MOST OF us know the saying, “It takes a village.” A well-known African proverb, it’s often used when discussing the care of children. The concept of the phrase is that no individual succeeds or thrives in isolation — everyone benefits from the care, wisdom, and guidance of others. It would seem that when such a village does show up, children and adults alike can find success. This shows that when we collaborate, share responsibilities, support each other, and foster teamwork, we can achieve more together than we ever could alone.
Wilson County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Executive Director Michelle Swart is a firm believer in such a village. As a former foster parent, community volunteer, and now executive director of a nonprofit, Swart has firsthand experience with the benefits of people coming together to help each other. Accepting the call to become a foster parent, she began to understand just how much help was needed.
“I fostered children for roughly three years, and it gave me a deep sense of what is happening in that realm,” stated Swart. “I was also working to provide food and clothing to families in need through a local nonprofit. From there, I kept connecting to people in the community who needed to be helped.”
After becoming a part of a school mentor program, she was introduced to CASA.
CASA is a program that trains and supervises “diverse volunteers who serve as advocates for children involved in court proceedings primarily as the result of abuse and/or neglect,” according to the organization’s website.
As a volunteer, Swart stated that she quickly fell in love with the organization and the level of assistance they provide to the children and families they represent.
“I went from understanding that it was a wonderful volunteer-driven organization to really learning how to appreciate the complexity and depth of the work,” she stated. “Things such as the importance of those of us in the organization being persistent, showing empathy, and meeting families where they’re at. I also saw how those things really translated over to being a force for this impactful and incredible organization.”
As the executive director, Swart and her staff serve over 250 children a year with an average of 60 volunteers, according to the nonprofit’s website. The site also states that Wilson County CASA is part of a national CASA and state network, extending child advocacy services across the country through 951 programs in 49 states.
A dream job for Swart, she is thankful for the path that led her to CASA. She invites others to join an organization that she feels is life-changing for all involved.
“You don’t need a certain set of qualifications; just be present, care, and want to stand for vulnerable children,” said Swart. “We make sure our volunteers have everything they need. The match between volunteer and child is amazing. We can watch all these amazing things unfold because of it. I get chills every time I think about it because I didn’t believe it until I started living it.” GN
