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| Being someone who was born and raised in Philadelphia, I have always passed by Broad Street Ministry on my walks to the subway, but I never knew about their services and mission. From my very first day, I was enlightened by all of the great things that BSM offers. One of which is the clothing closet called “315 Threadz”, where guests can receive items of clothing free of charge on Mondays and Thursdays. On my first day I worked with another intern to check guests in for their appointments at Threadz. Although there was quite a bit of hustle and bustle, I was excited to meet some of the guests since many of them were regulars. To check in, the guests would hand me a slip and tell me their name, most of the time guests would also start up conversations. But, one guest was different; he walked up and silently pointed at his name on the list and quickly sat down. I had a confused look, because unlike other guests, he did not say his name or stir up any conversation. Mara turned to me and said, “oh he’s Deaf.” As an ASL/Deaf Studies minor at Penn, this was the perfect opportunity to use my ASL skills. I got his attention and I started to sign with him. A smile spread across his face, probably feeling thankful that someone in the room knew ASL and was able to communicate. This was the very first time I used ASL in an informal setting. I felt so proud that I was able to bring something I am so passionate about in the classroom to a real world setting, making someone else feel included. |
“I felt so proud that I was able to bring something I am so passionate about…to a real world setting…”
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“…even the small things at BSM matter so much in the lives of individuals.”
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My first few days, I tried to avoid talking too much to guests, so I followed the same few people around who have been at BSM longer than I have. As the days and weeks went on, I started to notice the relationships that were being made between the staff and the guests; I thought to myself that I could not miss this opportunity. The guests have so much knowledge and learning for me to absorb. We serve people, therefore, I began to appreciate and learn the importance of interacting with those we aim to serve. For example, in my month here I’ve heard stories from guests of them going through some tough times like homelessness and mental health issues. Although these interactions are hard to listen to, each one helps me learn how to better serve guests in need. But, I’ve also heard some great stories like people finally obtaining stable housing and overcoming sickness. These interactions are always so uplifting and inspiring; it makes me realize that even the small things at BSM matter so much in the lives of individuals.
Learn more about Broad Street Ministry here. |
