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Past Events
National Association of Social Workers — Wisconsin Conference
OCTOBER 2025
Seven Carthage Social Work students attended the 51st Annual NASW-WI Conference in the Wisconsin Dells and served as conference volunteers. This conference provided opportunities for students to learn best practices in social work, network with seasoned professionals and agencies, and build an identity as future social work leaders. Workshop topics included the role of AI in social work, immigration issues, trauma-informed approaches to care, and strategies to prevent burnout and build resilience while managing the complexities of our field of study. Social work professor Debbie Minsky-Kelly presented a four-hour ethics workshop titled “Ethics, Boundaries, and Technology in a Post-COVID World.” | Read about a student's perspective here.
Gun Violence
Summit
Members of the Carthage community participated in the Emergency Gun Violence Summit in Milwaukee, along with over 600 individuals, ranging from elected leaders to high school students. The Carthage College School of Health sponsored a table at this event, and students learned about gun violence as a public health issue and its impact on mental health, victims of domestic violence, and youth in America. Carthage students Liv Bamlett ’27 and Leila Celeste ’29 courageously shared their stories of being personally impacted by gun violence during the summit’s youth panel. | Read more about it here.
OCTOBER 2025
safeTALK Training
In March and November, Levi Stein, president and CEO of Friendship Circle in Milwaukee, came to campus to provide three safeTALK training sessions to a total of 108 Carthage students, faculty, and staff. Participants in these safeTALK trainings learned to stay alert to potential signs that others are struggling with suicidal thoughts. Once these signs are observed, trained individuals are equipped with practical skills to ask important questions and to connect struggling individuals with safe and supportive helpers. The March event was held in conjunction with the “Terminal Exhale” play, which brought awareness of the heavy toll of gun violence on the lives of frontline healthcare workers who treat gun violence victims every day. | Read about the March event here and the November events here.
MARCH & NOVEMBER 2025
National Association of Social Workers-WI
Advocacy Day
APRIL 2025
On April 9, 2025, twelve Carthage social work students attended NASW-WI Advocacy Day with Professor Becki Hornung, Social Work Department chair, in Madison, WI. This event brings together professional social workers and students to learn lobbying skills, so they can become effective advocates on issues that are important to the social work profession. Attendees participated in workshops on advocacy skills, gun violence prevention, and public service student loan forgiveness programs, among other topics. Attendees also had the opportunity to meet with elected officials and their staff to discuss the importance of policies that impact social workers and the communities they serve. This experience was an empowering way for students to use their voices to impact public policies in Wisconsin. | Read a student's perspective here.
Healing the Healers Conference
MARCH 2025
The Social Work Department was proud to co-sponsor the on-campus conference called “Healing the Healers: Approaches to Gun Violence Exposure and Healing.” This conference brought together a unique mix of experts and stakeholders in healthcare, gun violence (GV) prevention, and trauma recovery to discuss the often-hidden effects of GV on frontline healthcare workers who treat victims every day. Speakers at the conference discussed their experiences treating the physical and psychological wounds experienced by GV victims as well as policy initiatives that have the potential to reduce this epidemic in our communities. Co-sponsors of the conference included Moms Demand Action, the 80% Coalition, and the Carthage College Nursing, Social Work, and Theater Departments. The conference culminated with a performance of Terminal Exhale, a unique play based on the experiences of frontline healthcare workers who treat GV victims.
National Association of Social Workers — Wisconsin Conference
The NASW (National Association of Social Workers) conference is an incredible opportunity for social work students and professionals to engage in learning, networking, and advocacy. Attending the Fall 2024 conference allowed me to connect with experienced social workers, gain insights into current issues in the field, and explore new strategies for promoting social justice and community well-being. It was an inspiring experience that reinforced my passion for social work and the impact we can make together. - Katie Larsen, Class of 2026 | Read more here.
OCTOBER 2024
Gun Violence
Summit
At an emergency gun violence summit held in Milwaukee in October 2024, Social Work Professor Debbie Kelly moderated a session called “Artistic Approaches to Healing from Gun Violence.” Four social work students also attended the conference to learn about the intersection of public policy, community safety, and mental health. | Read more about it here.
OCTOBER 2024
National Alliance on Mental Illness Wisconsin Conference
Our first semester as a club, we attended the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - Wisconsin conference in April! We learned about a variety of important topics, met mental health professionals, and connected with each other! | Read our conference report here.
APRIL 2024
More Events
See more events such as:
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Making sensory bags: In November 2024, we teamed up with Mental Health Awareness Club to create sensory bags that were donated to the Kenosha Public Library.
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Mental health student panel hosted by the Office of Engagement and Inclusion, in collaboration with Pi Theta, Mental Health Awareness Club, and Mi Gente
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Slime-making stress relief activity with Mental Health Awareness Club
See more past events and sign up for future events on the Harbor.
