Decolonizing and Embodiment: Healing Justice for HIV

In Fall 2018, Cynthia Wilks, a second-year MSW student, partnered with David Landsman-Wohlsifer, Ph.D., LCSW, to look at HIV/AIDS and Decolonizing Perspectives with Latinx clients in social work practice. The end result of that research was a poster, entitled “Decolonizing & Embodiment: Healing Justice for HIV”, which was recently accepted for presentation at the 2020 American Family Therapy Academy (AFTA) Conference. The annual conference attracts social justice-minded, family/systemically-focused clinicians, researchers, and advocates from around the world.

“I am so grateful to Dr. David for providing guidance, incredible material, and the collaborative space to explore this topic,” Wilks said.  “Also, I am so grateful to FAU for supporting my development as a social worker and participation at AFTA. The opportunity to study decolonizing practices through a social justice lens has provided an excellent framework when providing volunteer services for Latinx immigrants.”