Engage

The Brightmoor Alliance contracted with the School of Social Work’s (SSW) ENGAGE team to facilitate a community co-design process to develop an early childhood and community change program design and evaluation. This project, called Brightmoor Up From the Infant Out, seeks to shift the culture in the community towards mutual aid where community members work together to support children, promote family wellbeing, and advocate for policies that meet the needs of families in the neighborhood.

This discussion will explore the rising use of facial recognition technology and its growing controversy - specifically in regard to frequently misidentifying people of color, women, and trans people in comparison to white men. Learn more about its use and local policies regulating it during this discussion.

Our society has discussed reparations for Black Americans due to their enslavement, exploitation, and intergenerational oppression for a long time, but not much has manifested.

The School of Social Work’s ENGAGE Team is hosting virtual discussions for students and the Michigan Social Work community on engaging and assisting during the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion on April 9 showcases the emergency response work of MSW student and Pastor of the Historic King Solomon Baptist Church in Detroit, Charles E. Williams II. Williams shared other community engagement opportunities in Detroit.

The School of Social Work’s ENGAGE Team is hosting virtual discussions for students and the Michigan Social Work community on engaging and assisting during the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion on April 16 features the Ginsberg Center’s opportunities for community engagement and strategies for providing assistance during times of crisis and self-care ideas from Dominique Crump, MSW '19. In addition, each session will:

Join ENGAGE and the Office of Field Education for a virtual discussion this Thursday, May 7th, at 12 pm, featuring Sarah Teare, Community Development Director of Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley. Teare will be discussing Habitat's response to Ypsilanti community needs, how neighborhoods create supportive systems during times of crisis, and how students can join Habitat for Humanity's efforts. Attending this session will count towards field credit.

This ENGAGE virtual discussion featuring Rebeka Islam, Bangladeshi American immigrant and Executive Director of APIAVote-Michigan, a nonpartisan Asian American civic engagement and advocacy organization. Rebeka will be sharing how Asian American families are being impacted by the pandemic, how get out the vote and census efforts are being impacted for communities of color, and how students can get involved and help.

Join ENGAGE SSW on Thursday, May 28 at 12 PM, for a special session focused on how COVID-19 is impacting racial and economic equity in Detroit. Special guest Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib of Michigan’s 13th congressional district will join us to share how the pandemic is affecting her community and what residents are doing to advocate for their needs.

Social worker and Executive Director/Founder of Survivors Speak Trische’ Duckworth will join us to discuss her role in organizing protests in Washtenaw County. Detroit activist, founder of “We Found Hip Hop,” model and artist Piper Carter will join us to discuss her role in organizing protests in Detroit and her general work disrupting racist institutions. We will discuss how this significant moment in civil rights history informs our work as social work leaders, advocates and anti-racist organizers.

This virtual discussion is focused on clinical care during Covid-19, telehealth, and how to address and confront racism as clinical practitioners. Joining us include Social Worker and Director of Clinical Practice Improvement of Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority, Andrea Smith, SSW Assistant Professor Daicia Price, Social Worker and Clinical Practitioner, Richard Barinbaum, and MSW candidate Sophie Skochelak.