BBRIDGE features School of Social Work experts

The BBRIDGE podcast recently featured a pair of UB School of Social Work experts: Mickey Sperlich, PhD, and Noelle St. Vil, PhD, both associate professors in the school. BBRIDGE, which stands for Building Black Relationships by Initiating Development, Growth and Empowerment, is hosted by four University at Buffalo PhD students to bridge the gap between research, practice and the community.

Sperlich's episode explores the intersection of sexual awareness and motherhood — particularly for mothers who have experienced trauma or are survivors themselves — and perinatal trauma. Sperlich shares how clinicians can navigate these sensitive topics while effectively supporting survivors. 

St. Vil's episode discusses Black relationships, self-awareness, healing from trauma and more. “What does that do to a relationship when you’re told, ‘Black men, your role is breadwinner, and Black women, don’t emasculate the Black men?’” St. Vil said. “Well, you go back into history, you look at Black women who have had to step up because of systemic racism, but yet we’re trying to fit our relationships into this framework of this patriarchal nuclear family where men are head of the household. It’s not working for our families.”