Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marya Wright. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Marya, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How do you feel about asking friends and family to support your business? What’s appropriate, what’s not? Where do you draw the line?
I’m truly blessed. I have a handful of amazing people in my life who genuinely want to see me succeed and are willing to go above and beyond to support my visions. Can you believe it? They selflessly work on my business projects, expecting nothing in return. I can’t thank them enough!
You know, asking friends for help has always been a struggle for me. I hold myself to such a high standard when it comes to my work. My level of commitment often surpasses what most folks can offer. Throughout my entire life, I’ve been driven to keep my head down, stay focused, and push forward on my own. And let me tell you, that independent approach has taken me pretty darn far! But here’s the thing—I’ve realized that if I want to take my entrepreneurship game to the next level, I’ve got to build a rock-solid team that can help Wright Community Services, LLC reach new heights.
Sure, I handle the day-to-day management of my businesses, juggle projects, tackle social media, and handle client communication all by myself. But let me introduce you to the amazing folks who lend a hand behind the scenes. First off, I’ve got an incredible administrative assistant who keeps the gears turning smoothly in the business operations. Then there’s my public relations advisor—this person is a master at handling media relations and ensuring our business integrity remains intact. And let me not forget about my buddy who runs their own cinematic company. They’ve been an absolute Rockstar, helping me create visually stunning content for my business. On top of all that, I’ve got a group of friends who engage in think-tanks and share fantastic business growth opportunities.
With this dream team by my side, there’s no doubt in my mind that Wright Community Services, LLC is destined for greatness. We’re all on this journey together, driven by a shared vision and an unwavering determination to achieve extraordinary things. It’s an exciting time and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Absolutely! Allow me to introduce myself. I am Marya Wright, a Black Social Worker with a distinguished national reputation. Throughout my career, I have served as a consultant, educator, international trainer, and facilitator. My expertise lies in organizational leadership, child welfare services, and curriculum development. As the President and CEO of Wright Community Services LLC, my company is dedicated to empowering system-involved families through awareness, services, and education. We also provide consultation, training, and specialized facilitation to agencies serving these communities.
Currently, I am a registered Associate Clinical Social Worker (#81167) with the Board of Behavioral Sciences, working diligently to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). I hold a Master’s degree in Social Work from Cal State East Bay, with a specialization in Child Welfare Policy and Research. Additionally, I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from San Diego State University, where my focus was on Child Welfare Services and Motivational Interviewing.
My credentials extend beyond academic qualifications. I am a qualified expert witness, a criminal defense social work consultant, and a private dependency investigator for children, youth, and family services within the realm of family law court, as well as juvenile and dependency court. Moreover, I am honored to serve as an elected Board of Director for the California Society of Clinical Social Work, where I take on the role of the Mentorship Program Chair.
My dedication to research is evident in my extensive work on topics such as Child Sexual Exploitation and Foster Care. I have even published an article on the utilization of algorithmic decision-making in child welfare. In addition to my clinical social work endeavors, I have had the privilege of lecturing extensively. Starting in Spring 2020, I joined the Sociology Department at Cal State East Bay as a lecturer. Within this capacity, I have taught courses on Sociology of Sexualities, Child Welfare Policy, Sociology of Family, and Sexual Violence. Looking ahead, I am excited to join the graduate social work program as an adjunct professor, where I will be teaching courses on human behavior and the social environment, as well as generalist practice.
As you can see, my journey in the field of social work has been diverse and rewarding. I am deeply committed to making a positive impact in the lives of individuals and families, and I continuously strive to contribute to the advancement of my profession.
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
As a Social Worker, my journey has led me to create an Empowerment Movement for all Social Workers. In today’s world, the social work field is recognized as an essential, in-demand profession that brings immeasurable value to the communities we serve. However, the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on social workers. Not only were we needed to support the community, but we also personally experienced the emotional, mental, and financial toll just like our clients. It’s important to acknowledge that social workers are professionals who understand the community because many of us come from lived experiences and hold deep compassion for the clients we serve within the systems. This inspired me to create a timeless brand that embodies empowerment, inspiration, and inclusivity for all social workers.
When I launched Social Worker. in 2022, my aim was to create a brand that encompasses social workers from various backgrounds and professions, not limited to those with a Master of Social Work or a license. I wanted to provide a clean, inclusive, and strong brand that social workers could proudly wear, use, and embrace in their professional lives. My favorite part is that Social Worker. merch can be worn at work, on the go, or during leisure time.
Although Social Worker. is still a growing brand, with just nine months of marketing, we have already sold over 300 items to social workers in eight different states across the United States! It is truly a blessing to receive such tremendous support from my colleagues in the early stages of this venture. One of the greatest successes of Social Worker. and my company, Wright Community Services LLC, is being named as an Advocate Champion Sponsor for the National Association of Social Workers – California Legislative Lobby Days. This sponsorship reached over 25,000 social workers!
As I continue to expand my business, I am actively seeking outlets to share Social Worker. and the value of being part of this movement. When social workers wear Social Worker. merchandise such as hats, pens on lanyards, or name badge holders, we proudly display our social work identity to the community. Consider this: social workers work in various settings, as mentioned earlier, and we lack a specific dress code like nurses in scrubs. It may not always be apparent that we are social workers. Having items that connect us and allow us to stand out in the community is powerful. I experience this firsthand when I wear my Social Worker. hat. Fellow social workers often notice it and ask, “Are you a social worker?” And with pride, I respond, “Yes.” This simple act creates an instant sense of community and connection. We have found each other because I wore my Social Worker. merch.
While I started my consulting business in 2019 and began selling merch in 2022, it is not my primary source of income. I still work full-time as a social worker, supporting system-involved children and families. Currently, Social Worker. is a movement that I am passionate about expanding. It will remain my side hustle with the ultimate goal of transitioning my business, Wright Community Services LLC, to a point where I can focus primarily on empowering my colleagues and building a movement for Social Workers Period!
Despite dedicating full-time hours to my businesses, I have maintained full-time employment to ensure a consistent income. My side hustle is deeply rooted in my social work education and the desire to uplift and unite social workers from all walks of life.
How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.
Absolutely!
You can find my highly rated Etsy Shop, TheSocialWorkerShop, where I offer an array of Social Worker. (Period) merch. With a stellar 5-star rating, it’s the go-to destination for social work professionals to find items they can use and wear in their day-to-day lives.
In addition to Etsy, I also sell my merchandise on my website, www.WrightCommunityServices.com and on Instagram @SocialWorker.__.
However, Etsy has been a no-brainer for me. It’s a well-known ecommerce platform that does a lot of the legwork. I started receiving orders even before I officially announced or marketed my Social Worker. shop! Setting up my shop on Etsy was quick and easy. I managed to do it while my kids played outside, basking in the warmth of a cozy fire. The publishing fees are reasonable, and the site is incredibly user-friendly, offering easy checkout methods for shoppers. One of my favorite features is the Etsy app for sellers, which alerts me whenever someone favorites, purchases, or leaves a review on my shop.
As a new ecommerce entrepreneur, I did encounter some challenges with owning an Etsy shop. One particular aspect I struggled with was formatting the options for items that came in different colors but the same style, like the Social Worker. pens. Currently, I offer two colors, blue and yellow, but I had difficulties creating that option online. To ensure accuracy, I often reach out to buyers as soon as an order comes in to confirm their preferred color.
Overall, I absolutely love having an Etsy Shop. It has provided me with a fantastic platform to showcase and sell my Social Worker. merch. As I continue to expand, my next venture will be setting up an ecommerce site with Amazon. Although I am still new to this journey, I am excited about the future success of selling Social Worker. merchandise online!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.maryawrightconsulting.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MaryaWrightConsulting/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryawright
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/89_IzUiFodM https://youtu.be/89_IzUiFodM
- Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/wright-community-services-llc-65333454093
- Catalog: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFkWB862KY/yCcNoBkP7bKZd_E5NSRnUg/view?utm_content=DAFkWB862KY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink
- Other: https://linktr.ee/maryawrightconsulting https://www.wrightcommunityservices.com/socialworker