Women’s History Month on Lillian Wald, Pioneer of Social and Heathcare Reform, with Paul Kaplan

Women’s History Month on Lillian Wald, Pioneer of Social and Heathcare Reform, with Paul Kaplan
April 3, 2024 @ 1:00-2:45pm

As part of Women’s History Month, CL&L turns the spotlight on Lillian Wald, a social and healthcare reformer who pioneered two groundbreaking organizations that remain important today: Henry Street Settlement and Visiting Nurse Service. Wald framed public health and nursing as a profession and ushered in the innovative solution of settlement houses. She began programs that are part of everyday life today, such as school lunches and nurses in public schools. Wald was adept at navigating the poorest and most densely populated neighborhoods, as well as the upper circles of society where she sought donors to support her efforts. A strong advocate for women's suffrage, racial integration, and worker's rights when these issues were not popular. Wald was called by Pres. Franklin Roosevelt “one of the least known yet most important people” of her time. Paul chronicles her many contributions in his award-winning book, Lillian Wald: America’s Great Social and Healthcare Reformer. He is the author of 7 books, including New York's Original Penn Station (which he spoke about previously at CL&L), Irving Berlin, New York in the Progressive Era, Jewish New York, and Jewish South Florida. He has given nearly 90 talks nationwide. BA, Ethics, Politics and Economics, and MBA, Marketing and Strategy, Yale Univ.