End of service thoughts

My first day on the job I met Mary Ann Cisneros, my future partner for the next three months. She took me to the Boulders and showed me around the place and introduced me to the manager Chris. Then she took me to her friend’s apartment. The next day I wrote this in my project journal-

“Yesterday we stopped by a friend Mary Ann had made in the Boulders. This woman is a fiery 68 year old with trendy clothes. We chatted for about a half an hour when she started talking about how much Mary has helped her. She exclaimed about how Mary’s selfless personality and her commitment to service had inspired her. Because of Mary’s example she had become involved in the recent activities and they had “lit a spark” in her and “changed her life.” I’ve never heard anyone be so sincere in such a casual manner about the effect one person had on them. If anything has ever been a ringing endorsement, this woman’s speech yesterday would be it.”

I thought I was going to roar into this project, turn the community upside down, and everything would gradually turn better from the inside out, neatly in the space of one year.

I was very wrong.

But I keep on returning to the sentiment in this entry. At the end of Mary’s service, the neighborhood still didn’t have a community center, the management still didn’t seem too interested in helping, and police calls hadn’t significantly dropped (things she worked very hard on). However, there was one lady who felt that Mary’s presence had helped her. Mary had passed on love of service and community to this lady who had previously felt empty. She sincerely helped her.

Now that I am at the completion of my service, this is what I hope that I have accomplished as well. I too am facing no community center, no management involvement, and no big tangible signs of change. But maybe I have left a few people better.

However, it’s probably safe to say that however much I may have changed people, surely I have changed the most. I have learned so much in this job about myself and others.

The South Franklin Neighborhood project has had its ups and downs, but fundamentally it is a project I still firmly believe in. I think the people who make up the Boulders and surrounding area can be strong and amazing people, but simply may have more needs. Yet I think that these needs can be supplied within the community. But first, there needs to be some assisted growth and a safe arena. We have long envisioned an arena in the form of a community center. This idea has at times seemed a pipe dream and other times seemed tantalizingly close. As it stands now, I feel somewhat disillusioned by the slow processes of the city and management/owners but still feel confident that in the capable hands of Angelica and my successor this will someday be a reality. I think having a manned community center where residents can come for support and service opportunities will be immeasurably beneficial for this area. It will help promote unity, appropriate utilization of resources, and greater personal development for the residents. This center will also be combined with the present growth opportunities provided by Americorps members. Activities like Wasatch Mental Health group discussions, mentoring Spring Creek kids, and the decluttering project are already in place and really are pretty neat.

I feel grateful to have served as an Americorps member and be a part of a nationwide movement that works to eradicate poverty. I am honored to have served with the amazing people I’ve worked with; brainstorming and laughing together. And I have loved getting to know the people of this neighborhood. I believe that things can get better for them, and that with a little work, someday they will.