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Emilie H. Edwards has been chosen
as winner of the 2005 NASW-NC Presidents’ Award! Emilie receives a check
for $1,000, as well as a plaque, in honor of her profound commitment and
achievement within the field of social work.
Emilie is a second-year MSW student
at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Emilie’s MSW degree
concentration is Macro Practice. She is particularly interested in culturally
competent service provision for the Deaf, recognition of spirituality
as a source of strength for social workers and clients, and promotion
of a moratorium and abolition of the death penalty.
During her graduate studies at UNC-Chapel
Hill, Emilie has served in several leadership capacities within her school,
the community, and the social work profession. Last year, she was elected
as Tri-Chair of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Social Work Student Organization (SoWoSO).
During her service as Tri-Chair of the SoWoSO, Emilie established a School
of Social Work field placement that allows computer science students to
provide seminars on computer skills, as well as provide individual assistance,
to social work students who need help in using various computer programs.
As current Chairperson for the SoWoSO Spirituality Caucus, Emilie is working
to enlighten the spiritual prospects of social work. The Spirituality
Caucus supports spirituality within social work practice and advocates
against discrimination of any kind.
Emilie is credited for initiating and
organizing UNC Chapel Hill’s first recognition of National Deaf Awareness
Week (September 19-26). She worked to promote cultural awareness of the
deaf population. In addition, Emilie conducted extensive research on the
maltreatment of deaf children; and participated in writing a research
article entitled “Child Abuse Investigation and Treatment for Deaf and
Hard of Hearing Children: Ethical Practice and Policy.” The article is
currently in submission to the Journal of Social Policy. She presented
her research at a policy conference in South Carolina, and met with legislators
and policymakers to discuss the implementation of improved services for
deaf children and adults in the area of child abuse and neglect.
Emilie worked as a mitigation specialist
for a capital murder trial through the Fair Trial Initiative during her
first-year field placement. She remains committed to educating others,
particularly legislators and policymakers, about the death penalty as
a civil rights issue. She is a member of Moratorium Now and People of
Faith Against the Death Penalty (PFADP).
Emilie currently interns with the
NC Council of Churches. During her internship, she helped organize Let
Justice Roll, in which faith communities and secular organizations worked
together to prompt both state and federal government to focus on economic
justice issues.
Emilie will begin law school in the
fall. She intends to pursue a career in social justice, focused on political
advocacy. Emilie was born in Boise, ID and attended high school and college
in Macon, GA. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Music from Mercer
University.
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