This month, we focus on the value that our professionals bring in the field of social work. Often fueled by a passion to make impactful and positive change in the world, these advocates do the heavy lifting of linking problems to solutions, and bringing the grace of humanity to difficult circumstances. At the end of life, social workers can provide invaluable resources for families and the institutions that serve them. When I think of social work, I think—selfless human service. As the President and CEO of Sacred Life Care Initiative, I work alongside two amazing examples within this honorable profession. It is through these individuals, I witness service as a key component of the lifeblood that flows through their veins.
Jasmine Kendrick, our Secretary, leads Roses for Missy, an organization devoted to supporting grieving children in underserved and under-supported communities. Her nonprofit was born from the profound loss of her mother, April (affectionately known as “Missy”), who passed away from lupus. Jasmine was only a small child at the time. Little could her mother have known that years later, her own legacy of love would flow through her daughter’s hands, building communities that support children navigating grief at a young age. Today, the organization exists in April’s honor as a beacon of hope and light for others walking the difficult path of loss early in life.
Beyond the structure of official public service, Jasmine is simply a giver. An angel, in many ways, she is someone in whose presence no one remains a stranger or feels alone. In just a few words, she is a “real one”: eager, willing, ready, and always prompt to meet the needs of those she cares for. I have always admired people, with title or not, who carry a naturally stellar presence and flow when they are doing what they love.
If I call Jinette on the phone at any given moment, chances are she is already in service to someone else, making sure their needs are met and that meaningful support has been delivered. I often refer to her as a silent activist because her passion for social good burns with a powerful spark. It moves through her like fire, visible even in the way she gesticulates—arms flying with expression, toes lifted, and her whole being animated with excitement as she speaks about her hopes for the success of our youth.
Her heart holds a special place for adolescents without parents or a strong support system. The community within in which she grew, planted those seeds that would one day bear fruit in the remarkable woman she is today. She understands the deep bitterness of abandonment but refused to let it define her. Instead, she turned hardship into purpose and now dedicates her life to supporting children and families, both locally and abroad, through creating access to education, food, and shelter.
The way I see it, social work, as a profession, only came about through a need to give voice and agency to those who care effortlessly. These individuals are genuine examples of humanity in the world. They are often the under-recognized leaders who remind us where we come from, who we are, and what we can become as a thriving community. Honestly, the profession yields a title that, though noble, eclipses the grandeur of the role. For it is through the heart of social work, those licensed and not—those who dare to put compassion into action, that perhaps our world continues to turn. I am full of gratitude to those who carry forward the mission we all benefit from and that mission is: love of neighbor, peace, and good will. It is what we hope to bring through our service to families at the critical transition point between life and death.
Communities built on a foundation of love create the conditions for everyone to thrive. Together, we can share in the socially collective work of compassion. This is essential from the beginning of life to its end, and beyond—through the memories that keep those we’ve lost, present with us. It is through this work that we become the living legacy of the change we hope to see in the world.
I hope you take a moment to celebrate the social workers in your life.
