Today was the last of our three days working with
Cornerstone Community Outreach, and it is strange we won’t be returning in the
morning. The volunteer coordinator was not only energetic and dedicated to her
work, but optimistic about the change that a group of thirteen students could
make in only three days’ time. Between
lifting boxes and organizing donations of toys and clothes, we interacted with
individuals experiencing homelessness and those that work with them. Though I
entered this experience aware of my tendency to ascribe to the stigma attached
to currently homeless persons, I was unaware of the kind of reaction I’d have
to the shelter itself. In short, I was disappointed in myself. I found myself
thinking part way through our second day that “they” (the proverbial Other)
were so lucky to have us volunteering
our time to make their living place better.
In an
attempt to counter my own reaction, I stopped working for a few minutes and
talked with some of the men in the day shelter about nothing in particular. I
firmly believe in the education-service-reflection model we follow as
Alternative Breakers, but this separation from our service was necessary for
me. I believe I was bogged down by the root causes that then allowed me to
continue “othering” the population for which we are seeking to access and
advocate. The conversation, again, was inconsequential, but reinforced our
working definition of homelessness we devised last night.
Homelessness: need to copy this don’t post without its
being here
Many thanks
to this phenomenal group of students I’ve gone on this experience with. Though
we’ve laughed every step of the way, our social issue is heavy and there is so
much to absorb. When they see this, I want them to know how much it means to me
that they are so invested in the group process and using this knowledge when we
get back to College Park. Two more days with these hooligans, but I wish it
would slow down.
Sophie
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