I'd like to introduce myself as the new Events Coordinator here at the Center for the Homeless.  I am so excited to come on board such a dedicated, lively and good-hearted staff!

I was born and raised here in South Bend, where I attended John Adams High School.  I graduated from Northwestern University in 2007 with a degree in English literature and sociology. 

After graduation, I completed a year of national service through the AmeriCorps*VISTA program.  I was happy to accept a placement back in South Bend, and I spent a year as the Development Coordinator at the Family Justice Center of St. Joseph County.  My love and respect for this community deepened significantly.  I knew I wanted to continue working in South Bend at a place where people really cared about others and worked tirelessly to make the world a better place. 

As idealistic as that sounds, that's what I've found here.  I've been here just under a month, and I am regularly struck with how generous, creative, determined and talented the people at the Center are—staff and guests alike.  I'm thrilled to be part of such a wonderful community.

I am so excited to be a part of this place, and especially to begin working on the Center's fundraising events.  I am confident that this year, the Center's 20^thanniversary, we will make things even bigger and better than ever!

On Saturday, August 2nd South Bend is going to be exposed to "On the River `08"…the very first party of its kind.

Take 1,500 tons of sand, dump it in DTSB and add in palm trees, a huge main stage, live music, volleyball, fireworks and great island themed food and beverages. Combine all that with thousands of people who love to have fun in the sun and throw in some social consciousness and you've got "On the River `08!"

Thanks to the generosity of many area businesses and individuals, all proceeds from On the River `08 will benefit the Center for the Homeless.

TICKETS:

$10 in advance online or at Coveleski Box Office or $15 at the gate

VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT:

$120 per team

For tickets and volleyball registrationontheriver2008.com

Questions? Contact Jacqueline Kronk

Poverty has many faces.

I've been thinking a lot about poverty since reading Connie Bower's letter in the Sunday, June 1 Voice of the People.  Ms. Bower stated that "poverty is a personal choice – it's just that simple."  But it'snot that simple.  It's so complicated that after a week writing and re-writing and re-writing responses to Ms. Bower trying to explain poverty in a different way, I realized that I can't write that in a letter – it would take a book – and that all I can say is that having worked at the Center for the Homeless for the past five years, I've seen many, many different kinds of poverty.  Generational poverty is different from situational poverty.  Family poverty is different from the poverty an individual may face.  Working poverty is different from disabled poverty.

It's true that poverty often is the result of unfortunate choices, and that's something we talk about with the guests here at the Center.  But usually I don't have to tell a guest about bad choices – usually he or she tells me about choices.  "I dropped out of school and now I wish I hadn't."  "I knew I shouldn't have stayed in that relationship."  "I never should have left that job."  Our guests know about choices, and they own their choices.  They take responsibility for their choices.

The thing is, though, they don't stop there.  They also tell me about the choices they are making now.  "I'm working really hard in Adult Ed. right now because I'm scheduled to take the GED next month."  "He called me again but I told him I can't get involved right now, I have to focus on getting myself out of here."  "It feels so good to be working again." 

I'm proud of the choices these men and women make.

Beyond choices, though, we have to recognize that poverty is a huge, tough, complex social phenomenon.  It's not just about personal choices.  Sometimes it's about culture, sometimes it's about injustice, sometimes it's about social systems that just don't work … the choices that bring a person to poverty are made within an environment that often makes it difficult for a person to make the right choice.  That's not an excuse – it's just something that anyone interested in ending poverty must understand.  We can talk about personal choices and wash our hands of the problem, or we can work to understand why those choices are made, in hopes of changing our society to make the right choices clearer and more attainable.

As difficult as it is to understand poverty, it's near-impossible if you haven't had the opportunity to meet, know and understand a good number of the diverse individuals experiencing poverty.  So I'd like to invite Ms. Bower and everyone else in the Michiana community to come to the Center for the Homeless and meet the good, strong, honest people who are working to get themselves out of poverty.  Again, I am proud to know these people.  I am humbled to see how hard they work – harder than I've ever had to work in my life.  And I am honored to watch as they make new choices and change their lives.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CHAMPIONS OF SERVIN' THE CENTER!

Open Division: Alexandra Brinker and Sharon Brinker
3.5: Nancy Guerrant and Nancy Franger
3.0: Denise Keller and Amy Huchko

Many thanks to Shelly Whitney and the South Bend Racquet Club for hosting a great tournament!! Stay tuned for more tournaments in the future!

Questions? Contact Jacqueline Kronk