YPWA Member Spotlight November 2023

November is a month of giving thanks and sharing gratitude. The YPWA is incredibly grateful for our members and we love to spotlight what they are up to so that you can get to know each other and learn more about events, programs and businesses in our local community.

This month, we are introducing you to Casey Thomas, who is a bright and aspiring young professional in the local community who's excited to network and make new connections. Read on to learn more about Casey's work at WPI and her involvement in the local community.

Member Details

Name: Casey Thomas

Pronouns: She/her

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

When did you move to Worcester? When I was 9 years old

A fun fact about yourself: I was born with a hole in my heart, which was replaced when I was only 3 years old.

Local Recommendations/ Hot Takes

Favorite spot to treat yo self:

The Queen's Cups!

Favorite pop up event to work/visit in Worcester: I really like the White Room and recently visited the Major Taylor Museum for the first time - both are awesome places to check out!

What inspired you to join the YPWA?:

I was gifted this membership from an amazing woman in my life who has opened up doors for me to connect and network with other young professionals. I am so happy to have a safe space!

What would be your dream YPWA event? Open discussion time with no formal agenda - time to allow people to share what they've been up to, what's on their mind - a space to simply uplift and be.

Favorite Volunteer/Organization/Event around the city: I am a proud WCACA (Worcester Caribbean-American Carnival Association) committee member.

Can you tell us about the mission of the WCACA and what led you to join? The Worcester Caribbean-American Carnival Association, also known as WCACA, is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to empowering people, preserving Caribbean tradition, and respecting cultural diversity through community engagements and events like Worcester's Carnival that takes place on the last Sunday of August annually. 

I hope to support the organization's mission to ensure that my children know their family’s rich history, culture, and beauty; while also being respectful to cultures other than their own.

Occupation: Student & Young Alumni Engagement Coordinator

What do you enjoy most about your current role? Having the opportunity to interact wtih the students and support them as they wrok towards their perspective fields. They give me hope for the future, they are so incredibly bright!

How would a co-worker or client describe you in three words? I actually asked one of my co-workers this question and she provided the following four words: Passionate, genuine, optimistic, easy-going. 

Do you have goals you'd like to share? Being newer to higher ed, I simply hope to gain knowledge, network, and new experiences through work. 

What is your favorite part of the job and why? The engagement aspect is my favorite! I love to hear people’s stories. 

What exactly do you do? Walk us through a day of work with you. In my role, I advise a number of alumni and student groups with a goal of educating them on the importance of philanthropy and staying connected to WPI. 

You can find Casey personally on Instagram and professionally on LinkedIn!

Thank you so much, Casey! We've got several more spotlights for the 23-24 season. If you'd like to nominate yourself or a friend, you can do so here. We thank all our outstanding members that have shared their experiences, tips, and love of the Worcester area with us this season!