“I knew I wanted to look at things differently,” says Cleveland Harvey, a social worker who works in palliative care with people who are struggling with serious illnesses. “When I interact with people I want to either help or understand them better.”

Cleveland Harvey’s journey to social work is rooted in his early experience as a child in South Central Los Angeles during the mid-eighties when the area was steeped in the gang and crack epidemics. As the only black child in the neighborhood, he struggled to find direction. A chance meeting at a local hospital led him to find people who mentored him and nudged him towards social work, encouraging him to commit his life to making a difference for others.

March is National Social Work Month. Social workers are professional helpers, people who are committed to  making the world a better place. From the care and protection of children to creating policy that shapes communities for years to come, the work of a social workers is diverse and wide reaching, guided by a set of principles aimed at fighting against discrimination, supporting the disenfranchised and lifting up those who struggle to have a voice.

As you listen to this episode, consider:

• Who are the people who have mentored you?
• What are the lessons you learned from them? How did they shape your journey?
• How can you pay it forward? Are there opportunities in your community for you to mentor and guide someone?

To learn more about Robert Maggio, the composer of "Where Love is Love," our theme music, please check out his website.

To learn more about Suzanne, visit her website.

To learn more about the inspiration for this podcast, please check out Suzanne's memoir, Estrellas - Moments of Illumination Along El Camino de Santiago

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