LEXINGTON, Ky. – Throughout National Social Work Month and National Criminal Justice Month this March, the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) will be sharing stories on the humans of the CoSW, highlighting the critical role our people play in supporting individuals, families and communities across Kentucky and beyond.
With more than 60 years dedicated to helping others, University of Kentucky College of Social Work alumna Linda Harvey reflects on her role as a catalyst and a connector in the Lexington community, bringing people and organizations together to create meaningful and lasting change.
As the eldest of four children, Harvey naturally stepped into a caretaking role early in life. She had experiences that sparked her interest in helping others and led her to pursue a career in social work. After attending St. Petersburg Junior College in 1961 and earning her associates degree, Harvey transferred to the University of Kentucky, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in social work in 1963.
Following graduation, Harvey began what would become a lifetime commitment to service. In St. Petersburg, Florida, she worked with the state welfare agency, supervising 70 foster children, and was a part of starting the first Women’s Job Corp Center, working with the Office of Economic Opportunity, supervising the resident advisors of 300 girls.
After relocating to Cleveland, Ohio, she continued her work with the YMCA/YWCA, expanding her experience in community-based services and youth support programs.
Harvey’s return to Lexington was inspired by Father Elmer Moore of the UK Newman Center, who served as both a mentor and guiding influence during her time as a student volunteer at the Newman Center.
After returning to Kentucky, Harvey established a volunteer program that connected college students with social service agencies and prison outreach initiatives on UK’s campus. During this time, she also worked with Community Action, where she helped open four community centers across Lexington to expand access to local support services.
“Throughout my life, I have seen myself as a catalyst, trying to make connections and bring people together for the greater good,” Harvey shared.
Over the years, Harvey has played a role in founding or helping establish at least 60 organizations and programs designed to improve lives throughout the Lexington community. Among these are Birthright of Lexington, Christians in Community Service, LexCare, the Mediation Center of Kentucky, Transformation House, and Juvenile Restorative Justice. She also advocated the expansion of the neonatal unit at UK and contributed to former Kentucky Governor Brereton Jones’ healthcare plan.
Alongside her professional accomplishments, Harvey built a family in Lexington, where she met her husband, Stan, and welcomed twin children, a son and daughter, an experience that inspired her to create the Mother of Twins organization of Lexington to support families navigating the unique challenges of raising multiples.
One of Harvey’s most influential contributions came through her work in restorative justice. Through this initiative, she helped introduce restorative justice practices into central Kentucky’s courts, schools and prison systems. Harvey created a program within maximum security prisons and worked with inmates who had committed homicides.
The program focused on repairing harm caused by crime or wrongdoing by addressing the needs of victims, encouraging accountability among offenders and involving the broader community in the healing process. Restorative justice centers on rebuilding relationships, fostering understanding and promoting long-term behavioral change.
“A number of cases were mediated by bringing surviving victims of homicide together with the offender who had killed their loved one,” Harvey noted. “As we continued to visit these maximum-security prisons in Kentucky, we could see real healing within inmates.”
Staying connected to the College of Social Work throughout her career, Harvey has served on three Dean’s Advisory Councils. She also created reconciliation breakfasts, co-sponsored by the Human Rights Commission and the College of Social Work. These breakfasts worked to show the impact of restorative justice on reconciliation and peacemaking. Harvey also received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Medallion in 2007 for her dedication to community service.
Since 1969, Harvey has served as a supervisor and mentor to UK social work students completing internships across numerous organizations. Her lifelong dedication to service continues to shape the Lexington community and influence the field of social work through the organizations she helps build, the students she mentors, and the families she supports.
At 84 years of age, Harvey has done these activities primarily as a volunteer. She could not have done so without the support and involvement of her husband of 55 years, Stanford Harvey, Jr. Their family has expanded to their children’s spouses and four grandchildren. Harvey is a widow now for two years.
Harvey’s most recent initiative is with the Catholic Mental Health Ministry as co-director. Her work exemplifies the core values of the UK College of Social Work — improving the human condition through connection, compassion and action, especially those who are impacted by mental health challenges.
As she reflects on the impact of her career, Harvey encourages future social workers to remain open to new ideas, think outside the box, and move forward with action.
“Be a seed planter,” Harvey said. “Sometimes they take and sometimes they don’t. You have to be willing to watch them grow.”