Working with People of Mixed Heritage in Social Work: Identity, Racialization, and Clinical Insights

People of mixed heritage may live coexisting realities of racialization, belonging, marginalization, and sometimes conditional proximity to privilege that fixed racial categories cannot fully capture. Grounded in anti-racist and anti-oppressive social work, this webinar examines how monoracism, misracialization, identity denial, and multiracial microaggressions affect the well-being, relationships, and everyday lives of people of mixed heritage. It also introduces narrative-oriented clinical approaches that listen beyond racial labels and invite social workers to encounter people through the fullness of their stories.  

Drawing on case studies and emerging Canadian scholarship, including the presenter’s doctoral research and a forthcoming book chapter, Mixed Race Identity in Social Work: Theory, Case Studies, and Clinical Practice, participants will strengthen their capacity to engage in culturally responsive, ethical, and affirming social work praxis with people of mixed heritage.

Learning Objectives

• Recognize the diverse and coexisting experiences of racialization, belonging, marginalization, and occasional and conditional proximity to privilege among people of mixed heritage.
• Apply concepts such as monoracism, misracialization, identity denial, and multiracial microaggressions to social work praxis.
• Strengthen reflexive, narrative-oriented praxis that listens beyond racial labels and centres clients’ stories and lived experiences of race.