Enter social work...Immigrant aid workers and charities played a crucial role in assisting newcomers with paperwork, translation, reunification, and basic needs. They are the backbone of today's immigrant justice work, advocating for dignity, due process, housing, and care.
#SocialWorkRewind
Slavery didn’t disappear; it evolved. The 13th Amendment outlaws slavery “except as punishment for crime,” allowing coerced labor and exploitation in prisons. Trafficking falls on this spectrum: force, fraud, coercion, profit. The loopholes reveal the blueprint.
#AwarenessMatters #SocialWorkRewind
Did you know January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month? This month was chosen to commemorate Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation on Jan 1, 1863. Let's honor survivors by acknowledging the ongoing fight for freedom.
#EndHumanTrafficking #SocialWorkRewind
Dec 19, 1941: FDR directed governors to shift employment offices to the Social Security Board for nationwide management. This centralized system laid the groundwork for today's job centers & workforce boards. Systems can make or break programs. That’s why macro sw is so important.
#SocialWorkRewind
On Dec 18, 1942, the Social Security Board quietly changed its rules so appeals referees could extend hearing deadlines and correct clear errors in their own decisions. Tiny wins can have real impact on the people use these programs. Don't underestimate the power of small moves.
#SocialWorkRewind
Wishing a happy 79th birthday to UNICEF! On Dec 11, 1946, the UN created UNICEF as an emergency fund for children and mothers after WWII. Over the years, it's grown into the global powerhouse we see today. Social work values in treaty form.
www.unicefusa.org/
#SocialWorkRewind #ChildRights
On Dec 7, 1941, after Pearl Harbor, the U.S. faces a massive shortage of medical and psychiatric social workers. The VA and Red Cross scramble to fill thousands of roles as trauma, disability, and grief flood hospitals. Our profession’s deep roots in veteran care start here.
#SocialWorkRewind
On Dec 4, 1969, Chicago police, working with the FBI, raid an apartment and kill Black Panther leaders Fred Hampton (21) and Mark Clark (22) in their sleep. Their “threat”? Free breakfast, multiracial coalitions, and police accountability. Remember who gets labeled dangerous.
#SocialWorkRewind
On Dec 5, 1946, Truman signed EO 9808, creating the President’s Committee on Civil Rights. Its report, “To Secure These Rights,” becomes a blueprint for federal action on lynching, poll taxes, fair employment, and desegregation. Policy change starts with receipts.
#SocialWorkRewind #CivilRights
On Dec 4, 1967, Dr. King sparked hope with the launch of the Poor People’s Campaign, uniting diverse communities for economic justice. Let's remember this call for equality and rights for all. Poverty is a systemic issue, not a personal shortcoming. #RememberingHistory #SocialWorkRewind
On Dec 6, 1917, the Halifax Explosion leveled a city where formal social work was barely a profession. Women like Jane Wisdom helped build coordinated relief, casework, & long-term rehab from the rubble, shaping what we now call disaster social work. Our field was forged in crisis. #SocialWorkRewind
World AIDS Day is Dec 1. Not a “feel good” day. It exists because governments, including the U.S., let HIV rip through communities they already hated or ignored. If you think the crisis is “over,” you’re not paying attention. #WorldAIDSDay #SocialWorkRewind
On Nov 14, 1917, 33 suffragists faced a "Night of Terror" at the Occoquan Workhouse for picketing the White House. Their unwavering strength in the face of brutality inspired public backing for women’s voting rights.
Even in darkness, progress prevails.
www.history.com/arti...
#SocialWorkRewind
Seven Black women educators founded Sigma Gamma Rho on Nov 12, 1922, building a sisterhood of service and social justice in the Jim Crow era. Their legacy of empowerment lives on in every scholar, leader, and community project it inspired.
www.sgrho1922.org/SG...
#SocialWorkRewind #BlackHistory
History was made on 11/8/65 as LBJ signed the Higher Education Act into law in TX. This pivotal moment opened doors for first-gen students with federal grants, loans, work-study, and crucial support. Let's remember: education policy is anti-poverty policy. #SocialWorkRewind
www.uwyo.edu/stateau...
The Indian Child Welfare Act becomes law on Nov 8, 1978. After decades of removals, Congress sets federal standards and affirms tribal jurisdiction so Native kids stay with family and community. Quiet statute. Huge impact. #SocialWorkRewind #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth
Black-and-white photo from the late 1960s of a Black woman in glasses standing at a podium, framed by a row of microphones. She wears a turtleneck and layered necklaces. A flag and wall behind her suggest a press conference.
On Nov 5, 1968, Shirley Chisholm made history by becoming the first Black woman elected to the U.S. House. Her legacy goes beyond breaking barriers; she championed childcare, fair schools, food assistance, and dignity for all. Representation matters. #Unbought #Unbossed #SocialWorkRewind
Black-and-white mid-1960s portrait of a man in a dark suit and tie, resting one hand on a leather chair embossed with the Massachusetts state seal. Neutral wall backdrop; formal, confident pose.
Nov 8, 1966: Edward Brooke wins a U.S. Senate seat from Massachusetts...the first Black senator elected by popular vote, and the first since Reconstruction. Representation shifts power; power shifts policy. #SocialWorkRewind #Civics
On Nov 10, 1969, Sesame Street graced public TV with its joyful, research-backed approach to learning for all kids, esp the marginalized. It's a testament to the power of ed content on screens. Public media fosters healthy development in young minds.
#SocialWorkRewind #PBS
Early 20th-century black-and-white portrait of a woman seated in an ornate armchair, hands folded. She wears a light dress with a dark collar and a beaded necklace. Framed paintings and draped fabric are visible behind her, with a handwritten caption along the top border.
On Nov 7, 1916, Jeannette Rankin made history as the first woman elected to the U.S. House. Montana women had already won the vote in 1914. Organizing doesn’t wait for permission...it makes the door! #ChangeMakers #HerStory #SocialWorkRewind
November is Homeless Youth Awareness Month. Did you know that 1 in 10 young adults experiences homelessness each year...and most were failed long before the streets. Behind every statistic is a story of survival, systems, and strength.
#HomelessYouthAwarenessMonth #SocialWorkRewind #YouthJustice
Progress doesn't come easy!
Every achievement we enjoy (like labor rights, safety, and peace) was fought for by brave individuals risking jobs, homes, and lives to secure dignity. From docks to sugar fields, picket lines to peace marches, they taught us: organizing is crucial.
#SocialWorkRewind
Justice can be subtle too. It could be a single person casting a vote or a quiet decision in the statehouse that shifts the course of history. Progress requires both bold moves and consistent action. Let's keep pushing for change! #MakeHistory #PowerOfOne #SocialWorkRewind
November is Native American Heritage Month! Let's celebrate Indigenous sovereignty, art, and resilience. Remember, Native voices deserve more than recognition; they deserve empowerment today.
www.firstnations.org...
#NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #SocialWorkRewind #TruthTelling
On November 2, 1909, the IWW in Spokane stood up for free speech and workers' rights. Despite facing 150 arrests and violence, their courage shines through. Let their bravery inspire you to stand up as well!
historylink.org/File...
#SocialWorkRewind #FreeSpeech #LaborRights
On Nov 5, 1733, printer John Peter Zenger established the Free Press Foundations. His bold stance in the 1735 trial transformed libel cases by permitting truth as a defense. Let's honor his legacy by advocating for free speech for everyone.
history.nycourts.gov...
#SocialWorkRewind #FreePress
Every push for justice begins with a voice refusing to be silenced! From printers to protesters, truth-telling remains an act of resistance. Social work thrives on this courage...to challenge authority, address harm, and advocate for the silenced. Join the movement!
#Advocate #SocialWorkRewind
On Oct 16, 1916, Brownsville, Brooklyn, witnessed Margaret Sanger's bold step in opening a birth-control clinic. Just ten days later, the clinic faced a police raid, leading to the arrest of Sanger, Ethel Byrne, and Fania Mindell.
www.pbs.org/newshour...
#SocialWorkRewind #ReproductiveJustice
History was made in Worcester, MA on Oct 23–24, 1850, at the first National Women’s Rights Convention. This pivotal meeting ignited the women’s rights movement in the US, uniting activists in the battle for women’s suffrage and equality.
www.history.com/this...
#SocialWorkRewind #WomensHistory
One of the key architects behind the FLSA was Frances Perkins, the first woman in the US Cabinet & Social Worker, who was also responsible for parts of the New Deal. See what happens when social workers take a seat at the table?
www.pbs.org/wgbh/ame...
www.nber.org/system/...
#SocialWorkRewind
