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Summer Symposium 2025 for School Social Workers
As school social workers, we know the emotional, mental, and physical toll our work can take. We are the steady hands supporting students, families, and schools through crises, transitions, and day-to-day challenges. But who supports us? How do we replenish the energy we pour into others? The answer is found in self-care—not the superficial, individualistic practices often portrayed, but the radical, collective self-care envisioned by Audre Lorde.
In June 2025, we invite you to join us for Unite to Ignite: Burst of Light, a Summer Symposium dedicated to reimagining self-care through the lens of community and societal well-being. This gathering is not just a retreat; it’s a call to action. Drawing inspiration from Lorde’s groundbreaking work, we will explore how self-care is an act of political resistance and a necessary practice for survival and change, not just for ourselves, but for the communities we serve.
Why Attend?
The symposium will be a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow with fellow school social workers from across the country. In a time where the demands on educators and social workers are higher than ever, this event is a space to come together, recharge, and be reminded of the power we have when we care for ourselves collectively.
You’ll have access to workshops, discussions, and experiential sessions centered on:
Radical Self Care: Exploring self-care as an act of survival and a form of resistance.
Collective Care: Engaging in conversations about how we can uplift each other and the communities we work with through shared wellness practices.
Mind-Body Wellness: Practical tools for nurturing your own physical, mental, and emotional health.
Whether you're new to the profession or have years of experience, this symposium will provide resources and inspiration to carry forward into your work and life.
Join Us!
The Unite to Ignite: Burst of Light Summer Symposium promises to be a transformative experience where self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity for our collective survival and success. Together, we will build a community of support, reflect on our practices, and ignite the spark that keeps us going.
We hope to see you in June 2025 as we unite to ignite a burst of light within ourselves and for the students and communities we serve.
Stay tuned for registration details on our Summer Symposium page!
Call for Presenters
Are you passionate about self-care and wellness? Do you have strategies, stories, or tools that have helped you thrive in your role? We are currently seeking presenters who are interested in leading workshops, discussions, or creative sessions during the symposium.
Presenting at the symposium is an opportunity to:
Share your expertise with a dedicated and engaged audience.
Highlight innovative practices that support both personal and professional well-being.
Contribute to a growing movement focused on the well-being of school social workers and the communities they serve.
Whether you want to lead a session on mindfulness, collective wellness, creative self-care practices, or the societal impact of collective care, we encourage you to submit a proposal. We are especially interested in presentations that honor Audre Lorde's legacy and explore self-care through the lens of social justice, community care, and systemic change.
Take a peek at last year's event below!
Capella Hauer, LMSW, NCSSW
(she/her/hers)
Capella is the Associate Executive Director for the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA). She graduated from New Mexico Highlands University in 2015 with her Master’s in Clinical Social Work and began working as a School Social Worker. Capella thrived with Elementary-aged youth, particularly in group settings. Capella was Vice President of the School Social Work Association of Arizona, obtained her certificate in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, and laid the foundation for trauma-informed practice within her district. In her free time, she started a non-profit bakery in her home with all the profit going back to local non-profits in her community and volunteered as a support group facilitator at a youth grief center. With almost a decade of practice behind her, Capella is a strong advocate for youth mental health, and the growth of the School Social Work profession who aid in student health, safety, and success.