Forums on Racism, Hate Crimes, and Police Use of Force Bring Out Over 1,200 Social Workers

“These forums were an important first step in mobilizing social workers to work towards ending racial disparities and confronting racial bias. Social workers are well positioned to create the collaborations needed to do this work. Together, we can join with other professions to make more progressive policies, reduce racism and bias, and engage communities to create the change that is needed” – Allan Wachendorfer, NASW-Michigan’s Director of Public Policy

This October, NASW-Michigan initiated a first-of-its-kind statewide conversation to gather social workers’ perspectives on racism, hate crimes, and police use of force. Forums were held at 15 sites across the state to help develop action items for the profession. In the end, over 1,200 social workers from all parts of Michigan made their voices heard in developing specific action steps for our profession.

This social work call to action was developed in response to the events in cities such as Ferguson, Charleston, and New York City. The forums included an impassioned video interview with national social justice leader and social worker, former Congressman Ron Dellums. In the interview, Congressman Dellums urged social workers to remain at the forefront of social justice movements and to remember that “the price of freedom is eternal vigilance and the price of democracy is engagement, involvement, knowledge, understanding and participation.”

Attendees were encouraged to reflect on their personal biases, issues within the social work field, current events in their community, best strategies for community engagement, and ways social workers can have strong voices in social movements. When discussing historical implications of racism, one attendee at the Eastern Michigan University forum described their experience as “we as an African American community have been fed lies about ourselves. We believe we are less than, and the more we could emulate white people the better off we were.”

The observation was made by University of Michigan Lecturer Adisa Chaney that “social workers often sacrifice their own voice for the voice of the people.” Social workers often play key roles behind the scene, such as facilitation, advocating, event organizing and resource development, but are very rarely the faces out front in movements.

Attendees also included many students in both BSW and MSW programs. “The event was a great learning experience for those of us who attended, it gave us tools to use in our future careers as social workers,” Ferris State University social work junior Kelsey Thomas said. “In the field of social work there are many situations that deal with the issue of racism and knowing how to handle the topic helps do your job better and more efficiently.”

Host sites included: Andrews University, Cornerstone University, Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, Marygrove College, Michigan State University, Oakland University, Saginaw Valley State University, Spring Arbor University, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, University of Michigan – Flint, Wayne State University, and Western Michigan University.

Action items from the forums were expanded on at the Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) on November 11 in Lansing. Mark Bishop, with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, helped in facilitating two LEAD sessions, which took feedback from the 15 sites and expended to develop action items. Specific steps are being compiled and will be announced to membership in the upcoming weeks.

NASW-Michigan is committed to representing and serving all social workers in the state and continues to be a leading voice for the profession at both the Michigan and U.S. Capitols. Additionally, the Chapter has recently formed a professional network for people of color. NASW-Michigan is partnering with the University of Michigan School of Social Work People of Color Collective to launch this initiative. If you are interested in getting involved please contact Antoinette Debose at amdebose@gmail.com.

Articles from Michigan Schools of Social Work:

• Taking on Racism. Social work program hosts forum on race. Ferris State University Torch. October 28, 2015. http://bit.ly/1XmdW2d
• Forum on Race and Racism Creates Valuable Dialogue. University of Michigan Flint School of Education & Human Services Blog. October 26, 2015. http://bit.ly/1IbxRdl

NASW-Michigan would like send a few special thank yous to several individuals who helped greatly in developing these forums.  

Interviewer

• Sandra Edmonds Crewe, PhD, ACSW – Dean, Howard University School of Social Work

Interviewee

• Ronald V. Dellums, MSW – Former United States Congressman

Project Manager

• Allan Wachendorfer, LLMSW – Director of Public Policy, NASW – MI

Planning Committee

• Maxine Thome, PhD, LMSW – Executive Director, NASW – MI
• Cheryl Waites, PhD, LMSW – Dean, Wayne State University School of Social Work
• Lauree Emery, PhD, LMSW – Faculty, Wayne State University School of Social Work
• Duane Breijak, LMSW – Director of Member Services, NASW – MI
• Mark C. Bishop, Strategic Partnership Coordinator – Michigan Department of Civil Rights
• Bruce Cromwell, PhD – Reverend, Lansing Central Free Methodist Church
• Rita Walters, PhD, LMSW – President, Michigan Association of Black Social Workers

Videographer

• Patricia McDougall
• Eric Hill

Editor

• Helena Yago, Secretary III WSU SSW

Lastly, we would like to thank all of the host sites and facilitators for helping to pull off these important conversations.