Cirriculum Vitae

Doctor of Social Work (DSW)       2025 

Leadership and administration track 

School of Social Work * Spalding University 

Master of Social Work (MSW)       2022 

School of Social Work * Spalding University 

Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW)     2010 

Summa cum laude 

School of Social Work * Spalding University 

Associate of Applied Science (AAS)      2003 

Prison Education Program - Jefferson Community College 

Associate of Science (AS)        2002 

Prison Education Program - Jefferson Community College 

Associate of Arts (AA)        2001 

Liberal Studies  

Prison Education Program – Jefferson Community College 

I firmly believe that community organizing is foundational to social work, embodying an approach that integrates micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice. As a community organizer, I have firsthand experience of the transformative impact that radical social workers can have when they educate and mobilize communities to confront the status quo. I am committed to applying these powerful strategies in the classroom and beyond to inspire and empower future leaders. 

The foundation of my beliefs about teaching and its effectiveness draws significantly from the insights of bell hooks. She articulates teaching as a performative act that should serve as a catalyst, encouraging all learners to engage actively in their educational journey (1994, p. 11). In addition, hooks (1994) emphasizes that "engaged pedagogy must recognize each classroom as different," underscoring the importance of continuously adapting, inventing, and reconceptualizing strategies to address the unique dynamics of each teaching experience (p. 11). Furthermore, she posits that effective teaching enables transgressions—an empowering movement that challenges and transcends boundaries. This very movement is what elevates education to the status of a genuine practice of freedom (1994, p. 12). 

SW 708 – Teaching Skills for Social Work     Spring 2024 

School of Social Work * Spalding University 

• Syllabus creation for a Graduate Level Social Work Course 
• SW 475: Incarceration in Social Work Practice 

Youth Organizing Institute       Summer 2023 

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth 

• Created and facilitated a Youth Organizing Institute for young people in Elementary and Middle School. The Institute focused on civic engagement, arts, activism, environmental justice, and anti-racism work.  
• The Youth Organizing Institute culminated in the published of a book, “Focused on Our Dreams”, a collection of the art created by the youth during the program. 

Co-Teacher         Fall 2022 

School of Social Work * Spalding University 

SW 633 Research II: Advanced Research 

• This knowledge-based course expands upon the material mastered in SW614 or previous social work research courses. Course content focuses on evaluating service delivery in social work practice. Students develop a critical appreciation of and the ability to conduct research and program evaluation.  

SW 475 - Incarceration in Social Work Practice   

• Course Description: Incarceration touches nearly every facet of life in the United States, sitting at the intersection of social work practice on the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Through a deep dive into personal positionality in social work practice, students will apply critical interrogation skills using an intersectional approach to understanding the trauma of incarceration and the impacts on social work practice. This course utilizes a position paper on incarceration to build student skills in understanding personal positionality, understanding mass incarceration, and implications for professional social work practice. (2 credit hours). 

School of Social Work - Spalding University    2022 - 2025 

• DSW Capstone Project – “Life After Prison Isn’t Easy: Success Among Formerly Incarcerated Voting Rights Advocates in Kentucky” 
• an exploratory-descriptive study of success after incarceration among voting rights advocates in Kentucky.  
• “The results of this study support further research into key factors that support success after incarceration in collaboration with those who have experienced incarceration in Kentucky.” 

Health Equity Program Manager      2021 - 2023 

LifeSpring Health Systems, Indiana 

• Led interdisciplinary team in creating an intervention to Eliminate Bias in the Electronic Health Records (EHR). 

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth 

• Registered Lobbyist with Kentucky Legislative Research Commission 
• Helped shape work in 2024 to defeat the School Voucher Constitutional Amendment in the General Election
• Lead the Organizations public policy work during the 2025 Kentucky General Assembly 
• Conducted, and trained others to conduct, bill analysis 
• Co-created public-facing messaging to communicate bill positions and to influence the public to act on specific issues 

Jobs with Justice 

• Developed and oversaw public policy campaigns for three critical pieces of legislation in Louisville, KY, in 2014:   

1. Louisville Minimum Wage Ordinance 
2. Louisville Voting Rights Resolution 
3. Louisville Ban the Box Ordinance 

Juried Articles (in chronological order) 

*One publication pending review.  

Manuscripts Under Review 

Collins, K., & Aleman, B. (Under Review). Community Organizing as Generalist Social Work Practice. 

Other Publications 

Aleman, B. (2009). Chapter. A mile in our shoes: Real stories of trials, tribulations and human rights violations. Louisville, KY: Women In Transition. 

Monsivais, R. & Aleman, B. (2022). Abriendo Caminos. Dubois County Free Press. Retrieved from: https://www.duboiscountyfreepress.com/op-ed-abriendo-caminos-clearing-the-path/ 

Scott, A. & Aleman, B. (2014). Urge Metro Council to support voting rights restoration. Courier Journal. Retrieved from: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/contributors/2014/07/21/urge-metro-council-support-voting-rights-restoration/12942161/  

International, National, or Regional Presentations: Juried 

Aleman, B., Collins, K.V., & Jewell, J.R. (2011, June 10). Community organizing is NOT a radical practice but integrative practice [Paper presentation]. Social Welfare Action Alliance Annual Conference. Washington, D.C., United States. 

Aleman, B., Collins, K.V., & Jewell, J. (2011, April 8). Community organizing: Transforming resilience and hope into power [Paper presentation]. Kentucky Association of Social Work Educators, Louisville, KY, United States. 

International, National, or Local Trainings & Lectures: Invited 

Aleman, B. (2022, May 29). Centering health equity in LifeSpring’s strategic planning. [Strategic planning presentation]. LifeSpring Health Systems. Southern Indiana.  

Monsivais, R., & Aleman, B. (2022, May). Cerrando la brecha: From immigrant paradox to Latinx scholars. [Faculty DEI Lecture]. Vincennes University, Vincennes, Indiana. 

Aleman, B. (2021, December 16). Racial trauma therapy: A proposal for LifeSpring Health Systems. [Class presentation]. Spalding University. Louisville, Kentucky. 

 The Fortune Society. (2024). The advocacy for Americans' right to vote. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/ImtnqxDB6gE?si=alyZpx_Zsi5s4yXW  

Presbyterian News Service. (2024). Environmental justice workshop offers advice for activists: Participants urged to build trust with communities. Retrieved from: https://pcusa.org/news-storytelling/news/2024/9/16/environmental-justice-workshop-offers-advice-activists  

Kentucky Equal Justice Center. (2024). A board member’s journey: amplifying voices at the Kentucky Equal Justice Center. Retrieved from: https://www.kyequaljustice.org/post/a-board-member-s-journey-amplifying-voices-at-the-kentucky-equal-justice-center  

Gilani, H. (2023). Disenfranchised voters find alternative ways to participate in key state elections. Retrieved from: https://dc.medill.northwestern.edu/blog/2023/11/22/disenfranchised-voters-find-alternative-ways-to-participate-in-key-state-elections/#sthash.i1l40NFe.dpbs  

Dubois County Free Press. (2022). Rotary club of Dubois County makes $2,000 grant to LifeSpring Foundation of Indiana. Retrieved from: https://www.duboiscountyfreepress.com/rotary-club-of-dubois-county-makes-2000-grant-to-lifespring-foundation-of-indiana/ 

Hall, M. (2022). Tough pill to swallow: People of color face higher rates of illness, lack of representation. News and Tribune: Indiana. Retrieved from: https://viewer.joomag.com/diversity-magazine-southern-indiana-june-2022/0843768001658852399  

Presbyterian Committee on Self Development of People. (2021). Struggle is real series: A webinar with church and community leaders on mass incarceration. Retrieved from: https://vimeo.com/653705583 

Ramlagan, N. (2021). Ky lawmakers weigh options for expanding voting rights. Public News Service. Retrieved from: https://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/73163-2 

Fair Elections Center. (2021). Bonifacio Aleman on restoring his voting rights. Retrieved from: https://www.fairelectionscenter.org/post/bonifacio-aleman 

WLKY. (2019). Voting rights advocates see ally in Beshear, but hope he'll go further. Retrieved from: https://www.wlky.com/article/voting-rights-advocates-see-ally-in-beshear-but-hope-hell-go-further/29729118# 

Kentucky Educational Television. (2014). Kentucky Tonight: Minimum wage. Retrieved from: https://www.ket.org/program/kentucky-tonight/minimum-wage-34536/ 

Bailey, P. (2014). Metro Employee Minimum Wage Bill Expected to Have Little Effect on Local Movement. Retrieved from: https://www.lpm.org/news/2014-06-10/metro-employee-minimum-wage-bill-expected-to-have-little-effect-on-local-movement  

Bailey, P. (2014). Mayor Greg Fischer: minimum wage 'has not been a big topic’ in Louisville. Retrieved from: https://www.lpm.org/news/2014-06-23/mayor-greg-fischer-minimum-wage-has-not-been-a-big-topic-in-louisville  

Bailey, P. (2014). At rally, Louisville labor rights activists question Mayor Fischer's dedication to minimum wage hike. Retrieved from: https://www.lpm.org/news/2014-08-04/at-rally-louisville-labor-rights-activists-question-mayor-fischers-dedication-to-minimum-wage-hike 

Bailey, P. (2014). Minimum wage hike hurts 'minorities and youth' job chances, Rand Paul says. Retrieved from: https://www.lpm.org/news/2014-04-29/minimum-wage-hike-hurts-minorities-and-youth-job-chances-rand-paul-says 

Bailey, P. (2014). Bus tour backing minimum wage hike to visit Louisville. Retrieved from: https://www.lpm.org/news/2014-03-31/bus-tour-backing-minimum-wage-hike-to-visit-louisville  

Bailey, P. (2014). Louisville Metro Council votes 26-0 to 'ban the box'. Retrieved from: https://www.lpm.org/news/2014-03-14/louisville-metro-council-votes-26-0-to-ban-the-box  

Corbin, A. (2013). Felons need not apply: having a criminal record creates roadblocks for jobseekers. Retrieved from: https://www.leoweekly.com/news/felons-need-not-apply-15765761  

Bailey, P. (2013). Noise and notes: Kentucky Jobs with Justice leader Bonifacio Aleman. Retrieved from: https://www.lpm.org/news/2013-05-19/noise-and-notes-kentucky-jobs-with-justice-leader-bonifacio-aleman  

Bailey, P. (2013). Poll: Kentuckians favor Senate immigration bill 3-to-1. Retrieved from: https://www.lpm.org/news/2013-06-13/poll-kentuckians-favor-senate-immigration-bill-3-to-1 

Organizing Co-Director 

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth      2025 –  

• Support state-wide organizing team 
• Creation & implementation of culturally responsive organizing practices 
• Development of grassroots fundraising strategies 
• Implementation of grassroots fundraising  
• Developing organizing framework & strategy for local chapters 

Interim Organizing Co-Director       2025 - 2025 

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth 

• Developing cultural organizing toolkit 
• Manages local, statewide, & federal education justice work 
• Supervise part of the Organizing Team 

Lead Organizer - Jefferson County       2023 – 2025 

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth 

• Led the Jefferson County organizing team in program of work 
• Managed local and state education justice work 
• Fundraising and development strategy implementation 

Health Equity Program Manager       2021 - 2023 

LifeSpring Health Systems 

• Developed annual strategy plan for addressing health disparities in client and community populations; 
• Developed an agency-wide Juneteenth celebration and service guide for staff members;  
• Taught agency intern students in social justice, macro social work, and policy and advocacy through mentorship; 
• Developed culturally sensitive services and programs with senior staff to deploy across agency; 
• Co-developed training to counter stigmatizing language and racial bias in electronic health records.  

Care Manager         2020 - 2021 

LifeSpring Health Systems 

• Empowered clients to maximize their quality of life through individual ADL skills training, case management & coordination, and clearly definable goals. 

Homeless Case Manager        2020 - 2020 

Ozanam Inn, St. Vincent de Paul - Louisville 

• Optimized the case management process and documentation flow at St. Vincent de Paul – Louisville;  
• Analyzed complex social problems around homelessness, while developing effective solutions for clients.  

Executive Director         2011-2014 

Kentucky Jobs with Justice 

• Managed and oversaw campaigns for three critical pieces of legislation in Louisville, KY in 2014   
• Louisville Minimum Wage Ordinance. 
• Louisville Voting Rights Resolution; and 
• Louisville Ban the Box Ordinance. 
• Developed and an initiative to save Louisville’s Healthy Start Program in 2014 from losing federal funding. The initiative included a public email campaign, popular education on the issue, and a power analysis. The initiative was successful by ushering in a change in funding decision at the federal level to keep Louisville’s Healthy Start Program fiscally sound.  
• Facilitated space for the first coffee shop in Louisville to vote for unionization; 
• Developed Service Workers For Justice, a campaign for restaurant service industry workers to collectively challenge illegal and disparaging working conditions in Louisville.  

Board of Directors, Client Member       2022-2024 

Kentucky Equal Justice Center 

• “Kentucky Equal Justice Center is a growing, flexible, and responsive law firm and public interest advocacy organization, dedicated to ensuring equal justice for all Kentuckians and working with a multitude of community partners.” 

Board of Directors, Member        2009-2011 

Women In Transition (WIT) 

• Assisted in organizing a National Conference on Eradicating Poverty in Louisville as a volunteer with WIT, as well as a student in the School of Social Work at Spalding University.  

Parent Representative        2025 - 2027 

Site-based Decision Making (SBDM) Council 

J. Graham Brown School 

Committee Member         2025 

Superintendent Search Advisory Committee 

Jefferson County Board of Education 

Committee Member         2024 – 2025 

Expert Advisory Committee – Accreditation Standards for DSW  

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 

President          2022 - 2022 

Student Social Work Association 

Spalding University 

Vice President          2021 - 2022 

Student Social Work Association 

Spalding University