Volunteer Corps

20th Anniversary Reflections

1. What did you learn from your experience as a Westmoreland Volunteer?

Mostly I learned about the disparity between the very wealthy and the very poor in Washington, D.C.

Living in an intentional community with strangers was a great challenge with many rewards. I learned to live with 4 strangers who all came from varied backgrounds and experiences.

A lot about my own working style and it helped me think about the contradictions of being upper-middle class and caring about social justice. Still something I struggle with but now I’m not in such a supportive community that can help with the process!
I learned during my year a definition of “call” which has very clearly guided me. It is “where society’s deepest need meets your deepest joy.”

Latino immigrant community in DC--many insights into their lives and struggles.
Leadership, professionalism, advocacy.

That I was able to live with people of completely different personalities–-and really enjoy it.

I learned a lot: how to get the best free stuff in D.C., how to cook for four other people, how to get around a large city, how to deal with people in poverty and of other circumstances, how to live with others as sort-of a grown-up!

To say that I learned just one thing is very limiting. I think I learned how to view the world from a new vantage point. My experiences, values, and beliefs were solidly middle class before the year I volunteered and in many ways they still are but I learned about people and worked with people who opened me up to a new set of experiences and values.

I learned how to speak Spanish better. I learned I didn’t want to become a medical doctor but a peace educator. I learned living in community can be a joy and a challenge-- it’s very important to make all members feel free to be themselves so they can grow in openness to others. I learned we need to become very creative to bridge the gap between rich and poor.

Certainly the greatest learning was professional--teaching at St. John’s Child Development Center--and personal--living with 4 wonderful people.

I learned a lot about the needs of those without health insurance.

The importance of taking small steps to change people’s lives and the basics of how non-profits operate on the ground.

That we can make our own entertainment if we are creative enough and that it doesn’t take a lot of money.

I learned how to better live in community and how my actions directly affected my part in our house. Our group was very confrontational and some of the challenges brought up during our community night/group time have helped me to have better insight into myself.

I learned more about working with children and families as well and how non-profits work!

Christian community living takes hard work but is full of joy and necessary to faithfulness. Ministry to the poor is not one-way; they minister to us as much as we minister to them. It is always ministry with, not ministry to.

First of all, I learned some great skills from the internship that the program sponsored. I worked as a medical assistant that year and now I am a nurse practitioner. I greatly improved my ability to speak Spanish as well. Most importantly I learned the value/the possibility of living a more spiritually and community-oriented life.

The great need of medical service delivery to uninsured patients. I became more familiar with Maryland Medicaid system. Opportunities to be creative with identifying problems and coming up with solutions.

2. What impact did this experience have on your professional development?

Participating as a WVC member accelerated my career. Prior to serving, I knew I wanted to work for a not-for-profit but I didn’t know what area. The work I did with my sponsoring agency led me on a career path that I still follow today.

I realized that medicine was definitely a good fit for me and I was not content being in a medical office. I wanted to be a provider. It also makes me a more compassionate doctor as I think of Dr. Randi!

Gave me my initial experience in the field of social work – which I am still doing.

During my WVC year, I realized I have a deep desire to work to create change, but social work – my placement – seemed like a band-aid to me. I came to realize that my deepest joy was working with young children. Ever since my WVC year ended, I have worked at a small Montessori school, which has the sort of “change” I imagined at its heart. Eventually I returned to school to become a Montessori teacher myself.

As a Volunteer I worked with people with developmental disabilities. I have furthered my education and career in this field here in Montgomery County.

I am only one year out of volunteering. I still live in the city, go to Westmoreland and am on the Volunteer Corps Board. I have yet to see how my year of volunteering will play out in my professional development.

I was able to be in charge of a lot of projects and programs. I gained self-confidence, experience working with high school students, managerial skills etc.

Helped me assess more realistically the efficacy of a non-profit role; strengthened my commitment to service.It helped me realize that I didn’t want to be an MD--though I maintain an interest in health, health education, and medicine/natural medicine.

Well, as much as I loved my placement, I left knowing that teaching was not my life profession. Parish ministry became clear to me while there.

Yes it helped me figure out what sort of physician I would like to be.

Every job I’ve held since WVC has been with a non-profit organization.

My volunteer work gave me the connections and experiences to continue working with Sasha Bruce Youthwork for 2 years after my WVC year.

Shortly after volunteering with WVC, I returned to grad school/seminary and got my masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. I now work as a therapist with a similar population which I was working with in the WVC. During that time I was doing therapy without any skills and that year at WVC really helped me by giving me a desire to know what to do with clients and how to do what I was trying to do at the time.

It was one of several ministry experiences that helped clarify my call to vocational pastoral ministry. It was also helpful for me to have good interactions with Linda Stoerckel, the Associate Minister at the time, to see the challenges and joys of being a woman clergy person.

I ended up working in health care. My internship through WVC gave me the opportunity to learn skills and to test out my interest in serving people in and through the healthcare setting. I was so rewarded by my work and spiritual experiences that year. I currently work with women who have HIV in the inner city, a very natural extension of my WVC experience.

It gave direction to my motivation to serve in the medical field. Prior to AmeriCorps, I did not have a clear picture about where I would take my education and how satisfied I would be as a doctor. My Pregnancy Aid Center experience gave me some insight.

3. What impact did this experience have on your spiritual growth?

I took away a great deal from Gordon’s sermons.

WVC helped to cement my feeling that faith is rooted in action.

I loved the weekly Wednesday suppers together and the retreats. Gordon was also great. I have not since found a group of people I enjoy so much as the Volunteer Board and my fellow volunteers.

Well, over the last nine months since I finished volunteering I’ve joined Westmoreland UCC and I am also mentoring a student in the confirmation class. All in all, the experience pushed me to be more giving of myself.

Limited. I felt I had to seek this outside of the program. It was great to meet other Christians through WCUCC and other volunteer corps that were committed to social justice.

During my year I was able to explore many different aspects of simplicity and learn about others own spirituality.More attention to community/human relationships…kindness/hospitality as a spiritual discipline.

Learning to temper my own faith and spirituality to fit more with others who might feel uncomfortable. I learned a lot about the UCC as well.

It makes me realize the diversity of the body of Christ – and the challenges of Christian community – politically in conjunction with domestically.

I lived in the house during a time of great spiritual growth for me. I cannot say if going into ministry was directly related with my experience as a participant but it was affected.

It made me more open in discussing my faith.

It brought home the value of community and shared experiences.

I really enjoyed the retreats, working with Charlotte, and exploring the enneagram.

Spiritually that year was challenging. Our house had different faith backgrounds and I felt also spiritually and longing for spiritual fellowship. I think that the Lord drew me close to Him that year and taught me much about what I believed in. I have seen effects of that year spiritually on my own life and others from our WVC community.

It helped me to see and think about God in different ways.WVC led me to become more active in my church and want to be active in the spiritual community. I am now much more comfortable in talking about spirituality and faith and my beliefs.

I had had good experiences in church prior to my WVC year but during college had not regularly attended church. Through the WVC program, I had a most positive experience in church but also grew more comfortable with talking about my faith in God with my peers and with meditative and other spiritual exercises that cultivated my faith outside of the traditional church building.

I would say my room-mates particularly taught me about my spirituality. Their perspectives on life and religion were enlightening. I also went to a number of services at the church. I have never found a church with more thought-provoking sermons.

4. What feature of the Volunteer Corp program was most helpful to you during your year?

I thoroughly enjoyed our weekly meetings with Charlotte.Support from the Board. Retreats were great – I loved the community aspect.

I truly enjoyed getting to know the Board. The interactions and experiences with the Board were rich and full-spirited. The intergenerational aspects were fulfilling.

I felt very supported by the Board with frequent retreats and invitations to dinner. Having Barbara Sutton as spiritual director helped me make it through a difficult work placement.

My job and getting to use my skills. Also, I really enjoyed the retreats--much needed relaxation. Mentorship was helpful and great to have dinners with the Board and make connections.

Support of my housemates and the WCUCC community in my first year out of college.
I think that one most important/best feature of the year was having Carolyn Huchinson as my community/spiritual advisor. She really brought together the year for me and helped me to really think about and make meaning of my experiences.
Access to our support person/counselor for listening, guidance, regular weekly meetings with the house. Support from church/congregation (food, invitations, visits, dinners etc.)

The kindness of Will Irwin remains clear in my mind – as with the support and love of my housemates. I thought the Board was great! Taking us out for picnics, coming over for yard work, participating in retreats--I want to be like that for someone else some day.

I appreciated the support we got from the church.

Having a spiritual director working with us as a group and the quarterly retreats.

The community-building at home. I loved the spiritual life of my experience. The members of the WCUCC and the WVC Board were incredibly generous and thoughtful. Amazing people!!

I loved the family dinners! I learned how to cook better and loved sharing my day and hearing about others. That was a wonderful blessing and a stress reliever. The house was also wonderful as was the walk to the Metro. It was nice to get out of the city for the week-ends and be surrounded by such beautiful homes and outdoors.

Housing and support from the WVC Board! It was so helpful to have a great place to live in a new city and on a small stipend. I also loved the mentoring and support from the Board.

The relationship with the local church! Other volunteer groups (LVC, JVC) weren’t as closely linked with local congregations and it was noticeable in terms of feeling supported and encouraged in our work. Even though we didn’t all worship at Westmoreland, the relationship was there and I felt supported by the congregation. Even after 20 years, this is one of the most significant aspects of the WVC program that I recall.

The network of support that it provided: the nearby church community, the Board, the spiritual guide/counselor, and the community of volunteers.Church support (food etc.) Planned activities with room-mates. Sessions with Ruth.

5. What changes would you suggest to Board members as they lead the Volunteer Corps program in future years?

Based on my experience, I would not make any changes. My memories are all good--if I think of anything I’ll let you know.

I’m not certain if providing a spiritual director is still an aspect of the program, but it was intensely helpful in processing new experiences and helping us to build an intentional community.

The most stressful thing our year was trying to plan the retreats. It would have been nice to have some planned for us.

Not knowing the current program, that is difficult to say. However, we did not have a facilitator for our group and I believe that would have been beneficial.

Several of my roommates were unhappy with their placements. Make former volunteers’ evaluations of placements available. Also it’s helpful for all volunteers to have some level of spirituality/desire to grow.

I think the next step for the Board should be to search out diversity in gender, race, and religion for future years’ volunteers. Living in a more diverse community would push everyone even more! (and help them learn more).

More emphasis on communication building skills as needed for volunteers--so that they could better resolve conflicts and express concerns, especially to one another. Have clear verbal and written expectations, especially in terms of community living and maybe church involvement (maybe this is already done). Maybe encourage conversations that dig to root causes of why hunger and poverty exist, since many volunteer jobs service those who are poor.

Really--maybe time has erased all of the bad things but I have no suggestions.

It has been so many years now. I don’t really know how it is run now. Our “advisor”--I cannot remember her name--was quite ineffective and seemed less than motivated to really aid us but that was more likely her than it was the structure of the program.

Introduce the volunteers or do the volunteer mission moments earlier in the year.

I strongly feel that there should be a screening for mental health (I think there actually might have been one). But there one person in my group who was not stable and it made things very difficult, even dangerous, at times.

To the extent possible, continue to screen out previously established couples who apply. Pre-determined cliques make larger community building difficult.

I feel torn about this one since we had men in our house which were critical parts of our community. However I’m not crazy about the idea of having guys/girls live in such close quarters, sharing a bathroom etc. It would be great if there could be more separation/personal space. I personally enjoyed the males we lived with but at the time was not mature enough to handle living with a man and having good boundaries. So, this is an issue for me. It would be wonderful if there were two houses, 1 guys, 1 girls and a community night when we were both together. This may not be possible, however maybe there are other ways to create distinction between the sexes. I really enjoyed that year and want to thank everyone at the WVC for having such a great ministry opportunity. Thanks again.Keep learning and growing! We were the first group of volunteers, and we felt like guinea pigs at times- -ut the Board always seemed open to receiving feedback, making adjustments. Being open to the work of the Spirit will keep this ministry going-–in whatever shape it takes.

More volunteering options. Contacts for other volunteer corps in D.C. social events?

I can’t think of any changes. I felt like the program was very structured and offered a variety of wonderful experiences.

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