Project LINK (Karla Shelby): Metanoia Center Inc.

1. Metanoia Center Inc. 1313 N. Clock St. Champaign, IL 61821

2. There are many disadvantaged families across the world and the great things about Metanoia Center is that unlike most businesses that help low income families, this center is located in the heart of what is viewed as the low end of Champaign, Urbana. It is not a big fancy building with executive that claim to be there for the welfare of the families in which seek assistance. Instead the center is housed in one of the neighborhood homes that was converted to provide meals and a food pantry for families without food, before and after school snacks for the neighborhood children, computers for the neighborhood children, tutoring for both children and adults, and many other community services. The values of the center appear to be more apparent because the center is right there in the mist of the families in which they help and therefore are able to adjust their resources based on the family’s needs.

3. Metanoia Center is somewhat of an advocate for the neighborhood where its office is located; therefore they work with my city officials to help in the strategizing to build up the area, the Mayor as support for the upcoming changes to come in the area, and police staff to reduce the crime in the area. So I was able to meet many Champaign icons that I have heard of but never knew what their purpose was when it came down to the real aide to low income families and low income areas in Champaign, Urbana. In this I learned that there are real people behind these “titles” in our city that really are trying along with Metanoia Center to make a different for low income families and low income areas.

4. Metanoia Center along with the City of Champaign are working together to rebuild this area that consists now of many boarded up homes and families with homes in which need major repairs to be deemed safe for them and their children. The plan has already been developed and with all the other forces and grants in due time this area may still house some of the same families but, its appearance won’t tell you that on first sight. The Bristol housing development will be one of the biggest make overs Champaign, Urbana has witnessed yet.

5. I feel this assignment is great to get individuals out to see what services, agencies, and advocates for low income/disadvantaged families are doing to really provide some assistance. It is also a good method of coming up with ideas and suggestions for how we as upcoming FCS professionals can incorporate our new findings and education to aide in future goals to minimize the high levels of under privileged families.

Amanda Chapman

1.) I volunteered with the EIU Dancers by participating in a high school dance camp. The high school that attended was The TRI- county Trojans high school dance team. Typically, this high school dance team is used to performing at various sports games throughout the school year. With our dance camp, we were able to teach them other styles of dance enabling them to experience a new side of dance.

2.) This related to this class, along with several other FCS related classes in a way that we were able to provide more training to a team that is at a disadvantage because they are very small and even had a difficult time getting their team started due to the lack of funds. This dance team focused on a small element of dance, and we got to provide them with more technical training that is not offered to many high school dance teams, once again due to the lack of funds. 

3.) For my volunteer time, I got to help teach a few of the dancers a routine that they will be able to perform at a game that is different compared to their normal routines. I also got to dance with them and make a good connection with them. Working with the coach was also another benefit because she was able to dance with us too. I think being able to network with the coach would be beneficial because we could work together later on with both of our teams. 

4.) The effect this could have on the community would be great for anyone to experience because it involves exercise and getting the experience of working and learning from others. I feel like the girls were able to build up their confidence by participating in this camp. Both of our dance groups talked about trying to get more schools involved in this program not only to teach people how to dance, but to also build up their confidence. 

5.) Our camp lasted about 7 hours and I think that all of the girls did great! They learned 4 completely different routines in that time and were able to catch on fairly quick. We also got to bond with them for our lunch break, so it was nice being able to get to know them each a little better. It was nice to see them have fun and experience a whole new side of dance.

Lauren Hess - Teen Reach

I volunteered at Teen Reach in Charleston. Teen Reach is an after school center for teens (11-17). Teen Reach serves as a place for troubled teens to go after school to stay out of trouble. While there, the teens are fed, receive help with homework, and are entertained.
A lot of the concepts I learned in this class as well as some other FCS classes are reflected at Teen Reach. Teen Reach provides a safe environment for teens who may be are in poverty or facing it, or go home to an empty house after school.
I was able to work with and talk to the coordinator of Teen Reach as well as with the teens and other volunteers. Some of the teens I worked with had a disability or other problems. I let them talk while I listened. I put my feelings aside. There is a large number of teens and not very much space in the building.
Teen Reach serves not only the Charleston area but also neighboring town such as Ashmore. Teen Reach effects the community in a positive way. They are keeping teens out of trouble and providing a safe environment.
I had a good time and learned a lot about at risk teens. By volunteering at places like Teen Reach, can teach us life lessons. Overall, I thought it was good, learning experience.

Christie Kollias

11-20-13

Project Link

1.      Where the student volunteered their time

I volunteered my time to work with my sister who is a physical therapist in Chicago. Once a year she goes to my grandma’s nursing home and gives free therapy for a day since physical therapy is expensive and older people spend a lot of money as is.

2.      How the service activity reflected concepts learned in the current FCS course (FCS 4840), and/or other FCS courses

As I was there with my sister, it reminded me of the power point about older people in nursing homes. Luckily my grandma lives in a respected nursing home where all of the care givers get background checked and are monitored daily. After watching those videos it really touched home and made me want to go there and do that with my sister. I also wanted to try the Validation therapy on someone but no one was that severe that she worked on.

3.      How the student networked with other professionals while participating in the activity and what they GAINED from that networking

The only networking I really did was with my sister and the caregivers and nurses at the nursing home. I asked them how they feel about working in a nursing home and they said it gets hard at times, but they couldn’t see themselves anywhere else. There are students that volunteer their time there from the local school, and they complain about some of the residents, but from what I saw, the older people seemed to be very nice.

4.      The potential effect the service activity and/or the service organization can have (or does have) on the community

The service activity has a positive effect on the nursing home community. They are always delighted to see my sister, and my sister even visits at least once a month just to see my grandma. As stated in the videos we watched in class, many people living there do not get to see their families regularly or even at all. When they see a familiar face, it brightens their day and they look forward to seeing her. Everyone needs to feel loved, especially when one is all alone.

5.      A general reflection on the assignment (e.g., reactions, feelings, life lessons)

In general, I want to be more like my sister. She is one of the biggest role models in my life. The joy she brings to so many people at that nursing home or just to everyone around her is overwhelming and makes me wish I saw my grandma as much as she does. College is about finding yourself and if I can be half as good as a person as my sister has become, I will be forever grateful.

Bridget Weber

1.    I volunteered with my brother at his school back at home in Chicago.

2.    Many of the students my brother works with are from a poor community. He has to learn how to handle new situations that he was not used to. Many of the teens parents are divorce, single parent house hold or they are on free or reduce lunch. Some of the girls are teen parents themselves and tying to get through live as a teen parent and going to school. The school also has gangs in the school and there is violence in the school.

3.    I talked to my brothers friends who work in the school, which were the councilor and the FCS teachers in the school. I learned that it is difficult working in school and you need to put most of your personal feeling aside and be a professional. You need to understand that everyone does not have as much as you do because of education or the type of work you do. As a professional you need to leave your personal problem at the door and force on students that you were working with. I learned that not every high school is the same. Many schools have their own issues and problems that can occur while working them. It was eye opening to see the students that are involved in different gangs and violence acts. Would I want to work with in a school like this? I am still not sure. I think I have a lot to growing up to do and a lot more to learn.

4.    I think this school is a good place for students need to go to because it can give them a different change to get an education and out of the poor area of town. Hopefully the school could teach the children that gangs and violence is not a good thing and they could change their lives. The students if they try they could go to college and get a higher education. The students need to see others that have gone to college and see what they can do in life.

5.    It was hard to go to my brother’s school. I always said I was going to see him teach and help him and this gave me a reason to go. I enjoyed seeing him teach and now understand what he goes through every day while he at work. I was surprised that I saw as many students on a free or reduce lunches. This also got me to rethink if I want to work in a school with students that are a higher risk.

Kelsie Schneck - Teen MOPs

•          Teen MOPs Mattoon
•         Being a teen mother can be a disadvantage. It is hard to raise a child when you aren’t even grown yourself. Some teen mothers don’t have jobs or attend school full-time, so how can you pay for all of the needs for that child? Most teen mothers are on government assistance which can help them, but it doesn’t pay for diapers, clothes, or shelter.
•     I have met a lot of people while at Teen MOPs. I was in it last year when I moved here. I have met quite a few women who either work at Eastern or went to school at Eastern. There are other women who have mentored me, which has given me an insight on how I should mentor others. I have gained knowledge since I have volunteered at Teen MOPS. Other things I have gained are to not be judgmental of other girls because some of them are going through what I have gone through, just at a different stage in their life.
•       It brings support to the girls who don’t have the support at home or in the community because of their pregnancy at a young age.
•      Since I have been in Teen MOPs for three years total, I have seen what has happened just with the girls. When I moved to Charleston, I didn’t know what to expect when I first went to Teen MOPs. Here there were about eight girls when I started going, then it dropped down to five of us regularly going. It is extremely small compared to the 80 we have back home. I still had only seen what goes on during Teen MOPs, not after. So when I was asked to take charge of the daycare, I was excited. I then learned about the extra time and work these ladies put into the volunteer work. Planning activities for the kids was the hardest part, since I had children from 3-12. Finding activities that fit all of them was stressful. Another thing was finding out what these children were like when they were not around their mothers. Some have attachment issues with their mothers, but others are reluctant to go to their mothers. One specific situation was the worst. A mother had brought a child with a moldy bottle and dirty clothes to a meeting. This is where I didn’t know what to do; I had to consult with the other leaders to find a solution. Finding a solution was hard because they were pretty much homeless and living a motel that was provided by the church. Getting the child proper care was a problem, because after they left the meeting, there wasn’t really anything we could do besides check up on them sometimes. 

1. 1.    I volunteered at the Gilman Healthcare Center back home in Gilman, IL.  
2. 2.     In my FCS classes I have learned a lot about the elderly and the some of the problems they face. They face things with poverty and not having the things they need to live. I was able to spend some time around people that had Alzheimer and see how they live and the things they need in order to live day to day.
3. 3.    I was able to talk to and work with the activity director of the healthcare center. When working with her she would tell me a lot of the ends and out of doing that job. She told me she has been working at the Gilman healthcare center for over 21 years now. She told me some of the workshops and classes she goes to in order to keep things fresh and new. She also gave me names of people that I could talk to in order to get my foot into the door if I wanted to go into that kind of line of work.
4. 4.  The services they have for the community is that they have day programs that older adults can go to in order to be around other people. It so they do not spend all their time alone they can go out and meet new people and just have other people to talk to.
5. 5.    I love when I volunteer at Gilman Healthcare Center I have been volunteering for about 8 years now.  This was the first time I had volunteered since my grandma passed away in the healthcare Center over a year ago now. It was kind of hard to walk back into the building but I knew how much they enjoyed student volunteers and I had to learn to go back again. I love when I get to help them with bingo, but the best part is after the bingo when I get to sit around with them after and have cookies and juice and spend some time with them one on one. I learn so much about them and their lives and the different things they have gone through.