Social Welfare Student Alliance 2010-2011

Co-Chairs: Laura Shlecter, lshlecter@ucla.edu and Mark Permsuvan, permsuvan@gmail.com 
Communications Director: Stephanie Hair, stephaniehair@ucla.edu; E-mail items for weekly student bulletin to: mswbulletin@gmail.com
Student Relations: Sigall Rave, sigallrave@gmail.com, Brittany Rudinica, brudinica@gmail.com & David Wong (Buddy Mixer), david.alh.wong@gmail.com
2nd Year Student Curriculum Reps: Brandy Barta, BrandyBarta@gmail.com & Cassandra Peterson, CassPeterson@ucla.edu
Social Media Director: Emily Blake, emilylblake@gmail.com
Speaker of the House: Cornell Williams, cornellwilliamsjr@yahoo.com
Members at Large: Gloria Holguin, gtbaez@sbcglobal.net & Leslie Ann, aramburo@ucla.edu
Field Representative: Amanda Stemen, ajstemen@gmail.com

Asian/Pacific Islander Student Caucus (API)
The API Caucus strives to bring awareness to the social issues faced by the Asian Pacific Islander communities. We recognize the diversity within the API population itself, which includes east Asians, Pacific Islanders, southeast Asians, and Indians. Come join us as we explore issues on immigration experiences, the media portrayal of Asians, domestic violence in Asian households, LGBTQ issues, cultural competencies in social work practice with the API, and more. There will also be fun social events and field trips to visit API communities in southern California. Students from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds are welcome to join.

Student Co-Chairs: Brent Mori, David Wong, Nathaniel Lowe (Urban Planning)

Contact e-mail: uclaapi@gmail.com

facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=107094506020226

Black Caucus
The Social Welfare Black Caucus is a student organization established to serve as a network of support for African American students and all interested students in the Department of Social Welfare located in the School of Public Policy building. The Black Caucus will act as a service oriented resource, providing both information and a forum where all students can dialog about social welfare issues as they pertain to the Black community. 

Student Co-Chairs: Nycola Howell, nvhowell@ucla.edu & Amanda Smick, smick.amanda@gmail.com

Children's Mental Health and Welfare Caucus

Christian Caucus

The UCLA Christian Social Work caucus holds a commitment to represent Christ through education, community, and service. Our aim is to glorify God through our words and actions as a caucus. We hope to collaborate with other caucuses, students and faculty to pursue social People of all religious backgrounds and spiritual walks are welcome.

Find us on facebook: UCLA Christian Social Work Caucus 

Student Chair: Tiffany Cheuk, msw.requests@gmail.com

Disability Caucus
The goal of the Disability Caucus is to increase awareness of issues and concerns that affect the disabled population.  Our mission is to support and encourage students with a disability to obtain their educational goals, as well as to promote and implement activities/projects that help bring awareness to this population. 

Diversity Caucus

The Diversity Caucus seeks to work with the Department of Social Welfare in finding solutions to overcome the barriers that make it challenging to enroll diverse groups of incoming students into the Social Welfare program and promote diversity throughout our curriculum and program. 

Student Co-Chairs: Branda Barta, Candice Lamping, & Robyn Ekenstedt

Contact e-mail: ucla.msw.diversity.recruitment@gmail.com

Feminist Caucus 

The Feminist Caucus is a non-hierarchical student run organization that seeks to empower students to cultivate and nourish their feminisms.

As an organization we intend:

• To promote an inclusive academic community that is supportive of feminist
  thinking, scholarship, and practice.

• To advocate for social justice for marginalized
  populations; acknowledging the complexities of gender, social identity,
  privilege, oppression, and power on womens' and girls' experiences.

• To contribute to building a politically, socially,
  environmentally, economically just world through feminist scholarship, and
  activism.

For more information contact Erin Nakamura, Becca
Lomanco, Cassandra Peterson, and Hazel Larimer at  UCLAfeministcaucus@gmail.com

Gerontology Caucus
Older adults are a severely underserved population with unique  
strengths and needs. The Gerontology Caucus will open a dialogue  
between students and professionals currently working in the field to  
increase interest in and raise awareness about the issues and  
opportunities in this growing and changing field.

Contact e-mail: swgerocaucus@gmail.com

International Social Wefare Caucus
The purpose of the International Social Welfare Caucus is to:

• Create understanding on the role of social welfare in the international community.
• Raise awareness of areas of social concern and interest impacting the world.
• Explore overseas social work services and development activities.
• Promote international experiences for social welfare students.
• Provide information to social welfare students on volunteer opportunities for international social work locally and abroad. 

For more information, please email: ISWC@ucla.edu

Latina/o Student Caucus

The mission of the Social Welfare Latina/o Caucus of UCLA is to support and implement the education of social workers interested in working with Latina/o populations. We fulfill our mission through social, educational, and political activities.

Student Co-Chairs: Gloria Holguin, gtbaez@sbcglobal.net & Carmen Espinoza, espinocg@ucla.edu

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=291877752235

Lobby Days
Legislative Lobby Days is a two-day event that educates students and professionals about important legislation affecting clients and the social work profession. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the legislative process and get a "hands-on" lobbying experience of talking with state legislators about important policy issues. By joining the Legislative Lobby Days caucus you will have the opportunity to build strong relationships with other MSW students by working together to fundraise for the trip, and you will also have the opportunity to meet and network with other MSW students and professionals in Sacramento.

Link: http://www.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=6c2f9653-913a-481c-8955-7ec43fa441bf

LGBTQA Caucus

The Social Welfare Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Ally Caucus is a support network for LGBTQ community members and their straight aillies within the MSW program at UCLA. It strives to promote awareness about LGBTQ issues, while also advocating for necessary MSW curriculum improvements that contribute to a more tolerant environment for LGBTQ students.

Student Co-Chairs: Arty D'Angelo, Marisol Sanchez & Craig Pulsipher

Contact email: uclalgbtqa+subscribe@gmail.com

Find us on facebook: UCLA Social Welfare LGBTQA Caucus

Self-Care Caucus

Being an MSW student can sometimes be hard, but thankfully self-care is easy! The Self-Care Caucus encourages UCLA MSW students to take of their mental, physical and emotional needs in a fun and supportive environment. Join the Self-Care Caucus and do stuff that makes your soul happy! For more information just send you name, graduation year and email to selfcarecaucus@gmail.com or look for Malena Traverso, Cassie Young or Bridgette Wheeler and ask!

Contact e-mail:  selfcarecaucus@gmail.com

Social Justice Caucus