JUST SOCIETY
Network
Leadership
NETWORK CO-LEADS
Rocío Calvo, PhD
Associate Professor
Boston College
rocio.calvo@bc.edu
Jorge Delva, PhD
Dean, Director, & Professor
Boston University
jdelva@bu.edu
Martell Teasley, PhD
Dean & Professor
University of Utah
martell.teasley@utah.edu
LOOKING BACK
During the past five years, members of the Achieve Equal Opportunity and Justice
network and their colleagues have:
• Received a $174,423 grant from the Russell
Sage Foundation to conduct a study on how
older Latinx immigrants navigate community
resources
• Authored five working papers on addressing
social stigma, integrating Latinx immigrants,
supporting African American children,
building inclusive communities, and reducing
disparities in juvenile justice
• Launched the School Success Project, which
aims to "raise awareness and promote
school success by reducing disproportionate
suspension and expulsion of school-aged
youth." Based at the University of Utah's
College of Social Work, this watchdog entity
grew out of the 2017 working paper,
"Increasing Success for African American
Children and Youth"
• Published numerous books and articles,
including "Facing Segregation: Housing Policy
Solutions for a Stronger Society," "LGBT
Stigma and Stress: How Social Workers Can
Help," and the introduction to a special
issue of the Journal of Teaching and Social
Work on "Preparing Bilingual, Bicultural
Social Workers to Serve the Growing Latino
Population in America"
• Presented at the annual conference of the
Society for Social Work and Research
• Co-sponsored a congressional briefing on
"The Intersection of Health and Justice: A Look
Inside County Jails," calling for better physical
and mental healthcare services for people
admitted to jails
• Worked through the Latinx Leadership
Initiative at Boston College School of Social
Work to "increase the number of Latinx social
workers in the United States and develop
social work practitioners who are equipped
to work effectively with Latinx communities
across the country"
• Spoken out against the immigration policies
of the Trump Administration with respect to
their harmful implications for children
• Advocated for the reauthorization of the
Higher Education Act, arguing for retaining
financial supports to ensure affordability
for students and including social work
programs in Graduate Assistance in Areas
of National Need
LOOKING AHEAD
Members of the Grand Challenge to Achieve Equal Opportunity and Justice network
have articulated the following objectives for the next five years:
• Increase collaboration with related Grand Challenges, such as Eliminate Racism and Promote
Smart Decarceration
• Emphasize the Grand Challenge in light of the growing racial and ethnic inequities in U.S. society
• Continue to advocate for policy recommendations, including:
1. Accelerate Latinx immigrant integration and expand coverage under the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
2. Enhance, expand, and strengthen federal antidiscrimination laws, including
the Voting Rights Act
3. Eliminate zero tolerance policies in schools and promote the use of evidence-
informed practices and policies to address racial disciplinary disproportionality
An Impact Report at Year 5 of the 10-Year Initiative | 35