What does it look like to combine social work and law in one career?

For Anisa Joy Leonard, it looks like long days, steady focus, and a clear mission. She is a social worker. She is also a law student. And she is building a career designed to close gaps in systems that often leave people behind.

“I’ve always wanted my work to mean something,” she says. “Not just in theory, but in real life for real people.”

Her path shows how she is doing exactly that.

Who Is Anisa Joy Leonard?

Anisa Joy Leonard

was born in Nairobi, Kenya. She was raised in Harrisonburg, Virginia. That mix shaped her early view of the world.

“Growing up between cultures helped me see how systems affect people differently,” she explains. “It made me curious about fairness and opportunity.”

That curiosity turned into action during college.

She attended Eastern Mennonite University and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work in 2021. She also completed minors in Honors, sociology, and global development. She was recognized as a 2021 Cords of Distinction recipient for academic excellence and leadership.

While at EMU, she wrote for the student newspaper. She covered social issues and student life. That experience sharpened her voice.

“Writing helped me think more clearly,” she says. “It pushed me to ask better questions about the world around me.”

From early on, she was not just studying systems. She was analyzing them.

Education in Social Work and Policy

After EMU, Anisa moved to New York City. She enrolled at Columbia University and earned her Master’s in Social Work.

There, she focused on client-centered care, policy, and evidence-based practice.

“Social work teaches you to look at the whole person,” she says. “Not just the problem in front of you, but the environment around it.”

Her graduate training gave her tools to understand how poverty, housing, healthcare, and education connect. It also showed her the limits of direct service.

“You can help someone today,” she explains. “But if the policy is broken, the problem comes back.”

That realization changed the direction of her career.

Why Is Anisa Joy Leonard Studying Law?

Today, Anisa is pursuing her Juris Doctor at George Washington University Law School.

Her goal is not to leave social work behind. It is to expand her impact.

“I don’t see social work and law as separate,” she says. “I see them as partners.”

She wants to understand how laws are written. How regulations are enforced. How advocacy works at a higher level.

Law school allows her to build that knowledge. It gives her the language of policy and legal strategy. Combined with her social work background, it creates a rare skill set.

“I want to be able to sit at the table where decisions are made,” she says. “And speak for the people who are not in the room.”

What Does a Social Work Intake Specialist Do?

While studying law, Anisa works as a Social Work Intake Specialist.

Her job is direct and hands-on. She meets clients at vulnerable moments. She assesses their needs. She connects them to services and resources.

“Intake is often the first step,” she explains. “It sets the tone for everything that comes after.”

This role requires empathy and structure at the same time. She must listen carefully. She must also think critically.

“You have to understand the story,” she says. “But you also have to move quickly and make practical decisions.”

Her background in evidence-based practice helps her stay grounded. Her legal training sharpens her analytical skills.

This combination positions her as a bridge between systems and people.

Leadership in Social Justice and Community Work

Anisa’s leadership does not come from a title. It comes from alignment.

Her academic choices. Her professional roles. Her faith-based involvement. They all point in the same direction.

She remains active in the Mennonite USA Church. She participates in community initiatives and service programs.

“My faith teaches me to care about justice and community,” she says. “That’s not separate from my career. It shapes it.”

Her global roots also influence her leadership style. She brings both local commitment and international awareness.

“Every community has strengths,” she notes. “You have to start there.”

This mindset reflects modern leadership in social impact fields. It is not about control. It is about listening, learning, and acting with intention.

How Running Fuels Her Discipline and Focus

Outside of work and school, Anisa runs.

It is not just a hobby. It is part of her discipline.

“Running keeps me steady,” she says. “It clears my head.”

Balancing a full-time role with law school demands structure. Running helps her manage stress and stay focused.

In many ways, it mirrors her career path. It is steady. It is long-term. It requires endurance.

“You don’t see results overnight,” she says. “But if you stay consistent, progress happens.”

What’s Next for Anisa Joy Leonard?

Anisa is still early in her legal career. But her direction is clear.

She is building expertise in both direct service and legal systems. She understands clients at ground level. She is learning how policy shapes their lives.

That dual perspective positions her as a leader in the evolving space between social work and law.

“I want my work to connect the dots,” she says. “From the individual story to the bigger system.”

Her journey from Nairobi to Virginia, from EMU to Columbia, and now to GW Law reflects steady growth. It also reflects intention.

In a field that often separates policy from practice, Anisa Joy Leonard is working to bring them back together.

And she is doing it step by step.

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The Hershey Company plans to tweak the chocolate used in a small portion of its Reese’s and Hershey’s products following criticism from a descendant of the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup founder over ingredient changes.

The chocolate maker said it will phase out certain compound coatings and transition those products to traditional milk or dark chocolate by 2027. The change is expected to affect less than 3% of Reese’s items and a small portion of its broader portfolio, according to Bloomberg.

“[We’re] bringing a small portion of remaining Hershey’s and Reese’s products in line with their classic milk and dark chocolate recipes,” a spokesperson for The Hershey Company told FOX Business in an email. “The core recipes for our Hershey’s chocolate bars and Reese’s peanut butter cups have not changed.”

GRANDSON OF REESE’S INVENTOR BLASTS HERSHEY OVER ALLEGED RECIPE CHANGES: ‘I THREW IT IN THE GARBAGE’

Various Reese’s products are pictured on store shelves. (Arne Dedert/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Most Hershey’s products, including its flagship chocolate bars and standard Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, already use traditional chocolate. The updates will apply to select items such as the Reese’s Fast Break bar, some Mini Reese’s and certain foil-wrapped products, Bloomberg reported.

Hershey CEO Kirk Tanner said the decision to adjust ingredients was made shortly after he took on the role last summer.

The chocolate maker is also revising the Kit Kat recipe to create a creamier chocolate taste and plans to eliminate artificial colors from its products by the end of 2027, according to the outlet.

The changes follow recent criticism from Brad Reese, the grandson of H.B. Reese, who accused the company earlier this year of lowering ingredient quality in some products. 

CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS RECALLED OVER HIDDEN DRUGS TIED TO ‘LIFE-THREATENING’ BLOOD PRESSURE DROPS

Reese’s products are seen in a shop in the United Arab Emirates on Nov. 24, 2023. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

In a February LinkedIn post, he alleged Hershey had replaced traditional ingredients like milk chocolate and peanut butter with cheaper alternatives.

Reese on Wednesday dismissed the company’s latest announcement, calling it “a PR move” and “total bunk.”

“I don’t look at this as a win,” Reese told FOX Business.

He also questioned the timeline, suggesting the company is delaying meaningful action.

“They’re just hoping this will die down, and it’ll be business as usual by 2027,” Brad Reese said. “If they were really serious, they would do it right away.”

THIEVES STEAL 12 TONS OF KITKAT BARS FROM TRUCK IN EUROPE

Assorted candy, including Hershey’s, Reese’s and KitKat products, is displayed on store shelves. (Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Hershey pushed back in a statement to FOX Business, noting that Reese has no official connection to the company or brand. 

The company also cited a statement from other members of the Reese family distancing themselves from his remarks.

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“Our family would like to make it clear that we have no involvement in, nor do we support, the recent claims made by Brad Reese regarding The Hershey Company. His statements and opinions are entirely his own and do not reflect the view or position of our family,” the family recently said in a statement. 

“We continue to respect The Hershey Company, its leadership, and its longstanding role in our community. We believe H.B. Reese would take great pride in the products produced under his name today and in the integrity with which the brand continues to be managed.”

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the region hosts 24 million migrant workers, making it the world’s top destination for overseas labour. Most of them come from Asia – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Indonesia. Many of these workers take low paid or precarious jobs, and have little access to things like healthcare, the ILO says.

A new analysis finds that a 10% credit card interest rate cap would shrink access to credit, affecting well over 100 million American cardholders in the process.

Some Republican and Democratic lawmakers have expressed support for capping credit card interest rates at 10%, a measure that also received support from the Trump administration. Other proposals have centered on a higher cap of 15% or 20%. 

An analysis by Unleash Prosperity warns that credit card interest rate caps would function as price controls on what is currently a highly competitive market, resulting in significant consequences for consumers and the economy.

“What’s going to happen if you put these interest rate caps on is you’re going to have fewer Americans with either lower incomes or lower credit scores who will have access to credit cards and that will make them worse off, not better off,” Steve Moore, co-founder of Unleash Prosperity and a former Trump administration economist, told FOX Business.

TRUMP’S PROPOSED CREDIT CARD INTEREST RATE CAP COULD CURB ACCESS FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS: REPORT

Credit card interest rate caps would affect the access to credit and rewards available to Americans, while the impact would be the greatest on consumers with lower credit scores. (iStock)

“Obviously, the big issue right now for consumers is affordability, and so the politicians are looking for any way to reduce costs to consumers. But what we found in our study is that the interest rate cap would dramatically reduce the number of Americans who would have access to credit,” he said.

The report by economists at Unleash Prosperity noted there is evidence that the vast majority of cardholders would be affected by a 10% rate cap, based on research from the U.S. and internationally.

It noted a large survey of the credit market published by the American Bankers Association in January, which found that 74% to 85% of open credit card accounts would be closed or have credit lines reduced, affecting between 137 million and 159 million cardholders.

Unleash Prosperity’s analysis found that the adverse impact would be the worst among cardholders with lower credit ratings, with it universally affecting subprime borrowers and below, as financial institutions wouldn’t be able to cover lending costs due to the interest rate cap.

TRUMP CALLS FOR 1-YEAR 10% CAP ON CREDIT CARD INTEREST RATES

Credit card interest rate caps would have an impact on cardholders across the spectrum of credit scores. (iStock)

The analysis estimated that between 71% and 84% of prime borrowers would either lose access to credit cards altogether or have credit lines reduced under a 10% cap.

Super-prime borrowers, who have the highest credit ratings with scores above 780, would also be affected by a 10% rate cap or even a 15% rate cap, as they currently face an average interest rate between 13% to 18% for existing accounts and 17% to 21% for new accounts. One such impact would be that credit card rewards programs could be curtailed through less generous incentives, or such rewards programs could be eliminated altogether.

A 20% interest rate cap would affect about 70% to 75% of all borrowers, or roughly 129 million to 140 million cardholders.

“We need maybe more financial literacy in this country because you are going to pay a very hefty interest rate if you don’t pay your credit card on time and the rates are high, but that’s because you’re not supposed to borrow on your credit card, and a lot of people do that and that’s how they get into financial trouble,” Moore said.

EX-TRUMP ADVISOR RAISES ALARM OVER BIPARTISAN CREDIT CARD PLAN THAT COULD HURT AMERICANS

President Donald Trump called for a one-year 10% interest rate cap. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Moore noted that an unintended consequence of credit card interest rate cap proposals is that it could force consumers who need funds to seek out payday loans, which have an average interest rate of near 400% APR.

“The kind of do-gooders in Washington say they’re going to do this to help people stay out of debt… They don’t want payday lenders, they want to make it harder for people to use credit cards,” Moore said. “Well, what are people going to do, go to a loan shark to get money in a hurry?”

“The alternative to paying a high interest rate on a credit card can be even worse for people,” he added.

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Moore also said that credit cards play a significant role in how consumers engage in economic activity and that policymakers shouldn’t risk disrupting an important tool for consumers.

“Credit cards have become pretty ubiquitous in the U.S. and it’s by far the number one way people pay for transactions. The amount of money that people are spending on credit cards continues to escalate,” Moore said. “It’s a very convenient way for people to pay for things, it’s good for merchants, it’s good for customers, it’s good for banks – let’s not interfere with a system that’s working.”

Fast moving industries are at the forefront of trends. They’re there to keep their customers interested, happy, and engaged, and it’s something that all businesses can learn from.

Business agility is the ability to think on your feet and react or even predict trends to steer your business through every hurdle and into a new phase of success.

As digital industries have a significantly shorter production period (they don’t need to find a manufacturer, create products only to then ship them, assess them, ship them back, make changes, and all before major distribution), they can react to trends and new ideas faster. The rise of AI in coding means that digital products are only faster and easier to make than ever.

It’s time to take a page out of the digital industry’s handbook and apply these top business agility lessons to your business:

Add New Features Fast to Keep Up with New Industry Standards

Digital industries move fast, and because they move fast, the standards benchmark is constantly being pushed further and further. Take online casinos as an example. In the past, their offerings were largely fixed to online slot games. While slots are absolutely still a huge part, online casinos today now offer live casino games with video streams of real dealers as standard. Go to Kanuuna.com, and you’ll be able to play live games online just as you would the bigger names in the business.

That’s why it’s so important to keep track of what your competition is doing. One person trying something new isn’t a big deal, but once everyone is doing it, it isn’t a matter of following the leader. The industry benchmarks have shifted, and so too do you.

Continue Updating and Refreshing Content

Content has exploded, and while users may be fatigued by the onslaught of AI-generated content, their appetites have only grown for new things. AI has set a whole new pace for content generation, and while you don’t need to keep pace with a bot farm churning out hundreds if not thousands of posts and new bits of content per day, you do need to create and it has to be consistent.

The good news is that you don’t need to do it alone. Just as online casinos partner with game developers to get their games on their sites, you too can partner with content creators or even other businesses to create mutually beneficial symbiotic relationships that give users new content without compromise.

Stay at the Forefront of Digital Security

One lesson you absolutely (and this is 100% non-negotiable) need to follow from the digital industries is the ongoing push to enhance digital security. Online casinos do this through extensive ID verification, encryption, and fraud prevention measures. This approach works to cut down on spam as seen on other platforms while also boosting protections against outside attacks.

From AI-powered system monitoring to implementing more advanced firewalls to even establishing simple password and identity verification checks, there are many ways you can improve your digital security. The secret, however, is to know you are never done. Security is an action, not a goal. You will need to continually invest in it to remain online and operational, which is the bare minimum to establish true business agility.