Why Do They Do It?

Posted on April 27, 2013 by estrickland


When I tell people I recruit volunteers to serve with Catholic Charities Atlanta, they often express curiosity and surprise.   How do you do that?  Why do people want to volunteer?  Everyone is busy these days, keeping up with the demands of work and family.  Why do our volunteers make the time?

Now it’s my job to share the benefits of volunteering:  the skills a person will learn, the broadening experience of working with international populations, the leadership experience and the value added to the resume.  But other than students, most volunteers are not even thinking of putting their service with us on their resume.   So why do it?

Some people have a personal connection with Catholic Charities:  the agency helped someone in their family; an adult who was placed for adoption by Catholic Charities feels a sense of gratitude.  Others are stirred by their faith or their desire to fight injustice.  Students want real world experience.  Retirees finally have the freedom to set their own schedules, and they want their days to be filled with meaning.

Whatever the motivation that brings a volunteer to us, they share similar needs that must be met if they are to be successful members of our team.  They need a task that suits their interests and reason for volunteering.  The task needs to have a beginning and an end; and it needs to be something that needs doing.  They need reasonable deadlines and flexibility in their schedules.  They need to be trained and have a safe, comfortable environment.  They need to feel our appreciation.  These are the things we have to provide in order to engage and keep volunteers, but their motivation and our planning doesn’t quite answer our question.

What makes someone put us on their calendar every Wednesday morning for five years?  Why go to a basement classroom after work every Tuesday night to teach adults to speak English?  For those volunteers who are in direct service with our clients, I can say that it’s all about the clients:  the refugees, the families, the children, the ESL students.  Quite simply, they love to help our clients.  They love to help the kind ones, the grateful ones, the not so grateful ones, the ones who miss appointments, the frustrated ones,  the ones who arrive late to class, the ones who offer tea and the ones who say nothing at all.   They love to see the change in a client over the time they spend together.  Experiencing that change in a client changes our volunteers’ lives, and that is why they volunteer.

But what about the volunteers who don’t work directly with our clients? Why would anyone want to sit at a cubicle entering data into a spreadsheet all morning? Pull seventy-five voicemail messages from a phone?  Move furniture into a third floor walkup?  Our volunteers develop trusting relationships with our staff, who are, in a word, great.  But our volunteers are not looking to fill a shortage of friends in their lives; so why do they come?   I hear these answers every week:   “I want to help” and “I can do that.”  They believe in the work our agency does.  They believe we are effective; so they know their efforts make a difference.  Sometimes the change is easy to see, sometimes not.  But seeing the change and making a difference is why they volunteer.  Not everyone wants to make a difference or change the world.  I’m so lucky to spend my days with people who do.

This blog written by Margaret Prickett, Volunteer Resources Manager, Catholic Charities Atlanta

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A Story of Two Sisters’ Journey of Help and Hope

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Stephanie

Abandoned
Two sisters, a two-year-old and six-month-old, were abandoned at the door of an elderly couple. Their parents intentionally had not registered them with local Chinese authorities so that they could try to have a son. The girls remained with the elderly couple into their early teens. When a man came to their village looking for girls to work in a factory in the U.S., his offer of generous wages and free immigration documents seemed to promise a better life for two Chinese girls invisible in their own country.

A Journey of Betrayal
Accepting his offer, the girls were given “documents” and travel arrangements were made with a Chinese tourist group. Their documents were later taken; then in Paris they were separated from the group and flown to Mexico City where they boarded a van. The van was filled with young Chinese girls for the drive to the U.S. border. Along the way they learned the trip was not free—they would work to pay it off, but not as factory workers. The sisters would work in brothels—young teen and pre-teen girls to be exploited in the illicit sex trade. Their captors prepped them on illegal border crossing, which was done on foot at night. Running, the older sister made it; the younger one did not.

Alone
Alone and frightened, the younger sister was forced to hide out for weeks before attempting another crossing. Eventually she succeeded only to be “sold” to a man in New York City. She spent months in his apartment, along with other young Chinese girls, locked up by day in a small, windowless room and forced into acts of prostitution by night. Meanwhile, the older sister was forced to work in a Texas brothel. One evening, the “night watchman” got drunk and fell asleep. Again, the older sister ran and at a nearby gas station, she called for help and was reunited with family friends and a distant relative.

Reunited
One day, the man in New York who “owned” the younger sister did not come home. It took days, but finally all the girls escaped and the younger sister made her way to a homeless shelter. Online at a Chinese-language version of Facebook she found an ad posted by her older sister. They reunited and made their way to Atlanta to stay with a family friend who happened to be familiar with the work of Catholic Charities Atlanta Immigration Legal Services program.

A Better Life
With the help of Catholic Charities Atlanta staff, the sisters applied for and received Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and are now lawful permanent residents. They enrolled in high school, are learning English, getting good grades and hope to go to college to realize their dream of a better life. It has been a humbling experience for Catholic Charities staffers to work with these young women. They are amazingly resilient. You can see their love for each other. Staffers have also been inspired by the family that has taken them in, who have done so simply because they believe that it is the right thing to do.

One Story Out of Many
Although the case of the Chinese sisters is powerful, it is just one of the 85 active children’s cases that the CCA Immigration Legal Services staff deal with annually. Their work is a specialized process which requires work at both the state court and federal immigration court levels.

ABOUT CATHOLIC CHARITIES ATLANTA (CCA) IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES
Provides low-cost, quality legal immigration services to more than 6,000 clients annually. A multi-lingual, nine-person staff specializing in immigration law helps eligible individuals and families obtain permanent legal status, assist clients with the naturalization process and provide legal representation during deportation proceedings. We also assist survivors of domestic violence, abandoned or neglected foreign children, detained clients and victims of trafficking and crimes.

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On Thanksgiving, Refugees Grateful for Safety in New Community

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Stephanie

On Thanksgiving Day, refugee families in Atlanta will celebrate an American tradition by participating in Thanksgiving activities; including a meal to give thanks for their new lives in America. A uniquely American holiday, Thanksgiving honors the first settlers to America, pilgrims from England who fled their homeland for freedom, as well as the hospitality they encountered upon arriving in a new land.

“In many ways, refugees from around the world who come to America today reflect the story of the original Pilgrims that landed at Plymouth Rock,” said Frances McBrayer, refugee resettlement director for Catholic Charities Atlanta (CCA).  “They are fleeing persecution themselves and seek a life of freedom and safety in our country.”

The story of Sarah, who came to Atlanta from the Congo is a case in point. Sarah lived in a village in the Congo with her husband and nine children.  Five years ago, she and her family were forced to flee to neighboring Uganda because the ongoing instability and violence that has plagued the Congo for so long finally reached their village.  When armed militia groups came into the village, panic ensued, and everyone tried to flee at the same time.  The family grabbed only what they could reach and immediately ran for shelter in the forest.  In the process, Sarah fell and was trampled by other villagers who were also trying to flee. Luckily, Sarah was able to get up and rejoin her family, but there was still a long journey ahead.  After walking for hundreds of miles, the family reached a refugee camp. Life in the camp was not easy. Sarah and her husband could not work so they relied on food rations.

Sarah and her family registered as refugees with the United Nations and began the wait for the opportunity to be resettled in another country and in late 2011, the family was finally cleared to be resettled in the United States.  In the spring of 2012, Sarah, her husband and six of her children flew to Atlanta to begin a new life. Three of their daughters stayed behind. It is common for families to get separated during the resettlement process.

Sarah and her family were met at the airport by their Catholic Charities Atlanta case worker, who took the family to their new apartment. During the next several weeks, CCA staff helped the family get social security cards, enrolled the children in school, taught them how to use MARTA, and provided other services needed for the family to begin life in their new country.

After the family had been in Atlanta for one month, our Employment Specialist enrolled Sarah in an internship program that the agency has in order to help refugees learn more about the American workplace. Sarah had never worked outside of the home, so an internship would give her a good opportunity to learn valuable skills. Sarah completed her internship after three weeks.  When she was finished, she was offered a permanent job because she demonstrated a strong work ethic. Sarah accepted the job and has been working there ever since.

Today, Sarah always has the biggest smile on her face. The scared look that was once on her face when she arrived in the U.S. is gone. Now her husband and oldest son are also working to support their family. Sarah is waiting for the day when her daughters left behind in the camp will be able to join the family here in Atlanta. Catholic Charities Atlanta will help the family file the necessary paperwork for them to come, but there are no guarantees. She can only hope that they may be able to come soon.

The United States offers protection to thousands of refugees each year through the U.S. Refugee program, which, in collaboration with faith-based and refugee rights organizations, resettles them in the United States.   Before coming to America, refugees must demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution in their homelands.

“Refugees who enter the United States through the U.S. Refugee Program have experienced trauma and violence in their home countries, said McBrayer.  “By accepting them into the United States, we are literally saving their lives. Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday for Americans to reflect on the special role our country plays in providing safe haven to the persecuted of the world. ”

About Catholic Charities Atlanta Refugee Resettlement Program
Catholic Charities Atlanta assists refugees in the north Georgia and metro Atlanta areas to integrate into the local community, assisting them with housing, counseling, and employment services.  With such assistance, refugees in Atlanta and elsewhere become self-sufficient in a short amount of time.

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“I am a STUDENT”

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Stephanie

“I am a student.”

He repeated, “I am a student!”

During the past five years, over 1,000 adults who have enrolled in our English Language classes could make this statement. But never was it said with such passion as on a Tuesday morning in August. It almost brought our class to tears.

His journey with Catholic Charities Atlanta began on February 1, 2012, when Jeom Bak and his wife Jung Hee came to our Chamblee office and asked if they could register in our program. The soft-spoken Korean gentleman explained that his wife could speak and understand very little and had never learned to read or write English, despite the fact that they have lived in this country for 36 years. He went on to say that, although he could speak and understand with some fluency, he had never had the opportunity to learn how to read and write. We helped them complete the paperwork and entry assessments and then assigned them to different classes. Since that day they have had almost perfect attendance.

Their participation has shattered the image of what it means to seek English literacy. At 83, Jeom’s determination to make up for lost time has been an inspiration for everyone he comes into contact with. Previous attempts to attend classes had been impeded by family and work commitments, and he relishes the luxury of retirement, which gives him the time to attend.

The couple’s journey in the United States began in 1976, when they and their two children settled in Macon, Georgia. He had accepted an offer to work as an engine mechanic and, while there, he created a mutual mentoring agreement with a Georgia-born co-worker: Jeom would share his mechanical expertise and his friend taught him to speak and understand English. Several years later they moved to the Atlanta area where he owned and operated mechanic and auto supply businesses.
Challenging experiences are nothing new to Mr. Bak. As a nine year old boy, his family moved to Japan to escape the impoverization being inflicted upon the Korean population. He recounts that, in Japan, he quickly learned to adapt to being a stranger in a strange land, skills which have come in handy throughout his life. Following the end of World War II, his family returned to their native country. However, they were often spurned because of their decision to leave Korea during the period of Japanese Colonial rule. Jeom quickly immersed himself again in the language and culture of his native country.

As a young man, he worked as a police car driver, a taxi driver, a mechanic, and ultimately served in the South Korean army as a 1st Sergeant during the Korean War. His work ethic and devotion to his country (and possibly his good looks) attracted his wife-to-be, Jung Hee, and, after a three-month courtship, they married in 1957. A son was born in 1964 and their daughter followed in 1972. This was the young family who immigrated to the United States in 1976, seeking a better life and future for their children.

On October 28, 1994, after 18 years of residence in this country, Mr. and Mrs. Bak became U.S. Citizens. They now have grandchildren who live nearby, and take great joy and pride in their family. Their grandson often serves as a “private tutor” for his grandfather, encouraging him to increase his English literacy and, in a role-reversal of the traditional grandparent-grandchild relationship, helping both Jeom and Jung Hee with homework assignments.

Their participation in our English program is an inspiration to our staff, volunteers and students. During a recent class, Jeom reported that his physician had requested that he make future appointments on Tuesdays or Thursdays. The proud and handsome 83-year old continued, “I told him ‘No!’ I have English class on those days and I cannot come. I am a student!” When the doctor insisted, he repeated, “I am a student!”

And so it goes. Each of our adult students brings a life story, and we help them to recount it with newfound English literacy skills. We not only teach them the language, we also give them the skills to live and thrive in our culture. Catholic Charities Atlanta strives to serve those who are in need to achieve their full potential, giving them hope and leading them to self-sufficiency and wholeness. Jeom’s simple yet profound statement, “I am a student!,” is clear evidence that, in some small way, we are succeeding.

About Catholic Charities Atlanta’s English Language Program
Catholic Charities Atlanta offers English language and civics instruction. Free classes are available to all adults over the age of 18 who are interested in improving their English language skills. Catholic Charities Atlanta also offers citizenship classes for adults who are applying for U.S. citizenship. Classes are offered in DeKalb, Fulton, Clayton and Hall counties. For more information, please call (770) 790-3104.

This blog written by Loretta Siefferman, Manager, Adult Education Services, Catholic Charities Atlanta.

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A Year Like No Other

Posted on July 26, 2012 by SESwann

Three young women with various college degrees, diverse interests, and different personalities have found common ground at Catholic Charities Atlanta (CCA) this year, and Catholic Charities could not be happier that they have. These women, who share a passion for serving others and working for social justice, are selflessly living a full year of service. Nicole Deters, 22, and Kristina Mata, 24 serve at CCA while living in community with fellow Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) members. Laura Simons, 22, lives with Dominican sisters in the Dominican Volunteers USA (DVUSA) program.

The mission of JVC rests on four values: social justice, simple living, community, and spirituality. Participants live in community with fellow Jesuit Volunteers for up to two years. Volunteers live among the homeless, unemployed, abused, mentally ill, former gang members, and low-wage earners they serve. DVUSA also has a goal of working for justice and peace. Volunteers live in intergenerational communities throughout the United States for one to two years, serving those on the margins of society. They work in a variety of programs including education, social service industries, public policy advocacy, art, nursing, spiritual enrichment ministries, and organic farming.

Nicole Deters
Nicole Deters grew up in Albany, New York, and graduated from Fordham University. There she studied political science and history, focusing on international relations and international conflict resolution. Nicole works as a Resettlement Specialist with CCA’s Refugee Resettlement Services. CCA helps resettle over 250 refugees from 10 countries each year. Over the course of a three to six-month program, 16 staff members, fluent in 17 different languages, provide services to meet the specific needs of each family and start them on the road to independence. On average, over 90% of refugee families resettled by CCA become economically self-sufficient within six months of arrival in the United States. As a Resettlement Specialist, Nicole addresses their housing, employment, education, healthcare, identification, and legal needs. As they begin life in an unfamiliar country, she serves as their advocate, guide, teacher, and friend.

When asked why she chose to commit to a year of service, Deters replied, “I wanted to experience something new and different while challenging myself in different issues of social justice. Having focused my undergraduate studies in international conflict management and resolution, working in refugee resettlement was really appealing to me.” Nicole has really enjoyed working with her clients, learning about their personal histories and helping them adjust to life in the United States. She was drawn to JVC’s four core values and wanted to practice consciously living them out.

Each day brings new challenges and joys for Nicole. She gets a thrill out of watching her clients begin speaking English only weeks after arriving in the U.S. and seeing the children succeed in new schools. Joy floods her heart when a refugee secures a job and provides for his or her family. As for community living, Nicole says that it is both the most challenging and most rewarding aspect of this year. She lives with five other volunteers who work at different nonprofits in Atlanta. “We all come from very different places of the country and all came in with varying ideas of what this year of service would mean to us. Sometimes, different issues in our community can seem tedious when we discuss them (cooking and chores!), but overall, I have grown to love my community and the ways that we try to stay involved together. We have adopted a simple and socially conscious lifestyle that I hope to maintain as I move on next year.”Additionally, Nicole hopes more young people find the value in volunteering for a year, however they choose to do so. “My year has been a very fulfilling experience and I have learned a lot that I will take with me when I continue with my career. I have been able to see a new city, meet really great people, and challenge myself in ways that I never thought were possible.”

Kristina Mata
Kristina Mata, who also serves with JVC, feels as passionate as Nicole does about her year of service. A Texan from San Antonio, she earned degrees in International Relations, Economics, and Religion from Baylor University. Kristina currently works in the Family Stabilization Department as a Case Manager at Catholic Charities Atlanta. The Family Stabilization Department helps families transition from meeting immediate needs to establishing and achieving future goals of economic independence. It provides services such as pre-purchase housing counseling, mortgage and foreclosure education, English language instruction, and savings-match programs. Kristina develops personal relationships with each family, assesses their specific needs, figures out which educational programs best suit them, and helps them access local resources.

Mata chose to serve full-time since she wanted a more service-driven lifestyle. She acknowledges that living in community with others can be tough at times because everyone has different backgrounds, styles, and ways of doing things. “You also have to be open to the fact that when your community suffers, you suffer. Sharing in each others’ lives is the most enriching and most challenging aspect.”

Kristina has also learned quite a lot from working with the families. “Coming straight out of college, you have a tidy textbook understanding of particular populations and poverty, but when you work in social services and interact with people whose financial and personal circumstances are rough, you realize how complicated poverty really is.” The institutional barriers that perpetuate the cycle of poverty can be overwhelming and nearly impossible to overcome, she says. Additionally, she has seen her clients face difficult personal barriers. In the midst of poverty, she has realized the importance of a strong, stable community, which she has experienced living with fellow volunteers. “Poverty isn’t just lack of money, but also a lack of personal resources, like relationships, friendships, family, and strong community ties. This is perhaps one of the most complicated facets of poverty to try and make sense of.”

When asked about what misconceptions people have about poverty, Kristina answered, “People commend our work as volunteers who dedicate a year to service, but everyone has a calling to serve their community in some capacity, even if it is not through a year with a volunteer corps.” She wishes people would consider their own circumstances, what they have to offer, and how they can set aside some time and resources to serve the community.

Laura Simons
Last but certainly not least, Connecticut native Laura Simons has gained much so far from her year of service with the Dominican Volunteers. A graduate from Notre Dame this past May, she majored in both Japanese and Economics. Laura also studied abroad in Japan during her time in college. She serves as a Job Developer with CCA’s Refugee Resettlement Services. As a Job Developer, Laura’s goal is to help refugees secure full-time jobs to help their families become self-sufficient. She serves as the liaison between American employers and the refugees, helps refugees learn specific skills for the job, teaches them about the culture of the workplace they will be in, maintains contact with them once they begin working, and advocates for fair wages and treatment.

A yearlong service commitment was not something Laura had always expected she would do, though she knew she wanted to volunteer. Previous mission trips and her family’s love of volunteering influenced her decision. Laura lives with five Dominican sisters, all who are over 75, and says that the community life is great. She admits that the generation gap worried her at first, but those fears have long since passed. The sisters, whom she admires as role models in faith, are, “amazing people. They have worked with civil rights, social justice, schools, and the homeless. They are really incredible with great stories. It has been a great learning experience.”

While working with her clients, Laura has loved finding out how resourceful they are. She gets excited when clients call to tell her that he they have secured a job on their own. “They surprise you by managing and thriving,” she says. Most people equate refugees with immigrants, Laura remarks, but they are not one in the same. Refugees are “not undocumented, they are invited by our country.” They come to the U.S. escaping persecution and, in most cases, violence. Laura wishes people took time to understand where these people are coming from.

Catholic Charities Atlanta is very grateful for these women’s dedication and enthusiasm, wishing them the best in their future endeavors as well!

Article written by Sarah Elizabeth Swann. Swann is a junior at the University of Georgia studying Communication Studies and Resource Economics. She recently served as a Development and Marketing intern at CCA and has also volunteered with the agency as an English language instructor.

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One Mom at a Time

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Stephanie

The Impact of Catholic Charities Atlanta’s In Home Parenting Education Program

Catholic Charities Atlanta provides in home parenting education to moms who lack support and are a part of a high risk population due to homelessness, domestic violence, mental health issues, and learning disabilities. Some of the moms we assist are also young, inexperienced, and ill-prepared for motherhood. Our goal is to help these mothers  become self-sufficient and provide them  with the skills necessary to effectively and lovingly parent their children and prevent child abuse and neglect.

Our caring, experienced Parent Specialist meets with over 30 women each year for a six to nine month parenting program. She visits these women in their home and helps them with basic parenting skills, baby safety, nutrition, child development, and budgeting. Additionally, the parenting specialist assists the moms with referral information for accessing and linking additional services that they may need (i.e. WIC, Medicaid applications, financial literacy, legal services and counseling.)

The Parent Specialist’s individualized work makes a significant impact on the lives of the moms who participate in this program. Below is one of the many letters that we receive from grateful clients who have benefitted from our parenting education program, called “Parent Talk.”

 “Some of the best things in life come unexpectedly.  I first heard of Catholic Charities Atlanta from a friend of mine, who recommended that I call and see what services I can get to help me take care of my daughter better. By the time I made my first call, I was seven months pregnant. The information I got was that there was a short waiting time period and someone would get back to me and luckily enough after giving birth and my daughter was a week old, I got the call, that it was my turn. In about two weeks I got to meet the social worker and that was the start of a very interesting learning adventure.

A lady by the name of Esther Gonzalez called me on the phone, a parent specialist, introduced herself and told me about Catholic Charities. She told me what to expect and finally we set up a day to meet. As I waited for the agreed upon date, a lot went through my mind.  Though she had told me what to expect, I still waited anxiously. I have learned a lot that I have applied in raising my baby girl. Esther handled and interacted with my daughter with much care and patience. She taught me safety, nutrition and what to expect at different stages of growth and development. I have used the informative handouts/booklets and videos as reference and guides so many times to raise my daughter. Esther listens too and I strongly believe that is one of the best characteristics that define a good person. Many of us, most of the time, need just someone to listen. Also, she was very concerned about our well being, in a way you cannot imagine. To sum it up, I would like to thank Catholic Charities for the wonderful help that I have received from them. Importantly, the parent teaching sessions, diapers, wipes, clothes, handouts/booklets, and videos that I have applied in raising my daughter. Also I want to thank Miss Esther Gonzalez, for the good heart and wonderful teachings, patience and listening. I would definitely recommend it to any mother out there.”

Thank you,
Savannah

About Our Parent Talk Program

Catholic Charities Parent Talk Program serves to educate, strengthen and support pregnant and parenting families to raise their children in a safe and healthy environment so that they may achieve their full potential.

We serve a diverse mix of clients (adults and teens), including high-risk expectant parents, new parents and other caregivers/guardians raising infants. Services focus on family support and early intervention.

Parent Talk is a voluntary intensive, parenting skills education program with services provided in your home including:

  • Assistance with goal setting to help moms meet their basic needs;
  • Free baby supplies and layettes when available
  • Counseling Services
  • Information and Referral
  • Case Management
  • Child/Family Assessments
  • Child Development Screenings

For more information, please contact our client intake line at 404-733-3527 or email ppahelp@catholiccharitiesatlanta.org.

Donate

The In Home Parenting Education Program is provided free of charge to the mothers who participate as most of them live below the poverty level and do not have the support of family. To help Catholic Charities Atlanta continue to provide this vital program for mothers in our community, please consider making a donation to our Mother’s Day Appeal by clicking here.

Additionally, we accept donations for new moms in the form of gift cards, diapers (newborn to size 4), wipes, pack and plays, baby toiletries, and baby rash creams.  To donate baby supplies, please contact Sandy Thompson at 404-978-2777 or by email at sthompson@catholiccharitiesatlanta.org.

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A Mother’s Letter of Thanks

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Stephanie


Mother’s Day is a time to honor the mothers in our lives. Often it is a time for mothers to reflect on what motherhood has meant to them and the impact they have had on their children’s lives.

Below is a letter from one of our clients who received help from Catholic Charities Atlanta’s (CCA) Pregnancy Counseling Services Program over twenty years ago. The letter speaks to the heart of the impact of CCA’s services on a client’s life. CCA continues to offer this program as it did twenty years ago when a young, single pregnant woman entered our offices.

“Thank you for the help and encouragement you gave to me twenty years ago. A few years ago, I wrote and told you how the baby you helped had grown and now had siblings. Well, the little boy is now 19, graduated high school and is now at college. I wanted you to know how well the child you helped has done. My Joshua was salutatorian of his class. He took honors classes and was involved in three sports for most of his high school career. He earned his Eagle Scout award as well as many other awards, honors and scholarships. He was offered a full ride to college and is now studying chemical engineering.

Throughout Joshua’s graduation, I kept recalling his beginnings. I thought of how alone and upset I felt when I found out I was pregnant. How I wondered what was going to happen. I called your office and was assigned a counselor. Your staff treated me with dignity and held that my precious unborn child had dignity all his own. I did end up raising Joshua and marrying his father. As we listened to Joshua’s graduation speech, with about 3,000 other people, he told his teachers and coaches thank you. And looking directly towards his father and me, he thanked us. Tears flowed down my face as I watched him stand under the cross in his gymnasium and thought, ‘God, you keep all your promised.’ Only God knew what this child was going to accomplish and what he has ahead of him. God knew this child and because of this child standing in front of all these people, my whole life changed. He made me learn about myself and who God was. This child made me really look at what I thought was important and realize how unimportant so many things really were. He helped me to see my views about abortion were totally wrong. God has a purpose for Joshua as he does for everyone.

Twenty years ago, someone told me, ‘the child you’re carrying will accomplish many things, and turn out be a fine young man.’ Being pregnant and alone is a scary, difficult place, filled with everyone’s opinions. Your office was a safe, loving retreat for me. Thank you. I felt cared about and supported not only emotionally, but financially. Because of what you did for me, I have been able to go on and support other young, single pregnant women. I have a group that meets at my home and they talk about their lives. I often share what a help Catholic Charities Crisis Pregnancy Counseling was for me. I can never repay you for the gift you gave me.

You give babies a chance to become what God has called them to be. What great work all of you do. Please don’t become discouraged, but be encouraged. You make huge differences in people’s lives. Your work is some of the most important on this Earth. My thanks to you is so small, but know you were a part of that child addressing all those people at his graduation. You are a part of his world and both our lives and every life you help. What holy work you all do. May you be blessed.”

In great love and gratitude,

Mary

About Catholic Charities Atlanta’s Pregnancy Counseling Services

We provide free, professional counseling to assist you and your family with decision making, problem solving, and goal setting. Our services are aimed at helping families make positive plans that include parenting, adoption, or kinship care for your unborn child.

If you are a pregnant woman who is in crisis about your pregnancy or undecided about which plan is best for you and your baby, our trained and caring staff offers encouragement, support, and guidance as you take the steps to carry your baby to term.

For more information about this program, please visit our website.

Donate

To donate to our Mother’s Day Appeal and help us continue to offer these vital services, please click on the DONATE NOW button.

 

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A Lesson in Servant Leadership

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Stephanie

By Ben and Melanie Colley

This is an excerpt from a presentation given at the graduation of the Catholic Charities Atlanta 2011 Leadership Class by class members Ben and Melanie Colley.

Good Evening Everyone!

I remember being on our pre-cana retreat where couples came to speak to us, and thinking “I hope at some point in our faith journey someone asks us to speak as a couple”, so thank you for giving us this opportunity!

Often times when programs are new, the first year is a trial run, you learn from your mistakes, make changes and hope for a better next year.  But that’s definitely not the case with the Catholic Charities Atlanta Leadership Class Program, and it’s hard to believe this is the inaugural year because it’s apparent how much hard work has gone into preparing each session.  From the speakers, to the delicious meals, the saint groups, the fundraising pages, the mentor workshop, the nametags, and above all the caliber of the mentors and classmates—no stone has been left unturned.

Learning About Catholic Charities Atlanta

Before this class began, I knew Catholic Charities Atlanta was a Catholic non-profit agency, based in Atlanta and affiliated with the Archdiocese, that they helped those in need, with a focus in providing refugee resettlement services.  I did not know that they provided assistance to non-Catholics, that over half the staff is bilingual, and that many employees were former clients.

When the program began in September, I remember pulling up to the Archbishop’s house, in the pouring rain, and walking into a room full of unfamiliar faces. After being handed my nametag with St. Francis on it, the leadership class officially kicked off.  The Saint group activity was a great start to breaking the ice among everyone.

Words of Inspiration from the Speakers

While we don’t have enough time to talk about all the sessions, some of the most inspirational moments for us include the authentic talk given by Mike Cote where he shared the quote “True Leaders are Mentors with a Servant’s heart”.  You have to be a true servant who is passionate about helping people in order to be a true leader.  It’s that simple.

I also enjoyed learning about his faith journey and realizing it takes time to get where you want to be in your prayer life; it doesn’t happen overnight, and you have to work at it every day. He gave us some great tools to do so.  It really hit home when he discussed getting daily readings on his phone to start the morning.  I thought to myself… ok – the first thing I do after the alarm goes off in the morning is check my email on my phone before I even get out of bed.  What is so important that it can’t wait until after a morning prayer?  So I started by saying a few “Hail Mary’s” before I allowed myself to read the emails, and even that little act has made me feel better.  It really made me realize that to be a servant leader you must make Christ the center of your day at the beginning of each day, even if this entails simply reciting a few “Hail Marys” or “Our Fathers”.

Dr. Thompson helped me understand that “God has created me to do him some definite service” by quoting Cardinal John Newman.  This was just enough to whet my appetite, so I went home and researched this quote and learned even more.  Cardinal John Newman goes on to say “I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling.”  Isn’t this aligning exactly with part of the mission of this class?

I’m also appreciative to have learned “no success at work is worth failure at home”.  That’s important as this class is full of leaders.  It’s key to emphasize, and remember… no matter how great or demanding your job may be or how putting in extra hours at work might get you that promotion, it’s not worth it if it’s going to negatively impact your family.  Good food for thought!

There were a lot of takeaways in Dr. Voss’ presentation too, but the one that resonated greatest was when he said “Treat your Spouse, like they are your best client”.  I was so moved by this.  It seems so simple, yet I had never thought of something like that before. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of work and life, and not give your family the treatment they deserve.  What I’ve learned is that my husband IS my best client, and he deserves my undivided attention even more so than my work or outside activities.

Meeting Our Mentor

Lastly, I thoroughly enjoyed the activity where we were asked to create a timeline of our lives at the mentor workshop. The only guideline in creating this timeline was to utilize the space on the white sheet of paper.  I marked my years by dates, and significant milestones such as graduating college, becoming a Catholic, getting married, and buying a house.  Whereas, my mentor marked her years by each of the phases in her life.  She started her life as a learner, then a giver, a sharer, and now she’s a leader.  We were given the same project, but had totally different ways of completing it.  It was a great way to leap into the mentor program and help me understand that even though we all might have the same goal, we all have different ways of reaching that goal, and I’m looking forward to learning more about that through the mentorship program.  We’ve both already met with our mentors once, and are excited about the things we are going to learn.

Personal Testimonies from CCA Staff

Hearing all of the positive statistics regarding the organization’s performance is nice, but what really hit home with me from the workshops were the talks of 2 particular employees of Catholic Charities.  To hear the testimony of Pasupati Regmi and his journey from first coming to America, then living 17 years in a refugee camp, to now giving back as a staff member for Catholic Charities was a true joy. He exemplified the significant needs of many around us in Atlanta, the determination to overcome their situations when given some help and encouragement, and the desire to give back, pay it forward, and continue helping others in similar situations.

Further, Rosa de Kelly, the attorney on Catholic Charities staff, gave a poignant speech about being called in to a hospital room at 3 am by a client who had lost her son to cancer that night.  Rosa’s purpose for being there was to read the hospital documents and sign them on behalf of the mother who did not speak English.  This story gave me chills, and when Rosa mentioned after the fact that she has been in nonprofit for 6 years, spending most of her life in corporate law, I was stunned.  A fault of mine is to sometimes think that social workers are “called to serve.” How could someone like me, a bean counter, affect someone’s life in the same manner?  Rosa taught me that we all have the ability to serve in such heart-wrenching dilemmas, a gift provided to each of us through Jesus Christ.

Fundraising Challenges and Successes

Finally, I want to briefly share my experience on the fundraising efforts that each member of the graduating class was charged with doing.  Obviously, the financial contributions are essential to run the organization, and the class’ ability to raise $37,000 in 4 months is a testament to our hard work.  I gave a brief talk at my office highlighting the work that Catholic Charities does with the many refugees living in Metro Atlanta.  After the talk, I had a co-worker come up to me and mention that he and his wife had been talking for several weeks about getting more involved in the community. They had literally targeted Catholic Charities that week as the organization of choice, to volunteer both their time and talents; yet they were unaware of just how many ways they could help.  A three minute talk in front of a group of accountants led to a separate 15 minute discussion of faith with my coworker.  I am sure that he felt the Holy Spirit nudging him as I gave the talk on Catholic Charities, as I know I felt the Holy Spirit in me after he shared his excitement in beginning to work with the group.  One of the overarching themes of the class has been to not be afraid of living your faith in all facets of your life, and this moment for me was the epitome of why we as Catholics should strive for this integration.

Balance Between Faith, Family and Career

This class has taught us a lot on how to find a happy balance between faith, family, career, and the other aspects of life.  One of the best attributes of the class has been networking with parishioners from other churches, learning the various ways they are involved and the activities for which they participate.    I’ve also learned that through being involved in this program and fundraising that our efforts will impact the lives of many.  It has already given me so much spiritual food, and I can tell you – every time I received a “Catholic Charities Donation Alert email” that was a rush too!  It’s important that our efforts don’t stop here.  There are numerous ways to get involved through Catholic Charities Atlanta with our time, talent, and treasure, and now that we’ve learned just how much impact it has on the organization it’s important to share this with others, and to start thinking about the people for next year’s class.  Going forward, I strongly believe Catholic Charities Atlanta to be the link that fosters these inter-parish relationships in our community.

Words of Thanks

On behalf of the 2011 Catholic Charities Atlanta Leadership Class, Thank you Archbishop Gregory for championing this class and engaging the Catholic leaders in the community for this endeavor.  Thank you to the Board, the advisory committee, and the staff at Catholic Charities Atlanta for your hard work and energy creating a successful first year.  And thank you to the mentors for giving your time to help create servant leaders out of us!  We look forward to staying involved and seeing the successes of the classes in the years to come!

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Highlighting CCA’s Counseling Staff

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Stephanie

Catholic Charities Atlanta has 11 mental health counselors that provide services in 19 locations across the metropolitan Atlanta area and North Georgia. Sylvia Smith, one of counselors for the past three years, just became a Licensed Professional Counselor (LCP) in Georgia. Additionally, CCA Counselor Eglee Treber, LPC, recently become the first bi-lingual Play Therapy Supervisor in Georgia. Congratulations to our counseling staff!

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