Engage

One of the Grand Challenges of Social Work practice is to reduce the harm caused by extreme economic inequality. From housing, employment, internet access, to healthcare - economic inequality is pervasive, and affects how we participate in the political, social, and economic spheres.

How do benefit programs like the Child Tax Credit, housing vouchers, etc., impact extreme economic inequality? Does Universal Basic Incomes (UBI) work, and how does it help? What other forms of assistance are needed?

Car-dependent metropolitan areas divide and isolate people from one another. Strong public transit systems and walkable and bikeable city infrastructure helps to make communities more accessible and fosters connection. This virtual discussion will focus on the impact of public transit and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure on equity, and how inaccessible, car-centric cities disproportionately marginalize and endanger BIPOC and other vulnerable communities.

"Know Your Rights" presented by ACLU-Michigan: A webinar for students/international students and staff and faculty on what your rights are and action steps to take to protect yourself in today's environment.

ENGAGE Program Manager Fatima Salman has been elected to the Detroit PBS Board of Trustees. She is one of three new board members who represent the community

Launched in 2018, the ENGAGE Small Grants Program encourages faculty to build partnerships with community-based organizations across southeast Michigan and beyond. By leveraging the university's resources and expertise, the program enhances the capacity and impact of our partners to strengthen neighborhoods and communities. Congratulations to this year’s recipients.

“Detroit VOCES: Southwest Oral History Project-Online Archiving"

In 2018, ENGAGE launched the Small Grants Program to encourage faculty to build partnerships with Detroit community-based organizations and to support resident-led efforts to strengthen Detroit neighborhoods. These awards are supported by the Office of the Provost and are part of the School of Social Work’s strategic effort to connect Detroit engagement efforts and increase impact in the city. ENGAGE partners with the School of Public Health’s Detroit Urban Research Center in the administration of the small grants program. Here are this year’s grant recipients:

 

In 2018, ENGAGE launched the Small Grants Program to encourage faculty to build partnerships with Detroit community-based organizations and to support resident-led efforts to strengthen Detroit neighborhoods. These awards are supported by the Office of the Provost and are part of the School of Social Work’s strategic effort to connect Detroit engagement efforts and increase impact in the city. ENGAGE partners with the Ford School’s Detroit Urban Research Center in the administration of the small grants program.

Here are this year’s grant recipients:

ENGAGE Program Manager and Lecturer Fatima Salman was invited by Vice President Kamala Harris to attend the Eid ul Adha celebration at her residence last week. Salman spoke with Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff about the impact of social workers across the country. Salman is also the president of the Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and the National Council of Chapter Presidents Chair.

MSW student Kevin Nguyen has been appointed to the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “As the only student and youngest commissioner to ever serve on MAPAAC, I am humbled and honored to represent the growing APIA population in Michigan.” ENGAGE Program Manager and Lecturer Ayesha Ghazi Edwin serves as chair of the commission.

ENGAGE Program Manager Fatima Salman spoke with WDET about both the critical role social workers play in supporting individuals and communities and how the celebration of Social Work Month supports the profession.

The state of Michigan officially recognized March as Social Work Month thanks to a resolution by State Representative Carrie Rheingans, MSW ’11.