Events

Drug decriminalization has often been grounded in public health frameworks. While these have gone a long way toward developing policies that seek to mitigate harms of carceral drug policies, they have also pathologized Black communities and focused interventions on the individual. Anti-Black policies and programming have created their own harms; they result in surveillance, extraction, and channeling funds to institutions and professionals who are largely from outside of the communities that have been harmed by drug policy. Recent scholarship using African-centered lenses documents alternative approaches to drug decriminalization. These include use of reparations to support community-led efforts to address the economic and social harms that build on existing knowledge, networks, and strengths that exist in communities that have been the target of failed drug policies for decades.

Part 1: Ableism 101: Affirming Practice with Disabled People/People with Disabilities* Part 2: Inclusive Health and Medical Advocacy for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The University of Maryland's Journal of Health Care Law & Policy and the School of Social Work's Daniel Thursz Social Justice Lecture Series as we discuss the use of legal coercion to force compliance with mental health interventions across various areas including child welfare, families, and criminal legal systems. We will consider the consequences of these therapeutic interventions, including the effects on communities and families. We will also consider how social workers and lawyers can critically reflect and respond to these developments.

Elections are part of our larger national and local dialogues about the meaning of inclusion and exclusion in shaping our identity and values. This series of three events explored if, how, and why elections matter. If they matter — to what purpose? How can elections be used to effect change? What are some of the differences between working at the local, state, and national levels? What are the forces that impact our ability to participate in elections as voters, candidates, and social workers who seek to shape our society?

A discussion among leaders with lived experience about systemic efforts to address youth homelessness. The expertise and leadership of youth with lived experience of homelessness is necessary to address root causes of the problem and develop effective interventions, yet youth leaders too often are not involved in decision-making in a meaningful way. The discussion explores strategies for equitable collaboration between youth and systems leaders, services providers, and advocates in these efforts. Panelists include several young leaders who have experienced housing instability as well as an older adult advocate for solutions to homelessness. 

On Wednesday, November 13, 2019, an investiture ceremony was held on the UMB campus, Corey Shdaimah, LL.M., PhD, was installed as the University of Maryland School of Social Work’s Daniel Thursz Distinguished Professor for Social Justice.

Thursz Social Justice Lecture with Heather McGhee of Demos.

Former Sen. Barbara Mikulski, MSW ’65, shared her passion for the University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW), and advice for new social workers starting out in their careers, as she returned to her alma mater to deliver the Daniel Thursz Social Justice Lecture: “From Activism to Accomplishments: Promoting Social Justice from the Streets of Baltimore to the Halls of Congress,” held in the SSW auditorium.

With John Braithwaite

Why does your vote matter? How do we continue advocacy before, during, and after election cycles? The Thursz Social Justice Lecture Election Tuesday series event focused on two areas that matter to our school and to the people of Baltimore and Maryland: transportation equity and fair wages for all workers. Brian O’Malley from Central Maryland Transportation Alliance and Saru Jayaraman from One Fair Wage shared their goals and why they matter and explained what role elections play in moving these issues forward and what other advocacy work helps to carry these through. They also shared how social workers and what other concerned individuals can do to contribute to improve transportation, wages, and compensation for field placements.

Panelists represented perspectives on careers at the Office of the Public Defender, Maryland Carey Law, Family Connections Baltimore, and social work research through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Maryland School of Social Work. They will shared their own orientation to social work and the legal systems with which they interact.

This two-part presentation included a lecture on environmental justice through the lens of social work, followed by a panel discussion of representatives from local advocacy and policy organizations who shared what they are doing in Baltimore and the surrounding area.

The Virtual 2022 Spring Daniel Thursz Social Justice event was on May 10, 2022 at 5 p.m. and focused on how organizations in our Baltimore community understand and respond to violence. Guest Speakers: Kelly Sparks, S.O.N.S. of Phoenix Rev. Corey Barnes, GraceCity Church Jakia Jones, Baltimore Ceasefire 365 Co-Moderators: Caroline Harmon-Darrow, PhD Kyla Liggett-Creel, PhD