Using Sociology in the Workplace Molly Wilson Policy Liaison/Outreach Coordinator United States Senator, Paul D. Wellstone Public policy holds central the mission of government working for the people. In my role as aide to a United States Senator, I have the opportunity to travel the state of Minnesota and listen to the concerns and ideas of thousands. While forming new partnerships for legislative change and strengthening ties with communities, I am able to examine both environment and resources. I hear how poverty, abuse, mental illness, educational barriers and lack of resources affect the lives of people in my own state. As a student of sociology I know that these stories don't end or begin with the telling of their tales. My sociological background enables me to closely examine the overarching issues affecting people, while also recognizing their basic human needs. Public policy and public service is about insisting your government work for you. It is also about taking personal struggles and working to make them community triumphs. After graduating with an Applied Sociology degree, I continued my education in the Masters of Science in Social Responsibility program at SCSU. This program, using sociology as its core, explores the larger issues that affect our lives. Armed with the knowledge that a person's life circumstance isn't an isolated entity, but a piece of the societal puzzle, I entered public policy to put that understanding into practice. Understanding family dynamics, economic barriers to success, the prevalence of violence, and the importance of early investment in education is central to doing good work. Putting those pieces together with theories of social behavior and its impact on community gives me a lens for clearer vision, stronger grassroots organizing and compassionate service. Ultimately, my degree in Applied Sociology helps me to meet people at the center of their lives.