AAAC Social Justice Talk
In an era where fundamental rights face significant challenges and the fabric of diversity, equity, and inclusion is under strain, the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice African American Alumni Committee invites you to the 2025 AAAC Social Justice Talk, a vital 1.5-hour event addressing urgent racial and social justice issues.
A distinguished panel of alums, practitioners, advocates, and faculty will engage in meaningful dialogue about critical topics, including:
- The implications of the Supreme Court's affirmative action decision on African American education, employment, and economic mobility.
- The impact of recent state legislation on access to essential healthcare, including reproductive and gender-affirming care.
- The efforts to reshape racial and cultural identity narratives in education and public discourse.
- Strategies to combat historical disinformation, particularly regarding slavery's impact in the U.S.
- Innovative approaches to protect and advance marginalized communities' rights.
This event offers a platform for discussion but encourages participation through an interactive Q&A. Your voice will be integral to advancing racial and social justice and shaping a more equitable future for all. This event is free* and welcomes participants from all backgrounds. Professional Development Credit is available - this event satisfies 1.5 hours toward the cultural competence requirement.
*There is a fee for those attendees seeking Professional Development Credit
Panel Discussion will include:
Moderator: Eugene Robinson, Jr. AM ‘09
Panelists:
- Marshanelle Horne, APRN, FPA, FNP-BC
- Decoteau J. Irby, PhD
- Gina E. Miranda Samuels, PhD, Professor; Faculty Director, Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture
University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice - Tanya D. Woods, Esq.
Director of Black Student Success, Office of Equity
Chicago Public Schools
Eugene Robinson, Jr. is the inaugural Director of Black Student Success at Chicago Public Schools (CPS), where he leads initiatives to promote equity for Black students. Previously, he served as Director of Student Engagement, overseeing student engagement and out-of-school activities across 500 CPS schools and 175+ community partners, impacting over 100,000 students.
Eugene has also held key roles at CPS, including Director of Postsecondary Support and Strategy and Manager of Postsecondary Initiatives. With over 20 years in education and social work, Eugene is dedicated to student success and social justice. He holds a Bachelor’s from Chicago State University, and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Chicago. Eugene also completed Culinary Arts training at Washburne Culinary Institute and is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Professor; Faculty Director, Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture
University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice
Gina E. Miranda Samuels, PhD, Associate Professor at the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, uses critical interpretive methods to explore belonging, identity, and kinship among young people with histories of displacement due to adoption, foster care, and home loss.
Her work centers emic (insider) perspectives and has advanced and developed novel conceptual and empirical findings on processes and conditions including relational permanence, survivalist self-reliance, intrafamilial racism, monoracism, ambiguous loss, and the meaning of kinship and home beyond physical, biological, or legal dimensions. As a black mixed race woman who was transracially adopted, and a former child welfare social worker, Miranda Samuels' scholarly work is distinct and deeply informed by the dual expertise of her professional and personal backgrounds.
Family Medicine Nurse Practitioner
CEO, Thrive Life Wellness Center
Marshanelle Horne, APRN, FNP-BC, is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of healthcare experience. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (2001) and a Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner (2013). Horne is the owner of Thrive Life Wellness Center and Thrive Life First-Aid and CPR Training Center, which she co-founded in 2018. In 2020, she received full practice authority as a Family Nurse Practitioner in Illinois.
Her career spans diverse healthcare roles, including medical-surgical nursing, obstetrics, geriatrics, hospice, case management, and nursing leadership. Since 2013, she has been providing direct patient care as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Marshanelle has also launched and directed health and wellness programs and hospice teams. Horne’s expertise extends into specialties such as obesity medicine, aesthetics, and cosmetic surgery, with a strong focus on integrative and holistic health & wellness.
Associate Professor
University of Illinois Chicago, Department of Educational Policy Studies
Decoteau J. Irby, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) in the Department of Educational Policy Studies, where he teaches in the Urban Education Leadership EdD program. He is co-director of UIC's Center for Urban Education Leadership, focusing on research in PreK-12 school and community-based organizational leadership. Professor Irby is also the founding director of Brothers Teaching, an initiative aimed at increasing the number of male teachers of color in Illinois schools.
His research examines equity-focused school leadership to improve the academic achievement and socio-emotional well-being of Black children and youth. Recent funded projects include a William T. Grant Foundation grant, collaborating with Chicago Public Schools to improve racial equity practices. In 2019, he received a Spencer Large Grant to study district-level racial equity leadership. Professor Irby has authored and co-edited books, including Stuck Improving: Racial and Equity in School Leadership and Dignity-Affirming Education. A respected thought leader, he is a consultant helping school leaders use racial equity to enhance educational outcomes. He is UIC’s 2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Faculty Award recipient.
Executive Director, Westside Justice Center
Licensed attorney in the State of Illinois
Tanya D. Woods, a licensed attorney in Illinois, has been Executive Director of the Westside Justice Center since 2017. She oversees the clinic’s operations and strategic initiatives, including the Illinois Access to Justice network of 80+ organizations. A certified mediator and adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago, Tanya is deeply committed to social justice and community service.
She is involved with several bar associations and national organizations, including the Chicago Bar Association, Cook County Bar Association, and Black Women Lawyers Association. She is active in several philanthropic organizations including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Links Incorporated, and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. Additionally, Tanya sits on the boards of the Catholic Lawyers Guild and the Loyola University Chicago - School of Law.
This event welcomes participants from all backgrounds and attendance is open to all.
If you have any questions about access or to request a reasonable accommodation that will facilitate your full participation in this event such as ASL interpreting, captioned videos, Braille or electronic text, food options for individuals with dietary restrictions, etc. please contact the event organizer.