Council on Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Diversity

The Council on Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Diversity (CRECD) is a council of the Commission for Diversity and Social and Economic Justice. The council promotes expanding the knowledge base for educators, students, and alumni through education and by disseminating and encouraging research about members of historically and emerging underrepresented groups. It also initiates new activities and programs related to these groups in social work education while (a) acknowledging the impact of the entrenched influences of power, privilege, and oppression on their experiences and the larger social, economic, and political structure; (b) fostering critical understanding of their experience through an empathic lens; and (c) emphasizing social change and achieving equality and nondiscrimination and political, civil, social, economic, and cultural rights.

Charge From the Commission

The CRECD also has the following functions:

• To initiate new activities and programs relevant to historically underrepresented groups in social work education​
• To prepare social work educators and students for teaching and practice that promotes human rights and social justice in which all individuals are treated with dignity and respect
• To disseminate and encourage research about members of historically and emerging underrepresented groups to be used by educators, students, and alumni
• To facilitate communication between the various historically and emerging underrepresented social work educator affiliated groups and the Council on Social Work Education
• To broaden how the larger membership, and thus the field, understands the dynamics and intersectionality of the experiences of historically and emerging underrepresented groups in social work education
• ​To provide recommendations for policies, consultation, and advice to the Commission for Diversity and Social and Economic Justice, Board of Directors, and the CSWE staff.

Joint Award Nominations Now Open!
Deadline: June 4, 2021

The CRECD and the Council on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Expression (CSOGIE) present the Two-Spirit, Queer, and Trans People of Color (2-QTPOC) Social Work Impact Award.

The 2-QTPOC Social Work Impact Award seeks to recognize and honor a midcareer or senior social work scholar who has made significant and outstanding contributions to the field of social work through teaching, mentorship, research, and service related to issues that affect 2-QTPOC communities. These issues include oppression, colonialism, and/or the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, spirituality/religion, class, age, (dis)ability, immigration, health status, and/or well-being.

Award Requirements

The nominee's contributions could be significant and outstanding peer-reviewed scholarship that enriches the knowledge-base of 2-QTPOC communities, their needs, and effective interventions; an activity or program that fosters or sustains a positive and inclusive culture and climate for 2-QTPOC communities in social work education; and/or mentorship of 2-QTPOC junior faculty members and/or students.

Applicants who self-identify as LGBTQ+ persons of color or two-spirit persons are encouraged to apply. Applications should include

• a nomination or self-nomination letter that provides details about specific contributions of the nominee's teaching/mentorships, research, and/or service in areas that affect 2-QTPOC communities;
• the nominee's curriculum vitae;
• at least one letter of support.

Nominees must be midcareer or senior career social work scholars and CSWE members to be eligible for this award. 

At least two members of CRECD and two members of CSOGIE will review the nominations and select the awardee. Biographical information and a photo of the awardee will appear on the CSWE website and may be included in the Annual Program Meeting (APM) Final Program, if space permits. The awardee will be expected to attend an award presentation during the APM at either the CRECD or CSOGIE reception. This award includes a $500 honorarium.

Please submit nominations to Melissa Singh, singhmi@usc.edu, by June 4, 2021.