Hilary Green's Reflections

Although I do not have a “community” partner in my role coordinating DC Outfitters, I have had a partner at CPS to help me facilitate the program. In my two years working at CPS, I have had three different partners. This year, my program merged with the program at the Homeless Shelter. Kate and I both worked to coordinate both programs, but I took more charge of the logistical aspects of DCO and she took more control of organizing the life skills program at the shelter. Despite this, we were both required to form strong communication skills which allowed us to provide each other with new insight into each others programs. I believe that reciprocity in our relationship played an enormous role in the effective functioning of our program. It was great to get the opinion of someone with a more philosophical outlook, as I usually think more logically. I was additionally forced to listen at times, which often opened my eyes to different and creative ideas that I had never before considered. I have found that effective communication and the influence of each other’s ideas have lead to the continuing success of both of our programs. I am eager for the successful partnerships that lay ahead in my future with this program.

Over the past two years at CPS, I have learned a tremendous amount about various social justice issues, as well as about myself. Through DC Outfitters, I have learned how comfortable I am and how passionate I am about the issues of poverty and homelessness. In facilitating group reflection sessions, my passion is always portrayed in my eagerness to teach others the realities of homelessness. I have additionally learned to step out of my comfort zone on these trips, which has made me increasingly comfortable. Through my learning circle this semester, I was given the opportunity to join the community of families who are working to get out of poverty at Circles for Support. This opportunity provided me with yet another outlook into issues of poverty and I am grateful that I was able to form such strong relationships through this program. In addition to my program and learning circle, I continually learn from other program coordinators at our bi-weekly meetings, as well as in daily conversation in the office. I believe that the best conversations and discussions are often held casually, with no pressure. I have been increasingly exposed to the tremendous issue of racial inequality, about which I had never felt comfortable discussing openly. In addition, my learning circle last year offered me a new perspective into the lives of migrant workers and families in Adams County. My work on the Campus Kitchens Leadership Team has provided me with more insight into Food Justice, which I can relate to my experiences at DC Central Kitchen and which has in turn become a great passion of mine. CPS has allowed me opportunities to engage in discussion on a variety of different social justice issues, which have in turn allowed me to learn from myself and others.

This year, I was placed into the Circles for Support learning circle. This program is an initiative in Adams County to help families out of poverty. Each “circle” consists of a family who is represented by a “circle leader” who is attempting to get out of poverty. Other college students, middle and upper-income community members, and I represent “allies” to the circle leaders. We meet weekly to assist these families in their self-set goals as well as to socialize and form a strong support network. Even though I have only been part of this learning circle for a few months, I already feel such a strong connection to the program and to the families who are involved in the initiative. Although I feel at times that as a college student, I have nothing physical I can give to help these families, I know that by being present as a listener and a friend, I am providing a great deal of support for these families. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to join this strong, welcoming community and to help these families fight for their goals.

My learning circle has undoubtedly been a continual process of change. Through the Adams County Circle Initiative, I have gained a great understanding of the lives of families in poverty. The atmosphere in which the Circles Initiative occurs allows me to develop relationships with these families permitting me to better grasp the reality of their situations. What all of these families have in common is that they are fighting to work themselves out of poverty. This experience has taught me that although these families are currently stuck in difficult situations, they are doing all they can to fight for positive change. It is great to learn that a circle leader has achieved one of their goals or that something positive is occurring in their lives, as a result of the support network we have provided for them. I am incredibly grateful that I have been given the opportunity to learn so much about a social justice issue that I was previously so ignorant of. There is undoubtedly a great amount of reciprocity in this program, as the circle leaders are just as able to provide for me as a friend as I am there to support them. I am confident that I will continue to learn more about myself and about families in poverty throughout the remainder of my learning circle. I hope to continue to reinforce the strong bonds that I have developed through this initiative.  

Working at the Center for Public Service has allowed me a tremendous amount of leadership opportunity. I have been able to expand my leadership ability through my program as well as within the CPS community. By organizing and leading DC Outfitters trips, others on campus look up to me, due to the great amount of organization and responsibility I have demonstrated through my program. In addition, I have gained leadership through Alpha Phi Omega, serving as a liaison between the service fraternity and the various programs implemented by CPS. Through my involvement as a member of the Campus Kitchens Leadership Team, I also believe that my leadership skills have flourished. I am always able to express my ideas in group settings because I believe people look up to me and respect my opinions. In all, I believe my work at CPS has allowed me a great opportunity to strengthen my leadership skills, which continue to improve.

I believe that my experience at CPS over the past two years has not only expanded my professional, organizational, and leadership skills, but has positioned me in a continual process of learning. I have learned a tremendous amount about the realities of homelessness and poverty through my program and learning circle, about issues of food justice through Campus Kitchens, and about various other global social issues through our inter-CPS discussions. In addition, I have learned a great deal about myself. I have examined both my strengths and weaknesses and discovered how I can use them to maximize my potential at CPS. Mostly, I have learned how important social justice is to me. Prior to CPS, I was not extremely knowledgeable of the many social issues in society today. My work at CPS has allowed me to expand greatly on these issues and to form my own opinions on each through the various discussions that the CPS program coordinators engage in. I have additionally discovered that social justice is something that needs to acknowledged and fought for. I know that for the rest of my life, fighting for social justice will be one of my top priorities.

In my original personal and professional objectives, which I developed during my first semester as a Program Coordinator, I wished to improve my effective communication in all aspects, as well as to familiarize myself with those who are from different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds than my own. I believe that I have been successful on my way to achieving these goals. Professionally, I have been able to effectively communicate with my student volunteers, as well as with representatives of Homelessness Advocacy agencies in DC. I believe that my effective communication has allowed me more opportunities and leadership skills on and off campus. I have also grown personally, as I have continually been placed out of my comfort zone on DC Outfitters trips and in my learning circle. I have learned how to react better in uncomfortable situations and have become more familiar with people who are different from me both ethnically and economically. Last year, I was very ignorant and uncomfortable speaking about issues of race, but I am now able to approach these issues with a very open mind and with little discomfort. Through my experiences at CPS, I have succeeded in coming closer towards fulfilling both my personal and professional goals.

My experience at CPS over the course of my time at Gettysburg has been a tremendous learning experience. I have learned a great deal about the prevalent social justice issues in our nation and the changes that many are attempting to make. Additionally, I have learned a lot about myself. Prior to my experience with CPS, I was incredibly ignorant of the social problems faced by our nation today. Through dialogues with my peers at CPS as well as through work in my learning circle and with Campus Kitchens, I have been able to develop a better understanding of the many social justice issues present in society that I had previously overlooked. I have also learned how to open myself up to new situations, especially those that might make me uncomfortable. In doing so, I have taught myself to be more open-minded and eager to learn in various situations. In my learning circle, I have developed close relationships with families in poverty who have been eager to share their experiences with me. This has opened my eyes to the difficulties that people in poverty face everyday and have inspired me to educate others of these issues. I have additionally learned that no matter how hard I try to fight for social justice, there will always be opposition. I have learned not to get discouraged but to uphold my beliefs and my goals and continue to fight to educate and enlighten others. CPS has changed my point of view by introducing me to the many struggles that are prevalent throughout the world. I am incredibly grateful for this experience and am confident that I will continue to learn more about myself as I fight for change and social justice.