YWCA Women of Excellence: Morgan Hall
What inspires you?
My family has been and remains my inspiration. Whether it’s my aunt and uncle who inspired me to pursue a career in child welfare law by being foster parents, my father who inspires me to lead with sincerity and understanding, my mother who inspires me to always do what is right or my brothers who helped me be strong. I have been blessed with a very close family who has supported and shaped me as I’ve grown, but it is my daughters who presently inspire me most. I strive to show them there are no limits to who they can be. They can be a Deputy District Attorney, a CEO, a stay-at-home mom, they can be whatever they choose, but in that choice, they should be strong, they should be sincere, and they should be kind. All that I do, I do in hopes to inspire them to be strong women who will stand up for not only themselves, but also for those who need a voice.
What advice do you have for others?
Never be afraid to admit when you are wrong. This is not easy, and it has taken me a long time and a lot of growth to be willing to admit I don’t know everything and that I make mistakes. I am a fixer. I want to have the answers and fix things for people. But the answers aren’t always simple and when you make a mistake, own up to it. You will be a better person for it. An attorney I once worked for told me that everyone makes mistakes and while people may not be happy about it, they understand a mistake and are usually willing to forgive you for it when you admit you were wrong. We are all human and deserve some grace, but it is equally as important to learn from our mistakes.
What is the greatest lesson you have learned on your journey?
Your legacy is created by how you treat the people you encounter. When I was in high school, an elderly woman in my hometown church passed away and the church building was overflowing. Hundreds of people whom she had impacted over her ninety plus years showed up just as she had shown up for them. In all of my interactions with people, I try to respond with compassion and understanding. People won’t remember your title or your accomplishments, but they remember how you treat them. Who you are is defined by how you make other people feel.
What does your vision for our community look like?
My vision for our community is a place where all children feel loved and important. It has always been my prayer that, even if for just one night, every child will know what it is like to feel love and to know they are cherished. Too often our children are neglected, they are abused, they are forgotten. As adults, we don’t do enough to ensure the children around us are cared for, whether it is because we are afraid to step on a parent’s toes or too afraid of the unknown in the “younger generation”. My husband is a teacher in USD 501 and has an amazing ability to connect with his middle-schoolers. He is able to make each child who passes through his class feel important, feel cared about, and feel understood. That is what we should all be striving to do for the children in our community. Whether you work with children or just interact with kids in your neighborhood, the opportunities are there to help even just one child feel loved and important and connected to their community.
What does "Equal - Powerful - Unstoppable" mean to you?
"Equal - Powerful - Unstoppable" means no limits. Growing up, I always felt I could do and be whatever I wanted. I never thought there would be restrictions or limitations, but especially not because I am a girl. This is a credit to my family and community growing up. I always said I was going to law school, not thinking that just fifty years ago it was a struggle for women to not only become lawyers, but to practice law. Forget about being viewed as an equal. The struggles of those woman and so many women before them afforded me the opportunity to pursue my passion. I got goose bumps the day Justice Luckert became the Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court, because with Governor Laura Kelly and Senate President Susan Wagle, females lead all three branches of Kansas’ government. What an amazing time for my daughters to be alive to see that their state so values women that they are in the top leadership positions of government. At the same time, how sad is it that it has taken until 2019 for that to occur. I can’t help but wonder how many women, how many people haven’t take a chance because they were made to feel inferior or powerless. It is up to us, to not only teach, but show the people in our community that we are equal, we are powerful, and we are unstoppable.
