Social Work, Identity, and Ubuntu | Shayla Dube

Social work, identity, Ubuntu, community, and cultural transition anchor this conversation with Shayla S. Dube, an Africentric and decolonial educator whose work embodies collective responsibility and relational practice. Alicia and Ace explore the tensions between assimilation and belonging, the power of Ubuntu-centered care, and the ongoing work of reclaiming cultural foundations in a world shaped by colonialism and accelerating technology.Shayla reflects on her journey from Zimbabwe to Canada and the costs of assimilation; the role of community participation in becoming more fully human; and the need for social work education that centers relational learning, cultural humility, and ancestral knowledge. The discussion moves through identity reauthoring, the ethics of AI, and the work of re-centering African and Indigenous wisdoms in practice. This episode speaks to anyone committed to liberation, grounded pedagogy, and community-made identity.Visit Shayla's Website: https://wellnessempowered.com/Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@RevolutionarySocialWork/sub_confirmation=1Email: [email protected]: RevolutionarySocialWork.comChapters:00:00 Intro / Theme Song01:38 Introduction and Identity Exploration07:14 The Importance of Community and Participation13:04 Cultural Transition: From Zimbabwe to Canada18:52 Assimilation and Identity Loss24:04 Reclaiming the Village in Modern Society29:46 Teaching and Learning in a Community Context35:06 Navigating Parenting in a New Cultural Environment38:14 Helping Others Discover Their Identity46:40 Understanding Human Experience Beyond Pathology47:44 Cultural Identity and Ancestry Exploration48:55 Creating and Reauthoring Culture50:41 The Role of Culture in Human Behavior52:42 Connecting with Cultural Foundations54:20 Navigating Cultural Disconnection57:04 The Dynamic Nature of Culture58:46 Technology, AI, and Social Skills01:04:10 Ethics of AI in Social Work01:07:54 Re-centering Indigenous and African Wisdom in Social Work#RevolutionarySocialWork #Ubuntu #SocialWorkPodcast #CulturalHumility #AfrocentricPractice #DecolonialEducation #IdentityAndCommunity #UbuntuCenteredCare© Revolutionary Social Work