NORTHAMPTON — Smith College School for Social Work graduate Thaddeus Desmond will shine a spotlight on child welfare tonight on the Democratic National Convention stage.
Between 7 and 8 p.m., the 28-year-old is set to share in a collective speech personal experiences that parallel aspects of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s life work.
Desmond, a social worker for the Support Center for Child Advocates in Philadelphia, said Tuesday his minute-long portion touches briefly on how child welfare has come a long way, but still has a long way to go.
“The work is not over,” he said. “So, just making it known that we need to continue to do this work.”
Clinton’s child advocacy focus includes working for the Children’s Defense Fund, co-founding Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and working with both parties to help create the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Six other speakers involved in the presentation will highlight other issues, including gun violence, segregation in schools and disability rights.
Desmond, who now lives in Germantown, Pennsylvania, was sought out by Clinton’s campaign staff through his work supervisor.
“It’s a humbling opportunity of a lifetime,” Desmond said.
He sees value in having social workers invested in their jobs from two different perspectives.
At the age of 6, Desmond was adopted by social worker and former foster mom Kathy Desmond. His birth parents struggled with drug addiction and were unable to care for him at that time.
“I was on the other side of that work before I had a choice,” he said.
Desmond’s adoptive mother fostered a relationship between him and his birth parents, with whom he now has an active relationship. Both his parents have been clean for over 15 years, he said.
“Children are the most vulnerable population and can’t fend for themselves,” he said. “A lot of times they are not heard, so it’s important for someone to be their voice.”
Much of his inspiration for the job comes from his own experiences as part of the system and growing up valuing his adoptive mother’s role in social work.
Kathy Desmond will join her son as a guest at the convention. Thaddeus Desmond’s partner, Jamie Warner, also will attend.
Back in Northampton, Smith College School for Social Work Dean Marianne Yoshioka called the 2013 graduate a “powerful voice for children and families.”
“We’re enormously proud to have him represent our school and our profession,” she said.
Desmond said that while it’s gratifying that Clinton has named child advocacy as an important topic, he is looking for action.
“It’s a good start but the actions at the end of the day speak the loudest,” he said. Desmond feels his group’s personal stories tonight will help to put faces on these issues.
“If (she is) elected,” he said, “we’ll see if these words turn into actions and how so.”
Sarah Crosby can be reached at scrosby@gazettenet.com.