Organization of African American Students in Social Work - OASIS

This month we’re celebrating two important national holidays, National Social Work Month and Women’s History Month.

National Social Work Month was first organized in March of 1963 by National Association of Social Workers as a way to encourage public support for the profession. Then in 1984, a joint resolution of Congress was passed and was proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan under Proclamation 5167 on March 22 as National Professional Social Work Month.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) theme for Social Work Month 2021 is Social Workers Are Essential because social workers are essential to community well-being.

Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978. The organizers selected the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women’s Day. The movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own Women’s History Week celebrations the following year.

In 1980, a collaboration of women’s groups and historians led by the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women's History Alliance) successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week


This month let’s celebrate social workers and women who are improving the lives of individuals and communities across this nation.

OASIS would like to thank everyone who participated in our Virtual Photo Vigil Campaign yesterday wearing all black to acknowledge black lives (living and passed).

The purpose of the Black Lives Taken Vigil is to bring awareness of the many ways in which Black Lives have been taken and continue to be taken (such as through a lack of food sovereignty, policies, police brutality, etc).

Happening now!! 12:00pm - 12:45pm

Black Lives Taken Vigil with our special guest speaker Tanya Byrant-Nickens, LCSW-C, CEAP.

The purpose of the Black Lives Taken Vigil is to bring awareness of the many ways in which Black Lives have been taken and continue to be taken (such as through a lack of food sovereignty, policies, police brutality, etc.)

This space will be open to all in the SSW community to come and acknowledge lives that have been taken and expand upon how other entities, systems, and policies have equally contributed to that person\'s life being taken.

We welcome you to join us as we read names and share stories/experiences, etc. If you can’t make it feel free to share/type names of the lives that have been taken.

Tonight’s event for Black Lives Matter Week is an Open Mic & Poetry Night at 7:30 PM. I hope that you all can attend and invite a friend. Come with your claps and snaps ‘cause it’s going to be a great night!

If you know any poets or creatives who would still love to participate and sign up please let us know!

See you all tonight!!

Our first event for our Black Lives Matter Week will be starting shortly. Our guest speaker Dr. Desiree Anderson will be speaking about dismantling information on Black Lives Matter.

We hope to see you all (virtually).

Happy Black History Month from OASIS ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿

We will be celebrating this month by highlighting a significant and historical African American every week. Stay tuned for this week’s highlight.

We are also having a week of virtual events, February 22nd-February 26th ❤️🖤💚💛

Our upcoming General Body Meeting will be a Virtual Paint Night!! Come share what you’re thankful for & paint with us.

Invite a friend & tell a friend!! We’ll be live via Zoom from 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM.

Email [email protected] to register & receive your free paint kit!

Our second General Body Meeting will be next Monday, October 26, 2020 from 5:00pm - 6:00pm on Black Women's Maternal Health.

We will also be discussing upcoming general body meetings and volunteer events. We hope you all can make it!

OASIS MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY

Good morning everyone. We hope your semester is going great! In light of midterms and us being halfway through the semester we wanted to share some tips and advice:

1. When studying, break sessions up.

2. Make sure you are getting ENOUGH SLEEP - set your alarms!

3. Maintain eating habits (don't try to finish a paper and decide to eat after that last paragraph).

4. Create a self-care routine (Stretch, breathing techniques, take a walk or just relax for five minutes).

5. Reach out to friends and professors for help.

Remember you have connections all around and you are not in this alone! Have a great week everyone!

Tonight is our first virtual event, Social Meet and Greet from 7pm-10pm. Can’t wait to see you all! (By the way I heard there are some prizes to win)

Here is the breakdown of the evening:
• 7:00PM - 7:30PM - Meet and Greet (Tell us Why You're Here/Meet other Students/Upcoming Events)
• 7:30PM - 8:00PM - Scavenger Hunt
• 8:00PM - 9:00PM - BINGO
• 9:00PM - 10:00PM - End the night with Music and fun!

OASIS will be having a Virtual Social Meet and Greet with USAD (United Students of African Descent) this Friday evening, September 18, 2020 from 7:00pm-10:00pm. Tune in and have fun with us as we meet other students at UMB, play games and dance through the night!