"A Work of Heart": Guam's social workers gather for annual industry conference

In communities across the Pacific, social workers often serve as a bridge between hardship and hope. Today, many of them gathered on Guam to reflect on their work –  and the future of healing in the region.

Being a social worker is a selfless work of heart. Much like what motivates people to become doctors, firefighters, or police officers, social workers share a deep desire to help those in need. Today, that shared calling brought hundreds together for the 2026 National Association of Social Workers Guam Chapter Conference – a gathering of industry professionals, educators, and students focused on issues like decolonization, behavioral health integration, peer-led recovery, and domestic violence accountability.

The event kicked-off with Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Lieutenant Governor Joshua Tenorio proclaiming March as Social Work Month to recognize the critical role social workers play across our community in schools, hospitals, courts, and in the correctional system.

Social workers often stand at the intersection of crisis and hope — supporting families, advancing recovery, and advocating for justice. And during this conference, NASW president Lovelle Baza says they found that same support among their peers, saying, “This is more than just a space for us to get together and learn from each other. It’s also a space of healing.”

The theme of this year’s conference is “Resisting The Rip Current: Culturally Grounded Social Work for Healing, Justice and Wellness in the Pacific.” Keynote speaker Dr. Lisalinda Natividad connected their work to Pacific traditions of wayfinding – using the ocean and stars as guides, while reflecting on how indigenous knowledge can help social workers navigate modern challenges.

“Navigators remind us that just as with life we are never lost on the voyage," she said. "Although things may happen, and we may drift off course, we are reminded to return back to the sail plan and get back on track.”

As Pacific island communities continue to face complex challenges, chapter secretary Janay Green and member Deena Komiyama say gatherings like this create space for solutions. Komiyama said, “we’re called to action. We do the work that some people will not come forward to do" with Green sharing, “We’re just excited to bring together all the social workers here on Guam and across Micronesia, and we hope to make a difference.”

And for Green, today is also about passing that responsibility to the next generation -- as students in attendance got the opportunity to lead their own presentation on advocacy and local policy. She announced, “I’m a graduate of UOG, too, so it’s just like passing the torch. We were once in their shoes and now we’re moving in different directions…long-lasting.”

Providing a space where those who give so much to others can also lean on one another – rooted in the CHamoru value of inafa’maolek, of which Komiyama said, “We honor our CHamoru heritage and those who have led the way by continuing our healing, our passion in inafa’maolek with each other and with the region that we share.”

Together, they proudly cheered in unison, “BIBA SOCIAL WORK!”