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Examining the Human Services and their Impact on Communities of Color

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Add to Calendar 2021-06-24 6:00 PM 2021-06-24 7:00 PM America/New_York Examining the Human Services and their Impact on Communities of Color

Join us June 24 for the second in an ongoing series of discussions commemorating Rising Ground’s 190th anniversary with a look at the relationship between the history of human services and child welfare and communities of color. Rising Ground CEO Alan Mucatel will join Dr. Robyn Brown-Manning, LMSW, of the Hunter College School of Social Work, Dr. Melba Butler, LCSW, of Iona College, and Dr. Anne Williams-Isom, JD, of the Graduate School of Social Service at Fordham University. Building on our inaugural discussion, this discussion will explore the historic links between human services, child welfare, and communities of color.

Registration is closed.

Some History

When the Leake & Watts Orphan House opened in 1831, it had been just four years since New York, the first state to pass legislation for the total abolition of slavery, had fully emancipated slaves, while slavery was still alive and well throughout the region and nation. This coincides with various waves of immigration from across Europe, explaining the rapid expansion of New York during this time and an influx of orphaned children. As various national, religious, and ethnic groups grew in New York City throughout the 19th century, there was a broad landscape of distinct communities and biases that shaped the experience of each.

In its founding documents, the Leake & Watts Orphan House declared it would support orphaned children no matter their “creed or nationality.” While a progressive approach to handling various immigrant communities in that time, it would still be a little less than a century later that the institution welcomed its first African-American children, a community that had formed a parallel child welfare system and who brought its own set of social and economic challenges tied to the history of slavery and systems of oppression.

Today, more than 98% of the children, adults, and families Rising Ground supports are “of color.” Rising Ground supports New Yorkers that continue to see the social and economic disparities created by systemic biases. Alongside black communities facing the continuation of diminished socio-economic opportunity, Rising Ground supports various immigrant communities that look different than those of the 1830s. More broadly, the work Rising Ground does is both shaped by the experience of communities of color and in turn has a lasting impact on these communities.

2021 Discussion Series: 190 Years of Hope & Opportunity

This year, Rising Ground commemorates the 190th anniversary of the opening of the Leake & Watts Orphan House in Lower Manhattan in 1831, the beginning of a rich history that saw the organization evolve from an orphanage to one of New York City’s leading human services organizations. Today, programs range from foster care and family stabilization to special education and early childhood development to gender-based violence services, programs for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, juvenile justice programs, community health services, and more.

The series is a partnership between Rising Ground and Trinity Church Wall Street, site of the original Leake & Watts Orphan House and longtime partner.

Save these dates for other talks in the series:

  • October 21, 6-730pm
  • December 8, 6-730pm

To learn more, please visit www.RisingGround.org/190.

About the Speakers
Robyn Brown-Manning

Robyn Brown-Manning is a doctoral lecturer at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, where she co-chairs and teaches in the MSW Practice Lab. Dr. Brown-Manning is also an adjunct assistant professor at Iona College, teaching human diversity in social work. She has previously taught social work classes at The College of New Rochelle and The College of Mt. St. Vincent. Dr. Brown-Manning also consults with many organizations throughout the country, using an empowerment approach to conduct sessions and provide keynote addresses focused on anti-oppression, racial equity, and social justice work; working with African-American families and children; cross-cultural communication; leadership development; team building; and stress and time management. For 17 years, Dr. Brown-Manning worked for New York Foundling in several capacities—foster care worker, project coordinator for their teen parenting program, and director of parent education and director of training and development. She also served on the Foundling’s board for several years. Dr. Brown-Manning has collaborated on several journal articles and book chapters. However, she is most proud of her dissertation “We don’t give birth to thugs; we give birth to children”: The Emotional Journeys of African-American Mothers Raising Sons under American Racism.

Melba Butler

Melba Butler, PhD, LCSW, is clinical lecturer at Iona College School of Social Work. She has a wealth of experience in executive level non-profit management, policy, program development, and coalition building. For more than 16 years, she led Harlem Dowling-West Side Center for Children and Family Services, the oldest child welfare institution serving African-American children and the subject of her dissertation, “There is Home: A Case Study of the Colored Orphan Asylum in New York City”. Butler also served as the first director of resident engagement at New York City Housing Authority. In 2006 she launched Butler Consulting, specializing in capacity building, leadership development, and project management for not-for profit and governmental organizations. Dr. Butler received her PhD in social welfare from the Graduate Center of City University of New York, Master of Science from Columbia University, and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York State. Butler has served as an adjunct assistant professor at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, Stonybrook School of Social Work, and lecturer at York and Brooklyn colleges.

 

Anne Williams-Isom

Anne Williams-Isom, J.D., is a nonprofit executive and attorney with more than 25 years of leadership and management experience in large, complex organizations. She currently serves as the James R. Dumpson Chair in Child Welfare Studies at the Graduate School of Social Service at Fordham University. Previously Ms. Williams-Isom served as the chief executive officer for the Harlem Children’s Zone, before which she served for five years as HCZ’s chief operating officer. Prior to joining HCZ, Ms. Williams-Isom worked in leadership at New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) for 13 years, concluding her tenure as deputy commissioner of the Division of Community and Government Affairs. Ms. Williams-Isom found her calling to help improve the lives of vulnerable children and families when she was still a child herself. Growing up with a single mother in Queens, she witnessed firsthand the many challenges confronting kids in struggling communities. But it was always clear that, with the right support and opportunities—above all, education and a lot of love—all children have the potential to do extraordinary things.

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Join us June 24 for the second in an ongoing series of discussions commemorating Rising Ground’s 190th anniversary with a look at the relationship between the history of human services and child welfare and communities of color. Rising Ground CEO Alan Mucatel will join Dr. Robyn Brown-Manning, LMSW, of the Hunter College School of Social Work, Dr. Melba Butler, LCSW, of Iona College, and Dr. Anne Williams-Isom, JD, of the Graduate School of Social Service at Fordham University. Building on our inaugural discussion, this discussion will explore the historic links between human services, child welfare, and communities of color.

Registration is closed.

Some History

When the Leake & Watts Orphan House opened in 1831, it had been just four years since New York, the first state to pass legislation for the total abolition of slavery, had fully emancipated slaves, while slavery was still alive and well throughout the region and nation. This coincides with various waves of immigration from across Europe, explaining the rapid expansion of New York during this time and an influx of orphaned children. As various national, religious, and ethnic groups grew in New York City throughout the 19th century, there was a broad landscape of distinct communities and biases that shaped the experience of each.

In its founding documents, the Leake & Watts Orphan House declared it would support orphaned children no matter their “creed or nationality.” While a progressive approach to handling various immigrant communities in that time, it would still be a little less than a century later that the institution welcomed its first African-American children, a community that had formed a parallel child welfare system and who brought its own set of social and economic challenges tied to the history of slavery and systems of oppression.

Today, more than 98% of the children, adults, and families Rising Ground supports are “of color.” Rising Ground supports New Yorkers that continue to see the social and economic disparities created by systemic biases. Alongside black communities facing the continuation of diminished socio-economic opportunity, Rising Ground supports various immigrant communities that look different than those of the 1830s. More broadly, the work Rising Ground does is both shaped by the experience of communities of color and in turn has a lasting impact on these communities.

2021 Discussion Series: 190 Years of Hope & Opportunity

This year, Rising Ground commemorates the 190th anniversary of the opening of the Leake & Watts Orphan House in Lower Manhattan in 1831, the beginning of a rich history that saw the organization evolve from an orphanage to one of New York City’s leading human services organizations. Today, programs range from foster care and family stabilization to special education and early childhood development to gender-based violence services, programs for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, juvenile justice programs, community health services, and more.

The series is a partnership between Rising Ground and Trinity Church Wall Street, site of the original Leake & Watts Orphan House and longtime partner.

Save these dates for other talks in the series:

  • October 21, 6-730pm
  • December 8, 6-730pm

To learn more, please visit www.RisingGround.org/190.

About the Speakers
Robyn Brown-Manning

Robyn Brown-Manning is a doctoral lecturer at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, where she co-chairs and teaches in the MSW Practice Lab. Dr. Brown-Manning is also an adjunct assistant professor at Iona College, teaching human diversity in social work. She has previously taught social work classes at The College of New Rochelle and The College of Mt. St. Vincent. Dr. Brown-Manning also consults with many organizations throughout the country, using an empowerment approach to conduct sessions and provide keynote addresses focused on anti-oppression, racial equity, and social justice work; working with African-American families and children; cross-cultural communication; leadership development; team building; and stress and time management. For 17 years, Dr. Brown-Manning worked for New York Foundling in several capacities—foster care worker, project coordinator for their teen parenting program, and director of parent education and director of training and development. She also served on the Foundling’s board for several years. Dr. Brown-Manning has collaborated on several journal articles and book chapters. However, she is most proud of her dissertation “We don’t give birth to thugs; we give birth to children”: The Emotional Journeys of African-American Mothers Raising Sons under American Racism.

Melba Butler

Melba Butler, PhD, LCSW, is clinical lecturer at Iona College School of Social Work. She has a wealth of experience in executive level non-profit management, policy, program development, and coalition building. For more than 16 years, she led Harlem Dowling-West Side Center for Children and Family Services, the oldest child welfare institution serving African-American children and the subject of her dissertation, “There is Home: A Case Study of the Colored Orphan Asylum in New York City”. Butler also served as the first director of resident engagement at New York City Housing Authority. In 2006 she launched Butler Consulting, specializing in capacity building, leadership development, and project management for not-for profit and governmental organizations. Dr. Butler received her PhD in social welfare from the Graduate Center of City University of New York, Master of Science from Columbia University, and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York State. Butler has served as an adjunct assistant professor at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, Stonybrook School of Social Work, and lecturer at York and Brooklyn colleges.

 

Anne Williams-Isom

Anne Williams-Isom, J.D., is a nonprofit executive and attorney with more than 25 years of leadership and management experience in large, complex organizations. She currently serves as the James R. Dumpson Chair in Child Welfare Studies at the Graduate School of Social Service at Fordham University. Previously Ms. Williams-Isom served as the chief executive officer for the Harlem Children’s Zone, before which she served for five years as HCZ’s chief operating officer. Prior to joining HCZ, Ms. Williams-Isom worked in leadership at New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) for 13 years, concluding her tenure as deputy commissioner of the Division of Community and Government Affairs. Ms. Williams-Isom found her calling to help improve the lives of vulnerable children and families when she was still a child herself. Growing up with a single mother in Queens, she witnessed firsthand the many challenges confronting kids in struggling communities. But it was always clear that, with the right support and opportunities—above all, education and a lot of love—all children have the potential to do extraordinary things.

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