Artwork, videos, interview transcriptions and photography were all included in Hear Our Voices: an interactive presentation by students at the UNC School of Social Work.

Part of getting a degree from the school includes understanding how to relate to people who are different than you. This is what Doctor Iris Carlton-LaNay’s class had in mind when developing the project for their “Confronting Oppression and Institutionalized Discrimination” class.

The students interviewed different people from marginalized groups for the project. They incorporated several types of media to allow those they interviewed to share experiences about the political climate, personal struggles and triumphs and unresolved challenges.

Among those they interviewed were an immigrant living in the United States, an elderly woman living with chronic pain, and an artist with schizoaffective disorder and major depressive disorder.

Artwork by Taylor Anne Lancaster, using Hear Our Voices as an opportunity to showcase her art. Photo via UNC School of Social Work.

Doctor Gary Bowen is the Dean of the School of Social Work. He said the project is different than anything former students have done.

“I see this as just one of the most creative projects that I have been part of for a long time,” he said. “I think it represents our school so well, and I think it epitomizes the importance in social work of listening.”

He said the class redefined the requirements for the final project, and soared past expectations.

“I’m just very proud,” Bowen said. “I’m very proud to be associated with this school and be associated with your professor, Iris Carlton-LaNey, and for each student that was part of this, my hat’s off to you.”

The oral histories collected in the project will be featured in future Master’s in Social Work classes and submitted to UNC libraries to be considered for inclusion in archival collections.

Related Stories
‹
New School of Social Work Vice Dean Discusses Return to UNC
Robert Hawkins, the new vice dean for the UNC School of Social Work, joined 97.9 The Hill to talk the school and his vision for social work.
'Let's Not Forget Our Neighbors': UNC Leader Shares Western NC's Needs Amid Helene Recovery
In western North Carolina, recovery continues from Hurricane Helene last fall. UNC officials are working to harness their resources to help.
Multiple UNC Graduate School Programs Ranked in Nation's Top 10
Several UNC graduate programs were ranked in the top 10 of their respective categories by the U.S. News & World Report this week. Rankings are based on a survey of peers from accredited institutions across the country. “Carolina’s graduate programs are exceptional, and it’s no surprise that our schools are ranked so highly,” said interim […]
UNC Chancellor Shares Updates on 'Carolina Across 100,' Off-Campus Initiatives
While classes start this week on campus, UNC is also working on several initiatives off of its campus to expand its footprint and influence.
UNC Confirms Student Death in Residence Hall 1 Week Before Classes Ended
While the UNC campus community is celebrating its last day of classes on Friday, details are emerging of a tragedy that took place one week before. A student death was reported in Thomas Ruffin Jr. Residence Hall on the morning of Friday, April 21, according to UNC Police’s crime log. WRAL first reported the student […]
UNC Student Representatives Share Successes, Farewells with Board of Trustees
UNC Student Body President Taliajah Vann and Graduate Student President Theodore Nollert shared highlights of their tenures last Thursday.
'They Are Not Alone': UNC CAPS Director Details Expansion, Vision for Mental Health Services
As mental health continues to be a dominating issue across the country, especially on college campuses, UNC is continuing to seek ways to help address its students’ needs. Now, they’re doing it with new leadership — who has already overseen some major changes. The university’s Counseling and Psychological Services, or CAPS, recently took […]
UNC School of Medicine Research Named to Forbes' Healthcare Innovators List
A UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health researcher known for studying perinatal depression just landed another honor to her decorated career. In its recent list of “16 Healthcare Innovators That You Should Know,” Forbes included Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody, a long-time UNC faculty member and innovator in studying women’s mood disorders. The magazine pens that […]
'What It Comes Down To Is Relationships': Helping Kids Process Trauma
Following Tuesday's school shooting, how can we help kids process their feelings in a positive way - and how can we help ourselves?
After Bizarre Notifications, UNC Blocks Access To The Coursicle Scheduling App
UNC students are now planning their classes for fall semester, but they're doing it without an online scheduling tool that many used to take advantage of. Coursicle is a privately-owned website that makes course planning easier. The university is now blocking access to Coursicle after the site started sending users odd and offensive push notifications.
›