The Constitution of Ukraine of 1996 (Конституція України) for people of Ukraine is like the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms of 1982, for people of Canada. Constitution allows Ukrainians an ability to govern themselves and to live on their land, speak Ukrainian language. It grants equal civil and political rights to all people of…

Oleksandr (Sasha) Kondrashov, PhD. I grew up in Ukraine, where my family distrust the police system. Growing up in USSR, the country that used police force to silence everyone who disagrees with government policy, my family taught me to avoid any contact with the police officer. I have read many stories of police brutality in…

June 2020 Oleksandr (Sasha) Kondrashov, Ph.D., MSW, RSW To the class 2020: Convocation is a critical milestone in everyone’s life—one of your many journeys is coming to completion at the time when you receive your degree parchment. What awaits you in the front, you know well: Work! Hard work and even more work. But don’t…

Sasha Kondrashov, PhD The article is inspired after reading The Irish Times on Restarting Ireland: When and how will we ‘get back to normal’? by Jennifer O’Connell. The first part of the article provides a summary of the O’Connell ideas and their adaptation to Canadian reality on how pandemic impacts multiple areas of human lives.…

May 8-10, 2020: Days of Remembrance, Reconciliation and Mother’s Day weekend. Oleksandr (Sasha) Kondrashov In 2020 the second weekend in May reminds us about the value of human lives and dignity through the lens of war and love. Resolution 59/26 of 22 November 2004 by the UN General Assembly declared 8–9 May as a time…

COVID-19 Kills People. If you do not believe in it, reread the title! Oleksandr (Sasha) Kondrashov April 2020 This post is inspired after reading the blog of Confession of Funeral Director It shocks me how many people still believe that COVID-19 is not real! I often wonder how someone can listen and follow advice to…

Compiled by Oleksandr (Sasha) Kondrashov, Ph.D., RSW April 2020 Thank you for voicing your concerns. My words of thanks are going to all students. Your stories and experiences are unique. I hope universities around the world will listen and adequately respond to your concerns. I want to thank you all for finding the courage to…

Oleksandr (Sasha) Kondrashov, Ph.D., MSW, RSW April 2020 Thank you: To the social worker who advocates that every homeless person has a place to call home. To the social worker who assists agencies in rethinking policies and practices. To the social worker who becomes the informal support group for colleagues struggling with remaining sober and…

Oleksandr (Sasha) Kondrashov, PhD April 2020 In recent years I expanded my classroom leadership and now run many meetings in communities, conduct practicum supervision and co-chair business meetings. Here are ten tips for hosts and meeting participants to have a successful business meeting online. The most important reminder for online meetings is to follow Robert’s…

Oleksandr (Sasha) Kondrashov, PhD April 2020 This semester I used Zoom much more than merely an extension of my in-person classes for students who are unable to be in class in person. Zoom became my primary classroom for one month to complete all on-campus courses. Here are 27 tips to make your classes run successfully…

Oleksandr (Sasha) Kondrashov March 22, 2020 Many social work students in Canada are required to move to remote learning starting on Monday March 23rd, 2020. Canadian Association for Social Work Education offered the following guidelines for social work programs https://caswe-acfts.ca/covid-19-communication-field-education-placements/ and encouraged programs to develop remote learning plans with students. To facilitate work for field…