Syracuse Sun

Jessica Perusse, LCSW-R, CSSW, director of The Camden Life Center based in Camden, New York, was awarded the Dan and Mary Lou Rubenstein Social Justice Award on March 27. The event took place at the School of Social Work in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, where Perusse delivered the keynote address.

The award, presented annually for over three decades during National Social Work Month, honors individuals who exemplify the courage and advocacy spirit of the late Dan Rubenstein, a former faculty member, and his wife, Mary Lou. These honorees are celebrated for their daily commitment to social justice within their communities. The theme for this year's event was "United for Change: Honoring Collective Impact and Collaboration in Rural Communities."

School of Social Work Chair and Professor Carrie Jefferson Smith emphasized the theme's significance, stating, "This year's theme invites us to think deeply about what it means to stand together in solidarity, especially with communities that have too often been overlooked or underserved." Smith recognized Perusse as a figure of inspiration in collective efforts for social justice, commenting, "Jessica reminds us that collective impact begins with one person saying, ‘Yes, this matters.’ With one person having the courage to care.”

As a part of The Camden Life Center, a collaboration between Come to the Table Counseling and the Center for Family Life and Recovery, Perusse highlighted the importance of tailoring services to the community's needs rather than inundating it with numerous agencies. “We don’t need mega, multiple agencies providing tons of services,” she said. “We need partnerships with agencies that are willing to understand our rural culture without changing our values and beliefs."

During Perusse's keynote, she spoke of the challenges faced by Camden, including a recent winter that saw 30 feet of snow and significant destruction. “I was struck by the magnitude of destruction in our community, and it hurts my social worker heart to think how we’re going to recover from this,” she stated.

Perusse also supervises M.S.W. students at The Camden Life Center and collaborates with Syracuse University. Her work with Ken Marfilius and Xiafei Wang involves research projects aimed at addressing rural health needs through significant grants. The current project, supported by an $839,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, is focused on launching the Community Café Initiative to enhance community resilience and well-being in Camden.

The School of Social Work at Syracuse University, known for its community efforts and outreach, has been recognized nationally. Upcoming changes include its transition to the School of Education as of July 1, aiming to enhance its academic and community impact further.