Oh. The Places You’ll Go!

“Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away! 

Last week was my second as a Major Donor Development Representative for Union Rescue Mission.  I was reminded of Dr. Seuss book Oh, The Places You’ll Go! and if we’re talking about URM they may all be in the same place … the chapel!  In just my first 10 days URM’s chapel was transformed 3x.  Every day chapel serves its primary purpose but Tuesdays are special. The entire mission comes to service.  Attendance is not mandatory for guests, volunteers or employees but the room is packed with all.  Guests (those utilizing the services of URM), program participants (those participating in a URM program often with longer term residence), the executive team, medical clinic staff, chaplains, office personnel, student interns and volunteers all come together to start the day. It is a terrific way to remember why we are all there! 

 

On my first Wednesday the chapel was brimming with toys, decorated beautifully for Christmas, with homemade snow even falling from the rafters.  This was URM’s Annual Christmas Store.  URM employees and hundreds of volunteers act as personal shoppers, gift wrappers, and store clerks.  Parents experiencing homelessness signed up to “shop” for their children days before.  Sections were stocked with donated toys, shoes, clothing and basic necessities for kids of all ages (0-2, 2-5, school-age and teens).  With list in hand, parents were escorted to their child’s section for a gift, gifts were then wrapped by volunteers (whose skills rivaled Neiman Marcus), and happily sent on their way certain that wherever their children laid their heads on Christmas eve, Santa would visit.    

 

On another day it was announced that a volunteer film crew was on-site to film the happenings at URM.  One of the things they wanted to do was reenact a URM graduation.  The chapel was to be the movie set!  I learned later that URM does not allow the actual graduation to be filmed so that graduates may maintain their privacy.  Graduation is for men who have completed the Christian Discipleship Program.  The program gives participants an opportunity to understand the root causes of their homelessness and why their lives are not working.  They commit for one year to education and vocational training, Recovery/Biblical 12-Steps, life skills, physical exercise classes and much more.  Many of these stories of transformation are what initially drew me to URM.  Filming followed Tuesday’s chapel so the room was full.  Before beginning however, it was explained that anyone who did not wish to participate was more than welcome to elect not to.  Half the room cleared.  My immediate “Aha” thought, of course some people may not want the world to know that they need the services of URM or that URM is temporarily their home.  Those of us remaining moved to one side of the sanctuary so that it would appear full.  Although it was not an actual graduation we yelled, we screamed and we clapped as if it were.  We did so in honor of the many men that had graduated in the past and the countless more who will do so in the future.  It was a good day! 

 

One of my adventures that did not involve the chapel was my visit to URM’s site away from Skid Row, Hope Gardens Family Center. Hope Gardens is for moms and children experiencing homelessness. Most are there due to abuse, illness and/or economic circumstances. Set in a beautiful mountain setting, it is an oasis. A place where you literally have nature’s garden surrounding you and it would seem that hope is, of course, the natural succession of things. I went for the Christmas Youth Program done by the children who live on site. It was an amazing experience that made my first two week initiation complete! Here’s a glimpse …

 

 

“Oh the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored.  There are games to be won… and the magical things you can do…

“Yes, I think you should” and it all made perfect sense…

Last week my 89 year old Grandmother followed me in her car, I was in mine. She had surprised me at the nail shop, noticed that my tire was low and insisted that we stop for air.  We pulled in to the station to see an older gentleman’s truck stop just as he approached.  He had to get out and push because he had not made it fully into the driveway. No one helped. My Grandma said that she had jumper cables and she was going to help him. Before I could say a word she turned to me and said, “Dawn when you have the means to help and someone is in need then I think you should, don’t you?”  I answered “Yes Grandma, I think you should.” In that instant, it all made sense…

Recently I quit my job as a broadcast salesperson for a radio station to become a Development Professional for the Union Rescue Mission.  This journey began over a year and a half ago when I took over as the Account Executive for the URM account.  When I drove away from my very first meeting with them I knew that I had found a cause that I would work tirelessly for.  What I did not know is how it would impact my life.  I returned to the station that day determined to figure out how to best bring the two entities together to make a difference.  I wanted Los Angeles to be aware of what was right in our backyard and how we could help. From that, URM’s show “Amazing Stories from Skidrow” was born. One by one URM guests, supporters and donors came to tell their story.  Through those stories I began to understand 3 things: 1) With the right circumstances (or wrong) any of us could become a person experiencing homelessness 2) While monetary support is crucial, support can come in countless other forms 3) Donors experience as much joy from giving, if not more, than the recipients of the gift. And on a personal note I understood that this is exactly what I was supposed to do. While I still loved many aspects of being a salesperson (client interaction, bringing an idea to fruition, helping good businesses do even better) I had known for a long time that something was missing. As we recorded the shows and I was moved to tears again and again, I realized that this was the answer to bringing passion and purpose back to my career. For months I worked to make that realization a reality.  It happened and my first day is this Monday, 12/9/13. I do not expect this new role to be easy. In fact, securing the position has been by far the most difficult of my career! But as I attempt to explain to those who question why this was so important to me, I realized that there was the answer right there… “Yes, Grandma when there is a way to help, I definitely believe that you should.” 

“Amazing Stories from Skidrow” airs on 99.5 KKLA weekdays at 9:30pm and Saturdays at 5:30pm~