Dare To Soar Season 2

Across the nation, school social work is experiencing a shift one that calls for reflection, honesty, and action. This episode brings together two dynamic voices representing different generational perspectives to explore what is happening and what must happen next. Featuring: Dr. Kashera Guy Robinson, LCSW 30+ years in social work | Former school social worker | Now Director of Field Education & Assistant Clinical Professor at Auburn University at Montgomery | 2023 School Social Worker of the Year Mrs. Erika Cuttray, LCSW Senior Social Worker at Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center | Owner, The Serene Mindset, LLC | Mental wellness advocate with 10+ years in trauma, grief, and depression In this episode, we explore: • Why are Millennials rethinking and, in some cases, leaving school social work? • The impact of burnout, workplace culture, and systemic challenges. • Generational differences in expectations, boundaries, and sustainability. • What social workers truly need to feel supported and valued. • Actionable insights on how to retain and reclaim the next generation of professionals. This is more than a conversation, it is a call to listen, reflect, and lead differently. Because the future of school social work will not be shaped by who enters the field… It will be shaped by who is able to remain.

What does it mean to lead with purpose to advocate with courage, and to stand firmly in justice especially in a time when justice is being challenged? In this important and purpose-driven episode of Dare To Soar with Dr. RC, we are joined by Dr. Ashley Johnson, School Social Worker, Education Consultant, Adjunct Professor, Board Chair, and State President of the Tennessee Association of School Social Workers. As the recipient of the First National Social Justice Award, Dr. Johnson brings a critical and courageous voice to the evolving conversation around equity, advocacy, and leadership in today’s educational and political climate. Together, we explore: 🔹 What social justice leadership looks like in real time. 🔹 The impact of current policy shifts on students, families, and schools. 🔹 The responsibility of social workers to move beyond awareness into action. 🔹 How leaders sustain their voice and purpose in challenging systems. This is more than a conversation, it is a call to rise, lead, and stand firmly in purpose.

Some wounds are invisible. Some stories are never told And far too many children are suffering ... in silence. In this impactful and deeply moving solo episode, Dr. RC brings light to one of the most urgent and often overlooked issues impacting our communities child abuse and neglect. In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, this episode goes beyond awareness and calls each of us into intentional action. 💙 This is not just a conversation… 💙 This is a wake-up call. 💙 This is a responsibility we all share. In This Episode, You Will Learn: ✔️ The different forms of child abuse and how they show up. ✔️ Eye-opening statistics and realities impacting children today. ✔️ Common myths that prevent intervention and the truth behind them. ✔️ Warning signs every adult should recognize. ✔️ The long-term impact of childhood trauma. ✔️ What YOU can do to protect, support, and advocate for children. Why This Conversation Matters: Child abuse does not discriminate but access to protection and support often does. Many children never report what they are experiencing and many signs go unnoticed.

What if one intentional action could create a ripple that transforms not just a moment… but an entire system? In this powerful episode of Dare To Soar we explore the idea that small, purposeful actions in leadership and practice can lead to lasting, meaningful change across schools, communities, and beyond. Joining Dr. RC are two dynamic voices bridging research and real-world impact: Dr. Kevin Tan, Associate Dean at the School of Social Work, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. A nationally recognized leader in school social work, his work focuses on social-emotional learning, transformative practice, and authentic university-community partnerships that advance equity and belonging. Ms. Kelsi Walters, School Social Worker and frontline practitioner advancing equity-centered, community-engaged, and social-emotional learning initiatives. Her work brings theory to life, centering student voice, belonging, and real-world impact in schools every day. In this episode, we discuss: • The true meaning of “The Butterfly Effect” in social work and education • How leadership and frontline practice intersect to create change • Turning equity from language into action • The power of relationships, belonging, and student voice • How small, intentional moments can transform lives and communities This conversation is a powerful reminder that impact is not always immediate or visible but it is always meaningful when it is intentional.

In this powerful and necessary episode of Dare To Soar with Dr. RC, we sit down with Dr. Carmen Reese Foster, Executive Director of the Coalition of Black Social Workers, to explore what it truly means to lead at the intersection of race, justice, and professional advocacy. This conversation embodies what it means to be: Unapologetically Black. Uncompromisingly Social Work. Unstoppably Committed. From dismantling systemic inequities to amplifying the voices of Black social workers nationwide, Dr. Reese Foster shares her vision for collective action, community healing, and transformative leadership. This conversation is more than an interview it is a call to consciousness. In this episode, they explore: • The current state of Black social workers in America • Moving beyond performative advocacy to sustained action • Building power through coalition and collective voice • The responsibility of leadership in challenging and complex times • Protecting the profession while protecting the people we serve This is not just dialogue. This is direction. This is movement.

In this powerful episode of Dare To Soar with Dr. RC, sits down with Dr. Onaje Muid of the Delaware County, Pennsylvania Association of Black Social Workers to explore the critical and evolving conversation around reparations and the role of social work in advancing restorative justice. This discussion examines how historical injustices continue to shape present-day disparities in housing, education, health, and economic opportunity and why social workers must remain engaged in conversations that challenge systemic inequality. Together they discuss: • The historical foundations of the reparations movement • Why reparations are a social justice issue • The role of the National Association of Black Social Workers • The ethical responsibility of social workers to challenge injustice • How advocacy, policy, and community engagement intersect in this dialogue Because understanding the past is essential to building a more just future.

In this inspiring episode of Dare To Soar with Dr. RC, we are joined by Lorraine C. Stokes, LCSW, Program Director and Instructor for the Social Work Assistant Program at Chattahoochee Technical College. With experience in oncology, renal care, school social work, and higher education, Ms. Stokes shares insights on preparing the next generation of social workers and strengthening the helping workforce. In this conversation, we discuss: • The role of Social Work Assistant programs • How education and field experience shape future social workers • Lessons from medical and school social work practice • The importance of mentorship and leadership in the profession Because the next generation of change-makers is not just being trained they are being called to lead.

In this powerful solo episode of Dare To Soar, Dr. RC closes out National School Social Work Week 2026 with a reflection on the legacy, leadership, and future of the school social work profession. Throughout the week, Dr. RC shared seven daily messages highlighting the impact of school social workers across the nation. In this episode, she brings those reflections together to honor the profession and challenge listeners to continue advancing the work. Topics discussed include: • The visibility and value of school social workers • The critical role school social workers play in mental health, crisis response, and student success • The heart and humanity that fuels the profession • Advocacy and policy issues affecting school social work • Leadership responsibilities for the next generation of practitioners Drawing from her national leadership experience and her powerful article “When They Try to Erase Us,” Dr. RC offers a moving tribute to school social workers everywhere while issuing a bold call to action for the future of the profession. Because School Social Work is NOT Supplemental. It is Essential.

In this commanding episode of Dare To Soar with Dr. RC, we explore the intersection of housing instability, racial inequity, and educational access. Dr. RC sits down with: Damion Wilson, Coordinator of School Social Work Services Virginia Beach City Public Schools & National Corresponding Secretary for the National Association of Black Social Workers. Together, they discuss: • What homeless education truly means • Why African American families are disproportionately impacted by housing instability • The historical roots of housing disparities • The educational consequences of unstable housing • The protections under the McKinney-Vento Act • The role of school social workers in advocacy and systemic change

In this powerful episode of Dare To Soar with Dr. RC, we explore the transformative impact of African-Centered Restorative Practices and their relevance for social workers, educators, leaders, and community advocates. Dr. RC sits down with Dr. Kiesha Allen of the Greater Detroit Association of Black Social Workers (ABSW) to unpack how culturally grounded restorative approaches restore dignity, promote accountability, and strengthen collective healing. #DareToSoar #AfricanCentered #RestorativePractices #RestorativeJustice #SocialWorkLeadership #BlackSocialWorkers #ABSW #CommunityHealing #CulturallyResponsive #SocialWorkMatters #SchoolSocialWork #SoarWithKATIE

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and this powerful solo episode of Dare To Soar with Dr. RC pulls back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood and under reported human rights crises of our time. In “Hidden in Plain Sight: Daring to Soar Against Human Trafficking,” Dr. RC explores the myths, realities, warning signs, and prevention strategies surrounding human trafficking while centering compassion, dignity, and the role each of us can play in protecting vulnerable children, youth, and adults.This episode is not about fear, it’s about truth, empowerment, and collective responsibility.

This powerful solo kickoff episode launches Dare To Soar 2026 with intention, courage, and clarity. Dr. RC invites listeners to release survival mode, stop shrinking, and step into the next chapter with new wings strengthened by wisdom, boundaries, healing, and unapologetic purpose. This is not a new year, new me message. It is a new year, truer me declaration. Blending motivation, reflection, actionable insight, and lifelong affirmations from Reclaim Your Power: Where the Journey to Mental Wellness Begins, this episode guides listeners to rise whole, grounded, and ready.

In this deeply moving and affirming episode of Dare to Soar with Dr. RC, we sit down with Ms. Darcell Dance, BA, MSW, LCSW (Oregon ABSW) to explore the realities, resilience, and revolutionary joy of Black women living, working, and leading in spaces where we are often the only one or one of few. Together, we unpack: 🌿 how identity is shaped in underrepresented environments 🌿 the emotional labor and invisible weight Black women carry 🌿 strategies for building authentic sisterhood and culturally grounded wellness 🌿 the role of community, advocacy, and radical self-preservation 🌿 how we root ourselves where soil seems thin and still bloom This is more than a conversation. It’s a call to wellness, connection, and community for every Black woman who has ever had to create belonging where none existed. #DareToSoar #BlackWomenWellness #RootedEvenWhenFew #SisterhoodInAction #ABSW #BlackWomenLead #WellnessJourney #DrRCInspires #CultivatingCommunity #SocialWorkVoices #BlackSisterhood

The holidays don’t just bring lights and music they bring pressure, expectations, emotional weight, and the quiet exhaustion we often hide behind a smile. But this year It’s YOUR turn to rise. In this powerful 60-minute Dare to Soar motivational episode, Dr. RC ignites a message of courage, restoration, and personal empowerment for anyone entering the holiday season feeling drained or stretched thin. This isn’t a conversation about doing more it’s a call to step into the season strengthened, centered, and intentionally renewed. Inside this episode, Dr. RC shares: 🔥 Motivational truths that challenge the belief that you must sacrifice yourself to serve others 🔥 Research-backed mindset shifts that boost resilience and emotional strength 🔥 Real-life examples of how powerful people stay grounded during intense seasons 🔥 Easy, energizing self-care practices that reignite joy and protect your mental wellness 🔥 A holiday empowerment plan rooted in clarity, courage, and confidence 🔥 A motivational affirmation experience to uplift your spirit and fuel your purpose This is not your typical self-care episode. It’s an anthem. It’s a lifeline. It’s your holiday wake-up call to rise refreshed, renewed, and ready to soar.

As Thanksgiving approaches, many will gather around tables filled with abundance but millions of Americans still struggle with empty plates, unstable housing, and silent battles hidden in plain sight. In this electrifying episode of Dare to Soar with Dr. RC, we go beyond seasonal gratitude and step boldly into a movement for justice, community, and collective action. Dr. RC delivers a powerful call to rise as advocates for families experiencing hunger and homelessness. From the impact of SNAP benefit cuts to the courage of students, veterans, and working families, this episode uncovers the truth and ignites a passion for change. Through fiery storytelling, real-life connections, and a community-centered vision, Dr. RC inspires listeners to turn their compassion into momentum. This is not just a holiday conversation, it's a mandate to serve, to speak, and to stand for those too often unseen. This Thanksgiving, we don’t just set the table. We extend it. We widen it. We rise together.” #DareToSoar #DrRC #BeyondTheTable #GratitudeInAction #EndHunger #EndHomelessness #AdvocacyInMotion #SocialWorkLeadership #SNAP #FoodJustice #HousingJustice #RiseTogether

In this episode of Dare to Soar with Dr. RC, we explore the complex and far-reaching Doctrine of Qualified Immunity a legal principle designed to shield public officials, including law enforcement, from civil lawsuits unless they violate “clearly established” constitutional rights. While meant to protect government workers from frivolous claims, this doctrine has sparked intense debate for its role in limiting accountability and perpetuating systemic inequities. Joining Dr. RC for this crucial discussion are: -Ms. Lillie R. Jackson, of the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW), Greater Akron-Canton Chapter, and -Ms. Cynthia Brown, CEO of Heartbeat Movement Inc., a multiracial, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit social justice organization led and directed by Ohioans. Together, they address: -The history and intent behind qualified immunity -The real-life consequences for families and communities seeking justice -How race, power, and policy intersect in the application of the doctrine -The vital role of social workers in advocacy, reform, and community healing Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how advocacy and education can ignite reform proving that when knowledge meets courage, true justice can take flight.

In this moving and empowering episode of Dare to Soar with Dr. RC, we welcome Dr. Leticia Villarreal Sosa, LCSW, PEL SSW, a compassionate leader and expert in grief, trauma, and social work education. Together, we open the conversation around what it truly means to certify your calling to turn lived experience, professional insight, and empathy into structured pathways for healing and hope. Listeners will gain insight into: -How professional grief certification strengthens the integrity and impact of those serving others. -The cultural, ethical, and emotional dimensions of grief often left unspoken. -How practitioners can integrate certification into advocacy, education, and community care. This is not just a conversation, it’s an awakening to the idea that grief, when honored and understood, can be a bridge toward deeper purpose and renewed life. #DareToSoar #DrRCInspires #HealingBeyondTheSilence #GriefAndHope #DrLeticiaVillarrealSosa #SoarWithKATIE

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming every corner of our society from classrooms to clinics, from social services to everyday life. But where does social work fit into this rapidly evolving landscape? On this episode of Dare to Soar with Dr. RC, we’ll dive deep into the intersection of technology and humanity with special guest Dr. Marina Badillo-Diaz, LCSW, a visionary leader and advocate in the social work field. Together, we’ll explore how AI can serve as both a powerful tool and a complex challenge for practitioners committed to ethics, empathy, and equity. Dr. Badillo-Diaz will share her insights into what it means to protect human connection in an increasingly digital world and how social workers can rise to meet the moment with knowledge, innovation, and compassion. 🎧 Tune in to discover: How AI can empower social work practice. Key ethical concerns around privacy, bias, and equity. Strategies for using technology without losing compassion. A vision for the future of social work in an AI-driven world. #DareToSoar #SocialWorkInAI #FutureOfSocialWork #TechAndHumanity #DrRC

In a time when policies shape classrooms, communities, and client outcomes, voting is not just a civic right it’s a professional responsibility. Join Dr. RC and her esteemed guest, Dr. Renata Hedrington Jones, President of the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW), for a powerful and thought-provoking conversation on the intersection of policy, advocacy, and the profession of social work. Together, they explore how legislative decisions directly influence social work practice, funding, ethics, and equity, and why every vote cast is a step toward protecting the profession’s core values of justice, empowerment, and service. This episode challenges social workers everywhere to rise beyond the sidelines and recognize that advocacy doesn’t end in the office, it begins at the ballot box. Discover how the power of the vote safeguards our profession, amplifies marginalized voices, and keeps social justice alive as a living, breathing commitment. Tune in and be inspired to use your voice, cast your vote, and safeguard the future of social work.

In times of conflict, natural disaster, or large-scale crisis, the mental wounds are often invisible, yet no less urgent. In this solo Dare To Soar episode, Dr. RC delves into the heart of the 2025 World Mental Health Day theme: “Access to Services, Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies.” Through data, frontline stories, and lessons from around the world, this episode exposes how mental health support is often the first casualty of crises, and how social workers, humanitarian actors, and communities can restore it. Expect actionable strategies, global perspectives, and a call to turn compassion into systemic change, so that healing is never delayed, even when catastrophe strikes.

This week on Dare To Soar with Dr. RC… We’re breaking through the invisible chains that bind communities across the globe, shining a light on the barriers to mental wellness, and the transformative role of social work in tearing them down. In this powerful solo episode, Dr. RC will explore how stigma, inequities, and systemic obstacles impact mental health in classrooms, communities, and cultures worldwide. Through research, real-life examples, and strategies for change, she’ll highlight how social workers are helping individuals and families rise beyond limitations and reclaim hope.

This week on Dare To Soar with Dr. RC, guest Shuron Jenkins will shine a spotlight on The Courage Code, a safe space and powerful movement dedicated to helping adolescent males and men challenge stigma, embrace emotional wellness, and change the narrative around mental health in their communities. Together, we’ll explore how open dialogue, mentorship, and culturally responsive practices are rewriting the story of what it means to be strong. Listeners will walk away with strategies, insights, and renewed courage to lean into emotional wellness and create spaces of hope and healing.

This week on Dare To Soar, Dr. RC welcomes Kathy Lopes, LICSW, Vice President of the National Association of Black Social Workers, for a thought-provoking conversation on Culturally-Responsive Practices in Education. Together, they’ll explore how educators and social workers can affirm student identities, break down systemic barriers, and Culturally Responsive diversity is celebrated. Listeners will gain practical insights, real-world examples, and tools to build stronger connections with students, families, and communities. Tune in, be inspired, and join the movement toward educational equity and student success.

In this episode, Dr. RC leads a heartfelt conversation with guest CSW, Ms. Lynetta Crawford that breaks the silence around self-ending and shines a light on hope, healing, and prevention. This powerful episode explores the unseen struggles many face, the importance of community support, and resources that can save lives. Listeners will walk away with inspiration, practical strategies, and a renewed reminder: you are not alone, and hope is always within reach.

Don't miss this enlightening episode of Dare To Soar with Dr. RC! Join us for an impactful and thought–provoking discussion!