UK Association of Black Social Workers to hold 'Becoming A Change Agent' virtual event
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 27, 2022) — The University of Kentucky Chapter of the National Association of Black Social Workers (ABSW) will hold a virtual event 7:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28. The virtual meeting is open to the public. Any student that identifies as Black/a member of the African diaspora may attend, regardless of organization membership status.
The theme of the meeting, “Becoming A Change Agent,” will focus on enhancing the quality of life and empowering people of African ancestry through advocacy, human services delivery and research. The meeting will include three guest panelists: Kathy Clark, Kevin Haggard and Captain Elyssia Lewis. Time will be allotted for participant Q&A.
- Kathy Clark is a behavioral health senior care Manager for WellCare in Kentucky. She works with children that are admitted into behavioral health hospitals and residential facilities. She has been a certified social worker for over 20 years in the state of Kentucky. Clark has worked in child protection, adult protection, substance abuse, inpatient and outpatient behavioral health, residential with children and women, and medical social work.
- Kevin Haggard currently works as a program manager for a Fortune 100 company, supporting workplace incident management, leadership, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. His mission is to inspire, promote and facilitate transformational change within communities that have been negatively impacted by unjust and inequitable systems.
- Captain Elyssia Lewis is an active-duty Army officer and independently licensed clinical social worker specializing in military behavioral sciences, with an emphasis on Emotionally Focused Therapy.
“We are actively recruiting members and for three vacant board positions for the academic year 2022-23, “ said Nile Trice, Lyman T. Johnson Graduate Fellow in the UK College of Social Work and social media/membership chair of the UK ABSW. “The only requirements for membership include identifying as a member of the African Diaspora with an interest in the social welfare of the Black American/African communities. Once you become a UK chapter member, you are also automatically a national member of NABSW.”
The National Association of Black Social Workers, Inc., comprised of people of African ancestry, is committed to enhancing the quality of life and empowering people of African ancestry through advocacy, human services delivery and research.
Participants may join the Zoom meeting with the meeting ID: 815 0749 3481. The password is UKABSW.
Upcoming Fall 2022 virtual meeting dates:
- Oct. 26 – General Body Meeting
- Nov. 30 – General Body Meeting/End of Semester Celebration
To learn more, email kywildcatsabsw@nabsw.org.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.