Photos: Celebrating Black Futures in Social Work
Categories: Alumni + Friends, Faculty, Research, Rupaleem Bhuyan, Students, Tanya Sharpe
On February 27, the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work was proud to present a stellar panel of PhD students, candidates and graduates to discuss Black futures in social work in an event organized in honour of Black History Month.
Left to right: Elo Igor, Tolulola Taiwo-Hanna, Suliat Fehintola Akinwande, Marvelous Muchenje, Marci Gray, Vilmara Lucas, and (in front) Travonne Edwards.
Students, alumni, faculty, staff, U of T colleagues and members of the public joined the panel at Massey College to honour the legacies and contributions of Black communities to the social work field, talk about current research and practice initiatives, share stories of their experiences as Black social work scholars, and discuss visions for the future.
Panelists included Tolulola Taiwo-Hanna, Suliat Fehintola Akinwande, Marvellous Muchenje, Marci Gray, Vilmara Lucas, Travonne Edwards, and Elo Igor. Associate Professor Tanya Sharpe joined the panel as a discussant.
Left to right: Dean Charmaine Williams, Black Research Network Director Enid Montague, and Associate Professor Tanya Sharpe.
Dean Charmaine Williams provided welcoming remarks and invited the Director of the Black Research Network, Enid Montague, an associate professor in the Faulty of Applied Science and Engineering, to share some words from the Network. After the panel discussion, questions were invited from the audience.
Moderators Travonne Edwards (clapping) and Elo Igor (speaking).
“One of the best moments of today was hearing Blackness, not just as a pathology, but hearing about Black joy, celebration, and happiness,” said Travonne Edwards, who recently completed his PhD at FIFSW and started a new role as Assistant Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Child and Youth Care.
A reception was held after the formal presentation to give attendees and panelists the opportunity to continue the discussion and celebrate over refreshments, and with music from DJ Slimmaslim, an alumnus of U of T’s Geography and Enviromental Studies programs.
FIFSW would like to thank everyone who participated in coming together for this in-person event, whether as a panelist, audience member or organizer, bringing their enthusiasm, ideas, and insights to the space.
DJ Slimmaslim
Dr. Notisha Massaquoi asks a question from the audience.
Mixing and mingling before the start of the event.
Professor and PhD Director Rupaleem Bhutan, one of the event organizers.
