Volume 102 | November 2021
OGA Newsletter
The Office of Global Activities (OGA) is dedicated to connecting MSW students to international social work opportunities through fundingspecial programs, academic resources, internationalized curriculum, and arranging faculty and student exchanges at partner institutions.
Spotlight: Global Independent Study Information Session
Global Independent Study Information Session
Wednesday, November 10 from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
We at the Office of Global Activities are hosting an information session for incoming MSW students interested in Global Independent Study, a student-initiated opportunity to design a global social work project abroad. Students from all pathways and curriculum tracks are eligible to apply and can receive 1-6 elective credits. 

The session will provide an overview of the grant, the application process, and travel considerations, followed by a Q&A session. If you cannot attend synchronously, a recording of the session will be available.

Please note that a limited number of grants will be available for Summer 2022. Due to COVID-19, applicants will need to carefully consider numerous factors to determine if travel is feasible. See "Considerations for Planning International Travel during COVID-19" and the U-M Travel Designations list for more guidance.
Events
Date: Thursday, November 11 from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM EDT
Brief Description: Anti-Asian American sentiment has spread across the U.S. like an epidemic, rising approximately 360% in 2021 alone. However, is anti-Asian hate truly a new phenomena? What is the history of racism against Asian Americans in the U.S.? This virtual discussion will connect the past to the present and present the work of prominent Asian American leaders, activists, and students, including students from the School of Social Work’s API Coalition!
Date: Thursday, November 11 from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM EDT
Brief Description: Teaching English abroad can be a cost-effective way to spend a year (or two!) immersing yourself in another culture after graduation. There are many ways to go about teaching English abroad, so the International Center and English Language Institute at U-M invite you to join a session that will cover topics including things to know about teaching English abroad, opportunities to do so, and how to prepare for the experience while still a student at U-M! 
Date: Monday, November 15 from 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM EDT
Brief Description: Join the Gulf International Forum and Weiser Diplomacy Center at the Ford School for a conversation featuring Dr. Dania Thafer, Executive Director, Gulf International Forum, Ambassador Patrick Theros, Strategic Advisor, Gulf International Forum, Professor David Des Roches, Associate Professor, Near East South Asia Center for Security Studies, Dr. Jeffrey Macris, Deputy Director, Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership and Negar Mortazavi, Iranian-American journalist and political analyst.
Date: Monday, November 15 from 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM EDT
Brief Description: The particular conditions and needs in post-Soviet nations have inspired unique configurations of professional social work. What lessons can be drawn from the policy and practice experiences of human-service professionals in these contexts? Join the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis for a fascinating discussion on the emergence of professional social work policy and practice in two post-Soviet countries: Azerbaijan and Ukraine. 
Date: Tuesday, November 16 at 7:00 PM EDT
Brief Description: At this event hosted by the Fund for Education Abroad, they will be joined by experts who have worked, lived and travelled abroad for multiple reasons. From fellowship opportunities, to teaching abroad, to the Peace Corps–you can ask pointed questions to all eight of our expert panelists about how you, too, can take advantage of these invaluable experiences.
Date: Friday, November 19 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT
Brief DescriptionJoin the International Center virtually over lunch to discuss special topics and explore the resources available for international students and scholars. Discussions are informal and it's a great place to get your burning questions answered!
Date: Friday, November 19 from 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT
Brief DescriptionThe School of Social Work Office of Global Activities and U-M Spectrum Center are collaborating to host Trans Visibility Passport Day. During this event, the Washtenaw County Clerk's office will assist students and community members to apply for, renew, or make changes to their passport in the form of a name change or updated gender marker. Although this event is hosted specifically for folks needing a gender marker or name change, individuals not requiring these services but still in need of a new or renewed passport are welcome to attend.
Announcements
Native American Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage Month! This month, we celebrate and honor the heritage, history, art, traditions, and contributions of American Indians and Alaska Natives. We at the School of Social Work acknowledge that the University of Michigan was formed and has grown through connections with the land stewarded by the Anishinaabeg—the Three Fires People who are the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi—along with their neighbors: the Seneca, Delaware, Shawnee, and Wyandot nations.

See below events to celebrate Native American Heritage Month, hosted by the U-M Native American Studies Department in collaboration with MESA (Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs) and NASA (Native American Student Association):

Date: Monday, November 8 from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Brief Description: Racial justice begins with anti-racism. Anti-racism is the active process of identifying and eliminating racism by changing systems, organizational structures, policies, practices, and attitudes so that power is redistributed and shared equitably (University of Calgary). This peer-led teach-in will engage analytical frameworks for examining systemic cultural, social, economic, and political forces in the community along with individual reflection.

Date: Thursday, November 18 from 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Brief DescriptionThere is an epidemic that no one is talking about outside of Indian Country. Within our community, we are dealing with an epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Why aren’t there concrete statistics? Why do the crimes go unreported? What has the FBI done to help with this epidemic? Learn what you can do in and out of Indian Country to make sure that our sisters, mothers, daughters, wives, girlfriends, women, don’t become a statistic.

Date: Friday, November 19 from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Brief Description: Join us as we engage with Angeline Boulley, author for the #1 NYT Bestseller novel, Firekeeper's Daughter. Angeline Boulley is an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, is a storyteller who writes about her Ojibwe community in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. She is a former Director of the Office of Indian Education at the U.S. Department of Education. Firekeeper's Daughter is her debut novel, and was an instant #1 NYT Bestseller.

Date: Monday, November 29 from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Brief DescriptionJoin us for an engaging dialogue and panel with amazing guests and speakers that have been a part of significant efforts to honor the Burt Lake Band and work on projects surrounding sustainability, language revitalization, and representation of Native Identities. Through this event, we hope to not only hold the university accountable to the acknowledgement of the history and land, but to raise awareness on climate justice, language revitalization, and the landback movement as a whole.

Date: Tuesday, November 30 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Brief DescriptionPlease join us at the closing ceremony for Native American Heritage Month where we will celebrate the amazing indigenous speakers that presented and held dialogues on conversations that are necessary to the community. There will be a Native food menu for those that are registered!
Professional Opportunities
Application Deadline: Tuesday, March 1, 2022 (Rolling admission)
Brief DescriptionThe Ottawa Internship Program is designed to provide a first-hand learning experience in Canadian government through placement with a Member of Parliament or Senator in the capital of Canada. Students will work in a parliamentarian's office for a period of five weeks. This program is open to graduate and undergraduate students from all majors and all colleges at U-M.
Grant Opportunities
Deadline: Tuesday, November 16 by 8:00 PM EDT
Brief DescriptionThe CLS Program is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Students spend eight to ten weeks abroad studying one of 15 critical languages. This opportunity would be appropriate for 20-month SSW students and possibly dual degree students. 
Deadline: Thursday, December 30 at 5:00 PM EDT
Brief DescriptionBlakemore Freeman Fellowships are awarded for one academic year of full-time, intensive language study of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Khmer or Burmese at the advanced level in approved language programs in East or Southeast Asia. Applicants must be American citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
Deadline: Saturday, January 15
Brief DescriptionThe Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship provides tuition and stipend to students studying designated foreign languages in combination with area studies or international aspects of professional studies.
Deadline: Rolling
Brief Description: The International Center offers a grant opportunity to help student organizations and University departments recognize the diversity of the U-M international student population through special events and programming. Organizations and departments should apply at least 14 days in advance of their event (the earlier, the better). Grants amounts will vary based on the submitted budget and the availability of funds.
Deadline: Rolling
Brief Description: Subject to availability of funding, awards will be made to faculty, students, and staff presenting Africa-focused papers or serving as chairs or discussants for Africa-focused sessions at regional, national, or international conferences. Priority is given to applicants who have not received prior ASC funding and to projects focused on Sub-Saharan Africa.
Deadline: Rolling
Brief Description: The U.S. Department of Education provides a variety of grant opportunities. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines vary.
Resources
To find previous OGA Newsletter volumes, click the OGA Newsletter Archive.
Email ssw.oga@umich.edu if you have any questions.