Funky Production: Social Work, Race, Class, and Education with l o t i walker | Design Decisions

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Made with minimal equipment and rooted in the belief that ideas need time to grow, this bonus crossover episode between Notes From an Aspiring Humanitarian (NAH) and Social Justice Origin Stories revisits my very first recording from 10 years ago with special guest l o t i walker, a social worker, social justice advocate, artist, and photographer.

l o t i shares why she chose social work, the challenges of working within under-resourced systems, the importance of cultural humility, and building trust through client-centered practice.

She also explores art as self-care, describes her “funky production” approach to problem-solving, and speaks on the power of storytelling and naming our experiences for ourselves.

Companion Episodes:

Ideas Need Time To Grow: How Starting My First Podcast Led Me To Social Justice Origin Stories

Making Race Heard with Surabhi Pandit

Notes from On-Air References:

Visit The Untold Stories of Black Girls at NPR for further insight into l o t i’s thoughts on the high suspension rates of Black girls in the education system.

Regarding my thoughts on maintaining humility and doing personal work, visit my note, Degrees Are Not The Final Say.

Related to the cultural share activity, visit my note, There’s Room for All of Us In This Work.

For additional advice for people who may be considering Social Work as a career or area of study, feel free to browse the Social Work section of N.A.H.

Relevant notes related to combatting the savior complex in Social Work practice:

Want To Help? First, Shut Up and Listen

Having Trouble Connecting With Oppressed Groups? Maybe It’s Not Them. Maybe It’s You

Treat Others How They Want To Be Treated

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Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones