.png?lang=en-US&ext=.png){kind=logo}
.png?lang=en-US&ext=.png){kind=logo}
Published on : January 27, 2026
CSWE Statement on Tragedies in Minneapolis
From CSWE President and CEO Dr. Halaevalu F. Vakalahi:
To My CSWE Community and Family,
I first want to express my heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Every life lost is a tragedy, leaving behind wounds that never fully heal. The tragedy is compounded by the brevity of their lives—each had done so much, and each had so much left to do.
I also want to acknowledge the extraordinary anxiety, grief, frustration, and fear that Minnesotans—specifically the residents of Minneapolis—have had to endure these past several weeks. They are our neighbors, fellow Americans, and fellow humans and have paid and continue to pay steep tolls, mentally, spiritually, and physically.
To the health care workers and mental health workers in the Twin Cities: We urge each of you to do whatever you can to care for yourself and prioritize your well-being. And to the social work programs in the Twin Cities, we share in your grief and admire your resilience as you help your neighbors navigate these volatile times.
The core purpose of the Council on Social Work Education is clear: to ensure a well-educated social work profession that is equipped to advocate for and promote education, health, well-being, universal rights, and justice in a diverse world. That charge requires us to demonstrate leadership, show empathy, and promote advocacy—especially when the core values of our profession are threatened.
In the Twin Cities and throughout America, people are wondering how much more they can endure. Since 2020, we have witnessed a string of unconscionable acts of violence—the murder of George Floyd; the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol; the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX; two assassination attempts against President Donald Trump; the assassination of Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark; the murder of Charlie Kirk; and now the crisis in Minneapolis, which also includes the shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis and the detention of 5-year-old asylum seeker Liam Conejo Ramos, to name just a few.
Each of these horrific acts was recorded and those recordings were delivered to our devices, often filtered and twisted through an ideological prism. The cumulative impact of these events has placed a profound strain on individual mental health, community well-being, and the broader civic landscape.
This violence must stop and it must stop now. Our political leaders must lay partisanship aside and work collaboratively toward a solution for peace. There must be accountability for unlawful actions; no individual nor group can be above the law. The right of citizens to assemble and protest in peace—a fundamental American freedom and a core tenet of democratic governance—must be respected and upheld.
The job of piecing Minneapolis and the country back together will fall in no small part on the shoulders of social workers. Social workers provide more than half of all mental and behavioral health services in this country. They assist police departments in crisis response and often resolve incidents without the need for force. Social workers are embedded in hospitals, schools, and libraries, providing psychosocial support to patients and families and helping them navigate logistical challenges. Now more than ever, this work is of vital importance. Social workers deserve and need our full support and the resources necessary to do their jobs.
America faces both a rising demand for social work and a shortage of social work practitioners. CSWE is working tirelessly to address this by removing as many barriers to social work education as possible for students and prospective students. This includes engaging in ongoing advocacy and policy practice—both as an organization and by encouraging our membership to use their voices on behalf of the social work profession.
Americans rely on social workers. To that end, America needs a strong network of social work programs delivering education grounded in fairness, access, and the creation of environments where everyone is respected, valued, supported, and safe.
Our hearts are with the people of Minnesota and all who are navigating these troubling times across the United States. The social work community stands with you in solidarity and support.
With deep gratitude,
Halaevalu F. Ofahengaue Vakalahi, PhD, MSW
CSWE President and CEO
Hartford Faculty Scholar, Fulbright Senior Scholar, CSWE-MFP Fellow