Dare To Soar - Unseen Wounds, Unspoken Truths, Unbreakable Voices

Dare To Soar - Why Millennials Are Leaving School Social Work & What Must Change

Across the nation, school social work is experiencing a shift one that calls for reflection, honesty, and action. This episode brings together two dynamic voices representing different generational perspectives to explore what is happening and what must happen next. Featuring: Dr. Kashera Guy Robinson, LCSW 30+ years in social work | Former school social worker | Now Director of Field Education & Assistant Clinical Professor at Auburn University at Montgomery | 2023 School Social Worker of the Year Mrs. Erika Cuttray, LCSW Senior Social Worker at Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center | Owner, The Serene Mindset, LLC | Mental wellness advocate with 10+ years in trauma, grief, and depression In this episode, we explore: • Why are Millennials rethinking and, in some cases, leaving school social work? • The impact of burnout, workplace culture, and systemic challenges. • Generational differences in expectations, boundaries, and sustainability. • What social workers truly need to feel supported and valued. • Actionable insights on how to retain and reclaim the next generation of professionals. This is more than a conversation, it is a call to listen, reflect, and lead differently. Because the future of school social work will not be shaped by who enters the field… It will be shaped by who is able to remain.

Dare To Soar - Justice in Action: Leading, Advocating, and Rising in a Time That Demands More

What does it mean to lead with purpose to advocate with courage, and to stand firmly in justice especially in a time when justice is being challenged? In this important and purpose-driven episode of Dare To Soar with Dr. RC, we are joined by Dr. Ashley Johnson, School Social Worker, Education Consultant, Adjunct Professor, Board Chair, and State President of the Tennessee Association of School Social Workers. As the recipient of the First National Social Justice Award, Dr. Johnson brings a critical and courageous voice to the evolving conversation around equity, advocacy, and leadership in today’s educational and political climate. Together, we explore: 🔹 What social justice leadership looks like in real time. 🔹 The impact of current policy shifts on students, families, and schools. 🔹 The responsibility of social workers to move beyond awareness into action. 🔹 How leaders sustain their voice and purpose in challenging systems. This is more than a conversation, it is a call to rise, lead, and stand firmly in purpose.

Dare To Soar - Unseen Wounds, Unspoken Truths, Unbreakable Voices

Some wounds are invisible. Some stories are never told And far too many children are suffering ... in silence. In this impactful and deeply moving solo episode, Dr. RC brings light to one of the most urgent and often overlooked issues impacting our communities child abuse and neglect. In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, this episode goes beyond awareness and calls each of us into intentional action. 💙 This is not just a conversation… 💙 This is a wake-up call. 💙 This is a responsibility we all share. In This Episode, You Will Learn: ✔️ The different forms of child abuse and how they show up. ✔️ Eye-opening statistics and realities impacting children today. ✔️ Common myths that prevent intervention and the truth behind them. ✔️ Warning signs every adult should recognize. ✔️ The long-term impact of childhood trauma. ✔️ What YOU can do to protect, support, and advocate for children. Why This Conversation Matters: Child abuse does not discriminate but access to protection and support often does. Many children never report what they are experiencing and many signs go unnoticed.

Dare To Soar - The Butterfly Effect

What if one intentional action could create a ripple that transforms not just a moment… but an entire system? In this powerful episode of Dare To Soar we explore the idea that small, purposeful actions in leadership and practice can lead to lasting, meaningful change across schools, communities, and beyond. Joining Dr. RC are two dynamic voices bridging research and real-world impact: Dr. Kevin Tan, Associate Dean at the School of Social Work, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. A nationally recognized leader in school social work, his work focuses on social-emotional learning, transformative practice, and authentic university-community partnerships that advance equity and belonging. Ms. Kelsi Walters, School Social Worker and frontline practitioner advancing equity-centered, community-engaged, and social-emotional learning initiatives. Her work brings theory to life, centering student voice, belonging, and real-world impact in schools every day. In this episode, we discuss: • The true meaning of “The Butterfly Effect” in social work and education • How leadership and frontline practice intersect to create change • Turning equity from language into action • The power of relationships, belonging, and student voice • How small, intentional moments can transform lives and communities This conversation is a powerful reminder that impact is not always immediate or visible but it is always meaningful when it is intentional.

Dare To Soar - Unapologetically Black, Uncompromisingly Social Work, Unstoppably Committed

In this powerful and necessary episode of Dare To Soar with Dr. RC, we sit down with Dr. Carmen Reese Foster, Executive Director of the Coalition of Black Social Workers, to explore what it truly means to lead at the intersection of race, justice, and professional advocacy. This conversation embodies what it means to be: Unapologetically Black. Uncompromisingly Social Work. Unstoppably Committed. From dismantling systemic inequities to amplifying the voices of Black social workers nationwide, Dr. Reese Foster shares her vision for collective action, community healing, and transformative leadership. This conversation is more than an interview it is a call to consciousness. In this episode, they explore: • The current state of Black social workers in America • Moving beyond performative advocacy to sustained action • Building power through coalition and collective voice • The responsibility of leadership in challenging and complex times • Protecting the profession while protecting the people we serve This is not just dialogue. This is direction. This is movement.