Thursday, January 19, 2012

January 2012 Task force Meeting Notes


Racial & Ethnic Diversity Implementation Task Force Meeting Notes
1.10.2012
6:45PM -South End Community Health Center
Attendees: Yvonne Ruiz, Jennifer Coplon, Ray Walden, Bet MacArthur, Kerline Theodore, Sung-Mun Choi, Arlene Vallie and Meagan Coons



Agenda Items

        Developing a conference
o   Bet MacArthur suggested also a cross-cultural training workshop
§  Erase the power of an illusion (3 part DVD series)
§  Chairs suggested NASW purchase the video and offer it as a movie series workshop.  Play every other year.
§  Meagan to look into purchasing the series, chairs will view the collection before requesting purchase.
o   Licensing workshop

        Recruit new task force members

        Website language –Meagan to establish a blog. 
o   Taskforce Chairs will create Bios and send over.
o    FOCUS articles will be posted along with MLK flyer and summary.

        CERA Career Development Event -  CERA possible dates April 2/April 8 6-8PM,
o   Panel w/ networking afterwards- information about PhD programs?
o   Seeking location- Arlene Vallie to check in with CERA
o   Banks in Boston were discussed b/c of their commitment to make community space available.
o   Landmark Building

        Maintaining a presence in FOCUS – upcoming articles: Kerline Theodore (Deadline January 20th for March) and Jennifer Coplon (April)


        DATE CHANGED!
Next Meeting Date: February 16, 2012- South End Community Health Center 6-7:30

Friday, January 13, 2012

Dr. Martin Luther King Event Reflection


Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a remarkable human being who was willing to risk his life for what he believed passionately: social justice for all. He lived and died for that goal. What he accomplished in his 39 years on earth has endured and made an enormous difference to people all over the world.  “Democracy is an experiment still in progress” (MA Representative Byron Rushing in accepting an honorary doctorate at Simmons College, May 2011). Dr. King did more than any other American in moving this “experiment” forward.

On Tuesday, January 10, 2012, the Racial and Ethnic Diversity Implementation Task force of The Mass Chapter of NASW held an evening of celebration of Dr. King’s life and contributions to peace and equality.  Hosted by the South End Community Health Center (SECHC), the event brought together a wide range of people (~25) representing social work and other human service professionals, staff and residents of Rosie’s Place (shelter), academics, and community members. Participants read from MLK’s speeches (“I Have a Dream,” “Where Do We Go from Here?,” “Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech,” “Loving Your Enemy,” “Our God is Marching On,” and “Beyond Vietnam”) that stimulated  many personal reflections, as people recalled childhood memories of family strengths during segregation and of MLK’s opening up opportunities never before possible. While there is acute awareness of ongoing racial inequities, the essential message during the evening discussion was the importance of maintaining hope, persisting in non-violent strategies towards racial and economic justice, and building a more equitable society where people “will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Written by Jennifer Coplon, Co-Chair of Task force

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Event


The Racial & Ethnic Diversity Implementation Taskforce
of the National Association of Social Workers Mass Chapter
Invites you to join us at an event honoring Martin Luther King



January 10, 2012 at 5:30pm
South End Community Health Center
1601 Washington Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02118
5:30pm-6:15pm - Introductions and readings
6:15pm-6:45pm – Networking

A meeting of the Racial & Ethnic Diversity Implementation Task Force
will be held after the event from 6:45pm to 7:30pm.

Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion Seeks to Implement Recommendations



            The NASW MA Chapter is reaching out to social workers of color to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of the profession in order to better serve the diverse needs of clients and communities.   Social workers of color are an under tapped source of talent that can enhance the field of social work and bring added credibility, viability, and strength to the profession. The Chapter has made this a priority by establishing a Task Force to ensure representation of social workers of color in the membership, leadership and programming of the MA Chapter of NASW.
           
      The Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion submitted a report to the Board of Directors in June 2011.  This report  represents  over a year of hard work by dedicated NASW social workers and staff who have a commitment to a more racially and ethnically diverse state chapter.  The Task Force was Co-Chaired by Dr. Yvonne Ruiz, Salem State University, and Dr. Robbie Tourse, retired from Boston College and adjunct at Simmons College,   The core group consisted of ethnically diverse social workers:  Charles Carter, Cassandra Clay, Jennifer Coplon, Lisa Johnson, Zaza Sakhat, Ray Walden, Sandra Yudilevich, and Steve Yerdon.  This core represents a diverse group of agency administrators, college professors (retired and current), and private practice practitioners. 

      The overall goal was to provide guidance for the recruitment and retention of a racially and ethnically diverse membership with the additional aim of identifying ways to increase diversity representation on committees, volunteer leadership, programs, and staff.  Based on a variety of data-gathering activities, the Task Force made recommendations for best practices by which the NASW-MA Chapter can recruit and retain an inclusive and diverse membership.

            The importance of recruiting and retaining social workers of color is demonstrated by data suggesting that racial and ethnic disproportionality is a significant issue in Massachusetts in areas such as healthcare, child welfare, and education.  The relevance of this data to the NASW MA Chapter and its goal of increasing diversity among its membership are twofold.  First, a diverse workforce corresponds to a diverse client population and their specific needs.  Second, it is imperative that the social work profession be aware of and continues to address issues related to race and ethnicity in order to provide effective services to diverse clients and communities, as well as to promote social and economic justice.

            The Task Force collected feedback from a variety of activities targeting NASW members and non-members.  One of the major activities was Surveys disseminated electronically to the NASW membership, Special Interest Groups (SIGs), and agencies throughout the state.  The survey was also posted on Facebook and Twitter, and printed in FOCUS.  The survey to the membership yielded 136 responses from self-identified social workers of color.  The majority of the respondents identified their race as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian/South Asian, biracial, or multiracial.  The ethnic categories included Puerto Rican, Latino, American, Haitian American, Chinese American, Japanese American, Jamaican, and Korean American.

The responses to the survey indicate that social workers of color are particularly interested in several types of programming and services:

  • Networking and events that connect social workers of color
  • Career development opportunities
  • Continuing education programs that meaningfully address racism, social injustice, cultural competence, and diversity
  • Information that is relevant to communities and social workers of color
  • Increase NASW involvement in urban communities through forums, outreach activities, continuing education programs and other events. 

The respondents identified several ways that the Chapter can be more relevant to younger and mid-career professionals.  Moving up the career ladder is of great interest.  Respondents requested career coaching activities where social workers can connect with each other, share career experiences, get advice, and network. 

The Chapter office has instituted some changes as a result of the Final Report.  For example, the Chapter has increased the number of CEU programs that present multicultural themes and the Chapter is seeking to increase these activities even more.  One respondent commented, “There is a need to talk about difference and diversity in its many facets and level,s” addressing the need for workshops and trainings. 

            The work of the Task Force resulted in many possibilities for strengthening diversity within the Chapter and the recommendations focused on four areas: Organizational Development; Outreach; Programming, Education, and Training; and Public Relations and Communications.  Efforts in the areas of communication and education have already been initiated with regularly planned articles in FOCUS and a webpage with information of particular relevance to social workers and communities of color.

            The Chapter is seeking to recruit new members more proactively.  Efforts to recruit and retain social workers of color include reaching out to students and new professionals of color by finding meeting locations in racially mixed communities, planning educational events that are relevant and accessible to social workers of color, and collaborating with other member organizations and their efforts to be responsive to professionals of color.

            The Task Force, co-chaired by Jennifer Coplon and Yvonne Ruiz, is seeking new members.  Please contact one of the co-chairs if you are interested in joining this committee or have ideas or issues that can be addressed in this group: Jennifer Coplon can be reached at jcoplon@rcn.com and  Yvonne Ruiz can be reached at yruiz@salemstate.edu