Darin toliver, msw

Darin Toliver has been a community activist for over 20 years. Darin has over 15 years professional and research experience in social work, in the areas of childhood development, mental health, violence prevention, homelessness, and education. He is well respected in the social work profession and the community for his intelligence, his ability to empower others, and passion for helping the less fortunate. 

Born and raised in West Philadelphia, Darin learned the value of public service and community activism from his parents, Tryphenia and Raymond Toliver. He is a proud graduate of William Penn High School (class of 1987). Darin went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Political Science from Temple University in 1997, and his Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice. He is currently working on his PhD in Social Work Education at Widener University in Chester, PA. Darin’s research interests primarily have revolved around violence prevention. His proposed dissertation, I Got A Story to Tell: A Qualitative Study on African American Males’ Perceptions on Committing a Homicide During Adolescence, examines the antecedents leading young black males to commit a homicide. As such, his aim is to create policies and develop strategic, evidenced-based strategies that will decrease the levels of violence among juveniles.

Darin is one of the co-founders and current vice president of the Black Men at Penn School of Social Work, Inc. at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. This grassroots, advocacy group seeks to recruit black males into the profession of social work as well as providing prison re-entry services, anti-racism and violence prevention trainings to urban and suburban schools around the country.  

Darin is a current member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), as well as the National Association of Social Workers and a member of the Prison Society of Pennsylvania. 

Darin is currently the Associate Director in the African-American Resource Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to that, Darin was previously employed as a medical social worker at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children’s Center for the Urban Child. He was also employed by Penn Medicine for over 15 years, serving as a valuable member of the UPHS Contact Center Leadership Team helping with a number of improvement initiatives.  As a passionate community advocate, Darin served as president of the Nehemiah Townhome Association, which served over 176 homes in the North Philadelphia.  Additionally, he was nominated and elected as a Committee person in 2005, serving the 14th Ward, 3rd Division in North Philadelphia. As a dedicated block captain, Darin previously served on the West Poplar Neighborhood Advisory Council in 2006. Darin served as a volunteer on the Youth Aide Panel, a program sponsored by the District Attorney’s Office for first-time juvenile offenders. Beginning in 2012, he became a member of the Mayor’s Commission of African American Males (MCAAM) was recently reappointed to the position by current Mayor James Kenny in 2016. 

Darin is one of the co-founders and current vice president of the Black Men at Penn School of Social Work, Inc. at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. The group seeks to recruit black males into the profession of social work as well as providing anti-racism and violence prevention trainings to urban and suburban schools around the country.