Mutual aid and Abolition Pedagogy

Moderator(s)

Emily Saltzman, LMSW

Assistant Professor of the Practice
University of Denver - Graduate School of Social Work

Panelist(s)

Sophia Sarantakos, PhD, MSW (they/them/theirs)

Assistant Professor
University of Denver
Maximillion Kilby, MSW

Mutual Aid Facilitator
University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work
Maveryck Boyett, LCSW (they/them/theirs)

Adjunct Faculty and Field Instructor
University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work

Contributor(s)

Kimberly Bender, PhD

Professor
University of Denver

This panel introduces pedagogical strategies and inherent challenges of teaching through a collective care abolitionist lens. Two MSW courses (a mutual aid fellowship and an abolition course) will be used as examples to launch discussion with attendees around the nuance and promise of this approach in transforming social work education.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, attendees should be able to:

Upon completion, the participant will be able to describe abolitionist theory and pedagogy, and its inextricable connection to disability justice and alignment with social work values.
Upon completion, the participant will be able to incorporate abolitionist, access-focused approaches into their own courses and classrooms.
Upon completion, the participant will be able to understand and navigate backend challenges of implementing abolitionist and anti-carceral approaches to field education.