Episode 51: Charting a New Path | Dissenting Social Work with Dr. Paul Michael Garrett

In this thought-provoking episode of The Critical Social Worker: A Revolutionary Storytelling Podcast, Christian Ace engages in a profound conversation with Dr. Paul Michael Garrett about dissent and decolonization in social work. Recorded live from the heart of social work education in Galway, Ireland, the episode delves into critical themes shaping the future of the profession.

Episode Highlights:

• Introduction and Background (0:00 - 3:42 )


• Challenges and Critiques of Social Work (3:42 - 19:10 )


• Collective Action and Solidarity in Dissenting Social Work (19:10 - 30:05 )


• Listening to Diverse Experiences in Social Work Education (30:05 - 35:51 )


• Building Trust and Abolitionist Approaches in Social Work (35:51 - 54:06 )


• Critical Activism and Progressive Responses in Social Work (54:06 - 1:00:15 )

Meet Dr. Paul Michael Garrett:
Dr. Paul Michael Garrett, a renowned social work educator and writer, brings his extensive expertise to the discussion, shedding light on the challenges and importance of dissent in a profession often at risk of falling into compliance. With a keen focus on decolonization, Dr. Garrett emphasizes the need to stretch reading lists, critically analyze canonical figures, and listen to the diverse experiences of students to promote dissenting social work.

Key Quotes from the Episode:

• "Social workers want to help people, but we often end up...working as a cog within the system."


• "The notion that social work would end is...highly unlikely given the investments that states make in the profession."


• "Dissenting social work combats white supremacy and racism and is alert to the dangers of fascism."


• "How can we as professors kind of incorporate that into our curriculum and in the way that we work with students?"


• "Social work education should at least have the opportunities for social work students to become more fully human, to build critical consciousness, and to grow as a human being."


• "We're living within a profession in kind of difficult times. And more broadly, in terms of the big picture, we've got challenging and difficult times."

Listen, learn, and let's revolutionize our approach to social work together.

Book Link: Dissenting Social Work

Article Link: Critical Social Work Article

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