MTSU students and faculty will celebrate the contributions and achievements of social workers across the nation during 2020’s National Social Work Month.

“Social Workers Generations Strong” is the theme characterizing a month full of events highlighting issues, trends and prominent figures within the field from the past and present.

The goal of this year’s campaign is to spotlight the life-affirming services social workers provide to help enhance the lives of people within all communities. This year will mark the 65th anniversary of the National Association of Social Work.

Some of the highlighted events for this month include:

• An event titled “Too Ill to Execute: A Film Screening and Panel about Severe Mental Illness and the Death Penalty” is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, March 6, in Room 221 of the McWherter Learning Resources Center, 1558 Military Memorial.

Sarah McGee

Rev. Stacy Rector

According to the Tennessee Alliance for the Severe Mental Illness Exclusion, “Too Ill to Execute” is “a compelling short film that educates the public about the need to exclude people with severe mental illnesses from the death penalty. The film brings a deeper understanding about the issue of severe mental illness and why such cases are not appropriate for the harshest penalty, a sentence of death. The film also offers specific solutions for addressing this issue.”

Richard Briggs

Panelists will include state Sen. Richard Briggs, a Republican from Knoxville; the Rev. Stacy Rector, director of Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, an organization committed to ending the death penalty; and Sarah McGee, coordinator for the Tennessee Alliance for the Severe Mental Illness Exclusion, or TASMIE.

The event is free and open to the public. Off-campus visitors attending the event can obtain a special one-day permit at http://www.mtsu.edu/parking/visit.php or from MTSU’s Office of Parking and Transportation at 1403 E. Main St. A parking map can be viewed at http://bit.ly/MTSUParkingMap.

• MTSU social work students will participate in “Social Work Day on the Hill,” a policy and legislative event organized by the NASW, Tennessee Chapter, from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, in the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville.

Over 500 students and practitioners statewide annually attend.

• To close out the celebration, MTSU social work lecturer Tonya Hobbs will facilitate the “Joyful Practice: Self-Care Workshop” for social work majors from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, April 3, in Room 121 of the Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building.

Tonya Hobbs

The MTSU Department of Social Work strives to develop competent, ethical professionals with the knowledge, values and skills for effective practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. This mission is enhanced by providing a learning environment where students are taught to think critically, be creative and participate actively in their education. Event sponsors include MTSU’s Department of Social Work and the TASMIE.

For more information, contact Carmelita Dotson, MTSU social work lecturer, at 615-898-5364 or carmelita.dotson@mtsu.edu.

— Carl Coates Jr. (cbc5q@mtmail.mtsu.edu)