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Recent News from VISTA Corridor Recovery
It’s Good to Be Able to Walk through Both Doors
It’s no secret that there is shame in History. When taken into consideration the events that have transpired through the times that man has traveled, it is not an awareness that only a selective few have acquired. It is History, and though the stories it tells are reflections of our nature, which thankfully does not always discredit our ability to do good things, there are many incidents of horror and extreme carnality that a countless number of individuals wish had not taken place. Because these epochal-happenings have been permanently scribed into History, the only thing that can be done is to learn from them.
History speaks of empires and kingdoms exploiting, extorting, and kidnapping people from indigenous lands to be taken away from their families past ‘the point of no return’, where they never were to again see the people whom they loved as they were forcefully implemented into slavery. Upon generation after generation of oppression, History tells the story of remarkable persons enduring and standing against evil and harsh brutality; it discloses the chronicles of incredible human beings who eventually won the world into understanding that they too are people entitled to Freedom of Life and Liberty, thus enabling them to contribute to History in chapters full of occurrences that many appraise and cherish.
Such is the impression one can gather upon visiting the African American Museum of Iowa, located in Cedar Rapids, IA, at 55 12th Avenue SE. Freshly remodeled after experiencing the flood of 2008, the museum provides for a peaceful afternoon in learning the history of African Americans in a serious, but chromatic and fun way. With many illustrations to enhance understanding and with many displays to invigorate the imagination, the variety of topics that are touched upon in this museum will have the visitor leaving with greater respect for all people and for all humanity.
Covering the many aspects of the times experienced, such as the slave trade and imprisonment to freedom and liberty; from being ‘vocally’ shunned to having the right to vote; from being the last to hire and the first to expire to anti-discriminating laws and Affirmative Action; from mining and grueling labor to PhD statuses and inventions; from being chained for months on end to the bottom of a feces-infected boat to being captain of a ship in the Navy; from being expelled from major sporting-competitions to excelling above all measures of ability; from segregation and deprivation of education to integration and excellency in academics; from exclusion by labels “whites only” and “colored only” to inclusion by the sentiment ‘for all people’; from experiencing barbarous hell on earth to living in euphorical utopia, many lessons in strength of character and passion for life can be attained by those who can look past the paradigm that teaches that some people are inferior. With the assertiveness to appreciate and value human-life, these particular chapters from the Book of History are of significance and are applicable to everyone. With the understanding that it’s good to never let the world tell you who or what you are, one can walk through both doors with confidence and assurance, knowing that no one is going to stop them from getting to where they’re going. ...If you have no idea what I’m talking about, then I have only one suggestion – visit the museum. History demands it.
By Daniel Young
Helping Hands
The Bike Library’s New Partnership
Name the bike you want – Schwinn, Trek, GT, Bridge-Stone… Raleigh, Cannondale, Specialized, Hercules – and most likely they have it. Welcome to the Bike Library of Iowa City, IA, a place where patrons can check out used and repaired bicycles. Founded by Brian Loring and opening its doors in June 2005, the Bike Library has been a valuable commodity to the community by promoting bicycling as a recreational and healthy way to travel. By accepting the donated bicycle, the Bike Library offers to the public the alternative of having possession of a bicycle for up to six months with free repairs to the option of citizens buying and maintaining their own bike. With reasonable prices, returnable-deposits are paid by the patrons at check-out, to which they get back when the bike is returned. Ideally speaking, however, the goal is that the patrons are so satisfied with their bike that they end up deciding that their deposit was actually the bill paid.
In the cache in the back of the Bike Library are a lot of bikes that need a tune-up. Fortunately, there are helping hands to meet that demand as a partnership between the Bike Library and the Hope House was formed last year. Performing tasks such as setting the bearings, truing the rim, replacing cables, and cleaning sprockets, the volunteers from the Hope House are prime candidates for the job as they come to the tasks with experience and training. Fulfilling their time in a reproductive way, these helping hands make it a win-win-WIN situation; not only do they render good for the Bike Library and the Hope House, they are doing good for the community as well.
For example, since November, these helping hands have worked on small bikes for children, to which they have prepared thirty to forty bicycle that they personally will donate to young kids this spring. The idea is not only role-modeling and providing awesome bikes for the children, it is also model-setting for these helping hands in what is called “Restorative Justice” – initiating situations in which those from the Hope House can do service for the general public in the hope that they further their desire to do service for the community on their own accord, on their own time. “In terms of how it is going so far,” says Bradley Parsons, an AmeriCorps VISTA who is a leader in the project, “I think it is exceeding expectations on all counts. Both the Hope House and the Bike Library thought it was a win-win for everyone involved when we began planning; it has already matured into something beyond even that.”
With more bikes being tuned-up and made available for check-out, new talents and intuitions being developed by those in the community, and free bicycles being given away, all those involved know that this is a wonderful thing. By meeting goals on all sides, it can be expected that this partnership will be a long, lasting one, where in the end the Bike Library makes its ranks in the many icons that represent Iowa City.
By: Daniel Young
In Service Training
Whether at home or in the workplace, everyone has had to deal with difficult people. We’ve all had to manage 
multiple tasks at the same time as well. On February 23, 2010, AmeriCorps VISTA members had the opportunity to learn how to handle both as part of their in-service training.
David DeFord came to the William G. Faches Center in Cedar Rapids from the Omaha, Neb. area to present the two workshops in one day. He gives trainings across the United States and Canada on behalf of Mission, Kan.-based Fred Pryor Seminars and CareerTrack, and says the point of the day was to help VISTAs learn that they’re ultimately in control.
“When we talk about communication and dealing with difficult folks, they’re in control of their own emotions,” said DeFord. “When we talk about time management and goal achievement and all that kind of stuff, they’re in control.”
In the morning session, “Dealing with Difficult People,” DeFord helped the group identify the types of difficult behavior people come across, understand their own style of communication along with those of others, and determine how to better communicate with different types of people.
“When we listen, we can really do a lot more in the world,” he told the VISTAs.
After a lunch break, the focus shifted to “Managing Multiple Priorities,” where attendees learned how to arrange their schedule by priority so they can optimize their work effort, plus tips on handling interruptions, procrastination and stress.
VISTA members said they learned a lot in the course of the day about the topics at hand. Mark Huber, for example, found the seminar to be helpful, liking the emphasis on making priorities on tasks.
“A lot of the stuff on organization applies a lot to the job that we have here, it’s important to be organized,” said Huber, 27, of Calmar, IA.
Meanwhile, 22-year-old Justin Novinger called the training a great time.
“I hope to be more understanding in the way I approach other people and make sure that I realize how my behavior or actions affect others. And I hope to run my day a little more efficiently,” said Novinger, who adds that he felt DeFord did a good job presenting the material in a humorous tone, “mixing jest into serious situations and helping everybody relate different concepts,” he said.
DeFord had some kind words about the VISTAs as well, telling them he was impressed with what they were doing.
“There aren’t that many people who end up spending a year or two at the beginning of their careers volunteering and learning how to help other folks, and so I think that’s really, really critical for people to learn,” he said. “It changes their lives and builds the foundation you can’t get any other way. And I do hope that they continue and not just use this as their time of service and then think that they’re done.”
By: Brian Siguenza
Meat and Eat Receives Third Grant
The Meat and Eat program, established and run by Joan Force and Deb Sedlacek, has been filling the stomachs of hungry AmeriCorps*VISTAS with free lunches since August of 2008. And it’s with the help of local volunteers, grant money, and good fortune that this upstart program has been able to sustain itself.
In the summer of 2008, when the Volunteer Reception Center was based out of Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, Force and Sedlacek saw a need and filled a need. The VRC workers were left to fend for themselves when it came to finding lunch. By utilizing Sedlacek’s late husband’s estate and approval from Echo Hill’s interim pastor, the church expanded their summer community lunch program to provide for AmeriCorps*VISTA’s as well.
Now at First Presbyterian church, Meat and Eat is still running strong. Largely in part to the help they’ve received along the way. Eric Stark, the building manager is not only a handyman, but constantly on the lookout for ways to acquire donations for the program. “He’s a jack of all trades” describes Sedlacek. First Presbyterian’s pastor also helps whenever scheduling conflicts occur. “On the chance that events are taking place mid-day, adjustments are made as needed. They don’t want anything to interfere with you guys being fed” says Sedlacek.
Another vital attribute to Meat and Eat’s sustainability is the grant money they’ve received. Although it’s a long and arduous process, Force and Sedlacek have been more than willing to do what’s needed. “We enter our information into the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation website. You sit at the computer; answering questions, the whole process usually takes about five hours. There’s no spell check, it’s a one and done thing.”
Overall, there is an overwhelming consensus that the program has been a success. As of Friday, February 19, 2010; 33,751 plates have been served along with 8,724 hrs of volunteer time donated. However, the program certainly won’t be around forever. When asked if they saw themselves applying for another grant, Force replied “no, when this money is gone we’re probably done. The main reason is because supplies are not available unless someone else comes up with money. It is a huge commitment and takes lots of time, but is so worth it.”
It’s no secret the VISTA’s and volunteer groups love the Meat and Eat program, but it’s Force and Sedlacek who are grateful. “It’s given me a true purpose. I feel a closeness to my husband, he’d champion it whole heartedly” says Sedlacek. And Force agrees, “Every morning I wake up and I think YAY, I get to go see the kids!”
By Kody Thompson
David Morrissey
As someone who has delivered goods donated by Hy-Vee to local food pantries, David Morrissey is no stranger
to the power of volunteering.
“I’ve done enough volunteer work myself that I understand how it works,” he said. “It’s satisfying, let’s put it that way.”
Now after giving to the community, the 83-year-old is getting something back. With the help of AmeriCorps workers, his kitchen has been remodeled and the basement, which was completely flooded in 2008, is being worked on.
“They’re doing everything in bringing the basement back,” he said. “I can’t do it, and (his six grown-up children) now have jobs and they wouldn’t be able to do it.”
Morrissey has recently had to endure more than just his home of 25 years flooding. At around the same time as the disaster, he said he had to have knee replacement surgery done. Then as the one-year anniversary of the flood drew near, he lost his wife, Margery, to congenital heart failure.
But Morrissey claims to be dealing with everything fine.
“It’s been a couple of bad years, so what?” he responded.
The AmeriCorps VISTAs and NCCCs have helped in moving Morrissey forward, and he lauds the job they have done on his home. Speaking of the basement, he noted the effort of volunteers to get 45 pieces of sheet rock down there, each sheet weighing about 88 pounds, according to Morrissey.
“A couple of girls were carrying that thing down and they weren’t that big,” he laughed. “The guys were helping them, two of the guys would take them two at a time, with one on either end. Some of them were picking it up on their own.”
As a showing of gratitude for their hard work, Morrissey does what he can to make sure the volunteers are taken care of, giving them 12-packs of soda and fruit snacks.
“They’ve always been pleasant. I’ve liked all of the people that came in here,” he said. “There’s always somebody down there that knows what has to be done.”
Morrissey also commends the work of the Community Recovery Center, located three blocks from his northwest Cedar Rapids residence.
“I have no complaints,” he said. “I was told to go over there by the neighborhood president. I said I didn’t think I needed it. Well, I did need it.”
By Brian Siguenza