Racial & Social Justice Collaborative Blog

Statement Against Anti-Asian Violence

The MSU School of Social Work Racial and Social Justice Collaborative stands in solidarity with the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) communities across the nation and across our own campus. We condemn all Anti-Asian discrimination and violence.

Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

March 1, 2021
In January, the MSU School of Social Work Racial and Social Justice Collaborative (RSJC) celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by seeking to highlight organizations, movements, people, and platforms that promote values found in Dr. King’s work: service, equity for all, economic justice, dismantling white supremacy, and Beloved Community. Quotes from Dr. King’s work were posted daily throughout the week of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on the RSJC’s social media pages. Each day’s quote highlighted a different value and encouraged community members to nominate those they believed deserved recognition for their work in promoting these values. Through this effort, the RSJC aimed to rally support for those who are doing this important work while so many are still feeling stuck at home due to the pandemic.

Response to Insurrection

January 13, 2021
President Stanley has called on all of us as part of this Spartan community to speak out against the unlawful behavior that took place to undermine our democracy. As social workers, we understand that our profession is inherently a political one. Our professional Code of Ethics requires social workers to engage in social justice advocacy, address injustices when they arise, and commit to ensuring that the communities and clients we work with have full access to human rights and dignity.

College Student Homelessness

December 1, 2020
While most people know or have encountered homeless youth at some point in their lives, very few realize it due to lack of awareness on the topic. Data shows that college students are more likely to experience at least one form of housing insecurity than they are to have all their needs successfully met. In 2019, a survey of college students in the United States by The Hope Center found that 39% of respondents had been food insecure over the last 30 days; 46% of respondents had been housing insecure over the last year; and 17% of respondents had been homeless in the last year.

Your Vote Is Your Voice: Why Social Workers Need to be Heard

October 28, 2020
The Michigan State University School of Social Work Racial and Social Justice Collaborative works to highlight and enhance systemic investment in racial and social justice through engagement of all school members, including faculty, staff, students, and community members. This group builds a collaborative framework to implement the School of Social Work’s focus on racial and social justice.