Attendees at the inaugural Social Work Day on the Hill reception in 2015
March is Social Work Month, and CRISP is bringing social workers to the nation’s capital to recognize and celebrate our contributions to society through our engagement with Congress and the federal government. We also salute the many social workers and allied professionals who apply their knowledge and skills in legislative settings at the state and local levels. Communities throughout the country, many of which have vulnerable populations, benefit from social work research and interventions that address many of the nation’s grand challenges to their well-being. Often overlooked are the social work advocates who help ensure the research is included in legislative deliberations.
Challenges with holding events on the Hill during this Congress led us to choose a nearby site to host our events. This year, we will gather at the Spire conference center, located atop the American Psychological Association building at 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. It is the home of the headquarters of the National Association of Social Workers, directly across from Union Station, and a short walk to Capitol Hill. The theme for this year’s gathering is “Our Voices Matter: Your Vote is Your Voice.”
Social Work Day on the Hill events will be held on Wednesday, March 25, and Student Advocacy Day on Thursday, March 26. The Social Work Day on the Hill events are free and open to the public. However, you must register for both Social Work Day on the Hill and Student Advocacy Day. Check our website for more information.
Social Work Day on the Hill kicks off at 11:00 a.m. with our Policy and Politics Forum, featuring an in-person panel discussion on the Brown School’s Center for Social Development’s (CSD) work on Trump Accounts, tax-advantaged investment accounts provided to children at birth. Under the leadership of founder and co-director Michael Sherraden and co-director Jin Huang, Sherraden CSD has been at the intellectual and policy frontier of Child Development Accounts—asset-building savings accounts established for children, typically at birth, to support future investments in education, housing, or entrepreneurship.
While some may question why CSD is providing assistance to one of the Trump administration’s signature policies, they are at the table to push for adjustments to the current policy design that could worsen disparities and exclude millions of children. They present evidence from decades of research showing that simple adjustments to the Trump Accounts could narrow the racial wealth gap and create opportunities for generations to come. Joining the discussion will be Ray Boshara, a CSD senior policy advisor and member of the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program.
After a lunch break, we return for our Young Social Workers Speak panel discussion at 1:30 p.m., a segment created to ensure that the voices of social students and recent graduates are included in the day’s activities. The panel consists of young social workers from different schools, backgrounds, and geographic locations. They will focus on the role of power asymmetry in shaping the dynamics within a multiracial democracy. How did power asymmetry factor in the framers’ work on the Constitution? How is it being addressed in contemporary society?
The day will culminate with CRISP’s Annual Awards Reception, beginning at 5:00 p.m., during which recipients will be recognized for their contributions in congressional and other federal and legislative settings. Awards will be presented to an outstanding Hill staffer, a notable achiever in the academic arena, a top-performing student, a significant achievement in government, and someone who demonstrated exceptional commitment to social work values in business or philanthropy. Winners will be announced this week.
Our featured guest will be Michael E. Collins, who served as Chief of Staff to the late venerable Congressman John Lewis for 21 years. Michael is an MSW graduate of Boston College School of Social Work. He also earned degrees from Morehouse College and Emory University, including an MBA. He has many stories to tell about working with an American icon.
Another esteemed former congressman, Edolphus “Ed” Towns, plans to join us at the Awards reception. He is still quite active at 91 years old. Social Work Day on the Hill was his brainchild. He envisioned a day when he would invite social workers from all walks of life to a celebration in March, Social Work Month. This annual event was inaugurated in 2015, shortly after Mr. Towns retired from the House of Representatives after a 30-year tenure. Don’t forget to register for the events if you plan to attend.