Social welfare group to hold first meeting Thursday in Cape

A group advocating for social justice plans to open a chapter in Cape Girardeau and invites interested members of the public to attend its first meeting Thursday.

The Missouri Association for Social Welfare recently announced the formation of the Cape Girardeau Area chapter. It's a statewide organization based in Jefferson City with chapters in cities such as St. Louis and Kansas City.

The group has been "I-70 centered" for a while with those metropolitan chapters, said Walter Wildman, the MASW staff representative for Southeast Missouri. The creation of the Cape Girardeau chapter is a step toward working more with the Southeast Missouri area.

Established in 1901, MASW is a citizen membership organization that advocates for changes in public policy to improve social conditions. Among its successes are assistance in creating the Missouri Foundation for Health, Missouri Commission on Human Rights, the Missouri Public Defender Commission and the Missouri Housing Trust Fund.

The association also has "task forces" to take on issues such as criminal justice, hunger, homelessness, human rights and mental health.

"There are certain social issues we will always be interested in," Wildman said.

The MASW is involved with issues that affect the state -- it took a stance against the recently failed Amendment 7 transportation tax -- but also has an interest in local issues.

When the Cape Girardeau chapter meets for the first time Thursday, attendees will have an opportunity to discuss issues of concern to the area and how the chapter may want to approach them, Wildman said. It also will elect a board of directors, likely four to five members, Wildman said, depending on the group's decision. One of those members will then be chosen to serve on the state board of directors to represent the local chapter.

If anyone has a specific issue or concern in mind, Wildman said it's "perfectly normal and appropriate" to bring it up for discussion at the meeting. He hopes to see anyone with an interest in the group show up to the meeting, clarifying that it's not just for people in social work or similar fields that deal with such social issues on a more regular basis.

While those in the social work field certainly come with welcome experience, Wildman also pointed out the chapter could benefit from having members with different interests and different backgrounds.

"If you're not sure you want to be involved, you can come check it out for yourself," he said.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. More information about the group is available at masw.org.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

711 N. Clark St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.