The Columbia School of Social Work updated its mission statement in 2022 to say that its purpose is “to interrogate racism and other systems of oppression standing in the way of social equity and justice and to foster social work education, practice and research that strengthen and expand the opportunities, resources and capabilities of all persons to achieve their full potential and well-being.” What was once its central mission — to enhance the world of social work — now follows an emphatic political statement.
Melissa Begg, the dean of the Columbia School of Social Work, said that while the school’s mission has always been about social justice and “equitable access,” its mission has evolved because “racism is part of the country.” The school, she explained, is trying to build an awareness of and give students the tools they need to address a diverse range of needs. As she put it, “If you think of slavery as the original sin of the United States, it makes sense to center that reality as part of the school’s mission.”
In 2017 the Columbia social work school introduced a framework around power, race, oppression and privilege, which the school called PROP. This began as a formal course for all first-year students to create what Begg referred to as “self-awareness.” In subsequent years, the PROP framework was applied to the entire curriculum of the school, and the PROP class became a required course called Foundations of Social Work Practice: Decolonizing Social Work.
According to the course’s current syllabus, work “will be centered on an anti-Black racism framework” and “will also involve examinations of the intersectionality of issues concerning L.B.G.T.Q.I.A.+ rights, Indigenous people/First Nations people and land rights, Latinx representation, xenophobia, Islamophobia, undocumented immigrants, Japanese internment camps, indigent white communities (Appalachia) and antisemitism with particular attention given to the influence of anti-Black racism on all previously mentioned systems.”
As part of their coursework, students are required to give a presentation in which they share part of their “personal process of understanding anti-Black racism, intersectionality and uprooting systems of oppression.” They are asked to explain their presentation “as it relates to decolonizing social work, healing, critical self-awareness and self-reflection.” Teachings include “The Enduring, Invisible and Ubiquitous Centrality of Whiteness,” “Why People of Color Need Spaces Without White People” and “What It Means to Be a Revolutionary,” a 1972 speech by Angela Davis.
The Columbia School of Social Work updated its mission statement in 2022 to emphasize its commitment to addressing racism and other systems of oppression that hinder social equity and justice. The school aims to strengthen social work education, practice, and research to expand opportunities and resources for individuals to achieve their full potential and well-being. This new mission statement reflects a shift from the school’s previous focus on enhancing the field of social work.
Melissa Begg, the dean of the Columbia School of Social Work, explained that while the school has always prioritized social justice and equitable access, its mission has evolved to address the pervasive issue of racism in the country. The school seeks to raise awareness and equip students with the necessary tools to address diverse needs. Begg stated that centering the reality of slavery as the original sin of the United States aligns with the school’s mission.
In 2017, the Columbia social work school introduced the PROP framework, which focuses on power, race, oppression, and privilege. Initially offered as a course to promote self-awareness among first-year students, the PROP framework has since been integrated into the entire curriculum, becoming a required course called Foundations of Social Work Practice: Decolonizing Social Work.
According to the current syllabus, the course centers on an anti-Black racism framework and explores the intersectionality of various issues, including LGBTQIA+ rights, Indigenous people/First Nations people and land rights, Latinx representation, xenophobia, Islamophobia, undocumented immigrants, Japanese internment camps, indigent white communities (Appalachia), and antisemitism. The course pays particular attention to the influence of anti-Black racism on these systems.
As part of their coursework, students are required to deliver a presentation that reflects their personal journey in understanding anti-Black racism, intersectionality, and dismantling systems of oppression. They are encouraged to connect their presentation to decolonizing social work, healing, critical self-awareness, and self-reflection. Course materials include teachings on “The Enduring, Invisible and Ubiquitous Centrality of Whiteness,” “Why People of Color Need Spaces Without White People,” and “What It Means to Be a Revolutionary,” a speech by Angela Davis from 1972.