‘Social worker of the year’ John Miller Jr. makes difference in, out of the classroom
John Miller Jr.
Dr. John Miller Jr.鈥檚 students learn a little something about his personal history by the time his social work course ends.
To encourage students to remember, he has a habit of giving them a chance to earn quiz bonus points by naming his hometown.
For the record: Miller proudly hails from Moncks Corner, South Carolina.
鈥淚 always talk about the importance of where you鈥檙e from,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淵ou never lose that part of your story.鈥�
During the past 10 years, Miller has made the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and central Arkansas his home. His job is teaching students in the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Master and Bachelor of Social Work programs, and he also serves as the coordinator for the university鈥檚 faculty mentoring program.
On the campus and in the community, Miller鈥檚 focus is on improving the lives of the people around him.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a good ride,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淟ittle Rock has a way of grabbing hold of you.鈥�
In recognition of the difference he鈥檚 making, the Arkansas chapter of the named him its 2017 Arkansas social worker of the year.
鈥淚t ultimately feels like a great, speechless moment that you get that shows somebody鈥檚 been watching the last 10 years of your work,鈥� Miller said.
Miller was one of four people connected to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock who were honored during the organization鈥檚 annual conference that concluded March 31 in Little Rock.
Others honored include:
Roger Powell, who was named the undergraduate student of the year
Gelleta Shavers, who was named the graduate student of the year
Dr. Catherine Crisp, who won the lifetime achievement award
An associate professor at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Miller has been a practicing social worker since he arrived in 2007, donating time to the community. He volunteered an estimated 1,000 hours last year 鈥� the equivalent of 20 hours a week.
As part of that pro bono work, Miller led the , focusing on education and mentoring initiatives to help underserved populations.
Since 2012, members of the organization have encouraged literacy by reading to second-graders at Romine Elementary School every Friday morning. In addition, the 100 Black Men of Greater Little Rock created the 100 Academy, an eight-week mentoring program for males, ages 13 to 17.
Miller also collaborates with others at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to positively impact the state. He鈥檚 particularly pleased with the progress in Camden, Arkansas.
For the past five years, Miller partnered with the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Joel E. Anderson Institute on Race and Ethnicity as it worked with Camden鈥檚 Unity in the Community Group to encourage racial reconciliation.
鈥淭hat thing鈥檚 been really blessed,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淚n a little small town in Arkansas, Camden, they鈥檙e doing it the right way.鈥�
In three years, the community鈥檚 celebration went from nonexistent to one of the largest in the state. The annual celebration promotes neighborhood camaraderie and police-community partnerships.
During that three-year period, more than 1,500 people came together to enjoy the company of their neighbors. The celebrations attracted people of a variety of races, religions, and professions, including police and firefighters, Miller said. This year, the group hopes to draw 700 people, its largest-ever gathering.
In honoring Miller as its social worker of the year, the National Association of Social Workers said, 鈥淒r. Miller lives social work. He embodies the core social work values. 鈥� He lives the life of a mentor. He doesn鈥檛 just talk about mentoring, he shows it in everything he does from mentoring faculty, to mentoring young black men, to mentoring entire communities.鈥�
Miller is thankful his position at the university affords him the opportunity to help the community inside and outside the classroom.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great 10 years here at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� he said.
