Experiencing Chicago: Shamrocks and Shelters

By: Sarah Harp

Yoday was our first day of service in Chicago, and it did not disappoint. We served with La Casa Norte, a community center that serves the homeless populations in the city. At nine this morning, when we arrived at the center, we all sat in their children’s classroom, Casa Corazón. This is a space for youth who are experiencing homelessness to spend time after school or during the day. According to a 2016 statistic, 18,831 children in Chicago Public Schools do not have a home.

My role for most of the day was to help make St. Patrick’s Day decorations for their classroom. Three other participants and I were more than thrilled to complete this task. We made pots of gold, shamrocks, and letter banners for their bright purple and white walls.The rest of our group completed other tasks, like baking cupcakes, sorting gift bags, and organizing a clothing closet. Even though our group split up throughout the day, we came together after lunch for a thirty-minute street cleanup.

Passion in Service

One thing that stood out to me, and that was brought up during reflection, was the passion of the people we worked with today. Roberto, a friendly Chicagoan and employee of La Casa Norte, welcomed us with a presentation about the organization. He described why he felt compelled to work for La Casa Norte: he knew after finishing college he needed to pursue a life of giving back to others.Jasmine, another employee and our guide for the day, shared a bit of her story with us as we were making decorations. She went to school in Iowa to earn a degree in Biology with an emphasis in education. After teaching science for one year, she realized how deeply rooted the issue of homelessness was even in her students’ lives. She left her teaching career to work at La Casa Norte, but still exudes a passion for equal access to education.

Respect for All

Another thing I appreciated about La Casa Norte was their commitment to inclusion and respect for everyone who walks into their doors. Their vision states that they dream of “a world where all people have dignity, communities thrive and everyone belongs.”

Our group was only there for six hours, but I could see how they embodied their vision through their services. Even the decorations on their wall had phrases like, “Everyone matters,” and “be kind to one another.” They were simple encouragements, but I believe they came from a heart that truly cared about dignity for all.

Jasmine spoke a little bit today about how homelessness is a circumstance; it is not part of one’s identity. “We often say these kids are getting a second chance. But in reality, they are getting a first chance.” They were not born into the privileges or circumstances that I so often take for granted. When we see a person as a person —not just a homeless person— we can see them for who they truly are.

What Now

Today felt like a beginning. We still have three more days of service and I am thrilled to see what comes out of it. I hope to continue building onto my education, passions, friendships, and experiences as I have today. I know our group has so much left to experience in Chicago.

However, the beauty of Bear Breaks is that it doesn’t just end here in Chicago. Our journey towards stronger and healthier communities will continue as we re-immerse ourselves back into Springfield.I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that we have work to do. And whatever resources we have to serve our community, those are where we should begin.