Centennial Celebrations

A Cantata Redux

In January, we kicked off our anniversary year with an encore broadcast of “Reach Out, Raise Hope, Change Society — A Cantata in Ten Movements.” Composed by Bruce Adolphe, the cantata was originally commissioned by alumna Joan Fisch, MSW ‘67, and her husband, Allan, for the School of Social Work’s 90th anniversary. After the recording, our Zoom audience participated in a panel discussion, moderated by Professor Larry Gant and featuring Adolphe as well as Ken Fisher, president emeritus of the University Musical Society and Jeff Jaecxzko, curator of the Milken Archive of Jewish Music.

Spike Lee

Henry Adebonojo

Terence Blanchard

Inaugural Social Justice Changemaker Lecture

In April, filmmaker Spike Lee and musician Terence Blanchard discussed the role of social justice and the arts in the inaugural Social Justice Changemaker Lecture. The freewheeling, livestreamed conversation was moderated by Robin R. Means Coleman, vice president and associate provost for diversity and inclusion, chief diversity officer and the Ida B. Wells and Ferdinand Barnett Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Northwestern University and Daphne Watkins, University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor, director of the Vivian A. and James L. Curtis School of Social Work Center for Health Equity Research and Training, and Professor of Social Work. Lee and Blanchard returned repeatedly to the theme that their work builds on the generations of Black artists who came before them. The conversation included questions from U-M students, many of whom were concerned about how to manage their social justice work as artists. Lee’s advice: Don’t put yourself in compartments. “These beautiful minds are putting up limitations and fences that aren’t there. For me, it’s all filmmaking and storytelling.” Established by a generous gift from Neil and Annmarie Hawkins the Social Justice Changemaker Lectures Series brings prominent experts and advocates from multiple disciplines — including social sciences, science, humanities and the arts — to address pressing social justice issues.

Series Examines Today’s Toughest Issues

The Centennial Lecture Series gave the Michigan Social Work community the opportunity to deep dive into some of the critical issues of our time. Dr. William Darity and Kirsten Mullen discussed their book, From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century. The authors confront injustices head on and make a comprehensive case for economic reparations for U.S. descendants of slavery. Sharon Parrott, MSW ‘92, president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities spoke on “Pandemic, Relief, and Building toward an Equitable Future.” She emphasized the impacts of the health and economic crisis and discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the public response to the crisis, the opportunity for long-term, systemic policy changes to reduce poverty and inequality and the challenges to achieving these policy goals. During the fall, the series featured three sessions devoted to innovations in mental health research. These sessions highlighted Michigan Social Work faculty’s contemporary research in addressing health disparities, reducing suicide and depression in diverse communities and the development and use of technology-based innovations.

William Darity and Kirsten Mullen Sharon Parrott

Homecoming

Homecoming marked the first time the School has hosted in-person events since the beginning of the pandemic. Festivities included a reunion luncheon, a Centennial birthday celebration and a tailgate before the Michigan football win over Rutgers University. What a great way to reconnect with our Michigan Social Work community!