Our team at Henrico CASA loves to read… and there’s no better time to read than the summer! In upcoming weeks we’ll be highlighting some of our recent favorites in the hopes that you will enjoy the themes and connections to our work as child advocates.
Synopsis
Not By My Wings Alone is a memoir about never giving up or letting the dark circumstances of your past define your future. It is an inspiring story of courage, perseverance, resilience, and hope by author and educator, Carolyn P. Henry.
Why I Recommend…
Carolyn, nicknamed “Pippa” by her family, details her life beginning at age two, living with her single mother and six brothers in Harlem. At age eight, she was removed from her mother and placed in foster care. She recounts her years in foster care until eighteen years old.
Carolyn was the second youngest of seven children. When she and her brothers were removed from their mother’s care, they were separated. Initially, she and her younger brother were placed in the same foster home. However, she would not see her older brothers until she was a teenager.
Carolyn describes her life in several foster homes and a group home. She also shares how she dealt with her own personal tragedies along the way. She captured my heart and made me cheer her on because despite all her odds, Carolyn persevered! However, she did not do it on her own. Throughout her foster care journey, individuals came into her life that significantly impacted her. They gave her the tools to finish high school with honors and be accepted to Howard University.
As Carolyn described each of these individuals and the difference they made in her life, I thought about our work as CASA advocates. It meant the world to Carolyn when when these individuals made time to listen, offered words of encouragement, and advocated for resources and services that helped her believe in her potential. CASA advocates not only do all of these things, but also have the opportunity to identify positive connections for a child that can be lifelong.
Carolyn’s story allows us, the reader, the experience of seeing her life before, during, and after foster care… through her eyes. The key message was how important it was to have positive players in her life to help her attain her goals. Carolyn wrote, “There is always a child out there who needs and can benefit from the wisdom, empathy, inspiration, care, and concern that we all have within us and makes us that much richer by giving it away.”
