James Huguley inaugural recipient of PittEI3 Fellowship 

Associate Professor James Huguley is one of a group of 10 University of Pittsburgh faculty spanning numerous schools and departments across the university — from medicine, bioengineering, and nursing to social work, dental medicine, and law — that has been selected for the inaugural PittEI3 (Equitable, Inclusive, Innovation and Incubation) Fellowship.

The Pitt Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship has established PittEI3 with the aim of creating sustainable and equitable institutional change. This was done in recognition of the fact that women and other historically excluded people (HEP) are not participating in the university’s expanding innovation ecosystem to the extent that they are capable of. Read more.

Ron Idoko, SAFE peer educators win social justice awards

Center on Race and Social Problems Associate Director Ron Idoko won the Creating a Just Community Award and MSW alum Dev Hayostek is part of the Sexual Assault Facilitation and Education peer educators that won the University Prize for Strategic, Inclusive, & Diverse Excellence award. Read more in the Pitt News.

In wake of pivotal case, speaker delves into frustrating history of affirmative action

The recent forums “Affirmative Action and Racial Equity: The Impact of the Supreme Court’s Decision on Higher Education,” hosted by the Institute of Politics, were moderated by Kyaien Conner, director of Pitt’s Center on Race and Social Problems. Read more in the University Times.

ICYMI: RISE-MH Works in Progress with Dr. Leah Jacobs

The video for the RISE-MH Works in Progress talk with Dr. Leah Jacobs: "Assessing racial bias in mobile crisis services using an experimental design and vignette methodology" is now available online to view.

PhD student earned Year of Discourse and Dialogue funding

Doctoral student Daniel Abusuampeh, School of Social Work and Center on Race and Social Problems received funding for his project: “Bridging Cultures and Fostering Dialogue: Engaging African Students in Discourse on Tribal Equity in Africa.” Read more.

Alumna presented with MLK Impact Award

MSW alumna Anette Nance recently moderated a thought-provoking panel discussion on Dr. King’s ideology and its relevance to our current realities in the Commonwealth on Jan 24th. Engaging insights from Secretary of PA Dept of Education, Dr. Khalid Mumin, Ed.D Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Dr. Latika D. Davis-Jones Secretary of General Services, Reggie McNeil II and PHRC Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter She was also awarded the Martin Luther King Jr Impact Award from Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. Nance also participated in a crucial panel discussion at the Pennsylvania State Museum alongside the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women, Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs, State Representative Gina H. Curry Acting Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen and members of the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus. They delved into the pressing issue of maternal mortality rates in Pennsylvania, shedding light on impactful solutions to address this crisis. 

Pine nonprofit’s donation program helps young-adult cancer survivors

Young Adult Survivors United is inviting the community to help give young cancer survivors a helping hand through a new-basic needs donation program.

Distribution Days provides household items, toiletries and nonperishable products for members of the Pine-based nonprofit, those diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 18 to 45, according to MSW alumna and YASU founder and executive director Stephanie Samolovitch. Read more in the Tribune Review.

Spotlight on ACLA Social Work Student Fellows 2023

As we reflect on the joys and challenges of 2023 and move forward into a new year brimming with promise, I am so inspired by the work of our Library Social Work Fellows. Each of the students featured below has been passionately dedicated to serving our communities this year. Throughout the county, at libraries big and small, these students are meeting our patrons where they are, providing crucial resources and referrals, hands-on assistance, compassion, and hope. Read on to learn more about them and what they’re working on in our region.

–Katrina Mink, BSW/MSW, Social Work in Libraries Program Coordinator

Read about the Social Work Student Fellows 2023.

Registration is open for the Community Engaged Scholarship Forum

Registration is now open for the University of Pittsburgh’s 6th annual Community Engaged Scholarship Forum. This year the Forum will be hosted in Alumni Hall on the Oakland Campus on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Progress Through Partnerships: Beyond a Thousand Points of Light

While the individual efforts of teams and communities have resulted in shining examples of what is possible through engaged scholarship, our society requires increasingly interconnected approaches to problem solving that result in partnerships advancing multiple aspects of community resilience.

Register for the 2024 Forum and learn more by visiting www.cesf.pitt.edu.