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Free Public Symposium at Rutgers on March 25

Citizens in countries such as Egypt had to stage violent protests to change their government; in this nation, citizens have a whole toolkit of legal and peaceful solutions to effect change. On March 25, a free public symposium at Rutgers University, Newark, will take a look at some of those solutions. The “2011 Symposium on Influencing Government Policy” will examine methods of political and social action that can effectively impact government leaders and government policies.  This year’s program – a closing event of Social Work Month — will focus on state and local government policies, since New Jersey will hold state and local elections this year.

The forum, which is from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., is open to anyone interested in becoming an active participant in government and helping to shape public policy.  It will be held in both the Paul Robeson Campus Center, 350 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., and in adjacent Hill Hall, 360 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.  Attendees can receive continuing education credits for participation; for information, contact Kendra Hayes, NASW-NJ, 732-296-8070, ext. 15; e-mail   khayes@naswnj.org;

“Citizens of a democracy have both a right and an obligation to actively engage in developing, and, when necessary, working to change government policies,” says organizer Paul Shane, a professor in the Social Work Department of Rutgers in Newark. This is Shane’s last year coordinating the annual symposium, which he has presented every year for 20 years; Shane is retiring in June.

The program is co-sponsored by the Rutgers Social Work Department, Newark; the Social Work Student Association; the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, New Jersey chapter (NASW-NJ); and the NJ Undergraduate Social Work Educators.

2011 SYMPOSIUM ON INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT POLICY

8:15-9 a.m., REGISTRATION AND OPENING REMARKS, Paul Robeson Campus Center, Essex Room East

9 a.m., PANEL DISCUSSION: Social Workers and Advocacy, Essex Room East

BREAKOUT SESSIONS: All participants move to Hill Hall

10:30 a.m., WORKSHOPS SESSION I

1. Unleashing the Advocate Within: How to Get Published as a Writer of Op-Eds and Letters-to-the-Editor, Hill 103

2. Got Issues? Get Power!  Hill 104

3. To be determined -Hill 210

4. NJ State Legislative Process 101, Hill 202

ALL WORKSHOPS WILL BE REPEATED AT 11:45 A.M.

1 p.m., CONCLUDING REMARKS; FAREWELL TO DR. PAUL G. SHANE

For more information: Kendra Hayes, NASW-NJ, 732-296-8070,  ext.15, e-mail   khayes@naswnj.org;  or  Paul Shane 973/353-5174, email pgshane@andromeda.rutgers .

The Paul Robeson Campus Center and Hill Hall are wheelchair-accessible, as is the Rutgers University-Newark campus. Rutgers can be reached by New Jersey Transit buses and trains, the PATH train and Amtrak from New York City, and by Newark Light Rail. Metered parking is available on University Avenue and at Rutgers’ public parking garage, at 200 University Ave.  Printable campus maps and driving directions are available online at: http://www.newark.rutgers.edu/maps/index.php