48. Justice-Centered Social Work with Shimon Cohen, LCSW

In this episode, we are joined by Shimon Cohen, founder of Doin’ The Work, a podcast, continuing education platform, and practitioner community for justice-centered social workers. Shimon shares his path from street outreach and community organizing into clinical social work, faculty life, and eventually building Doin’ The Work.

He shares how he sees anti-oppressive practice and what it actually means using Donna Baines’ framework. We get into how oppression shows up at both the structural and interpersonal level, and how social work is never really neutral.

We chat about:

Shimon’s path from community organizing to street outreach to clinical social workWhy social work is always political, even when it doesn’t feel that wayBalancing immediate client needs with the push for systemic changeHow to tell the difference between a diagnosis and a response to oppressionWhy naming white supremacy in social work mattersWhat keeps Shimon hopeful and has shaped his outlook on the field

Resources mentioned:

Doin’ The WorkCE: White Supremacy, White Privilege, Racism & Oppression in Social WorkDoing Anti-Oppressive Practice by Donna BainesRacism Without Racists by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva

Connect with us!

Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a money & career newsletter for social workersFind Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.