Sji final reflection
- 1. Clarissa Schooley 4/28/19 EXPL 390 Final Reflection My time at Catholic Charities and in the Social Justice Internship Program was a challenging and rewarding experience. When I first applied to the program, I didn’t really know what it entailed and I didn’t know anyone who had done it in the past. Yet I had an intuitive feeling that I should apply. When I was accepted into the program, I was so excited and hopeful for everything I would learn and accomplish. I came into the internship not knowing what to expect, but being eager to learn and open to whatever possibilities the experience would hold. My expectations were truly exceeded. I had a wonderful and enriching internship and classroom experience that I will take with me in my future endeavours.  Through working at Catholic Charities I gained a wealth of practical skills, built productive relationships with my supervisors, and gained an understanding of non-profit organizations and the issues they address. I feel much more proficient and confident in Excel, SalesForce, Constant Contact, and communicating through email. Noreen, Marie, Lauren, and Melissa were a helpful, smart, and kind team of people work with. Their drive to help others using their individual talents was inspiring to see. The class portion of the program taught me about topics I have never gotten to discuss in depth. I feel fortunate to have had an insightful and intelligent class of people who care about the world. Listening to what my classmates had to say and learning about diverse perspectives has helped me form a more well-rounded view of social issues. Â
- 2. One of my favorite topics we covered in class was the ABCD approach to community development. I had no prior knowledge of community development or the different ways that community issues can be addressed. The benefits of the ABCD approach are vastly more numerous than a deficit based approach, and uplift the community rather than instill shame. The project that we completed allowed me to think about communities in creative ways. I wanted to choose a unique location that no one else in class would be familiar with. In Maine, there are significant cultural and socio-economic differences between Southern and Northern Maine. Often Southern Mainers make fun of Northern Mainers, who are seen as “rednecks” or “hillbillies” or even as cruel as “white trash” or “trailer trash.”  The more inland and north you go in Maine, the poorer and more rural the state becomes. Once you get past Portland, there is a noticeable difference in the kind of shopping available, the quality of the roads, the cars people drive, and even the number of people. Much of Maine is poor, white working class people, who are often looked down upon and forgotten. Most people visualize Maine as a picturesque, oceanic vacation spot. However, this is only a small part of Maine, while poverty, limited access to healthcare, an aging population, and ever-increasing cost of living is plaguing the majority of the state. By doing my project on Caribou, I wanted to shed light on one of Maine’s oldest yet most forgotten towns. I have a special place in my heart for the white working class poor because while I believe such categories are arbitrary and harmful, my father and his family would be considered part of this group. It is important that no one, despite the categories they are placed into is forgotten or allowed to slip through the cracks of society. This is a big reason why I am passionate about social justice, and I am so happy that I was able to deepen my understanding of issues like this through EXPL 390. Â
- 3. A major highlight of my time at Catholic Charities was getting to attend Casino Night. I was thankful and excited to have been given a lot of responsibility in planning the event. I logged all of the auction items that guests would bid on, organized the website, published it on the night of the event, supervised the auction table, checked in and directed volunteers to their stations, checked in guests, answered questions about the website for guests, and helped dole out the items guests won at the end of the night. I was very proud that my supervisors came to me with questions about the auction, because I knew I could confidently answer them. Getting to interact with the guests and meet the Junior Board members was another enriching part of Casino Night. I was so impressed with the generosity of the attendees and how successful the night was. It was so satisfying and educational to see all of the office work come to fruition at the event. I learned so much about event planning and and executing the event successfully. This was my favorite part of the internship experience.  Another highlight at Catholic Charities was getting to help with the Shower Program and with the Supper Night. This is when I could see the work the agency does in action. Seeing the relief and contentedness on people’s faces, knowing they would be treated with respect and non-judgment was heartbreaking but rewarding. I remember one lovely woman, named Jeanine, who I met at the Shower Program. She came in to get cleaned up, and despite her situation, she had a pleasant and positive demeanor and extremely kind eyes. I helped her pick out a nice outfit and we talked about how nice the weather was and other normal small talk. She stuck in my mind because she was one of the only women I saw come to the Shower Program. Andrew and the program volunteers mentioned that the majority of the patrons of the program are men. This made me think about how difficult being a homeless woman must be. On top of the stress ofÂ
- 4. being in the streets, women also have to deal with menstruation and are more vulnerable to sexual harassment, assault, and other crimes. As if all of these factors were not enough, homeless African American women are subject to racism as well. The fact that Jeanine can still be kind and friendly despite all of this is a true testament to her character. I want to be brave and kind like Jeanine.  One winter day, I came to Noreen’s office to see what work she had for me, and she said she was just about to go help Marie at Supper Night. She asked if I wanted to come, and I was excited to have a new experience, and be able to interact more with Catholic Charities’ patrons. We went downstairs to a full dining room. I helped pass out coffee, and Noreen and I passed out Girl Scout cookies to the guests. I even met one man who is originally from Maine, so I told him where I’m from and we had a great conversation. It was so nice to see the people who are helped by the organization and to be a part in their experience. It was humbling and eye-opening. I think it is so important to get close to people who are on the margins of society, and listen to their stories and give them the time of day. So often, people experiencing homelessness are ignored day after day. I cannot even imagine how worn down the psyche must become after being constantly ignored. I am so thankful I got to have this experience and hopefully put some warmth into their days.  Working at Catholic Charities, I got to see some of the advantages and disadvantages to working at a non-profit organization. Catholic Charities is a huge, well-connected organization, and I am thankful that my first step into this world got to be with this agency. As a Catholic myself, I feel connected to the message of spreading God’s love through service and care for people of all walks of life. I got to work with an incredibly nice group of people, who truly careÂ
- 5. about each other and the mission they serve. Conducting interviews with all of them during the fall was a great experience and I am really glad I took the time to do this to understand the department better and to get to know them. A major advantage to working at a non-profit is being around like-minded people who are passionate about social justice. The little things, such as Noreen giving me a thank you card for helping at Casino Night, Marie giving me chocolate on Valentine’s day, and Dalia giving me a hug for my help at the Irish Fellowship Breakfast really meant a lot to me. I doubt this kind of kindness would happen at many workplaces and I respond well to this kind of relationship with my supervisors. This made the environment really welcoming and low-stress. There are some disadvantages, however, to working at a non-profit. The main issue is a lack of organization. Many times, things are done inefficiently. The major issue I saw was a lack of organization in SalesForce and how information is documented. I wonder if SalesForce might actually not be the best platform for the kind of data Catholic Charities needs to track. Of course, it is much better than the plethora of spreadsheets they used before, but I wonder if there is a better program for keeping track of the Junior Board members, for example. Another issue is turn-over. I saw two supervisors leave in my short time there, and I imagine people come and go in this field a lot. Not having much organization and protocol creates stress that not everyone would be able to handle long-term. Now that people like Lauren and Melissa, who brought a lot of organization to the department, are gone I fear their progress might get lost. I am sure, though, that the department is equipped to handle whatever comes their way. It just might be more difficult to stay organized for the next Celebration of Giving. Â
- 6. As one of my objectives for the fall, I wanted to devote time to reflect on what I was learning in class, at the internship, and what was going on in the world. I often find myself writing poetry on my commute to and from Catholic Charities, back home, to work, or wherever I am traveling to. This is one of the way I process things and find relief in what I am feeling or experiencing. While on the train or bus, I often see people going through hardships and sometimes it affects me more than other times. I wrote the following poem on the 147 bus going home from Catholic Charities: on the bus on the bus there was a man without a home life is like a cruel spinning wheel unfair like a wall of bricks which side are you on what’s your diagnosis there’s always a diagnosis “you stink” says a cruel man odor uncleanliness purity pollution is all shame bagged belongings spread out around him i’m irrelevant in this situation but my body wants to make me cry little wheel spin and spin big wheel turn around and around how many people on the bus are wearing expensive lipstick or bluetooth headphones who will take a hammer to the wheel that hates you three stops to go doors will always open on the right    Usually my poetry is fragmented and non-linear to mimic my thought process and also the stop and go of the CTA. When I saw this homeless man on the bus, and observed a man cruelly tell him he smelled bad, I thought about how ruthless the capitalist system we live in is. Had I been born into a different socio-economic class, I would be a much different person than I am now. It is so unfair to me that luck of the draw determines people’s futures in a big way. Yes,Â
- 7. personal choice and ambition affect where they end up too, but so much is determined by birth, because of the way we live in America.  I want to build a society and a world where no one has to worry about where they will live, what they will eat, what jobs they can get, or if they will be treated badly for who they are. I don’t care if this is idealistic or too optimistic. This is my drive to work for social justice and to serve my brothers and sisters on earth. EXPL 390 and my internship at Catholic Charities is just the beginning of finding my vocation and life’s purpose. I will carry this experience with me to continue to reflect and develop into the person I am meant to be for others. Â