Photos by Ralph Freso
Contrary to what some might say these days, you can run into some very amicable politicians down at the state legislature.
Isaac Rivera last week joined a couple dozen of his fellow Grand Canyon University social work students at Legislative, Education and Advocacy Day, organized by the National Association of Social Workers’ Arizona chapter, when someone in the morning coffee line noticed his GCU T-shirt.
“Are you from GCU?” asked Rep. Quantá M. Crews, who represents West Phoenix and Glendale in the Arizona House and not only got her bachelor’s degree in history at GCU in 2008 but has begun work toward a graduate degree.
She was delighted and came outside under the copper dome to address her fellow Lopes.
“I was saved at GCU – and now am an ordained minister – at the Gathering, which was called something different then. That’s why I’m excited to have you here,” she told students and professors, adding that it was great to see them pursing a field and to “dream of a better world.”
“Thank you for choosing to serve. I’m a servant here, too. We hear from folks and hear their problems and try to find a solution.”
That’s what social workers can do.
Sociology chair and social work instructor Makisha Gunty said the day was a way for students to enhance their understanding of the legislative process and the significance of public policy on the lives of clients.
At the federal level, changes are happening rapidly and “we’re seeing state legislatures looking at all kinds of things like DEI, immigration policy, Medicaid and Medicare funding in budget issues.”
Social workers, students learned, can advocate on many levels for clients and their profession.
Dr. Abigail Rebeske, an instructor and faculty advisor for the Sociology and Social Work Club, said social work involves not only on the micro level with individuals and families and in community groups, but on macro levels, such as advocacy on social policy that can affect change.
“For me, it’s easier to think of social work on the micro scale, through direct contact with individuals,” said junior Luke Bear. “This experience highlighted how many opportunities for social workers there are in state government.”
Students learned about how a bill is passed and what goes on behind the scenes. Brandie Reiner of the NASW Arizona chapter said she helped pass legislation to ensure a streamlined policy toward licensure between states.
NASW’s lobbyist, Natalya Brown, told them it is only one of “thousands of bills” they track in the legislative process. A lot of her work is educating lawmakers on how a bill would affect people.
Legislators often don’t know what is in the bills, she said.
Carlos Ramos, director of the office of constituent engagement and executive appointments for Gov. Katie Hobbs, told the group that he is delighted to work for the first Arizona governor who was a social worker.
“Politics and policy is personal. You may not be impacted by a law, but you know someone who is impacted by the policies,” he said.
Changes in policies and departments, such as what is proposed on the federal level, mean social workers must advocate for their clients, he continued. “They rely on you to go to the government. It’s ugly, messy … but it’s so important for you guys to be engaged.
“Just because you guys are maybe choosing to go the direct care route, doesn’t mean you don’t have a voice. If anything, that voice is going to come out with the lived experiences of the clients you are working for. It’s not an ask of you to be involved, I expect you to be involved.”
Students learned of the Request to Speak system at the Capitol to advocate at hearings or committee meetings.
When the group heard Arizona Rep. Sarah Liguori and Sen. Brian Fernandez’s thoughts on state legislation dealing with unhoused population, it hit home for GCU graduate student Roberta Delgado, who works in a Valley mental health facility.
“Those are things I deal with for clients who are homeless and to hear from legislators about what are dealing with is very humbling,” she said.
“It was a valuable day for me, to know there are more options for social workers – it showed me the sky is the limit.”
Grand Canyon University senior writer Mike Kilen can be reached at mike.kilen@gcu.edu
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