Volunteering Brings New Sight to Socio-Economic Blindness
“Being an Ally has brought me into direct contact and relationship with people I would not otherwise have run into,” John said. “It is helping me get involved with the lives of people- and they with mine- in ways that foster new human connections. “By connecting with people outside my normal sphere, I have been enriched and educated. I once attributed poverty to laziness and a lack of direction. What I have learned is that larger socio-economic forces- such as racism and lack of access to healthcare and educational opportunities contribute greatly to a generational family pattern that is hard to break.”
During the 10 years that John has served as an Ally, he has connected with four Circle Leaders who became his friends and his teachers in what it means to cross socio-economic barriers to create community. “Though these patterns are difficult to break, these Circle Leaders have shown me time and again what it means to strive to carve out a different path to improve things,” John said. Two of these current friends are COH participants Julia and Ian Long. They comprise a Circle that includes John Sommer & Marian Stubbs as Allies. They began their 18-month journey this past fall. Julia and Ian graduated the Getting Ahead Financial Class last summer, as a precursor to becoming Circle Leaders.
“The Circle becomes a smaller, tight-knit place that emerges out of the larger COH community,” Julia said. “Because of the closeness, we can get together in meaningful ways to talk about our goals and plans for working toward the future.” Julia said connecting with her Circle one Tuesday evening a month after a communal supper is helping her meet her goal of quality family time. A mother of two children, Julia is also an intern at Peace Connections, a student at Wichita State University pursuing a master’s degree, and Executive Director of Caring Place in Newton. “I am working hard to become more intentional about focusing on family time,” Julia said. “It’s so easy to get lost in the tasks of school and my jobs. My Allies are helping to remind me to slow down, stop shaming myself, and prioritize being with my family.”
Ally Gordon Houser, has served as a mentor to eight Circle Leaders since 2010. Like John, Circle Leaders have inspired and taught him what it means to have resilience in the face of setbacks. “I have received so much more than I’ve given,” Gordon said. “I am always impressed by the courage of Circle Leaders. And the time flies! Eighteen months go by very quickly!”
Walking alongside Circle Leaders such as Julia and Ian can become a multi-layered role. Allies
help Circle Leaders explore new ways of doing things, see other views, reach future goals,
gain perspective, and forge trust in leaning on the shoulders of others through adversity.
We all need that from time to time!
Circle of Hope is seeking ten additional Volunteer Allies this spring to begin serving alongside John, Gordon, and others. A new set of ally matches for Circle Leaders will begin in April, with training opportunities offered beforehand. The Volunteer Ally is a positive, consistent support in the lives of families working to get out of financial poverty. As a volunteer Ally, YOU could assist families as they grow financially and personally, genuinely engaging with the community and investing in long-term outcomes for us all! If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Volunteer Ally, contact Kendra Davila at 316-284-0000 or kendra@peaceconnections.org
