By Timothy P. Williams
Assistant Professor of Global Practice, Boston College School of Social Work
At the Boston College School of Social Work, our theme this year, Accompaniment in Action, captures something fundamental about the purpose and practice of social work. For me, it also echoes the concept of Harambee, a Swahili term meaning “pulling together,” which has shaped much of my work in global practice over the past fifteen years.
In a world facing a wide range of crises, including forced migration, climate change, violence against children, deepening inequality, and technological disruption, the role of social work has never been more urgent. Yet these challenges cannot be addressed through technical solutions alone. They require humility, partnership, and a willingness to meet people where they are. At the school, we see accompaniment as not about leading from the front; rather, it is about walking and working alongside individuals, communities, and institutions as they define priorities and work toward more just and caring futures.
Accompaniment as Practice, Not Prescription
My work as a social work researcher, educator, and practitioner, I have long seen how even well intentioned programs and interventions can fall short if they fail to engage local realities.
At Boston College, our Global Practice program is designed to prepare students to engage these complexities with rigor and care. Rather than offering prescriptive solutions, we focus on building skills that are essential for accompaniment. This includes listening deeply, analyzing systems critically, navigating power ethically, and working collaboratively across disciplines and contexts. Students learn to understand systems not as abstract structures, but as lived realities that shape access to safety, education, and opportunity.
I’ve seen this play out tim and time again, and to me, it underscores why accompaniment should be central to social work practice. Systems change is not only technical; it is deeply intertwined with history, politics, and power. Social workers must be equipped to all of these institutional dynamics, while remaining grounded in what drove many of us to this profession in the first place: empathy, solidarity, and a commitment to person-centered care.
Global Practice Rooted in Solidarity
Accompaniment takes on particular significance in global social work, where the risk of reproducing inequities is ever present. Too often, global interventions prioritize speed and scale over relationships and sustainability. A commitment to accompaniment challenges this approach. It centers local knowledge, invests in systems strengthening, and recognizes that lasting change emerges through partnership rather than imposition.
Through teaching, research, and collaboration with global partners, we seek to advance field of practice that reflects these values—one that builds local capacity, supports institutional learning, and remains accountable to the communities most affected by injustice. This is where Harambee comes into focus: meaningful progress happens when we pull together across sectors, disciplines, and geographies.
Pulling Together Toward Just Futures
Accompaniment in Action calls us to resist the urge to “fix” and instead commit to sustained engagement. It asks social workers to walk alongside systems and communities, supporting incremental change while holding onto a broader vision of equity and care. For students, practitioners, and alumni connected through GSSWA, this approach offers a powerful framework for impact—one rooted in humility, shared purpose, and collective responsibility.
As we reflect on our work and our roles within the social work profession, I hope we continue to embrace the spirit of Harambee: pulling together to strengthen systems, advance equity, and contribute to more just and caring societies—both here in the United States and around the world.
Timothy P. Williams is an Assistant Professor of Global Practice at the Boston College School of Social Work. His research and teaching focuses on child protection, education, and workforce strengthening.