Kinship at work, home

The snow banks in Washington, DC are about gone. It's March and finally starting to feel more like we are getting closer spring.

This weekend three of my housemates and I drove to Raleigh, NC to visit the five Jesuit Volunteers living there this year. Like most of our trips, we rented a car for a quick 24 hours. While our trips require us to be in the car for several hours, we always enjoy that excuse to have a few hours together to just drive and enjoy one another's company. We pulled into Raleigh around 8:30 that evening. It was a great time with Jesuit Volunteers who made the trek to the most southern community in the JVC east region.

Friday night JV's from Philadelphia and Newark drove to DC to cut down on the driving time to Raleigh. We always enjoy guests at our house; every visit to a JV house that I have made I always find comfort. I'm continually amazed with the amount of friendship that has been formed throughout the JVC communities.

Over the past few months, I have formed a curriculum to begin teaching a public speaking and professional communication course. I offer this course every Wednesday evening for an hour and a half to students in our after school program. It is not a required class, but allows our students an opportunity to open up about themselves in a fun way through activities such as impromptu games and presenting 'how-to' speeches. Later in the course, we are going to focus on more formal presentations which include practice job interviews, resume building, etc. I feel as if I have gained a lot of knowledge about youth this year, but this course has allowed students the students to become more vulerable by allowing them to share.

Over the past few weeks, things at work and home have been very busy. Growing in community can be a challenge, both in an intentional house community and at my placement. I realize that putting great effort and not coasting is how one can find success in both.