Social work students form connections, share ideas at Rally in the Valley

This year’s conference featured EMU students on the planning committee along with Deanna Durham, Social Work Program Director

Just before wrapping up her speech at the annual Rally in the Valley conference late last month, Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed invited the ballroom full of students to pull out their phones and add her cell phone number to their contacts. 

“I’ve always said I would use my platform to provide endless opportunities for those who need me,” said Reed, who serves as director of alumni engagement and community connections at EMU. “Some of you are going to need jobs. Text me. Let me know your name and where you’re from. I’ll make sure to get back to you.”

The two-day event, held from March 27-28 at the Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Valley Conference Center in Harrisonburg, brought together about 200 undergraduate students, faculty and staff from a dozen accredited social work programs across the state. The annual conference is sponsored by the Virginia Social Work Education Consortium (VSWEC) and provides a place for bachelor of social work (BSW) students to network and connect, share resources and ideas, and learn about graduate school and career opportunities in a professional conference milieu. 

Fifteen students and four faculty members from EMU’s social work program attended the conference. Among them were three students who collaborated with peers from James Madison University and Virginia Union University to plan and organize the event. The theme of Rally in the Valley 2025 was “Learning Beyond the Classroom.”

In addition to her role as mayor, Reed co-founded On the Road Collaborative, an afterschool program that empowers middle and high school students with educational opportunities and hands-on career experiences. The Harrisonburg-based nonprofit has also provided internships to many social work students over the years. “Social work is not just a profession,” Reed said in her speech welcoming students, faculty, and staff to Harrisonburg. “It is a calling to build and strengthen communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.” 

Reed, recently named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Virginia for 2025, was introduced on stage by EMU Social Work juniors Abadit Desta and Ekram Siraj, who served on the conference planning committee. The two students participated in On the Road Collaborative as middle schoolers and credited the program with helping them succeed. 

This year marked the first time that students from Blue Ridge Community College attended Rally in the Valley. Students graduating from a community college with an associate’s degree in human services can easily transfer to a school like EMU and earn their BSW in two years, said Professor Deanna Durham, director of the social work program at EMU. 

A job fair at the conference, featuring representatives from local community service boards, hospitals, the state Department of Corrections, and other employers, gave students an opportunity to learn more about available positions in the workforce. “There are a lot of job openings in mental health right now,” Durham said. “The demand is greater than the supply. What I love is that some corrections programs are leaning into restorative justice, which aligns with the ethics and philosophy of our EMU students.”

Students could also meet with admissions counselors from several schools to explore graduate programs. At a table stocked with brochures and resources, Merry Yirga and Lexi Brown from undergraduate admissions worked to spread the word about EMU’s offerings. “The conflict transformation program has really been a draw for people looking at master’s degrees,” Brown said.

Through what is called an accelerated or advanced study, BSW graduates from EMU can earn their master of social work in just one year if they meet GPA requirements. That’s the result of EMU’s full accreditation with the Council on Social Work Education.

EMU senior Cecilia Rafael Castelan said she was looking forward to attending a pair of workshops, including one focused on budgeting skills for new social workers. Castelan said the conference helps her connect not only with other BSW students from around the state, but also with her own EMU classmates. “Since we’re all busy with our practicums, we haven’t had time this semester to debrief as much as we usually do,” she said. “It’ll be nice to spend time with them.”

First held in 1980 at Massanetta Springs in Harrisonburg, Rally in the Valley was created by faculty from JMU and EMU. Today, the 13 colleges and universities in the Virginia Social Work Education Consortium take turns planning and hosting the statewide conference. Students attended the 2025 conference from: Blue Ridge Community College, EMU, Ferrum College, George Mason University, JMU, Longwood University, Mary Baldwin University, Norfolk State University, Radford University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia State University, and Virginia Union University.