The Social Justice Center at the School of Social Welfare Social Justice is embodied in the Mission of the School of Social Welfare. The Social Justice Center carries forward this mission by promoting greater equality in income distribution and more equitable provision of health, housing, employment, education, criminal justice and social services. We do this in a five-pronged approach through education, research, consultation, training and advocacy.

We recognize that we cannot do this alone and we can only play one small part in the continuing struggle against oppression and inequality. We take seriously the injunction “Think globally, act locally” and therefore we focus on our own community and in partnership with other organizations. We have an illustrious Advisory Council comprising leaders of social justice-oriented organizations, such as ERASE Racism, the Long Island Progressive Coalition, the National Council of Churches of Long Island, the Suffolk Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Suffolk American Civil Liberties Union, and the Suffolk Community Council, among others and a small Steering Committee of faculty and students.

Annually we hold a Legislative Education and Advocacy Day, together with our local division of the National Association of Social Workers, where we educate students and the larger community about current state policies pertaining to social justice. In addition to education, we conduct training sessions on how to advocate with elected officials in support or opposition to pending legislation.

We have conducted surveys of candidates for county and state office regarding their positions on key social justice issues such as affordable housing, mental health parity, gay marriage and other topics. Their responses are then widely disseminated. Currently we are working with Jobs with Justice and other organizations in promoting the Suffolk County Fair Share for Health Care Act, which would require large, national retailers to provide health coverage for their employees. We have marched in support of affordable housing. We also maintain a large distribution list through which we distribute information, legislative alerts and pending actions by other groups. In this way we serve as a linkage and communication network to help individuals and groups committed to social justice to work together and support each other.

We are proud to be able to do our small part in making the world a little better and welcome your involvement!