Black History Month: Uncovering Social Work's Erased Lineage

As part of Black History Month, we’re honoring Black leaders whose lived experience, leadership, and vision reshaped who gets to lead justice reform and how that leadership is defined. Susan Burton’s path to leadership was shaped by profound personal tragedy. After the death of her five-year-old son, she struggled with overwhelming grief and turned to illegal substances to cope with pain that felt unbearable. That unsafe coping led to repeated justice involvement. During the 1980s and 1990s, Burton cycled in and out of prison six times. Each release looked the same: little money, no identification, no Social Security card, no stable housing, and few employment options. She was caught in the revolving door so many communities know too well, released without the tools to stabilize and then punished again for failing to do so. Upon her final release, she made a different decision. Determined not to return, Burton sought treatment away from the neighborhood patterns that had pulled her back before. In recovery, she found not only sobriety, but stability, accountability, and community. Her recovery became the turning point that made sustained reentry possible. While rebuilding her life, Burton recognized how few resources existed specifically for women returning from incarceration, particularly mothers working to reunite with their children while maintaining recovery. She understood that women often enter the justice system with histories of trauma, and that separating mothers from their children compounds harm across generations. In 1998, she established transitional housing and support services for women returning from prison. That effort grew into A New Way of Life Reentry Project, now a nationally recognized model providing housing, recovery support, and advocacy for formerly incarcerated women and their children. Burton built what she herself needed: structured, stable housing where women could heal and rebuild without jeopardizing their sobriety. As she has said, “We are the leaders we have been looking for.” Her work reminds us that recovery and reentry are inseparable. When women are supported in healing, children gain stability. When mothers have housing and community, cycles can break across generations. As with so many leaders we’re highlighting this month, this post only scratches the surface. Her life and work remain essential for anyone committed to understanding and improving the systems we inherit. #BlackHistory #ileavepeaceprints

Black History Month Reflection: Who We Make Room For. A reflection written by TGTHR's Board Chair, Dr. Stuart C. Lord: "Black History Month is not only about honoring history. It is about examining how history continues to shape who feels welcome, who is protected, and who is expected to navigate systems built without them in mind. Across the United States, Black young people face a disproportionate risk of housing instability. For Black young men in particular, that risk is shaped not by individual failure, but by generations of policy decisions, economic barriers, and systems that were not designed with them at the center. If we are serious about reducing youth homelessness, we have to be serious about expanding belonging as intentional design. In my work and community leadership, I’ve learned that the most powerful services are not only available, but they feel safe enough for young people to enter. That means representation matters. Trust matters. Dignity matters. And the daily work of staff, advocates, and community partners who build that trust is what makes real progress possible. Black History Month challenges us to ask not only what we remember, but what we are willing to change. Because if we want to reduce homelessness, we must expand belonging." Read full blog post by Dr. Stuart C. Lord, TGTHR Board Chair: https://loom.ly/bH4Lq3o #blackhistorymonth #endingyouthhomelessness #belonging #systemschange #communityleadership #TGTHR

Expanding access and representation in clinical research starts with making trials easier to find. During #BlackHistoryMonth, it’s a reminder of why equitable access to research matters. TrialX supports the ALS Network by powering their Trial Finder, helping individuals and families discover relevant ALS #clinicaltrials through a guided search experience. https://lnkd.in/gUeAkHuy #clinicalresearch #patientengagement #patientrecruitment #SCOPE2026

#BlackHistoryMonth calls us to reflect on the history of resistance, leadership, and organizing that has shaped the U.S.. It also calls us to examine how power and resources move today. At Humanity United, our Racial Justice & Equity strategy centers a model of non-extractive, collaborative, community-driven philanthropy. Our goal is clear: support Black, Indigenous, and communities of color in building the political and economic power needed to advance self-determined solutions in our lifetimes. We are honored to support partners who are leading this work on the ground. This month: ONE DC is hosting its Scholars for Social Justice Open University session, Democracy & Social Difference and a Book Talk & Celebration. RSVP for both events on their website: https://bit.ly/4aXSPTA DC Justice Lab reaffirms their commitment to honoring Black history throughout the year with their work in partnership with communitites https://bit.ly/4cxPbRG Liberation Ventures is advancing conversations and organizing around reparations. RSVP for their event today at 1pm ET: https://bit.ly/4qK4TfS Workers Center for Racial Justice continues its work building racial and economic power through organizing. These efforts reflect what we know to be true: there is no single-issue struggle. Systems are interconnected, and so is the work to dismantle them. #BlackHistoryMonth #RacialJustice

During my lectures about bias, I often asked students if they believed they had any biases. Almost unanimously, the answer was no. But as we unpacked the question together, it became clear that bias is something we all carry, whether we recognize it or not. Implicit bias shapes how caregivers see, interpret, and respond to the people they support, often in ways that are subtle but deeply impactful. As we recognize Black History Month, it is especially important to reflect on how implicit bias influences the experiences of Black individuals and other racialized communities within care systems. Awareness is the first step toward meaningful change. When we acknowledge our biases instead of denying them, we create space for more thoughtful, equitable, and compassionate care. These conversations were always some of the most powerful moments in the classroom, because they reminded us that growth begins with honesty. Understanding bias is not about blame — it is about responsibility and the opportunity to do better. #Blackhistory #bias #education #DCDSWstudents #DSW

✊🏾 Black History Month is about more than reflection—it’s about repair, investment, and access. We’re proud to celebrate a transformational win for The Riley Youth Community Center, which received nearly $250,000 to develop the Reflections of Us curriculum in collaboration with Brother Jamaal Shabazz. This funding was awarded through the Indianapolis African American Quality of Life Initiative (IAAQLI)—a place-based effort designed to increase the quality of life for Black residents in Indianapolis by investing directly in community-rooted solutions. At The Cause Conduit, this is exactly the work we exist to support: ✔️ Black-led organizations ✔️ Culturally grounded programming ✔️ Funding pathways that historically excluded our communities When resources reach the people closest to the work, history becomes a tool for empowerment—not erasure. #BlackHistoryMonth #FundingEquity #BlackLedOrganizations #CommunityRooted

For more than 25 years, The @Brotherhood Sister Sol (BroSis) has been showing what happens when young people are met with unconditional love, real support, and the space to fully become who they are. Founded in Harlem and reaching far beyond it, BroSis works with Black and Latinx youth to help them understand their history, claim their voice, and step into leadership, not someday, but now. Through education, youth-led organizing, and powerful training models, BroSis doesn’t just prepare young people for the future… they help them shape it. This work is about justice in every form, educational, racial, economic, gender, and environmental, and about making sure young people know they matter, their stories matter, and their agency matters. In honor of Black History Month, Tax and Business Advisors is proud to highlight and uplift Black-led organizations like BroSis that are building stronger communities by investing in the brilliance, resilience, and leadership of our youth. 💻https://lnkd.in/d6edtqA7  #TaxandBusinessAdvisors  #BlackHistoryMonth  #YouthJustice  #BroSis  #NonprofitImpact

It Takes a Village: The Cultural Assets That Sustain Black Families  During Black History Month, we celebrate the cultural assets that have helped Black families survive, adapt, and thrive in spite of systems designed to disadvantage Black people. Studies from many fields show that Black families have always found strength in their communities.    These four cultural strengths appear time and again:  Extended kin and social networks    From blood relatives to “fictive kin,” Black families have long depended on strong networks for support, resources, caregiving, and stability, especially during tough times and in challenging environments.    Religiosity and spirituality    Faith and spiritual practices, rooted in African traditions and shaped over generations, still give meaning, connection, and protection against racism. Many Black Americans say they have strong beliefs, pray often, and take part in faith communities.    Optimism    No matter the generation or situation, Black families often believe things can get better. This optimism is connected to better mental and physical health.    Role flexibility    Black families manage life by sharing responsibilities among parents, grandparents, adult children, young people, adult children, and extended family. This flexibility is important for addressing challenges and meeting individual and collective needs in families.    These cultural assets evolve over time, but together they show an important truth: Black families flourish through community, connection, positive framing, and shared responsibilities and strength.  #BlackFamiliesFlourishing #BlackHistoryMonth #ItTakesAVillage #CommunityMatters #BFF     Check out the full review to explore more about the history, context, and lessons behind these learnings: https://lnkd.in/esveFZ6c  Check out the full review to explore more about the history, context, and lessons behind these learnings: https://lnkd.in/esveFZ6c  

Hey Network! I am back with another Hidden Figure! 🗳️ Leadership doesn’t always look like a microphone. Sometimes it looks like a classroom. Septima Poinsette Clark (1898–1987) was fired after nearly 40 years of teaching because she refused to leave the NAACP. Instead of retreating, she helped create Citizenship Schools that taught literacy, civic education, and voter registration — equipping tens of thousands of Black Americans to pass discriminatory literacy tests and claim their right to vote. Her strategy reminds us: Access requires preparation. Equity requires infrastructure. Movements require educators. Black History could never be canceled because Black History happens everyday. #black #blackhistorymonth #blackexcellence #leadership #educationmatters #civilrights #womeninleadership #diversityandinclusion #history365

Black History and Healthcare Advocacy As we close out Black History Month, we honor the advocates, physicians, nurses and community leaders who fought for equitable healthcare access. Healthcare disparities continue to affect communities of color, particularly in serious illness and end of life care. Studies from the Kaiser Family Foundation show that Black and Hispanic adults are less likely to have advance directives completed compared with white adults, often due to systemic mistrust and inequitable access. Education and culturally competent support matter. Guiding Sol Doula Services is committed to inclusive, respectful guidance that centers lived experience and informed choice. Equity in healthcare includes dignity at the end of life.