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Contact us at socwork@uwindsor.ca | | |
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The School of Social Work
October 2024 Newsletter
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The mission of the School of Social Work is to promote
social justice through quality professional education, advocacy, community partnerships, and the development and dissemination of knowledge through enquiry.
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University of Windsor Announces
Student Advisors
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Announced in Friday, October 4th's Daily News story, two new advisors have been allocated to provide counsel to students experiencing trauma or distress as a result of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Dr. Riham Al-Saadi, Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work, has been appointed as the Palestinian Student Support Advisor and Dr. Ira Lawrence Cohen has been appointed as the Jewish Student Support Advisor.
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The Student Counselling Centre is also available to provide support to students at this time. You can contact their office by phone at 519-253-3000 ext. 4616 or via e-mail scc@uwindsor.ca . For a complete list of Student Health, Counselling and Wellness Services and how to book an appointment, please view the information at https://www.uwindsor.ca/wellness/ | |
School of Social Work
2024-2025 Student Representatives
Thank you to our student representatives who take on these important roles. Our reps are voted by their peers! They engage with the student body, and advocate on their behalf. Thank you to our Student Reps for all you do!
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Student Representatives - On Campus | |
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Justice Hargrove,
Research Ethics Representative
Justice Hargrove (he/him/his) is a BSW student, expected to graduate in April 2025. Initially pursuing a career in media and public relations, Justice found that the industry often fell short of its professed commitment to social justice and humanity. Seeking a more meaningful alignment with his personal values, Justice began to pursue an education in social work. This decision has allowed him to thrive with the support of peers, professors, and the social work community.
During his time in media, Justice had the opportunity to produce a web series which was eventually purchased and developed for Bell Fibe TV1. He also collaborated with nonprofit organizations like the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County and Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor, along with various members of the Windsor art community. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a period of self-reflection and an acceptance that his true calling lay in social work.
After discovering a passion for research and analysis in his new field, Justice is dedicated to exploring the truth of effective social work practice and policy implementation with a focus on human rights and social justice. Currently, he is working on a project with Dr. Kevin Gorey and aims to publish his first paper by the end of the year. Through social work, Justice feels he is genuinely living his values and beliefs. He aspires to use his storytelling and media skills to highlight the vital work being done by too-often unsung workers who quietly drive positive change.
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Emily Woodward,
MSW/JD Student Representative
My name is Emily Woodward, and I am thrilled to serve as your 2024-2024 MSW/JD Student representative! I am in my first year of the program, and excited for the various opportunities UWindsor has to offer, and hope to encourage you to take advantage of them as well.
The MSW/JD program is intimate, but it is integral to the Social Work program, and as such as students of the program our voice matters. I am honoured to be selected for a position to share your views with other students and faculty. Please feel free to contact me at woodware@uwindsor.ca if you have any questions, concerns, or if you just want to say hello! I look forward to starting this position and getting to know you all a little bit better.
Some fun facts about me so you feel more comfortable reaching out:
Area of Interest: Child Welfare, Criminal Law, Child Advocacy
Favourite Food: Italian
Favourite Hobby: Walking my dogs
Interesting Fact: I have never seen any of the Harry Potter movies! (I hear they are great but have never sat down to do it)
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Fraser (Mac) Fellows,
MSW Student Representative
Hello, I’m Mac and I’m happy to be serving as your MSW student rep this year. This is my second and final year in the MSW regular track on-campus program, having come from completing my Bachelor of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa. I have been privileged to hold a couple different positions at UWindsor since coming to the program, including as Student Ambassador for the Faculty of Social Work and as a Graduate Assistant for both the Faculty of Social Work as well as the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
Through my time working at the university, I have developed a passion for the school, as well as a keen interest in the broader functioning of the university as an organization. In recent years I have had the opportunity to work in a number of social service positions at different agencies, including my summer practicum here in Windsor where I worked as a housing case manager for Housing Information Services at the Housing and Homelessness Help Hub (Water World). As such, I have been able to refine my communication and advocacy skills, and I look forward to continuing to refine them on your behalf this year.
I am always more than happy to hear your comments about the school, the program, and student life in general, and would encourage you to reach out if you have any concerns that you think I might be able to address. You can reach me at my school email fellowsf@uwindsor.ca anytime, I aim to be prompt in responding to your inquiries. I’m here to hear from you, so if you have concerns relating to Student Council or the MSW Committee please let me know. Have a great year!
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Joy Lea Friesen,
PhD Student Representative
Lea Joy Friesen is a dedicated bilingual professional and advocate with a rich background in community justice, mental health, forensics, forensic psychiatry, crisis support, public health, community mobilization, and palliative care. Currently pursuing a PhD in Social Work, she holds both a Master of Social Work and a Master of Education.
Originally from the Philippines, Joy arrived in Canada with just ten dollars and a million hopes, embodying resilience and determination. As a student representative, she brings her commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion to the forefront, focusing on empowering marginalized populations and advocating for systemic change.
Her leadership in community initiatives highlights her dedication to equitable access to care and continuous quality improvement. With a passion for social justice, Joy collaborates with peers and stakeholders to enhance community well-being and drive positive change. Her multifaceted expertise and personal journey uniquely position her to represent the student body effectively and advocate for meaningful progress within the academic community.
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Student Representatives
MSWwp (Working Professionals)
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Emily Baker, MSWwp Student Representative, MSW Committee Rep
I just begun the MSWwp program and am loving the experience. I have worked as a child protection worker for the past 20 years. Advocating for my coworkers and the youth I support is a passion of mine. I am a pug and rag doll mom; 5 fur babies in total and one 15 year old biped son. I have been volunteering with Kids Help Phone for the past 5 years and it has been a phenomenal experience. I will also be your MSWwp graduate representative! So excited to be on this journey with all of you ❤️"
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Valéry Brosseau, MSWwp Student Representative, Cohort 40
"Hello everyone! My name is Valéry and I am the student representative for Section 40. Mental health awareness is my passion and I own a firm called Validate Mental Health Consultants, where I am a writer and public speaker. This MSW has been quite the journey thus far, and I am excited for what it will add to my career. It’s also been a pleasure to represent the interests of my cohort-mates and advocate to ensure their MSW experience is as positive as possible.”
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Taylor McRae, MSWwp Student Representative, Cohort 54
I graduated from Brock University in 2022 with a BA in Psychology, obtained a post-graduate certificate in Addictions & Mental Health from Algonquin College & now I'm in the MSWwp program representing Cohort 54 (shout-out to my cohort)! I work as a crisis counsellor & I am so excited to be in this role! In my free time I love spending time with my dogs Cooper & Lexi.
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Marina Menezes, MSWwp Student Representative, Cohort 47
My name is Marina, and I'm proud to represent Section 47! As a social work student representative for the past year, I see my role as an opportunity to be the voice of my peers and advocate for their needs within our section. It’s important to me to ensure that students’ concerns, feedback, and ideas are communicated clearly to faculty, so we can all contribute to making our program stronger. I value creating a collaborative environment where we feel heard and supported, both academically and personally. Representing my fellow students' diverse perspectives is a responsibility I take seriously because I believe in improving our collective experience and fostering a sense of community in our journey toward becoming future social workers.
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Jessica Seron, MSWwp Student Representative, School of Social Work Student Council
My name is Jessica J. Seron, and I am a graduate student actively involved in our Student Council for School of Social Work. I am committed to promoting anti-racist practices within our community and fostering an inclusive environment for all students. Through our initiatives, I aim to raise awareness, facilitate open dialogues, and implement actionable strategies that address systemic inequalities. Together, we can create a more equitable educational experience for everyone. Thank you for your support in this important endeavor."
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Taylor Rebidoux, MSWwp Student Representative, Cohort 51
I am so proud of Section 51! Over the past year and a few months, we have all grown together and watched each other overcome the challenges of working full-time jobs, attending our classes diligently and balancing our other responsibilities. We are so close to achieving what has felt like the impossible! As we move through the next few weeks, I can't help reflecting from where we started this time last year. Section 51 - I can't wait to see what we all do in our future careers.
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Sophia Schmitz, MSWwp Student Representative, Cohort 52
I greatly enjoy the UWindsor MSWwp program as it offers the opportunity to learn from the experiences of my classmates and professor through class discussions. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a MSWwp representative and to amplify the voices of my classmates.
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Helen Unger, MSWwp Student Representative, Cohort 58
"I am excited to be a student rep; but I'm more excited that I get to see everyone's pets on zoom during class. "
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Jordan Charles, MSWwp Student Representative, Cohort 56 | |
Vanessa Chretien, MSWwp Student Representative, Cohort 57 | |
Olivia Detlor - MSWwp Student Representative Cohort 55 | |
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Madi Debakke, MSWwp Student Representative, Cohort 48
Pamela Biffis, MSWwp Student Representative, Cohort 53
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Congratulations
School of Social Work
Fall 2024 Graduates!
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Congratulations School of Social Work Fall 2024 Graduates!
Fall graduates assembled on Thursday, October 17th at 9:30am to officially walk the stage along with the campus community.
We are so proud of you! W can't wait to hear about what you do next!
We hope that you stay connected to the School of Social Work and the Alumni Association!
Consider teaching in the School of Social Work, becoming a field instructor, donating to scholarships/UWindsor or contributing to our newsletter.
We want to hear from you! Please reach out socwork@uwindsor.ca!
For more information on convocation, kindly visit Convocation Ceremonies | Graduation & Convocation
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Congratulations to Carly Charron, PhD Candidate, Milena Sanson, Field Learning Specialist, and Abdul Gilzay, Sessional Instructor in the School of Social Work.
They were recognized at CTL's Celebration of Teaching Excellence ceremony for achieving the University Teaching Certificate Program (UTC) at the University of Windsor.
Dr. Betty Barrett was honoured with the Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Contributions to University Teaching.
Pictured above: Carly Charron, Dr. Wayne Ambrose-Miller and Dr. Betty Barrett
Dr. Wayne Ambrose-Miller was on hand to personally congratulate the recipients!
The CTL Awards Program is designed to help academics, at all levels and in all
disciplines, develop their teaching practice, with the goal of enhancing student learning. Both practical and theoretically-grounded, the UTC seeks to engage instructors in areas including course design, teaching practices, leadership, scholarship, and assessment, inspiring reflective, critical, evidence-based practice.
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"Ask an Academic" Session for Students - 2nd session added!
Wednesday, October 23rd, 6:30pm to 8:00pm EST
Online via Teams. Please email: abbasi61@uwindsor.ca
Join the School of Social Work at the University of Windsor's new initiative. Participate in workshops, covering grant writing, publishing, and career planning. Engage with faculty and PhD students through "Ask an Academic Scholar and Educator" sessions and the "School of Social Work's Cafe." Open to PhD, MSW (On Campus), MSWwp, and BSW students, this project aims to increase research engagement, reduce anxiety, and foster mentorship. Don't miss the opportunity to enhance your academic and professional skills!
Learn about faculty research and research opportunities. Engage and ask questions to your faculty!
Our School of School of Social Work Faculty will be at these events:
Dr. Connie Kvarfordt, Dr. Festus Moasun, Dr. Riham Al-Saadi, Dr. Kristen Lwin, and Dr. Wansoo Park!
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UWindsor Open House
Are you a high school, college or mature student interested in attending the School of Social Work? Come and join us for UWindsor's fall open house on Saturday, October 26th from 10am to 3pm.
You can speak to faculty, students, and staff about our programs and take a tour of the UWindsor campus including the School of Social at Windsor Hall. Register at UWindsor Fall Open House 2024 (swoogo.com)
Attend Fall Open House for a Chance to Win Free Tuition!
Prospective students who register for and check-in at Fall Open House will be entered to win one (1) x $10,000 tuition voucher, plus an entry into the Grand Prize draw of tuition, accommodation, meal plan, and a textbook credit!
Click here for contest details!
For full contest rules, click here.
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CALL FOR: Reflections on Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Monday, September 30th marked Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We are asking students, faculty, and staff to reflect on their own personal journey through allyship and submit them to the School of Social Work. We will be adding them to our new EDID website and creating an art installation piece in the School of Social Work. Please email your reflections to debbiec@uwindsor.ca
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Amaar El-Hajj
Introducing Amaar El Hajj (BSW, MSW, RSW): Research Associate at UWindsor
We are pleased to introduce Amaar El Hajj, a recent graduate of the University of Windsor, where she earned both a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and a Master of Social Work (MSW). Amaar views social work as a commitment to advocating for equity in the face of injustice. For her, this means not only recognizing the systemic barriers and injustices faced by marginalized groups but also amplifying their voices in society while critically evaluating pathways toward positive change. Through her roles as a Social Worker in the community and as a Research Associate at the School of Social Work, Amaar’s dedication to fostering systemic change has deepened, reflecting her belief in the importance of innovation and research within the field.
Working alongside Nominated Principal Investigator Dr. Jayashree Mohanty as the lead Research Associate for a project exploring Community-Based Responses to Gender-Based Violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Amaar recently had the honour of presenting at the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) Mid-term Forum Conference on September 12, 2024. This international conference provided a rewarding platform for her to share insights and engage with inspiring researchers from around the globe. Amaar has participated in various research projects and has worked alongside Dr. Mohanty for over four years as a Research Project Coordinator for the Resilience of Newcomer Youth Project and as a Co-Presenter at various international conferences, including the Canadian Association of Social Work Education (CASWE) Conference.
Amaar’s commitment to advocating for and implementing positive systemic change propels her passion to be a lifelong learner. She is always eager to engage in research and academic projects that seek to address injustices and enhance current social work practices and services. Amaar aspires to become a professor and conduct research that will positively impact the world.
Amaar expresses deep gratitude for the mentorship she has received from esteemed faculty members, including Dr. Jayashree Mohanty, Dr. Wansoo Park, Dr. Riham Al-Saadi, Dr. Jane Ku, and Dr. Betty Barrett. Their guidance and support have profoundly shaped her academic and personal journey, and she cherishes the knowledge and insights they have shared along the way.
We look forward to seeing Amaar's continued contributions to Social Work!
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Massah Tarawalley
Congratulations to Massah Tarawalley, PhD student for being honoured with a membership to the Golden Key International Honour Society. This is a distinguished award given to high academic achievers. Massah, we all congratulate you and look forward to what's next!
Golden Key offers students a networking and scholarship platform.
Golden Key has chapters at universities around the world and a global network of over 2 million student and alumni members.
For more information, please visit International Honor Society | Golden Key
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Aman Ahluwalia-Cameron,
Field Learning Specialist &
PhD Candidate
In September 2024, Aman Ahluwalia-Cameron PhD Candidate, and Field Learning Specialist in the School of Social Work (https://www.uwindsor.ca/socialwork/582/aman-ahluwalia-cameron) travelled to Antwerp, Belgium to attend, and present at the European Society for the Study of Personality Disorders Congress.
The presentation co-authored by Dr. Adrian Guta and Dr. Elizabeth Donnelly was called, “Maybe we’re part of the problem?: Qualitative Exploration of Provider-Based Stigma by Social Workers who provide care to those living with Borderline Personality Disorder.” The presentation was well received.
If you are interested in learning more about Aman’s dissertation work, please see the recently published manuscript building upon this conference presentation called, “I get the referral because nobody wants to work with this person.”: A critical realist analysis of social workers providing care to people living with borderline personality disorder” in SSM-Qualitative Research in Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmqr.2024.100488
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Dr. Ann De Shalit,
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Ann De Shalit, a post-doctoral fellow in the School of Social Work, has received the 2024 Alice Wilson Award from the Royal Society of Canada.
"Dr. De Shalit was honoured for her post-
doctoral research, Safety for whom? A situational analysis of safe/r supply and the rhetoric of crime, social decline, risk, and unsafety, considers the political and media rhetoric framing Canada’s safe/r supply programming, a harm reduction measure that responds to rising rates of overdose and death from the unregulated toxic drug supply. The project explores impacts of misinformed rhetoric on program delivery and safety of harm reduction users and workers." Daily News, October 11, 2024.
Dr. De Shalit’s mentor and post-doctoral supervisor is Dr. Adrian Guta.
For more information on Dr. De Shalit's award, kindly visit Post-doctoral fellow in social work receives royal honour | DailyNews (uwindsor.ca)
Dr. De Shalit's bio can be found at Dr. Ann De Shalit | School of Social Work (uwindsor.ca)
Dr. Ann De Shalit is a SSHRC-funded Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Social Work at the University of Windsor. She earned a Master of Social Work from York University and a PhD in Policy Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). She previously held two postdoctoral positions, one with the University of Windsor and another with Ontario Tech University. She has also held course director positions at Ontario Tech, York, and Trent Universities.
Her research primarily focuses on two areas: prison and community harm reduction and anti-trafficking policy, programming, and discourse. She has been researching in the area of prison harm reduction for over a decade and in the field of anti-trafficking for 15 years. Her research utilizes qualitative community-based methodologies and critical textual and discourse analysis. She is also regularly involved in grassroots campaigns on migrant and labour justice. She recently co-edited a collection entitled, Trafficking harms: Critical politics, perspectives and experiences (2014, Fernwood Publishing).
Among her current studies is an examination of how conceptualizations of labour exploitation, forced/unfree labour, labour precarity, labour trafficking, and related conditions are mobilized in Canadian academic and grey literature, for which she was funded by a SSHRC Knowledge Synthesis Grant as Co-Investigator. She is also involved in two long-term SSHRC-funded studies. One is with colleagues at the University of Windsor, TMU, Queen’s University, and the University of Ottawa on the political advocacy of Ontario-based charitable organizations. The other is with TMU and the HIV Legal Network on harm reduction in federal prisons, which contributed to the roll out of the federal Prison Needle Exchange Program in 2018.
For her SSHRC-funded postdoctoral research, Dr. De Shalit is working with Dr. Adrian Guta of the School of Social Work at the University of Windsor on the political and media rhetoric framing Canada’s safe supply programming, a harm reduction measure that responds to the rising rates of overdose and death resulting from the unregulated toxic drug supply. The project explores the impacts of misinformed and misplaced rhetoric on program delivery and the safety of harm reduction users and workers.
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Dr. Siham Elkassem,
Associate Professor
Dr. Siham Elkassem will be presenting at the CSWE’s (Council on Social Work Education) Annual Program Meeting held in Kansas City, Missouri on October 24– 27, 2024. Attached are the details of these presentations. Congratulations Dr. Elkassem on your proposals being accepted and we look forward to learning more upon your return from CSWE.
Dr. Elkassem's Work at CSWE:
Indigenous Art is Anti-Colonial Resistance
Panelist: Siham Elkassem, MSW, RSW, PhD (she/her/hers) – Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Windsor
- Friday, October 25, 2024
- 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM CT
Proposal text: Social Work is underpinned in Eurocentric paradigms of knowledge production and often relies on empirical anthropological, psychological and sociological studies to understand non white communities, such as Indigenous societies. However, within social work there has been a strong critique of structural oppression, including colonialism and settler-colonialism (Clarke, 2022; Choate, 2019; Elkhirid, 2020). Marginalized voices by their very nature do not get represented in mainstream social work research unless researchers endeavor to engage in community based and participatory based methodologies. Furthermore, art is largely perceived as the business of the humanities or seen as a specialized intervention tool for clinical social workers in therapeutic environments. However, art sustains the power to express complex realities, stands out as a refusal to the status quo, and resists the brutal oppression of colonialism through beauty, emotional depth and aesthetic connection across boundaries of identity and belonging. It is imperative for social workers in their path to anti-oppressive and anti-racist practice to integrate a new conceptualization of art as resistance to systemic oppression and as tool to advance universal human rights.
Indigenous communities have been decimated by colonial violence and the threat of violence, including the crime of all crimes, genocide. Indigenous art is an area of anti-colonial resistance that transforms Indigenous people identified as “object” and “other” by dominant culture to “subject” and “self”, while simultaneously resisting the dehumanization of Indigenous peoples by colonial powers (Rostokowski, 2010; Fun & Guthadjaka, 2020; Webb, 2002). This workshop panel will focus on the anti-colonial resistance of the Palestinian peoples through art, inclusive of visual art, poetry, photos, and music (Laidi, 2005; Fisher, 2010; Tibi, 2020). Art is an indigenous solution to the dehumanizing project of the colonial powers.
Art as an act of liberation from colonial oppression will be analyzed from the perspective of artists still living on occupied land and it will be contrasted to the artistic expressions of memory and storytelling of those who have been dislocated (diaspora) from their original lands (Ben-Zvi, 2016; Gandolfo, 2010; Rees, 2016; McKendrick & Duarte, 2022; Salti, 2010).
The interactive workshop will bring in poetry, visual art, photography, and music to engage the audience from Palestinian artists and writers both living in occupied Palestine or the diaspora. Some examples of artists: Mahmoud Derwish, Refaat Elaar, Abed Abdi, Imad Abu Ishtayyah.
A Critical Discourse Analysis of Social Work Schools' Engagement With Ongoing Global Violence
Panelist: Siham Elkassem, MSW, RSW, PhD (she/her/hers) – Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Windsor
- Saturday, October 26, 2024
- 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM CT
Proposal text: Background/ rationale: Decolonization is an over-used term that has become a metaphor in academic spaces, diminishing the violent process it encapsulates (Tuck & Yang, 2012). In honoring Indigenous communities, we must contend with the violence that undergirds colonialism and strips Indigenous peoples’ humanity. This matter is urgent for social workers positioned within North America, as the U.S and Canada have a deep history of violent colonization (Chapman & Withers, 2019; Ortega- Williams et al., 2023). Similarly, schools of social work have historically acted as agents of forced assimilation, colonization, and institutional violence on Indigenous communities and communities of color (Fortier & Wong, 2019; Murray-Lichtman & Elkassem, 2021). In this session, panelists will discuss the urgency to acknowledge the United States’ role as a global power that shapes colonial violence, and make actionoriented recommendations for social work schools, in alignment with NASW’s Code of Ethics.
Global Perspectives: Lessons on Environmental Racism and Indigeneity From Palestine to Turtle Island
Moderator: Siham Elkassem, MSW, RSW, PhD (she/her/hers) – Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Windsor
- Saturday, October 26, 2024
- 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM CT
Proposal text: This panel discussion and workshop delve into the issue of environmental racism (David Suzuki Foundation, 2021) within Indigenous Palestinian communities in Gaza, the West Bank (Hughs et al., 2023; Lorder, 2012) and First Nations communities across Turtle Island/Canada (Eco Justice, 2012; MacDonald & Rang, 2007). The discussion underscores the relationship between settler colonialism, racism, ongoing oppression and the subsequent environmental repercussions among these Indigenous populations.
Drawing parallels between Indigenous Palestinians and First Nations communities in Canada, the discussion will begin by examining for example, the unequal allocation of water resources, ongoing issues of land confiscation, water pollution, and state-sponsored operations negatively impacting agriculture and infrastructure and shed light on disparities in access and the imposition of restrictions on these populations (Lorber, 2018; Lupton, 2022; Hughes et al., 2023; MacDonald, 2020).
Environmental racism can manifest in various ways, and its impact on Palestinian communities in Gaza and the West Bank have had an enormous impact (Hughs et al., 2023; Lorber, 2018). While discussing this, it's crucial for social work to consider the broader context of Israeli oppression of the Palestinian people, ongoing occupation and the history of the Nakbah (Catastrophe) (Khalidi, 2020). As a result of settler colonialism, occupation, oppression, the Gaza Strip experiences pronounced environmental racism and injustice, particularly concerning water pollution and sanitation challenges (Hughs et al., 2023; Lorber, 2018). For example, the nearly two-decade blockade on Gaza has posed obstacles to obtaining necessary equipment and materials for infrastructure development (Diab et al., 2018; Hughs et al., 2023; Lorber, 2018). In the latest offensive on Gaza, Israel has severed critical resources like water and gas while causing extensive damage to essential infrastructure (Amnesty International, 2023; Human Rights Watch, 2023).
Similarly, in the First Nations communities often face the siting of toxic waste facilities and industrial pollution near their lands as an outcome of historical and ongoing white supremacist settler colonialism, institutional and systemic racism (Lupton, 2022; MacDonald & Rang, 2007; MacDonald, 2022). For instance, the Grassy Narrows First Nation in Ontario has been dealing with the aftermath of mercury contamination in their water supply due to industrial activities (David Suzuki Foundation, 2016). The Lubicon Cree in Alberta, for example, have faced challenges related to oil and gas development impacting their traditional territory (Amnesty International, 2010). Indigenous communities across Turtle Island/Canada frequently experience the negative consequences of resource extraction industries, such as mining and logging, the displacement of communities, destruction of traditional lands, and contamination of water sources (Salim, 2019; Wawin, 2022).
Presenters will emphasize the imperative for anti-racist and anti-colonial approaches in social work practice, research, and education. This includes recognizing and addressing the pervasive influence of environmental racism on Indigenous communities, promoting respect for Indigenous sovereignty, and advocating for environmental justice on a global, national, and local scale (Yale University, 2020; World Economic Forum, 2020). This workshop/panel will emphasize the practical application of these principles in addressing these challenges
Healing Circle
Moderator: Panelist: Siham Elkassem, MSW, RSW, PhD (she/her/hers) – Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Windsor
- Saturday, October 26, 2024
- 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM CT
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Meet our MSWwp Sessional Instructors
We want to give special thanks to our outstanding Sessional Instructors in our MSWwp program. We appreciate your overwhelming commitment to the MSWwp program
and our students.
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Dr. Woyengi Gigi Goary
Dr. Woyengi Gigi Goary is a registered social worker with over 25 years of professional experience. She has a PhD in social work from the University of Toronto. Prior to this, Dr. Goary received a master’s degree in social work from York University. Her strength-based, solution-focused, trauma-informed, and cognitive behavioural therapeutic social work practice includes working with individuals, families, and communities in the areas of mental health, child welfare, and corrections. Dr. Goary has expertise in counselling, investigation, evaluation, and assessment, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion with a focus on anti-Black racism and intersectionality. She is also a sessional graduate professor of social work at the University of Windsor. Dr. Goary is an experienced social work leader as an elected council member with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, board director, and union president. Her social work education and practice are grounded in addressing trauma through the elimination of systemic, individual, and institutional oppression.
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Dr. Candace Hind
Candace Hind completed her Ph.D.at the School of Social Work at University of Windsor. Her doctoral research in gerontology focuses on the role of the social worker in LTC and theoretical and historical views of aging and moving towards valuing and embracing age. She has published and presented at conferences in Canada and internationally on topics such as arts and aging, aging and identity, sexuality and intimacy in older age, and adjustment to retirement and long-term care.
Professional work spanning two decades includes working in five hospitals and fourteen long-term care homes as a bedside performer with Fools for Health, activity director in retirement, facilitator, writer, and director of theatre about the experiences of aging, outreach coordinator for a senior centre, gerontology consultant and teacher, and long-term care community social worker.
Candace Hind is the recipient of the 2021 provincial Inspirational Leader Award from OASW, as well as the 2020 Distinguished Social Worker Award from OASW Windsor-Essex Network. Candace holds BA[H} in Dramatic Arts and Psychology (York University and University of Windsor), a Master of Social Work and Ph.D. (University of Windsor), and has been teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in social work at University of Windsor since 2014.
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Dr. Sandra McNeil
I have been working in the field of mental health and addiction as a Registered Social Worker for 13 years. I completed my PhD in Social Work at the University of Toronto and my MSW and BSW at York University. I have 13 peer reviewed publications and 11 conference presentations at local, national, and international levels. My research interests include mental health and substance use recovery and stigma, and critical social work research, education, and practice. I am also currently employed in a hospital mental health program and a private practice setting. Grounded in a client-centered, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed approach, I draw upon EMDR, mindfulness, CBT, DBT, and ACT.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3766-6709
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Rachel Sablone
Rachel Sablone obtained a B.A. Honours in Criminology and Psychology, BSW, and MSW from the University of Windsor. Rachel has over 20 years experience in social work practice, and she has been a sessional instructor in the MSW Working Professionals program since 2014. Her experience includes school social work, child welfare, and mental health throughout the lifespan. She operates a private practice with a specialization in treating trauma and related mental health symptoms. She is well versed in a variety of therapeutic modalities including CBT, Mindfulness based approaches such as DBT/ACT, Ego States/IFS, and is currently completing her certification in EMDR therapy. Rachel is passionate about teaching and her goal is to facilitate learning by bringing direct practice experience to the classroom along with diverse voices respect, self-reflection, and creativity.
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Dr. Bharati Sethi
Bharati Sethi is an Associate Professor and a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Care Work, Ethnicity, Race and Aging in the Political Studies department at Trent University. She is a critical feminist scholar who brings extensive knowledge on community-based arts-informed research and intersectionality to explore social determinants of health in immigrants' and refugees’ lives in Canada. Her teaching interests include policy, community practice, immigration, and diversity. Bharati’s scholarly trajectory is fueled by her lived experiences as an immigrant to Canada from India. Her multi-site and multi-disciplinary research, primarily focused on small urban centers and rural regions, has earned her several prestigious community and academic awards. She has extensively published her scholarly works about immigrants and refugees in high-impact factor journals. In addition to her expertise in working with immigrants and refugees, she is skilled in the policymaking domain which positions her to advocate for policy and practice improvements at the national, provincial, and local levels. She was interviewed by the Free Press, Sarnia and Lambton County, Globe and Mail, CBC, 980 CKNW, Toronto Star, and Conversations Canadian Press on her research with racialized personal support workers.
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Karine Silverwoman
I am an experienced Social Worker (MSW, RSW), therapist, consultant, educator, and personal trainer. My work is informed by my lived experience of over 20 years of working in the social work field and my engagement in social-justice activism.
I have extensive training in trauma-informed therapeutic approaches, clinical supervision and leadership. I am particularly passionate about working with front line workers, managers, first responders, and community activists to deepen their skills, align with their values and find meaningful strategies to support them in the work that they do.
I have worked in a wide variety of settings and roles including Director of Counselling at Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, street outreach worker, mental health counsellor on an LGBTQ+ health team, therapist, youth worker, creative writing facilitator and an owner of a LGBTQ+ trauma informed body positive gym. I am a consultant to a variety of agencies such as Victim Services Toronto, I am a consultant to a variety of agencies such as Victim Services Toronto and LOFT. I am faculty member with the Ontario Association of Social Workers.
As an educator, I have taught at Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Social Work and George Brown College’s Social Service and Assaulted and Women’s Children Program. I also offer workshops and educational sessions through the Ontario Social Workers Association and have done presentations for Sick Kids Hospital, Planned parenthood, Osgoode Law, Sistering and many more.
I am a Queer parent, a deep listener and come from an intersectional feminist, disability affirming, and anti-colonial approach. I am also an artist: I write poetry and am an award-winning filmmaker of a movie called “Hello. My Name is Herman." I am currently working on my second documentary. My work and life reflect my strong belief that we must approach the world and one another with compassion, care, attention to justice and reflection.
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Updates from Sharon Munro, Social Work Librarian
Leddy Library sessions in October
The Leddy Library will be holding four online sessions in October:
· Fair dealing and copyright in higher education – Tuesday, October 15th – 2 to 3 p.m.
· Discover rich data for analysis through the University of Windsor’s Statistics Canada Research Data Centre (RDC) – Thursday, October 17th – 2 to 3 p.m.
· Leddy Library Open Access Lightning Talks – Monday, October 21st – 2 to 3 p.m.
· What can we help you with statistical analysis? - Thursday, October 24th – 2 to 3 p.m. For more information and to register for these sessions, go to: Library Events
Writing Support Desk workshops
The Writing Support Desk is holding several online workshops in October covering a wide range of writing topics. For more information and to register for the workshops, see: Writing Support Desk workshops
Generative AI & Copyright
The Leddy Library has a new guide entitled Generative AI & Copyright. As noted in this guide, “…GenAI and related technologies are subject to existing laws and regulations in Canada, such as intellectual property, copyright and privacy laws.” The guide looks at the use of copyrighted works as input or training data; the copyright status of content created by GenAI; and the attribution of sources and answers questions such as:
· Can I use full-text library licensed resources in Generative AI tools like Chat GPT?
· Can I use full-text library licensed resources in closed or self-hosted environment?
· Can I use full-text, openly licensed material (e.g. Creative Commons) in Generative AI tools?
For answers to the above questions and to get access to this guide, see: Generative AI & Copyright
ORCiD Help Guide
The Leddy Library now has an ORCiD Help Guide. ORCiD stands for the Open Researcher and Contributor ID, which is “…a free, unique, persistent identifier that individuals use to share their research, scholarship and innovation activities”. The guide explains “…what an ORCiD iD is, why you should have one, how to create and populate your profile and more about ORCiD at UWindsor”. For more information and to get access to the guide, see: ORCiD Help Guide Now available.
Virtual machine access to statistical and data software through Leddy Library
The Leddy Library is hosting a specialized suite of licensed data software applications on a virtual machine and two virtual access points can be booked remotely from outside the library. The connection requires Global Protect. For more information about the available data software applications and to make reservations to use them, see: New virtual machine access to statistical and data.
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University of Windsor
School of Social Work
167 Ferry Street, Room 205
Windsor, Ontario N9A 0C5
519-253-3000 ext. 3064
socwork@uwindsor.ca
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We acknowledge that The University of Windsor sits on the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations, comprised of the Ojibwa, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi. We respect the longstanding relationships with First Nations People in this place in the 100-mile Windsor-Essex Peninsula and the straits - les détroits of Detroit. | |
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