National Conference Offers Pioneer-Led Session on Thought Leadership

By Paul R. Pace

Among the many breakout sessions that will be offered during the NASW national conference in June is an NASW Pioneer-presented discussion called “Cultivating Thought Leadership: Bridging Generations to Strengthen Democracy and Serve Vulnerable Populations.”

NASW Social Work Pioneers® Goutham M. Menon, PhD, MA, MBA; Charles E. Lewis Jr., PhD, MSW; and Kathryn Wehrmann, PhD, MSW, will lead the session. 

Wehrmann, a former NASW president, said the Pioneer program offers younger social workers something invaluable: the knowledge that they do not stand alone. 

“Pioneers stand on the shoulders of people who pushed all of us forward, and through the (Pioneer) program, those people are not just names in a history book,” she said. “They are accessible, present, and available to guide the way.”

Menon said thought leadership isn’t reserved for an elite few. “It’s not just for academics or people with a certain title,” he said. “It’s something you build, and the profession genuinely needs it from all of us. I also want people to see Pioneers differently—not as figures we celebrate and then shelve, but as real, living resources. The perspective that comes from decades is irreplaceable.”

Banned Books

Another breakout session taking place is “Challenging the Silencing: Banned Books, Intellectual Freedom, and Social Work Ethics.” The presenters are Dorri C. Scott, MSW, MBA, EdD, and April Murphy-Morgan, PhD, CSW. 

Scott noted her doctoral dissertation focused on banned books. She discovered about four years ago that books by authors Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, James Baldwin and Anne Frank were among those being banned at libraries. 

 The American Library Association has followed a sharp spike in book censorship attempts in libraries since 2021. In 2024, theALA recorded the third-highest number of book challenges since tracking began in 1990.

“What I looked at was the impact banned books have on college students,” said Scott, who, as practice manager of Wise Woman, leads a team of professionals in helping people achieve their personal and professional aspirations. “When we ban books, we impact how we shape lives. If social workers have a student or a client who feels a certain way, they can recommend a book that may relate to their situation.”

Keynotes and More 

Esteemed academic, author and radio host Michael Eric Dyson will be the opening keynote speaker, who will discuss “What’s Broken and What We Can Rebuild.”

An Advocacy Day on June 10 will offer attendees the chance to visit their representatives on Capitol Hill to discuss the crucial role social workers have in their communities. In addition to opportunities for professional development, continuing education and connection, there will be a film festival, more than 100 exhibitors, and other events taking place during the conference. Therecipients of the 2026 NASW and NASW Foundation National Awards will be recognized throughout the event, which takes place June 10-13 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C. 

“This conference was built by social workers, for social workers,” said Kyle Hillman, the 2026 conference team leader. “We listened carefully to what people told us they need right now: more relevant CEUs, stronger conversations about policy and ethics, space to connect with colleagues who understand the weight of this work, and tools they can use immediately.”

For more, visit the NASW conference page at socialworkers.org/events/nasw-conferences