NASW Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) 2024 brought dozens of Pitt Social Work students, staff, and faculty to Harrisburg on Tuesday March 19th, 2024. The group, led by Field Assistant Professor Alicia Melnick offered the students a unique opportunity to meet with state representatives and advocates from across the state. The group marched with other advocates from City Island to State Capital, listened to a group of Legislative aides and a representatives speak about passing two bills on increasing minimum wage to $15 and pushing for multi-state licensure, and met with State Representative Dan Frankel.
“Social workers are tasked with advocating for vulnerable individuals, families, and communities” said Melnick. “Social work students must learn how the system works to advocate for policies that address people’s needs. Through NASW Legislative Education and Advocacy Day, students have the unique opportunity to interact with elected officials, learn about the policy process, and participate in organized advocacy efforts. I enjoyed watching students engage in the process from the grassroots level, creating signs and marching with fellow social workers to engaging in critical conversations with elected officials about bills impacting their future practice and the lives and well-being of people in Pennsylvania. I look forward to this being an annual event that the school participates in.”
Prior to LEAD day, students, led by Melnick and students like Calvin Ecker, helped to organize and facilitate sign-making sessions. At these sessions, students were able to create signs with slogans relevant to the day on them. Over 20 signs were then distributed to folks to carry during the march and rally to the capitol building.
Students had a variety of reasons for participating LEAD 2024, and overall found the experience to be very valuable for their personal and professional development.
MSW student Sierra Strickland shared, “I attended LEAD because I wanted to have an experience where I could advocate for and use my voice towards policy, something that I had never done in this type of setting or capacity before. Meeting with a legislator and being able to directly voice support towards two bills was very exciting, and inspired me towards future policy work.”
MSW student Stavi Xinos said “I participated in LEAD because I serve as MSW Representative on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Social Workers – Pennsylvania Chapter (NASW-PA), who organized and hosted the event, and I wanted to participate in, as well as model for other social work students, civic engagement and civic leadership. Additionally, I am interested in a career in advocacy and policy practice, and my Advocacy & Lobbying directed study, taught by Professor Alicia Melnick, decided to participate in LEAD as part of our coursework this semester. This inspired the organization of University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work students to attend LEAD with us. The day was filled with many highlights - I had the privilege of making a speech at the LEAD rally and press conference on the capitol steps, meeting our legislators, and connecting with social work activists. However, the highlight for me was witnessing the building of coalition and political power among social work students. It inspired hope that this upcoming generation of social workers, which I am lucky to be a part of, can come together to actively pursue in the social change that we wish to see in the world.”
MSW student Leria Felix said “I chose to participate in LEAD because I wanted to see what it would be like to participate in an event that shows caseworkers in action. Our march was positive and invigorating, the different schools were feeding off each other's energies. People were making friends and encouraging and helping each other. It was a cold day and a bit of a walk but absolutely worth it. I have been a social worker for 13 years and this was my first-time visiting Harrisburg, hearing of LEAD and having an opportunity to participate.”
Nathaniel Kipers, MSW student stated “My highlight of the day was attending the rally, as I was able to see how many people care so much about our social work cause. The many lawmakers that are putting their support towards the two bills was also nice to see.”
Students were also asked to share “What was the highlight of LEAD for you?” and had a variety of responses:
Miguel Salvador, MSW Student: “I believe the highlight was being able to participate in the advocacy aspect of LEAD. Most of us are very active with community engagement as well as being an advocate for an issue; to bring that and going to PA representatives to voice the concern is something very achieving and promising as a way to not only learn about policies but to be active and still create change as social students.”
Shanaya Pitts, MSW Student: “While the entire day was such an exciting learning experience, the highlight was definitely the meeting with our university’s representative. He was extremely personable and welcoming of us in his office. Not only were we able to discuss HB 1841 and HB1500 but also other relevant legislative movements going on in the capital. This was my first experience with lobbying and it was an amazing feeling being able to represent a larger cause and know what it feels like to have a direct hand in hopefully enacting tangible change in society and what it actually means to adhere to our Code of Ethics as a future social worker.”
Sierra Strickland, MSW Student: “The highlight for me was definitely the rally. I felt excited to be so outspoken and upfront in voicing my support for bills that explicitly support not just social workers, but those we care for as well. Learning about the bills and learning how to voice support for them on a large scale with others in my same program was amazing, and felt so inspiring to see.”
See some of the photos shared by the LEAD participants on Flickr.
In addition to the march, rally, and meeting, a select few students also attended dinner and a lecture at the Governor’s Residence accompanied by Center on Race and Social Problems Director Kyaien Conner. The lecture included a panel of speakers related to the Charles “Teenie” Harris gallery showing in the Governor’s Residence. The panel was Charlene Foggie Barnet a Community Archivist in the Charles “Teenie” Harris Archive at the Carnegie Museum of Art, Laurence Glasco, an associate professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh, and Clyde Wilson-Pickett, the Vice Chancellor Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Pittsburgh. The event was facilitated by the Governor Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis.
Two students who joined in all events shared their reflections as well:
Leria Felix, MSW student: “I had a few highlights that day. Seeing our professors participate and march with us. Being on the steps with such a large crowd of social workers and hearing our politicians speak up in support of raising the minimum wage and the interstate compact for social workers. Another highlight was seeing so many faces of people of color in the Capitol. I was one of the students selected to be overnight with CRSP (Center for Race and Social Problems) and met Dr. Latika Davis-Jones, the first black female secretary of DDAP. She sat with us and answered questions about what it was like being the first black female secretary of DDAP in Pennsylvania and her process and career to get there. We were able to meet the Lt. Governor Austin Davis at the Capitol, the first black Lt. Gov and then to meet the Governor later that evening at the Governor's mansion. We learned about Charles "Teenie" Harris and how he photographed Pittsburgh's Hill District. The entire trip was amazing.
Calvin Ecker, MSW Student: “It’s so hard to pick one highlight of the day for myself. During the whole day, I felt a passionate energy in the air, it felt so inspiring to be surrounded by so many social justice oriented social workers. It also felt so empowering to look back on pictures after LEAD day and see so many signs made at Pitt being carried by folks during the march and rally.
I think my ultimate highlight was getting the opportunity to see the Teenie Harris gallery in the Governor’s Residence, and to hear the related lecture. Charlene Foggie Barnet explained to the lecture attendees that when Teenie Harris developed his film photographs, he did something special to make sure that folks of all races were seen with all their details intact.
When Harris would develop his film photos, he would stick his hands in the chemicals while the photograph was developing, and cover people’s faces. He would then uncover them at different points in time as the photograph developed. He did this to ensure that folks had “the dignity of their ear showing.” This means that no matter the color of one’s skin, Harris made sure that the details of their face were shown. I want to do this in my work. I want to ensure that no matter who you are, I am doing the best I can to collaborate and work with folks so that everyone has the dignity they deserve.”
Watch the e-blast next week for more details about the CRSP event at the Governor’s mansion and additional photos.