Collective Mission:

The SOGIE Collective strives to empower the lives and practice of New York City Social Workers and Social Work students across the gender and sexuality spectrums, specifically those whose identities would be considered under the umbrella of LGBTQIAGNCTS+. This starts with the conscious use of the SOGIE acronym and continues with five distinct driving principles that focus our work on promoting social justice, building community, advocating for affirming legislation, creating opportunities for continuing education, and elevating social work practice.

Driving Principles:

Social Justice | In partnership with the NASW’s Coalition for Race, Intersectionality, and Diversity, SOGIE is committed to conducting all conversations, events, and initiatives through an intersectional, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive lens. We intend to recognize the historical and current divisions within the SOGIE community, and strive to hold accountable our community and the field of social work in undoing oppressive structures.

Community | Provide space, time, and opportunity towards the creation of a cohesive and supportive SOGIE Social Work community. Foster concrete linkages between SOGIE Social Workers and bolster relationships with SOGIE organizations in New York City. Work in close partnership with other committees in NASW-NYC to ensure visibility and legibility of projects within the SOGIE community.

Legislative Agenda | Actively advocate for and support legislation that protects SOGIE rights and promotes the health, safety, and success of all SOGIE persons.

Continuing Education | Elevate SOGIE voices through professional trainings that seek to educate social workers and promote best practices for supporting and empowering SOGIE populations across practice settings.

Social Work Practice | Develop and promote best practice interventions and paradigms with and for the SOGIE community through familiarity with current SOGIE centered research, thoughtful use of dynamic language, and involvement in projects and events that affect SOGIE practitioners and consumers.

In the spirit of the SOGIE community, with language that ever evolves to best capture our identities and experiences, this mission statement is fluid and subject to change as we continue to learn how to most radically serve and engage queer, trans, and gender-fluid folx. Any changes will be discussed and agreed upon by the SOGIE Collective Steering Committee.

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