Providence House Heartline 703 Lexington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11221 www.providencehouse.org CHRISTMAS 2011 Former Peace Corps Volunteers Share in Providence House Experience One of the biggest benefits of Peace Corps service is the continuous inspiration and motivation that volunteers receive from each other during their time abroad. Annie Mooser and Jean Cassandra participated in the Peace Corp in northern Peru from 2005-2007. Separated by a 12-hour bumpy and cliff- hanging overnight bus ride, Jean and Annie stayed in touch frequently in Peru via cell phone. Annie was always excited to hear about the work that Jean accomplished with her desert community of Tierras Blancas. In the rural sierra community of Cabracancha the challenges that Annie faced were different from Jean’s, yet the women were bonded in their strong connection to their host families and the sense of community each experienced in their daily work. A cornerstone of the Peace Corps Peru experience is the host family. Jean and Annie both realized the importance of gaining an understanding through their host families with whom they lived among dirt floors, latrines, and open-fire cooking. Jean and Annie continued to expand their understanding and develop their compassion for the women and children of New York City’s homeless and parole populations. Upon their return to the United States, Jean and Annie pursued careers in speech language pathology and medicine, respectively. Despite the complexities of the education required for such professions, both women understood that the best education comes from living among those who represent their future client and patient populations, the vulnerable populations served by Providence House. Annie lived at Providence House from 2009-2010 and Jean from 2008-2011. In a similar fashion to how their Peruvian host families had taken them in as daughters and sisters, the Sisters of St. Joseph and the staff and residents of Providence House welcomed Annie and Jean into their homes in Brooklyn and Queens. In Peru, Annie spent late hours at night washing dishes, chopping firewood, or helping her host mother Aurelia peel potatoes. In Brooklyn Annie was encouraged to help some of the house’s younger residents complete their homework after witnessing that a third grade math level was often beyond their mothers’ capabilities. Her strongest sense of belonging in the house took place every day, after returning from her job at a local Brooklyn hospital, when she shared in nightly meals and dinner table conversation with the residents. As Jean points out, “The cycle of poverty can be broken, but it takes the right environment. I saw it happen with my Peruvian host sister, Yarena who grew up with a dirt floor and limited resources for school. Now she is going to be a pharmacist. I also saw it in Queens where in just a few months, women coming out of prison with no job and no homes were able to completely turn their lives around thanks to the stable environment Providence House gave them.” Annie agrees, adding, “Sometimes people just need the right influence. Other times they just need someone to show them that no matter what their background, their place in the world is just as important as anyone else’s.” Jean now works with YAI/NYL Henry H. Gordon School in the Bronx as a bilingual speech pathologist and Annie is in her second year of medical school at George Washington University. Annie Mooser and Jean Cassandra Annie volunteering at a Brooklyn hospital Jean and host family in Peru
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Providence House Heartline 703 Lexington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11221
www.providencehouse.org CHRISTMAS 2011
Former Peace Corps Volunteers Share in Providence House Experience
One of the biggest benefits of Peace Corps service is the continuous inspiration and motivation that volunteers receive from each other during their time abroad. Annie Mooser and Jean Cassandra participated in the Peace Corp in northern Peru from 2005-2007. Separated by a 12-hour bumpy and cliff-hanging overnight bus ride, Jean and Annie stayed in touch frequently in Peru via cell phone. Annie was always excited to hear about the work that Jean accomplished with her desert community of Tierras Blancas. In the rural sierra community of Cabracancha the challenges that Annie faced were different from Jean’s, yet the women were bonded in their strong connection to their host families and the sense of community each experienced in their daily work. A cornerstone of the Peace Corps Peru experience is the host family. Jean and Annie both realized the importance of gaining an understanding through their host families with whom they lived among dirt floors, latrines, and open-fire cooking. Jean and Annie continued to expand their understanding and develop their compassion for the women and children of New York City’s homeless and parole populations. Upon their return to the United States, Jean and Annie pursued careers in speech language pathology and medicine, respectively. Despite the complexities of the education required for such professions, both women understood that the best education comes from living among those who represent their future client and patient populations, the vulnerable populations served by Providence House. Annie lived at Providence House from 2009-2010 and Jean from 2008-2011.
In a similar fashion to how their Peruvian host families had taken them in as daughters and sisters, the Sisters of St. Joseph and the staff and residents of Providence House welcomed Annie and Jean into their homes in Brooklyn and Queens. In Peru, Annie spent late hours at night washing dishes, chopping firewood, or helping her host mother Aurelia peel potatoes. In Brooklyn Annie was encouraged to help some of the house’s younger residents complete their homework after witnessing that a third grade math level was often beyond their mothers’ capabilities. Her strongest sense of belonging in the house took place every day, after returning from her job at a local Brooklyn hospital, when she shared in nightly meals and dinner table conversation with the residents. As Jean points out, “The cycle of poverty can be broken, but it takes the right environment. I saw it happen with my Peruvian host sister, Yarena who grew up with a dirt floor and limited resources for school. Now she is going to be a pharmacist. I also saw it in Queens where in just a few months, women coming out of prison with no job and no homes were able to completely turn their lives around thanks to the stable environment Providence House gave them.” Annie agrees, adding, “Sometimes people just need the right influence. Other times they just need someone to show them that no matter what their background, their place in the world is just as important as anyone else’s.” Jean now works with YAI/NYL Henry H. Gordon School in the Bronx as a bilingual speech pathologist and Annie is in her second year of medical school at George Washington University.
Annie Mooser and Jean Cassandra
Annie volunteering at a Brooklyn hospital
Jean and host family in Peru
Gift of Sharing Alive at Providence House
T he adage “a picture is worth a thousand words” rings no truer than in the smiling faces of the children at the annual
Halloween party at Providence House I on Church Avenue. Everyone participated in all the activities, including the parents. The children were delighted when only the adults began playing musical chairs and trying their best to win! What a sight to see! The families laughed so hard that day. Both current and former residents came together to join in the games, share a meal, and engage in conversation. The former residents were a source of inspiration, demonstrating to our current residents that with work and determination they too can start life anew. Tavia, one of our House Managers observed, “We all came together as one. It was great seeing the former residents with the current residents sitting around sharing their experiences at Providence House. It was just a happy day, especially for the children.”
Women Speak Before coming to Providence House, I suffered in an abusive relationship with my husband. My life was just difficult. I used to feel so depressed, but thank God for Providence House. Since I
arrived at Providence House my life began to change, step by step, through my perseverance as well as the support I received from the professional case management staff. During my stay here Providence House literally became my family. It opened options for me and for my daughter—the brightness of a better future within reach. The negative thoughts and depression that plagued me are no longer a part of my life now and I am free from the darkness that was working in my life. I am truly grateful that Providence House was there for me and for so many others!
Aiche and Atiya
Housing Construction Progress
Below is a picture of the Providence House 46-unit permanent supportive housing project construction site at Kosciusko Street, Brooklyn that will house low-income families from the community and women and families with speciall needs. We expect to begin receiving our new residents in the spring of 2013.
Related Documents
