Damir Obradovic

Metro Social Services

Damir Obradovic has a soft spot in his heart for people who have a hard time making ends meet.  Born in Croatia, Damir saw firsthand how people, through no fault of their own, can find themselves out of work, persecuted, and in need of a helping hand.

It was his life experience in the former Yugoslavia that led Damir to come to the United States in 1989 to pursue a master’s degree in Theology at Emory University. Damir’s empathy for the weak and downtrodden took him from the halls of academia to Metro Government, where he has worked as a social worker at Metro Social Services since 2001. There, Damir began to learn the bureaucracy between local, state, and federal agencies that provide funding and services for the needy in Davidson County.

Damir has taken client advocacy to its highest level, as he has worked extensively with all racial and ethnic groups, while utilizing his gift to speak four languages and sign for the deaf. His unconventional style is based on grassroots practice, "going to the client where they are" to listen and empower.

Damir’s hard work and commitment to quality landed him a prestigious award. In April, Damir was honored at a special ceremony held by the National Association of Social Workers, where he received their “Public Citizen of the Year” award (shown in picture at left).

As for the Union, Damir first joined Local 205 in 2003 when he learned of plans to privatize many core services delivered by Metro. “There is a reason why some things should not be outsourced,” Damir says. “There is no profit motive in helping the poor and these things must be done without interference from the private sector–which is mainly concerned with the bottom line, not quality”. After joining SEIU, Damir was trained and became a shop steward. He also decided to merge his work with his union when he persuaded Local 205 to begin contributing turkeys to the Social Services department’s Thanksgiving food drive program. Thanks to his initiative, your Union has been participating in this program since 2005.
Damir recently decided to resign his position with Metro and return to school. He will continue his education by pursuing a Masters degree in public policy and management from the University of London. “Serving the community has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” Damir says. “But it is time for me to move on with another phase of my life. Even though I am leaving Metro, I will stay connected to Nashville and will continue to help those who need help in every way I can. In the meantime, I urge my union brothers and sisters at SEIU to keep fighting the good fight. Tennessee’s working families deserve nothing less and they need all the help they can get as corporations and special interests continue to take the wealth of working people and line their pockets with it”.