Chapter News

This is my first letter to you NASW-Illinois Chapter President, and I want to begin by saying how honored I am to serve this powerful community of social workers. I step into this role with humility, hope, and deep respect for the strength and resilience of our profession.

If you were not able to attend the 2025 NASW National Conference which Illinois hosted from June 15–19, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, you missed an incredible week of education, networking, and fellowship. Setting attendance records with over 2,000 people in attendance including over 400 Illinois attendees, the conference marked the first time in many years that our association ventured out of Washington, DC. 

This month’s message is bittersweet as it marks my final address to our social work community as NASW-Illinois Chapter President. Over the past two years, I have had the honor of leading our chapter and serving nationally as chair of the Council of Chapter Presidents. It’s hard to believe that my leadership journey within this chapter has spanned six years and is now coming to an end.

It has not been an easy past couple of months for social workers with the unprecedented challenges to our values, as well as the resources to carry out our important work.

Throughout history, it has been the advocacy of social workers that has made a difference.

This year's theme, Social Work: Compassion + Action, has never been more important with the current challenges facing the social work profes

NASW-Illinois Chapter President Latesha Newson, MSW, LCSW NASW-IL President Latesha Newson, MSW, LCSW (she/her) Greetings NASW-IL Social...

Joel L. Rubin, MSW, LSW, ACSW, CAE NASW-Illinois Chapter Executive Director NASW-Illinois Chapter Executive Director, Joel L. Rubin, LSW,...

I remind social workers of our remarkable strength and resiliency to fight injustice and to fight for those marginalized in our society.

As we come together following Election Night 2024, I know many of you may be experiencing a sense of uncertainty about what the future holds

NASW will continue to stand by our values, justice, equity, and compassion—and we will keep advocating for the communities we serve, no matt

Since my last article, many things have occurred and are occurring in the world around us.

The summer of 2024 is winding down, but last week’s Democratic National Convention (DNC) that took place in Chicago was a great and historic

My ask of us as social workers, change agents, and difference makers is to remember our responsibility and to stay the course of justice!

Joel L. Rubin, MSW, LSW, ACSW, CAE NASW-Illinois Chapter Executive Director I recently returned from the National NASW conference in...

NASW-Illinois Chapter President Latesha Newson, MSW, LCSW Greetings NASW-IL Social Work Community, I would like to acknowledge and...

Joel L. Rubin, MSW, LSW, ACSW, CAE NASW-Illinois Chapter Executive Director After five years away, this year's 2024 NASW-Illinois Chapter...

NASW-Illinois Chapter President Latesha Newson, MSW, LCSW Greetings NASW-IL Social Work Community, I hope that this past month...

Joel L. Rubin, MSW, LSW, ACSW, CAE NASW-Illinois Chapter Executive Director Happy Social Work Month! As some of you may not know, Social...

NASW-Illinois Chapter President Latesha Newson, MSW, LCSW Greetings NASW-IL Social Work Community, As we come to the close of the first...