DSW Showcase Student Presentation

Kimberly Chinn

LCSW

Social Justice in School Social Work: Combatting Anti-Blackness in K-12 Education Through Culturally Informed Practice

Concentration - Social Work Education

Abstract

Black students have faced racism in their pursuit of public education. School segregation created hostile classroom environments, underfunded schools, and a general disregard for Black students. Anti-Black racism reveals itself through educational policy, protocol, and pedagogy. The social, psychological, intellectual, and physical harm of anti-Blackness leaves Black students’ achievement in jeopardy while erasing their culture. School social workers are advocates within K-12 education tasked with challenging systemic racism and promoting equity. Unfortunately, some school social workers are unclear on how to utilize social justice practice in their position, especially in addressing anti-Blackness. School social workers’ expertise places them in a position to become educational justice leaders who can create an equitable and anti-oppressive environment for Black students. This presentation explores how school social workers can mitigate anti-Blackness in K-12 education through culturally informed practice utilizing critical race theory, the national school social work practice model, and the Just Practice framework.

Biography

Kimberly Chinn is a driven professional with expertise in case management, community partnerships, and youth development. Kimberly serves as a School Social Worker in metro Atlanta for a Title I middle and high school. Kimberly’s youth development skills shine through her role as she cultivates student success through advocacy, community service and support, and mentoring. Kimberly continues mentoring students after high school graduation to support their transition into adulthood.

Kimberly has dedicated her career to building generations of strong, successful, and impactful youth in marginalized communities. As a current doctoral candidate at the University of Kentucky, Kimberly’s capstone project focuses on racism in K-12 education and school social workers' role in promoting equity through anti-racist, culturally informed practice. With a concentration in social work education, Kimberly aspires to guide the next generation of social work students to challenge systemic racism and oppression through practice. Kimberly earned her bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in social work from Georgia State University.

In her free time, Kimberly enjoys spending time with friends and family and volunteering with the Hands On Atlanta Discovery program, a Saturday enrichment program for Title I elementary students.