Thursday, November 19, 2009
Advocacy forum launches Center for Social Justice
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The Center for Social Justice is planning a series of public advocacy discussions on how to affect policy change at the legislative level. The inaugural event will feature Indiana state representatives and a state senator discussing public advocacy and legislation at 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 10 in Mitchell Auditorium in the Health Professions Center. Panelists will be state representatives Dennis Avery, Trent Van Haaften, Suzanne Crouch, and Gail Riecken and State Senator Vaneta Becker. USI student Kenton McDonald will be the moderator. The forum is open to USI students, faculty, and staff. The center is dedicated to advancing individual and societal well-being through awareness of inequities in societies. It supports university faculty, students, and staff in engaging in collaborative, community-based research and projects to advance social justice. The center has established partnerships with for-profit and not-for-profit entities such as the Vanderburgh Community Foundation, Youth Build, Posey County Community Corrections, Vanderburgh County Drug Court, Wal-Mart, and the City of Evansville Vanderburgh County Human Relations Commission. At the beginning of the forum, Diane Clements, executive director of the Human Relations Commission, will present a resolution issued by Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel designating December 10 Human Rights Day in Evansville. Dr. Iris Phillips, USI associate professor of social work, is the center's director. She said, "Social justice issues are complex and require committed, diverse partnerships to promote social and economic justice. Social workers have an ethical responsibility to address inequities in our communities and throughout the world. In order to face our responsibilities, we need extended networks and partnerships to advocate for equal rights for all. The public advocacy forums will highlight strategies to achieve that goal." The center invited Wal-Mart, and the company agreed, to donate baby items and supplies for those in need. USI students in social work will deliver the Wal-Mart items to the YWCA, House of Bread and Peace, and ARK Crisis Shelter on December 10. "We hope to facilitate many such partnerships and activities as the Center for Social Justice develops community connections and support," said Phillips. The center is located in the Department of Social Work in the Bower Suhrheinrich College of Education and Human Services at USI. For information, contact Johnna Denning, program coordinator for the Center for Social Justice, at 812-461-5411 or visit the web site at http://www.usi.edu/socialwork/csj/. |
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