When Angelo Flowers, MSW, LGSW, moved to Minnesota, his first order of business was finding his community. He reached out to the NASW Minnesota Chapter and asked, “How can you use me?”
That led to him running for the secretary position on the chapter board. “I found myself as only one of a handful (of people) that look like me or have shared identities,” Flowers said. Making sure the board was diverse—racially, ethnically and religiously—was significant to him.
“When I became president-elect and eventually president (of the chapter board), it was important that we had a board that looked like our profession,” Flowers explained. “I am proud to say this is probably the most diverse board the chapter has ever had. We have members who are part of religious minorities, we have people who are gender minorities. We have…accessibility diversity.”
Flowers, whose term as chapter president concluded on June 30, also has chaired the chapter’s Racial Justice Committee and served on the chapter’s Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification. He also is a supervisor for an adult protective services program. “Social work for me has been the ability to provide direct care and services to the most vulnerable populations.”
Flowers says it’s important to volunteer for organizations that need help. “I think it’s important for folks to get involved with our professional association.” When it comes to workforce issues, leaders look to the association to give its opinion on legislation, licensing and more, he says.