Grace Abbott School of Social Work Attended Annual Social Work Day at the United Nations
UNO students and faculty attended the 39th Annual Social Work Day at the United Nations in New York City on April 3.
- published: 2023/04/07
- contact: Lisa Smith - Grace Abbott School Of Social Work
- phone: 402.554.2793
- email: lsmith5@unomaha.edu
- search keywords:
- social work un disability human rights economic disparity
University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) Grace Abbott School of Social Work and Student Social Work Organization members Marisa Antunez, Jair Alvarez, Taylor Ferguson-Wade, Lizzette Moreno, and Natkita Tulay, along with faculty members Drs. Szto, Zhang, and Smith, attended the 39th Annual Social Work Day at the United Nations in New York City, April 3, 2023. UNO students were among 500 social work students from 20 states and several other countries.
The 2023 Social Work Day at the United Nations aimed to enhance understanding of disability issues framed in human rights and developmental contexts. The event focused on ideas, theories, and practical challenges that people with disabilities face every day. It called practitioners and policymakers to social change. Presentations included ways in which socially discriminatory barriers can be reduced or eliminated to increase access for everyone.
Students participated in several learning opportunities while in New York City. They attended a presentation on Group Work in Mental Health Care lead by Dr. Carol Cohen and attended the 2023 Global Student Conference at Fordham University. The conference presentations included: Advocacy for persons with disabilities, intersectionality, and Project ENABLE Africa.
Through this unique opportunity, students gained perspectives on ethnic diversity, poverty, social welfare, homelessness, and economic disparities. Overall, the journey provided students with a holistic understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized populations in urban environments.