JVC: Austin (Texas) takes on South Dakota

Towards the beginning of our year as Jesuit Volunteers, Casa Dorothy Day (also known as the JVC: Austin community) came up with a plan to visit to another Jesuit Volunteer community in St Francis, South Dakota. The following are stories of our adventures and how we grew to truly appreciate living in Austin, Texas.

Friday, June 18

We left Austin around 6 p.m. and made our way to Dallas. Fortunately for us, Monroe is also from Dallas. So between the two homes we were able to stay in Dallas on Friday.

Saturday, June 19

4:45 a.m. - Wake-up alarms sound. I asked my community members to text me when all four of them were awake; I found this to be especially helpful in preventing my waiting in the lobby of my mother's residence.

5:45 a.m. - We hit the open road heading North on IH-35 towards Oklahoma.

The rest of the day was filled with beautiful views of Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and the excitement of finally reaching our destination. We stopped every once and a while for gas and even found a locally owned sub shop to pick-up lunch from somewhere in Kansas. But for the most part, our trip was filled with seeing the Midwest of the United States.

8:45 p.m. - We arrive to Saint Francis, South Dakota. Just over the South Dakota / Nebraska state line; St. Francis, South Dakota is part of the Lakota Reservation. Arriving in time for a home cooked meal and a beautiful sunset, we took the rest of the evening to catch up with our fellow Jesuit Volunteers and just relax after an 18 hour road trip.

Sunday, June 20

We began our day by attending the local church, found only one block from the JV house. Painted a bright shade of lavender the Jesuit church provides a wonderful since of community and source of spirituality for members of it's congregation. The attendance is small enough at this church, the priest felt the need to explain the presence of five new attendees. Following the service, we were welcomed to attend the celebration of a local deacon, who was celebrating 35 years of service.

The mid-afternoon brought our real adventures. Eight of us pilled into a St. Francis Mission van and headed off to Mt. Rushmore National Park. Driving through towns such as Wall, South Dakota we weaved our way through the state to see George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. While there we saw a video about the carving of the sculptures and the Black Hills. We also completed the hiking trail. This trail allowed us to see a different perspective of the presidents.

On the way back from Mount Rushmore, we stopped in Rapid City at Firehouse Brewery Co. for dinner and live music. During our drive back to St. Francis we saw the most beautiful lightening and thunderstorm. The lightening strikes the lit up the sky so you could see the land all around.

Monday, June 20 

We took this chance to sleep in and enjoy local life. We adventured to the Lakota Museum located a block away from the Jesuit Volunteer community home. We then traveled to Mission, South Dakota to a local art gallery and to the grocery store. Realizing that the store did not have everything we needed, we continued our shopping Valentine, Nebraska. Following our trip to Valentine, we went to the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge and were able to see buffalo within 20 feet of our car. At the end of the day, we came home and Casa Dorothy Day cooked enchiladas and just spent quality time together for the rest of the evening.

Tuesday, June 21
First Day of Summer

Two of the South Dakota Jesuit Volunteers (JVs) joined us as we adventured to the Badlands National Park. Because it was the first day of summer, we did not have to pay an entrance fee - which we double appreciated as JVs.

Once inside the park, we stopped by the Vistors Center and then drove to a parking lot that would allow us to divide into two different groups. Pamela, Maggie (a SD JV) and Rachel went the more adventurous route, while Monroe, Joel, Neil (a SD JV) and I adventured more towards the sauntering route.

Once back on the Reservation, we swung by the local radio station, where on the current JVs works. The KINI station serves as the main means of communication on the Lakota Reservation.

Wednesday, June 22 

5:30 a.m. - We left St. Francis, S.D. and headed back to Austin, Texas.
By 7:00 a.m. - Navigator, at the moment played by myself to Pamela's driver, had us going on an alternate route. The plus side, we didn't loose any time and we got to see an entirely differently parts of Nebraska and Kansas.
10:15 p.m. - Pulled over for going 5 miles over the speed limit. When the cop learned of where we began our trip that day, we allowed us to go with a
non-financial warning and he reminded us to be safe.
11:00 p.m. - Home Sweet Home, Back in hot Austin, Texas.

Lessons Learned:
-Just how awesome Mount Rushmore is and that it took to build it
- A bit about the Lakota Reservation
-How far apart everything is in South Dakota and really everywhere in the Mid-West
-How beautiful the United States is
-But most importantly, that we can survive over 50 hours in the car together and that we love each other even more after the trip.

Placement Spotlight: Casa Marinella

An emergency shelter for immigrants and people seeking asylum, the houses that make up Casa Marianella provide a home, a community and a hope for its residents. Its sister organization, Posada Esperanza is shelter for immigrant women and children. In many cases residents of both shelters have no where else to turn, they have no income and are struggling to make ends meet. 

Opening in January 1986, Casa Marinella was named after human rights lawyer Marinella Garcia Villas, who was murdered in El Salvador by death squads. Housing up to 30 residents per night, Casa works to help residents to form roots with the United States. Providing daily English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, case management and community meals. 

Casa also serves as a community center for current residents, past residents and community members in need of information. They assist with: 

• accepting and distributing donations of clothing and household goods
• acting as a liaison between employers and workers from Casa (to announce jobs, help with wage claims, etc.)
• helping political refugees seek asylum
• referring those in need to appropriate organizations in and around Austin (according to Casa Marinella Web site) 

Additionally, Posada Esperanza, is an emergency shelter for immigrant women and children located in East Austin, Posada helps moms and their children to get back onto their feet and receive the necessary care for themselves and their families. Providing a safe environment for its residents, Posada also provides education tutoring, resource assistance and guidance for its residents and families. Many of the families who are part of this community have suffered in ways unimaginable by most and yet Posada provides its residents with hope, care and support which these women in turn give to each other. 

The community displayed in these two emergency shelter programs is unsurpassed by the majority of other emergency shelter programs. An example of this atmosphere can be found in the monthly celebration, appropriately named Convivio which is held each month at Casa. Convivio, which means "with life," is a celebration for all those who are part of the Casa community. A mixture of current and passed residents, current and passed staff members, friends and family of staff or anyone who found themselves with an invitation can find themselves in for a treat. Last month's Convivio featured home cooked specialities, live Hispanic music and documentaries about Casa. 

Some of the documentaries about Casa are through a project out of the University of Texas Film School called East Side Stories. The project asks students to focus on different non-profits, companies or individuals that make East Austin what it is; several stories have been done on Casa. They can be found on the East Austin Stories Web site. 

A Day Without Shoes

When asked to make a list of items taken for granted, most people will list - a roof, a good meal and clothes. But once a year, individuals from across the United States take off their shoes and walk around bare footed for the day. Learning a vary valuable lesson - just what is means to go sans shoes.

UT Longhorns & Austinites

on the step of the UT Tower.

A Day Without Shoes, in a national event which is publicized and some what organized by TOMS. TOMS is a company who has truly adopted the one-for-one business approach. For each pair of TOMS shoes you purchase, a pair is donated to a child who otherwise would not be able to have shoes. Mostly serving third world countries, the company also donates shoes for shirts, sweat shirts and other items purchased. With this ideal in mind, the company started A Day without Shoes. Last year, I adventured around Spring Hill without shoes on my feet, even making it to Carpe Diem Coffee & Tea Company. My feet hurt a little during my adventures around the Hill and even more the next morning. The feeling of shoes wrapping around my feet the following day was unlike any other experience. However, nothing prepared me for this year.

Outside the Capitol.

I woke up early and took the bus into work, adventuring from my house in the chilly Texas air to arrive at the bus stop way to early - for fear that walking barefoot would delay me, so I left plenty of time to walk slowly to the bus. For fear of early morning arguing with the bus driver I placed my shoes on my feet, and got on the bus. I removed my shoes during bus number two and hid them away in my bag - never to be used again that day. My work day was fairly normal with not too many comments wondering where my shoes were. I worried a bit that my clients would find my actions demeaning to them or belittling of those who cannot affording shoes. But I was fortunate in that no one accosted or accused me of such actions. The real challenge came when Pamela and I left work.

Towards the end of March, I had found via the TOMS website an event going on at the University of Texas (UT), where students were walking from the Tower at UT to the Texas State Capitol where non-profits from around Austin and individuals from the ONE campaign would join us to raise awareness about a variety of issues around Austin, the United States and on the greater scale about issues around the planet. I sent an e-mail around our house inviting my housemates on this walk to me. And that’s part of how Pamela became interested. So she called me that day and suggested that we walk from my office to UT.

Pamela and I at Capitol Hill. 

An adventure that would normally be fairly simple was complicated by nothing being between me and the sidewalk, the road or anything laying in my path. I learned pretty quickly, that the quickest way to cross the street is by walking on the white stripe outlining the pedestrian crosswalk. My second lesson is that no matter the temperature, sometimes grass is the best place to walk and finally that the gutter portion of the street is a God send when the only other option is a gravel / concrete combination. The 4.2 miles that Pamela and I adventured quite simply made me so thankful for my feet, but also thankful for the shoes that so frequently encompass them.

A few hours without shoes can help anyone to realize the true importance of a shoe and it sole; but more importantly it can the human soul a world of good. So take off your shoes and challenge yourself to living life barefoot and to its fullest.

For more information, check out the TOMS website, the One Day Without Shoes website or my photoblog.

Placement Spotlight: Saint Louise House

Jesuit Volunteers (JVs) are usually individuals who want to make a difference in their community, to be a voice for those who are voiceless or even those who find themselves passionate about one particular issue in today’s society.

One of the Austin placements is Saint Louise House, an organization that helps women and children overcome the cycle of homelessness. Just recently developing from a transitional housing to a permanent support housing organization, Saint Louise House helps women and children break the cycle of homelessness and begin living again. Owning two apartment complexes in Austin, allows for the Saint Louise community to house over 40 families. For many of these women, they are just trying to turn their lives around and provide the best they can for their children.

Saint Louise House is rare in the extreme care and love the show their families. The organization has offices at both apartment buildings that are staffed full time, allowing their families to have someone to talk with about any problems they may encounter. Additionally, the mothers have available to them “deeply affordable housing, case management, counseling, employment services, life skills training and programs for children,” according to Saint Louise House. When the women first open the door to their own apartment, it comes fully furnished. For many of Saint Louise’s residents they are experiencing having their own home for the first time in quite a while.

The community created by the residents, staff and volunteers of Saint Louise House helps support these women and the changes they are taking on in their lives. The organization also provides classes to the women with childcare for their children. Providing a stable environment for these families is a beginning steps to beginning a new life.

For more information take a quick look at Saint Louise House or check out their Web site.

What We Do

JVC: South Members at Orientation

August 2010 - Pinehurst, Texas

Ever wondered what Jesuit Volunteers (JVs) do around the United States? Serving in over 20 states and over 34 cities, JVs work in a variety of areas from Case Management to working in homeless shelters to being Radio DJs. Speaking of Radio DJs, Mike O’Sullivan, a current Jesuit Volunteer serving is St. Francis, SD puts together a weekly radio show for the St. Francis Mission; where he and his three house mates live and work. 


In the particular episode we are highlighting, Mike took his show to the Jesuit Voluteer Corps: South retreat and asked JVs what they are doing. Listen to Mike’s show to learn a little bit about what we do.


Whether you are interested in joining JVC or if you just want to know where we work. Pop a squat a listen and never be afraid to ask us questions. For those of you pondering JVC for next year, the last round of apps are due March 10; so get to reflecting, writing and pondering what it means to be “ruined for life.”

"I'm No Superman"

“I’m No Superman” came across my Pandora station, the little album cover on the screen is of the Scrubs cast; but taking a moment to hear the lyrics after a specific Community Night at the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC): Austin house, I was reminded that indeed “I’m No Superman.”

I may want to fix all the problems in the world; homelessness, lack of education, hunger and so many more. But I have to remember, that I unfortunately can only lay the footsteps for change. I cannot expect change to happen overnight.

January’s JVC: South retreat was social justice focused. For many, it felt like the rehashing of college lectures, just in the beautiful West Texas area of Leakey, Texas. For others, it reminded us of why we are here, doing a year of service. For even more, it reminded us what we can do to lay the groundwork for change.

At one particular part of the retreat, we, as current Jesuit Volunteers (JVs) were broken up into groups based on our work placements. I was part of the “feeding the hungry” group as a result of of my working in the pantry at Catholic Charities. There were also groups that focused on AIDS, homelessness, teenage pregnancy and many others. During the course of the weekend, we were asked to provide solutions for the issues we represented. Some solutions were as simple as awareness. Others were more complicated like sex education in classrooms. Several individuals who work with AIDS patients found that the general population does not know enough about AIDS and that through knowledge less discrimination would happen.

Following our four days of retreat, we returned to our cities and returned to work with a rejuvenation and excitement for the rest of our JV year. The following Thursday, Joel organized a community night; little did we know, in many ways his activity was a continuation of our retreat.

Social problems web. 

He had each of us grab a sheet of a colored construction paper and write out issues that were important to us. I wrote about education, children’s care and metal health to name a few. Once we had written out these issues, we cut them out and laid them on our kitchen table. Those that were similar or identical we placed next to each other. Once all the issues were on the table, we linked them by orange strips of paper, creating a web. At this particular stage we connected the obvious problems - teenage pregnancy to lack of education, isolation to depression. Lastly, we filled in all the open spaces. It was at this point that we realized, that all of the problems we were focusing on were linked; social justice related, financial or social are all linked in ways that most would not notice.

The unofficial JVC motto is “ruined for life.” Originally, started by a very grumpy young man who felt his time with JVC literally ruined his view of the world, the motto grew to be joke; because once you have dedicated your life to social justice, simplicity and solidarity it’s hard to look forward and to not remember the homeless you have served, the young mother who could not make ends meet or the veteran who is looking at living on the streets. Unfortunately, no one has the power to change the whole, but if we each pick a place where we think change is needed, we then must be confident in knowing that the changes we make will effect the world as we know it now.

The Value of a Roof

We’ve all been there, the terribly long day where you feet hurt and all you want to do is go home, snuggle up and go to bed. Imagine not having a home at the end of a difficult day, but instead you shift into the backseat of your car and curl up and sleep for the night. Your seven-year-old child wakes you up at some point and tells you he’s cold. You curl up and go back to sleep. The last straw to the situation is when you turn on your car to see the low gaslight comes up for the second day in a row.

Unfortunately, homelessness is a major issue within the United States, but what is even more amazing is the variety of people that are homeless. It is not just the addiction stricken individual or people who choose to live on the streets, but so frequently its families who cannot make ends meet and even people who have served our country.

According to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), homelessness is defined by an individual or family who is residing in any of the following situations:

• Place not meant for human habitation (car, storage facility, abandoned building, campsites)
• Emergency shelter, transitional housing program or supportive housing
• House “doubled up” with family or friends
• Hotel or motel

With such a broad definition of homelessness, the issue becomes even more apparent. In the Austin and Travis County area, there are approximately 5,200 homeless individuals on any given night, according to HUD in 2007. Additionally there were over 600 homeless households with children in Austin in 2007; they represented over 40 percent of the overall homeless population. According to the Austin Independent School District, between 3,000 and 5,000 students are homeless.

Unfortunately, the average age of a homeless person in Austin is seven years old, according to Green Doors organization. Think of where you were in the second grade, for most of us our memories of home do not include living out of the family car. 84 percent of families experiencing are female-headed.

As the problem of homelessness is approached, the “why” question becomes particularly frequent. Two major causes of homelessness are poverty and lack of affordable housing, according to St. Louise House, a program that helps women and children to break the cycle of homelessness. In 2007, a single parent with one child needed to earn $17 an hour to make a living wage, resulting in $33, 819 each year, according to Community Action Network.

Next time you see a homeless individual, do not assume you know how they got there or why they are there, but instead throw a thought out there they may find a roof for the night and some food for hope.