This event is the first in a two-part workshop series. 

The Rad(ical) Social Workers and Coalition of Community Social Workers (CCSW) at Wayne State University, in collaboration with Accountability for Dearborn has organized Building Resilient Communities: A two-part workshop for social workers, students, community workers, and anyone that would like to learn about the dangers of the current carceral systems on Monday, March 20th, 2023, from 3-5 pm and Monday, April 3rd, 2023, from 3-5 pm. Hosted by Accountability for Dearborn facilitators, we will be introduced to the anti-racist case for carceral abolition. This workshop series will challenge your thoughts on current racist systems and how we can organize to dismantle them.

Facilitators will guide a journey towards building communities that have mutual connection and care, not by alienation and isolation. This will include themes on the dangers of the carceral systems, what systems they sustain and create, explore social work ethical dilemmas, the cycle of racism and how to interrupt at various stages, and so much more. Following discussion, in-person participants will work together to create a collective artwork. Participants will receive a copy of Accountability for Dearborn’s booklet on anti-racism and abolition.

Activities will include: 

• Building awareness of the dangers of carceral systems.
• Creating networks of safety in your community.
• Discussion of harm-free zones.
• Mapping out the carceral state and the systems it sustains and the problems it creates.
• A talk on the cycle of racism with examples at various stages and how to interrupt the cycle.