A Short Diary by an Executive Director of a Small NASW Chapter Regarding the Presidential Elections:

Opinions Expressed in this Editorial are not those necessarily shared by NASW – RI, the NASW – RI Board of Directors or, NASW National.

November 9th 2:00 AM

DONALD JOHN TRUMP, SR. WINS PRESIDENCY 2:00 AM

November 9th 5:30 AM NASW – RI Office

Mission statement of the NASW - Rhode Island Chapter (Very applicable in this situation.)

The mission of the social work profession is rooted in a set of core values: service; social justice; dignity and worth of the person; importance of human relationships; integrity and competence. NASW promotes; develops and protects social work practice and seeks to enhance the well-being of all individuals.

The Rhode Island Chapter is dedicated to providing services which promotes civil rights, social and economic justice for all Rhode Islanders, the profession, our members and the people they service.

Important conceptual quotes:

Regarding Future Social Actions

“Washing ones hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral." Paulo Freire (1921 – 1997)

“When we tug on a single thing in nature, we find it attached to everything else.”

John Muir (1838 – 1914)

On Government

“Why has government been instituted at all?”

“Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint.” Alexander Hamilton (1755 - 1804)

Regarding Why We Do What We Do

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Anne Frank (1929 - 1945)

Some Thoughts On The Role Of Social Workers: Social Workers act to add balance in a sometimes unfair world for our clients in both the macro and micro interplay of factors between policies, systems, programs, services and actions. Some of these factors are within the control of the clients and their families but most are not. Like a 1950s fictionalized world of Superman we have been thrown into a Bizarro World, a topsy-turvy world, a world where what is said is exactly opposite of what is true, a world that will be unpredictable; a world that I fear will be take many steps backward in virtually every area of civil rights, health care, human services, economic social and justice, and virtually in every venue social workers believe in.

November 10th . 6:00 AM NASW – RI NASW – RI Office

Formulating Strategies For Local Office Response: The Republican Party platform Mantra espouses - small government, states’ rights, and tax breaks for the rich/upper-middle-class. What constituents, professionals and advocates should watch for is changes made in the form of Deregulation, Privatization and Changes in Eligibility. With total control of all three branches of government, these changes will happen as fast as legally possible due to political promises that Trump made his constituents. We must develop our foundations now and intensify networks.

November 10th . Noon. NASW – RI Office

Many calls coming in with concerns regarding elections the last two days from social workers and coalition partners.

November 10th . 5:00. PM My Social Work Intro to SW Class At Rhode Island College (World View Portion)

Many intelligent and passionate concerns expressed by students, from different points of view regarding elections. Very thought out. I’m proud of them! These young students will bear the brunt of not just the next four years but the next 20 years of impact that the policy changes will bring. These discussions show that the students have absorbed conceptually what we have talked about in class.

November 12th . 8:00 AM Saturday (Home)

Ex-Speaker of the House Ryan announces he wants to privatize Medicare. I do not think people realize how significant this is. Even the Bush Administration and the Republican Controlled Congress did not want to take this on. This is extremely worrisome. If the new administration is willing to tackle Medicare then such issues as immigration, civil rights, women’s reproductive rights, disability rights, affirmative action, fair taxation, gun-control, foreign policy and the myriad of other critical issues will be minor in comparison.

November 13th . 5:30 AM Sunday. (Home)

Not getting much sleep. I need to focus on setting up our networks. It is time to react to policy initiatives as they come forward. Every day new threats are coming out of the new leadership even before they take power. We need to find ways to support the leadership such as mayors, college presidents, advocates and others who are standing up right now and watch their backs. We are professional community organizers and we need to get busy doing that. Of course Angie and I also have a chapter to run.

Tuesday, November 15. 3:00 PM (RIC)

I have been asked to speak at a forum organized by the Rhode Island College MSWO concerning the results election. I know this is just for a couple minutes; however, I will be honored to gladly share whatever I have to share. I have heard that there are many students concerned and nervous about the changes that will be going on in Washington DC. They are concern for the right reasons, which have been mentioned in previous entries in this short “Diary”. I have also heard from my student partners from other campuses which brings me great hope.

If you have read this far please watch for updates as we move along this journey. As you know, remember “It is not about us as professionals; it is about those we serve”.

Respectfully Submitted by,

Rick Harris, LICSW

Executive Director