Board
Diane R. Griggs, President & Historian
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.
James Maddox, MSW – Vice President
James Maddox is the Vice President, believing that in that role he can assist the chapter members and executive team in their combined effort to make the Association of Black Social Workers Greater Los Angeles an effective advocate for change affecting Black people. Maddox was reared in Norwalk, CT and attended the Norwalk Community College (NCC) until he was drafted into the U.S. Army. After his Honorable Discharge from the military he resumed his education at NCC completing his Associates Degree. Maddox transferred to University of Southern California where he earned degree in Broadcast Journalism from the School of Journalism. In 2007 Maddox became a National Service Officer working with veterans and their families as they sought benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Being an active member in the veteran community he was encouraged to pursue a Master of Social Work in order to better serve his veterans and their families. Maddox’s population of interest are Veterans, older adults, victims and survivors of human trafficking, domestic abuse and sexual assault, through a policy lens. He believes that ABSWGLA must inform and influence our profession through the scholarly research of topics that impact Black people
TONI SHAW - Treasurer
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.
Kristle Manuel – Corresponding Secretary
Kristle Manuel is the current 2022 Corresponding Secretary/Alternate State Rep for the ABSW-GLA Chapter. Kristle is a native Angelino who has traveled for education and work but has landed back home in Southern Cali. Kristle is a 2x HBCU graduate from Prairie View A&M University (BS Biology and MA Counseling). Her MSW was received in 2017 from Western New Mexico University. Kristle has worked in Child Protective Services with the county and non-profits as well as foster care; Wraparound, and intensive field-based services. She also has counseling experiences across a variety of treatment settings including small and large non-profits, inpatient substance abuse, community-based services, hospice, home health, and animal (equine) therapy. Kristle is also a private-practice therapist where a holistic approach with mind, body and spirit is utilized. Kristle is wanting to bring meditation and yoga trauma therapy to the Black community in assisting with Black health.
Vivian Hines, ACSW, MSW – Parliamentarian
While obtaining her Masters in Social Work at Adelphi University School of Social Work, Vivian Hines was recruited by Cenie Jomo Williams, the first National President of NABSW to join the ABSW-New York City Chapter. She was a student volunteer on the National Registration Committee at the 1972 National Conference in New York City. Vivian relocated to Los Angeles in 1978, following employment with the Bronx Development Center as a Psychiatric Social Worker and the Dr. Martin Luther King Medical Center as a Social Worker Supervisor. She soon transferred her skills to the Department of Children and Family Services, and later to the Department of Social Work at the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration, where she retired after 31 years of service to veterans and families with emphasis on homeless women veterans. Vivian is a past ABSW-LA Chapter President and Life Member, recipient of the 1995 NABSW National Community Service Award, Historian and past state and national representative. She serves as our Parliamentarian, making sure that our meetings are conducted in an orderly manner as set in our Constitution and Bylaws. Vivian Hines, MSW, ACSW
Elma Forrest Stewart – CABSW State Rep
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.
Linda B. Sewerbridges Williams – CABSW State Rep
A graduate from Loma Linda University with a Master’s in Social Work. I have been in the field of social work for over twenty-five years. The field of social work allowed me to work in a variety of positions from the emergency response in child protective services to management in health care. My career at present is with geriatric medicine with a primary focus on Alzheimer’s/Dementia patients and their families.
My vision for ABSWGLA is to continue to serve on the membership committee to assist with increasing the growth of new members by 10% for 2021. ABSWGLA provides community forums, scholarships, donations to women’s shelter by utilizing members’ skills in community organization and social policy. My affiliations are: CABSW-Rep, NASW-IE Unit Leader
Tarrisyna Bartley, LCSW, Steering Committee Representative
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
Michael Guynn – NABSW National Rep
I greet you name of ancestors who founded this great organization over 50 years ago. With this acknowledgement I stand on these shoulders of giants. I have actively been involved in NABSW for over 20yrs. I have enjoyed the various roles I have held, experiences I have had, and opportunities I have been afforded.
I remain fully committed to NABSW Code of Ethics and the Guiding Principles that Founders and Pioneers created. I believe we are called to use our knowledge and expertise to advocate and to be of service to our people. For me, it’s a way being and a way of life!