Please join us for these events being sponsored by the School of Social Work during this month of celebration and acknowledgement.
Tuesday, March 31
Movement Building, Mutual Aid, and Macro Practice, Oh My! - UPRISE Collective
Participants will explore different movements throughout history that provide the blueprints for social justice practice within the context of social work. Delving into the historical context that has shaped the world we live in today, together we will interrogate how white supremacy lives in our current field and how we might want to engage in a more robust, upstream approach to systemic change, particularly in our current socio-political context.
This social work month event was made possible by the efforts of our Equity, Partnership & Inclusion Council (EPIC) and will be presented by the UPRISE Collective with support from Christy Da Rosa and Tatiana Garcia.
Time: 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Venue: Hosted via Zoom
Past Events from Social Work Month 2026
Monday, March 2
Legislative Education & Advocacy Training Day
(for SSW students), sponsored by NASW Oregon Chapter
Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Venue: Salem, Oregon, or via Zoom
Wednesday, March 4
Doctoral Student Showcase featuring Grace Pappas:
Grace's research explores questions related to child welfare, gender and sexuality, evangelicalism in the US, and various intersections between these areas of inquiry. Her dissertation is a critical discourse analysis of evangelical sermons on foster care and adoption, and she is also exploring evangelical sermons on voting during the 2020 election and historical intersections between Christianity and child welfare work. Grace is also currently doing some work around penalty enforcement for mandated reporting/failure to report, and how MLPs are meeting the needs of young people, particularly queer and trans young people.
Time: 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Venue: Academic Student Recreation Center (ASRC) Room 620
Tuesday, March 10
Faculty/Student Showcase: "Palestinian Liberation & Art for Justice"
(Advanced Macro Social Movement 2-term project), (Professor Lisa Hawash, facilitator)
Time: 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Venue: Academic Student Recreation Center (ASRC) Rooms 620/630, or via Zoom
Wednesday, March 11
"Gert's Boys" Documentary Film Screening:
Personally introduced and presented by SSW 2007 PhD alum Dr. Sara Schwartz, who produced and directed the film. Dr. Schwartz is currently an Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Southern California.
Gert’s Boys introduces a unique window into San Francisco’s gay community (1981-1995) through the lens of one woman, Cindy “Gert” McMullin, an original volunteer and co-founder of The AIDS Memorial Quilt. The Quilt was launched in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood in 1987, the epicenter of the AIDS crisis, as a social action tool to demand a public and government response to AIDS. Today, the Quilt is the world’s largest piece of community folk art commemorating over 110,000 lives lost to AIDS.
Time: 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Venue: Academic Student Recreation Center (ASRC) Room 620/630, or via Zoom
Thursday, March 12
Special Guest Lecture for SSW Students featuring Dr. Heidi Allen, Columbia University
(Professor Leah Brookner, facilitator)
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:40 p.m.
Venue: Academic Student Recreation Center (ASRC) Room 620/630
Friday, March 13
Public Lecture featuring Dr. Heidi Allen, Columbia University:
In this talk, Professor Allen will discuss the assorted legal frameworks guiding psychedelic use in the US, situated in the indigenous and historical context. She will give an overview of the latest scientific research on molecules such as LSD, 5-MeO-DMT, MDMA, psilocybin, and ibogaine for treatment of conditions such as Major Depressive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Substance Use Disorders. She will discuss the challenges facing rigorous clinical trials in psychedelics.
She will differentiate between psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and psychological support or “holding space”. Dr. Allen will conclude with thoughts for the field of social work and opportunities for our profession to lead in developing best practices and standards of care for psychedelics in the context of mental health as well as encouraging harm reduction in naturalistic settings of use. This talk will be followed by a Q&A session moderated by SSW Professor Leah Brookner.
Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Venue: Parson's Gallery, PSU College of Urban and Public Affairs
Click here to view a Zoom recording of the lecture
Friday, March 13
Alumni and Community Networking Reception:
Join us as we celebrate the heart of our community and in honor of National Social Work Month. Whether you are a new or longtime partner, a proud alum, or simply curious about our mission, our doors are open to you. Come share a few light appetizers, reconnect with some perhaps familiar faces, and spark new friendships and connections as we celebrate the vital impact of social work together.
Time: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Venue: Academic Student Recreation Center (ASRC) Lobby & Room 620/630
Tuesday, March 17
RRI Research Showcase featuring Dr. Jennifer Blakeslee:
This Social Work month event will feature the Regional Research Institute's director, Dr. Jennifer Blakeslee, who will present the range of work being done at the RRI. As part of the School of Social Work, the RRI conducts innovative research, program evaluation, and technical assistance that addresses critical community issues. The RRI enjoys a national reputation for its community-driven work, collaborating at the intersection of research, practice, training, and policy with local, state, regional, national and international agencies and partners.
Time: 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Venue: Academic Student Recreation Center (ASRC) Room 620, or via Zoom
Friday, March 20
Practicum Instructor/Site Supervisor CEU Training
(for practicum personnel only)
Time: 10:30 a.m. - Noon
Venue: Academic Student Recreation Center (ASRC) Room 620/630
Contact Jessica Hayes for information and space availability
Friday, March 20
Community Partner Appreciation Luncheon
(by invitation only for community partners)
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Venue: Academic Student Recreation Center (ASRC) Room 620/630
Contact Jessica Hayes for information