Internalizing JFK: Social Workers Obligation to Humanity

Internalizing JFK: Social Workers Obligation to Humanity

By: Paul D Goree

Arizona State University

10/27/2011

November 29, 1962, John F. Kennedy avowed to the American public "...I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit." (From the National Guard Armory in Washington, D.C., November 29, 1962) When I think of how I want to touch the world with my social work education and experience, the words of Mr. Kennedy echo through my heart, as an obligation to be upheld. How I have in the past and how I intend to continue my, “contribution to the human spirit?" Is the plight of my total existence?

My journey has been a long winding epic, of voluminous parables, of which I am proud to have established what I intend to be my reparation to society: Humanitarian endeavors. My journey started in 1992. I was 22 years old, attending Seattle Central Community College. I was majoring Social Welfare, with intention to complete my Associate Degree and certificate of CDP (Chemical Dependency Professional). I had glorious plans on revolutionizing substance abuse and assisting in a victorious triumph in the "War on Drugs". These days, those earlier ambitions seem humorously perspicacious. Although I was eager and zealous, my true passion and concern for others, was inevitable and a future in social welfare, would be my destiny.  As life has its winding ways, I had to put my academic endeavors aside and obtain employment. Luckily, I secured contract positions with various agencies, whereby my passion for social work, would not idle.  

The most enjoyable years, were 1997-1999.  I was a contract administrative assistant to a human resource benefit director. My administrator and I were responsible for retirees and surviving spouse benefits. Our job duties would have been conventional; as in providing retirees the opportunity to change their health care plans during open enrollment or assisting surviving spouse with their benefit options. However, the company for which I was contracted had announced their intended closure in the coming years, meaning a major cut in the steel industry of Cleveland, Ohio. The trickling effects this announcement had on the community was devastating, seeming that steel had been the blood line of that economy for nearly a century.

Four hours a day, my administrator and I handled countless panic phone calls from retirees and surviving spouses, who had become alarmed by the news of the closure. Some days the heart grief of our clients was unbearable. I was assisting the retirees and surviving spouse who had overcome the Industrial Revolution, World War 1 and 2 and had cemented American work ethic into the soul of our canvases. These were the generations I admired and to be assisting them was an honor. During many of those panic phone calls, I found myself naturally doing, what social workers do best: listening, assessing, informing and referring. The most benefiting thing I provided my clients, especially surviving spouses, was information regarding other health care options they had available to them. Many of the surviving spouses were spouses of veterans and were eligible for veteran surviving spouse benefits and or medicare widow benefits, yet were not aware of these options.  

I cannot explain the delight of the many clients who called back to thank me and my administrator for referring them to Veteran Services and or the Social Security Administration. The removal of worrying about medical care was one less distress upon them, of which they could have some comforted reassurance. Today as I think back upon those clients, I am even more impressed with legislation which has resulted in more options such as Medicare Part D. These types of events are evidence to me that social welfare is where my soul code resides. (James Hillman)

The next 10 years after those contract positions, my life, consisted of a continuous "peak and valley" rollercoaster ride. During the midst that time period (2006), I found myself assisting my co-workers with what soon would be the collapse of our economy and the recession/depression of 2008. Again my natural passion for social welfare prevail my own circumstances. At the onset of 2008 and with my recent unemployment, I decided to write and maintain a blog concerning unemployment in Las Vegas, Nevada in comparison to the nation (www.paulgoree.wordpress.com).

As our nation witnessed high unemployment levels and the extension of tier benefits, I documented how these efforts were affecting my community in Las Vegas and what unemployment legislation was our elected officials considering. I am proud of the work I did on this blog, for I experienced another venue of social welfare, not often considered by others. For me the number one function of a social worker is assisting those in need of assurance. The assurance usually has to do with economy security.  

Therefore as our nation experienced the trails of a dooming economy during from 2008 – 2010: I provided accurate, up to date detailing of tier benefits to support the ever increasing 99er population.  Also I felt it was my duty to encourage my readers, and facilitate our Presidents optimism of economic recovery.  I often quoted inspirational thoughts from Franklin D. Roosevelt, during the Great Depression of 1932.  One of my more popular post, I advised fellow unemployed persons of a FDR quotes from 1932. In an attempt to prevent lofty behaviorism, FDR instructed the America public "...above all else, do something…” And to engrave endurance, he stated, “…“ When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.”(Franklin D. Roosevelt )

Keeping in the spirit of FDR, I decided to volunteer my time at the Salvation Army. The majority of my time was spent, assisting the homeless in the DRC (Day Resource Center), where they could take a shower, get assistance with social service and medical needs, and get referrals to veteran assistance and social security.  Volunteering provided me with real life grassroot experience and insight into  the societal need of social workers.  When my employment situation did eventually get  better,  I unknowingly was experiencing employer abuse and warned my blog readers about the consequences of prematurely waivering ones labor rights out of desperation for some employment during this recession/depression. I informed them of the state and federal laws that assign the titles of contract employee verse contingent workers. This was valuable information, for many employers sought to cut operation expenses by using contingent workers as contract employee and avoiding employment insurance taxes.

Over the last two years I have put a lot of thought into my passion (social welfare) , its history and how I intended to re-enter the academic world. The most inspiring thing I have constructed is a list of historic personalities, whom I term "My Scholar Heroes".  These are persons I have researched, admire and plan on dedicating my life towards their endeavors. They include, Benjamin Franklin, General William Booth, Jean Henri Dunant, Clara Barton, Ron Dellums, Jane Adams, Mary Richmond, Jimmy Carter, Edit and Grace Abbot, Lester Blackwell Granger, and so many others I am endlessly adding to my list. The one attribute each of these, scholar heroes have in common is they each contributed to humanity something of a social welfare value. They touched the world, by providing from their passion to assist in the overall betterment of humanity. I believe the most effective way to accomplish this is through social welfare, which includes education.    

Today I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity to continue my education at Arizona State University majoring in social welfare. My intentions are to finally complete my undergrad degree, obtaining a BSW in 2013. At which time I am planning on achieve what I think is the ultimate in my field, a JD/MSW. How I plan on touching the world with social welfare is by completing my educational goals, then continuing what I have been doing for almost 20 years now, simply providing some assurance to those who seek it. I have a specific interest in homelessness and want to be involved with non-profit homeless services.  As our economy idles, more and more working Americans are finding themselves unable to keep up with their family living expenses.

 Many of them are falling victim to depression and the fear of homeless for themselves and families is an event of failure. I think it is critical that stigma associated with homelessness, poverty and social welfare be removed, in order for recipients to fully benefit from all that is available to them. When I was volunteering, I witness the tragic depths of self guilt and pity, by men and women who felt they had lost their grasp of industriousness. They had internalized national unemployment as a personal guilt. I sought to it; to remind them that our current economic condition is not their fault and they (we) are not victims. 

Like FDR, I reminded them that during these times of misfortune, we must keep functioning. The social welfare tools available to society are in part paid for by them, when they were employed. Simple awareness is sometimes the best antidote. I want to fill the social welfare field with awareness.  Fortunately with a JD/MSW I will have some leverage in policy making, which I intend to use for the reassurance of social justice (economically and civilly).