Engage

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.

Join the ENGAGE team on 7/9 for a special virtual discussion featuring activists and those personally impacted by the criminal justice system, about the legislative fight to dismantle policies that help to disproportionately incarcerate and criminalize our Black and Brown communities.

Speakers include:

• Amani Sawari, Campaign Coordinator for the #RightToVote campaign
• Baraka Sanders, SSW student, criminal justice reform activist, and former juvenile lifer
• Sophie Ordway, SSW student and criminal justice reform activist
• Erika Geiss, State Senator Representing the 6th Senate District

With our privilege, resources, and knowledge - what can we do as a school to address this issue? All discussions and ideas are welcome - whether it be proposing new field placements that focus on criminal justice reform, integrating more course content on the history and creation of policing and it’s direct link to slavery, discussing how we are being affected by the trauma of violence against our communities, or discussing ideas for other ways that the school can participate in this moment in history and be a part of the story advocating for change.

Join the ENGAGE team for a discussion featuring prominent water justice activists Monica Lewis Patrick and Bryce Detroit to discuss their work, how water injustice is tied to historic and systemic discrimination, and how lack of access to clean, safe water has exacerbated our current public health crises.

Monica Lewis Patrick is Chief Executive Officer of We the People Detroit and a long-time water justice advocate.

Bryce Detroit is CEO and Founder of Detroit Recordings LLC and a long-time water justice advocate.

This is a monumental year in our political history, with the upcoming election in November having the power to address various human and civil rights issues. Join us for a special virtual discussion on the power of your vote, how voting can combat supremacy and hate, the logistics of voting during a pandemic, and voter suppression. This session will feature special guests including Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Inclusion, Equity and Social Responsibility Partner at Honigman LLP and member of the Detroit NAACP, Attorney Khalilah Spencer. This session will be moderated by long-time voting

With our power, resources, and knowledge - what can we do to make sure everyone’s voice is heard when practicing the right to vote? How can we become more empowered and informed about voting, and actively join the fight against voter suppression? This session will focus on both School of Social Work and university-wide voter engagement initiatives such as Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts, and include student discussion on how we can become more engaged in the upcoming election. Clinical Assistant Professor and candidate for Washtenaw County Commissioner Justin Hodge will share his work on

Please join us for a discussion hosted by Trina Shanks and the ENGAGE team to learn more about ENGAGE and how we as a School can uplift and expand research, projects, and other work in communities.

Food deserts have been purposefully and strategically created, aided by historic redlining and other discriminatory policies and practices that have segregated our Black and Brown communities to impoverished urban areas. These communities lack access to grocery stores and other vendors that provide wholesome, nutritional food, while liquor stores and fast food restaurants are prevalent. Join us in a special virtual discussion featuring prominent Detroit food justice activists and organizers who have taken food sovereignty and environmental empowerment into their own hands. Panelists include

It is essential to connect our critical analysis of social justice issues to multi-level collective action for systemic and institutional change. On September 19, a special joint-session was held in partnership with CASC to explore how racial and socioeconomic inequity in Washtenaw County is connected to historic and ongoing discriminatory policies and practices. This virtual discussion will feature social workers in the field, CASC alumni, among others, discussing the history of racial inequity in Washtenaw county, its connection to the present, the role of social work practice in addressing