Social Work Organization Honors
Willie Baptist of Philadelphia as Public Citizen of the Year

Social workers from across the Commonwealth will gather in Pittsburgh, PA March 18-20 for a conference hosted by the National Association of Social Workers, Pennsylvania Chapter (NASW-PA) entitled: "2004: New Routes to Social Work Success." Social workers are the largest professional group of mental health service providers in the state, as well as at the national level, and the NASW-PA advocacy organization represents more than 6500 members.

On Friday, March 19th the National Association of Social Workers-PA Chapter will honor Willie Baptist of Philadelphia, PA as Public Citizen of the Year for his outstanding contributions to and support of the social work profession.

Mr. Baptist is education director of the Kensington Welfare and is known for his efforts to develop leadership among the ranks of the poor, as well as in all professions that touch their lives, especially social work. He acts a mentor, advisor, and educator to many groups of university social work students and is instrumental in their growth in areas such as political analysis, value development and social activism.

Mr. Baptist often conducts training sessions on economic human rights, poverty and the social conditions taking place in our society. He has been a driving force behind the creation of an economic human rights framework for clinical social worker practice and is active in integrating such a framework into all aspects of social work practice.

Mr. Baptist is also the Co-Coordinator of the University of the Poor, the education arm of the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, and has published a number of articles in social work textbooks and journals, as well as other publications. He is a well known and sought after speaker.

"Willie Baptist has dedicated his life to bringing about social change, ending poverty, and obtaining human rights for all. He has been dedicated to such work for more than 30 years, and played a very instrumental role in the Homeless Movement during the 1980s. In the past 10 years he has dedicated his time, effort, and expertise to KWRU and the Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign. NASW is pleased to be able to recognize Mr. Baptist with this award. He is an incredible asset to social workers in the state."
- Rebecca Myers, LSW, executive director of NASW-PA