WOW….I think I need to take a minute to exhale after this video. Just some time to think.

This video was presented to me by a Denver based, MSW credentialed community organizer, Mike Green. The creator, and subject, of this video has been labeled as a person with ’low-functioning Autism’. Aside from being an absolutely beautiful commentary on language, oppression and the perils of ‘labeling’, her story provides evidence of social constructivism at work in our world. This demonstrates the clash between dominantly held beliefs on disability and identity and the unheard voice of the marginalized (but certainly not disempowered!). Please check out her story! And ask yourself some questions:

* How did we come to excluding such treasures from our society?

* How can we work together to learn from this story and continue to shatter dominant perceptions of disability?

* How can we act together to embrace the true beauty presented in this story?

The person who made this video has a screen name of silentmiaow and has a blog with great explorations in life…if you care to read futher.

Please enjoy “In my Language”!

• The Clinical Social Work Association

“The CSWA is a national individual membership organization dedicated to providing essential services, products, professional support, and national identity for Clinical Social Workers.”

• The National Network for Social Work Managers

“Combining the leadership expertise of a superior manager with the people-centered focus of a social work practitioner.”

• The Global Social Work Network

“The Mission is to create an association of social work professionals world wide. This network promotes information exchange of global and local social work resources, educational opportunities, foreign and domestic social work licensure regulations, and to support those seeking career opportunities worldwide.”

- Networking

- Provide travel and cultural information

• THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER Online

“The place for social workers on the Net”

- Magazine – online only

- Current topics

- Research

- Forum

• The Council on Social Work Education

“CSWE is a nonprofit national association representing over 3,000 individual members as well as graduate and undergraduate programs of professional social work education.”

• Global Social Work

“An Internet-based International Social Work Community for social workers, human services workers, humanitarian aide workers, and human rights organizations.”

• Social Work World

“A world of resources and support for the social worker, social work student and those interested in social issues.”

• The Association for Community Organization and Social Administration
  

“ACOSA is a membership organization for community organizers, activists, nonprofit administrators, community builders, policy practitioners, students and educators.”

- The purposes of ACOSA are:

-To facilitate and support an annual national symposium

-To provide a forum for sharing information on teaching materials, literature, models/theory, research and proactive issues

-To facilitate networking activities among educators and practitioners

-To promote the development of teaching material, research and literature about community organization and social administration

-To network with other professional associations in promoting development of community organization and social administration

• Major universities such as Washington University in St. Louis

Greetings! In an attempt to nurture the meaningful, supportive and transformational community of social workers that is established while in school, on April 17, 2007 Indiana University School of Social Work students Ellen Holland and Marc McAleavey presented to fellow students on utilizing the Appreciative Inquiry method for creating a conversation of ’soon to graduate’ masters level social work students. The hope guiding this conversation is that it will be sustained by each other overtime and will result in a more connected network of professional social workers who support one another in life, in work, and in advocating for one another as social workers.

To view the power point presentation presented by Holland and McAleavey, simply click on the link below:

social_work_community_powerpoint1ellen_revisions41607.ppt

Please note that the power point presentation concludes with an informative list of resources for the Appreciative Inquiry method and process.

We hope you enjoy the linked presentation and, please, stay connected.