# Season 4, Episode 7: Kary Stone and Lorelai Vargas on Leadership, Systems Change, and the Future of Social Work

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/social-work-journeys-7030452/season-4-episode-7-kary-stone-and-lorelai-vargas-on-leadership-systems-change-and-the-future-of-social-work
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/social-work-journeys-7030452/season-4-episode-7-kary-stone-and-lorelai-vargas-on-leadership-systems-change-and-the-future-of-social-work.md
Podcast: [Social Work Journeys](https://stenobird.com/podcast/social-work-journeys-7030452)
Published: 2026-04-07T22:07:45+00:00
Episode link: https://socialworkjourneys.podbean.com/e/women-who-lead-courage-community-and-the-magic-of-social-work/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/5h25zmfau5w4qpvw/riverside_gsswsr_swj_lorelei_va_apr_03_2026_002_social_work_journeys5zcvg-qnru3a-Optimized.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/social-work-journeys-7030452/episodes/season-4-episode-7-kary-stone-and-lorelai-vargas-on-leadership-systems-change-and-the-future-of-social-work
Duration seconds: 2518

## Resource

In this conversation, we’re joined by two remarkable leaders in social work and systems change: Lorelai Vargas and Kary Stone. Lorelai Vargas, Bryn Mawr’s scholar in residence, brings experience across government, philanthropy, and community innovation, and currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at AHRC New York City. She is also a Bryn Mawr alum and a member of the GSSWSR Board of Advisors. Joining her is Kary Stone, a social worker with decades of leadership in child welfare and systems reform. Kary serves as Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability at the National Association of Social Workers, and is Chair of the GSSWSR Board of Advisors. Together, they reflect on values-based leadership, stronger communities, and what it takes to build a more just and sustainable future for social work. Listen now.

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## Transcript

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