The National Africentric Social Work Circle (NASWC) is a monthly gathering space for Black social workers across Canada to connect, learn, and build knowledge together. The series aims to deepen understanding, strengthen networks, and advance Africentric social work practice in ways that honour Black communities, histories, and lived experiences.
Calendar of Events:
Monthly Circles
2025-2026 Schedule and Topics
Saturdays 1pm-2:30pm EST (Last Saturday of the month)
| Date | Topic |
| September 27th, 2025 | Defining Africentric Social Work |
| October 25th, 2025 | Defining Africentric Social Work from a Practice Perspective |
| November 29th, 2025 | Bringing Africentric social work from the margins to the center of social work practice |
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No Circle in December - Celebrate Kwanzaa with Family and Community |
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| January 31st, 2026 | Tackling Intersectional Oppression |
| February 28th, 2026 | Rest Reimagined for Black Social Workers: Intersectionality, Burnout, and the Future of Practice |
| March 28th, 2026 | From Oppression to Divided Communities to Unity: A Harambee Call for Co‑building Hope and Harmony |
| April 25th, 2026 | Communities in Action: National Spotlight on Community Initiatives |
| May 30th, 2026 | Mentorship with Black elders in social work |
| June 27th, 2026 | Time of Reflection and Review of the Circles and Planning Next Steps |
| September 26th, 2026 | Dealing with imposter syndrome |
Black Social Work Associations
Alberta Association of Black Social Workers (AABSW)
The Alberta Association of Black Social Workers (AABSW) is an equity-seeking network of social work professionals dedicated to upholding the inherent worth and dignity of peoples of African descent in Alberta and beyond.
AABSW supports Black Social Workers through social connection, networking, peer support, mentorship, supervision, and professional development opportunities.
Website: https://aabsw.ca/
Nova Scotia Association of Black Social Workers (NSABSW)
The key mission of the association is to act as support group and professional development resource for African Canadian workers. The ABSW provides a structure and forum through which Black Social Workers and workers in related fields can exchange ideas, offer services and develop programs in the interest of the Black Community and the community at large.
ABSW offers educational and community based programs ranging from clinical counselling, Africentric Education and Anti-Black Racism Training sessions, and professional development. ABSW conducts awareness sessions on social issues such as: Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Gambling, Parenting Bi-racial/Black Children, Palliative Care etc.
Website: https://www.nsabsw.ca/
Saskatchewan Association of Black Social Workers (SABSW)
The Saskatchewan Association of Black Social Workers (SABSW) is a non-profit organization dedicated to social justice, promoting wellness, and advancing Black excellence. Grounded in Africentric social work, SABSW empowers communities, challenges systemic inequities, and fosters wellness and inclusion through participatory research projects and advocacy. It is a local independent body from the Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers, but the two have a collaborative working relationship. Florence K Mudzongo founded the SABSW on December 7, 2022. Akin to the concerns raised by Black Social workers in other Canadian provinces, the SABSW was created out of the concern of Black social workers and students in the province of Saskatchewan including practicing in isolation, working in hostile conditions, and enormous institutional barriers to professional advancement. Other concerns that led to the formation of SABSW are the current and future of social work profession and education curriculum and how it serves and affect the Black communities in Saskatchewan.
Website: https://sabsw.com/
Umoja Black Social Workers Association (UBSWA)
Welcome to Umoja Black Social Workers Association (UBSWA), a community of Black social workers who are committed to supporting and uplifting Black communities. Our purpose is to provide the opportunity for Black social workers to network, collaborate and have a voice in identifying and addressing issues related to social work practice towards reducing social and health inequities.
Health inequities are differences in health that are systemic, patterned, unfair and can be addressed. Black Social Workers are members of a disproportionately affected community, the Black Canadian community. The voice of Black Social Workers is therefore critical due to lived experiences or kinship-related connections that invoke a visceral investment in the development and upliftment of Black communities.
Website: https://ubswa.ca/
New Africentric Social Work Award and Scholarships
CASW and the National Africentric Social Work Circle Steering Committee are proud to announce the creation of The Honourable Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard Legacy in Africentric Social Work Award, to be presented every two years, and the National Africentric Social Work Circle Student Leadership Scholarships, to be awarded annually.
These inaugural awards will be presented during Black History Month, beginning in February 2027. Application details and submission deadlines for the awards will be shared by CASW and the National Africentric Social Work Circles in the coming months.
These initiatives align with CASW’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the report, Reparations for Social Workers of African Descent, including strengthening Africentric social work education, advancing professional development on anti-Black racism, and recognizing excellence through awards and scholarships.