Think Group in New York City , October 17-20, 2002 :  The International Symposium of the Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups 

By Carol Cohen, DSW, Symposium Chair 

This past fall saw New York City become the epicenter of social work practice with groups, as approximately 600 people joined together to “Think Group” at the 24th Annual International Symposium of the Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups (AASWG), held at the Brooklyn Marriott.  Perhaps drawn together even stronger than usual (the original symposium venue was the World Trade Center Marriott), participants from all over the world focused on beginning new programs, examining options for work teams and community based groups, exploring ways for groups to meet special needs, sharing practice challenges, examining the latest research on group work practice and building skills through a series of workshops, paper presentations, exhibits, plenary speeches, and informal gatherings. 

Participants came with a wide variety of interests and experiences, with approximately half from the New York Metropolitan Area. As noted in their evaluations, some found the symposium “reinvigorating” and found that it “got the creative juices flowing.”  For others, it was “awesome to meet, see and hear social work pioneers,” and “connect with others who share the passion for work with groups”. Many commented on the “warmth,” “generosity,” as well as “high quality” of presentations and discussions. Along with the members of the Planning Committee, the Co-chairs, Michael Phillips and Meredith Hanson, and I found it particularly gratifying to hear participants were able to find and generate many ideas to take back to their work, and extend to impact of the symposium beyond the four days that we were together.  

The Symposium began on Thursday, 10/17 with eight half-day institutes and five outstitues. Institutes included dynamic sessions led by Roni Berger, Tom Caplan & Harle Thomas, Carlean Gilbert, Alex Gitterman & Lawrence Shulman, Christian Itin & Antonio Alvarez, Maxine Lynn & Danielle Nisivoccia, Julianne Wayne & Edna Comer, and Raymie Wayne. Outstitutes, conducted at outstanding agency settings in New York City , focused on extraordinary practice with groups at the following programs: Community School Program of the Children's Aid Society, Fountain House Clubhouse Program, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Community Center , Van Cortlandt Village Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, and Village AIDS Network & Rivington House. In addition, Thursday's program had two special workshops, including one sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, on obtaining funding for research on group work practice, and another sponsored by the AASWG Archives Committee, to build skills and contribute to the group work oral history project.  

Thursday was capped with the Opening Banquet and the Beulah G. Rothman Memorial Lecture, given by William Bell, Commissioner of the Administration for Children's Services of NYC, followed by remarks by Barbara Rittner, SUNY Buffalo. Commissioner Bell was introduced by Mary Pender Greene, President of the NYC Chapter of NASW and Chief of Social Work Services, Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services. The Breakfast Plenary on Friday, October 18, began with greetings by Terry Mizrahi, President of NASW, followed by the Sumner Gill Memorial Lecture, given by Darlyne Bailey, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean, Teachers College, Columbia University , with themes of collaboration and community building with groups.  We then launched into over 170 exciting presentations for the next three days, including dynamic workshops, intriguing papers, interactive panels, posters, displays and many opportunities for networking and discussion.  At the end of the day on Friday, we ambled over the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset following a send-off by Marty Markowitz, Borough President of Brooklyn , ending with a reception at the offices of C. Virginia Fields, Borough President of Manhattan . 

Saturday's Luncheon Plenary focused on the power of groups responding to trauma and rebuilding lives after 9/11, with Pete Moses, Executive Director of the Children’s Aid Society, and members of groups of teens and displaced workers who shared the power of their group experiences.  As part of the AASWG Annual Meeting later that day, we honored Pamela Cavallo (in memoriam), George Getzel, Daniel Kronenfeld, and Marcos Leiderman for their extraordinary contributions to social work with groups. Sunday's Breakfast Plenary speakers, Roselle Kurland and Robert Salmon, Hunter College School of Social Work, masterfully addressed the disconnect between school and agency that new group work practitioners confront. 

We were enormously gratified that agencies and educational institutions generously signed on as co-sponsors. Among agencies, were the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, Children’s Aid Society, and Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens at the Supporter and Associate Level.  Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service served as Host University, with Adelphi University School of Social Work, Columbia University School of Social Work, Hunter College School of Social Work, New York University Shirley M. Ehrenkranz School of Social Work, State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Social Welfare, and Yeshiva University Wurzweiler School of Social Work serving a Co-Sponsors.  Our Coordinators of Student Volunteers did a phenomenal job of recruiting over 100 student volunteers from local social work programs.  Joining with AASWG as co-sponsors were the New York City and New York State Chapter of NASW. 

In addition to the annual symposium, AASWG has developed an extensive array of ongoing programs to promote and develop group work practice and education.  AASWG is on the World Wide Web at www.aaswg.org, where one can enter the internet discussion group, find information on all upcoming programs, and locate a range of resources for group work practice, training and teaching.  The local chapters of AASWG (Red Apple/NYC and Long Island Chapter) sponsor a variety of events and programs that provide wonderful opportunities to extend the symposium experience, and for those that missed it, connect with other group workers before the next symposium.  They can be found at www.aaswg.org as well.  The 25th International Symposium is scheduled for October 16-19, 2003 in Boston - all are welcome to attend, and if interested, submit a proposal for a presentation or workshop.   

Ruth Middleman identified “thinking group” as a specific group skill that lies at the heart of our work.  It involves using a group lens as the frame for seeing what is going on around us and involves viewing the group as a vehicle through which individual change occurs.  Thus, the Symposium theme: “Think Group,” provided a context to examine how groups effectively meet compelling human needs, as reservoirs of support, responsibility, action, healing, learning and acceptance.