Diane Carol Holliman PhD, LCSW PhD   &  Halim Faisal LCSW

This idea for this workshop was conceived in a small group discussion on “Climate change and the (lack of) future/intergenerational ethics in social work” that was part of the Global Partnership for Transformative Social Work Gathering in Salisbury, England, June 15-18, 2017. At this dialogically oriented gathering, seven social workers and educators from Australia, Finland, Germany, Sweden and the United States began a conversation on their concerns about climate change and their struggles to be heard and to respond to this global crisis. After a day of focused discussion on this topic, the seven shared their conversation and a performance that emerged from the exchange with the entire gathering. The others at the gathering were invited to join the conversation. Questions posed to the other small discussion groups by the Climate Change Group were: (1) What is the most important change you can make in your own life to help? (2) How can you reorganize professional social work to support the efforts? (3) How will you extend your “pool of concern to include climate change? As social workers interested in social justice, how can you make room on your already crowded plate for climate change? (4) What hinders you professionally and personally from taking part in this movement?  (5) What do you need in your professional and personal life to maintain critical hope and optimism for advocacy?

For this 2018 workshop we are proposing to briefly share our experiences and insights from the gathering and small group on climate change. We will then present the Questions 1-5 from the June 2017 gathering through performance, and open our conversations and performances to others to expand our circle and strengthen the movement for sustainability

Property of DHF Counseling & Consulting 2018