Today we’re sharing the story of how Jewel Elizabeth Wakefield, Licensed Master Social Worker, and Graduate of Illinois State University & Georgia State University is working to carry Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s dream forward by helping her community.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy inspires me because he believed in fighting for equality in the face of adversity. I carry out his legacy everyday by helping those in need and serving as licensed social worker for the State of Georgia. Over the last 15 years, social work has played a significant role in my life on both a personal and professional level. Growing up in an urban community on the Westside of Chicago, my family and I relied heavily on government assistance and social service programs to maintain a living. As a youth, I often wondered why African Americans were disproportionately affected by poverty and were forced to rely on government assistance to meet their daily needs. This curiosity fueled my career aspirations and inspired me to pursue a career in social work. It was no longer an option for me to sit idly by and do nothing. I knew I had to be an agent of change that worked not only to better my community but to inspire subsequent generations to do so as well.
While completing my master’s degree in social work, I was inspired to work with children and wanted to start my career by serving as a social service specialist for the state of Georgia. In my role, as a foster care case manager, I realized there was a serious deficit in human service policies that sought to serve the oppressed and at risk members of society. As a case manager, I worked tirelessly to support the children and families on my caseload. I made sure they had access to services that would allow them to meet their basic needs, in addition to therapeutic services that would allow the families to start the healing process and move towards reunifying their families. Over the past two years, my work with youth and adolescents has been life changing. Working with this population, inspired me to advocate for those without a voice. I aim to improve society as a whole. I want to continue to change lives, impact global communities and restructure entire systems of care to support those in need. As a social worker, I am dedicated to fighting inequality and helping to preserve the heritage of the African American people. It is imperative that I serve as a role model for future generations and there is no better way to do so, than by committing myself to educating future generations and leading by example. As a agent of social change, I aspire to inspire; Just as Dr. King inspired the world.
As part of our Black History Month celebration this year, we want to highlight that it’s also history in the making, and share the idea that anyone can be a hero. We’re sharing a series of stories about the community at the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church of Atlanta Georgia. The church has been a part of the community since 1886 and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served as co-pastor alongside his father. Today the church hosts a congregation of over 6,000 people and continues to serve the Atlanta community and beyond. Join us in learning how a group of impressive young leaders from this historic church continue to be inspired by Dr. King’s vision and to inspire others through community service.
