Heartwork: A Conversation with Gigi Bouie
March 31, 2026 | Leave a Comment
March is Social Work Month, but for those in the field, this work doesn’t fit neatly into a single month of recognition. It shows up every day, in every moment of care, advocacy, and connection.
Emotional. Challenging. Addictive. These are the words Gigi Bouie, Housing Supervisor, uses to describe a career in social work. For Gigi, it isn’t simply a job or a shift to clock in or out of; it is a service that demands time and requires deep passion. It is “heartwork.” At The Relatives, where young lives are at stake, that heart—her heart—is exactly what is needed as we work to change the lives of the young people who depend on us every single day.
Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in social work?
Gigi: I can remember, as a kid, wanting to help people. I actually started out wanting to do nursing because my mom’s a nurse and my sister’s a nurse. Once I got a further look into that world, I decided that I wanted to be helpful in another way—something that I can be like, “Wow, I made a difference in a person’s life.”
I wanted to advocate for people’s needs, see their growth, and their potential from where they started to where they ended. And so, that is what led me to be a social worker: helping change the world, one person at a time.
Q: Describe your journey working in the field, and what brought you to The Relatives?
Gigi: Once I got into my last two years of my bachelor’s degree, I started learning more about therapeutic interventions. It was tough at first, but it was never tough to the point where I wanted to give up. I wanted to know more. I wanted to explore more.
I can remember my Death and Diagnosis class. That was one of my hardest classes, but it was one of my most beneficial. Now, I’ve used those skills to work with my clients. I can recognize their different symptoms and behaviors to help them. During my bachelor years, it was challenging, but I already knew I was going to pursue my master’s degree, and I did that.
I came to Charlotte because my uncle and my aunt here just got married. I loved everything about Charlotte—the beauty of it, the weather, the trees, everything. I researched Job Corps in North Carolina and found the closest one was in Raleigh. Once I figured out that it was not here in Charlotte, I ended up Googling something similar, and that’s what led me to AYN (Alexander Youth Network).
I was placed at the Crisis Center. I worked the third shift and weekends because I also worked part-time as a caregiver. I did that up until I was finished with my master’s degree, and then I came to On Ramp Resource Center.
Q: Can you share a moment in your career that reminded you why you chose social work?
Gigi: My first client taught me a whole lot. She came with nothing—no clothes on her back, no ID, nothing. She was from Detroit, Michigan, and was here with no family and no support. The program case manager at the time had come to me and said that she just needed an ID.
It wasn’t easy considering that she was never here in Charlotte and never had an ID before in her life. It was very difficult. I never knew how difficult it was to get an ID in my life. I tried to use a school record, a medical bill—just different things. Regardless of the fact, they wanted a birth certificate and a social security card. Well, she ended up getting into an altercation where she went to the hospital. I ended up obtaining her medical record from that and using it to get a social security card. Then, it took probably about a month to get her birth certificate. It was a lot of back and forth of speaking with Records.
There was one lady who I stayed in contact with for like two months. I can remember at the end of that journey, she asked who put me on this case. She said, “Whoever put you on this case, they put the right one. Just send what you have, and I will give it to you, because you have been working hard for this for the past couple months.” That was like my step of approval from her.
When I got the ID for the client, I got her a job and ended up getting her housing. Everything just started trickling. This girl is a manager at UPS now. And she still calls me to say thank you for all your support.
Q: How do you stay motivated when the work becomes challenging?
Gigi: Knowing that my clients need me, knowing that they need support. They are young; they’re very indecisive. I have kids their age. And that’s how I look at them—like they’re kids. They are still trying to figure life out. You almost have to be prepared for the mistakes and just be able to pick them up in times of need.
Q: How do you practice self-care while working in such a demanding field?
Gigi: Sometimes it’s hard to just kind of turn it off, because when you turn it off at work, you’ve got to turn it on at home. I have a lot of quiet time at home. I do a lot of meditating. I just like to sit and read a book or go get a pedicure.
Q: What professional accomplishments are you most proud of?
Gigi: I would say my growth—just being where I am today, the person that I am today. I’ve grown a lot in position as well as knowledge. Housing itself is very, very, very challenging, but being able to support and lead a team that produces so many accomplishments definitely means a lot to me.
Q: What advice would you give someone considering a career in social work?
Gigi: Come into social work with an open mind. Be a part of someone’s change. And don’t be afraid to take risks. Always stay comfortable with change.
