Meeting/Event Information

Please note: the conference is at capacity and registration is closed. We thank you for your interest and hope to see you at a future professional development event from WSSWA!

Making the Invisible Visible

Midwest School Social Work Council Annual Conference, hosted by WSSWA

November 14-15th, 2024

The Wisconsin School Social Workers Association (WSSWA) invites you to join us at the 2024 Midwest School Social Work Conference hosted by WSSWA, “Making the Invisible, Visible .” This year’s conference aims to focus on topics that are often less visible in society yet impact our students’, families’, schools’, and communities’ opportunities to thrive. Workshops will provide school social workers the tools they need to support their school communities.

Participants can earn up to 13.5 CEHs for attending the entire event, including the optional pre-conference, with approval pending from NASW-WI. 4 additional CEHs are available to those who attend the Ethics and Boundaries webinar in February (included FREE with your registration.) See conference brochure for more details.

New! Check out out online Merch Store for some new gear from WSSWA! Please note that merch will not be sold in-person at the conference. Orders from the online merch store will be shipped directly to you.

Keynote Presenter: Kwabena Antoine Nixon, CEO Be Inspired Works

NATIONALLY KNOWN SPOKEN WORD ARTIST, WRITER, EDUCATOR, ORGANIZER, RADIO SHOW HOST and MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER.

Born and raised on Chicago’s west side, known in the 80’s as the gangbang capital of the world, Kwabena lost his father to street violence at the age of 11. From his early teens, well into his days as a young adult black man, Antoine (as he was known then) struggled like many of that time, to find his voice and his purpose. He moved to Milwaukee to escape a lifestyle that many of his closest friends and family had fallen prey to. He found his voice in art. Still looking for his place and purpose, after completing a Rites of Passage program, he made the transformation to Kwabena when a local community elder gave him the name meaning “Inspirator.” Since then, Kwabena has dedicated his life’s work to inspiring, not just a generation, but a movement.

Kwabena Antoine Nixon (IKAN) uses life’s experiences as a springboard to motivate youth. His “I Will Not Die Young” Campaign with Muhibb Dyer serves as a catalyst to diminish violence within urban communities by empowering youth to dream big and take responsibility for their future. Kwabena has traveled the US, touring with individuals such as Common, Talib Kwali, BET’s Cousin Jeff and Hip Hop Pioneer Russell Simmons. He has also shared the stage with some of the country’s most influential speakers such as Dr. Cornel West, Rev. Al Sharpton, the Honorable Louis Farrakhan, Mr. Harry Belafonte, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Judge Mathis and former aid to Dr. Martin Luther King, Mr. John Lewis to name a few. Kwabena is the author of “Eye Write What Eye See” and Sensitive Warsongz for Black and Brown Boys and co-founder and host of Poetry Unplugged (PU), the longest weekly running poetry event in the Midwest.

Pre-Conference Workshop November 13th 6:30-8:30: Self-Care for School Social Workers: Managing Vicarious Trauma and Burnout 

Shantell Riley BSN, RN, GC-C, CT; Dignity With Departure - Owner
School social workers often face the invisible burdens of vicarious trauma and burnout. This 120-minute workshop aims to address these challenges by providing effective self-care strategies and resilience-building practices. Participants will learn to identify the signs of vicarious trauma and burnout, implement self-care techniques tailored to the unique demands of school social work, and foster a healthy work-life balance. Additionally, the workshop will focus on creating a supportive work environment that prioritizes the well-being of social workers, enabling them to thrive in their roles while effectively supporting their students. Participants who attend will earn 2 CEHs.

Conference location and accommodations:

WSSWA is excited to welcome conference attendees to beautiful downtown Milwaukee. The conference will be held at the Milwaukee Downtown Marriott, located at 625 N Milwaukee St, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Direct link to reserve in the room block: Block reservation closes October 25th. Conference room rate - $119. **Please note there is a $15 fee for overnight parking.**

Amenities: fitness center, onsite restaurant, convenience store, easy access to the conference, convenient downtown location

Hotel Website                     Things to do in Milwaukee

Ready to register?

1. Review the Conference Brochure and Conference Agenda at a Glance.

2. Decide which workshops to attend. You will select workshops during the registration process.

3. Complete online registration before October 24th, 2024. No late registrations will be allowed. If the maximum registration number is reached before October 24th, registrants will be added to a wait list.

4. Reserve your room at the Milwaukee Marriott Downtown by October 25th, 2024. Direct link to reserve in the room block