Hannah Easts Speech First I must say that it is an honor to address you all briefly about my experience and collective vision for the profession of social work. Many of us here are social work graduates and those soon to be; however, I also know that today we have both the donors of the UB School of Social Work as well as grandparents, brothers, sisters, and parents of students present. You are the mediums through which the professors here are able to cultivate the natural abilities within these ambitious students. Yes, you are all supporting young people eager to learn and act justly in society. All of you here are supporting social work. Today I want to reflect on what this is. Often times as students we become frustrated that social work becomes interpreted into a profession that is misunderstood and denied professional creditability. It is a profession where the crescendo is often seen and felt behind the curtain. So you may ask where this profession did begin, where was it born? We see its beginnings in the 1850’s as upper class women organized around urban philanthropy and in 1877 we see the first American Charity Organization established right here in Buffalo New York. We remember the creation of Hull House in Chicago authored by Jane Addams. And social work was the motivator behind the creation of the Children’s Bureau in 1912. How amazing that the morals and ethics surrounding social work provided America with a mechanism that researched and collected data on children’s issues. The leaders in the social work movement include Francis Perkins and Harry Hopkins who were largely responsible for the creation of social security in a time of economic crisis and uncertainty. The rich history behind the profession of social work provides all of us with increased gender, racial, social, and economic equality. But the work is not done. Schools of social work have provided students with a resource in which they are able to move their ideas regarding peace, equality, and justice into research papers that compete for publication. This school has provided students with a challenge that is guided by the expertise of devoted professors that are nationally and internationally recognized for their research regarding social challenges, trauma-informed interventions, and evidence-based solutions. The University at Buffalo School of Social Work has provided me with a master’s degree through my own hard work, and now it is time for the students present today and myself to be the social architects that we are. To sit on influential boards and committees not because of the need for power but because of our clients, the voiceless; those that offer the creation of public policy with rational and logical solutions. As asocial worker you are an advocate. That means using your voice and, yes, sometimes risking how socially acceptable your actions may be presumed . Because much of our society is at risk, we as social workers must not be scared to take those risks. Those graduating here tomorrow may be uncertain and nervous, but do not let the skills and knowledge you have gained here become invisible in society. Pronounce yourselves; continue to increase your knowledge not because you mingle in circles of elite company but because you have stood side by side with those homeless, oppressed and, more often than not, resilient. And because you will often carry the sadness of people, do not forget to make brighter the choice of a young child in foster care to pursue a college education. Do not let the conflict you are amidst allow you to become cynical, un-trusting, or unimpressionable. Remember that you are all here because someone made an impression on you. Preserve that quality about yourself; this is what will give you the strength and endurance you will need throughout your life to increase the measure and transparency of the profession of social work. The field we have freely chosen to pursue provides this country and the greater world with a moral compass, a social conscience, and a reason to strive for social justice. You will be the future movers and shakers who will develop more successful policies, challenge effectively political mediocrity and, most importantly, remain present with people as listeners and beacons of hope. We live, we love, we forgive and never give up The days we are given are gifts from above And today we remember to live and to love For the social work class of 2010. Stand your ground. It’s time now to get out and do what we were meant to do, and what an honor to meet the challenge I know it will be.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 04:42:42 +0000
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