Critical Conversations

NASW Social Work Talks

NASW Social Work Talks podcast explores topics that social workers care with social work experts and practitioners.

• Black Lives Matter: The Role of Social Work in Dismantling Structural Racism in the USA
• Stop Asian Hate
• Why We Need More Black Male Social Workers
• Facing Racism, Moving Forward
• Where We Stand on Racism
• Justice and Joy: Self-Care in 2020
• Immigration on the Texas Border, Before and After COVID-19
• Juvenile Justice / Youth Transfer

Racial Equity Town Hall Series

Town Hall Series on Racial Equity: Undoing Racism

June 17, 2021
Social work is unique in its dual focus of enhancing human well-being and championing social justice. Yet our occupation’s history is also linked to many shameful chapters in America’s remarkable story. This event discusses how social workers advanced racial justice this year and explore the profession's plans for addressing its historic mistakes to achieve an anti-racist future.

Town Hall on Racial Equity: Eradicating AAPI Hate

May 27, 2021
Watch this event to learn about the complex issue of the rise in violent crimes against Asian-Americans since COVID-19, and how current challenges and threats can be understood in the broader context of systemic racism in America.

Abolition Town Hall, Part 2: Creating the World We Wish to See

April 9, 2021
This webinar will explore what abolition looks like in practice, social work’s role with carceral systems, and what social workers can do to create a society in which the need for these systems is obsolete.

Abolition Town Hall, Part 1: Are Social Workers Abolitionists?

March 12, 2021
This webinar explores the basic tenets of the abolition movement, the connection between abolitionist values and social work values, and a call to action for social workers to envision and help create reimagined responses that are free of injustices driven by systemic racism.

Town Hall on Racial Equity: White Privilege

January 15, 2021
This interactive event examining white privilege: what it is, and what it means for social work and society.

Economic Equity, Racial Equity and COVID‐19

October 2, 2020
Moderated by Angelo McClain, PhD, LICSW, the panel of Michael Sherraden, PhD, MSW, Deborah Weinstein, MSW and Mel Wilson, LCSW, MBA discussed the intersection of economic equity, racial equity and COVID‐19.