These young, determined, courageous Black social workers laid the foundation for a national organization that would continue to speak boldly for equitable social justice and human rights for Black families, children and communities.
As stated by NABSW founder, Dr. Shirley Better, NABSW "...allow[s] us the freedom to discuss, among ourselves with no restrictions, the plight of African Americans in the U.S." Today, the living Founders and the spirits of those who have transitioned, continue to guide the organization and remind us of our mission, vision and history.
- Lanny Berry*
- Dr. Shirley Better
- Joan Coleman*
- Dr. Betty Cleckley
- Dr. Samella Muhammad
- Dr. Mary Davidson
- Dr. Doug Glasgow*
- Garland L. Jaggers
- Dr. Audreye Johnson*
- Dr. James Madry*
- Milton L. Martin*
- Dr. Thaddeus P. Mathis
- Dr. Georgia Parks
- T. George Silcott*
- Bruce Thomas*
- Billy T. Tidwell*
- William K. Wolfe*
* Denotes Ancestor
NABSW Pioneers
In 1978, ten years after the development of NABSW, the annual conference convened in San Francisco, the city where the initial group of Black social workers walked out of the National Conference on Social Welfare, gathered at Glide Memorial Church and pledged to start an organization that reflected an understanding of the unique issues faced by African Americans in the social service arena, both those providing and receiving services. At a ceremony at Glide Memorial, President Howard Brabson presented certificates to over 100 NABSW members who had remained active with the organization since its inception. The full list of pioneers may never be known, however, the list below reflects the names we are currently aware of and we will be relying on those we know to fill in the blanks until the full list of loyal members has been completed.
It was a desire of the Founders and Pioneers that NABSW would convene every 10 years, in San Francisco for its annual conference, however, beginning in 1998, the costs for hosting a conference in San Francisco became too expensive, making 1988 the last year an annual conference was held in San Francisco. However, in January 2008, a Steering Committee meeting was held in Oakland, CA. On January 10, 2008, this SCM culminated in a moving and emotional ceremony held at Glide Memorial, commemorating NABSW's 1968 beginning.
Glide Memorial continues to be a stalwart advocate and supporter of social justice and social change in the San Francisco community with Co-Founders’ Rev. Cecil Williams and Janice Mirikitani who remain at GLIDE today with a mission to create meaningful change in this world. Their partnership welcomed NABSW's Founders and Pioneers and transformed a church into a social movement of service and spirit powered by unconditional love and acceptance.
Barbara S. Akins
E.C. Bell*
Joe E. Benton*
Sharon Y. Bomar
Stella M. Browne*
James E. Craigen*
Gwendolyn W. Darty
E. Hill DeLoney
Alvin R. Dollar
Gladys S. Dunston*
Leonard G. Dunston*
Judith D. Jackson*
Patricia Jenkins Lewis
Rosa E. Lee
Robbie T. Littles
Sandra T. Mitchell*
Joann Morrow*
Margaret L. Penn*
Dr. Fredrick E. Smith*
Gail P. Smith
Rudolph C. Smith
Zelma Smith-Pressley
Roger S. Swift
Mary Q. Taylor-Stevenson
Alice G. Thompson
Ruth E. Vaughn
Joyce Washington-Ivery
*Denotes Ancestor