Social Workers of African heritage
come together in historic Chapter forum

By Deborah K. Shepherd, CSW, Assistant Director
(January 1997)

"I knew we were out there, and I'm so glad we're all here."

It was standing room only as nearly 100 social workers gathered at the Chapter office on November 22 for NYC NASW's first forum for social workers of African descent. Cultural competency and multicultural issues are priorities of the Chapter's Board of Directors and the Chapter has offered a number of groups within the membership an opportunity to come together. The Chapter's Committee on Latino Affairs has been active for two years; an Asian American Task Force was formed this year; and Indian, Pakistani and Bengali social workers have been meeting under the Chapter auspices.

Eight hundred and nine New York City Chapter members have identified themselves as Black/African American on their NASW membership applications. Last summer, a planning committee, chaired by Frances Curtis and Diann Cameron, met to devise a survey of these members and a forum in which members could meet and discuss ideas and concerns. Chapter members Charles Trent and John Edwards constructed the survey, which was then tested with a focus group.A final draft was sent to all Chapter members who identified as Black/African American, along with an invitation to the November 22 forum. Because membership also encompasses those social workers who are Afro-Caribbean and African, it was felt by the planning group that the name "Social Workers of African Descent" was more inclusive than "African-American." Thus far, several hundred surveys have been completed and returned to the Chapter Office. Results of the survey will be used to inform Chapter programming.

The forum was set up to give voice to participants. The planning committee co-chairs, Executive Director Robert Schachter and President Carmen Ortiz Hendricks briefly addressed the group, but then the floor was turned over to members, with each person talking about why he or she was attending and what they hoped they could both give to and receive from their professional organization. Views were expressed from a diverse group, ranging from one of the Chapter's most senior members, who spoke movingly about attending a segregated school of social work in the South to a large contingent of students who voiced their hopes for their future in the profession.

"We envisioned the forum as basic, nurturing and empowering. We wanted to give members a chance to network, to allow them to see the strength of this group. The goal was to reach out to each other, and this goal was met," says forum Co-chair Diann Cameron. "Sometimes the simplest things can carry a huge message: That NASW is here to nurture us and support our professional development, and that we're here to give to and through NASW to our constituency."

It was clear from participants' remarks that the forum was much needed and much welcomed:

. . ."My prayers have been answered. At so many meetings and conferences, we are so underrepresented."

. . ."I'm the only supervisor of color in my agency...it gets lonely out there."

. . ."I'm here because I wanted to be with other social workers who look like me."

. . ."I want to learn how to address racism in the profession...to be proactive instead of reactive."

. . ."We need to empower more social workers to give back to our communities."

. . ."I hope to make a contribution to the Chapter."

. . ."This was a long time coming."

. . . "I feel a real sense of community. This is a monumental point for me as a social worker."