Kadia Diakite

Congressional Fellow

I am originally from Bamako, Mali but have called Las Vegas, Nevada, home for the past 14 years. My predominate upbringing in the United States exposed me to the broad marginalization and disenfranchisement experienced by minorities in general and black individuals in particular, spurning my passion for service, advocacy, and social justice. These passions have greatly influenced my career choices, leading me to a career in the helping profession. I received a master’s in Social Work with a concentration on Management and Community Practice from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), in 2020.

I have spent the two years following my graduation in the homeless service delivery system as a Training Coordinator and Housing Navigator. As the Training Coordinator for the Nevada Homeless Alliance, I developed, managed, and implemented a professional training program for homeless service providers throughout Nevada.

Additionally, as a Housing Navigator with St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, in collaboration with Clark County Social Service, I assisted community members experiencing homelessness in obtaining and maintaining stable housing.

Although I have engaged in micro and mezzo-social work throughout my schooling and professional career, I have always envisioned participating in macro–social work. Macro social work focuses on enhancing the welfare and well-being of the collective, particularly in marginalized and disenfranchised communities, through large-scale interventions, including policymaking, lobbying, and advocacy at the local, state, national, and international levels. This aspiration has brought me to the nation’s Capitol, and I hope to make a little difference.