Racial Justice

About

At the Graduate School of Social Work, our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is rooted in social work values. Our resolve as a School and community of social justice warriors is to use courageous and intentional action to uphold our professional mandates from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and National Association of Social Workers (NASW). We must do more than believe in the inherent dignity and worth of all people. We must be willing to lean into discomfort and speak out against racist ideologies and systems in our personal and professional communities. We must engage in anti-racist action for social and systemic change.  

We are committed to challenging social injustice.

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Why Take Action?

The Power of Narrative

Learn about social work values and the basic concepts of power, privilege and oppression from Professor Deb Ortega. 

The Source of the Wound

Learn about historical trauma and healing in this award-winning animated short film—produced by Associate Professor Ramona Beltran. 

mobilize and transform

Anti-Racist Action Strategies

Mobilize & Transform

Educating social work students for anti-racist practice is our mandate from the Council on Social Work Education. Fight for ongoing racial justice and systemic change: 

  • Resources to educate about Anti-Asian Hate, allyship and where to donate.
  • Listen to this NPR podcast to hear conversations and understand the uptick in violence against Asian Americans.
  • Strategies for combating Anti-Asian American Violence. 
  • Join your local Black Lives Matter chapter and donate. 
  • Connect with your local Showing Up for Racial Justice chapter.
  • Volunteer with the Native Justice Coalition.  
  • Support your local bail fund supporting protest rapid response and working to abolish money bail.
  • Sign the Movement for Black Lives petition.
  • Get involved with Casa de Paz, and organization who offers hospitality to families separated by immigrant detention.
  • Contribute to the Families Belong Together organization. 
  • Write op-eds and letters to the editors of local and national publications.
  • Contact your school board, police department, city council and state legislature and demand change at the local and state level.
  • Support your community’s Black- and Native-owned businesses, many of which have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. 

Do you have recommendations for additional action strategies?

Let's Connect

Resources for White People Looking to Take Action

We encourage all members of our community to apply social work's lens of power, privilege and oppression to the world around them. How can White people combat white supremacist violence and advocate for systems change? View these resources to learn more:

We look forward to expanding this list in the future while incorporating resources to support those from all communities to engage in the fight for justice. If you have additional resources to add, we would love to hear from you.

DU campus

GSSW’s Catalyst Series for Social Justice hosted several anti-racist activists in the past several years including DeRay McKesson and Robin DiAngelo. Watch the videos from previous events. 

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