NC State University Faculty Member wins NASW-NC Advocacy Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2014
Contact: Kay Castillo, Director of Advocacy, Policy and Legislation
kay@naswnc.org

Barbara Zelter Selected as NASW-NC Myrna Miller Wellons Advocacy Award Recipient

Barbara Zelter, MSW, Clinical Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University (NCSU) Department of Social Work has been selected as the 2014 Myrna Miller Wellons Advocacy Award recipient.

Ms. Zelter was selected by the National Association of Social Workers North Carolina Chapter (NASW-NC) Legislative Committee as this year’s recipient because of her deep advocacy roots on behalf of the social work profession and social work students of North Carolina. Ms. Zelter has been involved in advocacy for a number of years and most recently participated in the "Moral Monday” events held at the North Carolina General Assembly. Ms. Zelter was arrested during the "Moral Monday”protests for civil disobedience. A video with her arrest story can be viewed here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX10CoKvIHg.

In addition to her advocacy during the 2013 Legislative Session, Ms. Zelter has worked to secure macro placement internships for students at NCSU and has created twenty-one placements in just nine months. Ms. Zelter serves as the chair of the Diversity, Retention, and Recruitment Committee at NCSU which has developed a men's social work group, outreach to student veterans and Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) students. She also serves as faculty partner to the university’s Center for Student Leadership, Engagement, and Public Services (CSLEPS) to provide students with a deeper knowledge in issues of citizen engagement such as Voter Suppression and the Affordable Care Act.

Outside of the university, Ms. Zelter is a frequent visitor to Death Row prisoners at Central Prison in Raleigh where she provides friendship and spiritual support. Ms. Zelter is a member of NASW, the North Carolina Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the North Carolina Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Democracy NC, and the North Carolina Justice Center.

About the Award

The Myrna Miller Wellons Advocacy Award is named after past NASW-NC Government Relations staff and social worker, Myrna Miller Wellons. Mrs. Wellons was a tireless advocate for many issues and was a mentor to social workers across the state. The award is given annually to someone who is a champion for impacting policy both for the social work profession and the clients served by social workers.

The Award will be given at NASW-NC’s Annual March Ethics Conference and Awards Luncheon on March 7^th, 2014 at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh, NC.