By Elizabeth Tejada
School of Social Work
The University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work will host a reflective and forward-looking Black History Month panel, The Power of Presence: Black Identity in Professional Social Work, bringing together alumni leaders for a guided conversation on identity, systems navigation, resilience, and collective action within the social work profession.
This year’s event holds special significance as 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, honoring a century of recognizing Black history, culture, and contributions while recommitting to justice, visibility, and justice across education, policy, and practice.
The panel will take place February 5 at 5:30pm in the School of Social Work Lobby (SWSH) and is open to students, staff, faculty, and community partners. As part of the School of Social Work’s ongoing commitment to cultural responsiveness and community engagement, the event is designed to create space for honest dialogue, shared learning, and community connection.
The panel will explore four interconnected themes that reflect both lived experience and professional insight. Panelists will discuss identity and presence, examining what it means to show up authentically as Black professionals in social work spaces, followed by professional navigation within systems, addressing leadership, power, and advocacy in complex institutions. The conversation will also center resilience, joy, and community as essential sources of sustainability and collective care in the work, before concluding with a future-focused call to action that invites attendees to reflect on their roles in advancing justice, representation, and accountability within social work and allied fields.
Featuring diverse professional pathways and areas of influence, the panel brings together three distinguished UTA School of Social Work alumni:
Debra Mitchell Ibe, representing Denton County Friends of the Family, brings extensive experience in survivor advocacy and community-based services, supporting individuals and families impacted by violence and trauma.
Adam Powell, from United Way of Tarrant County, offers insight into systems-level change, community investment, and the role of social work leadership in advancing collective well-being.
Dereka Hall, of Dallas College, shares perspectives from higher education and student-centered practice, highlighting pathways for access, belonging, and institutional transformation.
Guiding the conversation is Dr. Jandel Crutchfield, faculty member at UTA’s School of Social Work, whose scholarship and teaching center race, identity, and the lived realities of marginalized communities within social work practice and policy.
Together, the panelists will connect personal narrative with professional wisdom, offering attendees a meaningful opportunity to learn from Black social work leaders whose presence, resilience, and vision continue to shape communities. Attendees can expect a thoughtful, engaging dialogue that honors the past, addresses present realities, and inspires future action.
To RSVP, visit The Power of Presence: Black Identity in Professional Social Work Panel