Michael Sherraden received the annual Richard Lodge Prize at the School of Social Work annual Alumni and Friends Day.
by Jordan Chapman
Michael Sherraden, Ph.D., winner of the 2015 Richard Lodge Prize and one of Time magazine鈥檚 Most Influential People in the World, addresses a sold-out crowd at Alumni and Friends Day.鈥淚 think the idea of renewing practice, renewing knowledge and聽creating innovations requires a creative 
response to conditions when聽they鈥檙e not going well,鈥� said Michael Sherraden, Ph.D., recipient and聽winner of the 2015 Richard Lodge Prize at the annual Alumni and Friends Day.
Dr. Sherraden touched on a number of topics during his keynote聽address, including ideas on current governmental spending and聽the need to concentrate more funds on the younger generations聽via universal accounts. Most of all, though, he encouraged all in聽attendance to keep at their ideas for change and to be sure those聽ideas deal with problems society is facing today.
鈥淪ocial work needs to be embedded in the world,鈥� Dr. Sherraden said.听If new social innovation is to occur, then research and policy making聽must be derived from evidence-based practices that have 鈥渙ne foot聽strongly grounded in the world,鈥� he continued.
Conducting everyday social work practice entails constant learning,聽Dr. Sherraden explained, which leads to ideas of how certain practices聽could be improved. 鈥淭he nature of social practice and social work is a聽constant process of renewal and innovation,鈥� he said. He encouraged聽experienced and nonexperienced social workers alike to continue聽developing and promoting new ideas despite adversity. 鈥淚f we鈥檙e聽good at it, then we learn systematically. We continue to do better.鈥�
In 2010, Time magazine recognized Dr. Sherraden鈥檚 work by naming聽him one of their 100 Most influential People in the World. He聽shared space on the list with former President Bill Clinton; Edna聽Foa, Ph.D.; Steve Jobs; graffiti artist Banksy; musicians Elton John,聽Prince and Lady Gaga; and President Barack Obama, among others.听The magazine noted Dr. Sherraden鈥檚 groundbreaking work on the聽vital role of assets鈥攏ot just income鈥攊n overcoming poverty. In聽other words, without savings accounts, insurance and the means聽to protect what one has earned, low- to moderate-income people聽worldwide will not have the ability to weather economic downturns.
This article appeared in聽Impact, the School of Social Work Newsletter.听For further information, please contact:
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