Elevating Social Workers as Leaders
in Communities, Institutions, and Democracy
A national effort to explore, elevate, and expand the role of social workers as civic and public leaders.
Why I Created the Social Work Public Leadership Initiative
Throughout my career as a social worker, educator, elected official, consultant, and community leader, I have witnessed social workers making extraordinary contributions far beyond the roles our profession is traditionally known for.
Yet these stories often remain invisible.
The Social Work Public Leadership Initiative was created to explore, elevate, and expand the role of social workers as civic and public leaders—helping communities navigate complex challenges, strengthen democratic participation, and build a more just and connected society.
Explore The Relational Public Square
The Relational Public Square is an ongoing exploration of how communities build relationships, exercise public judgment, and address challenges that no single institution can solve alone.
Through essays and reflections grounded in public leadership, social work, and community experience, I examine the conditions that help people work across differences and participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their lives.
Founding Voices: Conversations in Social Work Public Leadership.
Through the Macro Social Work Mentor podcast, social work leaders from diverse backgrounds share lessons from their leadership journeys.
Anjanette Young
Working the political process for social justice
President & CEO Cafe Social Work Consulting LLC, Founder “I Am Her” Foundation, and Author “Past the Pain: How to Emerge From Trauma with Purpose”
Valerie Arendt
Building long-term relationships with state legislators and their staff
Executive Director, Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) and Former Executive Director, NASW-North Carolina
Deborah Son
Leveraging the legal system against itself to empower Domestic Violence survivors
Executive Director of the Family Violence Appellate Project and Former Executive Director of NASW-California
Learning Opportunities
Public Leadership Learning Opportunities
Explore current and developing learning pathways.
Civic & Electoral Leadership
Understanding Local Government Power
Assessing Your Readiness to Run
Should You Run This Year or Later?
Timing Your Run
Fundraising Basics for Social Workers
Community & Systems Leadership
Stakeholder Mapping
Community Engagement
Collaborative Leadership
Coalition Building
Connecting Public Leadership Ideas to Institutional Practice
The Social Work Public Leadership Initiative explores how people exercise leadership in communities, institutions, and public life. These ideas also inform my work through Victor Manalo Consulting LLC.
Through consulting, facilitation, and leadership development, I work with local governments, public agencies, and community-serving organizations to strengthen relationships, navigate complex challenges, and create opportunities for meaningful collaboration.