Carolyn Grawi is the team leader of the Center for Independent Living of Northwest Florida. She has a deep sense of commitment to our region’s nonprofit sector. She continuously works for the betterment of the community and has served nonprofits at all levels in program, fundraising, executive and leadership and has a breadth of perspective and experience. Since 1987, Carolyn has been engaged in and with the field of disability.
Carolyn has been associated with the CIL of Northwest Florida since 2018. Prior to the CILNWF, from 2004 – 2017, Carolyn served in a variety of roles as the Center for Independent Living including Executive Director.
Carolyn has over 30 years of executive planning, social work, teaching, administration, communications, and marketing experience in the nonprofit sector. She provides leadership and supervision to diverse teams; is an advocate for civil rights; communities’ relationship building; casework to develop reasonable accommodations for consumers in employment and housing; department activities, training, presentations; provides educational consultations on accessibility and sensitivity to city governments, libraries, schools, transit providers, builders, and developers; recommended and implemented policies in conflict management, and other issues.
Carolyn is also an adjunct lecturer at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, is a member of the UM School of Social Work Advising Faculty for the Online Certificate in Disability Inclusion and Accessible Design (DIAD) Program, and an adjunct instructor at the University of West Florida Department of Social Work. Carolyn has a Master’s degree in Social Work and a Certificate of Labor and Industrial Relations from the University of Michigan Schools of Social Work and Rackham Graduate School. She additionally is a certified Americans with Disability Act Coordinator through the University of Missouri and the Great Plains ADA Center. She is also a Certified Mediator for Dispute Resolution Centers.
“I am dedicated to this work because it provides vital human services and cultural enrichment to our community. When we have inclusive and diverse opportunities, we strengthen our work teams’ effectiveness. When our communities are accessible and inclusive of ALL of us, everyone will have the support to live their life as their best self and increase both their own and others success. I am proud to be involved in so many journeys of success of people and community.”
Presently Carolyn Grawi serves as the Secretary and Treasurer of the United Way of West Florida’s Agency Directors’ Association. She is a member of the Policy Committee for the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce (as the Co-Chair of the Economic Recovery Policy Committee and a member of the Quality-of-Life Subcommittee). She is a founding member of Pensacola Civic Con. Carolyn Grawi is a member of the Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living Board of Directors and is part of the JP Pass Committee and the Legislative Committee. She is a member of the Florida Independent Living Council Emergency Preparedness Committee and the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. Carolyn is a member of the Florida Disability Rights Voter Accessibility Rights Committee. She is a member of IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area. Carolyn Grawi is a member of the National Association of Social Workers in the Florida and Michigan Chapters and is licensed to practice in both Florida and Michigan.
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