Collaboration and Learning: Reflections on Participation in “Empowering Global Futures” International School Social Work Conferences in Essex, UK

Authors

Leticia Villarreal Sosa, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Marelize Vergottini, North-West University, VanderbijlparkFollow
Stacy Gherardi, New Mexico State UniversityFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

Leticia Villarreal Sosa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1378-4508

Stacy Gherardi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0679-8212

Keywords

global school social work, international social work, anti-racist school social work, international collaboration, professional development

Abstract

School social work continues to grow and make an impact across global contexts. The authors share their experiences and reflections after participation in the international school social work conference, “Empowering Global Futures: Strategies for School Social Work” held at Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford Campus, Essex, UK. The authors highlight speakers, global perspectives, practical applications, and emerging trends. Lastly, the authors make a “call to action” to advocate for increased and intentional efforts to reach across national boundaries to learn from each other and advance the knowledge base needed to address the needs of youth in schools in a global context.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Author Biography

Dr. Leticia Villarreal Sosa, LCSW, PEL SSW is an Associate Dean and Professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, School of Social Work. Her recent book, Chicago Latina Trailblazers: Testimonios of Political Activism, highlights the leadership and impact of Mexican and Puerto Rican women in Chicago. Her research includes a focus on immigrant youth, the use of Photovoice with Arab American and Latine communities in Chicago as a tool for advocacy, and immigrant health.

Dr. Marelize Vergottini is a senior lecturer at the North-West University, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Social Work in Vanderbilpark, South Africa. Her research focus is on the role of school social workers within the education system. She is a lecturer for undergrad third and fourth year social work students as well as the program leader for the structured Masters degree in School social work and recently developed Short Learning Program in school social work.

Stacy Gherardi PhD, LCSW is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at New Mexico State University where she has previously served as the MSW Program Coordinator and Interim Co-Director of the School. Her research focuses on school social work, trauma-informed education, and the community school movement. Her experiences as a classroom teacher and a school social worker in the Chicago area prior to her roles in academia inform her scholarship.

Recommended Citation

Villarreal Sosa, Leticia; Vergottini, Marelize; and Gherardi, Stacy (2024) "Collaboration and Learning: Reflections on Participation in “Empowering Global Futures” International School Social Work Conferences in Essex, UK," International Journal of School Social Work: Vol. 10: Iss. 1. https://doi.org/10.4148/2161-4148.1146