Published on : October 30, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Lydell Thomas
Manager, Marketing and Communications
1.703.519.2057, [email protected]
Atlanta, GA, October 30, 2011 – October 30, 2011—ATLANTA, GA––CSWE honored Congressman John Lewis (Georgia, 5th Congressional District) with the 2011 Presidential Award for his outstanding contributions to social work education during the 57th Annual Program Meeting in Atlanta, GA.
Mildred Joyner, CSWE’s president, presented Congressman Lewis with the Presidential Award at CSWE’s Annual Program Meeting on October 28 during the special Presidential Panel. Congressman Lewis was recognized for his tireless advocacy on behalf of individuals at a disadvantage. The Honorable John Lewis was highly praised for his lifelong dedication to civil rights for all Americans, regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. A powerful voice in the Civil Rights Movement and an unyielding advocate for nonviolent protest and progressive social movements, Congressman Lewis continues to blaze trails in the United States Congress, serving for over 2 decades and enacting policies that preserve basic human rights of health, happiness, and safety. The Congressman has been a longtime friend to social work education and continues to support legislation to enhance the profession. He is an inaugural member of the Congressional Social Work Caucus.
“Congressman Lewis’ leadership has had a lasting impact on the social work profession and education. His dedication to the social work education community is an inspiration,” said CSWE Executive Director Julia M. Watkins. “It has helped to guide the profession in directions that will have a lasting, positive impact on higher education and future generations of social workers.”
The Presidential Award is generally given to individuals who have had a significant contribution to the advancement of social work education and research. The nomination of the award is done by the president of the CSWE Board of Directors.
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is a nonprofit national association representing more than 3,000 individual members, as well as graduate and undergraduate programs of professional social work education. Founded in 1952, this partnership of educational and professional institutions, social welfare agencies, and private citizens is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education.
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