Please see the SSW Leadership statement condemning the recent dramatic rise in anti-Asian racist incidents, recently posted on the School’s website:

https://socialwork.uw.edu/news/school-social-work-leadership-statement-deploring-rise-anti-asian-racist-incidents

The School will also be publishing a piece on the great work that David Takeuchi and colleagues are doing to document and follow up on these hateful incidents and call for reform. Please stay tuned for that piece.

RSVP for link: HTTPS://FORMS.GLE/UZOHWEBK6BAVK2MHR

The FIUTS Discussion Series on Race & Racism in the U.S. is starting up again next week and registration is now open! This is a space for international and U.S. students, as well as others in the UW community, to learn from and with each other to make sense of current events and experiences in the U.S. The winter quarter series will run on Wednesday evenings from 4:30-6:00pm Seattle time January 13^th through February 10th. In order to create a safe learning space, participants are expected to be able to attend the entire 5-part series. Registration is open on the FIUTS website at www.fiuts.org/talk-about-race.

WORLDS AIDS DAY

World AIDS Day is a time for our community to come together to remember all those we have lost to AIDS and to recommit to ending the stigma that still surrounds HIV. LGBTQ people in the United States and around the world continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS, especially Black and Latinx members of the community. To end the HIV epidemic, we must uplift the voices of those who have been affected and take action to fight stigma in all aspects of our lives. While HIV and AIDS is not an illness that solely affects LGBTQ+ people, a portion of queer history is marked with the negligence and intolerance of leadership during the AIDS Epidemic.

Understanding the FIGHT

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States. Gay and bisexual men made up an estimated 2% of the U.S. population in 2013 but 55% of all people living with HIV in the United States. If this continues, 1 in 6 gay and bisexual men will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime. For Latino and Black men who have sex with men, the rates are in 1 in 4 and 1 in 2, respectively.

Transgender people have also been hit especially hard by the epidemic despite comprising a similarly small percentage of the U.S. population. One international analysis found that transgender women in certain communities have 49 times the odds of living with HIV than the general population.

Dealing with the potential consequences of bias and discrimination – job loss, homelessness, lack of healthcare insurance – often results in LGBTQ people engaging in behaviors that facilitate the spread of HIV. For example, in the face of persistent employment discrimination, many transgender women are left with few other options but to engage in survival sex work in order to meet their most basic needs. According to a 2015 survey of more than 27,000 transgender people, “The rate of HIV [diagnosis] was…five times higher among those who have participated in sex work at any point in their lifetime” than among those who have not
“HIV and the LGBTQ Community.” HRC, www.hrc.org/resources/hrc-issue-brief-hiv-aids-and-the-lgbt-community.

Continuing the FIGHT

Moving forward we can all do better to support the eradication of HIV/AIDS as well as supporting those afflicted. For Example:

· Urge Congress and the White House officials to mount the strongest possible response to the epidemic in the form of fully funded public health programs, as well as common sense policy solutions such as comprehensive sex education and syringe/needle exchange.

· Support and fund educational programs for LGBTQ people and allies about the current realities of HIV as well as the effects of stigma on the very communities that are most in need.

· Mobilize alongside LGBTQ people to take action in support of ending the dual epidemics of HIV and HIV-related stigma.

· Advocate for the dignity, rights, and well-being of people living with and affected by HIV in all aspects of life and at every level of society.

The CDC has put together a multitude of resources that include toolkits on preparing messaging, creating promotional material, sharing resources, and continuing the momentum.

Link: https://www.cdc.gov/worldaidsday/index.html

EARTHLAB SALON Series: How We Present Native Knowledge is Environmental Justice: A case for Indigenous storytelling in museums

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 | 6:00-7:00 p.m. | Online | RSVP: https://bit.ly/35gHWJF

Part of centering equity and justice in environmental work includes honoring the knowledge and work of communities that disproportionately face environmental harms. This idea comes to bear when we consider the social and ecological harm Indigenous communities are experiencing due to large environmental events such as climate change, yet much of the academic and institutional community dismiss Native knowledge as non-scientific and non-relevant.

As public institutions, museums are often the primary, self-proclaimed expert of knowledge. They present Indigenous cultures and discuss their relationship to lands while suppressing the voices of the disenfranchised. The presentation will be focused on presenting some of the treasures of the Burke Museum along with commentary by Indigenous activists and poets, who will reclaim their history and stories creating a larger shift in how we present Indigenous Knowledges in Western institutions.

For more information on the speakers and to learn more about the EarthLab Environmental Justice Salon Series, go to:

EarthLab Salon Series December 1.2020

In the aftermath of an amazing election; amidst the joys and challenges of your studies—yes, even as a pandemic rages—may we each take a moment to return towards commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. We are now seeking nominations for the 2021 Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Volunteer Recognition Award at our UW School of Social Work. Our question to you: Whom among us should be noted for how their work continues the legacy of Dr. King? Won’t you take a moment to nominate that person, program or group?

With our Health Sciences Center colleagues, we will recognize awardees at this two-part, remote commemoration that honors individuals or groups who exemplify this national holiday’s principles through their:

Commitment to addressing community needs, particularly communities of color and those who are marginalized
Development and implementation of significant programs to improve the human condition
Outstanding efforts to protect and empower all people.

Please nominate a UW school of social work student, staff, faculty member or group!
-Describe the good work that person or group has done;
-The ways it matches the above criteria of the award;

Please submit your brief letter of support for your nomination(s) to our MLK Commemoration Committee, attention: Khalfani Mwamba, mwambk@uw.edu, no later than Friday, December 11th at 0500p.m.

We so appreciate your help in identifying these deserving persons and groups! Don’t delay, nominate today!

Our research team from the Disability Studies Program, The D Center, and the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine are recruiting UW students, staff, and faculty who have a disability, physical or mental health condition, a chronic illness, or are d/Deaf to contribute to a research project on disability, equity, and inclusion on the UW campus (IRB # STUDY00009838). This study is being funded by CLIME (Center for Leadership and Innovation in Medical Education).

Research participants will take part in a single, 60-90-minute virtual focus group to share their experiences of ableism or discrimination as well as allyship and community in academic and healthcare situations. Information from the focus groups will be used to develop a disability allyship training curriculum that is rooted in lived experiences and can be implemented in the education and training of healthcare professionals and others across UW to improve our inclusive campus culture. All research information will be de-identified, and each participant will be compensated with a $30 electronic gift card for their time and expertise.

Please find a recruitment letter and recruitment flyer attached to disseminate widely. Learn more by visiting our website: https://uwdisabilityequity.washington.edu/. For questions or to express interest in the study, please contact the research team at uwdisabilityequity@uw.edu.

CLIME Participant Recruitment Letter FINAL

Participate in a Study on Disability Equity and Inclusion

How are practicing social workers thinking about police defunding, prison abolition, and mass incarceration? What stances are they taking and what pressures do they face? How do they navigate their personal commitments with systems that challenge them? And how do they maintain their resilience and capacity?

Join an interactive panel conversation with four MSWs who graduated from the UW and whose practices place them squarely within the complexities of the criminal justice system. This discussion aims to shed light on social work’s role and responsibility within a rapidly changing political environment and during a critical social justice moment for our community. This panel is sponsored by the BASW Program.

Monday, November 16th, 5:30-7pm

https://washington.zoom.us/j/91602247237

Criminal Legal Systems Panel Poster

WHEN: Friday, November 13, 2020 | 12:00-3:00pm

WHERE: Online

RSVP:

This event offers a space for all members of the College of the Environment and UW to reflect on issues of race, power, privilege, and allyship. Through different panels, attendees will hear from the experiences and ideas from students and BIPoC leaders around social justice topics. There will be spaces to connect and discuss how to implement some of those ideas in our campus.

A virtual drop-in support space for any student needing to talk with others, facilitated by counselors

To join the Zoom, go to https://uw-phi.zoom.us/j/92682426611

The Anti-Racist White Allyship Group (also known as ARWAG) for the SSW this year is really looking forward to co-creating a space for anti-racist action, reflection, and learning in community that brings together work that’s been led by our peers.

Meeting time
Monday, October 5th at 6pm (zoom link here).
In order to make the meetings accessible to folks with different schedules while also maintaining consistency, we’d like to know what times work best for everyone to meet. Please complete this when2meet poll on behalf of your general weekly availability for fall quarter.

First Meeting
The first meeting will involve introductions, norms, an orientation to the group, community building, and a reflection and discussion based on this 60 minute lecture and interview with Ayishat Akanbi. There is a shorter version that will be shown during the meeting for those who aren’t able to watch the full interview.

Format

• We’ll plan to meet for one hour via zoom weekly (ideally the same time weekly, based on availabilities)
• The format will be inspired by the concept of praxis: “a process whereby one applies theory to practice, attempting to change a concrete situation based on that learning, and recreating theory based on that activity” (Suarez et al. 2008)
• Meetings will alternate between a focus on theory/learning and then reflection, with a highlighted action of the month that follows a basic theme (collaboratively decided by members)
• Theory focused weeks will have an education presentation from any members who are willing to share (no more than 15-30 mins) and time for discussion
• Reflection focused weeks may follow different formats such as journaling, art
• The hope is to allow members to be active contributors and allow folks to join at any time throughout the quarter/year and have an idea what to expect

Free webinar on Cultural Humility: Critical Issues in LGBTQIA Patient Care, training through NAADC.

Webinar is Wednesday, 7/29/20, 12pm PST

https://www.naadac.org/cultural-humility-LGBTQIA-critical-issues-webinar?_zs=Jqu2P1&_zl=a5Bq5

Community Forum: Racism during our collective health crisis

May 5th (Tuesday)
May 13th (Wednesday)
3:00 pm – 5 pm

Registration Required (link above)

This forum is intended to address the shared pain and create a safe space to be heard and validated. Additionally, your voice is important. We would love to hear from you on how we can provide support around this issue for the UW community.

Dr. Marian S. Harris, PhD, MSW, LICSW, ACSW, will be holding a lecture followed by a brief discussion focusing on her work with marginalized populations in the criminal justice system.

It will take place at the Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center from 5-730.  The event is co-sponsored by the University of Washington School of Social Work and the University of Washington School of Social Work Office of Field Education

Free event and will start with a reception and refreshments!

On Saturday, February 22nd training for any Black and Indigenous people and people of color interested in joining the global struggle for Food Sovereignty will be held 9 am to 7 pm!

The training will include a visionary fiction workshop to imagine the world after the downfall of Big Food companies, popular education on agribusiness and its influence on our education system, and an invitation to learn more about Uprooted & Rising.

The venue is very accessible and there will be childcare for anyone that needs it. If you have questions you should not hesitate to contact estefania@realfoodchallenge.org or text/call at 210-837-3205.

If you are reading this and are interested please go ahead and register here: bit.ly/unrseattle.

Here is the facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/864540720665535/874438093009131/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity&notif_id=1581467812671206

The Evans Coalition (EPOC, PCD, EISA, NOW, and OiP) are proud to present:
The Summit on Race and Equity in Public Policy
Saturday, February 15, 2020
10:30 am to 5:00 pm
UW Husky Union Building (the HUB), Room 211-A

At the Summit, we will be joined by Dr. Ben Danielson from the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, and Esther Lucero, CEO of the Seattle Indian Health Board, for our keynotes in the morning and afternoon, respectively. We will also host workshops on topics that include White Allyship; How to apply intersectional, anti-racist theory and strategies to public policy; Community Organizing & Public Policy with a racial equity lens; and How to effectively and equitably involve marginalized communities in the policy process. It is going to be an amazing day!

Lunch is included with the purchase of a ticket.
Tickets can be purchased here:
http://bit.ly/2RMNuoq

UW Diversity Leadership Conference  is held on Friday, February 21, from 3-7 pm it is an afternoon skill-building and intergroup dialogue conference. The theme of this year’s conference is The Personal Is Political: Showing Up for Ourselves and Others in Solidarity.

Students who attend the workshops will learn how to navigate conversations regarding the upcoming election year and propel them forward towards meaningful opportunities on and off-campus. The conference is catered by Bay Laurel with sweet treats from Seattle Pops. Students will also have the opportunity to win raffle prizes in the form of gift cards to Trader Joe’s, Safeway, and Starbucks. 

Student Registration page to sign up and attend

If you have any questions or concerns about the conference, please do not hesitate to contact eccprgms@uw.edu . 

Be sure to apply before the priority deadline: 2/15 to be considered for scholarships!!

Social Work Spain: Social Justice in Times of Crisis

UW Center, León, Spain

August 23 – September 16

Directors: Carrie Lanza and William Vesneski

SOC WF 497 (undergraduate), SOC W 597 (graduate)

VLPA and writing credit available!

5 credits for all students

The application for the program is available, here

Are you a current students, alumni, faculty, and staff that is working on research. starting your own non-profit, or working for an amazing organization that is social work related?
Apply to present this information in a 5-minute Lightning talk!
Event is in April. Apply by March 7 at bit.ly/LTpresenter
RSVP for the event at bit.ly/LT2020rsvp
Applications are open to current students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

Panel:  Social Demography of Homelessness

Friday, February 14th 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm 
Raitt Hall, Room 121

• “Housing and Food Insecurity among UW Students:
  Variation by Demographic and Economic Characteristics”
  RACHEL FYALL  –  UW Evans School of Public Policy and Governance

• “Homeless and Sleepless in Seattle”
  HORACIO DE IGLESIA
  UW Department of Biology

• “Designing & Learning from the Creating Moves to Opportunity Experience”
  ANDRIA LAZAGA
  Seattle Housing Authority

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