MY ROLE
I volunteer every Friday from 10 am to 1 pm. The main thing I do is spend my time in the community room building relationships and helping those who come in, feel valued. The community room is a space where people can come to play games, watch movies,and just be together. A meal is always provided even if it's just a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I also help with anything that they ask of me such as, all clothes that are donated need to be washed to avoid a bedbug problem and I have helped with the laundry. I also participated in a cleaning day.
I volunteer every Friday from 10 am to 1 pm. The main thing I do is spend my time in the community room building relationships and helping those who come in, feel valued. The community room is a space where people can come to play games, watch movies,and just be together. A meal is always provided even if it's just a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I also help with anything that they ask of me such as, all clothes that are donated need to be washed to avoid a bedbug problem and I have helped with the laundry. I also participated in a cleaning day.
About Us
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Maybelle Center for Community began with the pastor of the parish of
St. Vincent de Paul (also known as the "downtown chapel"),
an extraordinary Catholic ministry in the heart of Portland's skid road.
He and his church began feeding those who were hungry in the neighborhood.
St. Vincent de Paul (also known as the "downtown chapel"),
an extraordinary Catholic ministry in the heart of Portland's skid road.
He and his church began feeding those who were hungry in the neighborhood.
Fr. Richard Berg, C.S.C., found out over 25 years ago,
in Portland’s Old Town neighborhood that there were hundreds and hundreds of people living in single room occupancy hotel rooms, many of whom where isolated from the community and struggling with poverty, mental illness and addiction. So Fr. Berg that was a call to action. In 1991, Father Richard Berg commissioned a study that found that isolation was the most critical factor facing those living in SRO’s. Maybelle Center for Community,
began with a group of dedicated volunteers organized by Fr. Berg. They were determined to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors, one-by-one.
And it worked.
WHAT WAS INTUITION YEARS AGO, IS NOW BEEN SUPPORTED BY RESEARCH.
Loneliness has now surpassed obesity as a predictor of early death.
In fact loneliness is as harmful to your body as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
http://www.maybellecenter.org/about-us/story/
Our Mission
"Maybelle Center nurtures the body, mind and spirit of the forgotten poor in Old Town/Downtown by building connections and community."
Maybelle Center for Community Volunteer Handbook
"Maybelle Center nurtures the body, mind and spirit of the forgotten poor in Old Town/Downtown by building connections and community."
Maybelle Center for Community Volunteer Handbook
Community Interactions
Here is some information regarding the number of interactions and the type of interactions Maybelle offers. Each interaction and connection makes a difference in someone's life.
Here is some information regarding the number of interactions and the type of interactions Maybelle offers. Each interaction and connection makes a difference in someone's life.
University Studies Goals
I am a student at Portland State University and I am volunteering here, at the Maybelle Center for Community. As a part of this class, I was asked to connect the four University Studies goals to the work I am doing. Those goals are critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and diversity, equity, and social justice.
Critical Thinking
I use critical thinking techniques when I am engaging in conversation. My approach is different depending on the person I am interacting with. An example of how I used this was with one of the gentlemen at the center. He is blind and I was asked to lead him to an event the center having. I learned from him that people need to go through training before they can be a caregiver to a blind person. Well, I hadn't had any training so he was going to help me. He asked to hold on to my elbow and as we were walking, he asked me what I would do if we came to a step or a curb. I thought that I should stop and let him know what was in front of us but he informed me that I was wrong. He asked me to think again. After a quiet moment, I asked him if I would just take the step up or down and then he could feel from my elbow which way we went. He said, "Yes!" This was a lesson that I will never forget.
Communication
Through communication, we can build trust between one another because without trust, progress cannot be made. Trust also helps to create a safe space for others to be open with us. This experience has helped me practice my active listening skills. Listening with intent shows respect which helps us to connect with each other.
I found that showing empathy through active listening was a valuable tool that I used to connect with others at the center. For example, I made a friend by approaching him because he was wearing an NFL jersey and I love football. I used his nonverbal signal of being a football fan as a way to begin a conversation. That conversation initiated a safe place for him. That safe space helped him to trust me and he began to share some personal things about himself.
Social Responsibility
There is a quote in Maybelle's volunteer handbook that states, "The health of our community can be measured by how we care for each other."
Each time I read this, I find more and more meaning in it. Society can only benefit from each of us treating each other with kindness and respect. I see my part as meeting those who come into the center with dignity.
I also have a responsibility to give constructive criticism when it is needed. For example, I had a someone share with me that they made a racist comment to a friend and they couldn't understand why his friend thought the comment was racist. I explained that if the comment was perceived or received as racist, then it was. I asked if he apologized to his friend and he said yes so it was time to reflect and move on.
Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice
The Maybelle Center is welcoming to everyone and they have many resources to share! They have also given me an opportunity to connect with members of our society who are marginalized.
Creating social change feels overwhelming as a broad concept but it really begins with the one on one human connection we all need to survive.
Critical Thinking
I use critical thinking techniques when I am engaging in conversation. My approach is different depending on the person I am interacting with. An example of how I used this was with one of the gentlemen at the center. He is blind and I was asked to lead him to an event the center having. I learned from him that people need to go through training before they can be a caregiver to a blind person. Well, I hadn't had any training so he was going to help me. He asked to hold on to my elbow and as we were walking, he asked me what I would do if we came to a step or a curb. I thought that I should stop and let him know what was in front of us but he informed me that I was wrong. He asked me to think again. After a quiet moment, I asked him if I would just take the step up or down and then he could feel from my elbow which way we went. He said, "Yes!" This was a lesson that I will never forget.
Communication
Through communication, we can build trust between one another because without trust, progress cannot be made. Trust also helps to create a safe space for others to be open with us. This experience has helped me practice my active listening skills. Listening with intent shows respect which helps us to connect with each other.
I found that showing empathy through active listening was a valuable tool that I used to connect with others at the center. For example, I made a friend by approaching him because he was wearing an NFL jersey and I love football. I used his nonverbal signal of being a football fan as a way to begin a conversation. That conversation initiated a safe place for him. That safe space helped him to trust me and he began to share some personal things about himself.
Social Responsibility
There is a quote in Maybelle's volunteer handbook that states, "The health of our community can be measured by how we care for each other."
Each time I read this, I find more and more meaning in it. Society can only benefit from each of us treating each other with kindness and respect. I see my part as meeting those who come into the center with dignity.
I also have a responsibility to give constructive criticism when it is needed. For example, I had a someone share with me that they made a racist comment to a friend and they couldn't understand why his friend thought the comment was racist. I explained that if the comment was perceived or received as racist, then it was. I asked if he apologized to his friend and he said yes so it was time to reflect and move on.
Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice
The Maybelle Center is welcoming to everyone and they have many resources to share! They have also given me an opportunity to connect with members of our society who are marginalized.
Creating social change feels overwhelming as a broad concept but it really begins with the one on one human connection we all need to survive.
My Reflection
As I think about this experience, I would like to share how I found out about the Maybelle Center for Community, why I chose it, what impact have I had on those in the center, and what impact this experience has had on me.
I found out about the Maybelle center from a classmate of mine. She approached me after a class and asked me if I had chosen my senior capstone yet and I said that I hadn't so she shared Maybelle's information with me and I followed up. I was excited to find out that they believe in "connection, not correction." I find it very easy to talk to people I don't know and to make a social connection. I felt that this work was meant for me.
I believe that the impact I had was to make those in the center feel welcome, valued and respected. I made a connection with someone who wanted to exchange personal information with me because he felt that he made a new friend. I explained that we can be friends at the center. It felt good to know that can help others feel safe enough to trust me.
This experience also has had a profound impact on me! I learned about how difficult it is for the blind to sometimes function in a seeing world. I was able to see the effects of mental illness and addiction in a real world way. I talk about the center all the time to anyone who will listen. I have always believed that human connection was important but now I have a new perspective on how valuable it really is.
I will be applying to the counseling program within the Graduate School of Education soon and I hope to begin the program the fall of 2019. I believe that this experience has helped me to practice my active listening skills, to meet clients where they are at, and to feel empathy for those who are less fortunate than I am.
I have also learned that it is important to, "Connect, not correct!"
As I think about this experience, I would like to share how I found out about the Maybelle Center for Community, why I chose it, what impact have I had on those in the center, and what impact this experience has had on me.
I found out about the Maybelle center from a classmate of mine. She approached me after a class and asked me if I had chosen my senior capstone yet and I said that I hadn't so she shared Maybelle's information with me and I followed up. I was excited to find out that they believe in "connection, not correction." I find it very easy to talk to people I don't know and to make a social connection. I felt that this work was meant for me.
I believe that the impact I had was to make those in the center feel welcome, valued and respected. I made a connection with someone who wanted to exchange personal information with me because he felt that he made a new friend. I explained that we can be friends at the center. It felt good to know that can help others feel safe enough to trust me.
This experience also has had a profound impact on me! I learned about how difficult it is for the blind to sometimes function in a seeing world. I was able to see the effects of mental illness and addiction in a real world way. I talk about the center all the time to anyone who will listen. I have always believed that human connection was important but now I have a new perspective on how valuable it really is.
I will be applying to the counseling program within the Graduate School of Education soon and I hope to begin the program the fall of 2019. I believe that this experience has helped me to practice my active listening skills, to meet clients where they are at, and to feel empathy for those who are less fortunate than I am.
I have also learned that it is important to, "Connect, not correct!"