Alumni's Social Services Career Still Leaves Room For Musical Interest

usic brings forth a soothing of the soul and social services were established to soothe the day-to-day struggles of underprivileged people. Willie Hill is a graduate of Northside class of 1978 that has dedicated his life to a career in social services and a love for music. His love for music stems from his years at Northside High School.

High School Forms an Appreciation For Music

Hill lived in the Lauderdale Courts Housing Development during his years at Northside. He participated in several student activities. He played the tenor drums in the marching band and was the layout artist for the school newspaper. Hill's favorite teacher was music teacher, George Cowser. "Mr. Cowser taught his students the value of hard work," says Hill. Hill had a special interest in the Performing Arts department. Playing in the band gave him the opportunity to perform in Northside's drama productions like the Phantom of the Opera. His participation in drama productions at Northside helped him make a smooth transition doing musical productions in college.

College Life Brings Forth Memorable Experiences

After High School, Hill received a four-year Music scholarship to Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi. He enrolled at Rust College majoring in Business Management with a minor in Music Theory. During his second semester as a sophomore, he changed his major to Social Science. While attending Rust College, he completed a six-month internship at I.C.S. Head Start in Holly Springs and a one-year internship at Memphis Juvenile Court.

The I.C.S. Head Start is a Social Service Agency that was established to provide educational and child protection to preschool children and the rural population in Marshall County. "My internship, at I.C.S. Head Start, allowed me to enter communities, home of the under privileged and destitute families. It was our task to assure that adequate living and educational opportunities were available for these families and youths."

Hill's internship at Memphis Juvenile Court gave him the opportunity to study the court system and its many divisions that were designed to aide youths and the general public. Juvenile Court collects child support and lock up trouble children, but it was also designed to provide assistance in locating runaways, probation and counseling services. "This was one of my greatest learning experiences. I had the opportunity to work in all the different departments within the juvenile court system. It was like having ten internships all rolled into one."

A Career in Social Services

After graduating from Rust College in 1982, Hill began his career in Social Science working for Memphis City Beautiful as a summer program Site Manager. As Site Manager, Hill supervised urban youths in community projects, which consisted of job skills training, job search skills and community landscaping.

After leaving Memphis City Beautiful, Hill worked two years for Memphis Housing Authority as a Youth Activity Coordinator. His task was to develop and oversee organized sports activities for under privileged youth in the Public Housing Community.

Hill has also worked for the State of Tennessee as a Psychiatric Technician. His duties provided behavioral modification therapy to Juvenile Court ordered adolescent and taught daily living skills to psychotic and mental challenged teens and adults.

Currently, Hill is a Case Manager with the Public Assistance Department at the Department of Human Services. As a Case Manager, Hill's duties include establishing eligibility for family assistance such as AFDC, Food Stamps and Medicaid. He also provides counseling for disadvantaged families on public assistance in the Shelby County area. The counseling consisted of developing a Personal Responsibility Plan to ensure a better way of life for recipients.

Musical Interest

Hill love for music keeps him busy most weekends. Presently, he is the drummer for an R & B and Gospel Band. The gospel band is called the Gospel Echoes. He has been performing with the group for six years. The Gospel Echoes had been established for five years before Hill joined the group back in the mid 90's. The group performs weekly at various locations and events in the Memphis area. The R & B group that he helped to establish is called The Memphis Connectors. The six-member group has been together for three years. The group usually performs two or three times a month.

Time for Family

Hill has two sons, fourteen-year-old Rolin and twenty-two-year-old Chris. Rolin is an active student and member of the baseball team at Wooddale High School. Chris is employed with Federal Express in Memphis. Hill has been married to his wife Gloria Hill for ten years. His family attends Golden Rule Baptist Church, where Rev. Nathaniel Greer is Pastor.

Hill took time out to discuss with us his views on his life experiences.

-Jalia: What do you remember about your time at Rust College?

Hill: I will always remember the importance of college life. When I talk with young people today, I stress all the good things about a college education. I let them know that college is not just fun and games. It's about 30 percent fun and games and 150% hard work.

-Jalia: Did you receive any psychiatric training, when you worked as a Psychiatric Technician for the State of Tennessee?

Hill: No, we did not receive any training. We were given a general plan of daily procedures and reviewed the charts of each patient. The charts give a background of each patient from whom we develop our own strategy on how to care for them. For instance, some patients were psychotic and maybe in a catatonic state at times. Therefore, if the patient is not doing something that you are telling him or her to do, it is not a sign of disrespect. Some patients are classified as having violence tendencies and may suddenly attack you. You have to keep a close eye on those patients and handle them differently.

-Jalia: Was it stressful working with the mentally ill?

Hill: Well, it was challenging at times. If you have a good team, in which everyone is following the guidelines and the plan that they have for each person, things run smoothly. However, if there is someone that is not enforcing the rules and you are trying to enforce the rule that's when you start to have problems.

-Jalia: What do you like most about your present position?

Hill: I enjoy being able to help underprivileged people get assistance. I have all the tools to help our clients further their education and acquire a job that will get them off public assistance.

-Jalia: What three things have been the highlights of your life since high school?

Hill: The three highlights of my life have been, the birth of my sons, graduating from Rust College, and my wedding day.

-Jalia: What kind of values do you try to instill in your sons?

Hill: I tell my sons that a good education is important; the more education they have the further they can go in their career. I also tell them that if you are honest and respect others you will receive the same in return.

Willie Hill realizes the importance of education and his career in social services. With his career and musical pursuits, his schedule can get hectic at times. Hill says that he always gives thanks to God and the people that assisted him to get to this point in his career. He also gives special thanks to his wife and children for supporting him through the tough times of his life's pursuits.