Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice

In 1903, a seed of change was planted right here in Chicago. The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, originally the Social Science Center for Practical Training, began its life. It wasn’t just an institution. It was a vision brought to life by Graham Taylor, a minister driven by a passion for social reform. He saw a city grappling with rapid growth, a city where progress cast long shadows of inequality. He envisioned a place where knowledge could be transformed into action, where research could illuminate the path to a more just society. By 1920, the school, championed by formidable women like Edith Abbott, Grace Abbott, and Sophonisba Breckinridge, merged with the University of Chicago. These pioneering women, along with influential figures like Jane Addams and Julius Rosenwald, transformed the school into the School of Social Service Administration. The Crown Family School wasn’t just about training social workers. It was about building a profession. It was about challenging the status quo and advocating for those whose voices were often unheard. The very building we stand before, a testament to modernist architecture by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, embodies this forward-thinking spirit. The Crown Family School’s dedication to research wasn’t confined to academic journals. Their early work on the welfare of mothers and children directly influenced the child-related provisions of the Social Security System in the 1930s. This is a place where theory and practice intertwine, where research informs real-world solutions. In 2021, the school received a transformative gift of $75 million from James and Paula Crown. This generous contribution led to the school’s renaming as the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, honoring the family’s commitment to social change. The Crown Family School continues to be a beacon of hope, a place where future generations of social workers are equipped to address the complex challenges of our time. It stands as a testament to the power of vision, the impact of research, and the unwavering pursuit of a more just and humane world.