Supporting Trans Students

Em Moratto, MSW ’21, wanted to change it up. She lived in Memphis, Tennessee, and taught with Teach for America when her graduate school search led her to Denver. Now, Em is thrilled to see the mountains from her balcony.

Before attending the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW), Em thought she wanted to be a counselor. After the first year, the pandemic hit and she had a change of heart. Her first internship had consisted of one-on-one sessions with young people, but she had trouble reaching them when the organization moved to a virtual counseling approach. To fill her remaining internship hours, Em had to get creative.

“I created this website, Out of Yer Shell, that provides resources to trans and non-binary students, their loved ones and providers. It’s been nice to have that creative space to come up with something that can help people,” says Em, who worked on the site with fellow 2021 MSW graduates Cameron Surratt and Liz Wheatall.

One Colorado, the state’s leading advocacy organization dedicated to advancing equality for LGBTQ+ Coloradans, promotes the Our of Yer Shell website and provided Em with valuable internship experiences, including the opportunity to help develop the organization’s medical transition guide for transgender and non-binary youth.

Balancing coursework, internships and building the website was a challenge.

“I tailored a lot of assignments to Out of Yer Shell. It forced me to do a deeper dive on a lot of the content we were learning in school,” says Em.

The sustainable development and global practice concentration has allowed her to explore a macro social work approach and provided opportunities for research and advocacy.

“Micro social work is very emotional. It’s hard to leave things at the proverbial office. I wanted to do a macro concentration and more systems thinking,” Em says.

As an intern, she also conducted research with GSSW’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC). The institute’s mission is to elevate the value of the living world and the interrelationship and health of people, other animals and the environment. Em worked on IHAC’s Green Chimneys project, which measures the effects of animal-assisted interventions on self-regulation for children with special needs at a New York residential and treatment facility.

“I collected survey data, transcribed interviews and observed behavior to see what effects the animals were having. The kids were really attached to the animals,” she says.

Moratto is an Honor Society member and was named as one of eight people to watch by One Colorado on March 31, the Transgender Day of Visibility.

“I am honored as an ally to highlight Em Moratto for Transgender Day of Visibility for the amazing work she has done and continues to do in bettering Colorado (and the world) for transgender and nonbinary people,” said Alexander Wamboldt, One Colorado youth and schools program manager.

GSSW Career Development Advisor Stacy Said notes that Em has contributed to the GSSW community, too.

“Em was a pivotal individual who worked to promote the website Out of Yer Shell. This website provides a number of resources for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals and provides a space of support and community,” says Said. “Em provided marketing materials to promote the site as a resource to GSSW students. A number of transgender and gender non-conforming students have since connected with this resource and the community of support has grown, specifically because of Em’s initiative.”

Em’s next plan to change it up involves getting a job. “My partner and I really love Denver and would like to stick around,” she says. Wherever she lands next, Em is certain to make a positive impact.