Happy New Year!
The start of 2018 has come with a ton of new beginnings for me and after the two weeks I spent back home for Christmas, I had some time to reflect on the ways these past few months of living in Chicago and serving with Mission Year have affected me mentally, physically, and spiritually. Now, I am ready to jump back into Chicago life with revived momentum.
And I have some exciting news!
I
switched service sites! I am no longer
working at By The Hand Club for Kids!
I now work two part-time jobs (still as a volunteer for both) with Communities
First Association (CFA) and L!VE
Café. Both of these organizations are affiliated with each other and operate out of the same building. The
mission of CFA is to enrich communities by blurring the lines between poverty and privilege. The main way we do this is
by educating the public through community outreach events and facilitating poverty simulations.
Similarly, the mission of L!VE Café
is to support the Oak Park community through coffee. The Café doubles as
a creative space where events and meetings are hosted. This team is breaking down barriers in the community and providing a safe space to have open conversations.
Half of my
time is spent working at the Café as a barista, and the other half is spent
working with CFA doing all kinds of
things, primarily assisting with administrative work like sending out newsletters, managing social media
accounts, and organizing tools for the poverty simulations.
I am super excited about the work I get to participate in
and the life experience/skills I am gaining at this new service site!
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While living here, I’ve gotten to spend intentional time learning about my new community, new neighbors, my team, and my coworkers. I've only
lived in Chicago for a few months, but I've already had so many opportunities to grow and learn.
Thank you all for your continued support!
