March is National Social Work Month, and a time to recognize the people who quietly change lives every day. Among those people is Zaccharus Lovejoy, MSW, a social worker whose passion for his work at McGregor PACE in Summit County, Ohio, is unmistakable the moment he begins to speak about it.
Since earning his Master of Social Work from the University of Akron in 2011, Lovejoy has never looked back. Ask him if he made the right career choice, his answer comes quickly and without hesitation: “Definitely.” He doesn’t just like being a social worker, he loves it.
For Lovejoy, the profession is more than a job; it’s a calling that aligns perfectly with his personality, skills, caring nature and especially his deep respect for older adults. The senior population is my favorite to work with,” he says. “They make me wiser. When you really love something, it’s not a job.”
At McGregor PACE, Lovejoy’s role is anything but routine. His days stretch across a wide spectrum of responsibilities: assessments, coordinating services, connecting participants to housing, making referrals and conducting semi-annual and yearly evaluations. He visits participants in their homes, in group settings and wherever they need support. Official schedules might guide his visits, but his commitment goes further. “If I need to go visit residences more,” he says simply, “I go more.”
That flexibility reflects a deeper truth about social work: no two days are the same. Lovejoy embraces that unpredictability. At the heart of his work is problem-solving, constant, creative and often complex. “There’s always something new every day,” he explains. “A lot of problem-solving… that’s what I enjoy the most.”
But he’s quick to point out that success in social work is never a solo effort. Teamwork, says Lovejoy, is essential. At McGregor PACE, he’s part of a group of 16 social workers with more than a century of combined experience. That collective knowledge becomes a powerful resource when challenges arise.
“These are problems that weren’t in the textbook,” Lovejoy says with a smile. “But someone on the team has seen it before. I have the privilege to tap into that.”
He credits his colleagues, and strong leadership, for creating an environment where every voice matters. In the PACE model, social workers stand alongside nurses and physicians as equal contributors to participant care. “Your voice is heard, and your input is valuable,” he says. “I definitely appreciate that.”
Lovejoy never loses sight of what matters most: the people he serves.
“Participants,” he says, “are the heart of everything. Building trust with them requires honesty, patience and genuine care. “The more honest participants are with you, the more you can help them,” he explains.
Some relationships come easily; others take time. That’s just part of the work according to Lovejoy. He approaches each person with the same goal, to improve their quality of life, whatever their circumstances may be, from homelessness to home safety to medical and mental health care.
“You can’t always change what brought someone to you,” he says. “They may be facing homelessness or difficult situations. But you can help them find housing. You can support them. You can care.”
He recalls one participant who struggled to communicate and rarely responded to him. Over time, despite the challenges, Lovejoy remained consistent in his outreach and care. Then one day, unexpectedly, she reached out, not with a request, but with gratitude. “She told me, ‘I know you care about me, and I appreciate it,’ he remembers.
Moments like that stay with him. They are quite affirmations that even when progress is slow, or invisible, connection still matters.
The PACE model centers on participants making their own choices. Lovejoy and the PACE team don’t try to control outcomes, but instead support, guide, and advocate, ensuring participants know someone is in their corner, “because even if they don’t do what you want, they know you care,” said Lovejoy.
As he reflects on his career, Lovejoy is certain of one thing: he’s exactly where he’s meant to be. Supported by a strong team, inspired by the people he serves, and driven by a genuine passion for helping others, he sees a long future ahead in the field.
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