Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Events

September 18, 2024 - 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET

Join a virtual discussion with the editors of Haymarket Book's popular new title Abolition and Social Work: Possibilities, Paradoxes, and the Practice of Community Care, hosted by University of Michigan students, staff, and faculty. This book is "a critical anthology exploring the debates, conundrums, and promising practices around abolition and social work in academia and within impacted communities. Within social work—a profession that has often been complicit in the building and sustaining of the carceral state—abolitionist thinking, movement-building, and radical praxis are shifting the field."

The book's editors, Mimi E. Kim, Cameron W. Rasmussen, and Durrell M. Washington, Sr., share how they came to publish this important text and explore whether and how abolitionist principles and politics can be incorporated into social work. Throughout the chapters, the book invites readers to consider whether it is possible for social work to bolster the work of abolition, the tensions and paradoxes with abolition given the social work profession's legacies and trajectories, and examples of social work praxis rooted in abolitionist principles. 

As abolitionist organizer, educator, and curator Mariame Kaba writes in the foreword, "The promise of social work is often a carceral promise. The state and its representatives look to social workers when cops seem too violent or too expensive—when they need "someone else" to call or "somewhere else" to incarcerate people. Ida Wells-Barnett, though, and the contributors to this book, show that social work can do more than just tape some cushions to the bars. It can work to pull them down."

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September 22, 2024 - 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM ET

The purpose of the Electoral Wellness (Civic Engagement & Mental/Emotional Wellbeing) series is to invite the SSW DEI community into an ongoing conversation about power and hope during the Fall 2024 election cycle in a way that is meant to build trust and self-awareness. This experiential series will allow SSW students, faculty, and staff to build relationships in a setting that is grounded in restorative justice practices such as trust-building and active listening. This calendar of three sessions will use interactive activities to support participants in engaging in mindfulness and collective visioning as tools to protect hopefulness and plan for a socially just future in the face of uncertainty and political unrest.

Outcomes: Participants will

Experience Restorative Justice  values in practice 

Engage in self-awareness by naming feelings through the use of art

Examine power checks and balances within National and State Governments

Explore electoral hopes and fears

Discuss practices for discussing the election with clients

Practice grounding tools in the space that can be used with clients in the field

Engage in a collective visioning exercise

Process emotions following the 2024 election

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September 25, 2024 - 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM ET

Join us in person or virtually for a comprehensive overview of our DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan and ongoing efforts to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion within the School of Social Work. This session will highlight key achievements from year one and outline future initiatives for the 24-25 school year. 

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November 10, 2024 - 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM ET

The purpose of the Electoral Wellness (Civic Engagement & Mental/Emotional Wellbeing) series is to invite the SSW DEI community into an ongoing conversation about power and hope during the Fall 2024 election cycle in a way that is meant to build trust and self-awareness. This experiential series will allow SSW students, faculty, and staff to build relationships in a setting that is grounded in restorative justice practices such as trust-building and active listening. This calendar of three sessions will use interactive activities to support participants in engaging in mindfulness and collective visioning as tools to protect hopefulness and plan for a socially just future in the face of uncertainty and political unrest.

Outcomes: Participants will

Experience Restorative Justice values in practice 

Engage in self-awareness by naming feelings through the use of art

Examine power checks and balances within National and State Governments

Explore electoral hopes and fears

Discuss practices for discussing the election with clients

Practice grounding tools in the space that can be used with clients in the field

Engage in a collective visioning exercise

Process emotions following the 2024 election

This 3 part series will conclude on zoom with a post-election collective visioning session and an election processing space.

Click Here to Register

August 6, 2024 - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET

Join us for a lively coffee hour! Enjoy some snacks and discuss DEI awareness. Don't miss this chance to connect and learn in a relaxed and friendly setting!

July 31, 2024 - 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM ET

Are you ready to embark on your journey as a professional social worker? We are excited to invite you to a comprehensive MSW Career Workshop, designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to succeed in the social work field post-graduation.

Register here »

July 30, 2024 - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET

Join us for a lively coffee hour! Enjoy some snacks and discuss DEI awareness. Don't miss this chance to connect and learn in a relaxed and friendly setting!

July 24, 2024 - 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM ET

Join us virtually for an enlightening workshop on neurodiversity in social work, designed to enhance your understanding and skills in working with diverse colleagues, communities, and clients. Don't miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and make meaningful connections—students, staff, and faculty are welcome!

Register here »

July 2, 2024 - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET

Join us for a lively coffee hour! Enjoy some snacks and discuss DEI awareness. Don't miss this chance to connect and learn in a relaxed and friendly setting!

June 27, 2024 - 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM ET

Join us for a screening of Gaza, the 2019 documentary by Garry Keene and Andrew McConnell. The purpose of the event is to build community and bond while also exploring the beautiful culture of the Middle East. The documentary highlights real individuals living in the Middle East and takes a "day in the life" approach. The goal is to bond with community while also spreading cultural awareness and education. Following the movie, we will host a processing space to discuss further. Food will be served.

Register here »

This event is being held in collaboration with the SSW DEI Office, MI Social Workers for Palestine, Black Radical Healing Pathways, Southwest Asia and North Africa Social Work Association (SWANA), and the School of Information DEI Office. 

June 25, 2024 - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET

Join us for a lively coffee hour! Enjoy some snacks and celebrate Juneteenth and Pride Month. Don't miss this chance to connect and learn in a relaxed and friendly setting!

June 20, 2024 - 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET

Step into an immersive workshop where the rich tapestry of Juneteenth History intertwines with the nourishing flavors of soul food, creating a unique experience for social workers. Engage in career-specific reflections that serve as the main course for thought-provoking discussions, addressing current praxis and cultivating future social work transformations. Join us for a workshop that blends the essence of soulful traditions with the transformative journey of social work - a feast for the mind, heart, and soul.

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June 12, 2024 - 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM ET

Join the DEI team as we dialogue about restorative justice tools for building trust and navigating tension during times of heightened tension due to global conflicts. For this session, we will meet remotely over zoom. We will share tools for integrating restorative justice methods into community spaces and collectively explore practices for building trust in academic and professional environments during times of increased interpersonal and global conflict.

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June 4, 2024 - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET

Join us for a lively coffee hour! Enjoy some snacks and celebrate Juneteenth and Pride Month. Don't miss this chance to connect and learn in a relaxed and friendly setting!

May 7, 2024 - 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM ET

Join The School of Social Work  Diversity Equity, and Inclusion team as we create a guided space to explore and process world events & student protests that have recently taken place locally and globally. We will engage in a facilitated dialogue space that will have opportunities for personal reflection and working in groups.

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April 22, 2024 - 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET

The SSW Award for Impact in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion seeks to recognize outstanding individuals or groups in the School of Social Work who have demonstrated their commitment to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion at the School and/or in the community. These awards are open to all current SSW students, faculty, staff, groups, and registered student organizations, and may be awarded to up to three individuals or groups.

Award recipients embody the following characteristics:

Demonstrates a high level of commitment to personal growth and development around DEI topics (including confronting own implicit bias, exploring structural and systemic oppression, etc.)

Displays commitment to valuing DEI above and beyond assigned job responsibilities

Exhibits a true commitment to the promotion and prioritization of anti-racism

Facilitates opportunities to bring people in the school together across positionalities, to promote understanding and to celebrate diversity

Builds lasting and meaningful partnerships with organizations and communities beyond SSW

Invests in student development around DEI (teaching and mentorship of students of diverse backgrounds, developing student services [academic support, mentorship, etc.], programming, curriculum development, enhancement of free exchange of ideas around controversial issues, development of more inclusive and interactive teaching methods, etc.)

Participates in, creates, and publicizes programs or events that promote DEI

Implements creative and inclusive work policies and initiatives to support the needs of a diverse staff

Advocates for DEI practices, helping to develop appropriate DEI practices, resources, and tools, and mentoring colleagues seeking to contribute to DEI efforts

Engages in research and scholarship to advance DEI consciousness

Join us in celebrating their achievements and contributions to our field!

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April 17, 2024 - 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET

"The Creatives Showcase" is a two-day celebration of diversity in artistry, curated by artists with disabilities/neurodivergent individuals from our university's staff, faculty, and student body. Join us Tuesday, April 16th, from 12-3 pm and Wednesday, April 17, from 4-8 pm as we celebrate the transformative power of art!

Register today!

April 16, 2024 - 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM ET

**This event has been postponed and will be on Tuesday, April 16th, from 12-3 pm and Wednesday, April 17, from 4-8 pm** 

"The Creatives Showcase" is a two-day celebration of diversity in artistry, curated by artists with disabilities/neurodivergent individuals from our university's staff, faculty, and student body. Join us Monday, April 15, from 5-8 pm and Tuesday, April 16th, 12-3 pm as we celebrate the transformative power of art!

Register today!

April 15, 2024 - 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET

**This event has been postponed and will be on Tuesday, April 16th, from 12-3 pm and Wednesday, April 17, from 4-8 pm** 

 

"The Creatives Showcase" is a two-day celebration of diversity in artistry, curated by artists with disabilities/neurodivergent individuals from our university's staff, faculty, and student body. Join us Monday, April 15, from 5-8 pm and Tuesday, April 16th, 12-3 pm as we celebrate the transformative power of art!

Click Here to Register

April 14, 2024 - 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM ET

We welcome you to join us as we grow our Restorative Justice practice skills! We will use a mixture of individual reflection and group work to understand our conflict styles and build plans for working through conflict using Restorative Justice practice tools.

Please come prepared for an interactive workshop that includes work in small groups, individual reflections, and large group shareouts.

Register here »

April 2, 2024 - 12:00 PM to 1:45 PM ET

The School of Social Work office of Diversity ,Equity & Inclusion is proud to host "FirstGen Connect," an inaugural gathering designed exclusively for our first-generation college student community. As a cornerstone event,this event aims  to foster a vibrant community, ignite meaningful connections, and provide invaluable resources and a supportive framework for your continued success.

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April 1, 2024 - 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET

International Transgender Day of Visibility was created as a day to visibly celebrate being transgender and also for allies/comrades to show their support for the transgender community.  

Trans rights and lives are no joke, and we want to celebrate them! Come and learn more about national and local organizing for trans liberation, with guests from the Transgender Law Center (the nation's largest trans legal advocacy org) and the Ruth Ellis Center (one of Detroit's leading LGBTQIA+ led service and advocacy orgs)! Connect with trans youth and communities through letter writing and learn about the Trans Agenda for Liberation.

 

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March 19, 2024 - 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM ET

Join us for an engaging workshop on "Bridging Perspectives: Social Work and Lived Experience in Incarceration," where we aim to facilitate understanding and collaboration between social work professionals and individuals with lived experience in incarceration.

This workshop offers a unique opportunity to delve into the intersection of social work and incarceration, focusing on the importance of acknowledging and incorporating the perspectives of those who have been incarcerated into social work practice.

Throughout the session, participants will engage in interactive discussions, personal narratives, and skill-building activities designed to foster empathy, understanding, and effective intervention strategies.

Register here »