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Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. George Floyd. "Let’s lead together to build a race equity culture in our sector and society. The future of our clients of color depends on it. The future of our colleagues of color depends on it. Our collective future depends on it." --Lakeya Cherry, DSW, MSSW

The Macro Social Work Student Network (MSWSN) conducted a panel presentation on Friday, April 17, 2020.

View the webinar and access additional resources.

As we approach the halfway point of 2020, most of us would probably agree that this has been a challenging year so far. Our world has been forever changed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased frustration and anger that continues to build with every report of police brutality and racial injustice that we see repeated throughout the news cycle. It can be overwhelming, but it can also be the catalyst for community mobilization for social change and advocacy. In our diverse roles as macro social workers, we can use our skills and expertise to lead these efforts. ACOSA is a membership organization. The diversity among our members is a strength, but In order for us to be more effective and inclusive in how we work with our members and our partners, we need to critically examine how our commitment to inclusion and equity is reflected not only in our mission but how we operate.

Over the next few weeks thousands of students will graduate from social work programs. We want to congratulate all of you on this momentous occasion. Even though your graduation milestone may be different this year, it is still a time to proud of what you have accomplished as you transition to the next stage of your career and/or continue to further your education and professional credentialing.

In the wake of global protests spurred by acts of police brutality in the United States, the Journal of Community Practice is seeking paper proposals for empirical, theoretical, and practice-based articles for a special issue examining racial justice in Black and Brown communities. Racial justice goes beyond paying lip service to disparities. Instead, it entails institutional changes aimed at addressing them. Addressing disparities undergirds four of the 12 Grand Challenges articulated by the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare: closing the health gap; promoting smart decarceration; reducing extreme economic inequality; and achieving equal opportunity and justice.

FROM THE EDITORS: Community practice, social action, and the politics of pandemics by Anna Maria Santiago & Richard J. Smith.