Thursday, November 15, 2007

Committees

If you are a current, active student member of NABSW ready and willing to roll up your sleeves, produce good work AND have a little fun, then you are eligible to join one of the national subcommittees of the Office of Student Affairs! Each of the dual subcommittees is led by a member of the Executive Committee of OSA, so you will be provided great leadership, guidance and support along the way.

To join, please contact the Chairperson of your choice or reply to this post by clicking on "comments" in the bottom right hand corner:

The Student Handbook & Special Projects Committee
Chair: Angela Benjamin, President
School: University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa)
Email: BenjaminAngela@msn.com

Duties and Responsibilites: Members of this dual committee are responsible for revising and updating the current student handbook and for aiding the National Office with special intiatives, events and projects. Members will work to keep current the information of the student handbook by conducting research within current student chapters. Secondly, members will work to collaborate with the National Office on initiaves of our National President of NABSW, our first project being Voter Education and Registration. This committee contains a special Communications Division, where current members also have the option to be a part of. This Division is responsible for communicating with student chapter presidents, individual student members and generally with student chapter advisors. You may contact this special division by emailing the co-leader at ReneeSingleton84@yahoo.com.

This subcommittee meets monthly on the first sunday of each month at 7 pm CST.

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The Community Service & Conference Committee
Chair: Priscilla Southern, Vice-President
School: Governor's State University (Chicago)
Email: psouthern@mail.govst.edu

Duties and Responsibilities: Members of this dual committee are responsible for coordinating workshops/symposiums, meetings, hospitalities, events, activities, special presentations, speakers etc. for students at conference. Secondly, they are responsible for developing community service projects that chapters can collectively work on in their home city. Members are responsible for compiling the final report to be given at the student meeting at National Conference. Some projects can be in conjunction with the Special Projects Committee.

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The Membership and Transition Committee
Chair: Rebecca Booker, 2nd Vice-President
School: University of Tennessee (Knoxville)Email: ebooker1@utk.edu

Duties and Responsibliites: Members of this dual committee are responsible for recruiting and facilitating the establishment of new student chapters and to increase membership at the established chapters. Secondly, they are responsible for developing a plan of action to assist in bridging the gap between moving from student to local chapter member status, both locally and at National Conference.

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The Website and Newsletter Committee
Chair: Glenda Henderson, Secretary
School: The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa)
Email: Henderson_Glenda@yahoo.com

Duties and Responsibilities: Members of this dual committee are responsible for gathering and posting to the student affairs section of the NABSW website information of interest to students and evaluating the site to assure the site is meeting the needs of students. Secondly, they are responsible for monitoring the information on the student “BLOG” site. Members are also responsible for developing and distributing the “Harambee” newsletter 2 times a year (fall and spring).

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The Scholarship and Fundraising Committee
Chair: Roman Makonnen, Treasurer
School: Howard University (Washington, DC)
Email: roman.makonnen@gmail.com

Duties and Responsibilities: Members of this dual committee are responsible for advertising and encouraging students to apply for scholarships, updating the forms and assist with recipient selection. Secondly, they are responsible for researching ideas for raising money/sponsorships to support student programming, events, activities, hospitalities, conference attendance, etc.

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The Nominations and Sankofa Mentoring Committee
Chair: Daniell Offordile, Parliamentarian
School: University of Texas (Arlington)
Email: doffordile@yahoo.com

Duties and Responsibilities: Members of this dual committee are responsible for updating Candidate Application Forms; assures all applications are complete and candidates are paid members prior to the preliminary screening of their application at the January Steering Committee Meeting; prepares and distributes election ballots; is abreast of upcoming vacant positions; aids in preparing candidates for their election campaign (which usually lasts three months—Jan. through April); aids in preparing candidates for their final campaign speech to be given at the National Conference; and makes sure this information is posted on the OSA website. Secondly, they are responsible for assisting in the development of the Sankofa Mentoring Program by contacting and following up with student chapters to encourage student member participation.

-Taken from NABSW Office of Student Affairs
http://www.nabswstudentaffairs.blogspot.com/

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Members

Yaa Agyekum
Jessica-Monique Anderson
Crystal Harding
J'Ainel Hargrove
Erika Holliday-Walker
Dr. Jenny Jones
Deidre Sledge
Stacie Winn
Telisha Woodfin

Friday, November 9, 2007

Alumni

To forget the elderly is to ignore the wisdom of the years. ~Anon.

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Bernard Greene
MSW Graduate 2004
brothaskeepa@yahoo.com

Cheryl Riley
MSW Graduate 2007

Curtis Thomas
MSW Graduate 2004

Damion Wilson
MSW Graduate 2006

Dana Taylor
MSW Graduate 2002
dizzy95@yahoo.com

Daryl Fraser
MSW Graduate 2007

Edward Robinson, Jr.
MA/MSW Graduate 2003
edouard50@hotmail.com

Jennifer Wicker
MSW Graduate 2005

Khadijah Washington
MSW Graduate 2005
ucrazykw@yahoo.com

Mieya Cook
MSW Graduate 2006

Stephanie Grady
MSW Graduate 2006
dionna7@hotmail.com

Tamika Griffin
MSW Graduate 2006

To-Shera Friend
BSW Graduate 2007

Trina Davis
MSW Graduate 2007

Verenda Cobbs
MSW Graduate 2006
verendacobbs@hotmail.com

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If you need to be added to this page, send an email to crystalleslie@yahoo.com

Article on Battery Park Drive

Restoring Battery park
Campus organization joins relief effort with donation drive
The Commonwealth Times
By: Gayland Hethcoat
Date: 9/18/2006

Shortly after Tropical Storm Ernesto swept through Richmond, officials declared that the storm damage the city endured-water on roads, fallen trees and power outages-was mostly inconvenient.

But the situation was different in Battery Park, a residential area north of the Monroe Park Campus near Virginia Union University. After an underground sewer pipe ruptured there, causing water and sewage to flood the area, officials evacuated approximately 250 housing units. Sixty-one families were displaced.

To help these families, some of which remain without housing, the Association of Black Social Workers is taking donations for a drive at VCU, which will continue until the end of the month. The organization requests school supplies and clothing, which students may drop off at the Raleigh Building at 1001 W. Franklin St.

Stephanie Grady, the alumna chair of the ABSW, encourages VCU students to donate items for middle and high school students.

"The middle and high school students are being overlooked," said Grady, a social worker for Richmond Public Schools. She said she was motivated to begin the donations drive for these students when she attended a town hall-style meeting of area residents on Sept. 6.

"Nobody said anything about the middle or high school students," Grady said, "but they need the same things." Grady described the mood of Battery Park residents as frustrated, adding that many people "are wondering what's going to happen next."

"There's a lot of fecal matter in the streets, mud everywhere, snakes, rodents," she said. She mentioned one woman who returned to her flood-damaged house after Ernesto to find dead rats throughout the kitchen.

Several of the displaced families staying in motels had to relocate again last weekend to accommodate guests in town for the NASCAR race weekend, she added. Erika Holliday-Walker, the ABSW vice president and a student in the Masters of Social Work Program, said the main cause of contention is the damage to the sewer pipe, which officials knew needed maintenance in 2004 after Hurricane Gaston.

"When the flood happened, Battery Park residents didn't expect to be in the same situation they were in last year," she said. Grady called the ABSW donations drive a "grassroots approach," saying that ABSW members will give Battery Park residents donated items on a rolling basis as students drop them off. But students can do more than just donate, Grady said.

"Be cognizant of what's going on," she said. "Listen to the news. If you have the time, go to some of these open meetings that they have downtown at City Hall."

A lot of people like to talk about what's going on and talk about things that people should be doing, but it's about what are you actually doing. Anybody can talk about it, but very few people actually decide to do something."

Article on Order in the Classroom Forum

Richmond students' behavior is discussed

Friday, Oct 12, 2007 - 12:08 AM Updated: 08:58 AM

By MELODIE N. MARTIN
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Social workers, educators, parents, volunteers and those who work in court, prison and mental-health systems gathered last night to address a shared concern -- student behavior in Richmond's schools.

About 25 people attended a community forum, sponsored by the Richmond chapter of the National Association of Black Social Workers, to discuss solutions to challenging conditions in city schools. The event was held at Club 533 in downtown Richmond.

"When parents aren't taking care of their children, it's up to the community to do so," said Mabel Gilbert Wells, who co-chairs the Richmond social worker association's education committee with Sandra T. Mitchell.

Stephanie Garrison, court services unit director for the Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, was one of five panelists. She said there are mechanisms to address truancy, criminal activity and other issues through the courts and criminal justice system, but they are a last resort.

"Parents are the key," she said, adding that community resources need to support strengthening parenting skills.

Fellow panelist Arlene Belfield, child and family mental health services director for the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, described tragic situations of children facing challenges both at home and at school.

"They will not be prepared to be productive citizens in the community, and they don't understand what it means to be parents or to be parented," she said. "When they step out into the larger world, they will have some deficits."

Belfield said her agency strives to help families function better through counseling, outreach and education. One program focuses on empowering parents to assume responsibility for their children and promotes a philosophy that case managers maximize usage of their skills to engage families before dismissing them as resistant to help.

"At times we label them as noncompliant or resistant, when we haven't used every tool," she said. "With some families, there are different personalities and they may not click."

Tichi Pinkney-Epps, president of the Richmond City Council of PTAs, said teachers are responsible for educating children and spoke of the need to resist blaming parents.

"We need to change our attitude toward parents. Some of our parents don't have a grasp of what a good quality of life is about," she said. "You can't continue to go to them in judgment. Offer some help. Be an example of what help looks like."

Contact Melodie N. Martin at (804) 649-6290 or mmartin@timesdispatch.com.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

November Events & Activities

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
Fri, Nov 2 at 6p
J'Ainel's House

SCENT-SATIONAL FUNDRAISER
Nov 5 - Nov 20
Click link for more information
http://abswvcu.blogspot.com/2007/11/scent-sational-fundraiser.html

RICHMOND CHAPTER MEETING
Nov 8 at 6:45p
Club 533
700 N 3rd St
Richmond, VA

HOSPITALITY HOUSE FOOD DRIVE
Nov 12 - 20
Donations can be dropped off in the student lounge
Raleigh Building
Room B-14

VCU CHAPTER MEETING
Nov 16 at 6p
Raleigh Building
1001 W. Franklin St
Room 112
Richmond, VA

SOCIAL WORK STUDY GROUP
Nov 18 from 6-9p
Cabell Library
Group Area
Second Floor

Scent-Sational Fundraiser

ABSW is now taking orders for our Scent-Sational Fundraiser. We are selling Celestial Scents Soy Candles that are made with all natural Soy wax and have been drenched in high quality fragrance oils to produce a strong smelling candle from start to finish. Soy wax burns cleaner and longer without the soot. The candles have lead free wicks and are available in the following sizes:

10 oz. burns approximately 60-68 hours for $10
16 oz. burns approximately 100-120 hours for $15

Available scents:

  • Country blue berry hotcakes
  • Hot apple pie
  • Cinnamon Toast
  • Cucumber melon
  • Island mango
  • Bayberry
  • Sugar Plum
  • Fresh Linen
  • Spiced Cranberry
  • Cinnamon Sticks
  • French Vanilla
  • Pumpkin Spice
  • Creme Brulee
  • Christmas Splendor
  • Mulberry Spice
  • Hot cocoa
Order your candle today! All orders and monies due by Tuesday, November 20

Interested in selling candles, send an email to J'Ainel at jaigrove@yahoo.com

Interested in buying candles, send an email to crystalleslie@yahoo.com or nasirl@vcu.edu


The purpose of this fundraiser is to support the members in attending the NABSW national conference in Los Angeles, CA in April 2008. For more information about conference go to http://www.nabsw.org/

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Resources


































DISCLAIMER: The information, opinions, views, etc. expressed on these web sites are solely those of the identified organizations, publications, and/or authors and do not necessarily constitute the position(s) of ABSW or NABSW, Inc.

Resources

VCU African American Alumni Council

National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice

Black Administrators in Child Welfare (BACW)

National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS

National Black Police Association

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

National Black MBA Association

National Society of Blacks in Engineering

International Society on Hypertension in Blacks

National Alliance of Black School Educators

National Congress of Black Women

Association of Black Psychologists

National Black Nurses Association

Black Psychiatrists of America

National Black Graduate Student Association

National Association of Black Accountants

National Association for the Advancement of Black People

DISCLAIMER: The information, opinions, views, etc. expressed on these web sites are solely those of the identified organizations, publications, and/or authors and do not necessarily constitute the position(s) of ABSW or NABSW, Inc.

Conference

Harambee!!! Every year the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) sponsors a national conference. The purpose of this conference is to edify, encourage, and advance the development of professional Black social workers. ABSW encourages every member to attend the conference. This is an opportunity to learn more about social services from an Africentric perspective, develop and enhance leadership skills, form professional relationships, bond with members of ABSW, and relax and have fun.

40th Annual National Conference
"Ma'at, Sankofa, and Harambee: 40 Years Strong"
Tuesday, April 1, 2008 - Saturday, April 5, 2008

Host Chapters: Los Angeles ABSW and Bay Area ABSW

Hotel: Hilton LAX, 5711 W. Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Room Rates
Single - $109.00, Double - $119.00, Triple - $139.00, and Quad - $159.00
Plus 14% Tax

Reservations: 1-800-Hiltons or 1-310-410-4000

Parking: Valet - $18.00/day or Self - $14.00/day (Plus 10% Tax)

Transportation: 24 Hr. Complimentary Shuttle (To and From LAX)

Miscellaneous: 24 Hr. Business Center

To register and view the conference brochure go to http://www.nabsw.org/MServer/Events.aspx?eventID=861&calendarDate=04042008

If you are interested in attending the conference, send an email to vcuabsw@vcu.edu.

Scholarship Information

Just in case you didn't know the NABSW does offer scholarships. The NABSW will be providing scholarships to qualified applicants for the 2008-2009 academic year. The scholarship amounts range from $250 to $2000. Applications MUST be received by Friday, December 17, 2007. Any applications received after this date will not be accepted -- No Exceptions. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all of his/her materials are received by the required date. Applicants should follow the scholarship criteria and procedure sheet exactly to ensure eligibility of their application. Separate applications must be submitted for each scholarship for which he/she will be considered. For more information, go to the NABSW website at http://www.nabsw.org and click on "Forms"

Executive Board

President
Crystal Harding
hardingcl@vcu.edu

First Vice President
J'Ainel Hargrove
hargroveje@vcu.edu

Second Vice President
Stacie Winn
winnsl@vcu.edu

Treasurer
Yaa Agyekum
yaagyekum@vcu.edu

Secretary
Lorraine Nasir
nasirl@vcu.edu

Parliamentarian
Diedra Sledge
sledgedc@vcu.edu

Alumni Chair
Erika Holliday-Walker
erikalh_vcu@hotmail.com

Faculty Advisor
Jenny Jones
jljones2@vcu.edu

Committees

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The executive committee, which consists of the ABSW officers and faculty advisor(s), is concerned with all phases of ABSW affairs. The executive committee is responsible for formulating and implementing policy, which stimulate growth and interest in the student chapter and the surrounding community.

PROGRAM COMMITTEE
The program committee is responsible for planning ABSW community services programs, forums, and other related events.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
The membership committee is responsible for the maintenance of student chapter membership and recruitment and development of new students.

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE
The fundraising committee is responsible for developing and implementing fundraising activities, and developing an annual budget goal for the ABSW.

COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE
The communication committee is responsible for sharing and disseminating information to student members and for networking with other student organizations on campus and organizations in the community. The communication committee also works to facilitate communication by identifying obstacles and making recommendations to the ABSW.

If you would like to join either of these committees or for more information, contact us at vcuabsw@vcu.edu.

Membership

Hotep! To all graduate and undergraduate students, if you are of African descent and have a genuine desire to enhance the quality of like and empower people of African ancestry through education, advocacy, human services, and research, then ABSW is the organization for you.

MEETINGS
Our meetings are held every 3rd Friday in the Raleigh Building, unless otherwise stated. The general meetings are held at at 6p in room 112.

Jan 25 - 4th Friday
Feb 22 - 4th Friday
March 21
April 18

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Membership is open to individuals who:
1) Are of African descent
2) Pay membership dues
3) Adhere to the Constitution and By-Laws of ABSW
4) Have an interest in ABSW or in the field of social welfare

DUES
The regular rate is $35 for the year. The student rate is $20 for the year. This includes the national and local dues. Make checks or money orders payable to ABSW.

NABSW Code of Ethics

"Liberation by any means necessary, rather than adjustment." ~NABSW

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The Code of Ethics of NABSW, adopted in 1971, is excerpted below:

In America today, no Black person, except the selfish or irrational, can claim neutrality in the quest for Black liberation nor fail to consider the implications of the events taking place in our society. Given the necessity for committing ourselves to the struggle for freedom, we as Black Americans practicing in the field of social welfare set forth this statement of ideals and guiding principles.

If a sense of community awareness is a precondition to humanitarian acts, then we as Black social workers must use our knowledge of the Black community, our commitments to its self-determination and our helping skills for the benefit of Black people as we marshal our expertise to improve the quality of life of Black people. Our activities will be guided by our Black consciousness, our determination to protect the security of the Black community and to serve as advocates to relieve suffering of Black people by any means necessary.

Therefore, as Black social workers we commit ourselves, collectively, to the interests of our Black brethren and as individuals subscribe to the following statements:

  • I regard as my primary obligation the welfare of the Black individual, Black family, and Black community and will engage in action for improving social conditions.
  • I give precedence to this mission over my personal interests.
  • I adopt the concept of a Black extended family and embrace all Black people as my brothers and sisters, making no distinction between their destiny and my own.
  • I hold myself responsible for the quality and extent of service I perform and the quality and extent of service performed by the agency or organization in which I am employed, as it relates to the Black community.
  • I accept the responsibility to protect the Black community against unethical and hypocritical practice by any individuals or organizations engaged in social welfare activities.
  • I stand ready to supplement my paid or professional advocacy with voluntary service in the Black public interest.
  • I will consciously use my skills, and my whole being, as an instrument for social change, with particular attention directed to the establishment of Black social institutions.

Vision Statement

The Association of Black Social Workers will work to create a world in which people of African ancestry will live free from racial domination, economic exploitation, and cultural oppression. In collaboration with national, international, and other appropriate groups, ABSW will continue to leverage its collective expertise to strategically develop the capacity of people of African ancestry to sustain and flourish. Our vision is guided by the principles of the Nguzo Saba and the virtues of Ma'at.

Nguzo Saba Principles
Umoja (Unity)
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
Ujima (Collective Work & Responsibility)
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
Nia (Purpose)
Kuumba (Creativity)
Imani (Faith)

Ma'at Virtues
Righteousness
Truth
Justice
Order
Reciprocity
Balance
Harmony

Mission & Vision

MISSION STATEMENT
The Association of Black Social Workers, comprised of people of African ancestry, is committed to enhancing the quality of life and empowering people of African ancestry through advocacy, human services, and research.


VISION STATEMENT
The Association of Black Social Workers will work to create a world in which people of African ancestry will live free from racial domination, economic exploitation, and cultural oppression. In collaboration with national, international, and other appropriate groups, ABSW will continue to leverage its collective expertise to strategically develop the capacity of people of African ancestry to sustain and flourish. Our vision is guided by the principles of the Nguzo Saba and the virtues of Ma'at.

Nguzo Saba Principles
Umoja (Unity)
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
Ujima (Collective Work & Responsibility)
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
Nia (Purpose)
Kuumba (Creativity)
Imani (Faith)

Ma'at Virtues
Righteousness
Truth
Justice
Order
Reciprocity
Balance
Harmony

Contact Us

Association of Black Social Workers
Virginia Commonwealth University
School of Social Work
Raleigh Building
1001 W. Franklin St.
P.O. Box 842027
Richmond, VA 23284-2027
Fax: (804)828-0716