Trip #1: Urban Immersion Exercise (2015-16, T3)

We are officially into Trimester 3 of the 2015-16 school year, so we now have a new group of seniors beginning the course. If you need a refresher on what this blog is, jump back to our first post.

On Thursday, March 17, students traveled to Lakeview to undertake an urban immersion exercise, centered on Clark & Belmont. This activity is inspired by The Night Ministry, who have found that homeless teens use this neighborhood and intersection as a frequent meeting point and try to fend for themselves from there.

Students had the following information:

Your group will imagine that you together are one homeless teenager – you are roving around Lakeview by yourself, with only the clothes on your bag and $5 in your pocket (without knowing where your next money is coming from). Keep in mind that homeless people often have worn-out clothes, hygiene challenges, and dilemmas over breaking vs. following the laws.

Starting from this meeting point (Clark & Belmont), your group will explore an area of Lakeview (your adult will follow behind you and let you know if you need to turn around). You have 45 minutes to answer the following questions that face homeless teens every day:

1. Where/what am I going to eat?
2. Where am I going to go to the bathroom?
3. Where/how am I going to warm up?
4. Where/how am I going to sleep? 
5. Also, as you explore Lakeview, look around and take in the neighborhood: why do you think it is an attractive environment for homeless teenagers?

Representing our class this week on our blog, here are the thoughts of Andrew Pendergast and Gabe LaBoy...

Andrew Pendergast

During this trip we learned about homeless teenagers in Lakeview. This happens everywhere, but in the Chicago Lakeview area, the Clark and Belmont stop is where most teens will go to meet. The area is pretty modern and friendly. It is a welcoming community.

In the case of money, we are talking about teenagers that have nowhere to go because maybe they ran away or got kicked out for other reasons. They are excluded because they have nowhere to go, so they have to find a way to survive with the resources around them. During all of this, teens struggle to find places to eat and drink and just survive in general. This community of people are very welcoming because some of the teens are part of the LGBTQ community and so is the Lakeview neighborhood.

In this situation, I believe that the related Catholic Social Teaching theme would be Call to Family, Community, and Participation. In this theme, it talks about how we push marginalized people away so that we look good. This theme says that public goods should be maintained by all. If people actually followed this then it would give homeless people a chance to live lives that would be more comfortable. Also, it says that Christ calls us to uphold the family as the domestic church and the basis for fostering community and active participation in society. By following this, we are upholding the teaching that we should participate in society while giving people chances to learn and grow.

For me this experience has opened my eyes and it makes me feel sad that people are going though this all the time. One of my best friends was homeless and gay, and we became buddies. I feel that this issue is always overlooked because no one really understands the impacts that it has. Even while volunteering at different places in Chicago, you can see poor teens everywhere suffering. I feel that even though I’m not Christian, I believe that Jesus would have called us to act with love and faith to help those who are less fortunate to be able to make something of themselves and be satisfied.

As for taking action, you could do many things. You could volunteer at shelters or even fundraise. We could easily make sandwiches and food for the homeless teens so that way they have a meal to eat because even the smallest things will go along way. Like the story with Jesus and the loaves of bread and the fish, if we give back to the community, there is always great benefits. You are helping people who have been marginalized and need help to make sure that they can have a comfortable life.

Overall, this experience was great to be able to see the things that God calls us to do in action. I am very happy to have been able to participate and be able to be part of something that will change my viewpoint on these current situations so I can try to be helpful to others.

Gabe LaBoy

My group and I were asked to put ourselves in the place of homeless teens; we had to find a place to eat, sleep, stay warm, and use the bathroom. My group consisted of a few other students and myself. We first started out by figuring out what homeless teens liked the Lakeview area. The area around there and within Lakeview is safer than the other parts of the city around there. We also made predictions on the type of kids that might be homeless teens that might be around there, and we guessed that a lot are probably LGBTQ and feel safer in a community where people accepted it more than others. But this so much bigger than just our city or state or country; this is on a global scale. There are millions of homeless teens all over the world, and I think they want to find a place they know can handle a lot of their needs all in one. I don't know why there are so many teens that are homeless, and it is really sad to think about because I guess there can be a host of reasons why someone can be homeless. That's the scary part - that this can happen to anyone at anytime and it shows you that anything can happen in life.
Being homeless you have a need for food, water, and shelter, so things like phones and going to the movies fade away. It comes down to surviving, to getting things you need, and Lakeview has a lot of money coming in to it where it is easier to ask more people for it. On the other hand, because there is a lot of money coming into the 44th Ward, others are trying to push homeless people out of Lakeview and put them on the lakefront so the people in the neighborhood don't have to see homeless kids everywhere. But there are places trying to help these kids out, like shelters and the church and even the public library.

In the Gospel of Matthew (25:35-36). Jesus says that we need to support the poor and homeless. He says that the way we treat the homeless should be the same as how you treat Him. Jesus tells you to always to help out everyone that needs it, and that doesn't always happen in this day and age.

This activity showed me how hard it is to be homeless. You have to worry about everything around you. I don't know how anyone can survive in this situation, and I feel bad for everyone that has to do it. I do not think I could do it. It would be very hard for anyone to become homeless. I understand what it feels like to be marginalized because of being a minority myself. but at the same time, I could never think of how I would make in that position. I personally feel like as a society we should do more to help kids and anyone that is homeless and I would stand with anyone that does. As a response I feel like there should be more shelter and places for people to get jobs and people to stay and live.

The people should be more aware of the things going on. People may see homeless on the streets and feel bad, but they don't see the people trying to make a difference out there. Anyone can help with donations, service, and volunteering. I can say this activity has made me look forward to going out and helping people out on our future field trips. That's how we help them - we show that we care and are here to help share time and compassion because sometimes that's just what someone needs.

Note: Minor grammar/style edits have been made to each post not affecting the content or perspective of these students.

Trip #8: Misericordia

On Wednesday, February 17, students from our class spent the afternoon at the Misericordia campus on the north side of Chicago. Students were split up into different assignments around campus, ranging from laundry to bakery to art classes to office work and more. Students partnered with clients and residents from Misericordia to participate in these activities for the day. (Note: this post will not include pictures due to privacy restrictions.) Here are some thoughts from Aileen Juarez and Mariam Mekha on their experience...

Aileen Juarez

Last Wednesday, our class took a trip to Misericordia. The campus was beautiful pulling up, some of us commenting it looked like a small Catholic college campus or a preppy school. The inside was bright and vibrant, with lots of sunlight coming through all the glass. One woman pulled us into a banquet hall and told us how they operated - money coming from the bakery, activities and programs inside the building, apartments nearby for the mentally ill to live in, and how they received education until 22. I was assigned an art room where they were all painting small wood ornaments. The teacher at first seemed a bit hostile with the patients there but I saw that they enjoyed it, giggling at every one of her light-hearted insults. She was not easy on them - one patient dropped a vase and sat idly just remarking sorry. "Sorry for what? You're going to clean that up, C'mon go, I'm not your maid, sir." Entering the room, I was welcomed with "Hello, I'm the teacher, this is-" "Hi! I'm ALICE*!" "ALICE SIT DOWN!," the teacher responded. It was rather funny, for the entire time the teacher tried explaining what she did and what I was to do, Alice kept attempting to approach me to introduce herself, only to get yelled at by the teacher to go sit down.

After receiving a smock and deciding where to have me work, the teacher thought I would be better off working with Alice since she was waving her hands frantically in the air to have me sit with her. We colored in wooden ornaments, Alice coloring them in and me decorating them. Soon we were joined by another patient, who was a little shy but very artistic. Alice chatted on about her trip to Florida, how much she loved the color green, and the fun stuff she did with her mom over christmas. The other patient (her name has currently slipped my mind) explained to me how much she loved Mandala art and wanted to learn to draw them and how she was having relationship troubles. They both loved talking, talking about anything really. Alice told me multiple times that her mother bought her a green jacket, at one point with her telling me her mom got her a jacket and me replying, "and was it green Alice?" "How did you know?" "You told me ten minutes ago!" The entire time, other patients were walking about the room, looking at what everyone was doing and trying to get a look at me. At one point, I grew bored of waiting for more green ornaments to decorate, so I started sketching on the paper towel we were painting over. I was drawing a face with dramatic eyes when one patient came up behind me and exclaimed, "Wow! You're really good! Teacher, come look!" The teacher came by and so did a few other patients to take a look. They were all amazed with a mediocre drawing until the other client I was working with got really excited. "That's it! I want to learn that, that's what I was talking about!" A few others joined in and wanted to learn too, so the teacher began ordering them to bring sketch books the following day. I suppose I began a sketching class? Either way, it was time to clean up and my client became preoccupied with making sure her cups were clean. I cleaned my area and headed out. 

Coming in and seeing all those people in the room at first made me nervous. I am really bad at small talk but they didn't seem to mind. They just came up to me and let me know something random about them or asked me random questions. They just loved having me there. It was impressive seeing the way they treated them there. The staff was nice to them, yet they weren't afraid to be blunt with them or make them do things on their own. They were very social, and not too different, just slightly slower, and a little forgetful. These people though, are the most friendly people there are. They were very well mannered and continued telling me thank you for spending time with them. 

I love these people for what they go through and how they handle the situation. They get treated differently - they're laughed at, ridiculed, never taken seriously, and yet they continue smiling and laughing with no problem. They feel pain, and most will tell you they don't like when people do certain things to them, but they quickly forget about it and focus on you, whoever they're with. These people need to be protected. These people need to be told what is not ok, not appropriate, and what to do when other people mistreat them. This was a beautiful environment for them. They were very social with each other and staff, keeping conversation way longer than I could ever hope for. Other reasons I like this place a lot is because I have my own mentally challenged family member. My brother has slight autism and I would like him to be as social and happy as these people. 

I would like to return to Misericordia to help with the art program. I would like to aid in a sketch class if that becomes its own program and bring my little brother here to help and socialize. There was so much energy in the room and so much going on at once. This is a great place. They were all so vibrant. I would like to go into this work some point in college as volunteer work if I could.

Mariam Mekha

The experience I had visiting Misericordia was amazing in my opinion. This program gives a disabled people a chance to learn a wonderful experience till they are 22 years old. This program got me to meet with one of the students. He is one of the amazing artist, showing great detail with his drawing. We got to talk about art, and the little bit of our backgrounds. One of the cool things is he is vary excited about school, and it surprised me at how positive his energy was.

Misericordia gathers people to spend time with others, and it is good so that families know that they are in safe place for the day plus they are learning something valuable such as art, poetry, or cooking. The guy I talked to told me that he lives in this community, but some of his other friends do not have to. They could just come every day like school or college. Either way, the program provides food, a place to talk, read, or play games if you want. Also, they provide garden activities for students who want to walk around. They also provide for other people to take care of them in case if anything happens.

"And his disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' Jesus answered, 'It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is the day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.'" (John 9:2-7) People asked Jesus about the disabled people being sinners and why they are disabled, and Jesus said they are not sinners. I like this story because people once thought that if you are disabled, then something must be wrong with you, but God shows all of us on earth that each one of us have a story to tell and to share with others.

The experience I had while working with the class and other people was great for making new friends as well as making me see people's true colors. I learned a lot of amazing things about this program. It helped me a lot to get to know what amazing and talented people they are. It showed me that we are no different than anyone. In fact, my client and his friends made me feel safe to talk to them and share part of me with them. It is sad to see that today many people think and act like kids are unintelligent, and I wish we could do something about it. Maybe we could just ask each person to make time to help by doing something - it does not have to be a major thing but just a small thing like what my class had done, that would make our world better.

Note: Minor grammar/style edits have been made to each post not affecting the content or perspective of these students.

* Names have been changed or redacted.

Trip #7: Habitat for Humanity

On Thursday, February 4, students from class spent a full day as "Winter Warriors" with Habitat for Humanity. HFH is building on a row of 16 lots in the Pullman neighborhood, on Union Ave. between 119th and 120th Streets. One of those homes is being built by the Pope Francis Home Challenge, for which St. Benedict has now raised around $2,000. Students spent a full work-day building that home and another home on the block. Here are some thoughts from Natalia Kieta, Bryan Padilla, and Liz Ramos...

Natalia Kieta

Within the world, there are many individuals struggling daily to eat a good meal, let alone find a place to live. As a society, we try to support these people by volunteering to help cook meals and/or provide shelter for them. One place that helps care for the poor is an organization called Habitat for Humanity. This organization finds a way to get money donations which they later use to build a house. Being able to help build a house for a family in need brought me great joy, and it felt good to know that I was going to make a difference for a family in need.

On this service trip, I had the privilege to work with and converse with one of the workers who helped me understand who is exactly included or excluded and the types of relationships that are involved at this service site. What I came to understand was that the reason the workers work every day in all weather conditions is because they want to provide a house for a family in need as fast as they can. Building a house is a long process on its own, but the workers try to speed up the work and get as much done as quick as they can. Although the workers don’t get to work with the poor on a daily basis, they do get to meet the family that moves into the houses, which the worker at the site said is the greatest feeling.

Through this service trip, I was able to connect my experience to a Bible verse found in Psalms 82:3 which states, “Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy.” The reason this Bible verse reminds me of my experience at Habitat for Humanity is because we are called to advocate for and protect the poor. God isn’t expecting us to perform miracles; He just wants us to contribute to aiding the poor who can’t provide for themselves. In the end, this is what Jesus calls us to do through opting for the poor. Christ wants to ensure that we consider the poor in every decision we make individually, communally and socially, which is what I, along with my classmates, were doing on this service trip.

As mentioned earlier, it is heartbreaking to see some people take for granted all that they have while others struggle to find a shelter. Although I have not lived a day in which I haven’t had a place to stay, I have experienced talking with individuals who didn’t have a home. In grade school, I went on a service trip to the Mary and Joseph Homeless shelter, and I had the opportunity to converse with some of the homeless people there. It is very hard to see so many people struggle with not having a shelter, but it is also a relief to see many individuals try to support the homeless.

Finally, through this experience I came to realize that there is a way to help advocate for the poor. It is simply through volunteering. Sacrificing our time and work to help serve others is a way we can help avoid marginalizing this group of people. Once again, Christ calls us to opt for the poor and to keep them in mind with every decision we make. If we decide to follow Christ and consider the needs of the poor, we can truly help advocate for the homeless.

Bryan Padilla

On the trip I took with my class, we had the chance to help build houses for Habitat for Humanity. This organization helps lower income families get affordable housing. Whether unemployed or underemployed, many people face extreme difficulty in providing a home for their family. Many consider the home as the base from which all community is formed, so it is important to help our fellow brothers and sisters in getting suitable and affordable housing.

Owning or renting a place to call your own can be very pricey. This price of housing can be raised when you talk about owning an actual house in the city of Chicago. When you are single and have nowhere to live, you at least do not have to worry about your dependents. Poor families have to worry about providing shelter to their family. The cost of housing for a family can be prohibitively expensive for many, and that does not even account for other living expenses such as food and clothing. Families that already struggle to pay for living expenses can greatly benefit from a reduced payment affordable housing, such as the kind that Habitat for Humanity offers.

I would like to connect the Catholic Social Teaching of the Dignity of Work and the Value of Workers. In an ideal world we would all work hard, we would all make a fair amount of money, and we would all enjoy this life. Sadly, there is often a lack of the dignity of workers when people are paid a wage not great enough to live on. Christ calls us to recognize the dignity of work and the value that each worker has. Now, is not paying a wage high enough for hard working people to afford housing really upholding the dignity of these workers?

I feel that the issue of housing is very important. The base for all communities starts in the home. How can you have a good society if everyone cannot even afford a room to sleep in? I am very fortunate to be able to sleep in my own bed, in my own room, in my own house. Using my blessings, I wish to be able to help those who do not have such luxuries.

To do some actual good, Habitat for Humanity is a very good start. Habitat for Humanity helps to make the issue of no housing apparent. They also allow the average person to get involved in a very direct way by literally helping to build homes for those without.

Liz Ramos

For this week, we participated in building homes for Habitat for Humanity. As our class was there, we were divided into two groups, and then, each group focused on a house. My group had a one-floor, family house. Since it was mostly composed of the wooden frame, our task was to place the drywood around the frame. Thus, my group had to work together to carry the drywood outside from the garage, cut it into the right measurements, together hold it up, and hammer nails into the drywood, so it could be stable. We did this for one side of the house as well as for the back side. Then, from the inside of the house, we had to cut out drywood that stood in the way of the door frame or the window frame. Although this all seemed like a quick task, it took about six of us to finish this task in about seven hours. Those seven hours seemed to go by slowly since it was so windy and chilly that we couldn’t feel our hands, making the task seem complicated. Despite the mixed emotions and obstacles we faced due to the weather, I felt a sense of gratitude and happiness since I knew that all our efforts were for a good cause: to help those in need.

On our drive back home, some of my classmates argued that this was a cruel punishment to work in the harsh, cold weather. Although I somewhat agreed, I also began to feel as is this trip helped me immensely. For one, I was able to experience the cold weather that those who do not have homes experience, allowing me to appreciate even more my cozy home. Secondly, I was able to do God’s work. The Scripture and the Church teaches us that in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we must help those in need. For example, one of the Catholic Social Teaching Themes is to opt for the poor, and one of the corporal works of mercy is to shelter the homeless, which I was able to do through this exercise. Thus, this experience made me feel spiritually healthy and enabled me to open my mind to value my life.

Now, as I continue to reflect, I try to connect myself with these people through any similar experiences. I have never been homeless, but as I previously mentioned on another reflection, there was a point in my life when my family had a low income. During this period, my family had a mortgage to pay. At the same time, the Great Recession occurred, causing my mother to became unemployed, and my father's income wasn't a lot. With this income, my father could barely afford to pay bills and feed us. Thus, my parents became late on their mortgage payments. After a year of not being able to pay the mortgage on time, the bank had sent my parents an evacuation notice. During this time, I panicked because I loved my home. This was the home I lived in for almost six years, and my ten-year-old mind could not comprehend what would happen to us. Where would we live? How would we pay off that home, or did it mean that we would have to move into an apartment? Would I adjust to living in a small apartment after years of living in a spacious two-story house? This was the closest I ever got to feeling homeless; nonetheless. thanks to my mother’s plans, we were able to afford another cheaper home, and now, we are happily living in it. Because of that experience, I somewhat understand their concerns as they start out this experience, but I do not fully understand the struggles homeless people face. Thus, I can identify myself partially with these marginalized group.

I somewhat feel implicated in marginalizing these people because society does not push them off to the edge like other groups. This group is pushed to the edge socially since people will not take time of their day to communicate with them, business owners will not allow them into their homes, or because civilians reject them as they ask for change. However, I believe these people receive much help compared to other groups. For example, Franciscan Outreach gives homeless people in Chicago a place to stay for a night as well as providing for them a nice, warm meal. Similarly, Habitat for Humanity helps low-income persons receive a home with no interest payments. In addition, the government tries to help these people. For example, when my parents were at the verge of losing their homes, they were able to become bankrupt which meant that they could eliminate all or some of their debts such as their house debts, proving to show that the government tried to help those in need financially. Because of the help homeless people receive, but the way society pushes them off, I am implicated somewhat in marginalizing this group.

Even though I feel as if this group is somewhat marginalized, I still believe that we should help them in every way we can, since Christ asks us to shelter those who are homeless, and he emphasizes on helping those in need which is seen through the story of the rich son. We can help those who are homeless by volunteering at a pantry, helping construct a home for those who need it, or by incorporating these people in our lives by talking to them as we approach the train.

Note: Minor grammar/style edits have been made to each post not affecting the content or perspective of these students.

Bonus Post: Day of Silent Solidarity

On January 18-22, our school celebrated Respect Life Week. Our focus on the Dignity and Value of Human Life fell on the week when we celebrate civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion. Our week honored these moments as well as focusing more broadly on all those people who are marginalized in our society. Our daily prayer centered on different marginalized people, and our central activity during the week was our Day of Silent Solidarity.

For one day, students were invited to be voiceless in solidarity with all those whose voices are not heard, whose voices are ignored, and who cannot speak for themselves. From class discussions to hallway passing periods to lunchtime, over 75 students opted to try silence for the day. Here are some reflections from some students in our class. Their reflections are shared in alphabetical order...

Brittany Bejabeng

I personally find myself to be very social, so staying silent for the most part of the day was difficult. This activity focused only on remaining silent and no form of communication was allowed; that’s what made it even harder. My first period and second period went well without talking but once I reached my third period, Consumer Ed, I wanted to give up because we were having a class discussion and there was a topic I wanted to defend, but I couldn’t voice my opinion so that was frustrating. Doing this activity did help me to appreciate and understand the situation of marginalized people, because their voices are silenced while we get to speak. This day of solidarity impacted me personally to appreciate the capabilities I possess and stay “not silenced”. After doing this activity I would definitely recommend others to participate in Silent Solidarity Day, because it is important for us to recognize the people that are marginalized in society and how they are neglected. We must learn to appreciate beautiful gifts we so unconsciously take granted.

Brittany Camana

Today, I participated in the Silent Solidarity Day. For me personally, it was very hard to remain silent. I often caught myself wanting to answer questions my teachers ask the class. It was unbelievably frustrating not talking because normally I do not answer questions during class, but today I felt like I could answer many questions throughout my classes than ever before but couldn't because I had to remain silent. I do have a greater appreciation for marginalized people, and I feel it is our job (the people with voices) to step up and assist their needs. I do recommend others try participating in Silent Solidarity Day because it allows you to put yourself in the marginalized world and learn to adjust to their ways of not being heard from the people around you.

Matt Ciszek

For me, I found it really hard to stay quiet. I actually slipped up and said a few words on accident. I find myself to be a really opinionated person, and I literally almost always have something to say. So it was really hard not being able to profess how I felt about certain things. This whole experience made me realize a lot. It showed me that I am blessed to be able to proclaim my words and have a voice. It also showed me how hard it is for the people who are unable to have a voice in society and are pushed to become marginalized. I also realized that these people are also forced to stay silent all day long because they have no one to talk to either. A lot of these people are alone and lonely and that also makes them unable to represent themselves. Living on the edge of society must be the hardest struggle, but I guarantee the people who make it out of that slump are the strongest people around, because they are the ones who truly experienced a hardship.

Valentina Cordero

It is very hard to remain silent and to not have a voice. What frustrated me the most of not being to talk was not having the opportunity to participate with group discussion and get my voice across. I never realized how much I participate in class until today because this is what helps me learn more. I felt frustrated not being able to talk in every class. I have a greater appreciation and understanding of the situation of the marginalized. I recommend others to participate in the silent solidarity day.

Sarah Eden

Was it hard to remain silent? This is an understatement, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMAIN SILENT. I think it would be significantly easier if people did not jokingly insult me or try to make me to talk, but other than that, fighting off my urges to participate in class was exceptionally difficult. The only time I was frustrated was when I was trying to write down a question I had for calculus, and translating the question to someone else was difficult. I can't do hand signals. I have always had a deep appreciation for those who are marginalized, and my relationship with them has remained the same. This means I still will seek to do more service work opportunities in the future, so I can give back to the community that has provided me with so much. I would recommend people to try it, but it is ultimately their decision whether or not they wish to participate.

Antonio Gonzalez

Participating in the Silent Solidarity Day was more of a struggle than I imagined. It was very difficult trying to put out your thoughts without speaking. Language, as I learned today, is very crucial and should be something that should not be taken advantage of. At points, it was very frustrating, almost to the point where I didn’t know how to convey my opinions and ideas. Being a marginalized person must be even harder since I know that I will be able to talk again. These forgotten people have to deal with this for a long time. I definitely recommend trying this event at least once because it really shows that communication is what keeps everyone together, and that Solidarity is more important that one may think.

Aileen Gonzalez

Today I was to remain silent for the whole day. I thought it would be difficult, but it was actually pleasant. At least for awhile. It was the little things that bothered me. I sneezed at least twice and had people say bless you only to receive dirty looks for not saying thank you. Then there was sitting in class; since I'm very opinionated but to have to sit and stay silent was like having nails driven into my flesh. I was also slightly annoyed with this one joke my friend kept saying, "Stay silent if you think I'm awesome! Stay silent if you're stupid!" People love to mess with you, so perhaps it's the same for others. My friend said it in a joking tone but for some people, it's actually serious. I kept thinking of the mentally challenged today. It's a joke to others, but it's an everyday reality for these people. They've been made fun of in the past, made to look like fools and only able to sit silently everyday without a voice to stand up for themselves. It was a fun experiment to stay silent all day, but it's hard saying what you need or want. I was lucky I had fingers to point at what I wanted for lunch and a very expressive face for how any subject was making me feel but what about others? The deformed or the paralyzed. What about those that become vegetables? They can't express or move. A fun challenge for us, but a sad reality for others. I would recommend to do this again next year, a yearly event of sorts to remind us not everyone can speak. The abused, the mentally challenged, the poor, etc, need a voice.

Mariam Mekha

First of all, it is very hard to see everyone have the ability to speak but me. Also, it is very challenging to work with a partner on homework or a project. We just give up, and we have to write it down for each other. The part I was really frustrated with was when I was with my group in AP Bio, and we have to work together. The difficult part was me was trying to think how can I do this or act that in order to solve this problem. I do have more understanding of the situation of marginalized people now. I would recommend this to other people I know, because no matter what you been through, you cannot feel or understand others unless you have been in their shoes.

Bryan Padilla

Initially I thought that to be silent for about six hours of school would be easy; however, I was surprised and found it to be more of a challenge to be silent. I was able to last until fourth period without talking, but then someone sneezed and I, by force of habit, said "bless you." Honestly, I did not feel more understanding of marginalized people. What I did feel however, was a greater appreciation for speech. Without speech, learning becomes a bit more difficult. I also enjoyed the almost meditative silence of the day. Rather than spending my mental energy talking to others, I was able to be more aware of the present. I would recommend people to participate in Silent Solidarity Day.

Melody Quintero

It was a interesting day to remain silent for the majority of the day. It wasn't hard to remain silent until I got to AP English Literature. It was hard to participate in the big group discussion about a Hamlet soliloquy, one of my favorite parts about AP English Literature. I felt out of place without having a chance to say a word. However, my favorite part about the experience was how much my close friends were still able to understand what I wanted to say or do, without saying a word. Overall, I got a better understanding for the situation of marginalized people. If I wasn't able to stand up or speak up for what I wanted to say or believe in, I would become very frustrated. It makes me want to find way to help the situation of marginalized people. I believe it was a great idea to have the silent solidarity day, and I would recommend the experience to everyone and hope the school will make it an annual event.

Stephanie Sefah

When I walked into school that morning, I had the intent to not be be a part of the silent solidarity only because I knew that I wasn't going to be able to do it. However, as the tags were being passed out, I decided to give it a try because I had nothing to lose if I didn't, and I realized that this might be my only chance to participate in this from of solidarity. The first hour of silence wasn't has hard as I thought it would be. I kept myself busy so that I wouldn't feel the need to speak with my friends in class, but I soon learned how difficult it is when you have something important to say but you're not able to say it. I experienced this in Ms. Mocarski's class, as we were having a discussion of what a tragic hero is. In that moment, I realized that it is a horrible feeling when you have something important to say but can't be heard; I felt has if I didn't exist. In the end, I gained a better understanding and a greater appreciation for people who are marginalized. I would definitely recommend this to all my friends and family because I think sometimes we take our voice and the power we have in society for granted. When it comes to voting and writing letters to our government officials, these are things we can do to truly help the marginalized, whose voices are being ignored.

Jada Shelby

I participated in Silent Solidarity Day and it was hard to remain silent. I was really frustrated during second and sixth periods. I was also frustrated during period 4A because we had a head of house meeting with Ms. Fox. During all these times I was frustrated because I wanted to answer so many questions and ask questions, but I couldn't. I was not able to speak my mind, and I really understand the situation of those who are marginalized because of their inability to be heard. The use of words from the mouth is an easier way to get a point across rather than typing or writing. I would recommend Silent Solidarity Day to everyone because it's a really good way to get a better understanding of those who aren't listened to. Everybody needs to learn not to take certain gifts for granted, and I think this could be the first step of doing so.

Note: Minor grammar/style edits have been made to each post not affecting the content or perspective of these students.

Trip #6: Warren Park Health & Living Center

On Thursday, January 21, students from our class went to the Warren Park Health & Living Center. Residents at this community live with different disabilities, including mental and psychological challenges. The staff at the center invited residents down to an activities room, and our students spent an hour and a half playing games and conversing with residents. Here are some thoughts from Brittany Bejabeng, Laura Gaerditz, and Catalina Tueros...

Brittany Bejabeng

Last week, my class and I went to visit at the Warren Park Health and Living Center. This facility helps to provide for those who cannot stabilize mentally or physically on their own. About 90% of the men and women there do not receive any mail or source of communication from family or friends. They are housed at this facility and care is provided for them such as a warm environment, food, clothing, and activities. Taking the time observe the patients admitted there and also getting the privilege to hear their stories touched and inspired me personally. Some people had mental disabilities and struggled to comprehend me when I spoke to them, and I feel as though the reason for some of their struggle is because they were neglected at a time of need or faced some form of trauma, which broke my heart to see and hear.

Based off of the social aspects of things at Warren Park Health Center, many are marginalized, neglected, and exempt because they aren’t seen as worthy or desirable. That mentality should be pushed down and should not be the view in society. These are people with voices that cannot be heard because we don’t give them that chance. For a place you would think would be considered depressing, I found the environment to be lively and encouraging. The staff members there were so close to the patients, and their emotions, behaviors, and actions showed they cared very much. There were no lines drawn to say that I am better than you or you are less of a person than I am. They showed they were equal.

Christ calls us to love and be mindful of every single person as our brother or sister. Solidarity involves us uniting in mutual agreement or support. Service should be performed with and not for because we are not better than they are. We are all equal. We should form relationships and not be strangers to one another. In my perspective we need to humble and distinguish our pride because pride is okay to possess but when that quality is abused or misused then it is no longer attractive or valuable.

Being humans we have all somewhat felt marginalized in some aspect - for example, appearance, culture, beliefs, religion, disabilities, etc. In my eyes, we have all been marginalized in some way. There is no you are better than I am, but this is how society is. God created us all differently, and our problem today is that we don’t know how to accept diversity. That’s what makes this world corrupt. We should strive to be better. God would call us to love and care for each other. We are all different in some form and that's completely okay. If we were all the same, then it would boring. There would be nothing to learn from in my opinion. Life is gift and a privilege and all you can do is cherish and embrace it not take it and destroy it.

I always thought the saying, “One person can make a change for the world,” was dumb and not reasonable, but I now think it’s the most reasonable and believable saying I have heard. One person who makes the move to advocate is wise and knowledgeable, rather than just being one who sits and watches. We can learn to pray and ask God for that spirit of motivation to act upon this and be better.

Valentina Cordero

Last week, our class visited Warren Park Health and Living Center. As we entered the center, we divided into groups. Each person got the opportunity to talk to the people from this center. My friends and I met a young man. We soon realized that he had written the book that he held in his hands. He handed the book to us and as we read the foreword of the book, we discovered his world. His foreword answered all the questions we were scared to ask him. We discovered the reason why he was in this center and his disability. Just like majority of the patients, he faced a crisis in his life. He had suffered from a traumatic brain injury in a motorcycle accident that put him in a coma. With his family’s faith in God, he opened his eyes and woke up from the coma on the day of his father’s birthday. His story amazed me and was a huge inspiration to me because he told me to always have faith in God. My friends and I began to read his book Walk with Me. Through this book we got to discover him and his inner feelings. I enjoyed reading his poems because I got to know how he truly feels in the inside. He then realized how much I admired his work that he gave me his book and told me to never lose faith in God.

Through my experience at Warren Park Health and Living Center I realized that centers like Warren Park are located universally. The mentally disabled are put in centers like Warren Park in order for them to receive the attention they deserve and need. It is good that there are places where they could receive them. In cases where the a mentally disabled person does not have any family member to take care of him/her, centers for them are located universally to help patients in need.

By analyzing my experience through the economic angle, I discovered that centers like Warren Park are very dependent on the government to continue running. The government owns and has the money  as the government is what funds public centers for the mentally disabled. Warren Park’s employees and its patients are very dependent on the government. The government has all the power to allow these centers to continue running. Without the government’s assistance, there would not be places where the mentally disabled could go to receive aid and medical help.

Through reflecting this experience at Warren Park, the Bible passage that reminds me of this situation is 1 John 5:4, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world... And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.” The patient from Warren Park who I met is a great example of how everything is possible if we believe and have faith in God. His story served as a lesson to me. It helped me realize that we should never lose faith in God, because with that faith everything and anything is possible. God allowed him to wake up from his coma and has been by his side always protecting him.

By connecting my faith, my life experiences, and my emotional reaction in the visit to Warren Park, I feel really glad I got to visit a mentally disabled center. I enjoyed every part of it because I got so much out of this experience. My friend served as a great inspiration to me. He helped me realize that anything could happen in this world and to not take anything or anyone for granted. God never puts obstacles in our path that he does not believe we can not overcome. My friend is a strong, intelligent, and brave man that did not let his accident be the end of his life. He continues to do what he loves, writing poetry.

I am very glad Warren Park helps the mentally disabled who can not take care of themselves or do not have anyone that could take care of them. I believe that what this society could attempt to do is to not isolate them and stop making them believe they are not normal. I understand that they need medical aid from a special center, but I believe we can all attempt to go to centers like Warren Park to educate ourselves about the people who are mentally disabled in order to better understand their needs and to not be scared of their disabilities.

Catalina Tueros

As a nation it is crucial for us to unite as one within our society. All lives are significant and matter. Humanity has lost sight of the fact that everyone is granted dignity and a right to life. The mentally ill have no longer had the right to life in our society. They continue to face discrimination and are marginalized. In this week’s service trip, my classmates and I were able to visit Warren Park Health and Living Center. It is a living center that helps provide housing to those who suffer from mental illnesses. During our visit, we were able to meet some of the residents and have some fun by playing games. I was able to learn so much about the residents I was paired up with. It was truly a life changing experience for me. I was able to meet people who were truly amazing and intelligent. I was able to hold conversations that allowed me to reflect upon my own personal life. I will never forget the words, “keep the faith alive.” I intend to live this out forever. The world deserves to see how amazing these people are. They deserve the right to dignity.

The mentally ill are neglected and hurt within society. They are perceived as incapable and unable. Their voices are stripped away, and they are forever overshadowed. There is no pride or gratitude granted to the mentally ill. They are not benefiting from the treatment of society. They are often forgotten by family members, society, and the government. This is truly a universal issue. The mentally ill are hushed by the world. They are marginalized because of the negative perceptions placed upon them. They are seen as weak and unable because of their illness. Overall, they are still people who are apart of our communities and they should be heard. They are truly amazing people who view life differently than the rest of us. They are judged because of these differences. The media today sheds some light on the negative aspects of these illnesses but never shines the light on the particular person. Many people in our world fear the unknown rather than embrace it.

Political figures are able to make decisions that can either include or exclude the needs of these people. The mentally ill are dependent on the decisions that are made. The mentally ill are left out socially. There are very few relationships built because of the negativity placed upon the mentally ill. In history, the mentally ill have always been the outcasts of our society. Their conditions were always misinterpreted and this made the people fear them. They were often misunderstood and pushed aside. These beliefs are taught to future generations who continue the horrible pattern. These influences affect behavior by allowing the people to mistreat and marginalize the mentally ill. They are no longer considered in society because of their disabilities.

The idea of acceptance can be related to various bible stories, such as Romans 12:22. God is accepting of the people as they were. He encouraged the people to not conform to society's words or beliefs but to have faith in him. God is able to love his people and inspire them to have integrity in an ever changing world. This idea ties into the theme of Solidarity. Christ calls us to respond by being mindful of all people and to view them as brothers or sisters. The mentally ill should be seen as our brothers and sisters regardless of who they are. We are all created in God’s likeness. They deserve to be treated as equals within our society. Their disabilities should not give the public the right to place labels upon their lives. The public deserves to be educated so they can better understand the mentally ill. I believe that everyone, including the mentally ill, have so much to offer in different ways. Their lives still matter, regardless of who they are in this world. It is unjust to place chains around those we do not fully understand. I can relate to the marginalized because I am often unheard within my society because I am seen as young. My ideas and beliefs are not accounted for. I believe Christ would want us to come together as one. I believe that these differences should not create borders in our society. 

We may bridge the gap between social reality and what we hope for by advocating for these people. We can reasonably attempt to donate to local centers that help support the mentally ill. The more people who are educated within our society, the more understanding we will have. Political leaders and the media can also help shed light on the issue by using their power to help create a positive influence. More centers should also be funded and created due to the amount of people who need the help within the community.  The mentally ill deserve a voice within our society. There are so many things we are able to learn from them. We are able to see life differently and view life through their eyes. We must learn to appreciate life and learn how to lift the nation rather than tear it down.

Note: Minor grammar/style edits have been made to each post not affecting the content or perspective of these students.

Trip #5: Catholic Charities North Center Senior Satellite Center

On Thursday, January 14, students from our class walked down the street to the Catholic Charities North Center Senior Satellite Center. We shared a free-time afternoon with them, geared toward stimulating motor function and brain activity - in other words, we had some game-time! Students spent a few hours with the seniors shooting pool, and playing games like checkers, cards, Monopoly, and Yahtzee! These seniors are a mix of residents on the campus of housing that surrounds the center and other seniors who live in the city. The center is geared toward providing social opportunities for seniors to enjoy. Here are some thoughts from Brittany Bejabeng, Laura Gaerditz, and Catalina Tueros...

Brittany Bejabeng

Last Thursday, the class took a trip to a Catholic Charities North Center Senior Satellite Center to visit elderly people in that community. Based off of my observations and my interaction with the people there, they seem very well put together as a whole. Most of the men and women there were around their mid-sixties or early seventies. There were all able to communicate in some way, either through English or Spanish. My first impression walking in there was that they were a tightly knit community that was surrounded by enthusiasm and diversity.

Elderly people usually face some form of discrimination because of their physical limits in society. There are placed in the corner and seen as incapable to themselves and to others. Yes, as we get older in some way we are don’t maintain the same strengths as we did in our youth, but ageism should not affect our impression of people’s abilities unless they give you a reason to be concerned. Ageism is the prejudice or discrimination on the basis of a person's age and because of this today some senior citizens feel marginalized. Part of society views them as incapable, so our mentality has been to perceive it that way.

James 2:2-4 says, “For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, 'You sit here in a good place,' while you say to the poor man, 'You stand over there,' or, 'Sit down at my feet,' have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” Based off of this bible passage, we as people should not discriminate based on appearance and structural ability. Yes, judgements can be made, but a person should have the opportunity to be capable and to test their own ability.

God calls us to love one another and to treat others the way you would like to be treated. Reading articles about marginalized groups, visiting senior homes, and reflecting on this topic has personally allowed me to see how that it can somewhat be hard living in a society that sees you as weak, unresponsive, needy, or dependent. Though some of these things may be true on their behalf, senior citizens are pushed to the end of society because some see them as useless. We all will age one day so instead of criticizing or marginalizing them, we should assist in providing for them. It is our turn to give back. Christ would ask for us to help in assisting one another and to not see each other as different creations of the world.

Laura Gaerditz

Going to the Catholic Charities North Center Senior Satellite Center was an entirely different experience from going to the nursing home. For one, these men and women are in much better health. Secondly, more than half of them aren’t living there. They were much happier and eager to socialize with us! When we went on our field trip, we each broke into groups and played a board game, which in my group's case was Monopoly.

These men and women are so blessed to have a community center like this available to them. It’s wonderful that this is open to everyone. Being older, they probably don’t get out as much anymore, so this is a great place for them to socialize with one another. Sr. Helen, from our parish, explained to us that the goal of the Daughters of Charity, her religious community, is to aid the poor. But in this case it wasn’t poverty money-wise; in this case it meant that elderly people are often forgotten in society. This is a place where they can feel that they're a part of something.

“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; And I will bear you and I will deliver you” (Isaiah 46:4). This reminds me of the Catholic Social Theme of Solidarity. These men and women weren’t as dependent on the community center as those people in the nursing home. The community center offered a space and games to play while the people came. They met halfway.

I had a great time at the community center. I’m not entirely sure how they feel, but if I was older I would be happy to have a place to go so I could be with other people. It was great to see all them so happy when we came. It really made my day. I wish there were even more centers like this one available to older people. I truly think that having this socialization in their lives is good for them.

Catalina Tueros

Society has turned a blind side to some of the most important people in our country, the elderly. The elderly hold the key to our history and can help develop our future. In today’s world, we tend to marginalize them and push them to the ends of society. In this week's service trip, my classmates and I were able to volunteer at the North Center Senior Satellite Center. It includes a fitness program that helps seniors become more active, helps the seniors to go on trips, have senior club meetings, and dance. I was able to to play games and get to know more about the seniors who who visited the center. I completely loved the experience. I was able to connect with them and even get some life advice from them. I learned so many new things. We heard similar stories and laughed the entire time. Through this experience I was able to unite with this marginalized group.

The seniors are neglected in our society. They are unaccounted for and are seen as weak and unable. The lack of respect is prevalent within today’s society. We forget that we are united and should work as a team rather than create borders for the people. No one is benefiting from circumstances like these. This is a universal issue that continues to plague our world. The elderly deserve a voice and should be heard. The elderly are excluded in society because of the negative perceptions placed upon them, which causes the people to marginalize them within society. Political leaders have the money and opportunity to shed light upon this social issue. The elderly are often dependent on the services the community has to offer them. There should be more local aid. Unfortunately, the majority of the elderly population are excluded during this process because of the negative perceptions. Society chooses to exclude the elderly and the future relationships that can be created never happen. The past perceptions of the elderly can affect the future by continuing this pattern of exclusion. The beliefs of the public can influence decisions made in society because the laws are created in favor of the people. The people’s beliefs can mold better decisions for the marginalized.

This issue can relate to various bible stories such as Genesis 24:1-10. In this story, Abraham was an elderly man, yet God was able to bless him in every way. The idea of aging is prevalent within this story because it is a part of life. It is a natural process that all must go through. It does not make one less able. It allows us to grow and become wise through our own personal experiences. A Catholic Social Teaching theme that is relevant here is solidarity. Christ calls us to respond by being mindful of all people and to view them as brothers or sisters. The elderly should be seen as equal regardless of their state in life. I believe that we are all created to be united in solidarity. As people, we should choose to uplift one another rather than exclude them. We are all equal in the eyes of God. There are so many things to be learned that we have not yet understood. The elderly hold wisdom and understand the trials and tribulations of life. Their insight can be helpful. They should have a say within the community and around the world. It is unjust to take away these rights from them. Christ would expect us to come together as brother and sisters in unity. We are all created in His likeness and the judgment should no longer be placed upon this group of people. I believe that Christ would wants us to work together in order to end this division that we have in the world. I am able to identify with the elderly because my voice is often unheard due to my age. My opinions and ideas are not taken into consideration. There should be more unity between the people by including the elderly and speaking to them. There is so much to be learned.

We may bridge the gap between social reality and what we hope for by providing more assistance to the elderly. We may help contribute by donating some of our funds to help build local centers around the city that allow the elderly to be united within society rather than excluded. We may also simply volunteer at a senior home and learn more about them by a simple conversation. Political leaders and the media can also shed light upon this issue due to their large following. The more emphasis placed upon this issue will help others realize that the elderly deserve a say.

The elderly in this nation hold the key to our infinite history and may have the answers to our future. It is up to us to help unite the people in solidarity and to help advocate for the marginalized. It is ultimately up to us to give back to the elderly for all that they have done for society. As a nation, we hold the power to rise above.

Note: Minor grammar/style edits have been made to each post not affecting the content or perspective of these students.

Trip #4: Chicagoland Methodist Senior Services

On Wednesday, January 6, students from our class visited the Chicagoland Methodist Senior Services facility on Foster Ave. We collaborated with their activities department to match seniors (high school students) to seniors (elderly residents) for an art activity. Starting from a conversation/interview led by the student, the seniors and seniors got to know each other for a few minutes. Then, each pair received a shadowbox and had access to a buffet of arts-and-crafts materials. The students then helped their resident construct a shadowbox that reflected the residents' interests, hobbies, memories, etc., and many students even added a little something to symbolize themselves.

In case you need a refresher, here's the link to our first post explaining what is posted to the blog. And without further adieu, here are some thoughts from Bryan Padilla and Brittany Camana on their experience with their new elderly friends...

Bryan Padilla 

My class and I got the opportunity to interact with some elderly people at the Chicagoland Methodist Senior Services Home. At the home, we made shadow boxes with the elderly. The elderly are a marginalized group that is often seen, but left alone or cast to the side. Old age is something that people all around the world have had to deal with. With old age often comes disabilities and mental degradation, and these ailments can be burdensome to the elderly’s families. Often, in the western world, our elderly are put in nursing facilities where they can be marginalized by their family as well as society.

This idea of the elderly's being marginalized can be attributed to the family structure in the modern-day or western world. There are very few senior homes or nursing facilities in developing nations or in times where traditional family structures were intact. In such countries or times, the elderly are/were kept at home where it is/was impossible to ignore them so that they would become marginalized. However, in modern day America, for example, when someone becomes elderly and perhaps burdensome, they are put in a nursing facility. While being away, they become forgotten.

In the Bible, we are called to be respectful with our elders. “Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as a father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters with complete purity” (1 Timothy 5:1-2). We are called to look towards our elderly as if they were our mothers and fathers (which in many cases they are.) Would we ever intentionally marginalize our mothers and fathers? Or choose to put them away? The Catholic Social teaching of the Call to Family, Community, and Participation is relevant here. This CST theme calls us to uphold the institutions of family and marriage. Family includes our eldest members.

As someone with a great deal of experience with elderly people, from a personal perspective, I feel especially connected to our service outing and the marginalized elderly people as a whole. Before my grandmother passed away in the summer of 2014, she had declined in health due to old age. Rather than putting her in a nursing facility, my family responded to God’s call - we kept her in our house to take care of her so that she was able to live the last of her days surrounded by her family.

Every elderly person was once a little infant; every elderly person is a human. If you have an elderly person in your life such as a family member or neighbor, try to do as Christ calls you to do and stay connected with them. By taking care of our elderly or perhaps visiting a nursing facility, we can make sure that these people are recognized and are not marginalized.

Brittany Camana

For this week’s service outing, our class went to the Chicagoland Methodist Senior Services. While there, each student, or possibly two, got paired up with a senior resident living there. As everyone was settled down and got their partner, each pair was getting to know each other. Most of the seniors had a hard time talking. My partner, Mary Louise, could barely talk, and when she did talk, her voice was so soft that I could barely hear her. However, I was able to hear some of her words and got to learn a lot about her. For example, I learned that she liked flowers, used to play volleyball, liked the colors green and pink, and lived in Chicago her whole life. I was then able to create a shadow box for her. I added a picture of Chicago, stickers of giraffes, a big red flower, and both of our initials (I wanted to include something so she could remember me) on top of a floral background. After I finished and handed the box to her, she smiled and her face was filled with gratitude and excitement.

First, society and seniors are involved in this situation. It seems as if seniors are being oppressed by society on a daily basis. Society never places any emphasis on living with the seniors or visiting them often or just taking care of them in general. Society sees it as something that family of the senior should do and it’s nobody else’s business to be interacting with them. However, they do benefit from living within the senior homes. For example, they can socialize with people around their same age for company, have someone to assist them medically, and have someone to cook and clean for them. On the downside though, their are many nursing homes that neglect and treat seniors horribly. They don’t clean after them, help bathe seniors who need assistance, or interact with them, instead seeing them as a bother. This needs to be addressed and handled and put out their more publicly than other news topics being brought up. This is happening predominantly in the United States but other countries also have senior homes as well. The majority of third-world countries would not be able to afford it but countries are coming up and creating places for seniors to live.

In Acts 20:35 it states, "In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" In other words, we should give back to the people who can't help themselves and should give more to others then expect to be given everything.

There is no obvious reason as to why this is happening since each situation varies. Sometimes, seniors live in senior homes because their relatives are busy working or sometimes relatives aren’t willing to take care of a senior. There are various reasons why each senior is sent to a senior home. However, they all come to the senior home because they need help being taken care of. As a society, we must come together and make this issue easier to see. Many of the elderly have disabilities that prevent them from expressing themselves. so we must go into their shoes and advocate for them since they cannot advocate for themselves.

Note: Minor grammar/style edits have been made to each post not affecting the content or perspective of these students.

Trip #3: Volunteer Service Panel

On Friday, December 18, students in our class had a panel discussion and Q&A with our head of secondary school, who did post-grad volunteer service, as well as two volunteers and their coordinator from Franciscan Outreach. Students had the opportunity to ask questions about the volunteers' background in becoming volunteers in service as well as what their lives are like as they serve with the poor on a daily basis with their community.

Representing our class this week on the blog are Natalia Kieta, Catalina Tueros, and Steph Sefah...

Natalia Kieta

In our world, there are a lot of individuals who struggle to eat a good meal and to find a place to sleep at night. Although we have many who struggle to get through each day, we also have many people who try to support those below the poverty line by volunteering at soup kitchens, shelters, etc. One place that helps care for the poor all year long is the Franciscan Outreach Marquard Center, and last Friday we had the opportunity to speak with two of the ten volunteers who have sacrificed a year of their life to help serve at this center.

Over fifty years ago, Father Phil was bothered by the idea that many prisoners had nowhere to go after they were done serving their time in jail. In response to his emotions, he decided to open a center that would feed and sleep sixteen people per night. Over the years, the Franciscan Outreach Center grew in numbers, and currently forty-five individuals sleep there per night and around 140 people are served a hot meal daily. What is interesting about this center from an economic viewpoint is that the majority of the food, clothes, toiletries, etc. are all donated. Also, this center hosts a fundraiser where many people donate money to help run the center and to help provide for necessities. In conclusion, society plays a big role in aiding and providing for Franciscan Outreach.

Listening to the two volunteers talk about their experiences thus far has allowed me to connect them to the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector from Luke 18:9-14. This parable talks about how humility is the greatest trait that God looks for in an individual. In my opinion, both volunteers, Emily and Katie, are very humble in the eyes of God because they do not brag about the service they do, nor do they complain about not getting rewarded for their actions. In this case, they are like the tax collector where they do what they signed up for and act upon what they are required to do. Service is their calling, and they aren’t using this as an excuse to show how wonderful they are through the sacrifices they had to make in order to become volunteers. During the discussion, it was evident that the Catholic Social Teaching theme Preferential Option for the Poor was present. Through this theme, Christ wants to ensure that we consider the poor in every decision we make individually, communally and socially, which is what Emily and Katie do on a daily basis at the Franciscan Outreach Center.

As one of the speakers, Emily, said, “It is a very rewarding feeling to form a relationship with some of the people that dine or sleep at the center. Sometimes all they need is a person to vent to because their lifestyle is so difficult, and they have no one to turn to in difficult times. It feels good to be able to give someone your time because sometimes that’s all they need.” I wholeheartedly agree with Emily because as we talked about before,

Sometimes a smile is all a person needs to feel special. To me, it is very hard to see so many people struggle with something that I expect to have every day, such as food or clean clothes, but at the same time, it makes me feel better that there are people like Emily and Katie who do so much to make just a little difference in the marginalized world.

Finally, after processing Emily and Katie’s words, I came to realize that I do not have to take a year off of my life to help make a difference in the world. I can also simply smile and just say hello to someone I see lingering on the streets, and that itself will make the biggest difference in a person’s face. Sometimes we underestimate the needs of the poor; the simplest task can make the greatest difference.

Catalina Tueros

As a nation, it is apparent that we choose to strip away many people's human dignity and proceed with our lives. These actions are committed by many in today’s society. There are also those who acknowledge the marginalized people and try in their best efforts to guide them on the right path. In Friday’s discussion panel, my classmates and I were able to go in depth with three full-time volunteers from Franciscan Outreach. We were able to gain new insight on the organization and what each volunteer was able to do. It was an amazing experience to listen to their hopes and their personal feelings about being a full-time volunteer. Franciscan Outreach is a nonprofit organization that provides service to those who are less fortunate. Housing is also provided for men and women. The Franciscan Outreach is an excellent example of people who are willing to dedicate their lives for the common good of others. Service is needed throughout our nation.

Franciscan Outreach helps provide for the less fortunate. I was able to learn throughout the discussion that each volunteer chose to dedicate one year of their lives to service. Not many people are willing to sacrifice their time to acknowledge the poor. Every year, the number of homelessness continues to increase. Many people go on without proper housing, food, and thrival rights. They are truly affected by the decisions that are made in the community. The volunteers at Franciscan Outreach expressed their gratitude and their love for changing people’s lives. No one is ever denied, and there is always plentiful food and clothing for those who are in need. The less fortunate in Chicago are able to benefit from this organization given the fact that it never turns anyone away. The two volunteers expressed the hardships that come along with the job as well. Many people who come to Franciscan Outreach come from a broken home, family, and life. These people are forgotten from society. Everything that is used in the organization is donated. The city of Chicago helps control and manage inventory through these donations. The city fully supports the organization and the message behind it. The city of Chicago donates money each year to help with costs. Private donors also help with the costs. People in Chicago are willing to work with the less fortunate. Relationships are built with the people and the volunteers given the fact that the volunteers are the only consistent people they have in their lives. The volunteers also form bonds with other volunteer members and they support each other. No one is ever excluded. They are able to connect and establish teamwork. The beliefs and decisions affect the community by setting a positive chain reaction - the more good that is being done, the more people become influenced to do the same. It will affect future generations and allow them to be aware of current issues. A positive impact is imprinted upon the people.

Coming together as a community can be related to many bible stories such as Mark 12:41-45. In this story, Jesus collected the offerings from the people. Many wealthy people placed their money into the basket. A poor and widowed woman offered all of her savings. The woman was willing to sacrifice. The theme found in this passage is to give. Those who are willing to volunteer at Franciscan Outreach and other organizations are willing to give their time and help those in need. They are willing to sacrifice a year of their lives in order to do so just as the widow did. The Catholic Social Teaching theme this passage is tied to is the Call to Family, Community, and Participation. It is the ability to constantly stay active within family and community, and to participate. One is able to use their faith to form decisions and actions through these callings. Christ calls us to uphold the domestic church as roots for participation and society. We must unite as a nation to help end poverty. I am in awe at the fact that these young people were able to step up and dedicate their lives to help the less fortunate. I was able to give back to my community by donating clothes I no longer use to charity. It is my way to give back to the less fortunate. I believe that Christ calls our nation to be aware and to lift each other up.

As a community, in order to help influence others to work together we should make them more aware. The people should try to contribute by donating clothes that are no longer being used, toiletries, and provide small donations. Anything truly counts and is deeply appreciated. The people should unite and help establish this. Giving back can help change people’s lives. More organizations should also be provided within our communities with higher rates for homelessness.

As people, we have the right to thrive and to succeed. We should always keep others in mind who continue to suffer. The Franciscan Outreach organization helps provide a support system as well as shelter that allows people to come together in unity. Ultimately, we are the future of our nation. It is up to us to make a change.

Steph Sefah

On December 18th, we had the opportunity to speak with a panel of volunteers from Franciscan Outreach. Franciscan Outreach is the home to many homeless women and men in Chicago. The shelter was originally founded as a safe haven for prisoners who just got of jail but now houses 100-180 men and women. In our interview with the volunteers, we were able to find out more about the life of a volunteer at Franciscan Outreach, also about what motivates(ed) or called them to the shelter. The shelter was started by Phillip Marquard, a Franciscan friar who wanted to help fill the gap between the rich and the poor by opening a shelter, a place of welcome for society's marginalized.

Father Marquard's vision is still alive today. We see this in the countless numbers of people who work for the shelter, which is a nonprofit, and people like Katie, Emily and the other volunteers who have given up their year for the benefit of the less fortunate. We also see this in the hundreds of homeless people who call the center their home. In this section the Katie and Emily started off by telling us what a day in their lives looked like. Katie, who is from Georgia, traveled to Chicago after graduating for college less then a year ago. She left her family and friends to do service and change others' lives. Katie's job is to cook and do the laundry for the guests who stay at the shelter. Katie finds her job very rewarding. Many people think too highly of themselves to wash the clothes of people who might sometime smell bad; I think Katie sees this as an humbling deed. When asked if she loves what she's doing Katie's responded, "Yes, the smile of their faces makes it worth it". The bible states in Mark 12:31 that we should love our neighbor as ourselves - Katie does this every day at the shelter.

The second volunteer we spoke with was Emily, who spoke to us about how she has always loved doing service as a child. Emily's job at the shelter is to spend the night with the women who stay at the shelter. She makes sure there is peace between the guests and also that all their common needs are met. Emily finds this job very rewarding as well because she meets women her age who are homeless. This humbles Emily because she realizes God's love for her and how lucky she is to be at this point in her life. One thing I loved about Emily was that she feels called to help women who have been abused, and the majority of the women she meets have been abused. Emily's desire to help women is amazing. The bible states in Romans 12:10 that we should be devoted to one another in love and Emily dose this everyday.

In conclusion, I have learned a lot about service and the importance of it. I am grateful to God for all the blessings I have from my family and for people like Emily and Katie who remind me to stay humble and to be thankful. This interview has opened my eyes about the paths I can take before and after college through service. Service is one thing I can do to make a change to fill the gap between society and its outcasts. I am thankful to people like Katie and Emily who are making a change and doing what God calls them to do.

Note: Minor grammar/style edits have been made to each post not affecting the content or perspective of these students.