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The School of Social Work at Millersville University hosted Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El of Pennsylvania’s 49th Legislative District, on March 5, 2026, in Stayer Hall for a panel discussion on senior care, affordable housing and homelessness.
Over 100 individuals attended this event, with about half of the spectators viewing virtually. Individuals from MU represented the majority of the attendees; a few community members were also present.
Rep. Smith-Wade-El visited to discuss elder care and housing issues facing Pennsylvania. His mother, longtime professor Dr. Rita Smith Wade-El, was a renowned Millersville University psychology professor.
Dr. Laura Granruth, an associate professor in the School of Social Work and coordinator of the Center for Civic Responsibility and Leadership, moderated the panel discussion and the representative’s visit. She explains that Rep. Smith-Wade-El chose to visit Millersville University in March as part of Social Work Month, which he initiated due to his family connection to the University and personal interest in social work.
Granruth shares it was important for the panel to be accessible to the Millersville and larger Lancaster community, as all community members have the right to share their views on the community and state issues. “Barriers must be lowered, so constituents can express their opinions to legislators. By hosting this event both in-person and virtually, we were able to offer this access to share their opinions and concerns,” says Granruth.
Rep. Smith-Wade-El spoke on how he views his office as a mirror to the social work profession. “Constituent service advisors support individual constituents with a variety of issues at the micro level. At a mezzo level, our team is meeting with community organizations to collaborate on locally driven solutions. And at a macro level, my fellow legislators and I work to affect the policy change necessary to sustain long-lasting change,” says Smith-Wade-El. “That’s why it feels so meaningful for Millersville University and the School of Social Work to engage up-and-coming practitioners in ongoing conversations with community members about pressing needs and the pathways forward to solving them.”
