Musing on the new job
So I'm working for a new nonprofit now.
This new nonprofit has four well established programs that service low-income women and their children, as well as homeless women. My job is working on a fifth program that is barely a year old; it's a job training program that is a lot like FareStart: www.farestart.org/. My program is really small in a lot of ways. I share an office with four other people that is really meant for one person (or two?), and the program itself is a rolling application style that closes when we have eight trainees.
I love my job, which is great. When I left my old job at a nonprofit law firm I thought, "I will never find a job that fulfills me that way this one does, nor will I work with people enthusiastic about their work and coworkers." I guess I should have rethought that since my office is located within a day drop in center for homeless women (well, women in general really). At first it was hard to deal with an all female office, the constant rambles so as to avoid hurting people's feelings, the sheer force of estrogen. I have to say though, everyone here truly cares about everyone else's feelings. It's kind of nice, especially if you're having a crummy day at work.
What really jazzes me about my new job is the subject, which is two fold: nourishment and nonprofit management. By nourishment I mean every connotation of the word. The program seeks to help women who have recovered from physical abuse, substance abuse, sudden financial changes, or young women trying to make a new life after bad decisions. We want to nourish seeking the new page in their life, all the things previously underdeveloped in their life. Nourishment for our customers- we have a cafe and a bakery that make AMAZING baked goods and does catering around town. Nourishment never felt so good right, when you get something freshly baked but also help women overcome barriers to employment.
Secondly, it's nice to know that the "odd" skills I acquired in college have purpose. I had a few professors who believed in my passions and supported me through the grueling core of undergrad's rote process. The skills and habits I learned from my old boss are in valuable in this new nonprofit, she's my hero. Some of the other AC women working here with me want to be doing direct service with the homeless/low-income population, but I'm right at home in front of my computer drafting documents for grant use or marketing pieces. I'm starting to understand where I need to go next with my life.
The bonus to my job: our Chef Instructor for the program often brings me things from the kitchen. Today I got a grocery bag full of freshly baked whole wheat rolls and fresh garden grown grapes. I look forward to the days when the trainees make sweets, our truffles and signature cookies are to die for. I also enjoy the food/agriculture/sustainable eating aspect of my job because it's a subject I'm deeply interested in, and have been thinking more and more about going on to higher education for. My only complication is I'm unsure of the programs, and their appeal, at the schools Sam has applied to. I suppose we could live apart for a couple of years? I hear that UVA has good grad programs though...
The one darker side to work is the dark side to the population. For example, yesterday I asked one of the women who comes to the drop in center if she could help me as I prepped for a fundraiser this week. Simple task, and she did fine with it, but she has a family history of mental illness. She often talks aloud, or mumbles to herself, about how bad she is or how she would like to just die. On days were she is less moody this isn't as much a problem. How do you deal with that?! I'm not specifically trained in dealing with chemical dependency or mental illness. While I have personal experience in those areas, it's not enough for me to NOT feel uncomfortable listening to people mumble about death or hearing voices. Actually, it's crushing to see these brave women live on the streets and deal with things like schizophrenia or physical disabilities like diabetes. Maybe this is why I still hide in my office more than the other AC women- they are more gutsy getting to know the women of the drop in center. I picked up crocheting so I could hang out front with the women more to get to know them.
It'll be interesting to see how the rest of my time at this job goes. I have high hopes!
This new nonprofit has four well established programs that service low-income women and their children, as well as homeless women. My job is working on a fifth program that is barely a year old; it's a job training program that is a lot like FareStart: www.farestart.org/. My program is really small in a lot of ways. I share an office with four other people that is really meant for one person (or two?), and the program itself is a rolling application style that closes when we have eight trainees.
I love my job, which is great. When I left my old job at a nonprofit law firm I thought, "I will never find a job that fulfills me that way this one does, nor will I work with people enthusiastic about their work and coworkers." I guess I should have rethought that since my office is located within a day drop in center for homeless women (well, women in general really). At first it was hard to deal with an all female office, the constant rambles so as to avoid hurting people's feelings, the sheer force of estrogen. I have to say though, everyone here truly cares about everyone else's feelings. It's kind of nice, especially if you're having a crummy day at work.
What really jazzes me about my new job is the subject, which is two fold: nourishment and nonprofit management. By nourishment I mean every connotation of the word. The program seeks to help women who have recovered from physical abuse, substance abuse, sudden financial changes, or young women trying to make a new life after bad decisions. We want to nourish seeking the new page in their life, all the things previously underdeveloped in their life. Nourishment for our customers- we have a cafe and a bakery that make AMAZING baked goods and does catering around town. Nourishment never felt so good right, when you get something freshly baked but also help women overcome barriers to employment.
Secondly, it's nice to know that the "odd" skills I acquired in college have purpose. I had a few professors who believed in my passions and supported me through the grueling core of undergrad's rote process. The skills and habits I learned from my old boss are in valuable in this new nonprofit, she's my hero. Some of the other AC women working here with me want to be doing direct service with the homeless/low-income population, but I'm right at home in front of my computer drafting documents for grant use or marketing pieces. I'm starting to understand where I need to go next with my life.
The bonus to my job: our Chef Instructor for the program often brings me things from the kitchen. Today I got a grocery bag full of freshly baked whole wheat rolls and fresh garden grown grapes. I look forward to the days when the trainees make sweets, our truffles and signature cookies are to die for. I also enjoy the food/agriculture/sustainable eating aspect of my job because it's a subject I'm deeply interested in, and have been thinking more and more about going on to higher education for. My only complication is I'm unsure of the programs, and their appeal, at the schools Sam has applied to. I suppose we could live apart for a couple of years? I hear that UVA has good grad programs though...
The one darker side to work is the dark side to the population. For example, yesterday I asked one of the women who comes to the drop in center if she could help me as I prepped for a fundraiser this week. Simple task, and she did fine with it, but she has a family history of mental illness. She often talks aloud, or mumbles to herself, about how bad she is or how she would like to just die. On days were she is less moody this isn't as much a problem. How do you deal with that?! I'm not specifically trained in dealing with chemical dependency or mental illness. While I have personal experience in those areas, it's not enough for me to NOT feel uncomfortable listening to people mumble about death or hearing voices. Actually, it's crushing to see these brave women live on the streets and deal with things like schizophrenia or physical disabilities like diabetes. Maybe this is why I still hide in my office more than the other AC women- they are more gutsy getting to know the women of the drop in center. I picked up crocheting so I could hang out front with the women more to get to know them.
It'll be interesting to see how the rest of my time at this job goes. I have high hopes!