Why did you want to be a social change worker?

When I was a child, I would visit my father’s business in an impoverished community. When I asked questions about why some people were poor and others had so much, the answers I got did not satisfy my curiosity and understanding. I have continued to ask these difficult questions all through my life. These questions led me to my lifelong work to identify and examine structures in place that cause these imbalances. Examining and understanding these structures has fueled my passion and has been of a motivator for me.

Are there any organizations you’d like to highlight that you are associated with that are making changes within the community?

A coalition which started in the Fall 2019 called Social Work Coalition for Anti-Racist Education (SWCAREs). The organization examines the history of white supremacy in social work practice and education, and challenges social work education to come to terms with this history. Their goal is to change the paradigm through conversation, education, and solutions. She has also worked with the Family Members of the Disappeared in Chile (Agrupación de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos) who continue to be on the forefront of human rights in Chile.

Are there any current issues you are championing for?

Kids in cages, white supremacy and anti-Black racism, abolition, immigration and human rights, solitary confinement as a form of torture. Other focuses remain universal health care rights, and rights to quality education for all. Quoting the United Declaration of Human Rights Article 25, “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care.”

What are some of the strengths and or barriers that you face?

How society comes up short when economical decisions are made based on greed instead of human well-being. I find it frustrating when our resources are sent to abuse human rights in other countries. Those funds kill twice – once abroad and once at home since they could be used to help our communities. While our country has a debt to other countries since our policies have decimated their economies and supported brutal military regimes, the funding we spend supporting dictators could go to improving lives in other countries and improving lives in our own country instead. It is a both/and situation – we must see ourselves as part of one world.

What are key components to successful social change work? 

Commitment, responsibility, and the desire to make a change. Understanding that even though we live in a society that is about instant gratification, and an overload of information that social workers need to comprehend, we have to be in it for the long haul. Lobbyists have a lot of money to influence politicians, we need to have more people for change to work for the common good of all. I’m reminded of Italian philosopher, Gramsci who talked about “the work of ants.” Ants all work together for the greater good of the colony and how we each have a part to play, a responsibility for change. Ants also work slowly but working together they can reach their goal. Even in crises like the pandemic we currently face, despite the market crash, Jeff Bezos made 7 Billion dollars during the first week of April and has made over 24 Billion since March. Mark Zuckerberg made 6 billion, and Warren Buffet made billion. If these billionaires and millionaires and other wealthy corporations paid their fair share, many of the injustices we contend with would not exist. Injustice and inequalities are choices our society has made because we base decisions on greed. We need to work towards a society where there would be no need for services because we have treated our fellow humans with the dignity they deserve. Instead we give tax cuts to the wealthy and cut funding for those in need.

What would you like to see in place that could assist other activists in a successful campaign for social change?

Organization and collaboration are significant. With these fundamentals in mind, social work has the ability to eliminate the needs for services. When we are understanding, we are capable of making sure everyone has their needs fulfilled.

How do you handle disappointments, challenges, and how do you celebrate victories?

At times the championing can be overwhelming. Making sure to connect with other people is the highlight, and is most important, in my line of work. We all work in different areas and on different causes; however, the end result is the same goal. Social workers are not alone. Be patient and understand that this is a process, it’s a long haul. Be organized and pace yourself. Nothing can be changed overnight, but change can be acheived when we all do our part.