The School of Social Work's Association of Black Social Workers (ABSW, group photo below) was chosen as a co-recipient of the Association for Community Organization and Social Administration's 2017 Outstanding Student Award. The award was presented to President Michanda Gant (second photo below, right) and Secretary Asia Alexander (second photo below, center) by M.S.W. Advisor Tamarie Willis (second photo below, left) on Oct. 21 during ACOSA's 30th Anniversary Awards Celebration in Dallas, attended by Joy Ernst, Shirley Thomas, Anwar Najor-Durack, Takisha Lashore, Shantalea Johns, Angela Olivera, and Richard Smith.

Among other things, ABSW organized "Elevate Their Voices: Social Justice and Community Activism from a Detroit Perspective," which on Feb. 16 brought together a distinguished panel of elected leaders, activists and scholars to lead a dialogue around social justice, social action, and social change. ABSW also collaborated with the School of Social Work's Social Justice Committee to host a "Food, Fun, & Film" event that allowed participants to view, critically analyze, and discuss a documentary on the global, national, and local water crisis. This event allowed for more than 75 students and 10 community partners, faculty, and staff participants to raise awareness of social issues facing the global and local community as it relates to water access. 

Congratulations to BSW student Alan Johns who received the NASW-Michigan BSW Student Leadership in Diversity Award at the 2017 LEAD day. NASW-Michigan awards up to one exceptional BSW and MSW student the Student Leadership in Diversity Award annually. These $500 scholarships recognize and promote leaders among social work students who are working on projects, research, or advocacy initiatives that promote diversity and social justice. Award recipients have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities (show ambition, vision and is highly motivated), have an above average academic record, and worked to promote the ideals of social work and our Code of Ethics.

Nicholas Prys (below), a second-year student in Wayne State's Master of Social Work program, has received a 2017-18 master's fellowship from the Council on Social Work Education's Minority Fellowship Program-Youth (MFP-Y) Advisory Committee. Funded by the federal government's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the fellowship is designed to promote the training of social workers who can provide mental health service delivery to at-risk children, adolescents, and/or transition-age youths. Read more here

Nancy Keller (below), DHHS partner and Steering Committee Member for the Wayne Together Collaborative, received the 2017 Advocate of the Year Award from the Guidance Center.