Events Archive

The Howard University School of Social Work has hosted a variety events to enrich it's students, faculty, and alumni, as well the Howard University and DC community. We have an unwavering commitment to empowering others to be thought leaders & change makers.

2022

"Nurturing The Nation"… An Open Conversation with Ms. Gwen Carr

On Monday, January 31st, the inaugural class of Howard University Social Work Social Justice Fellows hosted an open conversation with Ms. Gwen Carr - Eric Garner's mother. Ms. Carr is affectionately regarded as A Mother of the Movement (against police brutality), but she is so much more than that. Ms. Gwen Carr is revered for her willingness to meet with families experiencing the death of a child at the hands of police brutality. Her strength is perpetually demonstrated in her openness to be vulnerable out loud, to create safe spaces, and to galvanize large numbers of people to participate in moving policies forward that hold systems accountable. Facilitators engaged with her about the intricacies of being an effective leader and how she maintains her own momentum despite the emotional drain. This conversation was moderated by Dr. Mildred "Mit" Joyner, and Dean Sandra Edmonds Crewe offered welcome remarks. 

A flyer depicting Ms. Gwenn Carr, overlayed with text detailing the event times

An Intellectual Sit-In with Nikole Hannah-Jones

On February 14, 2022, Howard University School of Social Work hosted Nikole Hannah-Jones, Pulitzer Prize winner and creator of the 1619 Project, in an intellectual sit-in. Watch the recording of the event on Youtube here

A still of Nikole Hannah Jones in the Youtube recording of her intellectual sit-in event

2021

"Racialized and Gendered Disparities within the Child Welfare System"

On June 22, Dr. Ruby Gourdine moderated the Rutgers University Alumni Association's event entitled "Racialized and Gendered Disparities within the Child Welfare System." The event focused on how race, gender, and class oppression have impacted child welfare policies and led to the overrepresentation of Black women and children in the child welfare system. With a wealth of experience regarding these topics both in the field and in academia, Dr. Gourdine offers wisdom and poignant commentary on policy changes that have impacted these women and children throughout history, as well as policies that may engender future change for this population. Access the full recording of the event on Youtube here. 

Social Work, White Supremacy, and Racial Justice Symposium

Parts 1-4 available for viewing online here 

 

As social workers, we are all responsible for ensuring that we engage in social work practice that reflects our anti-racist values while working to dismantle oppressive systems. This commitment begins with social work education practices that upholds these values. Since Fall 2020, the Social Work, White Supremacy, and Racial Justice Symposium has offered four multi-day virtual events designed to unpack social work's complex history with White supremacy and to envision a way forward. The themes of each session are as follows: 

Session 1: "Reckoning with Our History, Interrogating Our Present, Re-Imagining Our Future"
Session 2: "Addressing Racism from within the Social Work Profession: Reflections on our Past and Present"
Session 3: "Envisioning an Anti-Racist Future: From Practice to Policy"
Session 4: "Strategies for Achieving Racial Justice in Social Work Education"

The events were organized by leaders at Howard University School of Social Work, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, and Arizona State University School of Social Work.

Read more about the event and watch recordings of all four sessions here.

2021 Conferring of Degrees (Recorded Livestream Event)

The 2021 Conferring of Degrees ceremony took place on May 6, 2021. Graduates of the Howard University School of Social Work and the College of Dentistry received both honors and degrees awarded by President Wayne A. I. Frederick.

Watch the ceremony here. 

2020

Dismantiling Racist & Oppressive Systems: Serving Through the Pain

Click Here to access the full virtual HUSSW event, recorded on the day of Mr. George Floyd's funeral in June 2020. 

2018

Civil Rights and the Legacy of Racism: A Dialogue from the Front Lines Symposium: Dorie Ladner

On February 23, 2018, The Civil Rights and the Legacy of Racism: A Dialogue from the Front Lines Symposium generated a conversation concerning racism in America through the lens of civil rights yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Participants heard from presenters who have first-hand knowledge of the struggle of civil rights. Attendees participates in a porch talk with civil rights leader and social worker, Dorie Ladner.

Symposium Objectives included:

· Understanding the experiences of civil rights leaders in addressing institutional racism

· Generating an open dialogue about the impact of racism from a multidisciplinary perspective

· Developing action steps in addressing racism in the 21st century.

Special Guest: Dorie Ann Ladner, Civil Rights Activist

2017

Society for Social Work and Research Conference

In January, faculty Dr. Husain and Ph.D. graduate Dr. Zidan presented at the Society for Social Work and Research's 2017 conference in New Orleans. Abstract Details: "American Muslims and Predictors of Health Status: A National Study." 

Dr. Abu-Bader Presents Results of 2016 Arab Opinion Index

On April 11th, our very own Dr. Abu-Bader presented alongside Dr. Tamara Kharroub and Dr. Imad Harb, both from the Arab Center Washington DC, for which he is a Board Member. He presented the results of the 2016 Arab Opinion Index, which surveyed 18310 participants from 12 Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The presentation was at the National Press Club, Washington, DC between 9:30-11:00 AM. The presentation was attended by many of the media organizations. Click here for more information and to also view media coverage by US News, US Today, and many others.

Dr. Abu-Bader will also present his research entitled “Prevalence of Depression among Older Arabs & Muslims in USA & Middle East” at the conference on Muslim Mental Health to be held at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI on April 13-15, 2017. 

Dr. Edwards Speaks at Loyola University Chicago's Annual Joan Greenstone Lecture

Our very own, Dr. Edwards, will be the keynote speaker at the Annual Joan Greenstone Lecture at Loyala University in Chicago on April 27th, 2017. She will be speaking on traumatic effects of race and poverty issues. Click here to register. More details on her work & research below.

The Intrapsychic Psychological Binds of Poverty and Race: The Intersection of Mind and Milieu

  The experiences of race and living in poverty are riddled with innumerable stressors and challenges, and thus are subject to the experience of a range of mental health issues. Those that live the experience of trauma related to race and poverty suffer disproportionately from a host of hardships that contribute to psychological distress that can have a profound effect on mental health and serve as intrapsychic binds. These internalized weights require therapeutic supports to alleviate the internalized oppressive circumstances by those that are immersed in the experience daily. This presentation explores the intersection of these psychological binds and their effect on human behavior.  Further it provides context for clinical interventions that empower and provoke resilience in the individual as they manage the grand challenges of the constraints of their environment and fiscal constraints in a world of plenty.  

Howard University Research Week

An oral presentation by Dr. Kolivoski was accepted for Howard University's Research Week.
Details: Kolivoski, K. M., & Klipp-Lockhart, T. Assessing the Financial Impact of Misdemeanor Court Fines and Fees in a Midwestern State. Oral presentation abstract submission to Howard University Research Week, April 2017.

Additionally, MSW student, Tim Klipp-Lockhart's poster was accepted for Research Week as well. Details: Klipp-Lockhart, T., & Kolivoski, K. M.. Disparities at Intervention Points in the Juvenile Justice System. Poster abstract submission to Howard University Research Week, April 2017.

Raise the Age and the Social Work Reinvestment Initiative

HUSSW Ph.D. alumna, Dr. Lucinda Acquaye-Doyle, took students from her social policy course and communities and orgs classes to Albany to lobby in support of Raise the Age and the Social Work Reinvestment Initiative with NASW on 3/28. After they were done, they snuck off to visit her former study abroad student from Stony Brook who is now the youngest elected Assemblywoman. Below is what happened next...

http://nystateassembly.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=6&clip_id=4181&meta_id=1578

2016

White House "Champions of Change" Event

Proud of our students, Chanel Banks and Brittney Young who were selected as White House Initiative on HBCUs All-stars and represented the Howard University School of Social Work at the White House "Champions of Change" event in September 2016!

2015

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Lecture

In 2015, the Howard University School of Social Work proudly hosted Congresswoman Barbara Lee, U.S. House of Representatives, California-13th Congressional District for a lecture on economic challenges in the Black Community. Congresswoman Lee earned her M.S.W. degree at the University of California, Berkeley School of Social Work and Chair of the Congressional Social Work Caucus.

Interview with former Congressman Ron Dellums

Howard University School of Social work partnered with NASW-Michigan and Wayne State University School of Social Work to produce "Developing A Social Work Response To Racism, Hate Crimes, and Police Use of Force: An Interview with Ron Dellums." Please select the link that is provided here to access the interview.

2014

Dr. Ruby Gourdine Honored Among "30 Most Influential Social Workers Alive Today"

In 2014, School of Social Work alumna and professor Dr. Ruby Gourdine, was selected as one of the 30 Most Influential Social Workers Alive Today by the Social Work Degree Guide. Selection was based on merit, scholastic study, and political activism. 

"Recognized as one of the social work pioneers by the National Association of Social Workers, Ruby Gourdine is a professor at Howard University with research focus on child welfare, youth exposure to violence, women’s issues, and social work history. She is the Chair of Direct Sequence Practice in the School of Social Work at Howard and offers expertise in the area of inequalities of service based on race in the workplace. Her advocacy combined with her work experience has given her the role of monitoring social work s

Founding Dean Inabel Burns Lindsay Honored for Dedication to the Field

We're excited to announce that our founding Dean, Dr. Inabel Burns Lindsay, was one of four previous students and faculty from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago that was honored on March 30th for her enduring commitment to advancing the field of social work and social justice to foster more inclusive, equitable, and diverse communities.

Our current dean, Dr. Sandra Edmonds Crewe, not only attended to show support for our founding dean, but also spoke on a distinguished social work panel. To the right she is pictured with Ms. Jan Stepto-Millett, niece of Dr. Inabel Burns Lindsay.

Check out some of the photos below to witness social work in action.

Social Work Month

About Social Work Month

Did you know that March is official Social Work Month. This year's theme was "Stand Up For Social Work". We opened it up with a bang via a reception and a questionnaire/scavenger hunt for students to win prizes, as well as a call to chapel on March 5th.

We also hosted a policy panel, featuring former Congressman Ed Towns on 3/22. Towns, who served 30 years in the House representing central Brooklyn, NY before retiring in 2013, earned his M.S.W. degree at Adelphi University’s School of Social Work.  He first introduced the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act in 2008 during the 110th Congress and it has been re-introduced in succeeding Congresses, most recently in the 113th Congress by Rep. Lee as H.R. 1466. Ed Towns, along with former Congressman Ron Dellums, as well as Congresswoman Barbara Lee, spearheaded the creation of Social Work Day on The Hill.

“Having a day for social workers on the Hill has been a dream of mine for a long time,” the former lawmaker acknowledged.  “This will be a day held each year when social workers from all walks of life can gather on the Hill to celebrate the many accomplishments we have made in Congress and salute the many social workers working with the federal government to create a more just and equitable society for all people.  March is Social Work Month so this is the perfect time to do this.”

Below is a photo of Ed Towns, with our Clinical Education Director, Dr. Davis.

Charter Day 2023

About Charter Day

The School of Social Work celebrated Howard University's Charter Day on March 2nd, as well as 150 years of truth and service.

Faculty, staff, and students attended Convocation, as well as the Charter Day Dinner.

Advocacy Day

About Advocacy Day

HUSSW students had the opportunity to participate in "Advocacy Day on The Hill" to meet with Congressional staff and advocate on legislation critical to social workers and the people we serve.This event is sponsored by the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy, the Social Work Department of Gallaudet University and the Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work at the University of Connecticut. Check out photos below from the event.

International Service Learning Program

About The International Service Learning Program

During spring break, the 2017 student and faculty delegation cohorts participated in our International Service Learning Program to Cape Town, South Africa and Alternative Spring Break-Haiti. From early education, to strategic planning, program management and evaluation, support groups, the intersection of HIV, substance abuse and domestic violence…our students were expose to areas that emerge as part of their fields of practice and how organizations apply the work of social work and social development, across the concentrations of direct practice and community, administration, policy and practice. Check out photos below for a few highlights from the 2017 trip.

Helping The Homeless

About Helping The Homeless

Throughout the school year, our students participate in various activities that are geared towards influencing change for communities in need. Our students assisted the homeless by donating food & supplies, as well as creating lunch bags. We are proud to say that via joint efforts with the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, our students created over 500 lunch bags! 

Dismantling Racist & Oppressive Systems: Serving Through The Pain

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for sharing your exhortations of the protests. I am aware that you are receiving many communications but I would be remiss if I did not share this one particular email with you, too. It demonstrates the global united stand and that out of unity comes strength: Ex Unitate Vires, formally used as the national motto for South Africa. We now state that diverse people unite. We are all together in this. I have been active in Amnesty International's causes for human rights since my father's solitary confinement in 1964 for his social justice activities " to make the world a better place for our children and our children's children..." This email is from Amnesty International.

Dr. Cudore Snell,

Assistant Provost and Howard University School of Social Work Professor

Dear Cudore, 

I hope you’re well and keeping safe.

The last couple of weeks have been very challenging, especially for marginalized groups around the world. COVID-19 revealed the inequalities that are still entrenched in many societies and this has been a clear sign that governments across the globe have a long way to go to achieve the equality we all have a right to.

In light of this, South Africa has not been any different. Since the nationwide lockdown started, many have experienced violence at the hands of state officials who were meant to protect us. This especially called for concern when the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) trended on social media for treating people, particularly black people living in informal settlements, in a manner that could be deemed as offensive and abusive.

When Collins Khosa, among others, lost his life at the hands of the SANDF, this exposed the fact that the way in which the SAPS and the SANDF approach civilians is still hostile and must be brought to the forefront to ensure that no one ever loses their life in this way again.

The global #BlackLivesMatter protests that took off after George Floyd was killed by the police in the United States of America are an indication that the world is changing and no longer will civilians remain passive and quiet when they see an injustice unfolding in front of their eyes. Black people across the globe have come together to call for justice and this activated a global spirit of activism where people from all walks of life have come together in solidarity with George Floyd and his family to show the world that no matter what anyone may think, black lives DO matter.

I hope this inspires you to continue with your activism and to take injustice personally because none of us are free until we’re all free.

Stand with our global movement and demand justice for George Floyd!

Justice For George

 

In solidarity,

Activism Coordinator - Organising

Rejoyce Makhetha
http://amnestyza.nationbuilder.com/

Amnesty International South Africa · 97 Oxford Rd, Saxonwold, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa

Feminine Hygiene Drive

About Feminine Hygiene Drive

We're extremely proud of all of the HUSSW students, faculty, and staff that contributed to the Feminine Hygiene Drive to assist homeless women and girls. This event tied in perfectly to our advocacy theme this academic year, which is homelessness.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Lecture

About Congresswoman Barbara Lee Lecture

In 2015, the Howard University School of Social Work proudly hosted Congresswoman Barbara Lee, U.S. House of Representatives, California-13th Congressional District for a lecture on economic challenges in the Black Community. Congresswoman Lee earned her M.S.W. degree at the University of California, Berkeley School of Social Work and Chair of the Congressional Social Work Caucus.

An Evening w/Congressman Ron Dellums

About "An Evening w/Congressman Ron Dellums"

Howard University School of Social Work students and faculty had the opportunity to gain invaluable information from former Congressman Ron Dellums. Former Congressman Ronald Dellums served in the House from 1971 to 1988 representing the 9th District in Northern California. He later became mayor of Oakland, CA and the Visiting Fellow at Howard University’s Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center.  

“I am pleased to help bring social workers to the Hill,” Mr. Dellums said.  “There is a sense of urgency today that did not exist fifty years ago when I first arrived on the Hill.  When Congressman Towns and I first came to Congress it seemed like we had plenty of time to address the challenges we faced.  The world is moving at a faster clip today and too many people are being left behind.  Social work must find the big idea that will define the profession over the next decade which is why it is so important that we all come together.”

Mental Health First Aid Training

About Mental Health First Aid Training

In February 2017, our students hosted a Mental Health First Aid Training. Thank you to the students and knowledgeable facilitators from the National Council for Behavioral Health that helped make this event a success. We're extremely proud of our Howard-prepared social workers for continously striving to be change agents.

South Africa International Solidarity with U.S. Protest - 2020