Katie Jenkins came to be a part of the Capitol View Dwell program through the Presbyterian Church (USA) Young Adult Volunteer program. She just graduated from University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TX. Folks who come into our Dwell program through the PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer Program are placed in a ministry to work for 35 hours a week. Katie’s placement is with Central Outreach and Advocacy Center (www.centraloutreachandadvocacy.org)
She works as a case manager for guests who come to the center who are homeless or are working but still need assistance. If you’d like to apply to be a Young Adult Volunteer with the Presbyterian Church, check out their website. (www.pcusa.org/yav). Here are some of Katie’s reflections on her ministry placement and how it intersects with life at the Capitol View Dwell House.“Being placed at Central Outreach and Advocacy Center has really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I wasn’t nervous about starting the job, but I also didn’t have a lot of confidence that I could handle the weight of people’s stories. As I’ve been at my placement the past two and a half months, I’ve realized that I can handle the weight of people’s stories. I only have to be open to hearing their stories. I may not be able to change their situation in an hour, but it is important to open myself to listening, even if it is hard. I’ve also realized through my work with the guests at the center that there is a fine line between by situation and theirs. I could easily find myself on the other side of being able to pay my bills. Getting out of my comfort zone at my ministry placement also helps motivate me to get out of my comfort zone in my neighborhood. If I wasn’t used to getting out of my comfort zone every day, I might be tempted to stay in my comfort zone at home and not take the opportunities to hear the stories of my neighbors as well.”
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