“You can’t grow and not give. It is the natural order of this university.” – Carolyn Patrick-Wanzo, MSW

From the start, Carolyn Patrick-Wanzo, MSW was shown the power of giving. As a life-long Detroiter, Carolyn grew up seeing the struggles and triumphs of a mother and father raising 6 children in Detroit’s Ecorse community. “Times were hard. We lived in a small home and when a family was in need, he moved us to the basement of the home to give the other family an affordable place to live. That was just type of guy my dad was,” noted Carolyn.

Carolyn’s parents moved from Selma, Alabama for a promising future that came with the $5/hour pay offered by Ford Motor Company. With only a 3^rd and 4^th grade education, Carolyn’s parents taught her the value of hard work and community. “My dad was a self-taught welder at Ford and also worked at a gas station he opened with my mom. My mom juggled raising myself and my seven siblings, while working at the gas station and caring for my grandmother. Family and community was at the heart of everything we did,” stated Carolyn. “The mentality of sacrifice to help others was instilled in me from a very young age.”

After graduating from Cass Technical High School, Carolyn started working as a bookkeeper and secretary in the Ferndale school system. “I had a burning passion to go to college after feeling left behind by my Cass Tech classmates who had all gone straight to college after high school,” noted Carolyn. Additionally, Carolyn was inspired by a colleague Jane Ware and supervisor Dr. Larry Sophia to pursue higher education. “I saw Jewel typing the social work and psychological reports for the district and it piqued my interest. My boss, Dr. Sophia, recognized how bright I was and made accommodations to my schedule allowing me to leave early and attend classes at Wayne State. It really changed the trajectory of my life.”

Carolyn went on to become a first-generation college student in her family, graduating from Wayne State University (WSU) with a double major in Psychology and Sociology. As a Phi Beta Kappa graduate, she then obtained a master’s in social work from WSU. “If I hadn’t received scholarships covering all of my tuition and a $3,000 stipend from Wayne State, I would not have been able to earn my degree. As a child from a big family, I simply didn’t have the financial means to pay for school myself,” stated Carolyn. “Generous donors made it possible for me to graduate debt-free.” Over the course of her career, Carolyn served as one of few Black social workers in the Taylor Public Schools District and housing distribution.

Music always played a large role in Carolyn’s life as a member of her family’s Baptist church choir. “When I met my husband Mel, his love of music, spirituality, and commitment to giving back to his community united us,” noted Carolyn. Carolyn married prominent Detroit-based jazz musician Melvin Wanzo. Mel played for the Count Basie Orchestra and The Glenn Miller Orchestra and collaborated with greats such as Art Blakey and Duke Ellington. “Mel and I never had children of our own, but the jazz students he mentored at Wayne, and the music and social work students who received our scholarships become our children. Mel was an eagle, rising to the top. I was fortunate to ride on his wings and when he passed, I retained his spirit of giving. Mel, like me, was a very spiritual person and giving was a natural part of his demeaner.”

“When you see a student who is really trying and needing, you are not only helping the immediate community through giving, but communities to come. Even when the economy is down, we raise up our priorities to make sure life is good not only for us, but also for those coming after us.” – Carolyn Patrick-Wanzo, MSW

For over two decades, Carolyn and Mel have been ensuring that financial hurdles don’t prevent students from becoming Wayne State Warriors. They created a legacy of giving, establishing multiple scholarships in Music and Social Work, including the Social Workers for Success Scholarship Fund; the Dorothy and Daniel Chisholm Social Work Endowment; the Megan (Wanzo) Coulter, MA, ACPP and Carolyn Patrick Wanzo Endowed Social Work Scholarship; the Virgina Gamble Roberts Social Work Endowment; and the Anna and Ralphe Armstrong Endowed Scholarship in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Department of Music.

On December 10, 2023, Carolyn weaved her passion for music and philanthropy together in a series partnership between the Cass Tech Alumni Association and the WSU School of Social Work. “Music is our human connection and brings people together. Without it, we really suffer from not being able to connect on that deeper level with others,” noted Carolyn. “This event was a labor of love.” Led by Carolyn, the two groups came together to host the initial event in the Detroit Jazz Preservation Concert Series performing the music of Cass Tech alum Kenny Burrell to benefit WSU Social Work scholarships. Held in the WSU Old Main Schaver Hall, the concert featured musicians Jacob Hart on piano; Marion Hayden on bass; Tariq Gardner on drums; Randy Napolean on guitar; and Marcus Elliot on tenor saxophone. “Traveling around the world with Mel as he played his music, combined with my work as a social worker allowed me to make so many wonderful connections over my lifetime. This four-part series brings all the facets of my life together in one place to do good.”

Mel’s identity as a Black male Muslim resulted in music laced with powerful political and social messages. “Mel’s advocacy through music inspires me to continue my work supporting the next generation of social workers,” stated Carolyn. “Social workers play an integral role in bringing people together. I hope that is a legacy I am remembered for.”

Carolyn’s drive to support upcoming social workers is not slowing down anytime soon. Next on Carolyn’s agenda is fundraising to endow the Social Workers for Success scholarship aimed at changing typical face of a social worker. According to Carolyn, “Social work is primarily a female dominated profession. We need social workers who represent our urban communities. With all the social justice and mental health issues that continue affecting our communities, we need to have social work professionals that look like us. We need African American males.” Carolyn noted through marketing and targeting prospective male students, nursing was able to change the perception of who we perceive as a nurse, “we must do the same for social workers”. Carolyn’s devotion to this population parallel’s the School’s commitment to increasing the number of Black and Latinx males in social work through specialized mentorship support provided by Academic Advisor’s Geoffrey Jones and Lawrence Robinson. 

Additionally, Carolyn will be working with the Cass Tech Alumni Association on their new grant from The Skillman Foundation. Cass Tech will serve as an incubator site hosting MSW practicum education students interested in becoming school social workers. “I got may start in schools and can attest that the need is great. Cass Tech has 2,400 students with only one social worker, so the need for school social workers is everywhere, including right in our own backyard,” stated Carolyn. “Our goal is to partner with Wayne State to create curriculum for high school students interested in social work and develop a pipeline to support the workforce development initiatives currently occurring in the School.”

“Carolyn Wanzo exemplifies a grass roots social worker. She has been a creative and energetic fundraiser for the School of Social Work - using principles of advocacy, organizing, and empowerment. Carolyn organizes friends and events to pay tribute to the School of Social Work - always raising funds for our students along the way. Carolyn’s journey exemplifies the transformative power of giving and its profound impact on our students and future social workers. Her leadership and ability to unite individuals for good, like the CTAA, is truly inspiring and ensures that every student has the opportunity to succeed. I am proud to call Carolyn an alum and a friend,” noted Dean of Social Work at Wayne State, Sheryl Kubiak.

“I have so much hope for our future. The desire to empower change and support our Detroit community is visible in Wayne State’s social work students. I am proud to support that passion and encourage others to give generously in support of the next generation.” – Carolyn Patrick-Wanzo, MSW

“We are fortunate to have alumni like Carolyn who remain engaged and involved,” noted David Ripple, vice president of WSU Development and Alumni Affairs. “Through alumni sharing their experiences, enthusiasm and commitment, the entire Wayne State University community thrives, especially our students. Carolyn is an ambassador and advocate who is a role model for other alumni and current students.”

If you are interested in learning more about the impact your gift could have, contact WSU Social Work Director of Major Gifts Jennifer Presley at j.presley@wayne.edu or 313-577-4429.

---

Writer and Editor: Betsy Vanderstelt