Huddled together on couches in the corner of Thompson, five members of Park University’s social work club began collaborating outreach ideas for this semester.

As the members discussed the nuts and bolts of upcoming events, meeting times and dates, the core purpose of the club surfaced with a single question posed by Gina English, a fourth-year social work major: “What can we do as a club that will benefit this campus?”

The club, open to all students of every major, is designed to provide the opportunity for students to address matters of public service, human diversity, and social justice in a global society.

The heart of the club is to serve a variety of communities, Park students and the greater Kansas City area.

“[Social work] is being aware of other human beings, their views, opinions and values, and understanding that we are not all that different,” said Lindsey Vest, fourth-year social work major and vice president of the social work club.

Members of the club are given several opportunities throughout the year to volunteer their time at a variety of events.

Recently, the club participated in a winter coat drive and collected monetary donations to give to families in need.

The club hopes to recruit members from majors across campus to expand outreach possibilities.

“One of the reasons it is not exclusive to social work is because we want to get as many different outside opinions and views on everything that we can in order to bring it all together to try to help and serve as many people as we can,” said Blake Ingwerson, fourth-year social work major and president of the social work club.

“One of the main things about social work is diversity,” said Vest.

“Outside majors would bring in more diversity. The more involvement, the more diversity you have, and the more different populations you can serve.”

With a love for children and passion for the medical field, Ingwerson hopes to work in a children’s hospital doing patient advocacy and she said her time in the social work club guided her in that direction.

“When I was an underclassman, I had no idea what I was really passionate about in social work,” said Ingwerson.

“[The club] helps students find what place they fall into, what populations they are most comfortable working with.”

Overall, the root purpose of the club is advocacy, community service and social justice.

“The goal always comes back to serve, help and advocate for as many individuals and communities as we can,” said Ingwerson.
The club has organized a few upcoming events, including a Valentine’s Day bake sale which was held Feb. 12.

For more information or to get involved in the social work club, please contact Blake Ingwerson at [email protected]