Hi! I’m Claire, an incoming senior studying social work. I’m from the little island of Guam and I enjoy being outdoors, reading, and singing!
As a social work major, one of my biggest career goals is to work with a multitude of underserved populations. And because I have worked with youth before, I thought it would be amazing to volunteer my time at local non-profits to better understand the group I hope to assist in the future.
Like most undergraduate social work students, I spent most of my spring semester searching for an enriching opportunity during the summer that would help solidify my dream to work with underprivileged youth. And out of nowhere, I stumbled upon the Interns for Justice program.
Although I had never really worked directly under the Moreau Center, many of my peers have volunteered and/or spent a huge chunk of their time at UP working with them. So, I decided to apply for the Interns for Justice program and it was honestly the best thing that has happened to me this year. With this program, my only hope was to be able to learn more about my community, engage in much-needed self-reflection, and grow through personal experiences.
This summer I had been given the opportunity to intern at HomePlate Youth Services, a non-profit organization that serves houseless youth in the Portland, Beaverton, and Hillsboro areas. (If you want to learn more about the organization, visit this link: https://www.homeplateyouth.org)
HomePlate has offered me a bunch of opportunities to work directly with youth in the area. Through the “It Takes a Village” program, houseless youth are able to sign-up for three-hour shifts, paint houses to be sold as home decorations or souvenirs, and get paid right away! This employment opportunity provides youth a stable, safe, and guaranteed access to a job and a community.
As an intern at HomePlate, I had been given the task to spear-head the “It Takes a Village” project and make the space my own. Working with different groups of youth almost everyday has definitely impacted me in ways you can’t even imagine. Hearing their stories, interacting with them, and guiding them through creative projects has not only deepened my love for service, but it has also brought me so much joy and confidence for my future endeavors.
Every participant has a story, and not all of the stories were easy to hear. Some of the youth battle addiction, have undergone violence of some kind, or have isolated themselves from family and friends. As hard as it is to hear their struggles, I admire the positivity that each of them have – for HomePlate and their futures. Many of them have dreams, aspirations, and determination to make changes to systems that have been unforgiving to them. I have grown really close to many of the youth that participate in the program and get to give them advice on continuing their education and help them search for jobs. Although sometimes I feel like I cannot do anything more than guide them through their circumstances or provide resources, it is still so fulfilling to know that they can confide in me and other HomePlate staff. HomePlate’s work is truly inspiring – it is a home to so many youth and the relationships that come out of it are so beautiful. And I am proud to be a part of that.
Thank you for reading! – Claire