Social Work: Under Attack and Fighting Back?!

Presented by the Social Work Equity Campaign

In a time of profound socioeconomic and political shifts, the social work sector finds itself at a crossroads. As we celebrate Social Work Month, we must also confront a sobering reality: our sector is under attack. From oppressive work conditions and stagnant pay to a political climate that often devalues essential care labor, social workers and students are facing unprecedented challenges.

Join the Social Worker Equity Campaign for an urgent, unrecorded one-hour discussion titled “Social Work: Under Attack and Fighting Back?!” We are bringing together three distinct voices to examine the current crisis and, more importantly, to chart a path toward collective resistance and renewal.

The Discussion:

This panel will move beyond identifying problems to exploring actionable solutions. Our speakers will address the intersection of passion and policy, focusing on:

• The State of the Sector: An analysis of the current socioeconomic and political climate and its impact on the ability of social workers and students to do their jobs and complete their education.
• Labor Organizing in Action: Hear from a social work student leader at the forefront of the Payment for Placements (P4P) movement on how student-led organizing is challenging the culture of unpaid labor.
• The Power of Solidarity: Rooted in the labor movement principle that “An injury to one is an injury to all,” we will discuss how to shift from individual moral injury to collective action.

Why Attend?

This is a “brave space” for honest dialogue. Because this session will not be recorded, we invite attendees to speak freely, listen deeply, and connect with a community that refuses to stay silent. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner, a current student, or an advocate for equity, this hour is dedicated to finding our collective voice.

Panelists:

• Adam Cecil is a Michigan-NASW Board member, a member of United Michigan Medicine Allied Professionals (UMMAP) AFT Local 6739, and the owner of Union Wellness Counseling. Adam previously co-lead a labor movement at Trinity Health in Ann Arbor and was a co-founder of Social Services Workers United (SSWU) of southeast Michigan.
• Christina Christman is a labor leader in Rochester, NY. She has been the President of the Federation of Social Workers for 5 years. She also currently serves as the Executive Vice President of the Rochester Labor Council, a Vice President of the Regional Labor Federation and chair of the Workers Assembly of Rochester. Christina is a firm believer in coalition work and is involved in many coalition groups working for social, racial, and economic justice.
• Christian Ohonba is an MSW student with a macro concentration and co-leader of the University of Houston P4P chapter, where she supports systems-level advocacy and professional development. She is a PMP-certified Project Manager with 8+ years of experience delivering people-centered SaaS and CRM solutions across mission-driven sectors. Christian has created a workshop designed to help MSW students and early-career professionals clarify and build sustainable macro career pathways. Her work centers on aligning strategy, operations, and values to drive meaningful, people-informed impact.

SWAA is funded only through memberships. These help us to maintain our website and Zoom accounts and offer honorariums to webinar hosts.