» Welcome Guest
[ Log In :: Register :: Search :: Help ]

Click here to add a report from another organization.
new topic
Organization: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS (NASW) New Jersey Chapter
The following information may be cited or quoted as long as the source is accurately mentioned and the words are not taken out of context.
Posted: May 06 2010,17:58 If you wrote this report, you will find a button here that you may click
in order to make changes in the report.

Postal address of organization/institution

200 Metroplex Drive, Suite 404
Edison, New Jersey  08817

E-mail address of organization/institution

info@naswnj.org

Website address of organization/institution

www.naswnj.org

Telephone of organization/institution

800-932-0004

PRIORITIES: All of the organization's domains of culture of peace activity

EDUCATION FOR PEACE
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN RIGHTS
WOMEN'S EQUALITY
DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION
UNDERSTANDING, TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY
FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION
INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY

TOP PRIORITY: The organization's most important culture of peace activity

EDUCATION FOR PEACE

PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS: What partnerships and networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the global movement for a culture of peace?

NASW-NJ is a state chapter of the National organization.  Each state has its own affiliated chapter, coordinated by National at D.C. headquarters.  Around mid-decade, NASW social workers from many states formed an informal network called "Social Workers for Social Responsibility" to highlight peace and social justice issues within the profession. This NASW sub-group is affilicated with the Social Welfare Action Alliance, a progressive social work activist organization.

ACTIONS: What activities have been undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence during the ten years of the Decade? If you already made a report in 2005, your information from 2005 will be included in the 2010 report.

Much work has been done within the NJ Chapter of NASW during the decade in raising professional social work awareness of the connection between culture of peace and social work.  In 2003, a Peace & Social Justice Committee (P&SJC) was established, which in 2009 transitioned into the Peace Special Interest Group (PSIG), after a hiatus during the mid-decade.  Throughout the culture of peace decade, this group has been active in various ways in New Jersey:    
•  providing peace-related articles in NASW printed formats (FOCUS, the monthly NJ newsletter and the NASW- National Section Connection),
•  conducting workshops at annual continuing education conferences  
•  convening meetings of NJ social workers interested in peace.  


The National Association of Social Workers - New Jersey "Peace Special Interest Group" at its January, 2009 Martin Luther King Day reorganization meeting.  from left to right ... Debbie McCann Call, Courtney Esposito, Roni Detrick, Hugh Gratz & Anne Creter (co-chairs), Don Moeser, Fred Samson and Kendra Hayes (NASW Peace Advocacy Coordinator)

Following are printed articles written by the P&SJC/PSIG:  

*  August, 2003 Peace & Social Justice Committee News specifying its ways and means.

*  The October, 2003 issue contained an article written by Task Force Co-chair entitled “My Post 9/11 Involvement in the Earth Charter Movement.”  

*  December, 2003 article "Bill HR 1673 TO ESTABLISH A DEPARTMENT OF PEACE:  Imagine a Federal Level Department of "Social Work."  

*  January-February, 2004 article by Task Force co-chair about the “2004 Gandhi-King Season for Nonviolence – Compassionate Activism for Global Healing.”

*  In March, 2004 the Peace and Social Justice Task Force participated in the “Global Day of Protest on the One-Year Anniversary of the Iraq War” on the peace train to Camden, NJ where they marched to Independence Mall in Philadelphia.  The Task Force co-chairs wrote an article that month entitled “Jane Addams, the Mother of Social Work.”  It said that in 1931 social worker Jane Addams was the first American woman recipient of the Nobel Peace prize for her work founding the still flourishing “Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF).”   It cited WILPF’s policy statement about the Iraq war, suggesting the rationale for going to war was revealed to be based on incomplete information.    

*  August, 2004 21st Annual SOCIAL WORK DAY AT THE UNITED NATIONS

*  Summer, 2004 Task Force Co-chair had article published in NASW “Poverty and Social Justice Section Connection” magazine entitled “Conscious Social Work Practice: Manifesting Our Professional Ideals” which cited the International Decade for the Culture of Peace UN Resolution.  

*  October, 2007 -- Task Force co-chair wrote an article about Katrina entitled “Make Levees, Not War.”  

*  2007 National Association of Social Workers PEACE POLICY TOOLKIT:  … the group (with help from NASW peace advocates from other states) was instrumental in having HR 808 “To Establish a Department of Peace” included on page 121 in this national social work “peace” policy statement!!  

*  February, 2009 FOCUS piece entitled: “PEACE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP REBORN” stated: “As 2009 begins and we approach the final lap of the International Decade for the Culture of Peace for the Children of the World, more and more we understand the practical necessity of creating a culture of peace.  Social workers have a key role in promoting it too, according to landmark 1999 United Nations resolution #53/243 – Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.”  


NASW-NJ Continuing Education Workshop Presentations:  

1)  April, 2003 in Atlantic City, NJ – PROMOTING A CULTURE OF PEACE AND NONVIOLENCE POST 9/11 … learn deep dialogue, conflict resolution and fundamental principles of “social peace work.

2)  May, 2004 in Atlantic City, NJ -- Dancing in Multiple Worlds:  The Bridge Between Self, Practice and Human Rights Work

3)  May, 2005 continuing education conference in Atlantic City, NJ entitled “Social Work Activism Post 911: Reclaiming Our Roots.”  Social workers promote social change, justice and human rights by doing social and political action.  In this perilous post 911 era, we must reclaim our roots in “activism” by enhancing our skills and knowledge in modern, progressive, global activist techniques to mobilize in becoming more effective “macro” social work change agents.

4)  In May, 2009 also in Atlantic City a workshop entitled “Ethics, Activism and the “Global Department of Peace” Social Movement.”  This workshop was approved to meet the “ethics” CEU requirements too!!  

Other Activities:  

1)   In January, 2008 a presentation to the Camden Unit was made on the Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace.  

2)  In January, 2009 the PSIG held a reorganization meeting in honor of Martin Luther King Day with a small group of enthusiastic followers (see picture submitted).  The goal was to strategize obtaining endorsement from National for Department of Peace legislation which was soon to be reintroduced in Congress.  Through a series of team advocacy efforts, the group was thrilled to achieve its goal.  

3)  March, 2009 in observance of National Social Work Month and the 6th anniversary of the Iraq War, the PSIG held a Monday Night Peace Movie presenting a Department of Peace campaign video ... with discussion.

In conclusion, throughout the many challenges posed by this turbulent decade of 9/11 and the Iraq war, the PSIG group regrouped, refocused and regenerated, growing wiser and more knowledgable about the culture of peace from this profound professional experience.  We are deeply grateful for the bold and visionary NASW-NJ leadership that allowed us this rich opportunity.

PROGRESS: Has your organization seen progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of action and in your constituency during the second half of the Decade?

Absolutely yes!  Most dramatic example occurred in 2009 with official NASW “organizational endorsement” of HR-808, Department of Peace legislation!!  In 2001 only a handful of social workers knew of this bill, ironically first introduced to Congress right before 9/11.  It was considered impractical-radical-utopian.   Much advocacy was done throughout the decade in gaining credibility for this significant political endorsement, as the Department of Peace campaign itself concurrently matured.  What started out in the beginning of decade to be regarded as a pie-in-the-sky idea is now taken seriously by many throughout civil society, as evidenced by the whole new global social movement advocating creation of 'peace infrastructures' (Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace) that has organizationally advanced since mid-decade.

OBSTACLES: Has your organization faced any obstacles to implementing the culture of peace and nonviolence? If so, what were they?

Social workers have the most difficult and demanding jobs in society, focused on promoting the well-being of individuals and groups ... in a system not conducive to it.  This reality prevents many from having surplus time to become involved in the larger macro systems-policy issues of society, such as world peace.  We believe this is why only a small number of social workers are able to participate in our peace group.  Hopefully they already know that whatever social work they are doing on the micro level, does its part to contribute to promoting the culture of peace.

PLANS: What new engagements are planned by your organization in the short, medium and long term to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence?


GLOBAL MOVEMENT: How do you think the culture of peace and nonviolence could be strengthened and supported at the world level??

Education about the UN Culture of Peace Programme of Action should be part of curriculum at all Schools of Social Work and the International Federation of Social Workers.
Back to top
Organization: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS (NASW) New Jersey Chapter

Click here to add a report from another organization.
new topic