Northeastern Illinois University alumnus Keith R. Green will be the keynote speaker for the annual Social Work Day celebration on March 27.
Green is an award-winning spoken word artist, social justice advocate, community journalist and researcher. As a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, he graduated summa cum laude in 2007 from Northeastern’s Social Work program.
“Keith is one of the department’s shining stars,” Social Work Department Chair Jade Stanley said. “We are so proud of him in so many ways, and we are honored to have him back to be the keynote speaker for one of our most important events of the year.”
After graduating from Northeastern, Green received an Advanced Opportunity Fellowship from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Social Work to pursue a master’s degree with a concentration in mental health. Upon graduation Green returned to Chicago, where he served as project director for one of the first research studies to explore the acceptability and feasibility of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV at Stroger Hospital of Cook County. He went on to serve as Director of Federal Affairs for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, and returned to Northeastern in 2011 to teach social work research and policy courses.
Currently, Keith is a third-year doctoral student and Ford Foundation Scholar at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. His primary research interest is focused on the effect of biomedical prevention strategies on the institutional logics of HIV prevention.
After the keynote address, Green will facilitate a breakout group on the use of spoken word in social work practice.
The day’s program, which is free and open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in Alumni Hall.
Additionally, El Centro will host a Social Work Day program on March 24 and March 26.
