Dr. Nara Halestone
Dr. Nara Halestone is a female ibex and the Field Placement Coordinator for the School of Social Work at Gnu York University in We Can Fix Pawbert. She appears in S04E07 "Transfer Credit," where her philosophy of Social Work---"helping people access dignity and resources while respecting their autonomy"---directly influences Pawbert's later approach at ZRS.
"Social Work is not about saving people... Rescue implies hierarchy. It implies that you know better than the mammals you serve. Social Work is about helping people access dignity and resources while respecting their autonomy. It's about meeting mammals where they are, not where you think they should be." — Dr. Nara Halestone (S04E07)
Background
Dr. Halestone serves as the Field Placement Coordinator for GYU's School of Social Work, overseeing student internships and practicum experiences. Her role involves preparing students for the realities of Social Work, including its emotional demands and the importance of respecting client autonomy.
Personality
Dr. Halestone carries herself with the confidence of someone who has spent years doing work that matters. She is direct in her communication, challenging prospective students' assumptions about "saving" people while offering a more nuanced understanding of the profession.
Key personality traits:
- Direct --- Challenges assumptions head-on
- Philosophical --- Articulates complex ideas about autonomy and dignity
- Practical --- Warns students about the realities of the field
- Insightful --- Recognizes that lived experience is both asset and pressure point
Physical Description
Dr. Halestone has horns that curve back elegantly. She carries herself with confidence befitting her expertise and years of meaningful work in the field.
Series History
Season 4
In S04E07 "Transfer Credit," Dr. Halestone leads an information session for prospective Social Work students in Room 204 (Juroar Lecture Hall) at Silvermane Center. About two dozen mammals attend.
She opens with a challenge to common assumptions: "Let's start with what it isn't. Social Work is not about saving people." She explains that rescue implies hierarchy---that the helper knows better than those they serve---and that Social Work is instead about "helping people access dignity and resources while respecting their autonomy. It's about meeting mammals where they are, not where you think they should be."
She distinguishes Social Work from other professions: "If you want to be perfect, choose accounting. The numbers always balance. If you want to be present---if you want to sit with uncertainty and frustration and the slow, difficult work of incremental change---choose Social Work."
Dr. Halestone also warns attendees that lived experience with systems like child welfare, corrections, mental health, and reentry can be both an asset and a pressure point, advising students to be prepared to manage this dynamic.
Pawbert finds himself feeling "seen in a way that's both uncomfortable and validating" during her presentation. Her philosophy of "dignity and resources" directly influences his later approach to Social Work at ZRS.
In S04E09 "First Day," Dr. Halestone returns for the Practicum Instruction seminar (UNDSWUS 41), where Pawbert requests Zootopia Reentry Services as his field placement: "I used their services when I got out." Halestone approves the request, recognizing the value of his lived experience while noting the challenges it may present.
Key Phrases
| Phrase | Context | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| "Social Work is not about saving people." | S04E07 | Challenges rescue mentality |
| "Rescue implies hierarchy." | S04E07 | Explains why "saving" is problematic |
| "Social Work is about helping people access dignity and resources while respecting their autonomy." | S04E07 | Core philosophy; influences Pawbert's later approach |
| "It's about meeting mammals where they are, not where you think they should be." | S04E07 | Emphasizes respect for client autonomy |
| "If you want to be perfect, choose accounting. The numbers always balance." | S04E07 | Contrasts with the uncertainty of Social Work |
| "If you want to be present... choose Social Work." | S04E07 | Frames Social Work as about presence, not perfection |
| "Lived experience can be both an asset and a pressure point." | S04E07 | Warns about emotional management |
Influence on Pawbert
Dr. Halestone's philosophy of "dignity and resources" becomes foundational to Pawbert's understanding of Social Work. Her emphasis on respecting autonomy and meeting mammals where they are---rather than trying to "save" them---directly influences his later approach at Zootopia Reentry Services (ZRS).
Trivia
- Dr. Halestone's session takes place at 2 PM in Room 204 of Silvermane Center.
- Her philosophy aligns with Sorrel's "options, not obligations" approach, which Pawbert also references in his personal statement.
- About two dozen mammals attended the information session where she presented.