News and Activities December 2017
Shantalea Johns was appointed by the Provost and Academic Senate to serve a three-year term on the Academic Staff Professional Development Committee for the University. Established in 1986, The Academic Staff Professional Development Committee is committed to providing opportunities for academic staff members to enhance their professional development through its support of both on-campus and off-campus workshops, seminars, and conferences. Each year, funds are allocated to the committee in the amount of $30,000 to engage in professional development activities and to support conference attendance.
Three WSU School of Social Work graduates have joined the team at the Eastside Community Network (ECN), a non-profit community organization, to launch the Lower Eastside Economic Mobility program (LEEM).
The Eastside Community Network (ECN) (formerly Warren/Conner Development Coalition) has been spearheading community development on Detroit's Lower Eastside for more than 30 years. ECN works with partners develop people, places and plans for sustainable community growth on Detroit's lower eastside. This positive transformation is achieved through resident engagement, multi-sector collaborations, advocacy, leadership development and innovative approaches to land development. ECN has a proven record of integrating community concerns and ideas into an operational action plan that yields positive results.
Angela B. Wilson (a 1988 M.S.W. graduate and current part-time faculty member for the school of Social Work) will be directing the program with the support of staff members Tiera Robinson (a 2017 M.S.W. graduate) and Savana Brewer (A 2017 M.S.W. graduate) as Family Mobility Coordinators. John Dawson (a current first year M.S.W. student) is also in a field placement with the organization and will support this program.
The Lower Eastside Economic Mobility Program is a new program that is being influenced by work that ECN (formerly the Warren/Conner Development Coalition) did in the mid- to late-1990s through their Partnership for Economic Independence (PEI) program. PEI was a very successful program that supported single mothers in improving their lives and moving their families economically. "We are very happy to be able to partner with the W. K. Kellogg Foundation to launch this new initiative for the benefit of families on Detroit's eastside" said ECN CEO Donna Givens.
The LEEM program is using a Mobility Mentoring ® approach that is integral to the Economic Mobility Pathways Bridge to Self-Sufficiency® model. Individuals and their families on the eastside of Detroit, with primary focus in the 48213, 48214 and 48215 zip code areas will be able to apply for the program. Selected participants will be partnered with a mentor for support in achieving the goals that they set for themselves. Goal development will target the five areas of the Bridge to Self Sufficiency ® model: Family Stability, Health and Well-Being, Financial Management, Education / Training and Employment/ Career.
On October 24, Associate Professor Stella Resko and 27 of her undergraduate research students attended the Wayne State University Institute for Gerontology's Research Colloquia. The talk by Laura Zahodne from the University of Michigan addressed Psychosocial Mechanisms of Racial/Ethnic Inequalities in Dementia. For the majority of the B.S.W. students, this was their first time attending a research talk.
The School of Social Work mourns the passing of Nida Donar, a distinguished alumna who completed her social work training at Wayne State and maintained a long-standing relationship with our school. At various times, Nida taught both undergraduate and graduate social work courses at Wayne and also served for many years as a faculty field liaison. A tireless advocate for the socially and economically disenfranchised, Nida had many leadership positions over a social work career that spanned nearly five decades. She was much-loved by students and colleagues alike. Plans for a commemorative celebration of Nida's life that will take place on Saturday, Dec, 9 from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. at the Central United Methodist Church, located at 23 E. Adams in Detroit (at the corner of Woodward and Elizabeth, near Grand Circus Park). There is free parking on the Elizabeth side of the church. Those who wish to speak and offer their thoughts will be presented during the first hour, from 11 a.m. to noon, and this will be followed by a shared meal and fellowship for those able to stay for the last hour.
The School of Social Work Halloween Party was a hit! Tara Dixon-Givhan took home best costume as a most infamous puppy-poacher (below), Margaret Madej cut a rug with Damon Garrett (who was up to some monkey business), Richard Smith presented the face of clean coal and Jana McNair got a call that there was something strange in the neighborhood!
