Emily Whidden ROSIE’S PLACE Services Human Spring · PDF fileCoordinated food delivery...
Transcript of Emily Whidden ROSIE’S PLACE Services Human Spring · PDF fileCoordinated food delivery...
Rosie's Place was founded in 1974 as the first women’s shelter in the United States. Their mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment that helps poor and homeless women maintain their dignity, seek opportunity and find security in their lives.
Today, Rosie’s Place not only provides meals and shelter but also creates answers for 12,000 women a year through wide-ranging support, housing and education services.
POSITION: Activities Coordinator
Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
Paid through stipend
ROSIE’S PLACE CO -OP POSITION
Improve my direct service skills
Expand environments and populations I’ve worked with
Make meaningful and personal connections with
guests, hear their stories
Gain a more comprehensive understanding of resources
available to poor and homeless women in Boston and
beyond
Be aware of the services offered and volunteer
opportunities available at Rosie's
Become familiar with some common barriers and
needs that poor and homeless women face in Boston
MY HOPES
Direct Service
Friendly Visiting
Food Pantry & Dining Room
Front Desk
Rosie’s IDs
Art Tabling
Computer Class & iPad Lab
Administrative Projects
Planned and coordinated activities
Created and updated resource guides
Coordinated food delivery
Conducted surveys
Updated guest info on database
MY TIME AT ROSIE’S
Worked or helped out in many departments
Front Office
Women’s Education Center
Food Program
Art Program
Public Policy
Development
Volunteer Services
Completed wide range of tasks for many teams
Harder to feel as integrated into one team, but
nice to have knowledge about variety of things
MY TIME AT ROSIE’S
The Friendly Visitor program connects volunteers
with poor and isolated women at home or in long -
term care facilities
Friendships form, providing both individuals with
comfort and enjoyment
Works to combat loneliness, allowing connections to
be made and experiences to be shared
3 times a week
Individual vs group
Varied environments
FRIENDLY VISITING
Gifts from guests
Guests asking for favors
Wanting to do more
Learned as I went
Created boundaries
Stayed consistent
Referred to Rosie’s rules
DILEMMAS
SOLUTIONS
No desk jobs!
Love direct service
Like variety not only day to day, but within
each day as well
Good at switching tasks, being flexible
Learned how to work within various
departments with different supervisors
Interested in many aspects of human services
Like a mix of direction and independence
WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT MYSELF
More aware of the lived experiences and daily
struggles of poor and homeless women
Saw first-hand the effect that policy has on direct
service
Everyone has a story
Taking time to reach out, have a conversation
Energized me to keep fighting
even harder against injustice
Will stay involved with Rosie’s
HOW IT AFFECTED ME
Rosie’s Public Policy department hosts a staff Lobby
Day each year; Women’s Education Center at Rosie’s
hosts Immigrant Lobby Day
Learned about MA’s 2 year bill cycle; supported various
bills like Repeal the Family Cap and Close the Snap
Gap/Common Application legislation
Attended Immigrant Lobby Day at the State House
Lobbied with guests in support of the MA Safe Communities
Act to protect immigrant rights
Wrote letters, met with Senators and
Representatives, attended rally
PUBLIC POLICY AT ROSIE’S
Rosie’s Place takes no government funding
Still, policy has a huge impact on the work at Rosie’s Food access
Housing/rent costs
Public benefits
Transportation
Healthcare
Employment & wages
Immigration
Domestic violence & sexual assault
Emergency services
Changes in policy affect guests’ everyday lives
POLICY’S IMPACT
Direct service
Have a better sense of what I do and don’t like
Learned about what types of positions are available
Interested in outreach, home visits
Relief staff at Rosie’s, volunteering
MY FUTURE PLANS