KN2: Holding the Weight Together: Radical Imagination in Social Work Practice

Social workers are practicing in a time of profound grief, moral distress, and systemic harm. Many are being asked to carry more than any individual should—often without adequate support, resources, or community. This session invites participants to reimagine ethics of care as a collective, relational practice rather than an individual responsibility. Together, we will explore the grief held by social workers, the field itself, and the communities we serve, while naming how oppressive systems shape our capacity to care. Participants will be invited to consider radical and imaginative approaches to care, including the courage to ask for support, to seek allies even when the answer may be no, and to ask who in our field needs care the most. Grounded in social work values, this session offers reflection, connection, and practical insight for sustaining ethical practice in difficult times.