By Diane Jackson, Lisa White, and Elvera Carrera, Co-Chairs
(November/December 1999)

Social Workers of African Descent (SWAD) Task Force and the Committee on Latino Affairs held its First Annual Joint Student Reception at the NYC Chapter Office of NASW, on November 10, 1999 at 6:30 p.m.

The importance of this gathering is immeasurable, as an intimate group of just under 30 participants attended this gathering. In a time when may professional social workers feel under siege by inadequacies in government, diminishing resources for our clients and a lack of professional cohesion (illustrated by the pros and cons for licensing for social workers)-having a professional organization whose mission it is to promote the values of social work is essential. The message given to students this night is to embrace "your" professional association, get involved in its committees and have that membership organization respond to your needs. In other word, "you've got to be in it, to benefit." It's real easy to allow ourselves to become disillusioned by what some may perceive as a lack of responsiveness of NASW to social workers needs. The attitude of "what has NASW done for me lately" needs to change to "let me inform NASW of my needs by getting involved."

Our students took time out of their busy class and field schedules to find out about NASW, the chapter and what NASW is doing for them. Whether its an issue of licensing, social injustice in the work place, or bias and privilege among social workers, our collective voices need to be hear and strongly felt. Feedback from the students centered around having student support meetings, networking opportunities and information about career and employment options, which when you strip away to the essence of NASW's existence, that is part of the value of our professional social work association.