The PhD Student Social Justice Committee together with the SSW Equity Council is hosting & moderating a panel of local representatives of public agencies who currently focus on initiatives to address social justice and racial equity in their institutions. The speaker panel aims to strengthen connections between partners in the community and the UW School of Social Work as institution, and its students, faculty and staff while moving towards racial and social justice and equity.  Join us in sharing perspectives on what is working and discussing how we can learn from the experiences at each institution.

When: Thursday, May 25th 12:00 – 1:00 PM in 305A/B (Lunch will be provided)

Who:

Lamont Green City of Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative

Matias Valenzuela King County Office of Equity and Social Justice

TBD representative from Seattle Public Schools Race and Equity Team Leader

We also hope that connections made through the panel will continue to support the work of those individuals, communities, and institutions in which we are involved as social workers. Finally, we hope that this panel give students who are interested in macro practice a chance to hear about this work in the public sector.  Students across all SSW programs (e.g. BASW, MSW, PhD) are encouraged to attend.

For more information contact the PhD Student Social Justice Committee via Shannon Blajeski blajes@uw.edu or Jessica Ullrich at jullrich@uw.edu.

Stay tuned for more updates on this special and timely lunchtime panel event!

 

Regards,

PhD Student Social Justice Committee

Casework in a congressional office refers to the response or services that Members of Congress provide to constituents who request assistance. Casework is one of the more enduring representational activities; Members of Congress have been providing such service since the early years of the American republic. In contemporary times, thousands of constituents seek assistance annually from Members of Congress, with requests ranging from the simple to the complex. Members and their staffs help individual constituents deal with administrative agencies by acting as facilitators, ombudsmen, and, in some cases, advocates. Typical casework requests include the following:

• tracking a misdirected benefits payment;
• filling out a government form;
• applying for Social Security, veterans’, education, and other federal benefits;
• explaining government activities or decisions;
• applying to a military service academy;
• seeking relief from a federal administrative decision;
• seeking assistance for those immigrating to the United States or applying for U.S. citizenship.

 

The reason I am contacting you is so that your students are aware of these services so that they feel comfortable contacting us regarding issues they or their clients may face in the future. In order for our office or any congressional office to be able to assist constituents we need to have a Privacy Release Form (PRF) filled out and signed by hand. This form gives us consent from the constituent to share their personal information with a federal or outside entity to resolve issues on their behalf. Please find this form attached for your convenience. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these services, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Raman Khanna (he/him)

Constituent Services and Outreach Coordinator

Office of Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07)

1904 3^rd Avenue Suite 510 | Seattle, WA

C: 206-473-7638

www.jayapal.house.gov | www.facebook.com/RepJayapal/ | www.twitter.com/RepJayapal

Are you concerned about the state of immigrant and refugee rights? Want to join others and gain tangible, concrete skills you can do today to make a difference? Attend a Community Organizing Workshop for Immigrant & Refugee Justice on Friday, April 7 from 6pm-8pm in Room 305 at the SSW. By attending this workshop, you’ll learn how to host house meetings, tell your story, and engage in constructive conversations so that you can promote awareness and action in your community. RSVP today and share with your networks! Although an RSVP is not required, dinner will be provided for those who do! This event is hosted by graduate students from the UW School of Social Work and is open to the public.

RSVP at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-organizing-workshop-immigrant-refugee-justice-tickets-33093689115

In response to the recent climate the UW Women’s Center in partnership with the Ethnic Cultural Center in hosting a workshop to engage community members in an inclusive dialogue.  We would love for you to encourage students to come to a safe space that is designed to help facilitate a tough conversation and work towards an equitable future.

“Coping with Despair and Strategizing for Justice: A Process and Action Workshop”

Wednesday, March 8 at 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM  Intellectual House

Many of us invested in social justice are reeling from the daily dispatches of intolerance on our campus, in our communities and throughout our nation. We might feel indignant and outraged. Based on our various identities, we might also feel targeted and vulnerable. It’s difficult to process all that is happening, isn’t it?

Please join us for a frank discussion about these complicated times. We’ll discuss how we might better navigate both our anxieties as well as resolve for a more equitable future. We’ll also talk about the different strategies, skills and tools we’ll need to use at different moments with ourselves and each other. Our collective vision of a world without racism, xenophobia, homophobia and sexism is more critical than ever. Let’s come together in the spirit of justice to unpack this moment and help steer our way forward.

Click to register http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2889426

FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1795657174020211/

Dear UW community,

We are second-year graduate students in the UW’s Community-Oriented Public Health Practice program. As part of our Evaluation course, we are evaluating Tent City 3’s stay on our campus during winter quarter.

We seek the views of UW students, faculty and staff about how well the TC3 stay went. Please complete this short questionnaire. It should take 5-10 minutes of your time and your responses will remain anonymous. Your responses will contribute greatly to the power and strength of our evaluation!

Gratefully,
Hena Parveen
Kira McCoy
Khanh Ho

Dear Campus Community,

Please note the change in time and location for our upcoming town halls!

—

Join us for an open discussion of policies, resources, and current initiatives. The town hall is a 3-part series with a new topic each meeting. Each meeting will take place in the Q Center from 4:30 – 5:30 PM. 

Remaining Sessions: 

March 1: Health & Wellness on Campus and in the Community 

March 8: Impact of Homelessness on LGBTQ+ Communities 

If you’re not able to attend, please join us at a future session and/or you can participate anonymously in the Virtual Town Hall by accessing our survey: http://tinyurl.com/Qtownhall

Dear School of Social Work Faculty, Staff and Students –

It is already time for us to start planning with organizations for art shows in the SSW for 2018.

We would like to ask you for your input and connections to social issue and social justice art communities with which you may be familiar or involved. If you know of art groups whose work reflects the mission of the Art Committee and the SSW, and who may be open to having their art displayed at the School, please email Rachel Wrenn at wrennr@uw.edu or Leah O’Bryant at leah.obryant@gmail.com. We know that the involvement of the members of the SSW community runs far and wide and we look forward to hearing of your art connections.

The guiding principles of the Art Committee are that art to be exhibited in the SSW should engage the mind and enrich the life of those entering the building. The art exhibited should provide an emphasis on advocacy for equality and a healthy, diverse community. We strive to install collections of art which address social issues and social justice in profound ways. Our current displays are in both the Gallery – “ The Art of Alzheimers” and the Research Commons – “ Photography of the DAPL Protest”.

Gathering the connections and resources of the entire SSW community will allow us to bring a rich range of art to all of us at the School. Thank you very much for all the work you do for our communities and for all your support for the inclusion of art in our School–

We look forward to hearing from you!

*********************************************

Rachel Wrenn, MSW, Ph.D.

Roving Field Instructor

UW School of Social Work

Office of Field Education

4101 15^th Ave. N.E.

Box 354900

Seattle, WA98195-4900

Phone: 206.802.8607

Web: socialwork.uw.edu

Hello!!

Here are the basics of Lobby Day for this year. Get signed up on Eventbrite so we can get an accurate count for food and chairs. It is not required that you attend a training, we will offer the same information at lobby day in more detail. It is imperative that you get an appointment with your legislators.

Please contact me if you need more information.

Thank-you,

 Ann Allen

---

Lobby Day 2017- February 20

9am-12pm – First Christian Church

12pm-3pm – Visit with your Legislator.

Find Your Legislator:

www.leg.wa.gov

Register for Lobby Day here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nasw-wa-lobby-day-2017-tickets-30307212689

 

First Christian Church

701 Franklin Street Southeast

Olympia, WA 98501

 

Ann Allen

Legislative Action Chairperson

annallenmsw1@gmail.com

MESSAGE FROM DIANE NARASAKI AND TONY LEE KING COUNTY ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COALITION (APIC) CO-CHAIRS

Hello everyone.  We are writing to warmly invite you to the February 8, Wednesday evening community briefing at ACRS.  We will begin with a reception with some light food and beverages at 5:30pm.  The program will follow, 6pm – 8pm, though we may begin earlier than 6pm, if enough people have arrived.

There will be two important topics covered.  The first is Asian Pacific American Legislative Day and the issues in our legislative agenda.  We will reserve 30 minutes to cover our proposed agenda to bring to our Governor and state legislators and hear your feedback.

Most of the time will be reserved for the second topic, President Trump’s Executive Orders and actions that attack the rights of immigrants, refugees, and Muslims.  Jorge Baron, Executive Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP), an attorney with legal expertise and insights on these, will share information and analyses of how community members will be affected and steps people should take to keep as safe as possible.  Jorge and NWIRP rushed to SeaTac airport this weekend when the recent Muslim ban went into effect, and played a key role in preventing Muslims who would have been sent back immediately to the countries from which they came without NWIRP and colleagues’ intervention.

As you know, our very diverse community includes both documented and undocumented immigrants, as well as refugees and citizens.  Immigrants, as well as refugees, will be affected by recent Executive Orders.  The entire refugee program is currently affected.  Undocumented immigrants are now in greater danger.  We may also soon hear an Executive Order relating to access to publicly funded services for immigrants and refugees as well as an expansion of the list of countries which will be affected by the Executive Orders.

We encourage you to come, and if you have staff or community leaders or members who are concerned about these issues, to bring them too.  Please be sure to RSVP to Stephanie Riedl at stephanier@acrs.org by 2/7, the day before, if possible, if you plan to come and how many people you will bring so she can arrange for proper seating and enough food.

Thanks and hope to see you on February 8 evening!

Want to DO something?

The SSW Student Advisory Council has set up a facebook page called: SOCIAL JUSTICE: Support and Action

Join us at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/711790235645857/

What is it?

A place for all UW-SSW students and other community members to share local events/actions and share resources that help mobilize us to get involved to make change for social justice! So many great resources are shared in individual cohort facebook pages, but this is a place to reach other cohorts and community members.

Please join and share:
* Action steps we can take to interrupt bias and promote social justice in the University of Washington and our surrounding communities
* Resources which support those in our community experiencing oppression, harassment and fear (lots of resources in the “Files” section)
* Activities and Events planned/sponsored by SSW community members promoting social justice
* Local and national events and actions in which we can participate to promote social justice
* Links to other local and national groups working on social justice issues (again, check “Files”)

Are you considering a study abroad program for Summer 2017? The 6^th Annual program led by Zynovia Hetherington, MSW, M.Ed. is called Social Work Ghana: The “Sankofa” Experience in Ghana – Exploration of Race & Identity Development in a Cross Cultural Exchange. If you are interested in finding more information please click here. This link will provide you information from the program fee to academic credits. To learn more about this program please read the program description below.

The deadline is Wednesday, February 15^th!

If you any questions please contact Zynovia Hetherington at zynovia@uw.edu or Bilen Million at bilenm@uw.edu.

Program Description: The concept of Sankofa means “to go back and get it”, to seek an understanding of one’s history both physical and social, then journey forward to one’s present and onward to their individual and collective future. “The Sankofa Experience in Ghana” will take students to the Republic of Ghana to learn the history and culture of this diverse African country, while also uncovering the vast trans-Atlantic influence that the United States and Ghana have exerted on one another for over three centuries. The crucial historical context for our discussions includes understanding Ghana and the United States as two aspects of the African Diaspora, connected historically by migrations – both forced and voluntary – that carried people of African descent across the Atlantic Ocean.

Tuesday Film Series at The Grand Cinema Tacoma

LOVE & SOLIDARITY: Rev. James Lawson and Nonviolence in the Search for Worker’s Rights

Tuesday, February 7, 2017 • 6:45 pm • Free Admission

LOVE & SOLIDARITY is an exploration of nonviolence and organizing through the life and teachings of Rev. James Lawson. Lawson provided crucial strategic guidance while working with Martin Luther King, Jr., in southern freedom struggles and the Memphis sanitation strike of 1968. Moving to Los Angeles in 1974, Lawson continued his nonviolence organizing in multi-racial community and worker coalitions that have helped to remake the LA labor movement. Through interviews and historical documents, acclaimed labor and civil rights historian Michael Honey and award-winning filmmaker Errol Webber put Lawson’s discourse on nonviolent direct action on the front burner of today’s struggles against economic inequality, racism and violence, and for human rights, peace, and economic justice.

There will be a 15 minute film introduction and a 30 minute post-film discussion with director Michael Honey.

Presented in partnership with Center for the Study of Community and Society at UW Tacoma, UWT Black Student Union, Meaningful Movies Tacoma, and Immanuel Presbyterian Church Tacoma.

For more information and a short preview: http://www.grandcinema.com/films/love-solidarity/

For MSW blog

The National LGBTQ Institute on IPV is excited to announce the 2017 Q&A for Advocates Summit! This is a fantastic national training opportunity focused on building strategies for advocacy and organizing in response to abuse in LGBTQ communities.

Q&A for Advocates is a one-of-a-kind training for advocates, therapists, activists, social workers, service providers and anyone who works with lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer survivors of domestic violence.

This year the summit is February 23-24, 2017 at the South Seattle Community College – Georgetown Campus in Seattle, WA.

Registration is open through February 16th, 2017, but make sure you reserve your space by registering at your earliest convenience. Payment can be made by registering online or sending a check by mail.

Register online for the 2017 Q&A for Advocates Summit at this link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2017-qa-for-advocates-tickets-29289087449

 

For additional questions, please contact Marci at 206-568-7777 or email qanda@nwnetwork.org

 

We would love for you to help us get the word out and pass this along to other organizations, friends, family, co-workers and community members.  We look forward to seeing you at our 2017 Q&A Summit!

 

Warmly,

The National LGBTQ Institute on IPV,  a project of the NW Network of BTLG Survivors of Abuse and NCAVP.

Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, 5 – 8 p.m. William H. Gates Hall (LAW), Room 133, UW Seattle campus

The symposium Real Women, Real Voices: Where the People Meet the Policy is a groundbreaking discussion highlighting issues and concerns that affect incarcerated women. The panels feature currently and formerly incarcerated women discussing the effects of incarceration and the carceral state on themselves, their children, and their communities.

The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls is a grassroots policy initiative focused on the gendered impacts of the carceral state. It has convened organizing meetings around the country and engaged women and girls in prisons, jails, and immigrant detention based on the motto “nothing about us without us.” More information at www.thecouncil.us

Event details at: https://simpsoncenter.org/calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D121423589

Please spread the word about events honoring Trans Day of Remembrance.  More than ever before we need to be there for each other as a community.

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/201628853611908/

Details

Programming coming up next week for Trans Day of Remembrance:

TDOR Sign Making
Q Center, HUB315 All Week
Join the Q Center during their normal operating hours to honor those who have lost their lives to transphobia, racism, sexism, and other intolerable forms of bigotry by making signs and other forms of art. Or enjoy hot tea and cocoa and use their back room for self care and centering exercises.

Pantran Student Discussion
Q Center, HUB 315 3-4PM 11/15
A space for those concerned about transgender rights at the University of Washington, we intend to identify problems faced by trans/gender-nonconforming student, staff, and faculty, network resources and efforts to improve these situations, and meet and greet like-minded individuals.

Gender Discussion Group
Q Center, HUB 315, 4-6PM
A weekly, facilitated meeting centering conversation by and for transgender and gender non-conforming folx.

Read more

GO-MAP Real Talk Tuesdays
Tuesday, November 8, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Center for Communication, Difference and Equity (across from CMU 126), UW Seattle
RSVP if you would like lunch

A safe space for graduate students of color to discuss campus, regional and national issues impacting people of color: the frustration of being the only person of color in your graduate school classes; the injustice of our criminal justice system; the latest controversy sparked by Kanye and Kim. Get real about any and all of it with your fellow graduate students of color at Real Talk Tuesdays.

 

Black Protest beyond Democratic Sacrifice: Black Lives Matter and the Memory of the Civil Rights Movement Professor Juliet Hooker Friday, November 18 3-4:30pm SAV 260

Juliet Hooker is Associate Professor of Government and of African and African Diaspora Studies and the University of Texas, Austin. She is a political theorist specializing in comparative political theory and critical race theory. Her primary research interests include black political thought, Latin American political thought, political solidarity, and multiculturalism; she has also published on Afro-descendant and indigenous politics and multicultural rights in Latin America. She is the author of Race and the Politics of Solidarity (Oxford University Press, 2009), and Theorizing Race in the Americas (forthcoming from Oxford University Press in 2017), which juxtaposes the accounts of race formulated by prominent nineteenth and twentieth-century U.S. African-American and Latin American thinkers: Frederick Douglass, Domingo F. Sarmiento, W. E. B. Dubois and José Vasconcelos. Her articles have appeared in journals such as: American Political Science Review, Political Theory, Politics, Groups and Identities, Souls, Journal of Latin American Studies, and Latin American Research Review. Her most recent publication is “Black Lives Matter and Paradoxes of U.S Politics: From Democratic Sacrifice to Democratic Repair” (Political Theory 2016)

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