We recently connected with Olivia Wilks and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Olivia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

Growing up, I was raised by a single mother as my father was absent and was struggling with many personal issues. Despite wearing many hats and juggling between multiple jobs such as overnights at the hospital and cleaning dentist/lawyer’s offices in the day to make ends meet, my mother managed to instill many values into me.

One of these values are “It is better to bless than to receive” from the book of Acts 20:35. My mother would always remind me of this Bible scripture as she wanted me to release from the isolation of self. My mother taught me that giving cultivates a sense of generosity, compassion, and empathy. This has catapulted me into the field of Social Work where I help youth, families, and communities who have experienced trauma, grief, mental health crises, and community violence.

Although Social Work is a “thankless career”, I always find a deep sense of joy and fulfillment whenever I help others.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). I hold both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in the respective field. During my time in graduate school, I completed a thesis which examined the educational experiences of Black youth in Toronto high schools. With over eight years of experience with a wide range of clients, life challenges, and settings (including shelters, residential settings, not-for-profits, community mental health centres, violence intervention programs), I bring insightful knowledge, talent, respect, and cultural sensitivity to the Social Work field.

Currently, I work as a Community Development Officer (CDO) with the City of Toronto’s Community Crisis Response Program (CCRP). In this role, I support individuals, families, and communities impacted by traumatic incidents specific to gun violence, stabbings, swarming, gang-related activity, and cross community conflict.

In my spare time, I attends church, give back to the community by helping to start food banks, and mentor Black youth. I am also a scholarship creator where I have partnered with Toronto Foundation and ONE City in developing the Olivia Wilks ONE City Scholarship Fund. Every year, I donate to two Black high school students who desire to pursue post-secondary education in the helping professions (i.e., nursing, social work, psychology, sociology, or social justice) but may not have all of the financial means to do so.

Lastly, Outside of my professional responsibilities, I am a passionate content creator who is behind “Livgood.eatgood”, a social
media platform inspired by the belief in living purposefully through food, culture, community, and faith. With a little
over a year of experience on social media, I spotlight new restaurants, cultural cuisines, local businesses, and monthly
community events. My work promotes wellness, supports causes like food banks and educational opportunities, and
celebrates diverse communities. In February 2025, I participated in the annual Black-Owned Restaurant Crawl for Black
History Month. This was sponsored by Doordash and it was an opportunity for like-minded creators to network and celebrate dishes and stories from the African, Caribbean, and Latin diasporas.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

I think one of the keys of being successful in the field of Social Work is self-care. I know “self-care” is a word that a lot of people throw around, but it is very much essential. Everyday, we are dealing with real people with real problems in addition to our own. Sometimes these issues are very heavy and not everyone has healthy coping and adaptive styles.

Being in the field for 8 years and counting, you have to have a self-care routine or you won’t last. Replenishment is a requirement. You cannot pour from an empty cup or a dry well. You only have one life and there is only one you. Take care of yourself.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

If I could go back in time, I would choose this same profession and a thousand times over. When I was in my final year of high school, I was at a crossroads between Social Work and Theatre Performance and Production. I was stuck between being creative and being social-justice oriented. I decided to go with the latter; however, my teachers were discouraging me and said that I wouldn’t make it in Social Work as it is a “low-paying career” and the market is not lucrative. 12 years and I am in the field with a secure position and stable income. Not just surviving but thriving and committed to seeing the same for marginalized and equity-deserving communities.

Although I picked Social Work, I felt like this was my destiny, my calling, and my purpose. I wanted to be a part of something that was much bigger than myself. Grateful that I didn’t listen to my doubts or the outside opinions of others.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livgood.eatgood?igsh=MWhvajQ5NGYybzB0cg==
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-wilks-8a87911b3?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app