Rachel Crandall-Crocker Inducted as an NASW Social Work Pioneer

On October 19th, 2024, Michigan social worker Rachel Crandall-Crocker, LLMSW, was formally inducted as a Social Work Pioneer with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) at the annual ceremony in Washington DC. The NASW Social Work Pioneers program honors those in the social work profession who have contributed to the evolution of social work and made lasting change on the broader society. Rachel was honored for her work with the transgender community and the creation of the International Transgender Day of Visibility. Rachel and her now wife, Susan Crocker, founded the organization Transgender Michigan in 1997 to educate about gender identity and expression, and about the injustices faced by transgender individuals, and to advocate for and provide support to the transgender community. 

NASW-Michigan intern and MSW student at Michigan State University, Janelle DeClerg, spoke with Rachel Crandall-Crocker about her service and award. When asked what she saw as her impact on the social work profession she says “I have really advanced the profession of social work in transgender advocacy.” Rachel has been an instrumental force in trangender celebration, empowerment, and advocacy throughout her career. 

Rachel encourages all new and aspiring social workers to put themselves into their job. She believes that a personal connection to your work makes it much more meaningful to you and the community that you are helping. Throughout her lifetime, Rachel has always aspired to help others like her. Starting out her educational career wanting to be a speech pathologist, she soon changed to social work for its broad range of helping positions. She began her social work career working with older adults, but was fired from her position when she transitioned in 1997. That is when she made the change to advocating for and working with the transgender community and founding TransGender Michigan with the goal of improving the lives of transgender individuals. She also started the Transgender Michigan hotline which was the first transgender hotline in the United States. Currently, Rachel is still running TransGender Michigan and her own private practice where she works with the transgender community, as well as continuing to be an international transgender activist. 

In 2009, Rachel held the first Transgender Day of Visibility. Before this the only day for the transgender community was the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Her reasoning behind this movement was to have a day to recognise those who are living, as the Day of Remembrance is to remember the dead. What started as a post to a transgender advocacy facebook group snowballed into an international movement with organizations asking to be involved in the outreach of the event within a couple years. Rachel says when speaking about her hopes for the day, “I was hoping that people would like it, I wasn’t aware that a few million would!” She reminisces about the International Transgender Day of Visibility this past year when it coincided with Easter, though there was some backlash, many people became aware of the day this year because of it. Through the years, the day has been met with much more positive feedback than negative and provides an important opportunity for transgender individuals to be recognised and celebrated. 

When asked what the recognition that comes with this award meant to her, Rachel says. “It means everything. It is a tremendous honor. It is saying that I brought something to the field that really improved it.” NASW-Michigan would like to congratulate Rachel Crandall-Crocker on her much deserved award and thank her for all she has done to improve the social work profession. To read more about the NASW Social Work Pioneers Program click here. 

“Rachel has been a powerful force for good her entire career and we cannot be more proud to have her as a Michigan social work colleague,” said Duane Breijak, NASW-Michigan Executive Director. “Rachel is a kind, feisty activist, who is always willing to share her story, skills, and has an uncanny ability to create community. Rachel’s contributions to society’s larger good is worthy of this recognition. Congratulations Rachel on being named one of our newest Pioneers!”