Board

 Diane R. Griggs, LCSW, born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, attended the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) obtaining her BA degree in Psychology and the University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Social Work and Community Planning and received her MSW. With extensive experience servicing vulnerable and system impacted populations, her passion is integrating holistic, culturally congruent, healing centered and social justice perspectives. A longstanding member of the ABSW-GLA chapter, Ms. Griggs has served as the Vice-President for the last eight years and additionally was recently elected Historian. Most recently, Ms. Griggs served as an Executive Producer and Interviewer for “Treasured Voices Speak: The Founding of the National Association of Black Social Workers” and is currently working on the longer feature for submission to the 2021 Pan African Film Festival. This project chronicles the historical significance of the NABSW and its contributions shaping Black life. 

 Toni is a LA Native. She received her Masters in Social Work from Arizona State University in 2018. She has worked with re-entry population, transition-age youth, the homeless population and youth participating in diversion programs. She is currently serving as the Treasurer of the ABSWGLA. She also volunteers with Centinela Youth Services, the C.A.P. Re-Entry Breakfast, and the South Central Foundation for Fitness, Dance and Arts. Toni’s vision for ABSWGLA is that it continues to positively impact the local community by offering programming and advocacy that improves long-term outcomes. ABWSGLA has been a leader in bringing timely symposium and education into the community including programming around voter rights, human trafficking, and understanding their rights when interacting with law enforcement. In her spare time, Toni is a candle maker, stained glass mosaic artist, and quilter. 

 Carla is from Los Angeles, California. She graduated from the University of California, Riverside where she received her bachelor’s degree in psychology. She received her MSW degree from California State University Dominguez Hills. She is currently employed as a psychotherapist for Los Angeles County and as a consultant for various non-profit organizations. ABSW-GLA has remained active in community for over fifty years and is Carla’s vision that the association will continue to educate and uplift the community for many more years to come. 

 Elma has a Bachelors in Sociology and a Masters in Social Welfare both from UCLA.  She has over 38 years work experience starting as a Social Worker Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and with the Department of Children and Family Services.  Her expertise ranges from Program Development, Program Management and Administration, Supervision, Adoption, Community Organization and is a  Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

“My personal experiences with ABSWGLA began when I was a student. I have held numerous offices in the organization including Chapter President and CABSW President.

Tarrisyna is a California native born and raised in the greater Los Angeles area. She graduated from California State University, Long Beach, with a Bachelor of Art in Applied Psychology and a Master of Social Work. She is currently in the DSW Program at California Baptist University, slated to graduate summer of 2023. Tarrisyna has over has 32 years of experience in mental health and more than thirty in medical social work. Since the bulk of her career is in medical social work in an acute setting, her expertise includes diabetes, emergency department, hospice, intensive care, nephrology, palliative care, psychiatry, and urgent care. She also has mentored and supervised BSW and MSW students for more than 25 years. Her tenure as a lead social worker for ten years helped propel a career in administration and management for the last six years. 

Currently, she provides remote telehealth services to adults seeking mental health intervention and has returned to medical social work to ensure success in the DSW program. 

Tarrisyna is a former employee of the IBP and, through that association, became an active member of ASBW-GLA. When she moved to the Inland Empire, she joined that IE chapter and remained an active member until the chapter went defunct. She re-joined the Los Angeles Chapter three years ago and currently serves on the membership committee. She ran for the position on the steering committee to expand her horizons and become more involved with the Black Social Workers in California.

Other affiliations include membership with NASW-California Chapter

 One of the founders of the National Assn of Black Social Workers, created in 1968. I grew up in the Midwest and graduated from the University of Illinois and the University of Michigan. I worked in Detroit as a psychiatric social worker for five years before moving to San Francisco and later settling down in Los Angeles.  In 1970, I accepted a teaching position at California State University – Los Angeles.  Midway through my career at Cal State L.A. decided to enroll in the doctorate program of Social Welfare at UCLA, I graduated in 1987. I held different positions over the years at Cal State – LA –Classroom Instructor, Executive Director of the Associated Clinics, Chair of the Social Work Department, and Dean of Continuing Education. Experiencing 50+ years of involvement in ABSW has been one of the joys of my life. I have been able to help shape policy and action within the National structure as well as our local chapter – It doesn’t get better than that.