“Being involved in different areas of the organization has allowed me to see just how many forms community engagement and advocacy can take, and how social work can show up in spaces that people might not traditionally associate with the profession,” she said.

The experience also has closely aligned with her interest in practicing macro-level social work, with a particular interest in government, political campaigns or the civic education space. 

She remains open-minded about where the future will lead her career. Her primary focus is on doing what is needed most in the field.

“I think the versatility and widespread need for social work is what drew me to the profession as well. Social workers are needed in so many spaces, which is why I do not want to limit myself to one specific space,” she said. “Ultimately, I do hope to find myself in a career that bridges the gap between communities and our political systems.”

While many will turn to their TVs and phones for election night updates today hoping for certain victories, Klahn said her experiences at Cleveland VOTES has shown her that a “win” doesn’t always look like a certain candidate coming out on top or a ballot measure passing.

“Meaningful, systems-level change takes time, and I think it’s important to recognize and celebrate the smaller steps that help us get there,” she said. “A win might look like helping someone register to vote, building a new relationship with another organization, or simply creating a space where community members feel heard and empowered.”

Learn more about Klahn’s experiences.

Answers have been lightly edited for clarity and length.

1. What drew you to CWRU?

While I am from New York, I completed my undergraduate degree right on the other side of Lake Erie, in Buffalo, New York. Cleveland itself feels very similar in culture to Buffalo—the Rust Belt history, hard-working people, and deep, beautiful cultural connections. I grew up coming to the city for concerts, baseball games, and for day trips, so I was already drawn to this city.

From an academic perspective, CWRU was put on my radar by the faculty chair of the Bachelor of Social Work program at Daemen University, Dr. Diane Bessel (SAS ’05), an MSASS alum. I knew I wanted to go into more macro and politically based social work, which not a lot of MSW programs offer a concentration in that space. Dr. Bessel suggested I tour Case [Western Reserve], and when I finally did, I fell in love immediately. 

2. Why did you decide to pursue a degree in social work?

I always knew I wanted to be in a helping profession. I had experience lobbying in high school with NAFIS (the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools), since my high school was entirely on a reservation. It wasn't until I was able to take the lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., with a few classmates and teachers, and got the distinction for the New York State Education Department Seal of Civic Readiness Information, that I understood my passion for equity and advocacy could be translated into a profession. Helping people can also look like advocating for changes to the systems and policies that affect our lives. 

3. What has it been like to be with the organization during the midterms?

I think it has been a blessing and amazing learning opportunity, but also a whirlwind. Transparently, coming from Western New York to Ohio has felt like I just jumped into the deep end, I was not extremely familiar with the political landscape in Ohio, or even Cuyahoga County. I've been trying to both play a game of catch-up while also being able to be involved in programming, events, and civic engagement strategies tailored to Clevelanders. However, I think this has also brought an interesting perspective to my work with CV, because I have firsthand experience with living through how hard it is to navigate power and politics in this city, even as someone who has the privilege of access to education, information, and these systems. It's given me an appreciation and a deeper understanding for the importance of making civic engagement and education accessible, because if I am experiencing these challenges with the resources I have at my disposal, I can only imagine how overwhelming this process may feel to those without those opportunities. 

4. How does the work at Cleveland VOTES align with your career goals?

I think my experience at Cleveland VOTES aligns almost perfectly with the kind of work I hope to pursue. I’m getting firsthand experience with many of the areas that initially drew me to macro social work, including policy research, advocacy, community organizing, coalition building, and nonprofit operations. Something I particularly value is that Cleveland VOTES doesn’t approach community engagement as a singular approach; it isn't just educating people or just encouraging them to participate; there is development and interaction with all people involved at different levels. There’s also a strong emphasis on recognizing that communities already possess knowledge, strengths, and power, and that organizations have a responsibility to support and build upon those existing assets. I think that perspective is incredibly important in social work, and it’s something I hope to carry with me throughout my career.

5. Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I think one thing I’d really like to emphasize is that you don’t have to be an expert in politics, policy, or advocacy to get involved in creating change. While I plan on pursuing a career in this kind of work, civic engagement and advocacy aren’t limited to people who do it professionally. 

We all have issues that impact our lives, things we care about, or changes we’d like to see in our communities. I think sometimes people feel like they need to have all the answers or fully understand how systems operate before they can get involved, but that’s not necessarily the case. Sometimes it’s just about taking that first step, whether that’s attending a community meeting, asking questions, or getting connected with a local organization. You don’t have to know everything to make a difference, and I think recognizing that is an important part of making civic engagement more accessible to everyone.