The Contours of Filipino Social Work Praxis in the Canadian Diaspora Virtual Symposium
February 7 to 9, 2025
Since the 2017 formation of the Filipino-Canadian Social and Community Workers Network (FCSCWN), there has been a growing number of Filipino and Filipino-Canadian social work scholars entering into graduate studies as well as tenure-track faculty positions.
The Contours of Filipino Social Work Praxis in the Canadian Diaspora Virtual Symposium is the first academic conference for FCSCWN. We invite Filipino-Canadian scholars and practitioners in all stages of their careers (including undergraduate and graduate student scholars, community-based researchers, service providers, community organizers) to gather for critical kuwentuhan (storytelling) on the emerging field of Filipino-Canadian social work.
If you have any questions, concerns, or need support in registering, please email us at [email protected].
Please note that professional development certificates can be issued upon request for registered social workers.
Dates
- Friday, February 7, 2025: Opening Keynote and Fireside Chat
- Saturday, February 8, 2025: Panel Presentations and Q&A
- Sunday February 9, 2025: Participatory Activities
Closing Keynote
Our Kwentuhan (storytelling) are guided by the following key questions:
- How do we mobilize Filipino ways of knowing and diverse lived experiences to inform social work practice, theory, and policy?
How do we push against the dominant, normative institutional boundaries through critical, feminist, and decolonizing frameworks?
How can our processes and practices of building Filipino knowledges contribute to the decolonial work of Indigenous, Black, Queer, and other racialized and marginalized research projects and activism in ways that are more reflexive and reciprocal?
Friday, February 7, 2025
On Day 1, join us for a Keynote Address and Discussion with Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard. This keynote will ground our gathering in critical reflection and possibilities for transformative social work.
- 6:30 PM EST: Welcome and Opening Remarks
- 7:00 PM EST: Keynote Address: Creating New Possibilities in Social Work: Lessons from an Africentric Perspective
- Speaker: The Honourable Wanda Thomas Bernard, PhD, C.M., O.N.S Senator – Nova Scotia (East Preston)
Saturday, February 8, 2025
On Day 2, join us for panel presentations and critical kuwentuhan (storytelling) with Filipino-Canadian scholars and kin from across Canada.
- 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST: Combatting in/visibility in Canadian social work
- Discussant: Dr. Ed Ou Jin Lee (Associate Professor, Université de Montréal)
- Moderator: Ben Capili (PhD Student, Memorial University)
- Monica Batac (PhD Candidate, McGill University; Lecturer, University of Manitoba)
- Benjamin Bongolan (PhD Student, University of Toronto)
- John Segui (PhD Student, University of Toronto)
- Shella Zagada (PhD Candidate, University of Toronto)
- 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST: Break
- 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST: Strengthening the transnational links between the Philippines and Canada
- Discussant: Dr. Billie Allan (Associate Professor, University of Victoria)
- Moderator: Ruth Wilson (PhD Student, University of Toronto)
- Nellie Alcaraz (PhD Student, McGill University)
- Melissa Cortez (MSW Student, McMaster University)
- SherJan Maybanting (MSW Student, University of Regina)
- Dr. Jessica Ticar (Assistant Professor, Algoma University)
- 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM EST: Break
- 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM EST: Bridging theory, practice, and policy through anti-racist and decolonizing efforts
- Discussant: Dr. Rhonda Hackett (Associate Professor, University of Victoria)
- Moderator: Frankie Cabahug (PhD student, University of British Columbia)
- Althea Gorospe (MSW, Toronto Metropolitan University)
- Darnel Tormon Forro (PhD Candidate, Memorial University of Newfoundland; Faculty Member, Red Deer Polytechnic)
- Anabelle Ragsag (PhD Student, McMaster University)
- Dr. Jacqueline Colting Stol (PhD, McGill University)
Sunday, February 9, 2025
On Day 3, join us for a series of participatory activities to build community and foster dialogue amongst our network members.
- 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM EST: Guided Wellness Practices with Jaisa Sulit
During this wellness breakout session, Jaisa will guide participants through four mindful self-compassion practices that can easily be integrated into one’s personal and professional practice. The practical tools shared are meant for self-regulation, co-regulation and for sharing with others whether they be clients, co-workers, friends, family or community members. Session participants will be given an opportunity for witnessing & connecting through a facilitated discussion following the guided practice. Integrating a decolonial lens into evidence based practices shown to prevent burnout in healthcare professionals, participants can expect to leave with tools that not only prevent empathy fatigue and burnout but also support our self-care for collective care and resiliency.
- 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM EST: Network Kuwentuhan / Conversation Circle with Social Service Practitioners and Researchers
During this Network Kuwentuhan / Conversation Circle, Filipino/a/x social workers, social service workers, and community workers across Canada come together to network, then identify and discuss pressing social issues facing the Filipino community. We envision this as a consciousness-raising gathering. We will use facilitated small-group discussions and a whole-group debrief to share 1) concerns and needs in our local contexts, 2) current initiatives and interventions addressing these issues, and 3) potential calls to action that can be mobilized through community education, social work practice, or further research. Sharings during this dialogue will inform future directions and priorities for the FCSCWN.
Participants will be asked to respond to the following prompts,
- Introduce yourself and your work context
- Share your experience as a Filipino/a/x social / community worker in your context (racial identity and practice)
- As a practitioner, what are 1 or 2 significant topics / concerns / issues that need to be discussed or addressed in the Filipino community?
- How might these issues be addressed at micro/mezzo/macro levels?
- 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM EST: Digital Collaging: Future Imaginings of Filipino-Canadian Social Work with Esther Dimalanta
A digital collaging session that invites participants to look ahead and imagine the future of the Filipino Canadian Social and Community Workers Network (FCSCWN), and the Filipino-Canadian social worker landscape.
Session Disclaimer: We will be creating online/digitally. We recommend joining from a desktop or laptop. Smartphones will work with some feature limitations.
- 2:45 PM – 3:15 PM EST: Closing Remarks
The Virtual Symposium is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.