Dr. Sakara ​Wages, MSW

The 1st Institutional Social Worker

“Change

is the one unavoidable,

irresistible,

ongoing reality of the universe.

To us,

that makes it the most powerful reality,

and just another word for

God.

Earthseed: The Books of the Living

Lauren Oya Olamina


-Octavia Butler

Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, the 100s to be exact, I ​am a criticalist in search of social change, unoppressive decolonized ​institutions, and a world where Social Work is not needed.


I hold a B.S. in Psychology, a Master of Social Work degree, and a ​Ph.D in Social Welfare. I am a multidisciplinary lecturer who has ​taught classes in Social Work, Psychology, Ethnic and Gender ​Studies. I am also a practitioner, designing programs, curating ​spaces, and organizing communities.


I own Subversive Social Work, the world's first institutional social ​work agency, and I work alongside key Black community ​stakeholders in Platteville to co-create the Black Platteville ​Community Network (BlkPlattCom). In my free time, I crochet and ​chase Black joy, Black autonomy, and Black liberation.

Hello!

Qualifications

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Education

  • Ph.D. - Social Welfare, University of ​Wisconsin-Madison, 2023
  • MSW - Social Work, University of ​Wisconsin-Madison, 2020
  • B.S. - Psychology, University of ​Wisconsin-Platteville, 2017
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Skills

  • Black Feminist Reconstructive Horizon ​Analysis
  • Black-Serving Social Work
  • Anti-Colonial Social Work
  • Qualitative and Qualitative ​Methodologies
  • Love Ethic and Humanizing Departures


What I Do

  • Create Organizations: BlkPlattCom & Subversive Social Work
  • Program Design at the Progress Center for Black Women - Madison, WI
  • Write government reports and grants.
  • Teach future social workers how not to fuck up Black lives.
  • Problematize terminology. I ask, “Who gets to name things?”
  • Curate critical curiosity. Just cause they said it, don’t make it true.
  • Interrupt master narratives to disrupt the status quo.
    • For example, Jane Addams was not the mother of social work. Othermothers, Indigenous ​communities, Harriet Jacobs, Mary Ellen Pleasant, Catherine (Katy) Ferguson, Maggie ​Lena Walker, and Janie Porter Barrett were all actively supporting their communities ​prior to the opening of Hull House in the mid-to-late 1800s. Why is Addams the model ​and not the Black and Brown Women who have always done the work of ensuring our ​collective survival?
  • Humanizing departures within institutions.
  • Honor Black women’s knowledge production and theory building by working to improve ​how we study with Black women today.

What I Study

The norms and values of historical and ​contemporary Black-led, Black-serving Social ​Welfare organizations


The effects of Black joy and play on ​development


Black women and families & child welfare


Anti-oppressive social work education


Child maltreatment prevention

Happy LGBTQ Family

Fee Schedule

1/2 Day Professional Development

$3000

Full-Day Professional ​Development

$5000+

Consulting

$2000+

Panel Appearance

$2000

Keynote Address

$7000

Facilitating or Moderating

$7000

Breakout Session or Workshop

1-hour presentation (<100 Audience)

$4000

1-hour presentation (101-500 Audience)

$6000

Be sure to inquire about our special discounted rates for Black-led, Black-serving, and certain non-profit organizations

Payment Policy

To hold the desired date, a 50% deposit is ​due. Your services will not be confirmed ​until the deposit has been received.

The remaining balance is due the day ​before the service date.


Travel fees are additional.


Sakara@subversivesocialwork.com

Get in touch, today!

I look forward to working together!