In this powerful live recording from the NASW National Conference in Chicago, the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast centers Indigenous women whose leadership, resilience, and cultural vision are reshaping the future of social work.

Hosts Alicia and Ace talk with Maria Panjoj Salvador, Vilma Saloj, and Ausirys Alviz — grassroots social workers advancing cultural preservation, education, and healing across Guatemala, Colombia, and the diaspora.

This dialogue pushes beyond theory and into lived struggle: machismo, systemic barriers, and the loss of language. At the same time, it uplifts how Elders, intercultural education, and cultural pride serve as enduring sources of empowerment. Together, these voices remind us that decolonizing social work is a lived practice rooted in community, identity, and cultural continuity.

🔗 Learn more: The Contextual Indigeneity in Social Work Toolkit - https://www.ciswt.co/

🎙️ About the Guests

Vilma Saloj — Maya Kaqchikel educator and Executive Director at MAIA, leading transformative intercultural education in Guatemala and advocating globally for Indigenous youth.

Ausirys Alviz — Colombian therapist based in the U.S., founder of Transparent Healing Psychotherapy, offering trauma-informed, culturally affirming care to migrant and Indigenous-multicultural families.

Maria Panjoj Salvador — K’iche community advocate from Chichicastenango, Guatemala, promoting education, women’s leadership, and cultural pride through nonprofit engagement and traditional market life.

✨ Key Themes & Takeaways

Social work as a calling, rooted in cultural identity.Indigenous women at the forefront of empowerment and leadership.

Machismo and systemic discrimination as ongoing challenges.

Language preservation as a cornerstone of identity and practice.

Elders as vital knowledge-keepers in social work.

Decolonization through Indigenous wisdom and cultural humility.

Community engagement as a path to resilience and capacity-building.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:06 Theme song

02:51 Personal Journeys into Social Work

05:22 Cultural Contexts in Social Work

07:49 Empowerment and Visibility of Indigenous Women

10:40 Challenges of Machismo and Discrimination

12:56 The Role of Social Workers in Indigenous Communities

15:50 Building Community and Capacity

18:00 Comparative Perspectives on Social Work

20:32 The Importance of Representation

23:06 Navigating Identity and Allyship

26:05 Toolkit for Contextual Indigenous Social Work

28:59 Bridging Gaps in Social Work Practices

31:08 Conclusion and Future Directions

41:29 Cultural Roots and Coping Mechanisms

42:44 Decolonizing Therapy and Cultural Humility

45:13 Challenges of Remote Work in Social Services

47:39 Barriers to Education and Community Engagement

53:40 The Importance of Language Preservation

58:53 Incorporating Elders in Social Work

01:08:24 Visions for the Future of Social Work

🔑 Keywords (SEO)Revolutionary Social Work, Indigenous Women, Social Work Education, Cultural Context, Empowerment, Community Engagement, Language Preservation, Elders, Decolonization, Gender Dynamics, Guatemala Social Work, Colombian Therapist, Indigenous Leadership, NASW Conference© Revolutionary Social Work

In this live episode of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, recorded at the NASW National Conference in Chicago, Ace and Jerome MT sit down with Dr. Amana Mbise—scholar, mentor, and global advocate in social work. Together they explore the profound intersections of migration, cultural adjustment, authenticity, masculinity, and community engagement.

Dr. Mbise shares insights from his work across Tanzania, Denmark, and the United States, where he has led groundbreaking studies on labor exploitation, health equity, and the lived realities of Black communities. From rites of passage to the role of barbershops as vital cultural hubs, the conversation reveals how identity, responsibility, and connection shape both individual lives and collective liberation.

This episode challenges social workers and educators to move beyond technical “competence” toward authenticity, kinship, and community-rooted practice.

Key Themes & Takeaways:

Cultural adjustments and the challenges families face in new environments

Why authenticity is essential in social work practice and teaching

Mentorship, responsibility, and the work of empowering

Black menBarbershops as safe spaces and sites of identity formation

Rites of passage and the meaning of masculinity across cultures

Community engagement as a foundation for liberation in social work

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction and Setting the Scene

02:25 – Cultural Adjustments and Family Dynamics

05:03 – Community Support and Integration

07:18 – Diversity in Alaska and Personal Experiences

09:54 – Teaching and Engaging with Students

12:41 – Authenticity in Social Work

15:19 – Building Community and Relationships

17:32 – Empowering Black Men and Cultural Identity

31:20 – Empowering Black Men Through Community Engagement

34:28 – The Role of Barbershops as Safe Spaces

38:46 – Navigating Fatherhood and Masculinity

44:27 – Rites of Passage and Cultural Identity

49:35 – Responsibility in Parenting and Identity

55:17 – Men in Social Work: A Growing Presence

📣 For more information or to connect with Revolutionary Social Work, email: RevolutionarySocialWork@gmail.com

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Keywords :

social work, community engagement, cultural adjustment, authenticity, mentorship, masculinity, Black men, barbershops, identity, responsibility, migration, cultural dynamics, empowerment, revolutionary social work© Revolutionary Social Work

In this live episode of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, recorded at the NASW National Conference in Chicago, hosts Christian Ace and Jerome MT sit down with Prajna Horn and Dr. David Wrathall to explore how Indigenous wisdom and the guidance of elders can transform our response to today’s global crises.

The conversation highlights the work of Kaiāulu, a women- and Indigenous-led nonprofit bridging ancestral knowledge with science and spirituality. Together, we examine the role of elders, rites of passage, ecological consciousness, and synchronized ceremonies as pathways to healing and systemic change.

This dialogue underscores that revolutionary transformation requires both inner reflection and collective action. From climate justice to community connection, from storytelling to ceremony, Prajna and David illuminate what it means to bridge tradition and modernity in a world desperate for coherence.

📖 Chapters & Timestamps

00:00 – Opening & Introduction

05:45 – The Power of Elders and Rites of Passage

10:20 – Indigenous Wisdom and Modern Science

12:42 – The Role of Technology in Cultural Transmission

15:26 – Creating Ripples of Kindness and Connection

18:11 – The Journey of Remembering and Homecoming

21:11 – Synchronizing Indigenous Ceremonies for Global Healing

23:35 – Bridging the Gap Between Tradition and Modernity

48:33 – Bridging Indigenous Wisdom and Western Science

51:47 – Nature’s Storytelling: The Role of the Moon

54:48 – Cultivating Listening: The Call of the Elders

57:17 – Reconnection: Finding Harmony in Modern Times

01:04:18 – The Grace of Integration: Navigating Resistance

01:18:05 – Transformative Knowledge: Love as a Way of Knowing

🔑 Keywords Indigenous wisdom, elders, Prajna Horn, David Wrathall, Kaiāulu, climate change, climate justice, ecological consciousness, spirituality, rites of passage, collective intelligence, synchronized ceremonies, Indigenous knowledge, ancestral traditions, Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, NASW Conference, community healing, relational transformation, Indigenous science

#IndigenousWisdom #Elders #ClimateJustice #Spirituality #RevolutionarySocialWork

© Revolutionary Social Work