After School

Before I came down to Immokalee, I was aware of the importance of gaining the experience and skills necessary to help individuals in distress realize change in their lives and circumstances. Knowing that merely desiring social justice and having a desire to serve is not enough, I came to Immokalee in hopes of learning some of these skills. One of the greatest teachers has been the experience of after school.

Here, in Immokalee, I have found that one of my greatest challenges and greatest points of pride is working with nineteen first-graders two and half hours a day at a nearby elementary school. For several years now, the Humility of Mary Volunteers have worked in an after school program, through the Guadalupe Center, located at two elementary schools here in Immokalee. This year is no different, and, each day, my two roommates and I walk to teach at the school located only several blocks from our house. Through my participation in this program, I have learned how a program can excel even when there are limited resources as well as how to maintain an optimistic outlook even when some days are challenging.

Each day, we see the same children, learn of their struggles, joys and histories, and witness them trying to explore and learn about the world around them. I have fourteen girls and five boys in my classroom, and each one of them has a fascinating and oftentimes hilarious personality. I have learned how to lesson-plan accordingly and oftentimes feel as excited as they do when I am able to provide a fun craft, a new activity, or a pile of fresh, entertaining books.

The children in our afterschool are referred to the program for different reasons. For some, life circumstances have led them to feel somewhat lost and ignored. Others simply need a bit more help to learn and stay apace with the other children in their grade. Each child is different and each child has different needs, but I can see the benefits of providing help and reaching out to another person clearly through my interaction with these children. I am not able to change some of the more challenging circumstances of their lives or necessarily make sure that they are at the top of their class, but I have realized that I can provide a supportive, safe place for them to learn and investigate the world for two and a half hours. On my part, this requires learning quite a few stratagems, practicing quite a lot of patience, doing my best how to plan ahead, and being able to multi-task. It also requires attention to details to learn and address the narratives of these younger people. Recently, I have started having my children write in journals. I write them a little prompt and encourage them to express themselves honestly in their journals. It is, however, ultimately, in after school that I am learning how to handle challenging situations and how to work effectively with children experiencing difficulties.

Of course, the learning experience has just begun, and the children continue to teach me something new each day. I am ever thankful for this invaluable experience and hope to learn all that I can from it.

Sarah

Picture from the Guadalupe Center Website

Thanksgiving, Immokalee Style

This past Tuesday, after spending the previous weekend in Ft. Benning, GA for the School of the Americas protest, and the previous week hosting an immersion trip, my parents came to visit me in Immokalee. Despite my non-stop schedule, I was excited for my parents to see the community I have been living in and all the people in it that make it what it is. It was extremely special to me that my parents were able to share in Thanksgiving dinner with my community.

Like most things have been this year, Thanksgiving did not fail to be a go-with-the-flow, inclusive and unpredictable day. It started with a knock on the front door at 9am sharp by our Guatemalan friend from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, along her daughter and two turkeys in tow. She excitedly greeted us and went right to our kitchen to put the turkey in the oven. Soon after, her brother arrived with a propane tank and some contraption used to cook his special hot chile pepper turkey.

Throughout the morning, people came rushing in and out of the kitchen, checking on this or that. Because the Thanksgiving meal was set to begin at 4pm, my parents and I decided to visit the lake down the road around noon. As we pulled out of the driveway, though, we were stopped by a crowd of people who just arrived.

“Where are you going?” our friend asked in Spanish. I told her we were going to the lake and she asked, “Why? We are going to eat now.” I looked at the group of people climbing out of the truck behind me, arms full of various food dishes and yet another turkey. “But I thought we were going to eat at four?” I said. “We will eat again at four!” she said. “Come eat!”

I parked the car and my parents and I joined our Guatemalan friends on our porch. I introduced everyone to my parents, and then we began to eat the turkey, green beans, corn, and pico de gallo—which we all ate with tortillas. And despite the wonderful and copious amounts of food, we were hungry for round two at 4 o’clock. It was wonderful getting to reciprocate our gratitude by sharing our U.S. version of a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

In solidarity,

Julie

Connecting with the HMs

In October, Anthony, Leslie (former HM volunteer), and I had dinner with Sister Catherine. Thank you to Leslie for the photo!

Give Thanks for the Time We Have Together

As we are now fully immersed in the Holiday Season, I think it is incredibly important for all of us to take a moment to offer our thanks and gratitude to those around us, especially our supervisors and coworkers in our volunteer sites. We now have three months of the service year behind us with nine more months of opportunities to grow and learn. Yes, the organizations that benefit from our service are exceedingly grateful for all of our time and effort. Much of the work we do would not exist without our dedication. Yet, I think we will completely miss out on an even greater aspect of our volunteer year if we fail to see the ways that these coworkers have led us to unique moments of growth and change.

Last month my supervisor at Americans for Immigrant Justice announced her resignation, effective in just a few short weeks. She is moving to a different city for an exciting opportunity to continue her work in immigration law. The news of her departure came as an absolute shock, though. She has been my principal mentor during the previous 15+ months. Much of my decision to continue with the law school application process stems from the commitment I saw in her work each and every day and my desire to emulate that passion in my own life. I am grateful beyond words for the experience that HMVS has given me to work with such an amazing attorney. And she will be greatly missed by all of us here . . .

At the same time, I know that my other supervisor and all my fellow staff members at AIJustice have infinite lessons to teach me in the months ahead. People come in and out of our lives every day. Let’s all try to be more conscious of their immeasurable contributions by offering a sign of gratitude from time to time.

--Adam

Community outting!

My last post was about work so now I'm back to talking about the non-work details of life in community in Cleveland. The thought of living on a set stipend can be intimidating, but that is no barrier to having tons of fun! Especially in Cleveland.

This weekend Tina and Sam were off having Thanksgiving adventures with their family. So, JP and I (whose families live a considerable distance away) decided to have an adventure of our own. Saturday was the annual Winterfest Celebration aka the Public Square tree lighting! The whole day is full of Christmas tours, concerts, and carriage rides and many of the towns greatest food trucks came together to serve the masses. If you've met me for more than five minutes you know I like shiny things and food so this was the place to be.

Here's JP and the Zydeco Bistro Cajun food truck. Check out those menu options! Four buck for a large 6 inch Po-Boy filled with fried shrimp! Another two bucks got us the best hush puppies I've ever had. Sooo amazing. We ate on the side walk watching throngs of people go by. Afterwards, we took a wander down fourth street to hear the musicians playing jazz renditions of Christmas songs and grab a hot cocoa from the owner of one of Cleveland's newest hot spots "Noodle Cat." They were offering cocoa and cider straight from the pot. (Yummy!)

After that the obvious place to go was the ARCADE! This landmark is currently for sale and I dread the possibility of it becoming another abandoned building on the landscape, but by the looks of this that won't be any time soon. Pretty!

Then to the Soldiers and Sailors monument. It's really easy for this amazing work of art to just become a part of the background during your daily commute, but if you take the time to get up close it's really fabulous. Check out the beautiful colored glass sunrise at the entrance! Jp and I waited for quite a while to get in.... then we realized we were in the line to see Santa. Oops.

What Christmas adventure would be complete without Gingerbread houses! The Ritz Carlton attached to Tower City was showing off this baby! Look at the cute little winter scenes!

And finally the tree lighting. We had to sit through 30 minutes of public officials rambling, but hearing a sea of people make happy sounds at the exact same time is worth the wait. (On a separate note, you can't really see it, but Occupy Cleveland's permit has been renewed and they were broadcasting on the building behind the old stone church. Scrooge=1%, Tiny Tim=99%)

We waited after the lighting to see Santa and fireworks, but it seems that Frank Jackson some how misplaced Jolly Old Saint Nick and they brought on a choir to kill time while they went in search of him. With no hope of fireworks any time soon, JP and I decided to beat the crowd and head for the Rapid.

1 fab room mate, 5 hours of fun, and $6 for some of the most amazing cajun you'll be lucky to find in the midwest. Happy Christmas Everyone!

Giving Thanks for Friends, Family and Community

So far, I’ve had a busy November. Two weeks ago, my mom came to visit for the weekend. We enjoyed catching up, eating great food, visiting MRS and the HM Ministry Center, and we even played a game of tennis. She also got to meet the other Cleveland volunteers!

Last weekend, I went to the School of the America’s protest in Columbus, Georgia. This was my first time at the protest, and though I have a lot to share about that experience, I’ll save it for another blog post. While I was at the protest, I got to spend time with the four Immokalee volunteers! It was great catching up with all of them and seeing them in action with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. I also met a lot of people working for justice in Latin America on the bus ride down with the InterReligious Task Force on Central America (IRTF), and got to know some of Cleveland's Jesuit volunteers better.

My third big community experience of November was during Thanksgiving. Since Tina and Sam are away for the holiday, Jen and I made plans to have Thanksgiving at Sr. Josie and Sr. Ruthmary’s house. We also invited volunteers from the other Cleveland programs who were in town to join us for the feast. So, despite “staying in Cleveland” for the holiday, we were blessed with an abundance of good company that included: 2 HM volunteers, 2 Jesuit volunteers, 1 Franciscan volunteer, Monica from the HM Just One Year (JOY) program, and 5 HM Sisters. We had such a great time that by the end of the night, we were making plans to bring together the 15 Cleveland volunteers in Catholic programs for an evening at the Sister’s house.

These experiences brought to mind the following poem by Lynn Ungar.

Camas Lilies

Consider the lilies of the field,

the blue banks of camas opening

into acres of sky along the road.

Would the longing to lie down

and be washed by that beauty

abate if you knew their usefulness,

how the natives ground their bulbs

for flour, how the settlers’ hogs

uprooted them, grunting in gleeful

oblivion as the flowers fell?

And you -- what of your rushed and

useful life? Imagine setting it all down --

papers, plans, appointments, everything

leaving only a note: “Gone to the fields

to be lovely. Be back when I’m through

with blooming.”

Even now, unneeded and uneaten, the

camas lilies gaze out above the grass

from their tender blue eyes.

Even in sleep your life will shine.

Make no mistake.

Of course

your work will always matter.

Yet Solomon in all his glory

was not arrayed like one of these.

This year, I am especially thankful for these lovely times with friends, family and community. And who knows, maybe next time I'm away, my email auto-reply will read: “Gone to the lovely fields of friends and family for reconnection and rejuvenation. Be back when we’re through with blooming.”

-J.P.

Farm to Table

Hello

The fall weather is beginning to leave Ohio and Pennsylvania only to be replaced by cold nights and our first snow fall. With the change in weather insulated long johns and flannel shirts are now part of standard farm attire. The farm market is now closed for the year only to be replaced by a flourishing greenhouse filled with 1200 poinsettia plants waiting to show color for Christmas. The farm equipment is being cleaned and repaired for the next season while Richard (master greenhouse guy) pours over seed and flower catalogs anticipating Spring and the beginning of planting. It is a continuous cycle of preparation, planting and harvesting.

This past Thursday 20 CSA members along with the farm crew and members of the HM Community gathered to share a pot-luck supper and conversation about our first year of Community Supported Agriculture. Needless to say the food was delicious.... many dishes were created from farm fruits and vegetables. Members shared their cooking and baking talents to nourish us with fresh and healthy dishes.

It was energizing to be with people committed to buying and eating local produce. A round table disucssion was held after dinner to allow members the opportunity to share their thoughts on CSA participation. It was overwhelming for the farm crew to hear the positive comments about the farm specifically how pleased people were with the quality and quanity of their share. The most gratifying comments were those related not to the produce received but to the spiritual connection the members felt to the land, the animals and to the experience of working the farm. Many members expressed the sentiment of "receiving so much more than they expected". They received quality produce, an opportunity to share with others the love of earth and the experience of acutally working the land. Each week Richard and I looked forward to meeting our new friends in the market as they picked up their share. To our delight we discovered that members also enjoyed talking with us and sharing "farm talk" about pest, critters, and the weather report of the day.

Another community has been formed as a result of the committment the farm made to establishing the CSA - the farmers and I are beginning to plan for next year and look forward to another growing season.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Beth

We Are Only As Strong As Our Weakest Link

Natural Spring Waterfall:

"Above all, let your love for one another be intense." [ 1 Peter 4:8]

Last Thursday as I left Saint Martin de Porres I was filled with frustration. My mind fixated on a conversation that I had just had with a student in *Academic Assistance. The conversation went something like this:

Me: "You need to either come in or leave. You can not just sit here and talk."

Student: "I don't want to do homework. I already finished my paper. I will get my C and that's all I need."

Me: "Do you really want to be average the rest of your life? You can do better."

Student: " I don't really care." Jeeze this must be a conspiracy. My math teacher said this today."

Me: " Yes. This is part of our secret plan. You will not get by with a C average in the hyper competitive society we live in. Ask any of the teachers here. College is hard. Sit down and work on your paper. I'm watching you."

Student: sits down and at least pretends to do their paper for thirty minutes and as he leaves he smirked and stated, "I worked on it. Happy? You guys need to calm down."

Three months ago I would have cringed as I thought about the audacious manner of my comments towards this student. I would have analyzed over and over in my head how mean it is to tell a student they are on the average track. I would have interpreted myself as rude for my lack of censoring. My natural disposition is to be quiet, cautious, and intentional when I am talking to individuals that I do not know very well. I am more of an observer than a talker typically, especially when I am interacting with people I do not know well. My bubble has been broken.

I came to the realization quickly that students are not receptive to timid and overly nice personalities. Of course I was warned about this reality, but it didn't resonate with me until the first week of school. Students have no problem testing their limits with you. For me this means that at times I am completely uncomfortable. The students often will tell you anything that is on their minds. For some of the students walls are clearly up and they remind you at any opportune moment that they do not like school.

One of my initial struggles presented the first week when I reflected on how my personality clashed with that of an effective teacher. I knew I was going to have to completely put myself out there in order for the students to be responsive to me. Quite honestly I have seen that for many of the students, they want boundaries. Sometimes, I think they even want you to yell at them, punish them, and fight with them to do their work. I’m not trying to make generalizations about the students I encounter. Every student is different. But, these are some of my experiences thus far.

I have found the despite some of these challenges that I experience I love the students. Even with all the insecurity, frustration, and confusion that some of my days have caused I still care about the students. At times I’m even utterly amused by their shenanigans. I have never had a moment where I have questioned my decision of doing service.

Today, I went hiking for my first time at Camp Christopher. I was a chaperon for the freshman students on retreat. I had to rely on students to lift me up rock walls and spot me as I walked across a rope wall. We also all hiked up the same mountain. At times people ended up tripping over and grabbing onto each other. We laughed and quickly moved on. The divides that sometimes separate the adults from the students seemed to dissipate.

At the end of the day, as we reflected on the experience we discussed how throughout the day we needed each other to complete each task. We discussed how this experience is also comparable to our daily lives. God puts us on this earth to serve one another as one family. We are only as strong as our weakest link. I will not quickly forget this day. I'm thinking of you all.

Love,

Tina

*Academic Assistance: place after school where students can have a quiet place to work, access computers, receive tutoring, or serve Mod T a form of detention.

While engaging in the "bottom-up," dont forget the "top-down"

Since the last time we spoke, not too much has changed. To be quite honest, I don’t really have a life changing moment, revelation, or monumental development in my volunteer work with which I could attempt to enlighten you all. Thus, I would like to discuss something of a more pragmatic matter that I think applies in some way to all our lives.

As we have all committed ourselves to a year of volunteer service with various organizations, it is apparent that we all have a pretty good sense of the needs for the less fortunate people of our society. The ideas of social justice and a greater inclusion into such a system of justice clearly permeated from our discussions during orientation week at the Villa. It must be pointed out that we all decided to pursue this year of service through a charitable Catholic organization. In our case it is the Sisters of the Humility of Mary Volunteer Service. Thus, it is safe to say that as a group, we believe that the Church and charitable organizations that represent the church are indeed a meaningful way to empower those so often excluded from the purview of social justice and equality.

Getting to my point, the work of religiously affiliated charities and volunteer services like our own HM Ministry is certainly necessary and has a beneficial place in our society. However, I think it is an absurd notion that our country should rely on such organizations as the sole provider of services for those in situations of dire need. Not to get political (but to get a just a wee bit political), the comedic gem of a GOP candidate Michelle Bachman made a contradictory statement to said idea a couple weeks back. While I cannot remember her exact quote in its entirety, she basically said that we need to get rid of all government run entitlement programs and that the country should rely on the Church to help certain populations with medical and food costs.

If we want to go back to the Gilded age, then I think this is a fabulous idea. But this is 2011, a solid 100 years withdrawn from the Progressive era of American history. The government and political involvement should be seen as a tool to help alleviate the societal suffering with which so many of us have a heartfelt gripe. Yes, the Church plays a crucial role in helping people in unfortunate situations everyday of the year; we, through our commitment as an HM Volunteer, are living proof of this. However, to relegate such responsibilities to only the Church and forget about our fraternal responsibility as an inclusive American society through government is something that I simply deem as crazy.

As you know by now, Americans for Immigrant Justice was formerly known as the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center. As I was told, the reason for the switch was that, as an organization, we wanted to make more of a push in Washington for policy changes in immigration. The Board felt that the new name AI Justice would garner more clout in this political arena, but that is not the point. The point is that on the ground, face to face work that helps to propagate social justice is only one half of the equation. The Church, and organizations such as our own HM Volunteer Service are of the utmost importance; but while this work can be characterized as a “bottom-up” approach, we must not forget about being politically active in the “top-down” processes that can be implemented to help propagate the themes of social justice so prevalent in our conversations during orientation.

My apologies for the late post.

-Anthony

Home is where the resources are. . .

One day a week I work as a caseworker at Guadalupe Social Services. We are a direct assistance agency. My job is to speak with clients and give out food and financial assistance for rent or utility bills. Clients can only receive one service each month (one food bag or one bill payed). On top of that, they can only receive financial assistance once a year. Sometimes it seems like a band-aid on a much larger social problem. I have to remember that meeting immediate needs is just as important as fighting to change the system that created those needs in the first place.

As I stand in the back of the main office at Guadalupe Social Services I patiently wait to have a look at the intake list so that I can get the name of my next client. There is a woman at the front window asking about the rent assistance form. She is of short stature and toting two small children along with her. She is concerned because her rent is three months past due and she has received an eviction notice from her landlord. She has to come up with the money by the next day otherwise she will need to find a new place to live. In the Hollywood version of this story a handsome caseworker swoops in to save the day, finding the funds to secure the family’s home, filling their kitchen with good nutritious food to eat, and finding steady work for the family so that they never need to worry about being in this situation again. In the real life version of this story the woman was informed that we did not have the funds to pay all of her back rent and that she would be better off leaving her home and staying with friends for a few days until she finds a new place. The rent funds that we would be able to give her would be better put to use on a new place. After some discussion it was determined that she had some family she could stay with. She left the office with a look that was a mixture of defeat, sadness, and panic. She would have to pack up all of her family’s belongings that night and move out by the morning. No easy task in general. Now take into account the fact that cars are a commodity scarcely found among most of the communities here. Next, add in the stress of multiple small children running around needing attention. Top it off with the worry of what you are going to feed your family for dinner (we’re not talking “should we have chicken or pork for dinner?” we’re talking “are we even going to have enough food to cook a dinner?”)

It was after witnessing this event when I recalled an idea that was discussed at one of our community night reflections: “How many barriers are there between me and homelessness?” In other words, how many resources do I have at my disposal that I would have to blow through before finding myself calling the sidewalk “home.” For starters, I have the HM program and all of its resources. I have multiple family members who could take me in, give me financial support, or both. I have friends in many different cities who would take me in. I have a bank account with some money in it. I have assets in the form of physical goods that I could sell for some extra cash (there goes my car, furniture, clothes, shoes, kitchenw are, and other various material possessions). Honestly, there are multiple “back-up plans” that would have to fall through for me to land in a place even remotely close to what that woman was experiencing.

This past summer I would joke about how I was homeless and living out of my car. I was a nomad with no apartment or house of my own. I traveled from place to place visiting friends and family. I stayed on couches, in guest rooms, and in tents. I never had to worry about whether or not I was going to have shelter for the night. I never had to worry about whether or not I was going to have anything to eat. I never had to worry about w hether or not I would have enough money for gas to get to my next location. In retrospect referring to myself as “homeless” was an inaccurate and insensitive description. I had good company, tasty food, and a warm bed (except for maybe a few nights of camping when I had a semi-warm sleeping bag) each night.

What makes me so different from these people that I have the resources to make it through this life comfortably? It is a question that I cannot seem to find an answer to other than that I was born into a different situation which for me is not enough. So I answer my question with another question: What can I do to create comfortable situa tions for others? It’s a question that can be answered in multiple ways. It’s something to think about, and something to keep in mind as I continue my year as an HM volunteer.

And now for your viewing pleasure, a medley of some of the places I have been able to call home over the past couple years.

Peace Out

Love,

Babs

With Gratitude

Just this past weekend, four of the Humility of Mary sisters hosted the Immokalee and Miami volunteers for a weekend of reflection, relaxation, and community in Fort Pierce. There was kayaking, barbequing, many good treats, swimming, and quite a bit of laughter throughout. But the most momentous event of the weekend, for me, was when these four sisters led a luminaria service celebrating the continual gifts and special moments that we, both sisters and volunteers, recognize and receive.

Here in Immokalee, the volunteers receive many gifts. We are automatically welcomed into the community by former volunteers, by supervisors at our host sites, and by those with whom we live and work. We have the opportunity to choose our work sites, to have the support of a wonderful program director (who visited here in Immokalee last week), and to have the guidance of a community of women who have dedicated their lives to service and who have a way of gently encouraging us to be the best that we can be. We have HM sisters praying for us back home and HM sisters down here in Florida who care about us so much that they go to great pains to ensure that all six of us have the opportunity to come together for the special experience of kayaking right next to a family of wild manatees (a special moment that I will never forget).

We here in Immokalee are also gifted with the people that we work with every day. I suppose, since I have not done so before, that here is a good opportunity to quickly state my work placements and perhaps a few of the gifts that the people at those places have already given me. Firstly, I work at an alternative school for middle and high school girls four mornings a week. This school is designed to provide both holistic, gender-specific services and an academic education for those young women in Immokalee who are at risk of dropping out of school, substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, etc. Many of the young women here have shown me what real strength can be. Secondly, I work one morning a week as a case worker for individuals who come to Guadalupe Social Services for food or rent assistance. This is very much direct service with the community. And, thirdly, each day, from 2:30pm to 5:00pm, I work with nineteen first graders through the Guadalupe Afterschool Program. These children have taught me and continue to teach me so many things (patience, the need to imagine, etc), and it really is so much of a gift to see them smile or learn something new.

Overall, I am continually amazed at the people who I have come into contact with in the last few months, their capacity to have such open hearts, their drive to learn, and their abilities. I am in wonder at the gifts, consideration, and love continually received and very much appreciate the significance of all these people who have touched and continue to transform my life.

Sarah

Dichotomy and Love

As I walk the last few blocks home after work I can't help but revel in the dichotomy of my night.

I spend several days a week working for a local women and children's shelter. Not so many years ago the thought would have been ridiculous to me. I didn't always think children were so wonderful. It's not that I disliked children. I just couldn't see the attraction. Sure, they're cute, but they also need loads of attention, they bite, and can anyone really understand what a toddler is saying? I still have my doubts. But life presented me with a series of unexpected opportunities and invaluable lessons and now I find myself looking forward to each evening with a dozen little precious monsters.

My afternoon starts with tutoring. This goes for the moms and children alike. Sometimes I get frustrated when I can't help. There's only so much I can break down the number "2." It's a candy cane with a foot. Just keep practicing. I try to get them excited about school, but I always make it clear that it is their homework, not mine, and I can't make them do it. They need to find their own motivation to finish. I won't always be around.

Then comes dinner time. It's simple enough; Encourage all children to use silver ware, try to make vegetables sound like magic, and fetch a towel when one of them inevitably spills (or throws) something. It's also the time when you get to hold babies! We have a few infants at the shelter right now so while mamas are busy the staff take turns cuddling and cooing. *love*

After that is group. Aaaah group. Group is the time in the evening where the children and moms do things they need to do. For moms this might be access to counseling or financial classes. For the children this means finally being able to do something out of moms sight.

Working with the teen group can be either fascinating and dull. Sometimes all they want to do is play video games (blah), but sometimes we have serious discussions. We talk about language sensitivity and social justice. (How cool is that?) I learn that not one of them identifies as homeless and that the social stigma against poverty and addiction can live strong even in those that witness it. Teenagers have the same critical thinking skills as an adult. The difference is merely their framework for the world. Being able to watch them build that framework gives me such a sense of awe and wonderment.

Then there's the toddler group. Everything the teen group is, toddler group is not. Toddler group (actually full of children under 6) is chaos and clutter and noise... and it's also where I feel the strongest.

This picture? This picture is a lie! No one is crying or hitting or stealing that one part that everyone wants to play with from that one kid who has it. No one in this picture needs to pee.

I can't even FIND a picture of unhappy screaming children
to illustrate the reality of the situation. Just picture five of these.

Today it took about five minutes for five children to completely annihilate a playroom. It's usually not quite so bad, but we have a new batch of children who have yet to learn the basics of playroom etiquette. Things like "you may not have all six bouncy balls to yourself" or "the baby is not a toy. No you may not borrow her to push around in the mini shopping cart."

Part of the secret to maintaining control is to never ever take anything personally. Never get angry. They're not trying to upset you or be disruptive. It is their solution to a perceived problem. You start by presenting them with a new, preferable, solution and go from there. Twenty minutes later, one call for help, and one child dismissed (just because you give them a new solution doesn't mean they'll use it) and I had four little ones sitting around a table coloring. THAT is freakin' success. Notice I didn't say quietly. There's this weird belief that children that are quiet are on their best behavior. That's bull. It usually means you've bored them into a stupor or terrified them into silence. I'd much prefer happy chatter.

An announcement alerts the children that moms are coming to pick them up. This sends all of them into a tizzy. Mom's return is a big celebration. One that usually results in all children abandoning their play area, toys and all. Of course, there is one little boy who dutifully cleans up after himself. He's more than willing to clean up after everyone else and, as nice as that is, I have to let him know he's free to go and everyone else will pick up their own toys. There is always a feeling of relief when I get to turn out the lights and lock the door behind me.

After a quick check in with the other staff persons we grab out coats and head home. I usually finish my nights with a short walk. After the noise and the chaos and the constant action plunging into a cool autumn night studded with Cleveland lights can be breath-taking. These walks are my time to process and find myself. Some nights there's a lot to think about.

I love my service site, but there are subtle reminders that my job exists because of someone else's tragedy. I know the mother of the infant I hold at dinner is soo much younger than I am. I have to adjust my tutoring to the fifth grader with second grade math skills. And a harmless group full of playdough can quickly turn into therapy as a 3 year old begins to recount tragedy, in the matter-of-fact way that small children often do. It's strange to hear sad stories being told without any note of sadness. They lived their trauma. They have no opposing framework, no frame of reference that tells them anything was wrong. I listen quietly and ask how they feel. I try to leave therapy to the therapists so my job is mostly to listen and make sure that, for the moment, they feel safe and loved.

That is my job, to teach them that they are loved, and, surrounded by the Cleveland lights and autumn leaves, I could not be happier.

~Jennifer

Little Monsters

Every Sunday from 4-6pm is the Women's Group Meeting at the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. The C.I.W., as discussed in previous posts, is an organization comprised mainly of Latino, Mayan Indian and Haitian farm workers in Immokalee. They work to make sure that the bosses of the agricultural businesses are paying the farm workers fair wages as well as make sure that all of their rights are respected. On Sunday afternoons, women in the town are invited to participate in the women's group meetings, where they do a variety of things. This can range anywhere from doing crafts such as sewing to discussing the rights that farm workers have in the fields. The women are a source of support when they share stories of sexual discrimination and abuse, which are all too common in the town.

The C.I.W.'s ally organizations, Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida and Student/Farmworker Alliance, are responsible for providing childcare during these meetings. Because three out of the four of us work for the ally organizations and because four out of four of us have friends in the ally groups, the HM volunteers are often called upon to help out on Sundays at the Coalition. This past Sunday we planned some Halloween activities for the children. These included carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns and face painting. Siblings were grouped together and each received a pumpkin to design and carve. Some of the younger children chose to paint the pumpkins instead of cut out faces. When the face painting area was left unattended due to adults being more concerned with the safe usage of carving knives, some of the more mischievous kids took the face-decorating into their own hands. The result was truly monstrous.

While the mothers were probably not especially pleased with the mess on their kids' faces, I know that they are grateful for the two hours they get to spend at the Coalition each Sunday with one another (kid-free!)

In solidarity,

Julie