Addictions Committee Meeting

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

9:15 am - 11:15 am

NASW-NYC Chapter Office, 50 Broadway, Suite 1001

The Addictions Committee has another exciting presentation on Wednesday, October 10, 2018.

The Intersection of Mass Incarceration and Addictions

Dr. Kirk Anthony James, DSW

Bio

Kirk Anthony James is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the NYU Silver School of Social Work. He completed his doctorate from the School of Social Policy and Practice at The University of Pennsylvania in May 2013. His dissertation, "The Invisible Epidemic in Social Work Academia," examined the complex phenomena of mass incarceration through a historical and contemporary lens. He concluded by developing curricula for Master level students to increase awareness, activism and holistic practice in the milieu. Courses developed from his dissertation have been implemented at Columbia University, Temple University, City College, and the University of Pennsylvania amongst others.

Dr. James's primary research and publications focus on deconstructing issues of mass incarceration -- specifically as it pertains to trauma, cognitive development, culpability, and the examination of systems that foster and perpetuate racial injustice. Dr. James co-created NYU Silver's Re-imagine Justice conference on mass incarceration, reentry and trauma and their intersections and implications for social work practice. He also launched the Silver School's monthly Mass Incarceration Conversation Series (MICS), which brings people impacted by mass incarceration together with academics, activists, policy makers, and practitioners to create a more informed understanding and subsequent response to mass incarceration. In addition, he works collaboratively with the Center For Justice at Columbia University on its annual "Beyond The Bars" conference -- which brings impacted people together with academics, activists, policy makers, and practitioners from across the country to create a more informed understanding, and subsequent response to mass incarceration.

Dr. James has over a decade of leadership experience in various social justice settings, and is a highly sought out speaker and human rights advocate. He has been a consultant on social justice projects from the Caribbean to Africa. At the University of Pennsylvania, he developed and directed the Goldring Reentry Initiative (GRI). The primary goals of the GRI are to identify best practices in reducing recidivism for individuals transitioning from Philadelphia jails, and to train clinical and macro level social work students to work with incarcerated individuals (pre and post release).

In addition to Dr. Kirk James we need to take a stand on the legalization of marijuana.

Please watch your emails for more information about the work that your Chapter is doing and how you can get involved!

Best,

Maxine and Iris

Addictions Committee Co-Chairs