Friday, March 18, 2016

Service Day #4: Springboard to Opportunities

Service Day #4
Today we volunteered with Springboard, an organization that provides affordable housing communities for low income clients, especially single parent families and children. We painted a wall, built shelves, and distributed flyers, while touring the different communities and learning about Springboard's mission and goals. At the end of the day, we also talked with a small group of middle-schoolers who lived in the community about college and the importance of an education. 

It was very impactful to listen to Parthenia, our tour guide and community director. The passion she had for her work and building up the communities was extremely inspiring. She valued and respected all the residents, which is often a population that's discriminated against and oppressed. She treated them with the same respect and dignity that all people deserve.

I loved seeing how well organized and renovated the apartments in the communities were. They were all quality living spaces, and as Parthenia said, "Sometimes when you change their surroundings, that can change people's attitudes in a positive way." I love that philosophy, and it really holds true. Everyone deserves to feel secure and like they belong.

Overall, despite some rain, Day 5 was inspiring and fun, filled with flyer distribution races, expert team work, and an epic battle of bunny bunny to close out the night!

That wraps up Day 5
Love, a tired but excited ASB team, Marginalized Populations and Inclusion.

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