Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

Recognizing the U.S. National Day of Racial Healing

January 17, 2023 marks the seventh annual US National Day of Racial Healing. First launched in 2017 by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the National Day of Racial Healing is part of the US Movement for Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) and is observed immediately following Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This is for collective awareness and action toward both racial equity and healing. We invite you to participate in this national day of reflection, reconciliation, and healing by learning from history, listening to the stories of others, and having courageous conversations. We encourage you to set aside time for discussion, education, and reflection using the resources below and those available at the National Day of Racial Healing website.

DEI Highlight Corner

Welcome Statement

To our Social Work Community:

MSU Denver Department of Social Work has embarked on a journey to provide the necessary supports and resources to the department to ensure that we create a culturally responsive professional and academic learning environment truly rooted in an anti-oppressive social work practice.  We invite the Department, students, and partnering agencies to actively engage in and create spaces for critical reflexivity, self-awareness, and discussions around the dismantling of oppressive systems.

The social work profession is built upon a set of core values that recognize the “dignity and worth of the person,” “the importance of human relationships,” and “social justice” (NASW, 2021, preamble).  MSU Denver strongly believes that social work education is based on belief that reform is necessary within most social systems, whereby the social work curriculum is uniquely situated to provide the basic understanding and implementation of incremental and significant changes across the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.  Understanding how discrimination characterizes and shapes the human experience and development of identity, diversity, equity, and inclusion work must be recognized as foundational to the social work education experience.

Please join the Department as we hold brave spaces to embrace intersectional identifies and confront oppressive systems.

2023 Courageous Equity Leadership Fellows (CELF) Program

Are you interested in taking your educational and professional career to the next level? Do you have the desire to develop your future in equity leadership? You can start right now as a BSSW or MSW student.

Social Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are critical to our practice as social workers, starting during our educational journey. A fellowship is a fantastic opportunity to gain experience and exposure to specific types of work. No matter what trajectory your social work path takes you on, Social Justice, Equity, and Diversity are vital components in your learning and work.

The 2023 Courageous Equity Leadership Fellows (CELF) Program is comprised of diverse leadership seeking to contribute to intra-racial and inter-racial healing locally and globally. “Fellows who complete the training modules, develop and execute virtual and/or face to face racial equity projects will receive a $1500.00 scholarship” (Courageous Conversation ®, 2023).

Applications are due on March 1^st, 2023

2023 CELF Informational Flyer

2023 CELF Application

Student Affinity Spaces

Student Affinity Spaces are a place where groups of people are drawn together because of shared strong interests, characteristics or engagement in a common activity. The goals of affinity spaces are:

• Provide a space of belonging for individuals
• The aim is to allow space for individuals to engage in reflexive, vulnerable conversations that are supportive and promote growth

If you have questions about any of the student affinity groups, please email the group facilitator. As of Fall 2022, we are offering the following affinity spaces:

• BIPOC Student Affinity Group (facilitated by Professor Bianca Brandon, [email protected]), meets virtually the 4th Tuesday of each month at 1:15 PM (Zoom link)
• Black-Identified Student Affinity Group (facilitated by Professor Bianca Brandon, [email protected]), meets virtually the 2nd Friday of each month at 10:00 AM (Zoom link coming soon)
• First-Generation Student Affinity Group (facilitated by Dr. Dawn Matera Bassett [email protected]), meets virtually the 4th Tuesday of each month at 1:15 PM (Zoom link)
• Latin/a/o/x Student Affinity Group (facilitated by Professor Marina Pereira, [email protected]), meets virtually the 4th Tuesday of each month at 1:15 PM (Zoom link)
• LGBTQIA+ Student Affinity Group (facilitated by Stevie Noll), meets virtually the 4th Thursday of each month at 3:00 PM (in September it will be on the 5th Thursday, September 29) (Zoom link)
• Men in Social Work Student Affinity Group (facilitated by Dr. Matt Drake, [email protected]), the next meeting is Friday, November 4 at 1:00 PM (Zoom link)
• Neurodiverse & Disabled Student Affinity Group (facilitated by Caitlin Plamp, [email protected], and Dr. Julie Clockston, [email protected]), meets virtually the 4th Tuesday of each month at 1:15 PM (Zoom link)
• White-Identified Student Affinity Group (facilitated by Dr. Lori Darnel, [email protected]), meets virtually the 4th Tuesday of each month at 1:15 PM (Zoom link)

Pedagogy & Diversity Workshops

Pedagogy & Diversity (P&D) workshops welcome all social work faculty and staff. The goals of P&D workshops are:

• to provide a space where faculty and staff can have candid conversations about training, education and support related to teaching and facilitating critical conversations about diversity and social justice
• to serve as a place where individuals can discuss how issues of diversity, intersectionality and oppression influence teaching, classroom environments, student interactions and the overall campus culture and climate.
• to deepen the capacity of individuals to explore and develop their awareness and skill to manage critical conversations.

For more information, contact Dr. Julie Clockston via email at [email protected]

As of Fall 2022, we are offering the following P&D Spaces and Workshops:

• 1619 Podcast Discussion Series with Dr. Tanya Greathouse – see below for more information!
• P&D Faculty and Staff Process and Discussion Space with Dr. Kristen Atkinson and Dr. Julie Clockston, meets the 4th Monday of each month from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Email Dr. Atkinson at [email protected] to receive the calendar invite and Zoom link.
• P&D White-Identified Faculty and Staff Space with Dr. Lori Darnel, meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month – more details on meeting times and Zoom link to follow.
• P&D Affiliate Faculty Space with Professor Marina Pereira on select Tuesdays at 6 PM (twice in the fall semester, twice in the spring semester). See below for dates and email Professor Pereira at [email protected] to receive the Zoom link.
  • Tuesday, October 11 at 6:00 PM
  • Tuesday, November 15 at 6:00 PM
  • Tuesday, February 21 at 6:00 PM
  • Tuesday, April 11 at 6:00 PM

University Groups & Resources

Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Center for Multicultural Engagement and Inclusion