In this issue: MissionOSA President’s Message2 Advisor Comments3 NABSW President’s Message4 Call to Action 5 44th Annual Conference 6 44th Annual Conference 7 44th Annual Conference 8 See you in Indy!!! 9 Sankofa Reintroduced 10 OSA Officer Communication 11 NABSW Executive Officers 12 TheNationalAs sociationofBlackSocialWorkers ,Inc.,comprisedofpeopleofA fricanancestry,iscommittedtoenhancingthequalityoflifeandempoweringpeopleofAfricanan cestrythroughadvocacy,huma nservicesdelivery,andresearch.TheNationalAs sociationofBlackSocialWorkers ,Inc.willworktocreateaworldinwhichpeopleofAfricanancestrywilllivefreefromracialdomination,economicexploitationandculturaloppression.Incollaborationwithnational,i nternationalandotherappropriategroups, NABSWwillcontinuet oleverageitscollectiveexpertisetostrategicallydevelopthecapacityofpeopleofAfricanan cestrytosustainandflouris h.NABSW’svisionisguidedbythePrinciplesoftheNguzoSaba,whichareUnity,Self -determination,CollectiveWorkandResponsibility,CooperativeEcono mics,Purpose,Creativity, andFaith,andtheSevenCardinalVirtu esofMa’at,whichareRight, Truth,Justice,Order,Reciprocity,Balance,andHarmony. MISSION THE PLACE WHERE “STUDENT’S COME FIRST” OSA NEwslettER Summer 2013 V o l ume 1 , I s s ue 7 Nabsw office of student affairs
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To all my fellow students, I truly hope everyone is having a restful andpleasant summer vacation. I am both excited and saddened as I write thisaddress to you for the last time. I am sad to be leaving such a precious role within the organization because it allowed me to serve each of you. Yet, I amexcited for the life ahead of me and the continued support that will continueto follow each of us through NABSW. I am also extremely excited to bepassing the torch to an amazing group of social work students dedicated tomaking sure the student voice is not silent.
I would like to first say thank you, to everyone who attended the 45th National
Conference in Jacksonville, Fl, this past April. We, the students, have left ahuge positive impact in the Jacksonville community. We kicked off conferenceby coming together with the Clara White Mission and NABSW Elders toprovide services through a Veteran’s Stand Down, where we feed the lessfortunate and provided Veteran’s (and others in need) with access to clothing,haircuts, and a myriad of services. We were able to end the day with a donation of two book scholarships awardedto Clara White Mission to assist in the opportunities they provide to the Jacksonville community. During conference, OSA successfully completed the following events: our symposium, luncheon, and student step show style dance. Again thank you all for making the 45th conference one that will go down in history as a success. Ihope to see everyone in Indianapolis, IN in April 2014.
Now ,with enthusiasm I invite you all to join me and 2012-2013 administration in wishing success to the incoming officers. As we pass the torch to the next leaders of the Office of Student Affairs, we offer you our shoulder tostand on and our hands to hold. We have been delighted to serve you over this past year. We are proud of all thenew members, newly established chapters, and everyone’s great work in your respective communities.
Congratulations to all Spring and August graduates! I wish you the best luck in your future endeavors.
Lastly, I have enjoyed serving you as President for the 2012-2013 administration. It was a wonderful experienceand great opportunity that I am appreciative to have been given. Thank you all for trusting in my leadershipcapabilities.
I hope this message finds each of you doing well! I want to personally thank you
for your support and dedication to the Office of Student Affairs this year. Your
enthusiasm, motivation, and overall support has allowed OSA to continue to soar
and to serve your needs as students. We truly appreciated your overwhelming
support of OSA events at the national conference. We hope that you will
continue the tradition of OSA by getting involved in your student or local
chapters, schools and communities. The summer provides a great opportunity to
hold community forums, neighborhood meetings (especially in light of the Trayvon
Martin case). Forums about how to understanding, dealing with and knowing
the law, are especially important during this heightened time of lack of cultural
sensitivity. As President Benton has often said, America is a country of laws,
not justice.
The organization needs the gifts and talents that only you can offer! Our people are depending on us and our ancestors require this of us! If we can assist you in
finding a chapter or staying involved, please do not hesitate to contact us! Please
continue to follow OSA through the blog, newsletter and Facebook. Remember,
once a part of OSA, always a part of OSA.
Last but certainly not least, congratulations to all Spring 2013 graduates!
SANKOFA DEFINED: Originated in Ghana from the Akan language, Sankofa means to “go
back and take” or taking past lessons from our history to guide the present and future.
OSA has successfully reintroduced Sankofa to the NABSW family. The committee will be
diligently reviewing all applications for Jenga (mentors) over the next few weeks in order to
successfully match with mentees. We are quite pleased by the response rate of members in
support of our student social workers-we are grateful for your continued service!
If interested in serving as a Jenga (mentor) or being supported as a mentee, please feel free tocontact our new Sankofa Chairperson, Parliamentarian Brittany Brown at [email protected].
Looking forward to seeing you all in Indianapolis for NABSW 2014 Annual Conference.