Social Work is not an individual race to be won, but a team effort where we cross the finish line together. In Western culture, we fixate upon clearly defining ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ when the focus should be upon the completion of the task at hand. At the core of the Social Work profession, we seek to advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice as a united front.
In order to make progress towards equality, we must work within the context of our client’s environment, education, social structure, and economic field. By acknowledging the privilege and power afforded to certain groups, we can tailor our approach to best meet the needs of our diverse client base.
Evidence
Academic Experience
During our Social Welfare Issues and Policy class, I was assigned to a group to debate the opening of the United States southern border to immigration. I worked alongside three dedicated young women, and together we successfully defended our position on opening the border.
A portion of our Social Welfare Issues and Policy class was dedicated to the development and passing of bills in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Seeing the place where policies were drafted and voted on was very enlightening to me; I never felt so close to a part of history and power. Here are my tickets from the tour of the House and Senate:
Field Experience
In late November, Dylan and I went before the University Senate Board and presented our research on food insecurity and how Southern has risen to the occasion to meet students’ needs. Before sharing our message with the Senate, we had to engage in research to be sure the information was relevant and up-to-date. Not only did I find an abundance of articles discussing food pantries on university and college campuses, but I rediscovered my passion for research.