04-13-2023 Howard Magazine - Flipbook - Page 5
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T.
Sky Woodward enjoyed a
successful 30-year career as a lawyer
representing clients in a variety
of industries, navigating complex
legal issues and defending highstakes litigation. So, what would
cause this successful lawyer in July
2022 to dramatically switch gears
to become Chief Administrative
Officer at Helping Up Mission
(HUM), a Baltimore nonprofit, which
since 1885 has impacted the lives of
those experiencing homelessness,
poverty and addiction by providing
individual care that addresses their
physical, psychological, social and
spiritual needs?
“I followed my heart,” Woodward
responds. “I have been referred to as
‘fierce,’ and that ferocity comes from
my tendency to be very passionate
and enthusiastic in whatever I am
doing. The more I got exposed
to what was happening at HUM
through serving on its board – the
Center for Women & Children,
additional partnerships with Johns
Hopkins and other health care
providers, and opportunities to
work with other missions around
the country – I got really excited
because all of these developments
were happening at once.
“A lightbulb went off one day when
my husband and I were driving
to work, and I said to him, ‘I know
what I need to do. I need to go
work at Helping Up Mission.’ I met
with HUM’s then-CEO (and current
President Emeritus) Bob Gehman,
and he said, ‘I think we can make
this happen.’ I was glad because I
truly believe God had sent me to
Helping Up Mission.”
Woodward’s relationship with
HUM goes back to 2007 when
she was working at the Baltimore
helping people recover and get
their dignity back. People come
to us because they need their soul
and their heart put back together,”
she says.
Following Her Heart
to Give Back
T. Sky Woodward,
Helping Up Mission
Woodward says that Fridays are
one of her favorite days due to the
two chapel services held on Fridays
each week.
“The key moment is when one of
our residents graduates, and we
celebrate their completion of our
365-day Spiritual Recovery Program.
Our graduates speak and share, and
their family members are there to
support them. I am so fortunate
to experience that life-affirming
moment and watch the restoration
of someone to a life of dignity,
serenity and wholeheartedness,”
says Woodward, who adds that
many of HUM’s graduates later
become staff members.
Woodward says she lives her life by
the adage, “Learn, Earn, Return.”
law firm Womble Bond Dickinson
and one of her law partners was
former Gov. Bob Ehrlich, who had
worked with HUM as governor.
“One Thanksgiving season, a group
of lawyers volunteered at HUM to
serve lunch. Later, I provided pro
bono legal services to the nonprofit
itself as well as HUM’s clients. My
husband and law partner, John
Parker Sweeney, also did pro bono
work, and we both continued to do
so when we joined the Bradley law
firm in Washington, D.C.,” Woodward
recalls.
Woodward says she feels so
fortunate that she has a job where
she is excited to go to work every
day and appreciate the moments of
joy not found in many workplaces.
“While the big opportunities that
are rolling into HUM are amazing,
it’s the smaller moments, like when
I am in the elevator at the Center
for Women & Children, and I can
look into a woman’s eyes and know
that she is alive... not just that she’s
physically with us, but there is a
sparkle in her eyes. I don’t know
what brought her here – addiction
or homelessness – but I will stake
my life that there was no sparkle in
her eyes when she first walked in
the door here. When I see that, it’s a
reminder that this is why we come
to work each day,” she says.
“The concept is that your life is
allocated in three segments. You
spend a third of your life learning,
the next third you spend earning
respect, credentials and money.
Then you hit a moment where it’s
time to return – return the blessings
back into the community,” she says.
“We are here to try to make people’s
lives a little bit easier, and if I can
play a part in making someone’s life
a little bit easier, clean and sober, I
am doing the Lord’s work, and I feel
blessed to be doing it.”
While there are several wonderful
nonprofits addressing addiction
in the area, Woodward believes
Helping Up Mission is unique.
For more information,
visit HelpingUpMission.org
“This organization has a soul with
people who are driven by a higher
calling and to do the hard work
Provided by Gregory J. Alexander, contributing
writer. This paid post is produced by Helping Up
Mission. The newsrooms and editorial departments
of Tribune Publishing Co. are not involved in the
production of this content.
howardmagazine.com | Spring 2023 |
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