Reflections on Health and Human Services

I couldn't have been more thrilled about the topics discussed during this particular education day. For two reasons:  1) Greater insight into some of the hardships taking place in Snohomish County, 2) Leadership and the importance of human services were discussed as going hand in hand.


1)   I  first became acquainted with the violence and hardships that were and are happening at both a national and international level some years ago and remember finding it so disheartening and so upsetting that I wrote a few letters to Congress.  After reading material such as "Half the Sky," and other relevant works I have been inspired to focus on women empowerment in my next career, so I found this education day to be very informational as it touched on many of the different components I should consider being aware of. 

2)  The interpersonal component is either missed or mentioned briefly in much of the Leadership and management curriculum because there is always such a high focus on power and money. I sincerely believe that often times caring for one another becomes foreign and lost in the shuffle, at least from my perspective. For example, I have taken countless courses on management, marketing, accounting, finance, etc. where the focus is on maximizing profits and enhancing the bottom line and can only count on my hand a class or two geared toward expanding on the social dynamic in relation to being sensitive to people's needs and how to treat people like people and social responsibility owed to the community.  Afterall, it would make no sense to discuss community building without acknowledging some of the hardships experienced by many in the community. 
 


I just couldn't help but be reminded of a quote spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King that, "power without love is abusive and reckless, while love without power is sentimental and anemic."  Given this quote there clearly must be a balance between power and care for humanity especially when focusing on Leadership within a given community.  Thank you LSC!  I am grateful to impart a deeper knowledge of some of the travesties happening in the Snohomish County area.