3/20/15- Janet Lares and Sophie Wardick

On our last day of Chicago, we did a service in a different setting. In the morning we drove to the Greater Chicago Food Depository in which we helped pack boxes of canned goods. Along with other groups from different areas, we all contributed towards a common goal of eventually having no one hungry. We learned that last year they distributed 67 million pounds of food. The staff was very energetic and passionate about their job. Our amazing team leader Andrew carried over 9,000 pounds of boxed goods onto crates! It was fun to experience a different aspect of community development through the food bank.

Later in the day, we got to experience the city life of Chicago. It was interesting witnessing the abrupt shift of environments. It almost felt like we were on two different trips. We got to take pictures at the Bean in Millennium park, the Navy Pier, walk along the river and Michigan Avenue, and other great Chicago attractions. We strolled amongst beautiful buildings that make Chicago's famous skyline. We also got to travel on the above ground and underground trains. For dinner we got to try famous Chicago dip dish pizza at Lou Malnati's Pizzeria.

To end our next night we all shared some final thoughts of this memorable trip. We all agreed that this trip was definitely inspiring and humbling. We owe a huge thank you to all the Sisters at the mission of Our Lady of Angels for their hospitality and generosity.

03/18/15

03/18/15

We started the day off with a delicious breakfast made by the sweet ladies at the convent. Then, we split up into groups.  Some various tasks of the groups were: recycling, cleaning, delivering a dryer to a lady in the neighborhood, picking up trash, transporting food into the church, and meeting with some of the BuildOn high schoolers from OAR.  We then ate lunch with Hope College and the high schoolers from OAR, had a break full of naps and team bonding, and headed over to Kelly Hall for the after school program.  

Although we wish that everyone had the opportunity to spend time with the BuildOn kids, only a few were able to do so.  The ones that did get to meet them spent time playing games, talking about bettering the community of West Humboldt Park, and making clay flower bombs for the empty lots.  A lot of this time was very interesting.  We got to really hear what the high schoolers thought about the community.  We quickly realized that they are very aware of the problems in their community and that they want change.  Those who got to talk to them realized that they simply enjoyed talking to a college student.  They opened up to us about their troubles at school and the gang violence present everywhere.  The high schoolers were questioning us about college, which made us excited that they are thinking about higher education! 

During the morning service, the students who didn't work with the BuildOn kids were doing a clean-up project in the neighborhood. We were able to clean up the sidewalks and a few lots around the YMCA. It was a great way to interact with community members as they were outside, and it was a great feeling to know that we were bringing a new feeling to the neighborhood. There were also some students who were able to help prepare the food for the day. 

Later on in the afternoon we returned to the after school program at Kelly Hall. It was great seeing the children again! None of us are ready to leave them yet! There was also a group of volunteers from a local college at Kelly Hall this afternoon. It was great getting to. Wet a drank with them about the comment and the needs they saw because of their proximity to the neighborhood. After the after school program we came back and had dinner and a meeting about food desserts (our topic that we're teaching at the high school tomorrow). After that meeting we had reflection and had a great time hanging out afterward. It was another great day in Humboldt Park for #missionreal!

Bring it Back

Today, we ventured out to the local public high school, Orr Academy High School. Our expectations went out the window as soon as we walked in the doors. Instantly we saw the metal detectors, security guards surrounded with the beautiful multicolored murals, and greeted by smiling faces and high fives from the students. The tour of the high school included a brief hello to the in-school day care that cared for student’s children that ranged from newborn to 3 years old. Orr High School also features a health care center, which specializes in prenatal care. Overwhelmed with the emotion of shock, we were in disbelief that there is a need for a day care in the school. At the high school we spent our time talking to the students about the lack of fresh produce in the area also known as a food desert. The remainder of the time was spent answering the student’s questions about college schedules, college life, and college expectations. Most students knew very little about any aspect of college, while others seemed very engaged in the conversation; at the same time other students were very apathetic towards the conversation. Witnessing the conversation made us feel discouraged that some students had no intention of finishing high school or pursuing a college career. Simultaneously, we felt hopeful for the students who showed interest in furthering their education.

For lunch, Sister Stephanie took us to the infamous Jimmy’s Red Hots where we enjoyed a delicious Chicago style hot dog that doesn’t even need ketchup. The owner of the hot dog stand generously fed us for free!

After lunch, we returned to the YMCA to help out at the after school program. Throughout the afternoon, we helped the kids finish up their homework, did some physical activity in the gym, helped serve dinner, and did other activities like arts and crafts. After forming a weeklong bond with the kids we said our final goodbyes. We felt extremely saddened, but at the same time we felt we inspired and provided some needed attention to the kids. Overall, we felt we had a lot of one-on-one interactions with the community which left us feeling inspired to bring back all of our effort to the Knoxville community.

By: Tyler Smith and Anna Fraser 

Day 3!

Day 3: By Jordan Kaset and J'taime Weaver

We started off the day with a great big breakfast with everyone. Following cleaning up, some of us went down to the Kelly Hall YMCA to help around the facilities. A few others cleaned up several class rooms and computer rooms to help instill the cleanliness mindset further into a community where it is not the top priority. Then, we came back to the convent and helped organize donations and tidy up more around the area. Next, we helped prepare a huge lunch back at Kelly Hall with senior citizens of the community and got to enjoy their company. Some of us were able to really connect with them and hear their input.  The seniors had so much positive advice and welcomed us all with lovely smiles.

After spending time with the seniors, we went and worked with our after school children. When we got inside we helped them with their homework before we played board games! The room was full of puzzles and different activities going on while the kids were roaring with laughter. The kids enjoy us and we are developing mentor relationships with them!

Day 2!

Day 2 by Adrianna Montgomery and Angela Zheng

After settling in, we began the next day by eating breakfast and learning the routine after every meal as well as splitting up into groups and helping with general cleaning throughout the church, Kelly Hall (the YMCA partnered with the mission), and the convent for three hours until lunch. Following lunch we spent three hours getting to know each other and playing ice breakers. Then we went to our first after school program session for the first time. When we first arrived, the program director, Ken, gave us a tour of the YMCA and told us about the program's mission, the infrastructure of the building, the issue of cutting program funding. The government may cut a third of the budget, which would be devastating to the building and program and the amount of kids they serve. After Ken's introduction the kids came in and had a snack. Soon after we split into different age groups. Some groups tutored and all of them spent quality one on one time with the children. Then the kids had a hot meal prepared by the food depository. At six we left and came back and ate dinner. Then Sister Stephanie gave us a great presentation about the neighborhood and its history. Finally, we had reflection about our day.

Expanding upon Sister Stephanie's presentation, we learned a lot about the community of West Humboldt Park and of Chicago. In 1958, at Our Lady of the Angels School, where Galapagos School stands today, there was a fire that killed 92 children and 3 nuns. This event changed the community makeup, causing residents to move away and the community plunged. The real estate agencies in the area thought it would be a good idea to block bust (increasing African Americans to move into the area while raising the cost of homes to make a significant profit). Additionally, urban renewal later shifted the demographic in the area. Racism in the lead led to high unemployment. This led the community into a spiral downfall. The neighborhood became and still is very transient and the people that live here don't feel the need to take care of their environment. There's little sense of dignity in this neighborhood, some don't have enough self respect to even think about caring for where they live. This and other things lead to  bigger complexities in the neighborhood including a vicious cycle of violence, organized crime, and widespread poverty.


Image courtesy of: www.catholicnewworld.com

Team #MissionReal made it to Chicago!

Day 1: by Maria Martinez and Alonna Howland

After an 8-hour van ride, our ASB team entered the Windy City at 5pm. Going into west Chicago, we were able to see that we are not in Knoxville anymore. Buildings were more run down, and there was an overwhelming amount of litter everywhere. Right off the bat, we were exposed to the community that we will be serving this week.

We arrived at The Mission of Our Ladies of the Angels, which is the place we are staying in and working alongside. Sister Stephanie, our awesome host, showed us to our rooms. We are so lucky to be staying here, as the place we are staying at is exceptionally well-kept compared to the neighborhood (pictures attached!), and definitely more than accommodating. Then, Sister Stephanie talked to us about the history of the mission. The history is very inspirational, as it was established to help a community that has been dealing with poverty for over 50 years.

After she showed us the amenities of the building we are staying in, we got to see the other facilities that are available to the community. The Mission partners with the YMCA to provide both an after-school program, and a senior citizen outreach. Sister Stephanie was telling us that before the mission was established, people did not leave their houses because of the high crime rate. However, now the mission provides a safe place for the community to get together and support each other. The mission is a huge help to the community, as they have services ranging from tutoring kids, to computer classes for the elderly, to a food pantry and community meals. We are so excited to see what this week has in store for us, and can't wait to get started!