This page contains links to resources that support anti-racism, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging education and advocacy. Resources listed below are provided as examples and do not indicate endorsement by EWU SSW. Additional resources can be submitted for consideration via the Contact Us link in the header bar.
Courageous Conversations
The concepts of a courageous conversation (Guth, et al., 2019), a difficult conversation (Wilkens-Yel, et al., 2020), or critical conversations (Chandan & Fuentes, 2022) have been used to refer to a variety of difficult conversations and dialogue that takes place in the delivery of social work and in social work education. Social workers are called to participate in conversations that challenge values, and commit to dialogue about lived experiences that highlight power and privilege. For further information on creating brave spaces (Stubbs, n.d.) for dialogue refer to the these sources (limited as they are):
Chandan, P. & Fuentes, M. (2022). Equity: Critical conversations – Introduction. American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Journal, 14, 699-705. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.12824
Guth, L. J., Pollard, B. L., Nitza, A., Puig, A.,Chan, C. D., Singh, A. A., & Bailey, H. (2019). Ten strategies to intentionally use group work to transform hate, facilitate courageous conversations, and enhance community building. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 44(1), 3-24. doi: 10.1080/01933922.2018.1561778
Stubbs, V. (n.d.) The 6 Pillars of a Brave Space. University of Maryland, School of Social Work. Retrieved chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.ssw.umaryland.edu/media/ssw/field-education/2—The-6-Pillars-of-Brave-Space.pdf
Wilkens-Yel, K. G., Gumbiner, L. M., Grimes, J. L., Li, P. F. J. (2020). Advancing social justice training through a difficult dialogue initiative: Reflections from facilitators and participants. The Counseling Psychologist, 48(6), 852-882. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000020919905Statements of Accountability and Reconciliation
Fall 2022 BASW Student Antiracism Presentations
University & College Allies
EWU College of Professional Programs
EWU College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
EWU Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The Health Equity Circle is a student organization with chapters across Washington state. This interdisciplinary group includes students from social work and other social sciences, public health, healthcare, and law. The chapters lead community organizing to improve health equity. For more information see https://www.healthequitycircle.org/about_us
Calls for Accountability in Social Work
The social work profession has been a complicit and active partner in historic and contemporary oppressive practices and policies. Current debate, recognition, reflection, and action are being undertaken at various levels of social work to hold the profession accountable and to bring about change in social work education, research, and practice. Examples of statements, positions, and efforts by social work professional organizations are shared here.
In June of 2021, the Council on Social Work Board of Directors adopted the CSWE Statement of Accountability and Reconciliation for Harms Done to Indigenous and Tribal Peoples. The Statement was drafted by a community of Indigenous and Tribal Social Work Educators (ITSWE) with primary authors Hilary N. Weaver, Lacey M. Sloan, Carenlee Barkdull, and Pālama Lee (2021). The ITSWE Association and CSWE developed the CSWE Land Acknowledgement. The process of developing the Statement included a partial accounting of the role social work has played in harms committed against Indigenous and Tribal Peoples over generations and into the present. To learn more about the history of social work’s role in oppressive systems, policies, and actions, review the Statement here https://www.cswe.org/education-resources/indigenous-and-tribal-content/
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the social work profession’s membership association in the U.S. NASW developed an Anti-Racism Statement in January of 2022 and had begun an examination of the profession’s complicit and active participation in oppression through policy, practice, and research over time. To read the full NASW Anti-Racism Statement visit the online source https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Diversity-Equity-and-Inclusion/NASW-Anti-Racism-Statement. NASW completed the first Report to the Profession on Racial Justice Priorities and Action in June 2021, Undoing Racism through Social Work A second volume of Undoing Racism through Social Work was issued in October 2022, A Collaborative Vision for an Anti-Racist Future. Both volumes are available online at NASW Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion RESOURCES.
Want to Learn More?
Social work professional organizations and allied groups provide insights into national debates, current issues, and topics of importance to social workers. A selection of statements and resources will be posted here with links to learn more.
03/2023: The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is the accrediting body of the schools of social work in the U.S. CSWE distributed a statement in response to the efforts and legislative initiatives taking place in the country related to what is taught/not taught in social work education in higher education. To read more, go here: CSWE calls for Academic Freedom in Higher Education
03/2023: The Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA) is the national association for clinical social work practice. CSWA distributed a statement on the use of the ASWB exam for national social work licensure given that the exam has been reported to result in racially biased successful exam results. To read more, go here: Clinical Social Work Association statement on ASWB Clinical Exam.
09/2020: The National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work (NADD) is one of the professional organizations for social work educators. The NADD Board of Directors distributed a statement in September 2020 sharing that NADD “ denounces the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks, and the many other unarmed Black individuals who have died as a result of police violence. Black Lives Matter….” The full statement is available here: Social Work Leadership Roundtable Joint Statement on DEI, Anti-Racism, and Systems Change
Recommended Reading
The following recommended reading is a small list of resources to learn more. It is meant to be a beginning, a reminder to seek that which you do not know or know very little of. There are extraordinary documentarians, authors, artists, poets, podcasts, and social/political commentators who address a library of issues important to our understanding of justice, belonging, inclusivity, equity, and diversity. The list is simply a start and reminder.
An Indigenous People’s History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar- Ortiz
Critical Race Theory: The key writings that formed the movement, 1995, edited by Kimberlé Crenshaw, Neil Gotanda, Gary Peller, and Kendall Thomas, New York, NY: The New Press.
Facilitating Injustice: The complicity of social workers in the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans, 1941-1946 by Yoosun Park, Oxford University Press. https://academic.oup.com/book/34970
The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves by Shawn A. Ginwright, PhD
Half the Sky: Turning oppression into opportunity for women worldwide, 2009, by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. New York, NY: Vintage Books.
How to be an Antiracist, by Ibram x. Kendi. New York, NY:Random House.
Intersectionality (2nd ed.), 2020, by Patricia Hill Collins & Sirma Bilge. Medford, MA:Polity Books.
My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies (2017) by Menakem, R. Las Vegan: NV, Central Recovery Press.
One Nation Underprivileged: Why American poverty affects us all, 2005, by Mark Robert Rank. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Seeing Race Again: Countering colorblindness across the disciplines, 2019, edited by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, Luke Charles Harris, Daniel Martinez HoSang, and George Lipsitz. Oakland, CA:University of California Press.
Sisters in Hate: American women on the front lines of white nationalism, 2020, by Seyward Darby. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.
So you want to talk about race, 2019, by Ijeoma Oluo. New York, NY:Seal Press.
Stamped by Jason Reynolds
Stamped from the Beginning: The definitive history of racist ideas in America, 2016, by Ibram X. Kendi. New York, NY: Bold Type Books.
The Color of Law: A forgotten history of how our government segregated America, 2017, by Richard Rothstein. New York, NY: Liveright Publishing Corporation.
The Power of Dignity: How transforming justice can heal our communities, 2022, by Judge Victoria Pratt. New York, NY: Seal Press.
Tightrope: Americans reaching for hope, 2020, by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. New York, NY:Knopt, Borzoi Books.
Walking the REZ Road, 2013, by Jim Northrup. Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing.
Where we stand: Class matters, 2000, by bell hooks. New York, NY:Routledge
White Fragility: Why it’s so hard for white people to talk about racism, 2018, by Robin Diangelo. Boston, MA:Beacon Press.
Other Resources
Cultures Connecting provides culturally relevant professional development, keynotes, consulting, coaching and one-on-one diversity leadership support to organizations committed to improving their ability to work effectively across cultures. www.culturesconnecting.com
Starting with acceptance, we provide resources, community building and empowerment to reduce effects of inequities for marginalized individuals and future generations. Community, connection, resources and services for under-resourced individuals, particularly those who have aged out of the foster care system, domestic violence victims and/or individuals with disabilities. www.equitymattersnw.org
The National Equity Project is a leadership and systems change organization committed to increasing the capacity of people to achieve thriving, self-determining, educated, and just communities. Our mission is to transform the experiences, outcomes, and life options for children and families who have been historically underserved by our institutions and systems. www.nationalequityproject.org
Race Forward catalyzes movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. www.raceforward.org
Spectrum Center Spokane: Database of diverse providers “that provide affirming care” can be located here: https://www.spectrumcenterspokane.org/2slgbtqia-resources-1
BIPOC Provider Directory: This is an organization that is inventing creative equity-minded solutions to bring mental health options into Communities of Color. Deconstructing the Mental Health System (DMHS) is lowering costs for mental health and wellness practitioners of Color by providing:
- free listing on their website
- free supervision for new mental health practitioners
- free continuing education & training opportunities shared to help practitioners fulfill Continuing Education Unit (CEU) requirements.
DMHS also provides 12 free sessions to clients of Color.
Actions:
- Join DMHS if you are a mental health or wellness professional of Color.
- Donate or connect DMHS to a major donor or granting organization so DMHS can continue to offer free services.
- Add DMHSUS.org to your website so DMHS providers are easier to find.
Contact DMHS If you have questions.
