What Are Social Workers Bringing to the Table?

by Raekwon Burton

     Throughout the holiday season, it is nearly impossible to avoid a discussion about food. "What's your favorite Thanksgiving food? What are you cooking for Christmas?" While I participate in these conversations, I feel burdened by the fact that nearly 18 million people in America are dreading these conversations because they lack adequate economic, social, and physical access to food.

     As a social work student, I have dedicated time and effort to understanding the systemic discrimination experienced by vulnerable populations and promoting overall well-being and quality of life for these populations. Food inaccessibility is a concern of social inequality that social workers have an ethical obligation to address. However, as an academic discipline and profession, social work is failing to address food access and distribution at a systemic level.

     For the last few years, I have been struggling to understand the role of social workers in contemporary social movements. Historically, social workers have addressed these matters by utilizing remedial methods: connecting clients to short-term services and entitlements. Often, clients participate in initiatives such as in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). However, such programs ignore direct connections between institutionalized bias and the social, emotional, and economic health of vulnerable communities and the individuals who inhabit them, leaving oppressive structures intact.

     In recent years, numerous under-resourced communities have decided to take the matter into their own hands and have begun planning strategies to address food accessibility by utilizing urban agriculture. I assert that social workers should employ their connections with under-resourced areas to assist in community initiatives that address food inaccessibility.

     Social workers hold a unique position as the mediator between low-income communities and the municipal government. Through their interactions, they gain insight from various sources, which facilitates a more general perspective on issues. In conjunction with their ability to advocate for community-developing initiatives on a community level and policy level, social workers become essential to addressing problems of food access in low-income communities.

     Within neighborhoods, the social worker should build community awareness and interest. Social workers' commitment to cultural competency makes them crucial for educating and training the community about local food sustainability projects. Recruited community members indicated that they were more likely to trust social workers, as opposed to other recruiters. The ability to create relationships in these communities also allows social workers to generate accurate assessments of the community’s needs, resources, and strengths. Such dialogue would conclusively determine what these communities want and need from urban agriculture.

     While communicating with governing bodies, social workers should advocate for low-income communities in policy discussions with city planners and lawmakers. Utilizing their knowledge of the community concerns and neighborhood layout, the implementation of initiatives could acknowledge the community’s and government’s interest, therefore sustaining involvement and effort from both parties.

     Whether social workers are engaging in micro- or macro-level approaches, their efforts are vital to supporting community-driven development. The solution to the growing concern of food inaccessibility must be multifaceted and long-term, and it will require commitments from health care providers, public health advocates, and the communities and individuals they serve. If we are to alleviate under-resourced communities of this issue, social workers must assume the responsibility of gathering community opinion, educating the public on effective and ineffective practice, and unifying the residents of a community.

     Honestly, I am hopeful at the end of this year. My resolution for the upcoming New Year is to ensure that a few more families have food that they can be thankful for during the holiday season.

Raekwon Burton is a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania's Master of Social Work program. Raekwon has spent the last decade working collectively with under-resourced communities on issues of environmental justice. His efforts include collaborating with community gardens, produce farms, food banks, and various sustainability groups. For questions, contact Raekwon on LinkedIn.