Dare To Soar Season 2

Across the nation, school social work is experiencing a shift one that calls for reflection, honesty, and action. This episode brings together two dynamic voices representing different generational perspectives to explore what is happening and what must happen next.Featuring:Dr. Kashera Guy Robinson, LCSW30+ years in social work | Former school social worker | Now Director of Field Education & Assistant Clinical Professor at Auburn University at Montgomery | 2023 School Social Worker of the Year Mrs. Erika Cuttray, LCSWSenior Social Worker at Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center | Owner, The Serene Mindset, LLC | Mental wellness advocate with 10+ years in trauma, grief, and depressionIn this episode, we explore:• Why are Millennials rethinking and, in some cases, leaving school social work?• The impact of burnout, workplace culture, and systemic challenges.• Generational differences in expectations, boundaries, and sustainability.• What social workers truly need to feel supported and valued.• Actionable insights on how to retain and reclaim the next generation of professionals.This is more than a conversation, it is a call to listen, reflect, and lead differently.Because the future of school social work will not be shaped by who enters the field…It will be shaped by who is able to remain.

What does it mean to lead with purpose to advocate with courage, and to stand firmly in justice especially in a time when justice is being challenged?In this important and purpose-driven episode of Dare To Soar with Dr. RC, we are joined by Dr. Ashley Johnson, School Social Worker, Education Consultant, Adjunct Professor, Board Chair, and State President of the Tennessee Association of School Social Workers.As the recipient of the First National Social Justice Award, Dr. Johnson brings a critical and courageous voice to the evolving conversation around equity, advocacy, and leadership in today’s educational and political climate.Together, we explore:🔹 What social justice leadership looks like in real time.🔹 The impact of current policy shifts on students, families, and schools.🔹 The responsibility of social workers to move beyond awareness into action.🔹 How leaders sustain their voice and purpose in challenging systems.This is more than a conversation, it is a call to rise, lead, and stand firmly in purpose.

Some wounds are invisible.Some stories are never toldAnd far too many children are suffering ... in silence. In this impactful and deeply moving solo episode, Dr. RC brings light to one of the most urgent and often overlooked issues impacting our communities child abuse and neglect.In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, this episode goes beyond awareness and calls each of us into intentional action.💙 This is not just a conversation…💙 This is a wake-up call.💙 This is a responsibility we all share.In This Episode, You Will Learn:✔️ The different forms of child abuse and how they show up.✔️ Eye-opening statistics and realities impacting children today.✔️ Common myths that prevent intervention and the truth behind them.✔️ Warning signs every adult should recognize.✔️ The long-term impact of childhood trauma.✔️ What YOU can do to protect, support, and advocate for children.Why This Conversation Matters:Child abuse does not discriminate but access to protection and support often does.Many children never report what they are experiencing and many signs go unnoticed.

What if one intentional action could create a ripple that transforms not just a moment… but an entire system? In this powerful episode of Dare To Soar we explore the idea that small, purposeful actions in leadership and practice can lead to lasting, meaningful change across schools, communities, and beyond.Joining Dr. RC are two dynamic voices bridging research and real-world impact:Dr. Kevin Tan, Associate Dean at the School of Social Work, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. A nationally recognized leader in school social work, his work focuses on social-emotional learning, transformative practice, and authentic university-community partnerships that advance equity and belonging.Ms. Kelsi Walters, School Social Worker and frontline practitioner advancing equity-centered, community-engaged, and social-emotional learning initiatives. Her work brings theory to life, centering student voice, belonging, and real-world impact in schools every day.In this episode, we discuss: • The true meaning of “The Butterfly Effect” in social work and education• How leadership and frontline practice intersect to create change• Turning equity from language into action• The power of relationships, belonging, and student voice• How small, intentional moments can transform lives and communities This conversation is a powerful reminder that impact is not always immediate or visible but it is always meaningful when it is intentional.

In this powerful and necessary episode of Dare To Soar with Dr. RC, we sit down with Dr. Carmen Reese Foster, Executive Director of the Coalition of Black Social Workers, to explore what it truly means to lead at the intersection of race, justice, and professional advocacy. This conversation embodies what it means to be:Unapologetically Black. Uncompromisingly Social Work. Unstoppably Committed.From dismantling systemic inequities to amplifying the voices of Black social workers nationwide, Dr. Reese Foster shares her vision for collective action, community healing, and transformative leadership.This conversation is more than an interviewit is a call to consciousness.In this episode, they explore:• The current state of Black social workers in America• Moving beyond performative advocacy to sustained action• Building power through coalition and collective voice• The responsibility of leadership in challenging and complex times• Protecting the profession while protecting the people we serveThis is not just dialogue.This is direction.This is movement.

In this powerful episode of Dare To Soar with Dr. RC, sits down with Dr. Onaje Muid of the Delaware County, Pennsylvania Association of Black Social Workers to explore the critical and evolving conversation around reparations and the role of social work in advancing restorative justice.This discussion examines how historical injustices continue to shape present-day disparities in housing, education, health, and economic opportunity and why social workers must remain engaged in conversations that challenge systemic inequality. Together they discuss:• The historical foundations of the reparations movement• Why reparations are a social justice issue• The role of the National Association of Black Social Workers• The ethical responsibility of social workers to challenge injustice• How advocacy, policy, and community engagement intersect in this dialogueBecause understanding the past is essential to building a more just future.

In this inspiring episode of Dare To Soar with Dr. RC, we are joined by Lorraine C. Stokes, LCSW, Program Director and Instructor for the Social Work Assistant Program at Chattahoochee Technical College.With experience in oncology, renal care, school social work, and higher education, Ms. Stokes shares insights on preparing the next generation of social workers and strengthening the helping workforce.In this conversation, we discuss:• The role of Social Work Assistant programs• How education and field experience shape future social workers• Lessons from medical and school social work practice• The importance of mentorship and leadership in the professionBecause the next generation of change-makers is not just being trained they are being called to lead.

In this powerful solo episode of Dare To Soar, Dr. RC closes out National School Social Work Week 2026 with a reflection on the legacy, leadership, and future of the school social work profession.Throughout the week, Dr. RC shared seven daily messages highlighting the impact of school social workers across the nation. In this episode, she brings those reflections together to honor the profession and challenge listeners to continue advancing the work.Topics discussed include:• The visibility and value of school social workers• The critical role school social workers play in mental health, crisis response, and student success• The heart and humanity that fuels the profession• Advocacy and policy issues affecting school social work• Leadership responsibilities for the next generation of practitionersDrawing from her national leadership experience and her powerful article “When They Try to Erase Us,” Dr. RC offers a moving tribute to school social workers everywhere while issuing a bold call to action for the future of the profession.Because School Social Work is NOT Supplemental.It is Essential.

In this commanding episode of Dare To Soar with Dr. RC, we explore the intersection of housing instability, racial inequity, and educational access. Dr. RC sits down with:Damion Wilson, Coordinator of School Social Work Services Virginia Beach City Public Schools & National Corresponding Secretary for the National Association of Black Social Workers.Together, they discuss:• What homeless education truly means• Why African American families are disproportionately impacted by housing instability• The historical roots of housing disparities• The educational consequences of unstable housing• The protections under the McKinney-Vento Act• The role of school social workers in advocacy and systemic change

In this powerful episode of Dare To Soar with Dr. RC, we explore the transformative impact of African-Centered Restorative Practices and their relevance for social workers, educators, leaders, and community advocates. Dr. RC sits down with Dr. Kiesha Allen of the Greater Detroit Association of Black Social Workers (ABSW) to unpack how culturally grounded restorative approaches restore dignity, promote accountability, and strengthen collective healing.#DareToSoar #AfricanCentered #RestorativePractices #RestorativeJustice #SocialWorkLeadership#BlackSocialWorkers #ABSW #CommunityHealing #CulturallyResponsive #SocialWorkMatters#SchoolSocialWork #SoarWithKATIE