So, I have been working for two days now and I have probably met around 15-20 different clients. Not only that, but I have a couple great stories of my own that I would like to share as well as some of the clients' stories as well (of course, anonymously...)
Day 1 - So I found my way to the train station perfectly well and with about 10 minutes to spare before the train got there. I found my way from the station in New Haven (where I got off) to my office. It is a short walk of only 4-5 blocks. It is placed next to Yale University (well, parts of it... seeing how half of the city is next to Yale) as well as the New Haven green. It is in a great location. I finally met my Site Coordinator (a.k.a. my boss) who is a couple years out of his college years and enjoying what he is doing now. He majored in English, but found more fulfillment in human resources (if that is the correct term). Anyways, we went over briefly a variety of services that we offer and went into the local services and the in's and out's of some of the systems such as employment and housing as well as state and federal assistances such as SAGA, TFA, SSI, etc. (a lot of terms that can be branched into assistance). The second part of the day involved a few client meetings, getting their mail (as some people have their mail delivered there so they can get anything that would need an address delivered there...) or looking through online job searches, creating resumes, etc. It was an overall good introduction day to everything that we would be doing. Oh, and By the way, I forgot to mention that we share a floor with one other company and we are the end of the hall with one big room where we do all of our client services and one other room with two desks. Both at the end of the hall have yet to have the AC work. So, it has been probably 78-80 degrees in the office. :) Quite enjoyable.
Day 2 - Today, we quite more interesting. I got to the train station about the same time and after a few minutes of waiting there, a voice came over the speakers announcing that the train that I was taking into the city was canceled. This immediately leads me to think, "How can they do this... I need to take the train into town..." with a million other thoughts thinking about if I choose to drive to downtown New Haven, I have no clue where I will park or how much it will cost to park. Anyways, as I call Ron, the person I am staying with and am explaining the situation over the phone, a gentlemen in a random truck came up and offered me a trip downtown. Phew..! That was a close one. It was so nice of him and he even went on to explain what he did as a consultant executive after being retired from the air force (or navy... he talked about both in our conversation...) So, he drives me to where he works and instead of a 4-5 block walk with about 20 minutes to get to work, I have, what i found out later to be, 10-14 blocks to walk in about 10 minutes to get to work. It was a well-paced morning as I power-walked my way to work and arriving only 2 minutes after 9.
While at work, we went over a few more local services and then jumped into client meetings. The first meeting was with an older lady whom I will call Nancy (not her real name of course - and don't ask me why I chose nancy either...) had been coming to our office for a little over two years. She is not a huge success story as some might see it, but I believe (speaking with 2 days of experience) that she embodies the progress that NSP is aiming towards. She came in to work on a cover letter for a couple of jobs that she is applying for after getting a degree/certificate from a community school. Since coming to us the first time, judging from her initiative today in the office, she has achieved a lot of independence and understanding of how things went. She held Sunday's paper under her arm coming in with a few job opportunities highlighted. She let us know that she had returned to school/training school a couple times for a couple different certificates or degrees that would allow her to contribute to others' success. It was quite the experience being able to peek into her life's story for just under an hour's time.
The day was also filled with quite the opposite example, but not nearly in a bad way. Another woman, came to the office for the first time. I was able to go over a few introductory (and mandatory/necessary) forms getting to know her situation and how we might help her. With my hour and a half spent with her, I was given a perspective that opened my eyes to the systems set up for those in need as well as being able to see someone who was first coming to us for assistance and not as well-versed in things as the first woman I mentioned. She quickly told me her story that she had a well paying job and providing for her two sons for several years. She was making over 20 dollars an hour and was paying the bills and such and living life. But when less than a year ago, she was hurt on the job, she was forced to leave her job and was granted unemployment. The company somehow did not give her workers comp and just recently her unemployment ran out. Now, she is currently borrowing from friends and family while she has been looking for jobs left and right through various online job searches. She has been unable to find any employment that she can physically handle and is extremely frustrated because the system, as it is set up now and from her perspective, gives assistance to drug addicts who may have disabilities, but fails to give anything to her because she is able to work a job physically and mentally. Overall, it was a gut-wrenching story, as i hope i was able to illustrate, as I saw a single mother with one child left at home not being able to provide for her family.
Even though the AC was still not working and there were times when our slow computers were extremely frustrating, I realized that I am going to be daily faced with real life situations such as these, with the hope that what we are doing can make a difference and I don't know if there is anything I would rather be doing right now as I am able to learn the systems which provides some sort of hope and assistance for those who are barely holding on. Thanks for your interest...
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It sounds as though you've been able to jump in with both feet! It really is an eye-opening experience to have the opportunity to get to know the stories of people you work with. I've heard similar stories. It can be heartbreaking to hear stories like the single mom who lost her job due to an injury and is struggling to make ends meet for her family. Often times it is so difficult for them to find the assistance or "hand up" that they need to pull themselves out of the situation. I am thankful for your kind heart which, first and foremost, shows that someone cares about what she is going through. I am also thankful for the services NSP offers which will hopefully offer a step in the right direction for her to be able to get back on her feet financially. It is great to hear that your office helps people build resumes, look for work and offers mail services. While it's hard work it's also a dignity builder, which is an important part of the process toward independence. Thanks for the update, Corey. Have an absolutely wonderful day! Grace and Peace. ~Mrs. H.
P.S. Maybe you'll want to do that power-walking more often ... it's good for you. :)
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