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HUNTINGTON UNIV MAGAZINE

Huntington social work majors participate in LEAD

FOR RELEASE March 21, 2006

HUNTINGTON, IN—Huntington University social work majors recently took part in Legislative Education and Advocacy Day in Indianapolis. 

Standing outside the Indiana State Capitol building are (front row, left to right) students Emily Risser of Chambersburg, Pa.; Diana Hochstetler of Wawaka, Ind.; (back row, left to right) Chynna Wright of New Philadelphia, Ohio; Sheena Sharpe of Huntington, Ind.; Bev Rutan of Huntington, Ind.; and Kimberly Kilander of Huntington, Ind.

The group of juniors was lead by Prof. Twyla Lee, director of social work, and Prof. Carla MacDonald, assistant professor of social work.

LEAD began in 2000 as an annual opportunity for practitioners, students and educators to become more involved in legislative advocacy for social work.

The mission is “to promote social justice by facilitating Indiana social workers’ maximum participation in the legislative process.”  The intent is to educate social workers and students about how to influence state laws and advocate for progressive social policies. “The ultimate goal of the LEAD is to create community and legislative environments in which social work values are accepted and implemented by policy makers in Indiana,” according to a Web site for the event.

Prof. Carla MacDonald and students Bev Rutan, Sheena Sharpe, Chynna Wright, Diana Hochstetler and Kimberly Kilander reflect in the rotunda of the Indiana State Capitol immediately following a public march for the rights of persons served by social workers.

LEAD is sponsored by the Indiana Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, Indiana Association for Social Work Education and the National Association of Black Social Workers.  LEAD is an extension of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and the Council on Social Work Education Curriculum Policy Statements on Social Work Education.

Posing in the conference room on the senate side of the legislative area in the Indiana State Capitol building are Prof. Carla MacDonald with students Kimberly Kilander, Diana Hochstetler, Bev Rutan, Chynna Wright and Emily Risser.  The back row includes Judge James Payne, student Sheena Sharpe, state Sen. Gary Dillon and state Rep. Dan Leonard.

Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S.News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington University is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in northeast Indiana. The University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).

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