Members of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work attended Washington, D.C., for a two-day immersive experience that allowed students to foster connections with their fellow classmates and professors. Seven master of social work students accompanied Interim Associate Dean for MSW Education Andrea Murray-Lichtman, Associate Dean for Student Success and Belonging Travis Albritton, Clinical Associate Professor Laurie Selz-Campbell, Clinical Assistant Professors Laurie Emmer-Martin, Chris Toenes, Carynne Williams and Crystal Parker Grant and Executive Assistant for the Office of Academic and Student Affairs Aisha Stocks to the nation’s capital on Oct. 9—10, 2024.
The trip included a visit to both the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, leading to discussions on resistance, oppression, resiliency and triumph.
Below you can find pictures and statements from students who attended the two-day trip. Photos courtesy MSW students Francesca Prince, Tiara Horne, Samantha Howard, Amy Kleissler, Danya Zarate-Centeno, and Meme Bonner; and Executive Assistant for the Office of Academic and Student Affairs Aisha Stocks.
“My classmates and I discussed being ambassadors for the trip, that’s how impactful this was. During one of the debriefs following our day at the museum, I remember saying ‘I don’t know all of you and the implied support through this program is so overwhelming … spaces like these don’t come by often, I am so grateful.’ We didn’t even have to speak, and the support and passion was overflowing. Being in the part-time program I have made it a goal of mine to seize the opportunities provided by the School. This experience would not have been the same without my classmates. I came to immerse myself in our course objectives, and while I was hopeful to make connections with my classmates, the intensity of the relationships made was unimaginable. I mean Tiara (Horne) and I share a brain cell after this trip! This, in combination with the knowledge I gained, was all I could talk about on our ride home.” — MSW student Brittany Browder
The trip was wonderful, and the School took such great care of students. The faculty members who hosted the trip are phenomenal teachers and humans; they provided scaffolding for debriefing and difficult conversations with warmth and vulnerability. (Shout out to Andrea Murray-Lichtman, Travis Albritton, Laurie Selz-Campbell, Laurie Emmer-Martin, Chris Toenes, and Aisha Stocks, who organized the trip and kept everything running smoothly.) The museums were deeply impactful, as were the conversations about the exhibits, current events, epigenetics and cultural humility in clinical practice, and our professional and personal obligations to disrupt systemic oppression and explicit racism. I feel grateful for the opportunity to grow as a social work student and future clinician. — Hillary MacKenzie
Visiting the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., offered a profound experience on the impact of oppression, demonstrating the devastating consequences of systemic racism, hatred and violence across history. Visitors are confronted with the horrors of genocide, dehumanization, indignity, and loss of life. These are all issues caused by a system of fear that leads to the enduring legacy of racism. It is a reminder that as social workers, or rather, as human beings, the cost of oppression encourages reflection on historical injustices and their lasting impacts on vulnerable communities. It is our obligation to continue echoing their past, present and future resiliency, resistance, and ongoing fight for justice, equality, and equity. In the end, love for each other is the light that will overcome darkness. — Lentner Jaraba