Volunteers - Lauren Walker
Hello! I'm Lauren E Walker of North Little Rock, Arkansas and I'm a proud 2007-2008 Catholic Charities Service Corps Volunteer. I'd like to start off by telling you a bit about how I stumbled across this exciting program, how
things are going now that I've been accepted, and about my placement at the International Institute of Buffalo.
Last spring, while frantically conducting the typical pre-graduation gainful employment hunt, my number one priority was finding something in the field of social justice. My passion for social justice had an outlet in my position as President and co-founder of the Arkansas State University chapter of Educating For Justice. I didn't want my dedication to human rights to end upon completion of my undergraduate career.
I typed "social justice" into about five hundred or so job site search engines, to no avail. And then I tried monster.com, of all places, and there it was: a program that was built on the pillars of social justice, simplicity, spirituality, and community. Each pillar held a particular interest for me. I knew pretty quickly that I was sold on the idea of a counter-cultural experience.
So, here I am in Buffalo. I've been here almost two months now and feel like I could write an epic about my adventures so far, but I'll spare you. Suffice it to say, Buffalo is a very unique, community-rich place filled with all the challenges an idealistic individual our age could want (and loads of stuff to do, as well).
Living in an intentional community has already proven extremely enlightening in ways I could never have imagined, and it's only been two months. I've also experienced exciting and unexpected changes in my personal relationship with God since coming here.
My placement is at the International Institute of Buffalo, a truly outstanding organization that assists refugees, immigrants, and other international groups in achieving self-sufficiency.
As Case Manager for the Immigrant Victim Services Department, I primarily work with immigrant survivors of crime- ensuring that their emergency, transitional, and permanent needs are met. It's challenging work because it's a new field, a new department, and because often there are significant barriers to providing services to my clients. Luckily, a challenging work environment is exactly what I'd hoped for.
So, I was a bit more long-winded in writing this than I intended, but I hope you'll consider looking into the CCSC if you're interested at all experiencing the unexpected. Please don't hesitate to ask for further information.