Social welfare graduate student Elynar Moreno listened intently
as guest speaker professor Marie Weil implored students to consider
social justice an integral part of their career goals.
Moreno was among the many social welfare graduate students who
attended the lunch event Thursday sponsored by the Social Workers
for Social and Economic Justice ““ an organization made up of
social workers, professors from different universities and
students.
Weil, who currently teaches at North Carolina University, and is
the founding editor of The Journal of Community Practice, discussed
what social workers can do to promote fairness and equality at the
community level.
“Weil was very inspirational as far as what can be
done,” Moreno said.
Weil’s message to students who attended the event was to
think about how social justice can be addressed in the different
career paths each may choose.
“My hope is that a seed was planted, that whatever they
decide to do they will think of the social justice impact,”
she said. “If we are not thinking about supporting justice we
can support injustice by default.”
One point organizers emphasized was the variety of jobs and
professions students with social welfare degrees can choose.
“We (social workers) work in political offices, we run
campaigns to transform the world, we are elected officials,”
said social welfare Professor Mary Wehrli.
“It is what we call a foundation degree for many
things,” she added.
Social workers can elect to work with individuals directly by
doing clinical work or deal with social justice issues at the
community level by participating in grassroots organizations and
other social work programs.
“When you think of social workers you usually think of the
therapist or the one that works at the county level, but not
necessarily doing community organizing or working at non-profit
organizations,” Moreno said.
Students interested in social work can pursue graduate degrees
in social welfare. Those interested in conducting research, holding
directorial positions of social programs and teaching at the
university level require doctoral degrees.
Although a bachelor’s degree in social welfare is not
offered at UCLA, Wehrli encouraged undergraduate students to get
involved with social programs.
“Join an organization that is working for something bigger
than you are and you will be energized,” said Wehrli.
“You will go back to your books a different
person.”