by Pearlie M. Bowser

ASU undergraduate and graduate social work program students networked with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights icon, founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and community and national representatives at the Rainbow PUSH 14th Annual Creating Opportunity Conference: Fairness in the Work Place, the Marketplace and the Public Square. The conference was held in Atlanta on Nov. 1 and 2.

Back row: Kimberly West, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Attorney Janis Mathis and Sabrina Alexander Front row: Jasmine Murphy, Brittany Welch, Tanequa Dorsey, Luticha Haley, Dr. Irma Gibson, Kayla Watson, Latrina Kendrix –Sims, and Kamri Williams.

The conference focused on financial literacy, business growth and development, job creation, civil rights enforcement and the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Participants also learned more about the dynamics of social policy and the importance of advocacy as future social workers.
Other conference sessions addressed challenges related to contracting, hiring, retention, promotion, purchasing, lending and investment. The students were accompanied by ASU Associate Professor, Dr. Irma Gibson.