Doin’ The Work: Frontline Stories of Social Change

Liberation Health Model – Dawn Belkin Martinez, PhD, LICSW

Episode 65Guest: Dawn Belkin Martinez, PhD, LICSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Dr. Dawn Belkin Martinez, Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion at Boston University School of Social Work, discusses the Liberation Health Model, which she co-created as a transformative, sociopolitical approach to assessment and intervention. Rooted in radical traditions including Black feminism, Brazilian mental health movements, and Marxist theory, the model originated in a hospital psych unit through collaboration with patients and families. Dr. Martinez explains how to use the Liberation Health Triangle for assessment and shares tools like deconstructing dominant messages and recovering historical memory. This powerful model offers a flexible, collective liberation framework that encourages authentic, action-oriented practice.
In this episode:
The origin story of the Liberation Health Model
Using the Liberation Health Triangle for sociopolitical assessment
Deconstructing dominant worldview messages with clients
Activism as a therapeutic intervention
How the model works alongside other approaches like ACT and CBT
www.bostonliberationhealth.orgEmail dawnbm@bu.edu
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Liberatory Lawyering to End the School-to-Prison Pipeline – Ashleigh Washington, JD & Ruth Cusick, JD

Episode 64Guests: Ashleigh Washington, JD & Ruth Cusick, JDHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Ashleigh Washington and Ruth Cusick, co-founders of The Collective for Liberatory Lawyering (C4LL), discuss their work as movement lawyers fighting to end the school-to-prison pipeline. They explain how legal strategies must be rooted in community organizing to create lasting change, especially for Black, Brown, Indigenous, disabled, and other marginalized students and families. Drawing on their shift from direct legal services to movement lawyering, they highlight the need for shared power and collective governance beyond traditional civil rights frameworks. The episode also explores their Barefoot Lawyering model and efforts like LA Police Free Schools.
In this episode:
How legal strategies must be rooted in community organizing to create lasting change
The shift from direct legal services to movement lawyering
Education as a human right versus a civil rights framework
The Barefoot Lawyering interdisciplinary practice model
LA Police Free Schools and the fight to end school policing
www.c4ll-ca.orgInstagram liberatorylawyerscaLinkedIn The Collective for Liberatory LawyeringPolice Free LAUSD Coalition Report https://www.safeschoolslausd.com/
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Constructing a White Nation: Social Work in the Americanization Movement – Yoosun Park, MSW, PhD

Episode 63Guest: Yoosun Park, MSW, PhDHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Dr. Yoosun Park, Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, discusses her co-authored article on social work's role in the Americanization movement from 1880 to 1930—a national project rooted in whiteness and white supremacy. She explains how the profession helped define who was deemed American and how this process excluded Indigenous, Black, Asian, and Mexican communities. The conversation reveals how these racist ideologies shaped early social work and continue to influence the field today. Dr. Park's groundbreaking research is being expanded into a book that critically examines this legacy.
In this episode:
Social work's central role in the Americanization movement from 1880 to 1930
How whiteness defined who was considered Americanizable—and who was not
The exclusion of Indigenous, Black, Asian, and Mexican communities from American citizenship
How these white supremacist beliefs, policies, and practices persist in social work today
Dr. Park's forthcoming book expanding on this research
UPenn Faculty ProfileGoogle Scholar ProfileResearchGateTo "Elevate, Humanize, Christianize, Americanize": Social Work, White Supremacy, and the Americanization Movement, 1880–1930
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Paid Social Work Internships Part 2 FED UP – Beth Wagner, Claire Mancuso, Natalia Norzagaray & Parham Daghighi

Episode 62Guests: Beth Wagner, Claire Mancuso, Natalia Norzagaray & Parham DaghighiHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Beth Wagner, Claire Mancuso, Natalia Norzagaray, and Parham Daghighi—MSW students at the University of Texas–Austin and members of FED UP—share their work organizing for paid social work internships. As part of a growing movement, they discuss how they formed FED UP, their strategies, and the resistance they've encountered from within the profession. The conversation highlights how unpaid internships harm students' well-being and reinforce systemic inequities in social work. Their organizing offers a powerful model for collective action and a challenge to the profession's status quo.
In this episode:
How FED UP formed and their organizing strategies
Resistance from within the profession and how they've responded
Guiding principles and organizational structure as a model for others
How unpaid internships harm student well-being and reinforce inequity
Connections between unpaid internships and the devaluation of social work
Part 1 Paid Social Work Internships Part 1: Payment 4 Placements – Matt Dargay, MSW & Arie Davey, LLMSWFED UP Instagram utfedupFED UP Email utfedup@gmail.comPayment 4 Placements Instagram p4pnationalPayment 4 Placements Email p4p.national@gmail.com
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Paid Social Work Internships Part 1 Payment 4 Placements – Matt Dargay, MSW & Arie Davey, LLMSW

Episode 61Guests: Matt Dargay, MSW & Arie Davey, LLMSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Matt Dargay and Arie Davey, co-founders of Payment 4 Placements, discuss their national campaign to secure paid internships for social work students. As former MSW students at the University of Michigan, they highlight the financial burdens of unpaid placements—including the cost of internship credits—and the inequities this system creates, especially for Black students. They share successful organizing efforts at the university and state levels, including legislation to fund paid internships in Michigan schools. This episode offers strategies and inspiration for challenging the status quo and building a more equitable path into the profession.
In this episode:
The financial burden of unpaid internships, including paying for internship credits
How the unpaid internship system creates inequities in who gets to become a social worker
CSWE research on the disproportionate cost of a social work degree for Black students
Organizing strategies at the university and state levels, including graduate union work
Legislation passed in Michigan to fund paid internships in school mental health settings
Part 2 Paid Social Work Internships Part 2: FED UP – Beth Wagner, Claire Mancuso, Natalia Norzagaray & Parham DaghighiInstagram p4pumichFacebook Payment for Placements at the University of MichiganEmail p4p.national@gmail.com   p4p.umich@gmail.com
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Understanding Antisemitism and Racism – Kohenet Shoshana A Brown, LMSW & Autumn Leonard

Episode 60Guests: Kohenet Shoshana A Brown, LMSW & Autumn LeonardHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Shoshana Brown and Autumn Leonard of the Black Jewish Liberation Collective and Jews for Economic & Racial Justice explore how antisemitism and racism operate as interconnected pillars of white supremacy. They discuss their organizing work to support Black Jews and disrupt systems of oppression through community building and education. The conversation highlights the need to deepen our understanding of antisemitism, even within progressive spaces, and to name it as part of our collective justice work. This episode calls us to confront difficult truths and build solidarity across movements.
In this episode:
How antisemitism and racism function as features of white supremacy
The work of the Black Jewish Liberation Collective to create communal space for Black Jews
Organizing to disrupt antisemitism and racism through community building
Why progressive spaces must name and address antisemitism
Building solidarity across movements to create lasting change
Black Jewish Liberation Collectivewww.blackjewishliberation.orgInstagram blackjewishliberationX @bjlcollectiveFacebook BlackJewishLiberation
Kohenet Shoshanawww.shoshanaakua.comInstagram illuminatorofxX @ShoB
Autumnwww.bodygetfree.comInstagram autumng0tstaminaFacebook autumn.leonard.31
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Creating Culturally Safe Spaces for Indigenous Populations – Turquoise Skye Devereaux, MSW

Episode 59Guest: Turquoise Skye Devereaux, MSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Turquoise Skye Devereaux, a Salish and Blackfeet educator, consultant, and PhD student, discusses how colonial systems continue to harm Indigenous Peoples through education and social work. She breaks down the four stages of colonization, critiques the concept of cultural competency, and highlights the importance of creating culturally safe spaces. Drawing from her personal experience and interviews with Indigenous students, Turquoise offers concrete examples of what inclusion can—and should—look like. This episode calls on educators and practitioners to challenge colonial norms and commit to equity and Indigenous liberation.
In this episode:
Colonial systems and the four stages of colonization
Why cultural competency is a myth rooted in a Westernized, colonial mentality
Differences between Indigenous and Westernized worldviews and ways of living
How education and social work have caused — and continue to cause — harm to Indigenous Peoples
Concrete ways to create culturally safe spaces for Indigenous populations
Instagram indigenous.cc & cahokiaphxLinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/turquoisedevereauxEmail t.s.devereaux@gmail.com
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Organizing to End the School-to-Prison Pipeline – Jewel Patterson, MS; Edgar Ibarria; Nicole Bates, JD

Episode 58Guests: Jewel Patterson, MS; Edgar Ibarria; Nicole Bates, JDHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Jewel Patterson, Edgar Ibarria, and Nicole Bates discuss their organizing work to end the school-to-prison pipeline in California. Representing COPE, CADRE, and C4LL, they explain how criminalization in schools—through vague policies like "willful defiance," surveillance, and policing—disproportionately harms Black and Brown students. The conversation highlights their legal and grassroots strategies, coalition building, and a major victory: defunding $25 million from school police to reinvest in Black student achievement. This episode offers a powerful blueprint for reimagining school safety and building collective power.
In this episode:
How criminalization functions in schools and its disproportionate impact on Black and Brown students
The "willful defiance" discipline category and the fight to change it
Surveillance, metal detectors, and school policing — and organizing to reimagine safety
The victory of defunding $25 million from school police to reinvest in Black student achievement
How to build power through coalitions, movement lawyering, and community organizing
Jewel Patterson, COPEInstagram JustJewel__www.COPEsite.orgInstagram COPE2000_Facebook COPE Inland Empire
Edgar Ibarria, CADREwww.cadre-la.orgInstagram cadreparentsX @CADREparentsFacebook Community Asset Development Re-defining Education (CADRE)
Nicole Bates, C4LLwww.c4ll-ca.orgInstagram liberatorylawyerscaLinkedIn The Collective for Liberatory Lawyering
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Race Doesn’t Exist Without Racism – Deadric Williams, PhD

Episode 57Guest: Deadric Williams, PhDHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Dr. Deadric Williams, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, breaks down the relationship between racism, race, and racialization—emphasizing that racism came first, not race. He explains how racism is upheld by both ideology and structures, and how the invention of race served to justify settler colonialism and slavery. The conversation explores how whiteness functions to divide oppressed groups and maintain dominance, including the use of coded language to sustain racial inequities. Dr. Williams offers a vital framework for understanding and dismantling systemic racism at its roots.
In this episode:
How racism came first — and how race emerged from it, not the other way around
Racism as a combination of ideology and structures that uphold white dominance
How the invention of race justified settler colonialism and the enslavement of Africans
How whiteness was created to divide oppressed groups and provide material and psychological benefits
Coded language and how racial inequities are sustained in contemporary society
X @doc_thoughtswww.deadricwilliams.wordpress.com
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Addressing Racism in Social Work Licensing #StopASWB – Charla Yearwood, LCSW; Cassandra Walker, LCSW, CCTP; Alan Dettlaff, PhD, MSW

Episode 56Guests: Charla Yearwood, LCSW; Cassandra Walker, LCSW, CCTP; Alan Dettlaff, PhD, MSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Charla Yearwood, Cassandra Walker, and Dr. Alan Dettlaff discuss the ASWB's long-awaited release of social work licensing exam pass rates by race and age. The data reveals significant racial disparities, confirming what many have long known—that the exam is racially biased and discriminatory toward Black, Latinx, and Indigenous social workers. The conversation unpacks how ASWB has avoided accountability and why this exam must be challenged. This episode is part of the growing movement to end the use of this racist exam and calls listeners to take action.
In this episode:
The ASWB report on licensing exam pass rates by race and what the data reveals
How the exam discriminates against Black, Latinx, and Indigenous social workers
How ASWB has avoided accountability and deflected blame
The case for ending the use of this exam entirely
How to get involved in the #StopASWB movement
Charla Yearwood, LCSWwww.charlayearwood.comLinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/charlayearwood
Cassandra Walker, LCSW, CCTPwww.i-cch.comBluesky @intersectionscch.bsky.socialInstagram intersectionsllc
Alan Dettlaff, PhD, MSWLinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/alandettlaff
#StopASWB Petition https://www.change.org/p/aswb-end-discriminatory-social-work-licensing-exams
#StopASWB Press Conference Recording https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE_p6b6x06U
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Surviving Racism in Academia – Maxine Davis, MSW, MBA, PhD

Episode 55Guest: Maxine Davis, MSW, MBA, PhDHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Dr. Maxine Davis, Assistant Professor at Rutgers School of Social Work, shares her powerful and deeply personal experience navigating anti-Black racism, sexism, and institutional betrayal in academia. She speaks candidly about the toll this took on her mental health, including a suicide attempt, and the lack of accountability within her former institution. Dr. Davis calls attention to the broader issues within social work and higher education and introduces her plan to develop a Green Book and Red Book to guide Black faculty and scholars navigating the job market. This episode is a courageous call for systemic change and collective care.
In this episode:
Dr. Davis's personal experience of anti-Black racism and sexism in academic institutions
The mental health toll of institutional racism, including her suicide attempt
The lack of accountability mechanisms for racial harm in higher education
How these issues reflect systemic problems in social work and academia as a whole
Her plan to create a Green Book and Red Book for Black faculty navigating the job market
https://drmaxinedavis.com/X @DrMaxineDavisThe Chronicle of Higher Education: Why They LeftNature: Anti-Black Practices Take Heavy Toll on Mental Health
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Trans Rights and Justice in a Time of Anti-Trans Attacks – Daye Pope

Episode 54Guest: Daye PopeHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Daye Pope, Director of Civic Engagement at T.A.K.E. (Trans Advocates Knowledgeable Empowering), discusses the organization's work supporting trans women of color and resisting the wave of anti-trans legislation across the U.S. She explains how these laws—rooted in racism, classism, and cisnormativity—harm trans youth, deny essential health care, and criminalize affirming providers and families. Daye also highlights T.A.K.E.'s civic engagement efforts, including voting rights advocacy for trans people of color. Grounded in love, resilience, and community leadership, this conversation offers a powerful look at organizing for safety, dignity, and justice.
In this episode:
The wave of anti-trans legislation and how it targets trans youth, families, and providers
How transphobia is rooted in racism, classism, and cisgender white patriarchal normativity
The truth about puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and countering misinformation
Voting rights advocacy and civic engagement for trans people of color
How T.A.K.E. builds community leadership and organizes for safety, dignity, and justice
www.takebhm.orgInstagram take_resourcecenterFacebook T.A.K.E. Resource Centerhttps://www.equalityfederation.org/
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Racial Equity in Psychiatry and Mental Health – Jessica Isom, MD, MPH

Episode 53Guest: Jessica Isom, MD, MPHHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Dr. Jessica Isom, a board-certified community psychiatrist and clinical instructor at Yale University, shares her work advancing racial equity in medicine and mental health through clinical care, education, and consulting. She discusses how racism—not race—is the true risk factor for poor health outcomes, and how pathologizing Blackness in medical and psychiatric frameworks causes real harm. Dr. Isom explores how whiteness and Eurocentric standards shape mental health systems, including the DSM, and offers insight into practicing with a lens grounded in equity, Black healing, and joy. This conversation challenges deficit-based approaches and calls for systemic transformation in health care.
In this episode:
How racism—not race—is the root risk factor for poor health outcomes
How pathologizing Blackness causes harm and perpetuates racist health narratives
How whiteness and Eurocentricity show up in mental health systems, including the DSM
Deficit-based ideology and why it fails Black communities
Black healing, joy, and what equity-centered clinical practice looks like
www.vision4equity.comX/Instagram/Clubhouse @drjessisommdmphTikTok @vision4equityllcLinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-elizabeth-isom-md-mph-12ba54a2/
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Stop Playing Diversity – Monica Cox, PhD

Episode 52Guest: Monica Cox, PhDHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Dr. Monica Cox, Distinguished Professor of Engineering at The Ohio State University, shares her experiences navigating higher education and DEI as a Black woman and unapologetic truth-teller. She discusses the harm of performative diversity, the persistence of systemic racism in academic and organizational spaces, and the cost of authenticity in these environments. Drawing from her personal and professional journey, Dr. Cox offers a bold critique grounded in lived experience, clarity, and purpose. This conversation challenges the status quo and calls listeners to reflect, reckon, and choose transformation.
In this episode:
Navigating higher education and DEI as a Black woman
The harm of performative diversity and organizational dysfunction
How systemic racism manifests in academic and professional spaces
The cost of living authentically in spaces that resist it
A challenge to institutions and individuals to choose real transformation
www.drmonicacox.comX, Instagram & TikTok @drmonicacoxLinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/drmonicafcox
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Abolish the Family Policing System (”Child Welfare”) – Joyce McMillan & Victoria, MSW

Episode 51Guests: Joyce McMillan; Victoria, MSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Joyce McMillan, Founder and Executive Director of JMac for Families and Parent Legislative Action Network, and Victoria, a PhD candidate at UCLA and community organizer, discuss the family policing system—commonly known as the child welfare system—and their abolitionist work. They explain how the system targets families in poverty, disproportionately harms Black, Brown, and Indigenous families, and functions as a carceral system of surveillance and control. Drawing on their personal experiences, they highlight the lack of rights for parents, the misuse of mandatory reporting, and the need to shift from separation to true family support. Together, they call for a complete transformation rooted in justice and care.
In this episode:
Why this system is more accurately called the family policing system
How the system targets families in poverty and disproportionately harms Black, Brown, and Indigenous families
The history of racist social control in the creation and operation of this system
Mandatory reporting, predictive analytics, and the lack of Miranda rights for parents
What it would look like to truly support families rather than separate them
Joycehttps://jmacforfamilies.org/X @JMacForFamiliesInstagram jmacforfamilies
Victoriawww.veephd.blog
https://upendmovement.org/https://stoplapdspying.org/Transformative Justice Handbookhttps://www.lovewithaccountability.com/
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Exposing the Right-Wing & Corporate Takeover of Education & Democracy – Jasmine Banks

Episode 50Guest: Jasmine BanksHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Jasmine Banks, Executive Director of UnKoch My Campus, exposes how the Koch network influences education and policy through massive financial contributions and targeted campaigns. She explains how this network promotes agendas that suppress voting rights, deny climate change, attack workers' rights, and censor discussions of systemic racism, all while threatening multiracial democracy. Jasmine details how UnKoch My Campus works with students to organize against corporate influence in education and breaks down the consequences of unchecked political spending enabled by rulings like Citizens United. This conversation is a powerful call to follow the money, confront hidden systems of power, and take action for democratic accountability.
In this episode:
What the Koch network is and how it uses financial influence to shape education and policy
How the Koch agenda suppresses voting rights, denies climate change, and attacks workers' rights
The Koch network's role in attacking critical race theory, the 1619 Project, and multiracial democracy
How Citizens United enabled unchecked corporate financial influence over elections and legislation
How UnKoch My Campus works with students to organize and challenge this agenda
www.unkochmycampus.orgX @UnKochCampusInstagram unkochcampusFacebook @UnKochMyCampus
Generation Common Good www.generationcommongood.org
Article https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/charles-koch-crt-backlash/NASW & Sinema petition by Boston Liberation Health Collective https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhaCWsVZ--u8RHFULOWg_BbNqr7GKoqvZX7tycmeHnv53mtw/viewform
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Stop Whitewashing Social Work History: Tell the Truth – Kelechi Wright, LCPC & Kortney Carr, LCSW

Episode 49Guests: Kelechi Wright, LCPC, LPC; Kortney Carr, LCSW, LSCSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Kelechi Wright, a doctoral student in the School of Social Welfare at the University of Kansas, and Kortney Carr, a Professor of Practice and doctoral student at the same institution, discuss their article The Whitewashing of Social Work History, which calls for an honest, equitable retelling of the profession's past. They highlight how traditional narratives erase Black social welfare leaders, uphold white saviorism, and perpetuate white supremacy in social work education and practice. The conversation emphasizes the need to honor Black social work movements rooted in community traditions and to build a just foundation for the field's future. Kelechi and Kortney also explore the responsibilities of educators and practitioners in advancing racial justice within the profession.
In this episode:
How social work history has been whitewashed and why it matters
The erasure of Black social welfare leaders and the perpetuation of white saviorism
How an inaccurate history perpetuates white supremacy in social work education and practice
The communal traditions of Black social work and social welfare movements
The responsibilities of educators and practitioners in advancing racial justice within the profession
The Whitewashing of Social Work History: How Dismantling Racism in Social Work Education Begins With an Equitable History of the Profession
Kelechihttps://www.uh.edu/class/aas/faculty/kelechi-wright/
Kortneywww.linkedin.com/in/kortneyacarr
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Decolonizing Mental Health & Supporting Indigenous Women – Tyra Wanatee-Flores, BSW

Episode 48Guest: Tyra Wanatee-Flores, BSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Tyra Wanatee-Flores, a descendant of the Sac and Fox Nation of the Mississippi in Iowa and an MSW student at Washington University in St. Louis, discusses her work addressing youth suicide, substance abuse, and gender-based violence in Indigenous communities. She shares how she integrates culturally grounded, community-driven approaches to mental health and social work, informed by her experience as a Buder Scholar and her commitment to decolonizing practice. Tyra also talks about her advocacy with Meskwaki RISE, supporting Indigenous survivors of domestic and sexual violence. She highlights her activism in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement and why it is critical for all of us to take action to end this violence.
In this episode:
Addressing youth suicide and substance abuse in Indigenous communities
How Eurocentric mental health frameworks fall short and how to move beyond them
Decolonizing practice through community, tradition, and culture
Supporting Indigenous survivors of domestic and sexual violence through Meskwaki RISE
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and how we can all take action to end this violence
Instagram tyywanateeX @tyeristaTikTok @tyrista
Meskwaki RISEMeskwaki RISE Facebook
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Taking Action on Social Determinants of Health – Armen Henderson, MD

Episode 47Guest: Armen Henderson, MDHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Dr. Armen Henderson, Director of Health Programs at Dream Defenders and Founder of Dade County Street Response, shares his work bringing medical care directly to poor and working-class communities in Miami. He discusses how social determinants of health are deeply rooted in racism, classism, and systemic inequity—highlighting examples such as climate injustice, lack of housing, and barriers to healthcare access. Armen reflects on how the murder of Trayvon Martin led him to organize for racial justice through an abolitionist, anti-capitalist lens within medicine. This conversation underscores the need to reimagine public health as a tool for liberation and community care.
In this episode:
Bringing medicine directly to poor and working-class communities outside the hospital setting
How social determinants of health are rooted in racism, classism, and systemic inequity
Climate injustice, hurricanes, and how racism and classism determine who bears the greatest harm
Serving unhoused communities and the racial profiling Dr. Henderson experienced during COVID
How the murder of Trayvon Martin led him to an abolitionist, anti-capitalist approach to medicine
www.dreamdefenders.orgInstagram dr.doitall305Facebook armen.henderson
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

We Charge Genocide – Jalil Muntaqim

Episode 46Guest: Jalil MuntaqimHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Jalil Muntaqim, revolutionary, former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, and current community organizer with Citizen Action of New York, shares his powerful story of resistance, survival, and ongoing liberation work. Arrested at age 19 and imprisoned for nearly 50 years, Jalil reflects on his time organizing from within prison, the repression he faced—including solitary confinement for teaching Black history—and how he remained unbroken. He discusses U.S. genocide against Black and Indigenous people, social work's complicity through child removal, and his efforts to organize an international tribunal to hold the U.S. accountable. This conversation is a testament to unwavering commitment to Black liberation and a call to resist systemic violence in all its forms.
In this episode:
Jalil's history with the Black Panther Party, Black Liberation Army, and nearly 50 years as a political prisoner
Organizing from within prison and the repression he faced, including repeated solitary confinement
The dehumanizing nature of prison and what it means to remain unbroken
The U.S. genocide of Black and Indigenous people and social work's complicity through child removal
Organizing an international tribunal to formally charge the U.S. with genocide
Email jalil.muntaqim@gmail.comwww.spiritofmandela.orgwww.thejerichomovement.comwww.citizenactionny.org
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Anti-Racist Social Work in England – Wayne Reid

Episode 45Guest: Wayne Reid, Professional Officer, Social Worker & Anti-Racism VisionaryHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Wayne Reid, Professional Officer and Anti-Racism Visionary at the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), shares his bold and principled approach to anti-racist social work. He discusses how the murder of George Floyd catalyzed his advocacy, leading to numerous BASW initiatives and resources that push the profession to confront white supremacy embedded in policy, practice, and culture. Wayne emphasizes that anti-racism must be an explicit part of professional conduct—within client work, peer relationships, and institutional structures—and outlines the responsibilities organizations have to protect and support social workers of color. This conversation offers a powerful international perspective on what it means to lead with clarity, courage, and action in the face of systemic racism.
In this episode:
How the murder of George Floyd catalyzed Wayne's anti-racism advocacy within BASW
How white supremacy and racism are embedded in social work laws, policies, institutions, and practice
His "pure, proactive, and unapologetic" approach to anti-racism in social work
The need for anti-racism as an explicit standard of professional conduct — with clients and colleagues
What organizations must do to protect social workers of color and transform into anti-racist institutions
X @wayne_reid79LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-reidEmail wayne.reid@basw.co.ukSteps organizations can take to transform into anti-racist organizations
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Civil Rights Organizing – Alesandra Lozano, MSW

Episode 44Guest: Alesandra Lozano, MSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Alesandra Lozano, Director of Communications and Advocacy at the Texas Civil Rights Project, shares her journey from grassroots LGBTQ organizing to leading policy advocacy efforts in Texas. She discusses TCRP's work to protect voting rights and how it's deeply connected to immigrant justice and criminal legal reform. Alesandra offers practical strategies for engaging in local advocacy, including public testimony and coalition building through efforts like the Texas for All coalition. This episode is a master class in organizing for change and ensuring our communities have a voice in the policies that affect them.
In this episode:
TCRP's work on voting rights, immigrant justice, and criminal legal reform — and how they're connected
Practical strategies for local policy advocacy, including public testimony at county and city hearings
How to build and sustain coalitions to expand political power
The Texas for All coalition and the fight against voter suppression
Redistricting and why fair representation matters for all communities
txcivilrights.orgX @TXCivilRightsInstagram TXCivilRightsFacebook TexasCivilRightsProjectwww.democracyfromthegroundup.org
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Abolitionist Social Work – Cameron Rasmussen, MSW; Durrell Washington, MSW; Michelle Grier, LMSW; Vivianne Guevara, LMSW

Episode 43Guests: Cameron Rasmussen, MSW; Durrell Washington, MSW; Michelle Grier, LMSW; Vivianne Guevara, LMSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Durrell Washington, Vivianne Guevara, Cameron Rasmussen, and Michelle Grier of the Network to Advance Abolitionist Social Work (NAASW) discuss their collective efforts to integrate abolition into social work practice. They explain how social work has historically supported carceral systems and how NAASW challenges the profession's complicity with policing, surveillance, and white supremacy. The conversation explores what abolition means, how to apply it in both vision and action, and how their collective offers support for navigating the tensions between values and practice. This episode invites listeners to reimagine social work rooted in collective care, radical healing, and transformative justice.
In this episode:
What abolition means and how it can be applied as a framework for social work
How social work has supported — and continues to support — carceral systems, surveillance, and gatekeeping
The connection between social work's complicity and white supremacy and liberalism
How to take smaller steps toward abolition now while working toward a larger long-term vision
How NAASW provides collective support for social workers doing abolition work in the field
www.naasw.comInstagram abolitionistsw
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Transformational Healing & Critical Race Theory in Practice – Nicole Vazquez, MSW, MPP & Susana Victoria Parras, LCSW, PPSC

Episode 42Guests: Nicole Vazquez, MSW, MPP & Susana Victoria Parras, LCSW, PPSCHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Nicole Vazquez, a critical race scholar and consultant, and Susana Victoria Parras, a justice-focused therapist, discuss how critical race theory (CRT) can transform social work practice. They explore applying CRT's tenets to challenge the micro-macro divide, reexamine professionalism, and build authentic, collaborative relationships rooted in humility and historical context. The conversation highlights how liberalism and individualism undermine collective healing and perpetuate oppression, while ancestral and Indigenous ways offer paths toward connection. Susana also shares her perspective on healing justice work and what it means to move beyond the limitations of CRT.
In this episode:
How CRT challenges the micro-macro divide in social work practice
Applying CRT's tenets through positionality, power, and practitioner humility
How liberalism and individualism perpetuate oppression and undermine community and culture
How social work's concept of professionalism can reinforce separation rooted in colonization
Healing justice work and whether social work can truly be decolonized
NicoleInstagram amoradelante
SusanaInstagram heal2getherX Heal2gether_
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Anti-Racist, Anti-Oppressive Mental Health – Hayden Dawes, LCSW

Episode 41Guest: Hayden Dawes, LCSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Hayden Dawes, a PhD student, therapist, and clinical social worker in Greensboro, North Carolina, shares his work addressing mental health disparities and promoting culturally humble, anti-racist clinical practice. He discusses the importance of talking openly about race, racism, and systemic oppression in therapy—and doing the inner work to recognize internalized oppression and privilege. Hayden explains his approach to training clinicians and supporting clients, particularly people of color and LGBTQIA communities, in identifying when "the oppressor is speaking." The conversation also explores how white therapists can and must engage white clients in conversations about racism.
In this episode:
Addressing mental health disparities through cultural humility and anti-racist clinical practice
The need to talk about race, racism, and systemic oppression within the clinical setting
How internalized oppression shows up in clients and how to identify when "the oppressor is speaking"
Why white therapists must engage white clients in conversations about race and racism
The connection between clinical practice, identity, and structural analysis
www.hcdawes.comX @hcdawesInstagram hcdawesNewsletter
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Speaking Against Police Injustice – Anjanette Young, LCSW

Episode 40Guest: Anjanette Young, LCSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Anjanette Young, LCSW and founder of Café Social Work in Chicago, shares her harrowing experience of being wrongfully raided by the Chicago Police Department while naked and alone in her home. She describes the trauma of the incident, the city's attempted cover-up, and how it propelled her from a 25-year career in direct service social work into social justice activism. Anjanette now fights for policy change to hold the City of Chicago accountable and prevent similar violations against Black and Brown residents. This conversation is a powerful testimony of resilience, truth-telling, and the demand for systemic accountability.
In this episode:
Anjanette's experience of being wrongfully raided at gunpoint by Chicago police in her own home
How the city attempted to cover up the raid — and how the body cam footage was finally released
The Chicago Police Department's repeated violations of the rights of Black and Brown residents
How this experience transformed her from a direct service social worker into a policy advocate
Her ongoing fight to hold the City of Chicago accountable and prevent this from happening to others
www.iamher21.comwww.cafesocialwork.comX @AnjanetteYoung0Instagram cafesocialworkFacebook @Anjanette.Young.1LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/anjanette-young-7702447/
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

White People Organizing for Racial Justice: Deep Canvassing – Kristen Brock-Petroshius, MSW

Episode 39Guest: Kristen Brock-Petroshius, MSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Kristen Brock-Petroshius, a PhD candidate in Social Welfare at UCLA and community organizer with White People 4 Black Lives, discusses her work engaging white communities in racial justice through deep canvassing and political education. She shares her journey into organizing and how she came to view anti-racism as essential for white people's collective liberation. Kristen also highlights her research on deep canvassing as a social justice strategy, examining its origins in LGBTQ+ movements and its application in campaigns like Reform LA Jails. This conversation explores how building political power through relational, accountable organizing can advance racial justice.
In this episode:
Why organizing white people to do racial justice work in white communities matters
How deep canvassing works and what a conversation looks like in practice
The origins of deep canvassing in same-sex marriage and transgender justice movements
How deep canvassing was used in the Reform LA Jails campaign led by Patrisse Cullors
When deep canvassing works — and when other approaches are needed
Bluesky @4heartsnminds@bsky.socialEmail Kristen.Brock-petroshius@stonybrook.edu
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Black Power, Black Liberation & Social Work: Back to the Beginning of the National Association of Black Social Workers – Founder Garland Jaggers, MSW & Archivist Denise McLane-Davison, PhD, AM

Episode 38Guests: Garland Jaggers, MSW & Denise McLane-Davison, PhD, AMHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Mr. Garland Jaggers, co-founder of the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW), and Dr. Denise McLane-Davison, Associate Professor at Morgan State University and NABSW's Founding Researcher and Archivist, share the powerful history and ongoing work of NABSW. They recount the organization's founding in 1968 as a response to racism within the social work profession and their commitment to building a liberatory, Black-centered alternative. The conversation highlights NABSW's focus on developing Black practitioners and researchers, establishing its own code of ethics, and centering the Black family and community. Mr. Jaggers and Dr. Davison offer a bold vision of liberation, rooted in history and carried forward by action.
In this episode:
The founding of NABSW in 1968 — walking out of NASW and building a Black-centered alternative
The racism within the social work profession that made a separate organization necessary
NABSW's work developing Black researchers and practitioners and centering Black expertise
NABSW's own code of ethics and positions on transracial adoption and licensing
Strengths-based, liberatory approaches centered on the Black family and community
National Association of Black Social Workershttp://www.nabsw.org/
Mr. Garland JaggersEmail garland_jaggers@att.netTo purchase That Rare Moment in History Volumes I & II, contact Mr. Jaggers at the email above.
Dr. Denise McLane-DavisonX @DeniseDavisonEmail dmclanedavison@torontomu.caThe Strength of Black Families: The Elusive Ties of Perspective and Praxis in Social Work Education
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Critical Race Theory and Social Work – Laura S. Abrams, MSW, PhD and Nicole Vazquez, MSW, MPP

Episode 37Guests: Laura S. Abrams, MSW, PhD; Nicole Vazquez, MSW, MPPHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Dr. Laura Abrams, Chair and Professor of Social Welfare at UCLA, and Nicole Vazquez, a critical race scholar and consultant, discuss the foundations and application of critical race theory (CRT) in social work. They explore key CRT tenets—including the social construction of race, everyday racism, interest convergence, and counter-narratives—and how these ideas challenge white supremacist culture and liberal myths like meritocracy and colorblindness. The conversation highlights CRT's alignment with social work's social justice mission and offers guidance for educators, students, and practitioners seeking to implement it in their work. This episode is a powerful call to interrogate dominant narratives and build more liberatory, equity-driven approaches in social work.
In this episode:
The history of CRT and the legal scholars who developed it
Core CRT tenets — race as a social construct, everyday racism, colorblindness, interest convergence, and counter-narratives
How white supremacist culture strips communities of color from collective and community-based ways of being
CRT's fit with social work's social justice mission
How educators, students, and practitioners can implement CRT in their work and programs
LauraLinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/laura-abrams-a3336553
NicoleInstagram amoradelante
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Prison to Professor – Nathan Stephens, MSW

Episode 36Guest: Nathan Stephens, MSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Nathan Stephens, Assistant Professor of Social Work at Illinois State University and PhD candidate at the University of Missouri, shares his powerful journey from incarceration to academia and community leadership. He speaks candidly about childhood trauma, spirituality, and the transformative role of education in his life, highlighting how his experiences shape his teaching, research, and work with Black men and boys. Nathan discusses issues such as racialized stress, the hypersexualization and sexual abuse of Black boys and men, and the systemic barriers created by hypersurveillance and criminal records. This conversation centers lived experience as expertise and calls for justice-rooted approaches in both social work and society.
In this episode:
Nathan's journey from incarceration through healing, education, and into social work academia
How lived experience informs his teaching, research, and community work with Black men and youth
Racialized stress and the trauma of hypersexualization and sexual abuse of Black boys and men
Hypersurveillance in Black and Brown communities and the systemic barriers created by arrest records
Teaching Social Justice in Social Work inside a prison and creating programs for Black men in the community
Facebook Mister Nathan StephensLinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-a-s-25416522/
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Healing Trauma Through Community Building in Little Village – Alicia Martinez, MSW; David ”Tiny” Estrada; Shipra Parikh, PhD, LCSW

Episode 35Guests: Alicia Martinez, MSW; David "Tiny" Estrada; Shipra Parikh, PhD, LCSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Alicia Martinez, David "Tiny" Estrada, and Dr. Shipra Parikh from Enlace Chicago share their work supporting youth and families in the Little Village neighborhood through violence prevention, counseling, restorative justice, and community advocacy. They highlight the strength and resilience of this primarily Latine community, while naming the structural barriers—including poverty, gentrification, and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on essential workers—that affect daily life. The conversation explores how Enlace adapted to meet urgent needs, from food distribution to virtual outreach, and how the organization models the values of justice and care it promotes. This episode uplifts community-based work rooted in love, solidarity, and the collective creation of a more just world.
In this episode:
Violence prevention, conflict mediation, restorative justice, and youth leadership in Little Village
The structural barriers facing this primarily Latine community and its resilience in response
How COVID-19 hit essential worker communities hardest and how Enlace adapted its services
Gentrification in Little Village and the community's response through supporting local businesses
How Enlace Chicago models within its organization the kind of world it wants to see
www.enlacechicago.orgX @EnlaceChicagoInstagram enlace.chicagoFacebook Enlace ChicagoLinkedIn Enlace Chicago
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Voting and Legislative Advocacy – Dawn Brown, MSW

Episode 34Guest: Dawn Brown, MSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Dawn Brown, social work educator and Legislative Chair of NASW-Florida, shares how social workers can engage in meaningful legislative advocacy — from attending committee hearings to building relationships with elected officials. She discusses NASW-FL's annual Legislative Education Advocacy Day (LEAD), the importance of voting at every level of government, and what accountability looks like beyond the ballot box. Drawing on her experience as a Black woman and social justice advocate, Dawn offers a clear call for social workers to use their skills and voice in the political arena.
In this episode:
Strategies social workers can use to engage in legislative advocacy
NASW-FL's Legislative Education Advocacy Day (LEAD) and how it brings students to the Capitol
The importance of voting at national, state, and local levels
What voting means to Dawn as a Black woman and why it matters beyond Election Day
Building relationships with elected officials and holding them accountable to a social justice agenda
www.naswfl.orgEmail legchair.naswfl@socialworkers.orgX @DBReclaimMyTimeInstagram virgo10212
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Black Social Workers Speak Out About Social Work Education – André Marcel Harris, BSW; Dashawna J. Fussell-Ware, MSW; Deana Ayers, BSW; Vivian Taylor, MSW

Episode 33Guests: André Marcel Harris, BSW; Dashawna J. Fussell-Ware, MSW; Deana Ayers, BSW; Vivian Taylor, MSWHost: Charla Cannon Yearwood, LSW
In collaboration with SWCAREs – Social Work Coalition for Anti-Racist Educators – this episode features Charla Yearwood as guest host, facilitating a powerful conversation with Black social workers André, Dashawna, Deana, and Vivian about their experiences in social work education. Speaking with honesty and vulnerability, they share how social work programs often inflict harm on Black students through racism, exclusion, and systemic violence. This episode offers an unfiltered space for truth-telling, reflection, and a call for urgent change in the profession. It is both a gift and a challenge to all of us working toward transformation.
In this episode:
Black social workers speak openly about their experiences in social work education
How social work programs cause harm to Black students through racism and exclusion
The importance of creating unfiltered space for Black voices in the profession
A call for urgent, structural transformation in social work education
SWCAREswww.swcares.org
AndréX @andreharris89Instagram andremarcelharrisFacebook Facebook.com/AndreMarcelHarrisCash App $AndreMarcelHarris
DashawnaCash App $docfw22Venmo @shawnafwPayPal www.paypal.com/paypalme/shawnafw
VivianX @TayloredLooksCash App $TayloredBillsVenmo @Vivian-Taylor-25
Black Men in Social WorkX @blackmeninSWInstagram blackmeninsocialworkFacebook Facebook.com/blackmeninsocialwork
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Prison Abolition – K Agbebiyi, MSW

Episode 32Guest: K Agbebiyi, MSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
K Agbebiyi, a prison abolitionist based in Washington Heights, New York, breaks down what prison abolition actually means — both as a vision for a transformed world and as immediate, practical work to close prisons now. They connect mass incarceration and policing to the history of chattel slavery and anti-Blackness, and offer concrete ways to get involved at the local level. K also shares their own story as a survivor who organizes alongside other survivors, and speaks to questions of accountability, safety, and the connections between abolition, child welfare, and social work.
In this episode:
What prison abolition means — creating the world we want while working to close prisons now
How mass incarceration and policing are rooted in the history of chattel slavery and anti-Blackness
How to get involved locally — tracking budgets, monitoring jail construction, and building coalitions
Organizing as a survivor alongside others who reject incarceration as a response to harm
Accountability, safety, and the connections between abolition, child welfare, and social work
www.8toAbolition.comInstagram @sheabutterfemmeX @sheabutterfemmeEmail sheabutterfemme@protonmail.comX @survivepunishNY
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The Social Justice Doula – Lutze Segu, MSW

Episode 31Guest: Lutze Segu, MSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Lutze Segu, the Social Justice Doula from Miami, Florida, shares her work creating conditions for social justice learning and transformation in individuals and organizations. Rooted in Black Feminist theory, she discusses how systems of oppression — not individual failings — shape people's conditions, and challenges social workers to examine how they may be pathologizing oppression rather than naming it. Lutze speaks with deep hope about people's capacity to change and offers a powerful call to divest from anti-Blackness in both practice and life.
In this episode:
What it means to create conditions for social justice learning and transformation
How Black Feminist theory reframes oppression and connects to social work's person-in-environment approach
How social workers pathologize oppression by placing the problem inside clients rather than naming systemic violence
The challenge to ask what we are really practicing and how we personally divest from anti-Blackness
The transformative impact of attending an HBCU and how it shaped her path
www.lutzesegu.comInstagram @socialjusticedoulaX @FeministGriote
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The Alliance for GLBTQ Youth – Mark Houston, LCSW and Pauline Green, Esq

Episode 30Guests: Mark Houston, LCSW & Pauline Green, Esq.Host: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Mark Houston, LCSW and Pauline Green, Esq., of The Alliance for GLBTQ Youth in Miami, share their organization's comprehensive work supporting LGBTQ youth in Miami-Dade County through clinical services, care coordination, community education, and policy advocacy. They discuss the intersecting challenges facing LGBTQ youth — including homelessness, safety, homophobia, transphobia, and racism — and how The Alliance builds affirming, youth-led community rooted in resilience. The conversation also addresses the harm caused by practitioners who fail to challenge heterosexism and cisgenderism in their work.
In this episode:
The Alliance's work with LGBTQ youth — clinical services, care coordination, education, and policy change
Key issues facing LGBTQ youth including safety, homelessness, and intersecting forms of oppression
How The Alliance builds affirming, youth-led community grounded in resilience
The harm done by social workers and clinicians who fail to challenge heterosexism and cisgenderism
www.glbtqalliance.orgInstagram @glbtqallianceFacebook @glbtqallianceX @glbtqalliance
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Mental Health in Schools – Tre King, MSW

Episode 29Guest: Tre King, MSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Tre King, Mental Health Coordinator in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, shares what it means to do this work in the same community where he grew up — serving students he sees himself in. He discusses the realities of school-based mental health practice, the gap between how marginalized communities are discussed in social work classrooms and the lived experience of practitioners from those communities, and the importance of community-rooted, culturally grounded care.
In this episode:
What school-based mental health coordination looks like across Miami-Dade County Public Schools
What it means to serve students in the same community and school district where you grew up
The gap between how marginalized communities are discussed in social work education versus lived practice reality
Community training efforts including Mental Health First Aid
X @Tre_King_MDCPShttp://mentalhealthservices.dadeschools.net/MDCPS Mental Health Services X @MDCPS_MHSMDCPS Mental Health Services Parent Assistance Line (305) 995-7100Monday–Friday 8am–4pm
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Immigrant Rights at the Border – Alejandra Martinez

Episode 28Guest: Alejandra MartinezHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Alejandra Martinez, Workshop Coordinator of the Border Rights Project at Al Otro Lado, describes the harsh realities facing migrants and asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border — including illegal waitlists, family separation, and the "Remain in Mexico" policy. She explains how her team provides legal orientation, "Know Your Rights" sessions, and connections to shelter and medical care in Tijuana, offering a trauma-informed, supportive space for people who have endured long and dangerous journeys. This episode is a sobering and essential look at the human cost of U.S. immigration policy and the frontline work of those fighting for dignity and justice.
In this episode:
The conditions faced by migrants and asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border
U.S. policies including illegal waitlists, family separation, and the Migrant Protection Protocol
How Al Otro Lado provides legal orientation, "Know Your Rights" sessions, and wraparound services in Tijuana
The trauma-informed, supportive space the Border Rights Project creates for asylum seekers
How Al Otro Lado reunited 29 families who had been separated
www.alotrolado.orgX @AlOtroLado_OrgInstagram @alotrolado_orgFacebook www.facebook.com/AlOtroLadoOrgEmail alejandra@alotrolado.org
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

White Supremacy in Social Work – Charla Cannon Yearwood, LSW and Laura Hoge, LCSW

Episode 27Guests: Charla Cannon Yearwood, LSW & Laura Hoge, LCSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Charla Cannon Yearwood, a clinical assistant professor at Indiana University, and Laura Hoge, a psychotherapist and community organizer, discuss the mission of SWCAREs – Social Work Coalition for Anti-Racist Educators – to dismantle white supremacy in social work education. They break down how white supremacy shows up in the profession, from erasing leaders of color in social work history to upholding ethics and practices that often harm marginalized communities. Charla and Laura offer historical context, real-world examples, and a clear call for transformation. This episode marks the beginning of deeper, necessary conversations on race, power, and justice in social work.
In this episode:
SWCAREs' mission to dismantle white supremacy in social work education
How white supremacy shows up in the profession — from erased history to harmful practices
How professional ethics and boundaries are often designed by and for white social workers
Historical and current examples of how social work perpetuates harm in communities of color
A call for structural transformation rooted in racial justice and liberation
Charla YearwoodLinkedIn Charla Yearwood
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Mobile Crisis Intervention – Brenton Gicker and Chelsea Swift

Episode 26Guests: Brenton Gicker & Chelsea SwiftHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Brenton Gicker and Chelsea Swift of CAHOOTS — Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets — describe how this 24/7 mobile crisis intervention program in Eugene, Oregon pairs a mental health worker and a medic to respond to crises that don't require police. They walk through what a typical shift looks like, how 911 calls are routed to their team, and why this model is both cost-effective and more humane — reducing arrests and using de-escalation over force. CAHOOTS offers a compelling, proven vision for what community-based crisis response can look like.
In this episode:
How CAHOOTS works — a mental health crisis worker and medic responding together in a mobile unit
How 911 calls are routed to CAHOOTS rather than police for certain situations
The cost-effectiveness and humanitarian benefits of this model — fewer arrests, more de-escalation
What a typical shift looks like for crisis workers in the field
How Brenton and Chelsea each came to this work and expanded their roles to include medical training
www.whitebirdclinic.org/cahootsX @WhiteBirdClinicFacebook www.facebook.com/WhiteBirdClinic
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Racial Terror’s Past & Present – T. Marie King & Abigail Schneider

Episode 25Guests: T. Marie King & Abigail SchneiderHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
T. Marie King and Abigail Schneider of the Jefferson County Memorial Project in Birmingham, Alabama share their work to research, honor, and memorialize the 30 documented victims of lynching in Jefferson County. Responding to the Equal Justice Initiative's call for counties to claim their monuments from the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, the project centers the humanity and stories of those who were killed — including T. Marie's own great-uncle, murdered in 1935 for organizing sharecroppers. This episode is a powerful testament to the ongoing work of racial truth-telling, memory, and justice.
In this episode:
The Jefferson County Memorial Project's origins and its response to the Equal Justice Initiative's call to action
Researching the lives and humanity of the 30 documented lynching victims in Jefferson County
T. Marie's personal connection — her great-uncle Ed Bracy, killed by a white mob in 1935 for organizing sharecroppers
Educational outreach and advocacy work for racial justice in the community
Email info@jeffersoncountymemorial.comwww.jeffersoncountymemorial.comInstagram jeffcomemorialFacebook https://www.facebook.com/jeffersoncountymemorialprojectEJI https://eji.org
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Fighting White Nationalism – Eric Ward

Episode 24Guest: Eric WardHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Eric Ward, Executive Director of Western States Center, shares his decades of experience organizing against white nationalism and white supremacy. He explains how antisemitism and racism fuel the white nationalist movement and outlines its growing political influence in the U.S., particularly in shaping policy. Eric discusses community-based strategies used by Western States Center — like local research, coalition building, and education — to counter this threat. He also reflects on his personal path into this work and offers actionable ways listeners can get involved in the fight against white nationalism.
In this episode:
How antisemitism and racism are at the core of white nationalism
White nationalism as a growing social movement building political power and shaping U.S. policy
Strategies Western States Center uses — local research, coalition building, school materials, and trainings
Concrete ways everyone can fight white nationalism in their communities
www.westernstatescenter.orgInstagram wstatescenter
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Documentary Filmmaking, Policy Advocacy – Jordan Thierry

Episode 23Guest: Jordan ThierryHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Jordan Thierry, owner of Dream Chase Media and policy consultant, shares his work at the intersection of storytelling and social justice. He discusses his film The Black Fatherhood Project, which examines the structural forces shaping Black families, and his new YouTube series Grandma's Roses — a tribute to his grandmother and a platform for the stories of grandmothers of color. Jordan reflects on what this storytelling work has meant to him personally and how it connects to his broader goal of educating and inspiring people to action.
In this episode:
The Black Fatherhood Project — historical and present-day context for the structural forces impacting Black families
Grandma's Roses — a YouTube series honoring the stories of grandmothers of color, inspired by Jordan's own grandmother
What grassroots storytelling looks like and how it connects to social justice organizing
Jordan's policy work with The Alliance for Boys and Men of Color
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DreamChaseLife/Instagram @DreamChaseLifeEmail Jordan@Dreamchasemedia.comYouTube www.dreamchase.life
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Social Workers Against Solitary Confinement – Rachel Frome, MSW

Episode 22Guest: Rachel Frome, MSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Rachel Frome, Program Coordinator of Social Workers Against Solitary Confinement, makes the case for abolishing solitary confinement and its connection to the broader fight to end mass incarceration. She details the severe mental health impacts of solitary, exposes how euphemisms like "administrative segregation" obscure the reality of the practice, and describes alternatives and organizing strategies. Rachel also speaks directly to social workers—including those working inside these systems—about their role and responsibility in this work.
In this episode:
The mental health impacts of solitary confinement and how it causes and worsens psychological harm
How "administrative segregation" and similar language is used to deny the reality of solitary confinement
Alternatives to solitary and the challenges of organizing for its abolition
The connection between ending solitary confinement and ending mass incarceration
The role of social workers—including those inside these systems—in this fight
https://www.socialworkersasc.org/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SWASC/X @end_solitaryEmail contactSWASC@gmail.comRachel's email rachelfrome@gmail.com
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Defending Families Facing Child Removal – Asia Piña, MSW

Episode 21Guest: Asia Piña, MSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Asia Piña, Early Defense Social Worker at Bronx Defenders, describes her work defending parents facing abuse and neglect charges in the Bronx. She exposes how racism and systemic oppression shape child welfare policy and practice, resulting in the disproportionate removal of Black and Brown children and children living in poverty. Asia speaks to the experience of families in the Bronx who feel under constant surveillance by the state, and offers a message for social work students considering this field.
In this episode:
How Bronx Defenders' Family Defense Practice uses a team of social workers, parent advocates, and attorneys to defend parents
The disproportionate removal of Black and Brown children and children in poverty from their families
How racism and systemic oppression are embedded in child welfare policy and practice
The experience of Bronx families living under constant surveillance by NYPD and ACS
Self-care in this work and a message for students interested in child welfare
X @BronxDefendersFacebook @bronxdefendersInstagram @bronxdefendersEmail info@bronxdefenders.org
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Anti-Poverty Organizing – Ocesa Keaton, MSW

Episode 20Guest: Ocesa Keaton, MSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Ocesa Keaton, Executive Director of Greater Syracuse H.O.P.E., shares her organization's comprehensive approach to anti-poverty work—addressing systemic barriers at both the individual and systems levels to create real opportunity and equity. She discusses the racial wealth gap, the harmful stereotypes that surround people in poverty, and why policy work and voting are essential tools for social change. Ocesa also reflects on her own unexpected path into social work and what drives her commitment to this work.
In this episode:
H.O.P.E.'s strategies for eliminating systemic barriers to opportunity and equity at both individual and systems levels
The racial wealth gap in the U.S. and harmful stereotypes about people in poverty
Why policy work and voting are essential for lasting social change
Ocesa's personal journey into social work and what sustains her in this work
Email greatersyracusehope@gmail.comwww.greatersyracusehope.org
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Felony Reentry, Employment, Recovery – Margo Walsh

Episode 19Guest: Margo WalshHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Margo Walsh, Founder and CEO of MaineWorks and Co-Founder of the Maine Recovery Fund, shares how her organization provides employment to people with felony convictions re-entering society—addressing the profound barriers that a criminal record creates for the rest of a person's life. She discusses Maine's opioid crisis, the problems with the term "ex-felon," and the intersection of recovery, mental health, and reentry. Shimon also opens up about a personal loss that connects him to this work.
In this episode:
How MaineWorks was created to provide jobs to people with felony convictions and the barriers they face in reentry
Maine's opioid crisis and the complex barriers many employees face beyond simply finding work
The harm in the term "ex-felon" and how a felony conviction follows a person for life
Mental health, recovery, and what sustainable reentry support looks like
Email margo@maineworks.ushttps://www.maineworks.us/https://www.mainerecoveryfund.org/
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

LGBTQ+ Latinx – Christopher Cuevas

Episode 18Guest: Christopher CuevasHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Christopher Cuevas, Executive Director of QLatinx in Orlando, shares the story of how this grassroots organization was born in the aftermath of the Pulse nightclub shooting on June 12, 2016. He speaks to the pain, healing, and collective power that emerged from that tragedy, and names the layered oppressions faced by LGBTQ+ Latinx communities—including barriers to culturally competent mental health care, marginalization within mainstream LGBTQ spaces, and lack of legal protection. This is a story of community, resilience, and justice-centered organizing.
In this episode:
How QLatinx was created in the wake of the Pulse nightclub shooting and what that process of grief and organizing looked like
Barriers to culturally competent mental health services for LGBTQ+ Latinx communities
Marginalization within the white, middle-class LGBTQ community and lack of federal and state legal protection
QLatinx's ongoing work for racial, social, and gender justice in Central Florida
QLatinxhttps://www.qlatinx.org/Facebook http://www.facebook.com/qlatinxInstagram http://www.instagram.com/qlatinxX http://www.twitter.com/qlatinx
ChristopherEmail christopher@qlatinx.orgFacebook http://www.facebook.com/chrisjaycuevasX http://www.twitter.com/chrisjaycuevasInstagram http://www.instagram.com/chrisjaycuevas
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Youth Research Their Community – Leili Lyman

Episode 17Guest: Leili LymanHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Leili Lyman, a first-generation college student at UC Berkeley, shares the Youth Participatory Action Research she conducted as a high schooler at the RYSE Youth Center in Richmond, California. Her research explored why marijuana was the primary coping strategy for youth in her community—uncovering how trauma, lack of resources, and distrust of adults created significant barriers to seeking help. This episode centers youth voice and lived experience as a powerful tool for understanding and addressing community needs.
In this episode:
What Youth Participatory Action Research is and how Leili learned it at the RYSE Youth Center
Why youth in Richmond reported marijuana as a safer coping strategy than talking to adults
Trauma, lack of resources, stigma, and other barriers to counseling for youth in her community
Leili's experience as a first-generation college student and researcher at UC Berkeley
Email leililyman0705@berkeley.eduArticle in Chronicle of Social Change https://chronicleofsocialchange.org/child-trauma-2/why-do-so-many-youth-use-marijuana-as-a-coping-tool-heres-what-youth-had-to-sayRYSE Center https://rysecenter.org
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Public Library Social Work – Elissa Hardy, LCSW

Episode 16Guest: Elissa Hardy, LCSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Elissa Hardy, LCSW, Community Resource Manager at the Denver Public Library, describes how social workers and peer navigators are embedded across 26 library locations to serve people experiencing homelessness, immigration challenges, mental health issues, reentry from incarceration, and more. She shares how this model has evolved and how her team has intervened in over 23 overdoses. This episode makes a compelling case for the library as a frontline community resource—and for social work's role within it.
In this episode:
The evolution of library social work and how it operates across 26 Denver Public Library locations
The range of issues social workers address—homelessness, immigration, mental health, reentry, benefits access, and more
How the team has intervened in over 23 opioid overdoses
How social workers and peer navigators collaborate with librarians to serve diverse communities
Email ehardy@denverlibrary.orghttp://denverlibrary.org
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Social Workers in Political Office – Daniella Levine Cava, MSW, JD

Episode 15Guest: Daniella Levine Cava, MSW, JDHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Daniella Levine Cava, MSW, JD, Miami-Dade County Commissioner, discusses how her social work background shaped her path to elected office and continues to inform her political work. She reflects on founding what became Catalyst Miami, her transition from direct practice to policy and politics, and how social work values show up in governance. Daniella offers a direct challenge to social workers to strengthen their civic engagement—on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
In this episode:
Daniella's social work background and the creation of the Human Services Coalition, now Catalyst Miami
How her social work training shaped her political campaign and approach to governance
Implementing social work values and principles in elected office
A challenge to social workers to "grow their civic muscle" at every level
X https://twitter.com/DLCAVAhttp://www8.miamidade.gov/global/government/commission/district08/home.page
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Child Welfare, Foster Care, Family Preservation – Ronnita Waters, LCSW

Episode 14Guest: Ronnita Waters, LCSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Ronnita Waters, LCSW, Program Operations Administrator at the Center for Family and Child Enrichment in Miami, walks through the realities of child welfare practice—from what happens when abuse is reported to the interventions used to support children and families in foster care and family preservation. She speaks candidly about the emotional demands of this work and how she has learned to self-regulate in order to stay present for the families she serves. Ronnita also shares how her own life experience shapes her approach to this work.
In this episode:
An overview of the child welfare system—foster care, family preservation, and the interventions involved
What happens step by step when child abuse is reported
The emotional challenges of this work and how Ronnita has learned to self-check and regulate
How her personal life experience informs her practice and commitment to this field
Email RJW.msw@gmail.com
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Health Education, Peer-to-Peer, High School Students – Valerie Berrin

Episode 13Guest: Valerie BerrinHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Valerie Berrin, Co-Founder and Director of Operations of the Health Information Project (HIP) in Miami, shares how this peer-to-peer health education model brings ninth graders together to learn from each other across 58 Miami-Dade County high schools—reaching 34,000 students in a single school year. She discusses how HIP partnered with both public and private schools to scale its impact, and reflects on the personal and professional experiences that led her and her sister to create the organization.
In this episode:
How HIP's peer-to-peer health education model works and why it's effective
How HIP expanded to 58 high schools across Miami-Dade County, serving 34,000 ninth graders
How the organization built partnerships with both public and private school districts
The personal and professional story behind how Valerie and her sister founded HIP
https://behip.org/X http://www.twitter.com/hiphealthyInstagram http://www.instagram.com/hiphealthyYouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U990hPJrWdE
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Mindfulness Meditation, Incarceration, Substance Abuse – John Paulson, LCSW, LCAC

Episode 12Guest: John Paulson, ACSW, LCSW, MAC, LCAC, CCS, HS-BCPHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
John Paulson, Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Southern Indiana, shares his volunteer work teaching weekly mindfulness meditation to people in a substance abuse program at a county jail in Kentucky—driving over an hour each way to do it. He discusses the challenges of developing a mindfulness practice in a jail setting, the evidence base for mindfulness as an intervention, and how his own personal practice informs his work with incarcerated individuals.
In this episode:
How John volunteers weekly to teach mindfulness meditation at the Hopkins County Jail substance abuse program
The unique challenges of developing a consistent mindfulness practice in a jail setting
The growing evidence base for mindfulness meditation as an effective intervention
The connection between John's personal mindfulness practice and his work with others
Email ajpaulson@usi.edu
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

School Social Work, Immigration, Racism as Trauma – Katherine Ambía, LMSW

Episode 11Guest: Katherine Ambía, LMSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Katherine Ambía, LMSW, clinical site coordinator at a school-based mental health clinic in Queens, New York, shares her work with high school students navigating racism, historical trauma, colonialism, and the fear created by immigration enforcement. She discusses how she creates space for students to talk openly, the impact of family separation and deportation on youth and their families, and what it means to do this work as a member of a targeted community. Katherine also reflects on self-care, self-disclosure, balancing work with activism, and finding hope in youth.
In this episode:
School-based mental health work with high school students in Queens and creating safe space for honest conversation
Racism, historical trauma, colonialism, and immigration as issues affecting students' lives
The impact of family separation, ICE, and deportation on students, families, and practitioners
Self-care, self-disclosure, balancing work with activism, and finding hope in youth organizing
Email katherine.ambia@gmail.com
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Mental Health, Community Violence, Culturally Effective Practice – Myriam Bernardo, MSW, RCSWI

Episode 10Guest: Myriam Bernardo, MSW, RCSWIHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Myriam Bernardo, MSW, a therapist at Community Connections for Life in Miami, shares her community-based clinical work with a diverse population of clients navigating mental health challenges and community violence. She talks about her approach—learning from clients while integrating evidence-based interventions—and offers a grounded, refreshing perspective on why she loves social work and what sustains her in this field.
In this episode:
Community-based clinical work with clients experiencing mental health issues and community violence in Miami
Myriam's approach of learning from clients alongside evidence-based practice
What draws her to social work and what keeps her going in this field
Email myriam.ccfl@outlook.com
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Youth Organizing, Restorative Justice, Youth of Color, Community Organizing – Keno Walker

Episode 9Guest: Keno WalkerHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Keno Walker, youth organizer at Power U Center for Social Change in Miami, shares his decade-long journey with the organization—from joining at age thirteen to becoming a full-time organizer at twenty-three. Growing up in Liberty City, Keno offers a first-hand account of how racism and poverty shape life in marginalized communities, and discusses his work organizing Black and Brown youth around issues like the school-to-prison pipeline. This episode centers youth voice and the power of community organizing as a path toward justice.
In this episode:
Keno's journey from community member to youth organizer at Power U over ten years
Organizing Black and Brown youth around the school-to-prison pipeline and other community issues
A first-hand account of the impact of racism and poverty on marginalized communities in Miami
Power U https://poweru.org/Email keno@poweru.org
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Black Disability, Disabled Women of Color, Empowerment, Advocacy – Vilissa Thompson, LMSW

Episode 8Guest: Vilissa Thompson, LMSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Vilissa Thompson, founder of Ramp Your Voice!, shares her work advocating for the rights, visibility, and empowerment of people with disabilities—especially disabled women of color. She discusses how racism and ableism intersect to create unique barriers, and how social workers, educators, and medical professionals can move from harm to helpfulness. Vilissa also talks about creating the hashtag #DisabilityTooWhite and the Black Disabled Woman Syllabus as tools for education and action. This conversation challenges us to confront ableism and commit to more inclusive, intersectional justice.
In this episode:
Ramp Your Voice! as a self-advocacy and empowerment movement for people with disabilities
How racism and ableism intersect to harm disabled women of color
How social workers, educators, and medical professionals can be helpful rather than harmful to disabled people
The creation of #DisabilityTooWhite and the Black Disabled Woman Syllabus
Steps anyone can take to become a better ally and advocate for disability justice
Ramp Your Voice! http://rampyourvoice.com/Patreon https://www.patreon.com/RampYourVoice
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Youth Leadership, Mental Health, School Shootings, Adult Allies – Martin Rafferty

Episode 7Guest: Martin RaffertyHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Martin Rafferty, CEO of Youth ERA, shares his organization's approach to youth empowerment through drop-in centers, youth leadership development, and training for adults who work with young people. He discusses how Youth ERA responds to school shootings, challenges the stigma around mental health, and centers youth voice as a driver of change. Martin also shares the personal journey that led him to this work.
In this episode:
Youth ERA's model—drop-in centers, youth leadership, and adult ally training
How Youth ERA responds to school shootings and supports affected communities
Addressing stigma around mental health for young people
Martin's personal journey into this work
Youth ERA https://www.youthera.org/Resources for Adult Allies https://www.youthempowerment.com/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheYouthERA/
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Empowering Women, Policy Advocacy, Graceful Revolution, Coaching – Melissa Bird, PhD, MSW

Episode 6Guest: Melissa (Missy) Bird, PhD, MSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Dr. Melissa "Missy" Bird of Bird Girl Industries shares her approach to empowering women to engage in advocacy—and challenges the perfectionism that keeps people from taking action. She introduces the "Graceful Revolution," shares a story of using advocacy to empower a client, and tells the remarkable story of writing and lobbying a bill to emancipate homeless youth—as a graduate student—and getting it passed. Missy encourages everyone to find their passion and get involved.
In this episode:
How fear of "doing it perfectly" holds people back from advocacy—and how to move past it
The "Graceful Revolution" and what it means to challenge injustice with intention
Using advocacy to empower clients in direct practice
How Missy wrote, organized around, and lobbied a bill to emancipate homeless youth—and got it passed as a grad student
Blog www.birdgirlindustries.comX https://twitter.com/birdgirl1001Facebook https://www.facebook.com/birdgirl1001/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/birdgirl1001/Patreon https://www.patreon.com/birdgirl1001
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Drug Policy and Decriminalization, Racially Biased Policing, Coalition Building – Kassandra Frederique, MSW

Episode 5Guest: Kassandra Frederique, MSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Kassandra Frederique, New York State Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, shares her work to decriminalize drugs, end racially biased policing, and build community-centered coalitions for policy change. She discusses the importance of meeting people where they are and staying accountable to those most impacted by the war on drugs. Kassandra offers insights into organizing with integrity and pushing for justice through harm reduction and transformative approaches. This conversation highlights the power of advocacy grounded in equity and care.
In this episode:
The Drug Policy Alliance's work to decriminalize drugs and challenge racially biased policing
Building coalitions and meeting people where they are on these issues
Remaining accountable to those most affected by the war on drugs
Organizing with integrity through harm reduction and transformative approaches
http://www.drugpolicy.org/kassandra-frederique
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Incarceration, Reentry, Prevention, Criminal Justice Reform – Dante Barber

Episode 4Guest: Dante BarberHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Dante Barber, Senior Youth Leader at Friends of Island Academy in New York City, shares his personal journey through the criminal justice system and how it led him to prevention work with incarcerated youth. He discusses reentry challenges, the campaign to close Rikers Island, and what it means to use lived experience as a tool for change. This episode is a powerful testament to transformation and the impact of peer-led advocacy.
In this episode:
Friends of Island Academy's work supporting youth during and after incarceration
How Dante uses his own experience in the criminal justice system in prevention work with youth
Prisoner reentry and the barriers youth face after release
The campaign to close Rikers Island and Dante's "journey of change"
Friends of Island Academy http://www.friendsny.org/Close Rikers Campaign http://www.closerikers.org/
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Research, Rural Social Work, Dementia, Policy Advocacy – Nicole Ruggiano, PhD, MSW

Episode 3Guest: Nicole Ruggiano, PhD, MSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Dr. Nicole Ruggiano, Associate Professor at the University of Alabama School of Social Work, shares how her research on dementia led her to work with the Tuskegee community—a community with deep and justified distrust of researchers due to a history of unethical and racist practices. She discusses the challenges facing rural communities, the importance of supporting self-determination, and how researchers, academics, and practitioners can show up with accountability. Nicole also offers concrete examples of how to engage in policy advocacy.
In this episode:
Dementia research and how it led to community-based work in Tuskegee
The history of unethical and racist research practices and their lasting impact on community trust
The unique challenges facing rural communities and the role of researchers and practitioners
Supporting self-determination among individuals, families, and communities
How to get involved in policy advocacy—with concrete examples
Email nruggiano@ua.edu
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Consulting, Reproductive Justice, Racial Equity – Nicole Clark, LMSW

Episode 2Guest: Nicole Clark, LMSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Nicole Clark, LMSW, of Nicole Clark Consulting in Brooklyn, shares her consulting work in program design, evaluation, and strategic planning—centering social justice, racial equity, and reproductive justice throughout. She discusses how she built her own consulting practice, what led her to social work, and offers an overview of the Reproductive Justice framework and why it matters.
In this episode:
Nicole's consulting work—program design, evaluation, strategic planning, and trainings with a social justice focus
How she built her own consulting practice and what drew her to social work
An overview of the Reproductive Justice framework
https://nicoleclarkconsulting.com/
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Mental Health, Trauma, Self-Care, Advocacy – Jonathan Foiles, LCSW

Episode 1Guest: Jonathan Foiles, LCSWHost: Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Jonathan Foiles, LCSW, a clinical social worker in Chicago, discusses his work with clients who have experienced trauma, cross-cultural practice, whiteness, and the role of self-disclosure in therapy. He also shares how writing about social policy—using clients' stories and his own clinical experience—serves as both self-care and advocacy, making visible the human cost of policy decisions.
In this episode:
Clinical work with trauma, cross-cultural practice, and whiteness in the therapeutic relationship
Self-disclosure in therapy and how Jonathan thinks about it in practice
Writing about social policy as self-care and advocacy—using real stories to show the impact of policy on people's lives
http://beltmag.com/fixing-chicago-mental-health-system/
Join the Doin' The Work Communityhttps://dointhework.com/join Explore Continuing Education Courseshttps://dointhework.com/courses Podcast Episode Pages + Transcriptshttps://dointhework.com/podcast   Music credit"District Four" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/