Statements

Mission

The Coalition of Black Social Workers exists to engage, connect, and empower Black social students and professionals.

Background

The CBSW started on the campus of the University of Tennessee College of Social Work as a way to connect Black social work students with Black professionals to provide them with guidance, access, and encouragement. Our founder and executive director saw how challenging it was for students of color to feel connected and to get the support that they needed while studying to be a social worker. Students were being trained as helpers, but they needed support themselves and they needed representation in the field. The CBSW exists to engage, connect, and empower Black social work students and professionals.

The 5 values of the CBSW are Black excellence, mentoring, training, networking, and community. We want to be a support and a light to the community. We want to show the community the importance of social work and the excellence of Black social workers. We want to be an organization that provides hope to Black social workers and to the community at large.

Impact

The CBSW currently has over 350 members across the state of Tennessee and beyond. There are two campus chapters at the University of Tennessee and the University of Memphis. Each campus has a student leadership team, creates events on campus for students, and connects with professionals through mentoring.

The CBSW started a scholarship program in 2021 called the James and Elaine Reese Legacy Scholarship Program. Any CBSW student member is eligible to apply for the scholarship. We accept applications at all levels (BSW, MSW. DSW, PhD). The first recipients were named in 2020 at the annual conference.

The CBSW also has a Giving Tree Program that takes place in November of each year. CBSW members who are in need of support can apply to be a recipient and we collect donations and presents for the families during the holiday season.

The CBSW has an annual conference during Social Work Month that reaches approximately 100 social workers. The conference is open to all who are passionate about Black issues, mental health, self-care, trauma, and engaging communities.

The CBSW also hosts multiple trainings throughout the year and often partners with the National Association of Social Worker-Tennessee Branch to promote the trainings.

Needs

We need individuals who want to support the mission of the CBSW and who are able to serve as mentors, trainers, and financial partners. We need support for our scholarship program. We need donations for our Giving Tree Program. We need people who will volunteer at our conference and events because they want to ensure the success of Black social workers. We understand that this takes both Black social workers and also allies.

CEO Statement

Are you a Black social work student or professional? Are you an ally who cares deeply about Black social workers? Well, then, you have made it to the right place!

The CBSW is a community of social workers who prioritize the needs and success of Black people. We celebrate us. We care about us. We amplify our voices. ​

The CBSW started at the University of Tennessee College of Social Work in 2018 as a way to connect Black social work students with Black social work professionals in hopes to build community, support, and empowerment. Our organization is a 501c3 non-profit, we have members in the state of Tennessee and beyond. We offer virtual trainings, a dope annual conference, opportunities for mentoring and networking, service projects in the community, a scholarship for students and financial support for members through the holiday season. We also have campus chapters at the University of Tennessee and the University of Memphis.

Join us. We can't wait to welcome you as a member of the family.

​Joyfully,

Dr. Carmen Reese Foster, LMSW, LSSW

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy  - Civil Rights, Social Action, & Advocacy N.E.C.
Secondary Category:	Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy  - Minority Rights
Tertiary Category:	-

Areas Served

The CBSW is based out of Nashville, Davidson County, but we serve social workers and students across the state of Tennessee and beyond.

TN - Davidson