The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Social Work Faculty endorse the following statement put forth by the Council on Social Work Education's Diversity Center Director, Dr. Yolanda C. Padilla, and accept the charge to do more and better at creating an equitable society.
The Center for Diversity and Social & Economic Justice stands in solidarity in the call for justice and freedom from oppression by communities across the country in the wake of the more recent anti-Black racist killings involving Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and far too many other African Americans. The events in recent weeks represent a long and painful history of systemic racism in the United States. The cumulative effects of incarceration, segregation, unemployment, and lack of access to quality education, housing, health care, and other basic human rights—although hidden from view for many—are palpable here.
As social work educators, let's recommit to addressing the realities of systemic oppression and creating a community of learners. Let's provide students with endless opportunities for critical thinking, keeping in mind that empathy can neither be forced nor achieved through debates—students need to discover it for themselves. Let's give the communities with whom we work the dignity of drawing on their lived experiences so that our practice resonates with lives. If we do this, we will always be on the right track.
As a Program, we will be working with our students and collaborative partners to educate ourselves, provide resources, and develop initiatives to further these efforts.