Tennesseek and Ye Shall Find Me In Detroit

Matching

The picture above is of my supervisor Jeff just like flaunting how his socks match my shirt. Seriously. Look at him. He is sooooooooo excited that we match in some capacity. Too excited. He demanded we take a picture of it because it was such a dream come true for him. He yelled to everyone in the office to come look at it. All the participants had to see it. What a weirdo. I was very embarrassed, to say the least. It's really weird how important matching can be to people.

All right. I'm filibustering. You caught me. I don't actually want to write another blog or say things that matter to me. I just want to watch another episode of Bates Motel or continue to read the Ron Burgandy autobiography. But I'll write for you anyway. Just for you. Because I love you that much.

You're welcome.

Okay. Enough. Let's play catch up.

Detroit, bab-ay!

I've decided that next year I'm heading back to Michigan to live in the D. Being close to loved ones back home and in Chicago is a plus, but I'm definitely doing it because I feel called to be there. I always hear two things about Detroit:

1.) It's in terrible shape. Don't go there. You'll get murdered because everyone there always is a deprived and deranged killer.

2.) It's being revitalized like crazy.

And that's what I want to be a part of. I definitely want to be there during such an interesting time and contribute something positive. So I'm going to look for some nonprofit jobs there and work more on my writing. See if I can get things published and some plays performed.

More Detroit

My soft spot for the city started in Belfast, strangely enough. People would ask where I'm from and I'd say Michigan. Some people knew what I was talking about and would smile and nod their heads and say "Ah, yes! Mitchigan." (They would always add a "t" to Michigan. Don't ask me why.) Anyway, then there would be people who didn't know Michigan, and so I'd say "It's the state that has Detroit."

That would, without fail, always garner some type of reaction. Someone always felt a particular way about Detroit, or had something to say about it. People from another city. From another country.

I found it a little funny when people from Belfast would look down on Detroit. Detroit is considered by many to be a downtrodden city that completely flopped from its prime instead of aging gracefully, and receives a large amount of negative press on the daily. This negative press puts it in a bad light for the world and doesn't make many people want to visit it.

Sound familiar, Belfast?

Chattanooga, TN
I know this picture is irrelevant to what I am saying in the blog right now, but isn't this just a wonderful view?

Obviously Detroit and Belfast are in different places--and I'm not just talking physically--but I find a lot of parallels between the two. When I'd go to other places in Ireland, everyone had something to say about Belfast, and it was usually negative. People would refer to its riots, paramilitary activity, the tension in the air there, etc. And to a degree, they are right. There are riots, paramilitaries are pushing around a lot of drugs and general crime, you do feel a unique tension in Belfast that I've yet to feel anywhere else.

But I personally know there is a lot more to it, and that a lot of the rude stereotypes said about Belfast aren't true. The people there are lovely, the city itself is unique and beautiful, there are tons of fun things to do, it's very safe, it's near a ton of gorgeous and interesting places, etc. It's like everywhere: there are good things and ugly things. But since Belfast and Detroit have more obvious and dramatic issues, they get pissed on more, which makes me root for them more.

I'm not used to a place like Nashville. Middle-Tennessee is all very thrive-y. It's thriving all over the place! (Control yourself, Middle-Tennessee!) I've lived/worked/been a part of communities and/or places that are dying, or are doing just-kind-of-all-right-could-be-better. But thriving? Never.

Knoxville

It's weird. People want to live here. People move here left and right from all over the country, especially the south. And I definitely get it. Nashville's great! I'm just not used to it. I didn't know what to expect living in a hotspot, so it makes sense that I'm still baffled by it. I never have to stick up for Nashville. Everybody loves it! That's why some people who live in Nashville think I'm crazy for wanting to live in Detroit. "But...everyone is coming here...?" Hahaha!

Jeni's: Best Ice Cream in Nashville or just anywhere period?

Also, everything here is going well. I can finally announce that I get to go to Detroit for the PC(USA) General Assembly this year as a YAV Representative! Wooooooo! I'm so pumped! I've never been to GA before and I can't wait to see what it's like, especially in Detroit. Also, April was a wonderful month that I'll talk about more in another blog, but I got to go to Florida and Lexington, KY. And I got to participate in this:

The Tim & I

I ran the Nashville Half-Marathon! It was awesome! That's me and Tim, a participant at Room In The Inn. I parked there, so after the race I went in and said hello. I ran into Tim. He and a bunch of other participants were really encouraging about how much I ran, so he and I took a picture to capture the moment. It was a good day.

Before I leave this blog, I'd like to share something I wrote for the upcoming Northern Ireland YAV site's 20 year anniversary event. It's not really relevant to this blog at all, but I had to write a brief statement on how my years of service have impacted me and this is what came out:

"Countless places in the world have rough struggles with no end in sight. Being a YAV taught me that God is present in those places, God puts people there that care, and that good things happen even in the bleakest of predicaments. God will always have a plan and I will always have hope."

Later!

9 Things That Help Me Out With The Homeless And Baking Metaphorical Spicy Pizzazz Pizzas

Jay: YAVA and Stylish Coworker

I've been trying to write some posts about some of the harder things I've been digesting about Room in the Inn. None of them have come out the way I have wanted them to yet, thus no blogs have been posted. Luckily, a good friend reminded me that in the meantime I should just write about something more lighthearted.

After asking myself what could be more lighthearted than obstacles the homeless encounter when trying to become housed, or truly heartbreaking stories of dysfunctional relationships participants relayed to me during the depressing holiday season, I finally broke down and figured I'd write about 9 things that help me out when working with the homeless.

Working with the homeless can be tough for me at times, especially when I first started. I just now feel like I'm over the "new guy" hump of the camel. Now some people know me, and when they are upset, without looking at my name tag, they shout at me by name! Oh, what a wonderful feeling it is, indeed!

But truthfully, I am only half-kidding. Now some people will come to me when they are upset BECAUSE WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP. THIS IS A BIG DEAL BOLD UNDERLINE ALL CAPS.

When you first start, no one knows your name and they all assume you know nothing or that you are a volunteer. In my case, they were right on both counts, and, as I am a slow learner, they continue to be right sometimes. But now they no longer tell me that they don't want to talk to me but that they do want to talk to a former employee who hasn't worked at RITI for several months. Now sometimes they want to talk to me! And I owe it to these 9 easy things.

These 9 easy things can also help you, and are not always limited to the homeless (dur).

Also, these 9 easy things bake spicy pizzazz pizzas. These spicy pizzazz pizzas are of course metaphors, and should not be literally eaten because they are only made in Canada, and you should support local business. If you are in Canada and/or are Canadian and are reading this, then you should eat one and support your local Canada!

Nicole, Jeff, Me, and Catherine
(Nicole and Catherine are Kenya YAVA)

Thing #1: Name Recognition

[This is a fictional example. I do not know a participant named Zoolu, even though I wish I did.]

"What's up, Zoolu?! How's your morning?!?!" I ask (sometimes) enthusiastically and smiley, whilst extending a friendly fist.

"All right, T.J.," says low-key, cool Zoolu.

"All right!" Says me, very excited about the fist bump I am receiving.

"All right," says Zoolu. He does not stop as he gives the dorky volunteer-for-a-year that tries too hard the fist bump, and keeps on walking.

Sometimes that is all my relationship is with a participant. But it becomes routine in the best way possible. Even though many Zoolu's are laid-back, I can still tell they are appreciative of the name recognition. It helps with a lot of things. We can stick up for each other. If a participant is giving me a hard time, Zoolu can tell them to chill and that I'm just trying to help. If Zoolu has a day where he is letting out frustration in a negative way, I can pull Zoolu aside and ask him what's up, because I know him and I've never seen him act like this before. He might calm down a little bit and tell me what's up because we know each other.

But the name recognition is crucial. Zoolu is not just another face in the crowd to me, nor am I to him. I give him his mail without asking for his name. I know him, thus he is known at Room In The Inn.

Nashville is pretty

Thing #2: Compliments

Sometimes the general public is not so friendly. I'm not saying the general public is mean, but I'm not saying the general public is warm either. So a simple compliment can go a long way. Genuine ones go even further.

Some people in the homeless community take whatever clothes they can get, and do not alway get the chance to choose what they wear. So often times, I give them a compliment on what they are wearing.

"Oh, I like your hat!"

"Looking sharp today!"

"I'm digging the scarf."

I've seen compliments like this perk people right up. It has probably become my best ice breaker with women participants.

"Thank ya, baby! It keeps my hair dry and matches everything!" Exclaim multiple women participants.

Obviously, I don't leave the compliments to physical appearance. I like to give props when people teach me about Nashville or tell me something new, or educate me, or tell me how they are trying to better themselves, or how far they have come, or what have you. I try to give compliments whenever I can about whatever I can.

Laundry Room

Thing #3: Folding Laundry

When you work at Room In The Inn, folding laundry is encouraged, but I've been told before that you don't have to do it. Most employees do it anyway. It goes a long way, even when participants don't want their clothes folded (which is rare). There have been a few times when people receive their clean laundry and they are shocked about the folded laundry. I've seen people blush over it. No exaggeration.

"You folded it for me?"

Hell yeah, we did! We try to keep that shit wrinkle-free for your benefit because we love you!

Mail Room

Thing #4: Double-Checking Mail

There are many times a participant will ask me to double check for their mail even though I just looked through the pile and didn't see their name. I can be 100% sure that this person's mail has not yet arrived, but I will look through the pile again anyway.

A participant can be looking for something very important: a paycheck, a social security card, a birth certificate, an ID, a food stamp card, etc. These things are essential for finding housing, jobs, food, etc. If I can ease intensity and anxiety by looking for a person's mail again, then I will. It never hurts to check twice, and even if it still isn't there the second time, the participant knows these things:

• I looked for it again (even if there is a long line behind them)
• I care enough to look again
• I want them to receive their important mail
• I am on their side

To put it simply, they appreciate it, and they remember it.

Thing #5: Empower & Encourage

A former coworker at Room In The Inn gave me some of the excellent advice I will never forget:

"Do not do for others what they can do for themselves."

Obviously, this does not mean something like "Do not hold the door open for a man in a wheelchair just because he can do it himself." It means there are things participants can do themselves that they will ask staff to do for them. But if the participants do these things, they will feel empowered that they did it themselves.

"Please go get me some cough drops," Zoolu says to me as I was walk by. He is sitting in a chair where he is a few feet from the support desk. He can easily go to the support desk and ask the staff behind the desk for some cough drops himself.

"You got legs, Zoolu!" I joke back in a serious tone as I walk away, leaving him to get his own cough drops.

It is the small things.

"I'll help you with the application, but you have to fill it out yourself."

Sometimes it is encouragement.

"Hey! You're just sitting right now. Why don't you go take a class so you can get points for that laundry voucher you said you wanted earlier?"

"You don't have to wait until tomorrow. Job Search is still open for another half hour. You should go give it a try. They'll walk you through whatever pace you need."

"Okay, so they didn't hire you, but at least you did the best you could at the interview! It's not like you're just sitting around wasting time. You are actively looking for housing and a job. You're doing great. Keep going. Something is bound to turn up."

Being homeless can be a hard cycle to break. Encouragement and empowerment can remind participants that it is not impossible to break.

Coworker Jesse is an encouraging fellow

Thing #6: An Inside Joke

Naturally, humor is an important element when working with the homeless. The environment can become heavy and/or gloomy otherwise. Take it a step further and build a small, lighthearted joke between you and an individual or small group of participants. That way you have an inside joke.

I have one inside joke where a participant is a king, so I play the "trumpet" for him whenever he approaches me. Another participant, who is Spanish speaking, often says something lighthearted to tease to me, at which I will shake my head at him and call him "loco," because I have no idea what he is saying. Another participant jokes that I steal bags. One participant calls me "mailman."

So on and so forth. It always gives us something to laugh about.

Thing #7: Dancing

I have a booty that just won't quit, and it always gives the participants something to cheer about.*

*or, more commonly, something to complain about.

View from Room In The Inn

Thing #8: Listening

Stupid jokes. Sad tales. Complaints. Personal history. Important life lessons. God moments. Failed relationships. The past. The future. Goals. Hopes. Grief. Appreciation.

These are all things that are communicated by a participant in their body language or in conversation. Sometimes directly, sometimes paraphrased. Most times, all they want is to be heard.

Thing #9: Remembering: The Corny Part

Remember what you listened to.

If you remember a participant saying they had a death in the family, ask them how they are doing or find a way to show them love.

If you remember that a participant needs gloves, tell them when there are gloves.

Remember participants that have passed and honor them.

The list goes on.