Social Work In Progress

Social Work In Progress is a current events podcast… with a social work twist! Join social workers Sophia Nielsen (she/her) and Briana Tetsch (she/her/ella) as they give you the fast facts on a news story that matters for all levels of social work practice. Come learn with us! No matter how much we know, we’re … Continue reading Let Us Re-Introduce Ourselves! →

In the last episode of 2020, Bri and Sophia welcome Stephanie Gomez (she/her/hers). Steph talks to us about the work she’s doing with Shift Our Ways (SOW) Collective in Los Angeles. How can individuals contribute to sustainable practices and how can environmentalism be more accessible to all folx, not just the privileged? We discuss all … Continue reading Environmental Justice and Accessible Sustainability (feat. Stephanie Gomez) →

Welcome back to the Social Work Book Club! This week Devyn Beswick returns to discuss the novel Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler (1993).    “When global climate change and economic crises lead to social chaos in the early 2020s, California becomes full of dangers, from pervasive water shortage to masses of vagabonds who … Continue reading “Parable of the Sower” feat. Devyn Beswick (Social Work Culture Club) →

We are back with another episode in the Social Work Book Club! Friend of the pod Alberto “Bertie” Martinez (he/him/his) joins Sophia and Briana to discuss a report from AIDS United about the policies and practices that impact aging adults living with HIV. Bertie was born and raised in Compton, CA. He presently Identifies as … Continue reading “HIV & Aging, Older Adults Living and Thriving with HIV” – Social Work Book Club →

SENATOR STEPHANIE CHANG! We are so excited to be joined by Michigan state Senator Stephanie Chang, representing District 1 (Detroit area) as the first Asian American woman elected to Michigan state legislature. Sen. Chang is a staunch defender of human rights and social work values at the systems-level. She also received her masters in social … Continue reading Political Social Work – Senator Stephanie Chang →

Episode Notes Welcome back to the Social Work Book Club! This week Devyn Beswick returns to discuss the documentary “John Lewis: Good Trouble” with Sophia and special co-host Kira Dry. The documentary covers the life and work of John Lewis, including his involvement and leadership in the non-violent civil rights movement as well as his … Continue reading Social Work Book Club – “John Lewis: Good Trouble” →

VOTING IS SOCIAL WORK   Sophia and special co-host Kira Dry (she/her/hers) are all jazzed up to talk about voting on this week’s episode. Even more jazzed is Justin Hodge (he/him/his), a professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work and political social worker. Justin, Kira, and Sophia cover a lot of ground … Continue reading Political Social Work – Voting Is Social Work →

Latinx Heritage Month is recognized from September 15th through October 15th every year. In celebration, Briana and Sophia and joined this week by Joel Lucio (he/him/el) and Ivette Ferrera (she/her/ella), two student leaders with the Latinx Student Coalition at University of Michigan’s School of Social Work. We talk about history, terminology, policy, and celebration of … Continue reading Latinx Heritage Month 2020 →

Bri and Sophia are very excited about this episode. We catch up with Anna Wood (she/her/they/them) and Irene Routte (she/her), two doctoral students in the School of Social Work at University Michigan and social work stewards with the Graduate Employees’ Organization labor union #3550. GEO is the labor union representing Graduate Student Instructors and Graduate … Continue reading The Labor Movement is Social Work (GEO 3550 Strike 2020) →

Sophia and Bri are joined by Jessica Twitchell (she/her/hers), a school social worker in Chicago Public Schools. They talk about the union strikes in fall 2019, restorative justice, police in schools, and more! As always, Bri and Sophia bring it back to policy and macro practice, asking Jessica about the policy decisions that impact her … Continue reading Policy Decisions & School Social Work →