While strolling in Harlem, I happened to see this beautiful statue of a woman holding a child in a loving embrace from across the street. As strolled on over, I was introduced to and inspired by Clara McBride Hale. According to Wikipedia, "Hale House was started in This started in 1969 when Clara Hale's biological daughter, Lorraine, brought a mother and child who were addicted to drugs to Hale's home. She later got a home license as "child care facility" in 1970 called the Hale House. In 1970, her home was licensed as a "child care facility", and her house was then called the Hale House. A few years later Hale purchased a larger building, a "5 story home so there could be more space and more room to fit more" and in 1975 she was able to attain a license in child-care. It was officially known as Hale House. After that time, Hale devoted her life to caring for needy children. She took in children, free of charge, who were addicted to drugs and helped them through their addictive periods. She would raise the children as if they were her own and once they were healthy she would help to find families interested in adoption. She took it upon herself to make sure the families were a correct fit and even in some cases turned families down if she thought they could not provide a good enough home for the child. She eventually helped over 1,000 drug addicted babies and young children who were born addicted to drugs, children born with HIV and children whose parents had died of AIDS. It was simple, she said; "hold them, rock them, love them and tell them how great they are.""

As a social worker, I am inspired by Clara Hale and am dedicated to reading more of her work. Children are one of our most vulnerable populations. They need guidance, care, protection and love. As a child who was in foster care and has gone through the system, it is refreshing to see a woman dedicate her life so selflessly to vulnerable children. Children in foster care already face many hardships but it is proven that children of color are more likely to stay in the system and less likely to get adopted or find a home. According to an article from America.Aljazeera.com, "That racial disparity is on display in New York City. According to the city’s Administration for Children’s Services, which oversees foster care, in 2013 black children accounted for nearly 60 percent of the 11,511 kids in foster care; the city’s population is 25 percent black. Just over 34 percent of the children were Hispanic, and 5 percent were white."

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/6/25/new-york-foster-care-system-racial-disparity.html

This is one of the many reasons why I am so dedicated to working with youth and helping them realize their potential as well as helping them through any hardships they face. Though vulnerable, they are amazing in many ways. I am forever inspired by Mrs. Hale's love and dedication to our children. I hope to leave a legacy such as that in my lifetime.

Thank you, Clara Hale.

Clara's legacy lives on through http://www.halehouse.org/.