Dean Gail Steketee Responds to Recent Tragedies

These are very trying times for our nation and for our own communities as we continue to witness the senseless killings of black men at the hands of police and, last week, the killing of police officers during a non-violent peaceful demonstration in Dallas. Most recently, we mourn the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. A few weeks ago, we suffered the loss of LGBTQ and Latino people in Orlando. Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones at this difficult time.

We deal with racism and social injustices here in the United States, as we stand in solidarity with the people of France who suffered yet another violent attack and the loss of more innocent lives yesterday. Globally, we stand with all people enduring senseless violence.

As social workers, we cannot stand silent to racial injustice and the structural inequities that result in even more acts of violence. Our leadership on these issues is more important than ever. I call on members of our social work community to draw on our shared commitment to advocate for those who struggle against discrimination and injustice and to support and care for all members of society.

I am grateful to our many students, recent grads, faculty, and staff who gathered with over 1,000 others next to the Boston Police Headquarters to join the “Unity March against Police Terror” in support of the Black Lives Matter goals on Wednesday, July 13. Together with members of the Boston Health Liberation group, BUSSW community members marched in solidarity through parts of Roxbury and the South End to underscore the need to end racially-charged police brutality.

Here at BUSSW, we will continue to host conversations so that we may create awareness and foster change. I encourage you to join in these thoughtful dialogues whenever you are available. Throughout the summer, our Equity and Inclusion Committee holds weekly “Coffee, Community, and Social Justice” meetings on Tuesdays at 5:00pm in Conant Lounge. These gatherings offer a space to come together, dialogue, and discuss ways in which we might respond to racial inequities and support social justice efforts.  These weekly meetings will continue during the upcoming academic year (alternating with Wednesday evenings), along with other initiatives to educate ourselves and take action on behalf of our most critical societal needs.

As we try to make sense of this violence, consider how to use your social work training to advocate for justice and reform. Whether this means education and training for our police forces; bringing awareness to racial profiling and bias; advocating for policy changes around the use of lethal force; organizing for economic justice; or helping to remove guns from our streets—these are important steps towards meaningful change in our society. Every step counts.