I moved to Portland four years ago, after spending twenty years working with homeless, mentally and physically ill, and elderly individuals in California. Those years were an endless journey of discovery, one that I wanted to continue in Oregon. Early on, I embraced the Dalai Lama’s phrase, ‘ selfish altruism’ as my own. In volunteering, then working, with people living on the margins of our society, I received so much more than I was ever able to give. I also realized that , once my son was grown, I was in a position to accept only jobs that I would be willing to do on a volunteer basis. All that figured into the equation when I was offered a position at Catholic Charities as a Resident Services Coordinator for disabled and elderly individuals living in low-income housing. Two years later, I moved from the Housing Program to Refugee Resettlement.
What is your current position there, and what does it entail?
I’ve been working with refugees for almost a year and a half now. I’m the assistant program manager and, currently, the coordinator of the volunteer program. Several months ago, budget cuts necessitated eliminating the position of volunteer coordinator, so I took on those responsibilities. It’s turned out to be one of the most enjoyable, and exciting, parts of my day. Meeting new volunteers, and connecting with those who have been around a lot longer than I have, is a consistent pleasure. More challenging is finding new ways to utilize that wonderful volunteer energy to further help our refugee clients, and developing an on-going inservice training program for volunteers. As assistant program manager, I do whatever is necessary to support Cecilia Baricevic, our program manager, and our three case managers: Laura Starushok, Niang Cing, and Brendon Robar. We also have a Resource Coordinator, Joshon Miller, a Jesuit Volunteer, Sarah Dupont, and a PSU intern, Mai Vang. All of us work with newly-arrived refugees, and all of us complete a lot of documentation and reports.
Can you briefly explain the function of the Refugee Resettlement Program?
Our program is charged with helping new refugees become self-sufficient in the Portland area within eight months. This means we find them affordable housing before they arrive, meet them at the airport and take them to their new homes, orient them to western housing and western ways of living, help them get Social Security cards, health insurance, medical care, and refugee cash benefits, a monthly income based on family size that continues for eight months. Each refugee arriving in Portland is also allocated $900 to be spent on their immediate resettlement needs. Despite this funding, every new refugee and refugee family struggles to make ends meet. They attend English and job training classes five days a week, and actively seek work with the help of an organization called IRCO. After eight months, our case management services end, and refugees are on their own…hopefully with a firm foundation and a good understanding of western life.
What has been the most rewarding experience for you in work with the RR Program?
The first time I met a refugee family at the airport just about knocked me over. There is something so awesome about greeting people who have been flying for two days, who have no real sense of where they are in the world, who own nothing but what they could put into one bag, and who are nonetheless excite d and grateful to be walking through an abandoned airport at midnight with a stranger whose every word has to be translated.
What do you like the most about working here?
That’s a tough one to answer. I enjoy any interaction with our clients, no matter how long they’ve been here, or whether or not we can communicate in words. Unfortunately, I’m not able to get out and meet people as often as I would like. However ,the people I work with in the office are incredible. Two of the case managers were refugees themselves, and the rest of the staff also have “a heart for refugees.” They all have met extraordinary demands on their time and energy with grace and a willingness to do whatever is necessary to help our clients feel safe and settled in their new home.
What message would you like to give to the volunteers of the program?
I’d like to invite everyone to open themselves to new experiences, new ways of seeing things we take for granted. I’d like to encourage us all to contemplate how we might go about offering help without making the person we’re helping a “helpee.” I’d like to suggest we continue to look at the difference between sympathy and compassion, and to realize that everything we give away we are actually giving to ourselves. No matter what one’s faith, volunteering can be a spiritual practice of the highest order. And, it is fun! Even in the most dire of situations there can be shared laughter as well as shared tears. It’s simply a wonderful way to be in the world.
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