JoVonka Marks | YWCA Women of Excellence Honoree
What inspires you to get up and do the work?
As the saying goes, if not you, then who? I began my child welfare and social services marathon in 2005 as a DCF intern. From that lens I was able to see the composition of a case and sit in on the decisions and investigations that inevitably turned Into petitions for out of home placement of children. At the conclusion of my internship, I started my KVC Behavioral Healthcare marathon in the Fall of 2006. From this lens I worked in the permanency department and had the opportunity to see the adjudications turn into reunifications. Within child welfare and social services, I've experienced the permanency department, adoption department, social security, family preservation, and now full circle back to permanency. My passion is helping families normalize where they are in life, partner with them to make attainable goals within their means and aiding them with redefining their autonomy.
What have you learned about yourself through the challenges you have overcome?
Through the challenges I've overcome I have learned that life is better when the focus is on what's happening internally as I emit calm externally. A response supersedes a reaction and promotes effective listening and understanding. Calm is my coping mechanism for inner peace.
How do you take care of yourself?
For self-care I schedule daily 15-minute time-outs, every 4 waking hours. These time-outs resemble reading or sitting in silence. Also daily I talk with my Mom about random things and life. Weekly, I digress with my sisters and village. Once per month or more I arrange dinner/movie/outing with a loved one.
What is the best advice you've ever been given? Or what advice do you have for others?
The best advice I was given was by a middle school teacher, "Those who anger you conquer you". This quote has afforded me decades of reflection. This reflection landed me on never permitting anything or anyone to conquer me through anger. In life it is always best to reset on a daily basis. Any troubles I have I lift up to my higher power and burn a tea light specific to that anger source.
My advice/bid to others is to make loving one another systemic. Love is the message. In a world and culture of trendsetting this is an attainable revolution, you ready?
What is your vision for our community? Has it changed through the pandemic and racial justice reckoning of recent years?
My vision for our community is no homelessness, no poverty, accessible resources, free public transportation, free access to mental/physical health services, more inpatient treatment facilities, a minimized number of children in out of home care, no racism, and liberation. My vision is more necessity as a result of the pandemic. Society had to adapt to something new and expected to still maintain sanity and a sense of normal mental health. As a member of society, we are not ok. Research dollars are needed to brainstorm our plan for coexist as we continue through the eclectics of this pandemic.
As professionals in most front line, first responder, social/human services we are operating on survival mode as we are apart of the communities that we serve. This oftentimes translates into a days work of quantity versus quality as we continue maneuvering our lives and careers in the midst of a pandemic. With that being said, racial justice is getting less attention. My vision for this is validation from the community that it's ok to not be ok all the time. Companies would benefit from attention to grievance as it is the root of mentality as we coexist.
The mission of YWCA is to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. What does YWCA's mission mean to you?
The YWCA's mission means to me to be apart of the change I would like to see. This means giving back to the community, doing things that do not always merit a dollar sign, and being kind to myself and others. The mission also means that as I pull out(through education, acts of kindness, public service) to reach back and pull someone else out.
