OASW Celebrates Black History

February 1, 2023

On this first day of Black History Month, OASW is signaling the importance of celebrating the diverse accomplishments of Black individuals, communities, and social workers across Ontario. We are proud to continue to have critical conversations about systemic racism and re-thinking, reflecting, and re-building to better serve our communities and members. As we fill our calendars with educational opportunities and supportive and celebratory events and actions, we reflect on the significant history, vibrancy, and resilience of Black communities.

OASW acknowledges Canada’s inequity and discrimination towards Black Canadians, both past and present, and that despite this, Black Canadians continue to contribute to and enrich society. As an Association, we have committed to equity integration, including training our staff and board on anti-Black racism, delivering ongoing learning opportunities to our members, and ensuring that the diverse voices of Black social workers are reflected at all levels of the Association. We continue to critically reflect on our work and how we can engage in meaningful action to disrupt and resist anti-Black racism.

While this month can serve as a reminder to learn and to celebrate, it is also an opportunity to commit to dismantling anti-Black racism. This work must go beyond the shortest month of the year. We must turn intention into action every day.

We look forward to celebrating, learning, and making an impact with you.

Celebrate, Learn and Reflect:

• Read Reparations for Social Workers of African Descent, a report jointly developed by the Association of Black Social Workers and the Canadian Association of Social Workers 

• Online Course: Healing the Wounds of Race Trauma: Examining Interventions for Professionals, February 10, 2023 – Presented by the OASW Learning Centre and Nicole Perryman, MA, BSW, MSW, RSW, RP, CPT

• Online Course: Building Bridges, Not Walls: Africentric Social Work in Private Practice and Beyond, February 16, 2023 – Presented by the OASW Learning Centre and Simone Donaldson, MSW, RSW

• Online Course: Reconstructing the Narrative: How Clients tell Stories and How Practitioners Deconstruct Stories, February 22, 2023 – Presented by the OASW Learning Centre and Audrey Thompson BA, MSW, RSW

• Webinar: Black and Indigenous Solidarity, February 27, 2023 – Presented by the OASW Learning Centre, Giselle Dias and Vivienne Saleh-Hanna

• On-Demand Webinar: Celebrating Pioneers of African Descent in Social Work: Passing the Torch – Presented by the Association of Black Social Workers and CASW

• On-Demand Webinar Series: Sankofa: Back to Africa, Africentric Social Work Serving African, Caribbean & Black Communities – Presented by Carleton University's School of Social Work, OASW’s networks in Ottawa, Grey Bruce-Huron-Perth, and Renfrew County and more

• Practice Notes: Ethical and Competent Responses to Anti-Black Racism (OCSWSSW)

• Government of Canada, Black History Month Home Page

• Ontario Black History Society