Monday, October 20, 2025
5:30PM-7:00PM
Venue
This will be a virtual event. Login information will be included in your confirmation email.
The event is free; advance registration is required.
Register
Program Overview
Discover the power of effective advocacy alongside two nationally recognized leaders who have successfully transformed policy into practice. In this dynamic session, you’ll gain insider insights into proven strategies that create lasting impact for older adults and advance the social work profession.
Beyond learning about the latest policy developments shaping our field, you’ll walk away with actionable tools and clear pathways to become a catalyst for change in your own community and organization. This is your opportunity to move from observer to advocate, equipped with the knowledge and confidence to drive meaningful reform where it matters most.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:
• Describe effective advocacy strategies at local, state, and national levels
• Identify current policy priorities affecting older adults and social workers
• Develop actionable steps for participating in advocacy efforts within their communities or organizations
Continuing Education
CEUs provided by the Helen Rehr Center for a fee. For information, contact [email protected].
Speakers
Bob Blancato
Shakira Kennedy
More about Bob Blancato:
Bob Blancato is the President of Matz, Blancato and Associates. In that capacity, he also serves as the National Coordinator of the bipartisan 3000-member Elder Justice Coalition, the Executive Director of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs and National Coordinator of the Defeat Malnutrition Today coalition.
Bob has long been recognized as a national advocate with policy expertise on behalf of older adults. In 2019, he was invited by both the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee to testify on a range of issues. Bob’s prior work history includes 17 years as a staffer in Congress and an appointment by President Clinton to be the Executive Director of the 1995 White House Conference on Aging, one of four he has participated in. He is a member of the Senior Executive Service. As a volunteer, he currently serves on the National Board of AARP and the board of the National Hispanic Council on Aging.
In 2019, Bob began a four-year term on the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services, appointed by HHS Secretary Azar. Bob holds a BA from Georgetown University and an MPA from American University. Bob has won numerous awards for advocacy, most recently the American Society for Aging’s ASA Hall of Fame Award in March 2020.
More About Shakira Kennedy:
Dr. Shakira A. Kennedy is a distinguished social work leader with over 25 years of experience in advocacy, education, and nonprofit leadership. As Executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for both New York City and New York State, she mobilizes members to advocate for the profession, enhance its visibility, and uphold its integrity.
Her leadership spans large nonprofit organizations, where she has held progressive roles from Supervisor to Vice President, driving program development, policy initiatives, and community impact.
Aa a dedicated educator and scholar, Dr. Kennedy has taught at all levels of social work education, from bachelor’s to doctoral programs. She has served as Curriculum Committee Chair, co-chair of the policy sequence, and a developer of graduate-level courses, shaping the next generation of social workers.
Her academic contributions include several journal publications, a guest editor for Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping and she has served as a consulting editor for Children & Schools.
Dr. Kennedy holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology from Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus, a Master of Social Work from Clark Atlanta University, and a PhD from the University of Tennessee.