So its been oooh about a year since my last blog post. For that I apologize greatly! Things are always so hectic, and although I have things to say...they don't always seem important enough to blog about...Not saying my thoughts now are blog worthy, but hey i'll give it a try!
At the moment finishing up my 3rd semester in my masters program in Social Work. Grad school and the work that comes along with it has made my life even more hectic than working 2 jobs like before. The whole homework and working another job for free is quite a buzz kill at times. However, I must say that this job I'm working for free is one of the best opportunities and experiences I have ever come across.
I am currently working at Midtown Catholic Charities in St. Louis City. It is a community based organization that works to improve multiple aspects of the low-income, predominantly African American community. I hesitated in applying to Midtown way back in December because of the word Catholic in the title. Although I was raised in a Catholic environment (attending both a Catholic grade school and high school), certain religious opinions and aspects of the Catholic church have ingrained a negative connotation of the Catholic church in my mind.
I know I know, this isn't quite fair...and I'm working on it. Yet, this is definitely how I felt when beginning at Catholic Charities. In my younger years, I have been surrounded by Catholics who believed that it was their way or the highway and pushed their beliefs and opinions on all of those around them. At Midtown, it was the absolute opposite... and I couldn't be more proud to be a student working at this organization.
Midtown reaches out to all of those in their neighborhood, no matter their income, religion, race, or personal beliefs or biases. They provide an open place to be heard, to be helped, and to help others.
One thing of many that I have learned is that those receiving help at Midtown want to give back to their community and to others in need. They reach out to mothers, families, children, and anyone they see in need. They share words of wisdom, swap recipes, and laugh together. They volunteer at the market, march in Jeff City, have fundraisers, and tutor the children.
They also discuss the problems in their neighborhoods openly and honestly. Not only with criticism, but with ideas for how to better their situation and their community.
Working at Midtown has been my ideal practicum job...if not job in general. I have fell in love with the mission of the organization and with the community they serve. My two semester practicum at Midtown ends in two weeks and I could not be more upset. I know I will still be involved at Midtown.... but with a continually hectic lifestyle, I hope I can keep my promise to do that.
Farewell for now! :)
