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Chicago ABSW

Annual Report FY 2014 Monday----June 9, 2014; 5:30 pm

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Chicago Association of Black Social Workers

Meeting Place: Northeastern Il. University Jacob Carruthers Center 700 E. Oakwood, Lower Level Conference Room

Chicago, IL. 60616

Vision Statement To minimize the disparities of people of African descent across the various life domains so that they might achieve holistic emotional, physical and mental well being. Mission As a local affiliate of the National Association of Black Social Workers, we advocate for social change, justice and human development of African people in the United States and throughout the world. NABSW-Chicago is comprised of social work students, retirees, lay persons, seasoned practitioners, licensed clinical social workers and counselors of African ancestry who struggle for justice and freedom. In additon to persistently pursuing the elevation of Black people, NABSW-Chicago provides intensive training through a variety of workshops, seminars and conferences, By sharing knowledge, we improve services to those we aid. We aim to promote our community’s welfare, survival and liberation as well as advocare for social change at all levels of government.

From 1969, until today, we remain unyielding in impacting critical services, keeping our eyes upon African centered thought and practices and confronting the many and continual challenges antaganizing our communities.

Objectives Live the Code of Ethics; Be guided in word, action and deed to fulfill the Principles of Nguzo Saba otherwise known as the Kwanzaa

Principles; Become more active in our various communities as advocates for our people; and Facilitate workshops, trainings, seminars and conferences to edify and build skills.

Mailing Address: P. O. Box 208140 Chicago, IL 60620-8140

Voicemail: 773-221-9687

Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Black Social Workers #NABSWCC

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CABSW President’s Message Hotep & Greetings to you all ---Members and Friends of CABSW!

This has been an amazing term with so much to be thankful for including the proud accomplishments driven by your hardwork and the support fueled by an awesome executive board supported by membership.

We dared to dream big and secured the honor of hosting the 47th Annual Conference right here in our home town. Oh how life has changed and yet stayed the same on some of the issues we face since our first conference in 1971 and the last in 1982. This achievement has been 33 years in the making and it cannot be underestimated the impact this conference will have on the nation and our local chapter.

The Chapter endeavored to address education reform, balance racial disparities on university campuses, develop student chapters, begin dialogue with Michigan on building Statewide Chapters, look at the inadequacies of a child welfare system, walk in the annual Bud Billiken Day Parade, increase the local Chapter’s presence at the national level with National Committee participation, and secure a National Award for Individual Chapter Service which was awarded in Indianapolis. The Chicago Association of Black Social Workers has excitedly broadened the scope of relationships with Chicago State University and Kennedy King College.

I end this two year term grateful for the opportunity to walk in the shadow of all my predecessors. I am just as passionate about CABSW since I attended an awards event in Fall 2004 at the Harambee House as a guest of our dearly departed, Rose Love. She embodied the ideals, mission and the vision of the Organization with a quiet voice and powerful presence. Her spirit & love of CABSW has guided my walk as a leader of this very talented body of members.

Undoubtedly, Chicago ABSW is just as relevant today as it was from it’s inception in 1969. The battles once fought on the streets in the midst of a Civil Rights movement with marches and protests, require more creative, nuanced approaches today. Same script, different characters. The voices of the impoverished, oppressed and the poor are still silent. The inequities have become embedded in law, policies and within institutions! Your involvement is vital to people of color who are the least of the population and overrepresented in .many aspects ----to the detriment of our continued existence. Stand with us and be moved to take action as numbers equal power. Thank you for your support of the Chapter and may peace be with you!

In the Spirit of Harambee,

Jataun J. Rollins, AM, LCSW Chicago ABSW President 2012-2014

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2014 Annual Treasurer’s Report- Submitted By Angela Weeden:

See Separate Insert.

Executive Board Report The E-Board met monthly since July 2012, getting acclimated to their roles as leaders within the Organization planning and strategizing on how to heighten the Chapter’s visibility, increase membership base and be more active in the community giving voice to issues that affect our community. The works of this Organization have been supported by the past Presidents, community partners, the membership body and their family members. The major focus of the Chapter centered on Annual Conference 2015 once it was announced at the 45th Annual Conference in Jacksonville, Fl. A review of Chapter operations most importantly warranted a revision of the Constitution & By Laws, an updated draft of a Standard Operating Procedure Manual, the formation of a Building Committee to pursue purchasing our own building infrastructure, an Annual Conference proposal booklet detailing specific recommendations to National Office’s Annual Conference Planning Committee and the formation of a Local Steering & Annual Conference Committee. Chapter Leadership is credited with national participation in website development and informational call to action alerts; formation of a nationwide book club; Annual Conference review of call for proposals; development of a draft protocol for international queries and creation of an internship opportunity for a Master’s Level Social Work student. Some of the most fundamental losses was the inactivity of the Chapter on issues within Child Welfare as impacted by various changes in leadership over the past two years within the State of Illinois Child Welfare system, the Chapter’s silence on the issue of Community Violence and the muted voice on the issue of education that has also been affected by administrative decisions that are not in alignment with the times and the pulse of our youth’s needs. The Chapter was not able to garner the support necessary to produce twenty-four Cable Access Network-TV program sessions, an LCSW Test Prep Group (cancelled January 2014) or an initiative by National Office to address African American males in foster care. Although the chapter website was not revamped to include membership application downloads for renewal or initial applications, the call by membership to upgrade the application process was heard and is in process. It is hoped that more Chapter members will fulfill vacant positions and become more active in advocacy, Chapter fundraising and the planning for the 47th Annual Conference and the Oct. 2014 Local Steering Committee in order to have more successful outcomes in the upcoming year. A class on Parliamentary Procedures is planned to educate leadership & members and to help make meetings more effective in moving through the business agenda.

Social Media Following The Chapter presently has 990 likes on Facebook as of June 9, 2014 having grown from 569 Likes in January 2013 in a little under 1.5 years with regular postings, photos from Chapter events, links and various member postings. The Chapter strives to reach 1500 Likes by March 31, 2015, the beginning of Chicago’s Annual Conference in May & April 2015. We have a small Twitter following and has not utilized it as much this year.

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Membership Committee Report CABSW membership has surpassed last year’s official National count of 102 members supplemented by a number of new memberships yet to be sent to National Office. A more aggressive recruitment effort was made to retain membership and garner new members focusing on grooming student members to carry on the vision and mission of the local and broader organization. Membership Committee hopes to feature various members via website/facebook, represent at local events in the Chicagoland area, formulate more active committee participation by matching interests & skills as indicated on revised applications and most importantly, develop a mechanism to submit new and renewal membership applications online. The Chapter endeavors to acquire 200 members by April 2015 and expand Illinois Chapters to at least 10 over the next two years.

Student Coordinator Report Recognizing that students are the life blood for longevity of the professional chapter and the National organization ambitious efforts were taken to add UIC Jane Addams & Champaign Urbana, SIU-Carbondale, Dominican University and Governor State University. Continued efforts will be for FY 15 to make it come to fruition under the leadership of the Student Coordinator, Professional Development and the Ad Hoc Committee “Circle of 10 Statewide Chapter Development.” Discussion ensued about hosting “Informationals” with various Schools of Social Work and other disciplines to facilitate a question and answer forum. A PowerPoint presentation on why Student Chapters are important, the successes and barriers to Chapter development. A team of individuals with the flexibility to walk new student Chapters through the process are required for success with a connection to the National’s Office of Student Affairs. It is also envisioned that Student Membership will meet separately on specific tasks for the year and with the professional chapter to stay connected with what is going in the various areas where members are positioned.

Scholarship Committee Report Following the April 2014 meeting, the Scholarship application was revised to reflect the reduction in the amount of the Dr. Paula Allen-Meares Scholarship to $500. The 2014 Scholarship application was emailed to various schools throughout the state of Illinois. It was emailed to either the School of Social Work or the Financial Aid Department including submissions from as far as California & Minnesota. The Committee seeks to make the application available online with more defined scholarship submission criteria.

Awards Committee Report

As of April 30, 2014, 6 total nominations were submitted in the following categories with exception of the Distinguished Social Worker Award: Scholastic Achievement Award, Social Action Award, Service Award and the Winston Brown CABSW Recognition Award. A new President’s Award has been added to the aforementioned category for special recognition of a member who has made outstanding contributions on behalf of the Chapter. A Nomination Evaluation Tool was established in order for submitted nominations to be objectively evaluated. The Committee was not able to make a selection in one category, but hopes that this year’s selection of individuals will insight Chapter members to submit

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more nominations for next year and that they can be electronically submitted. The final deadline for Chapter Award nominations was Saturday, May 31, 2014. Constitution and By-Laws Committee Report As of March 3, 2014, a total of 13 proposed amendments (2 duplicates were submitted) to the Constitution were submitted. On April 30, 2014, 5 proposed amendments were submitted to this committee chairperson. The most fundamental change was the name change back to the Chicago Association of Black Social Workers from the National Association of Black Social Workers Chicago Chapter. Amendment dispositions occurred at the March & April meetings. Amendment disposition is outlined as follows:

Proposed Amendment Action Requested Disposition

Article 1, Section Name, page 1 Change Adopted-3/3/2014

Article 2, Section A, Page 1 Addition Returned to Committee -3/3/2014

Article 2, Section B, Page 1 Addition Adopted-3/3/2014

Article 3, Section 1, page 1 Addition Adopted-3/3/2014

Article 3, Section 1B, page 1 Addition Adopted-3/3/2014

Article 3, Section 1D, Page 2 Addition Returned to Committee -3/3/2014

Article 3, Section 2A, Page 2 Addition Adopted-4/7/2014

Article 3, Section 2B, Page 2 Addition Adopted-4/7/2014

Article 3, Section 2C, Page 2 Addition Adopted-4/7/2014

Article 3, Section 2E, Page 2 Change Adopted-4/7/2014

Article 3, Section 2D, Page 2 Addition Motion Failed-4/7/2014

Education Committee This committee in collaboration with the Professional Development and Annual Institute held one 6 hour CEU event at Chicago State University this past Spring with about 12 attendees that yielded some great dialogue on the disparity of African American youth in the education system and the lack of oversight of Charter Schools that are growing exponentially within the Chicagoland area. The issue of funding, quality of education, special education labeling, the importance of testing focus versus educating the student and the impact that laws and policies have had on our children pre dating Plessy vs. Ferguson and the lasting imprint on the system were just some of the topics covered. Expansion of

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activities and age groups were identified as a future need to be in alignment with current issues impacting the field of Education.

Professional Development and Annual Institute Committee Report This committee plans to engage interns to support the Chapter with administrative duties, responsibilities and advancing the Chapter with special projects to capture the history of the Organization. It is envisioned that the Chapter will create a shared drive for Executive Officer use to access all forms, historical information and store information that can be accessed with special access. A manual of expectations and specific Committee activity is in development. It has sought to continue the path towards increasing the volume of licensed and credentialed social workers, counselors and other helping professions so that issues that specifically impact people of color can be addressed with decision makers at the table. Recruitment of members from other disciplines is sought to enhance the Chapter knowledge base and develop a pool of individuals with varying degrees of expertise and skill sets to propel our mission and vision to actual fruition.

Annual Conference and Local Steering Planning Committee Report This committee submitted a full proposal of ideas in advance to the Executive Office and National Conference Committee in Mobile, Alabama January 2014 complete with conference theme suggestions, sponsors, and sample letters. There has been regular communication with National Officers, the National Event Planner and the National Conference Planners for a more streamlined mechanism for communication of expectations. This committee was developed shortly after the Jacksonville, Fl. Conference in 2013 on how to move forward relying on the wisdom of an Annual Conference Advisory Group composed of individuals who attended or assisted with the 1971 and 1982 conferences. Steering Committee participation and outreach by leadership to recent Annual Conference hosts helped formulate the plan of action to develop the Conference Proposal and planning. It endeavors for the first time to hold a concert as a fundraiser during Annual Conference and has plans to garner a variance of other fundraising efforts including a black cultural tour, shopping excursions and a party bus. The impression this committee desires to leave is a well-organized, informative, professional, dynamic and authentic Chicago experience that will be remembered for years to come. The Committee envisions that the Chapter will not allow more than a decade to pass before hosting the Annual Conference again.

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A Pictorial Flashback of Chicago Association of Black Social Workers at Work

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Chicago ABSW Fiscal Year 2014 in Review

Chapter Activities 46th Annual Conference Proposal Review and Evaluation -----July 2013 CABSW/UIC-Jane AddamsTraining Institute Workshop-----August 2013

“Schools & Communities Working Together to Change the Trajectory of Violence: Promoting Healthy Youth Development” Bud Billiken Day Parade Walk -------August 2013 Alzheimer’s Walk Participation---September 2013

Meeting of Social Work Organizations’ Presidents NASW-IL October 2013 Breakfast with CABSW President ---November 2013

Kwanzaa Celebration--- December 2013 First Featured Chapter on NABSW, Inc.’s National Website------January 2014

Genealogy Linked to Legacy 3 Part Series at South Holland Library--- January & February 2014 Professional CABSW Group Photograph and Professional Headshots----February & April 2014

Kennedy King College Meeting for Future Collaborations-----March 2014 CABSW/Chicago State University Collaboration Education Reform Symposium---- March 2014

"Culture, Poverty, and Community Boundaries In Our Educational Systems" Jokes and Notes Comedy Fundraiser ----March 2014

Chicago Chapter Member Representation at Indianapolis Annual Conference---------April 2014 Will Barnes’ "Home Ownership” and Jataun Rollins & Wanda Williams’ “Not So Blended Families Unraveled”

Statewide Chapter Development Conference Call with President Mbache of Michigan -----May 2014 Steering Committee Participation -July 2013-Ohio; Oct 2013- Indiana; Jan 2014-Alabama; April 2014-Indiana

National Participation Annual Conference Planning Committee

-Annual Conference Proposal Review Group International Relations Committee

Kitabu Book Club Committee Leadership Quarterly Conference Call

Quarterly Steering Committee Website Committee

-Action/Informational Alerts

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CABSW Immediate Future Planning All Chapter Retreat Student Internships Website Renovation

Strategic Planning Meetings Chapter Building Infrastructure Statewide Chapter Development

Child Welfare Reform Initiatives CABSW Documentary Part Two

Annual Conference Host March/April 2015 Local Steering Committee Host October 2014

Missed Opportunities CAN-TV

Fundraising Supports Child Welfare Research on the needs of Foster Parents for African American Youth

Student Chapter Development: SIU-C, Dominican University, UIC, UIC Champaign-Urbana

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NABSW Code of Ethics

In America today, no Black person, except the selfish or irrational, can claim neutrality in the quest for Black liberation nor fail to consider the implications of the events taking place in our society. Given the necessity for committing ourselves to the struggle for freedom, we as Black Americans practicing in the field of social welfare, set forth this statement of ideals and guiding principles.

If a sense of community awareness is a precondition to humanitarian acts, then we as Black social workers must use our knowledge of the Black community, our commitments to determination, and our helping skills for the benefit of Black people as we marshal our expertise to improve the quality of life of Black people. Our activities will be guided by our Black consciousness, our determination to protect the security of the Black community, and to serve as advocates to relieve suffering of Black people by any means necessary.

Therefore, as Black social workers, we commit ourselves, collectively, to the interests of our Black brethren and as individuals subscribe to the following statements:

I regard as my primary obligation the welfare of the Black individual, Black family, and Black

community, and will engage in action for improving social conditions.

I give precedence to this mission over my personal interest.

I adopt the concept of a black extended family and embrace all Black people as my brothers and sisters,

making no distinction between their destiny and my own.

I hold myself responsible for the quality and extent of service I perform, and the quality and extent of

service performed by the agency or organization in which I am employed, as it relates to the Black

community.

I accept the responsibility to protect the Black community against unethical and hypocritical practice by

any individual or organizations engaged in social welfare activities.

I stand ready to supplement my paid or professional advocacy with voluntary service in the Black public

interest.

I will consciously use my skills, and my whole being as an instrument for social change with particular

attention directed to the establishment of Black social institutions.

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Chicago ABSW Chapter Officers 2012-2014 Jataun J. Rollins, AM, LCSW President

Randy S. Sadler, MA, LPC Vice President

Angela Weeden, MSW Treasurer

Lupeda Brown, LCSW Corresponding Secretary

Nedra Everett, MSW Financial Secretary

Sha-Ronda Hatcher, MA, LPC Recording Secretary

Tamara S. Lewis, MSW Student Coordinator

Tiffany Johnson, MA, LPC Parliamentarian

William Davis, MA, LCPC Reflections Leader

Audrena Spence, MSW Immediate Past President

2012-2014 Executive Committee Chairs

Saadiq Bey--------------------------------Civil Liberties & Social Justice Randy Sadler------------------------------Community of Ndugu (Brothers)* Barbara Winston-------------------------- Communications & PR* Tiffany Johnson----------------------------Awards, Constitution & By-Laws, Scholarship William Barnes----------------------------Education Davonna Brown-Daval---------------------Fundraising Phyllis Ferguson-Collum--------------------Health Karen and Sandra Hall----------------------Hospitality* Terri T. Davis------------------------------Jamii Kijiji aka Membership Lupeda Brown-----------------------------Vizuri Kuwa aka Love & Care* Cathy Smith-Gilham—---------------------Professional Development & Annual Institute Nedra Everett -----------------------------Sankofa Mentorship Initiative* Tamara S. Lewis---------------------------Student Chapter Develop. Elizabeth Alexander------------------------Village Keepers*

*Ad Hoc Committees

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National Association of Black Social Workers, Inc. 2305 MLK Ave. S. E.

Washington, DC 20020 202.678.4570

harambee@nabsw.org National President, Joe E. Benton (South Carolina)

The Chicago ABSW would like to thank all of our members, their families, all of our former living President’s,

and community partners who supported the Chapter for the past two years. We forge ahead broadening the

expanse of our reach continuing to make history and be advocates wherever the challenges rise.

In the spirit of Harambee!

When a needle falls into a deep well, many people will look into the well, but few will be ready to go down after it.

African Proverb