Who We Are
SWHELPER is a woman owned, award-winning, mission-driven, and progressive news website dedicated to providing information, resources, and entertainment for the social good.
Learn MoreWhat We Do
Our goal is to use an interdisciplinary approach to providing news, information, and resources for all helping professions using a system of care approach to sharing knowledge.
Learn MoreWhy Virtual
Virtual transcends your geographical location and expands learning to a global classroom. Also, it allows us to provide the same great content at a more affordable rate.
Learn MoreGet Ready September 16th - 17th 2020
Meet Some of Our Speakers
Kurtis Young
Director of Social Work at Parkland Hospital
Wayne Reid
Diversity Officer at British Association of Social Workers (BASW)
Charity Chandler-Cole
CEO Transformative Management Solutions
Cherie Dawson Edwards
Criminal Justice Department Chair at University of Louisville
Mildred Joyner
President of NASW and IFSW North American Region
Gwen Carr
Activist/Eric Garner's Mother
Steve Pemberton
Chief People Officer at Workhuman
Steve Perry
Head of Capital Preparatory Schools
Meet Our Donation Recipient
Kentucky Anti-Racism Alliance
The Kentucky Alliance was founded over forty years ago because of the history of racism in Louisville and all over the country. Despite the election of our first African-American president, the Alliance believes that we are not in any kind of “post racial America”.
White supremacy is embedded in the institutions of our society and explodes constantly in our daily lives. This continues to make our city a deeply divided city. The progress that has been made came as a result of an organized grassroots, racial justice movement. Any future progress will come from keeping that movement growing.
View Our Two Day Agenda
Day 1
16 Sep 2020
Day 2
17 Sep 2020
8:30 am AM
Welcome and Introduction
Deona Hooper, Founder of SWHELPER, and Jennifer Thompson will welcome attendees to the Anti-Racism Virtual Summit centering anti-racism, advocacy, and voting. Deona and Jenn will discuss their joint initiatives Road... Read More
Jennifer Thompson
Deona Hooper
9:00 am
Social Workers in the Movement for Social Justice
Description In this session, we will talk about the important role of Social Workers in “the movement” for social justice and why we are needed to work towards ending all... Read More
Khalilah Collins
10:00 am
Social Work’s Role in Black Lives Matter
Description This presentation will provide insight into the relevance of George Floyd’s murder to Social Work; the correlation between the Black Lives Matter movement and Social Work values and ethics,... Read More
Wayne Reid
11:00 am
HBCU’s Role in the Social Justice Movement: From Resilience to Action
Description Historically Black Colleges and Universities have long been a catalyst for change in the African American community and the world. Over the years, HBCUs have educated and empowered professionals... Read More
Makeba Green
12:00 pm
Activism, Organizing, and Community Through the Lens of Young Organizers – Open Discussion Panel
Description The panel brings together young, Black community organizers from a variety of backgrounds to discuss their experiences and the topics they feel passionate about as young Black people. The... Read More
Natosha Dobbins
Jaala Alston
1:00 pm
Dismantling White Supremacy in Social Work
Description While social work proclaims social justice as a professional value, the history of social work education and practice tells another story. Yet, as uprisings continue to spring up across... Read More
Crystal Hayes
Jennifer Jewell
2:00 pm
Racism in Child Welfare
Description This discussion will highlight the systemic and structural racism that exists in child welfare institutions which directly and in-directly target, oppress and dismantle Black and Brown families and children.... Read More
Charity Chandler-Cole
3:00 pm
A Chance in the World
Description Taken from his mother at age three, Steve Klakowicz lives a terrifying existence. Caught in the clutches of a cruel foster family and subjected to constant abuse, Steve finds... Read More
Steve Pemberton
Developing Empathy and Understanding for the Trauma, Grief, and Loss of Families Impacted by Violence
Description After the cameras leave, what happens to these families? Are they connected to mental health counselors for trauma and grief support? Are they constantly being asked to retell the... Read More
Ellisha Garner-Samuels
Gwen Carr
5:00 pm
Virtual Meet and Greet with Gwen Carr – VIP Pass Holders Only
VIP Pass Holders will have the opportunity to meet and get a photo with Gwen Carr.
9:00 am
Community Organizing in the midst of a Pandemic and Ongoing Police Abuse
Description We will visit the gains of the civil rights era and the continued fight for justice and equality in our schools, prisons, streets, housing, interactions with the police and... Read More
Shameka Parrish-Wright
10:00 am
The Impact of Leadership Diversity On Policy and Legislative Efforts in the United States
Description This session will provide informative content regarding the need for greater leadership diversity at the local, state, and federal policy levels. The session will discuss the impact of institutional... Read More
Angela Henderson
11:00 am
System Reforms Have Failed – Time For Abolition
Description Black and Native children are over-surveilled, over-policed, and over-removed by the child welfare system. Decades of attempts at reform have failed to address this. Now is the time to... Read More
Alan Dettlaff
Kristen Weber
12:00 pm
Mobilizing the Vote: Students Speak Out on Voter Registration and Engagement
Description From civil rights to environmental justice, students have been leading the movement to improve the health and well-being of their communities for decades. Voting is a basic human right... Read More
Alberto Cifuentes, Jr.
1:00 pm
RIGHT Care Team — Responding to Mental Health 911 Calls in Innovative Partnership
Description In 2018, the City of Dallas, Parkland Hospital, and Meadows Mental Health & Policy Institute launched a pilot program called the RIGHT Care Team. The Rapid Integrated Group Healthcare... Read More
Kurtis Young
2:00 pm
Demystifying “Defund the Police”
Description In this critical moment when protestors are confronting the actions and tactics of law enforcement, many find themselves facing challenging questions. What does defund the police mean? What could... Read More
Cherie Dawson Edwards
3:00 pm
Racism is America’s Human Stain: Why Society Must Admit It, To Eradicate It
Description Social Justice is a core social work value. It demands that social workers uphold their code of ethics and take deliberate actions, so justice and equity exist in all... Read More
Tiffany Lane
Mildred Joyner
4:00 pm
Social Work is the Solution
Description Bringing to light the role social workers can play in creating a movement. Rolling up our sleeves and getting to work. Learning Objectives Understanding the importance of social work... Read More
Steve Perry
