About Us

Who We Are:

We are a collaboration of social workers, organizations, social work schools, and individuals working to promote macro social work practice. Macro social work practice focuses on changing larger systems, such as communities and organizations. It encompasses a broad spectrum of actions and ideas, ranging from community organizing and education to legislative advocacy and policy analysis.

Chat Partners:

• Association for Community Organization and Social Administration (ACOSA), @acosaorg
• Kristin Battista-Frazee, MSW, Author and Marketing Consultant, @porndaughter
• Stephen Cummings, ACSW, LISW, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Iowa School of Social Work, @spcummings
• Sunya Folayan, MSW, ACSW, founder/executive director, The Empowerment Project, Inc., @SunyaFolayan
• Pat Shelly, MSW, Director of Community Engagement and Expansion, University at Buffalo School of Social Work, @UBSSW @PatShellySSW
• Vilissa Thompson, LMSW, Founder of @RampYourVoice, Disability Rights Consultant and Advocate, Macro Social Worker @VilissaThompson   http://rampyourvoice.com/
• Rachel L. West, LMSW, The Political Social Worker, @poliSW
• Karen Zgoda, MSW, LCSW, @karenzgoda

*Laurel Hitchcock, PhD (Assistant Professor of Social Work, University of Alabama at Birmingham, @laurelhitchcock), a partner since our launch in 2014, has recently left the partnership, but continues to be a steadfast supporter!

Media Partners:

• Linda Grobman and The New Social Worker Magazine – We welcome The New Social Worker Magazine (@newsocialworker) as our media partner! The New Social Worker is the award-winning social work careers magazine founded by Linda Grobman in 1994. Website www.socialworker.com . This online magazine features practical articles on social work, ethics, field placement, practice issues  and specialties, technology in social work and more.

Chat Contributors:

• Jeff Fromknecht, MSW, Attorney & Counselor at Law at Side Project Inc., @SideProjectInc
• Alyssa Lotmore, LMSW, Co-Host, The Social Workers Radio Talk Show, WCDB 90.9 FM (@AlyssaLotmore)

Former Chat Partners:

• Relando Thompkins-Jones, MSW, LLMSW, writer of Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian (N.A.H.) @Relando_T and @N_A_H_Blog
• Network for Social Work Management (NSWM), @TheNSWM
• University of Southern California School of Social Work , @mswatusc

Founders:

• Rachel L. West, LMSW, The Political Social Worker, @poliSW
• Karen Zgoda, MSW, LCSW, @karenzgoda
• Deona Hooper, Social Work Helper (@swhelpercom), @deonahooper (Active 2014-2015)