All right, welcome
back to
on Monday on the Earl Ingram Show.
As always, you can join us at 855-752-4842.
That's 855-752-4842.
And as promised, I'm joined by Dr. Anthony E Street.
And you know, Dr. E Street, if I tried to talk about all the accolades and all the accomplishments that you have in your lifetime, we wouldn't have time to have this conversation.
First off, you represent social workers.
Let's talk a little bit about what a social worker is.
Thank you so much for having me on your show, Earl.
Yes, I am the CEO of the National Association of Social Workers and we are the largest professional membership organization for social workers in the US.
and predominantly in the world.
And so when we talk about social work, we talk about individuals that are trained in degree through a Council of Social Work Education accredited program.
So they have the skills, knowledge, and ability to work with individuals, families, and communities, but also.
organizations and policy right and so we cover that whole spectrum from you know birth all the way to death and individuals come to see us they are going to experience uh assessments they're going to experience uh interventions
Treatment planning, some of that also includes policy work and understand how policies impact individuals and families, but also making sure that we take the voices of individuals and families to make sure that we're advocating for sensible policies that not only.
benefit or take into account those that are most vulnerable, but also social workers that work with these individuals.
And so, you know, again, a social worker covers a wide range of services.
We are the largest provider of behavioral services in the US.
But we also have our humble beginnings working in the child welfare system where we still are doing a lot of great work.
But we're also in technology, banking, finance.
We're helping artificial intelligence feel and become more humanized.
And so we're social workers are everywhere.
Are you facing a shortage of social workers?
Are we facing the shortage of social workers?
So that's an interesting question, right?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we are one of the fastest growing professions out there, but that is only half of that story.
I think the other half of that story is that we're seeing social workers leaving the profession because of burnout, because of low wages, because of lack of support from our state and federal governments to make sure that we can.
Do the work that we do and still be sustainable in the lifestyle that we want.
And so what I mean by that is, you know, how do we work with social workers to reduce the caseload?
How do we work with social workers to improve working conditions so that when they go on vacation, they can actually relax and go on vacation.
And so, you know.
While we are a fast growing profession, I don't want us to lose sight on the fact that many social workers are leaving the field or transitioning to different areas where the salary is comparable to the work that we're doing, but also there's a decrease in burnout in those areas, right?
And so it's a double-sided.
question where, yes, we are growing, but also people are leaving because of the lack of support that we're receiving from funding, whether it's through insurance or through sensible policies that help to impact the individual's families and communities that we serve.
If you're just joining us, I'm joined by Dr. Anthony Eastry.
He is the CEO, basically, of social workers.
And so let me ask you, I spent
a lot of time in the public school system and watching some social workers dealing with what Dr. E Street is just some deplorable situations that did not exist for social workers when I was a young man.
As I told you, I'm 70 years old and some of the things that are happening today, homelessness amongst families, mothers moving
their children weekly, sometimes daily, possessions in black garbage bags from place to place, children hungry, families hungry, not having any clothing.
I mean, these are things, behavioral issues, lead poisoning of children because of the
the places where they live and state children who live in places like the state of Wisconsin where I live and and who don't have coats and don't have gloves and you know it's a it's a horrific reality for the wealthiest nation on earth sir it's it's a lot more difficult to be a social worker today than it was 40 years ago is it safe to say that
I think, yeah, I think the profession of social work has certainly evolved, right?
And I think that everything that you're saying is where social workers are, right?
You know, we help individual families and communities find the resources that they need so that they can live the best version of the life that they want to live, right?
And so we address unhoused.
We address people that are unhoused.
We address mental health substance use.
We address child welfare issues.
And again, you know, I really want to say that social workers are in fact the heartbeat of our communities.
you know every day we encounter people in different various stages of life whether it is you know at their lowest point or they may be in acute crisis or they're trying to prevent a crisis they're going to come across a social worker that is able to help them right and and I think the one thing that
is always important is social workers are always on the front line.
We are literally helping to maintain that social safety net that we see and that we've benefited from for many decades.
The challenge becomes that while we care.
not we, while society in itself cares and they understand the issues, you know, that, that compassion alone is not enough.
We need to make sure that people are engaging in that compassion plus action, right?
That care that you see for that person that is unhoused, that care that you see for somebody that is impacted by mental health or substance use.
How are you turning that into action?
How are you helping to help society become better, right?
And so social workers, we are, we are.
We are experts in building community.
We are experts in helping people to find their core group of people, right?
But we're also experts in helping people to reduce the impact of mental health and behavioral health, helping people to find resources when they are dealing with being unhoused or housing instability.
We are also...
involved in people when they come in contact with us on their worst days, when there may be some child welfare or child abuse issues, we're there as well trying to make sure that those families get the resources that they need so they can't be reunified or so that they can continue to engage in seeking the help that will get them to the next phase of their life.
You know, Dr. East street, we don't see social workers.
So therefore, since they're unseen, you know, it's hard for people to really
Comprehend and understand the work that they do is it safe to say that?
Yeah, so I think you know to what you're saying I think people see social workers, but I also think that social work has has
been impacted by a bad brand, right?
And so when we see the portrayal of social workers, it's typically in the child welfare system, it's typically we are portrayed as being overwork, ran down and highly stressed, right?
While some of that is true, I think the other part of it too is that social workers are everywhere.
We are in certainly child welfare, but we're also in mental health, behavioral health, banking, entertainment.
In technology, in fact, I was at an event this week, this weekend where social workers are working with the entertainment industries where they're working with actors behind the scenes to ensure that while they're.
putting on the great movies that they're doing for all of us to watch and enjoy, that they're also maintaining their mental health and wellness behind the scenes to be able to continue that kind of work.
And so while, yes, in some ways, we're unseen, I think it's because people have, they have a vision of what a social worker looks like, and we've certainly outgrown that vision.
And so when I say social workers are everywhere,
more people than not are probably coming into contact with a social worker and they just don't realize it.
And so some of that is understanding that the social work brand has changed in terms of we are everywhere.
But the other part of it too is if you've not experienced a social worker in your lifetime, I can almost guarantee nine out of 10 times that you will come across a social worker at some point in time in your life.
So you chose social work as a vocation.
Why?
That's a great question and I get asked that a lot, right?
But the reality is is that
I've always had a connection to behavioral health and ensuring that people can show up as their best selves, right?
The other part of it too is it really does matter like who you come in contact with my mentor.
was a black male social worker.
And when I was an undergrad at Bowie State University, an HBCU, my undergrad degree was in psychology.
But then I came across my mentor, Mike Green, who told me about social work, who guided me through social work, who helped me understand social work.
And as a result of that,
I became a social worker and now I make it a point to, you know, when I go out and talk to people, I help them to understand the scope of social work.
But I also offer to mentor them in this space because the reality of the situation is social work is one of the best professions that I could have ever chosen.
I am a proud social worker.
I love the work that I do.
At the same time, understanding that we have a need for more social workers to be able to do this work.
It is sometimes considered selfless work, but at the same time, it is very rewarding work.
I just wish that at the same time, as we are thinking of it as rewarding work, that we're also compensated at a higher rate, that insurance companies are not constantly creating more and more barriers so that social workers leave the managed care space.
You know, when you look at where we are today with the administration that's in office now and clearly safety net programs are being eliminated, cut back.
the impact that that's gonna have on families that need social workers and social workers who are scouring the heavens to find support for families at a time when those things are being cut back on.
The impact that that must have on a social worker must be tremendous.
Yes, and so
So how do they separate that and keep that you know there when you're watching this?
It's hard for me to imagine That you know they can hang on can you hang on a second dr. E Street?
Yes, all right eight five five seven five two
Thank God for you.
I thank God.
I thank God.
If you were a woman, girl, not to try to hide, you didn't try to hide your love for the son of a guy.
to
explain.
to a Motown Monday on The Early Room Show.
As always, you can join us at 855-752-4842.
My guest is Dr. Anthony E Street.
He is the CEO of social workers in this country.
Drs.
E Street, we've got a caller that's bringing her on, Liz, from Salt Rio.
Good morning to you.
You have a question or comment for the doctor?
Liz.
I just um thank you Earl I love your show and thank you Dr. E Street for all that you do um it's it you know what you do runs the spectrum of all ages because I I have to speak with um social workers because my mom has had two strokes and she has to go to the hospital has had to go to the hospital so I speak with social workers
a lot and they are so kind.
They arrange my mom's transportation and they give me updates.
They arrange transportation back to her assisted living center where she lives.
And so I appreciate you and all that you do immensely.
Hey Liz, thank you very much for the call.
Dr. E Street.
Thank you so much.
First of all, you know, I do hope that your mom is doing well and that she continues to do well.
I'm so glad to hear that your experience with.
Social workers have been positive.
I think to your point, you know, it really does talk about, you know, where social workers are, you know, we are also in, you know, healthcare settings and assisted living facilities.
And I'm glad that, you know, we're able to help you and your mom to access the resources that you need so that she can be the best version of herself going forward.
You know, Dr. E Street, that was a time again, when I was a young man, social workers were women.
Has that changed much?
It's interesting.
Social work has traditionally been characterized as a profession that is predominantly people that go into it are women.
I think the reality of situations we're seeing more and more men.
go into the profession and in fact there's quite a bit of men that are in the social work profession.
I think that there is a unique diversity within our entire profession that looks at men, women, trans men, trans women, black, white, Asian, you name it.
We cover the spectrum on diversity and I think that is one of the beauties of our profession is that...
Diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Uh-oh.
How are you able to continue to support diversity, equity, and inclusion when that's become just a no-no in this administration?
Because the reality of the situation is, Earl, and I'm saying this with my entire being,
People have mischaracterized diversity, equity and inclusion in such a way that they only look at it in terms of race.
When I talk about diversity, equity, inclusion, it is the full spectrum of how people show up in this world, whether it is race, ethnicity, gender orientation, gender, disability, disability, disability, like all the different things.
And so when people say, oh, let's get rid of DE and I, I'm not really sure what they're talking about because the diversity, equity, inclusion makes sure.
that people can access buildings when you have to utilize a ramp because you're in a wheelchair and utilize a button to get into a building to open a door, like that is diversity, equity, inclusion.
It's literally the definition of making sure that people feel included and like they belong in the community and the society that we have built today.
That's it.
So you refuse to allow the pressure of this administration to force, you know,
what you guys and what you do and believe in to change that mission.
You know, I think diversity, equity and inclusion have always been in the core fabric of social work as a profession.
As we advocated for social justice, you know, social workers have been on the front lines of every major civil rights movement, social justice movement.
And so when you think about diversity, equity and inclusion as a new topic that has.
people have been talking about post George Floyd, it has been in the fabric of social work the entire time.
And so for us, diversity, equity, inclusion is really answering the question is, how do we help people feel like they can have access that they are included and that they belong, right?
And those are three fundamental questions to really that help guide our work, right?
If you show up.
in a social worker's office they're really going to make sure like how can you live the best version of yourself and that's whether you are a trans person, a black person, a white person or identify as something else.
We're going to make sure that you can feel
included, that you have access to things, but also that you do feel like you belong, right?
And that includes fighting for policies that help to increase that.
And so when we look at federal policies, when we look at state policies, we're always going to advocate on behalf of increasing diversity, equity, inclusion in all sectors of life.
You know, Dr. E Street, it has been an honor and a privilege and a pleasure to have this dialogue with you.
this morning and really the strawberry on the ice cream is where you just laid it out on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
That is a must, I think, when you're talking about social work.
It's a must when you're talking about life, right?
And I don't care where it is, that's who we are, right?
As Americans, that's who we are as people.
We are one people.
one group of people.
I mean, we're one group of people.
That's who we are.
No, absolutely.
And I think to your point, the more, you know, as people are talking about how divided we are, it's diversity, equity, inclusion that brings us together, the ability to have different thoughts, the ability to be able to talk about that, right?
And it spreads across a lot of different topics.
I think what has happened is we've allowed too many people to relegate diversity, equity, inclusion into just race.
So
Dr. E Street, we have to leave it at that.
We'll reach back out to you.
Thank you very much for your time, sir.
All right, thank you so
much.
All right.
You're listening to a Motown Monday on the Earling Room show.
to Motown Monday on the Earl Ingram Show.
I wish you could hear, you know, this song kick into the next phase.
Let's play for a couple of seconds.
Yes, slipping into darkness.
Welcome back to a Motown Monday on the Earl Ingram Show.
As always, you can join us at 855-967-2788.
Cardi, I don't think you ever heard that, right?
Nah.
Man, you need to hear it all the way through.
It's bad.
But anyway, you know, we've been talking about Elon Musk and Donald Trump and all of those magas who support Elon Musk cutting the government.
And, you know, we're always talking about the waste in the government and, you know, people who are getting contracts who don't deserve them.
And I forgot who had called earlier and he mentioned something about Elon Musk getting contracts.
Well, Elon Musk double standard.
SpaceX wins government contract while public services face deep cuts.
A $38.85 million contract awarded to Elon Musk, Space X, Parks, Outrage is his government office slash his funding for healthcare.
Now, Elon Musk just had one of his rockets explode again.
And yet he's got a government contract.
And yet he's cutting all of these other
educational and social programs.
I don't know why people don't see a problem with that.
Right?
He's benefiting from government programs while he's cutting all of these other programs.
But anyway, just thought I'd throw that out there.
But here's something that really upsets me to no end.
And we supposedly have freedom of speech in this nation and it's being eroded right before our eyes.
And in this double standard of what speech is accepted and what speech is not accepted, the fact that we as Americans see this happening and we aren't outraged enough to call
You know this administration out on it Immigration agents arrest Palestinian activists who help lead Columbia University protests now when when the height of the war in Gaza with Israel and You know
I don't know.
I'm having trouble thinking Hamas Was was taking place and and there were college students all over this nation voice in their displeasure with the universities who supported Israel during that war That's still going on for the most part except for this this is short hiatus
And yet these students were called all sorts of horrible names and traders and how dare they.
And again, it helps to have been around for a while.
Because I remember many college students during the Vietnam War.
If you've been around a while, you remember on almost every college campus.
That's what kind of helped bring the war to an end the outrage of young people in the street and on universities In universities constantly saying no, this is not right University students are free.
They've always been free To say what they feel
Throughout my entire life.
That's the way it's been And and because they are free They have been able to bring changes That many of us You know who have lived some time and you know kind of protective of our jobs and other things That we can't speak out freely and so the way this has been
structured in this country for eons was that students were free and they were free to speak their minds and there would not be repercussions.
Well, so why is that changed?
I mean, all the different things that have changed and continue to change in this nation, I don't know it anymore.
You know and especially you know over the last seven eight weeks But I'll tell you I was even opposed to it when Joe Biden was the president I Remember going down to UWM University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and they had the tent cities there and there was all this conversation about those students
who were ill informed and they have no right to be supporting the Palestinians.
And so they should totally support Israel.
And I'm like, hey man, that doesn't make sense to me to condemn students for their beliefs when that wasn't the way it was when we were young.
It might have been some people may have spoken out about it, but not to the degree that is happening right now to condemn students for their constitutional rights.
I mean, I thought that's what people fought, bled and died for in this country.
Now, that's what I was taught.
People, you know,
Have a right to their views.
Well, guess what?
So why immigration agents arresting Palestinian activists?
You know who led protests?
Peaceful protests On these various campuses, so I invited some of the young protesters from UWM to my show and people said to me
Man you you had better watch it man.
You you shouldn't you taking a chance.
I'm like hey, man If if you take it if it's considered taking a chance To expect your nation to live up to its creed And people are afraid and they call that taking a chance No, maybe they need to be more Earl Ingrams.
I'm sorry
We have to be willing to challenge our nation to be right, to do what's right.
This is not acceptable to say to people and young people who are doing all that they can to build a future for themselves.
and trying to hold our nation accountable for what it says it is.
Federal immigration authorities arrested a Palestinian activist Saturday who played a prominent role in Columbia University's protests against Israel.
A significant escalation in the Trump administration's pledge to detain and deport student activists.
What?
Detain.
and deport student activists.
Hey, man, that's what happens on university campuses.
And so now we're going to do away with that.
Let's go to Bill from a kind of a walk.
Good morning to you, Bill.
How you doing, sir?
I really like the topic you're talking on.
We all remember Tenement Square.
Oh, absolutely.
and isn't that what's going on right here in the US?
Well, you know, Bill, not all of us remember Tiananmen Square, but for those of us who do, university students who are outraged in the behavior of their country and tanks running over, you know, students unarmed.
And before the whole world,
And we condemn that, Bill.
You remember how we condemned that?
How was this so different?
It's not different at all.
The bottom line is we're going through COVID in a different way, not COVID the virus, COVID the handling of how he handled COVID.
Remember, it's going to be over by spring.
Now, it's not going to be over by spring.
Millions died when spring came, or a million died.
We have to show the world and our country.
We're built on democracy not communism
So let me ask you You say we have to show You know, we we were supposedly supposedly that before Donald Trump So if we were that before Donald Trump Then how does this one man come and dismantle that can you tell me?
Well, you're gonna here's what that one man is gonna accomplish You watch the backlash you watch an act asking for all the funding of Israel you watch how people are going to keep this man has started a movement now you saw what happened I hope is this weekend or last weekend in Washington with the support of the Ukraine right now
Oh,
yeah.
Oh, yeah
You know what I'm talking about.
Look at the backlash.
Our great congressman can't have town halls, and our senators can't have town halls, and our elected far-right officials can't have town halls.
Now, there's plenty of Republicans left that can't have town halls, and they won't get shouted out because they see the need
to uphold the oath of office.
The others, they don't care about the oath of office.
They could care less.
They just care on making people the right guy smile.
Well, I'm sick and tired of it.
We're all sick and tired of it.
We are a nation of people living under a constitution and justice.
Suddenly justice and the constitution is not important.
Hey
Bill, let me ask you this.
you know, 48% of Americans didn't vote or whatever the number was.
Do you think that, and we've got to figure out a way to organize those people and hear their voices?
Because if you get 10% of those 48% of the people who didn't vote, now you can bring some real pressure on the Maggots and the Republicans, even if you got 5% of them.
Hey Bill, thank you very much for the call.
855-752-4842.
You're tuned in to a Motown Monday on The Earl Ingram Show.
to the streets, we'll be gathering at Memorial Square on 6th and Main here in Racine.
An organized group, you don't know me but I'm your brother and they're going to be organized and they are going to be and they are there and this is the second week in a row and they're going to continue to do this.
They have had enough.
That's what it's going to take all across this nation, groups of citizens and people who have had enough, enough talk, enough feeling victimized.
Because as Trump from LA always says, we the people out of government.
And it is going to take that.
All over this nation in townships in cities all over this nation I Don't care if it takes, you know doing the civil rights struggle in in in Birmingham, Alabama 320 days Blacks refused to get on the buses
because of injustice.
They weren't allowed to sit wherever they wanted to sit.
And so nobody would help them.
Nobody could feel their pain or understand their cause.
And Dr. King, one of the greatest efforts ever witnessed.
That's 360.
Eight days or somewhere around there.
It was a year, over a year.
Blacks walked, refused to get on the buses.
And guess what?
That policy was changed.
It wasn't changed because of government.
Government didn't change it.
The politics didn't change it.
It was the people.
It was the people who had had enough.
And they organized.
And it began.
One second, then to minutes, then to hours, then to days, then to weeks, then to months, and over a year.
And said,
We're not going to take it anymore.
We're not going to tolerate it.
Well, that's what's taking place this afternoon here in Racine, Wisconsin.
Once again, 12 o'clock, Memorial Square, 6th and Main.
As people have had enough.
They're not asking anymore.
Not asking all the people.
Not asking the county supervisors.
They're not asking the mayor They're not asking the governor.
They're not asking the president of the Congress people They're not asking the president of the United States They know that this is a battle That has to be won by the average rank and file America So I'm thrilled That that they feel
that I have something to say I do.
And I'm going to say it.
And I'm going to make it clear how proud I am of those citizens of the city of racing and that and that maybe they can be the impetus to to move this thing for a Eric from Tulsa.
What's happening,
man?
So happy Motel Monday as always.
I just got one question.
I know you're running low on time.
So I just got one question to ask all your listeners and to pose to everybody is if you think about it, you know, because a lot of people complain about Democrats, what they're not doing, they're hiding, et cetera, et cetera.
And I've seen Representative Glen Moore out there quite a bit.
She was at the VA rally and she's out there talking and warning people.
But at what point in our history has, well, politicians have politicians ever led?
a human rights movement.
Hey, Eric, I wish I had more time, man.
Thank you very much for the call.
Thank you very much, girl.
Thank you.
Thank
everybody who made the show go.
Up next, Jane, Madden, Greg, Bob, Madden there on air.
I'll let you know how great it was on tomorrow.
You've been tuned in to the Earl Ingram show.
Taking it to the street.