After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the National Association of Social Worker's (NASW) annual Social Work Pioneers Celebration will be held in-person on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The Social Work Pioneer Program honors members of the social work profession who have contributed to the evolution and enrichment of the profession. It identifies and recognizes individuals whose unique dedication, commitment and determination have improved social and human conditions.
John A. Yankey, the Leonard W. Mayo Professor Emeritus who fully retired from teaching just two years ago, received the distinguished honor of NASW Social Work Pioneer virtually in 2021. His award will be presented to him in person at this year's event.
Being elected by peers as a Social Work Pioneer is one of the profession’s highest honors. The Pioneers are thought leaders, mentors and luminaries who have, through innovative teaching, program management and advocacy work, changed their communities for the better, often with ripple effects nationwide. Since its launch in 1994, the Pioneer Program has inducted almost 900 accomplished individuals to its rolls. A comprehensive collection of all Social Work Pioneers can be found within the Pioneer Biography Index.
The Honorable Edolphus “Ed” Towns will be the keynote speaker at this year's event, and a panel of MSW and PhD students will examine next steps with thought leaders toward uplifting communities across the nation. View the invitation.
We look forward to coming together to applaud these remarkable individuals who have devoted their lives to social work, touching thousands of lives in the process, and the professionals and academics who have made a life-long, positive impact on the profession.
Read more about John Yankey in the Fall 2021 edition of action magazine.