Community Partner : Franciscan Center Intern : Christal Oji Site Supervisor : Judy Dobson
What is the Franciscan Center ?
The mission of the Franciscan Center is to provide emergency assistance and supportive outreach to persons who are economically disadvantaged in an effort to assist them in realizing their self-worth and dignity as people of God .
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Assembled a comprehensive catalog of transitional housing programs and emergency shelters as a resource for clients seeking shelter Collaborated with the community navigator to provide outreach and identification services to inaccessible encampments Brainstormed new methods to work efficiently with similar nonprofits to prevent excess consumption and duplication of services Acted as a spokesperson for outreach clients and advocated for new services including weekly medical care , waste disposal , and organization of green space
Being trapped in the quiet suburbs of Bridgewater , NJ during the pandemic made me a bit wary of people . Every day I would wake , rub the sleep from my dreamless eyes , open my laptop , and warmly greet dozens of blank staring faces through a screen . This changed me in ways I couldn ’ t recognize until now . I ’ ve always been a generally friendly person , but after the pandemic , I discovered my in-person interactions felt artificial - as if constant zooming had stolen the genuinity from my life . I ’ d felt off for so long though , that I became complacent and adjusted to this version of myself , allowing it to become the new normal . Working at the Franciscan Center this past summer truly woke me up .
Monday through Friday , 9-3 , for the past six weeks , I ’ ve been attending much-needed therapy . I go to work every day , and I talk with people for hours on end . They share their stories with me , their grief , and their gratitude . At first , when clients began to open up so freely to me , I felt unqualified to share in their struggles . I was ingenuine - a girl living through a computer screen rather than real-life experiences . However , day after day clients continued to share and what could I do but listen ? I continued to do my job , filling out birth certificate applications , making MVA ID appointments , and passing out hot lunches , all while listening to their stories of triumph , heartbreak , and betrayal . In the back of my mind , I wondered why they had chosen to trust me . But it was never about me .
I ’ ve found people tell their stories to pass on the memory of their experiences ; to let something from the past which may have died live on - whether it ’ s a faded sense of optimism or an old dream . Living in someone else ’ s memories , allowing yourself to feel the love , care , anger , and fear that they felt , is a privilege . Clients granted me this privilege at the Franciscan Center time and time , with their vulnerability and wisdom . I ’ m grateful for the generosity of their stories and the lessons I learned through their tribulations . My goal for this internship was to obtain a deeper knowledge of Baltimore , and I ’ m happy to say I accomplished that . I know Baltimore because I ’ ve listened to the people .