Featured Intern: Christopher Bates

Christopher is a social work intern completing his placement at United Way of Westchester and Putnam. He is currently helping build capacity at the 211 Hudson Valley call center that provides our community members with referrals for health and human service needs.

Christopher graduated from Hampton University in Hampton, VA with a B.A. in Sociology in 2018. He is employed with the New York City Department of Education, where he serves as a special education educator for middle school-aged children. Currently, Christopher is also a graduate student at New York University pursuing his Master’s in Social Work. Upon completing his Master’s program, he plans to become a school social worker for the Department of Education and later pursue his dream of becoming a family lawyer. Christopher’s passion for advocacy and law stems from his participation in the Bronx District Attorney’s Office law program during high school.

“I had an opportunity to volunteer with United Way of Westchester and Putnam through my department’s field placement program” explained Christopher, “after reading United Way’s mission, objective, and goal, I knew that I would be a perfect fit. The services offered and contributions made to seniors, the homeless, and those who aren’t able to make ends meet captivated me and motivated me to understand better how United Way operates”.

Christopher is Bronx native who was raised as an only child. Growing up, he spent most of his time in church or participating in extracurricular activities provided at his schools. Christopher credits his educational experiences and his relationship with God for equipping him with the knowledge and tools necessary to be a successful, community advocate.