“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” — Nelson Mandela
Poverty is a socio-economic dynamic as old as humanity itself, and even society’s youngest citizens are not spared its devastating impacts. In fact, children are among society’s most vulnerable people. Abuse, poor access to education, physical and social discontinuity, in addition to large amounts of social stigma are just a few of the common life experiences facing children living below the poverty line. Many service structures have been developed to address the difficult circumstances facing young people, yet society’s response to children living in poverty is often shaped by its history and the mindsets that have developed over time. Indeed society holds strong ideas about what should or should not be done in the lives of our most vulnerable citizens, but seldom do we take moments to pause and reflect on where those mindsets come from and what approaches have been used. Please join the Keystone Institute, in collaboration with Ray Lamay, to explore the history of Child Welfare and consider together what lessons can be learned.
About the History, Heroes, and Pioneers in the Field Series
“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, however, if faced with courage, we need not live it again.” – Maya Angelou
It is a longstanding value of Keystone Human Services that in order to truly understand someone, we must understand the person’s history; not only the story of one’s life, but also the experiences of one’s people over time. Yet more and more society is being confronted with gaping holes in our knowledge of the histories of certain groups of people which have been forgotten, suppressed, and even erased. In 2022 the Keystone Institute will be offering educational opportunities, open to all employees, designed to introduce our workforce to histories, heroes, and pioneers in the fields of our services. We will explore historical events, life conditions, and major figures who have served as change agents within the fields of disability, and mental difference. In our remembrance of many who have come before us, we will together affirm our collective commitment to advance the human spirit of those we serve.
Date: July 19 2022 @ 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT