The Social Work Activist Collective (SWAC) is an alliance of organizations led by workers (i.e., students, practitioners, and social work faculty) in the field of social service work.

These organizations engage in various forms of movement work within the profession, and all share the same goal of transforming the social, economic, and political conditions that shape how social work and those who labor within it are perceived, funded, and legitimized.

Our Beginnings

Before the Social Work Activist Collective was established in 2021, several members across various social work organizations were receiving similar pushback from social work governing bodies. These individuals came together to discuss ways to present a united front to move the profession forward. From this, the Social Work Activist Collective was formed as an alliance of social work organizations (ACOSA, Social Worker Equity Campaign, Social Welfare Action Alliance, and Abolitionist Social Change Collective). Since its inception, SWAC has maintained collaborations with social work organizations but has shifted to a member-based model.

Caminante, no hay camino / Traveler, There Is No Road

by Antonio Machado

Traveler, your footprints

are the only road, nothing else.

Traveler, there is no road;

you make your own path as you walk.

As you walk, you make your own road,

and when you look back

you see the path

you will never travel again.

Traveler, there is no road;

only a ship’s wake on the sea.

“Caminante, son tus huellas

el camino y nada más;

Caminante, no hay camino,

se hace camino al andar.

Al andar se hace el camino,

y al volver la vista atrás

se ve la senda que nunca

se ha de volver a pisar.

Caminante, no hay camino

sino estelas en la mar.”