Mike teaches 3rd grade science at La Salle Academy

Service Site: La Salle Academy, Philadelphia, PA

University: Lewis University

What do you do?
As is the case with many LV’s, I tend to do a little bit of everything around school. I am the gym teacher at La Salle, but I have done everything from replacing lights in school, to preparing school lunches, and filling in for classroom teachers who are out for the day.

Why did you choose to become a Lasallian Volunteer? Have your hopes about the Program been realized?
I chose to become a Lasallian Volunteer because of the work volunteers do and the areas/cities in which they are placed. I believe in the power of presence and solidarity. Volunteers are not only placed at schools or agencies, but in communities. Many of which are near where their students/clients are living. Volunteers have the opportunity to be a presence in many neighborhoods that are in need of more positive young people. They also stand in solidarity with teachers/social workers, Brothers, families and students each facing different struggles. The LV program gave me the opportunity to participate in this life-giving work right out of college.

Mentoring during Study Hall

What is the most challenging obstacle that your students face?  How do your school and your own outreach try to empower them to overcome this obstacle?
Working with grade school students I have seen that all young people have several obstacles they must face on a daily basis. It sounds funny because I was graduating eighth grade only nine years ago, but the world today is even faster and weirder than when I was growing up. Our students face the normal “stressors” that come with being a kid (fitting in, good grades, crazy parents, getting into a good high school etc…). However, students coming from low-income households or struggling with poverty must endure other more “adult” obstacles as well. These include issues like: uncertain living conditions, one or no parents in a child’s life, or addiction affecting someone in the household. Really the major obstacle challenging most, not all of our students, is a lack of structure in their lives. La Salle Academy provides that structure. Students know where to be and what is expected of them from eight to five, Monday through Friday for eleven months of the year. The environment created at La Salle allows students to know they are cared for and provides them with the structure/skills to continue on in their education.

Have you noticed any signs of success in your work?  What are they?
There are successes every week, however at times they look different or more subtle than what I would like to see or would expect. I do a lot of work with my gym classes in trying to avoid and work through arguments in the schoolyard. I really consider it a success when students are able to work through arguments on their own. However, my greatest success and lasting legacy at La Salle is when the seventh grade teacher and I coached the boys’ basketball team to the semi-finals this past season. It is always successful day when fourth graders avoid arguing over knockout during recess.

Mentoring Students

Why would you recommend the LV program to a college senior considering volunteering?
I would recommend this program to a senior because of the people you will meet through the LV program. I have forged relationships with volunteers, teachers, Brothers, students and their families. People I would never have been able to meet outside of this program, people with amazing stories. I have made a few stories of my own over the past two years as well. Volunteers receive great job experience, a network of professional and spiritual support, room and board, you get to travel across our great country and some even get a ticket to grad school; however it is the relationships made with people in the Lasallian community that make this program a worthwhile risk.

Why would you recommend a contribution to the LV Program from a prospective donor?
These past two years as an LV, I have noticed more than ever the power of money in our world. It seems that even programs and institutions serving the neediest in society cannot function without the proper funding. That being said, the Lasallian Volunteers program would not exist without the generous contributions of people who donate and support us. There have been countless trailblazers who have paved the way for the growth of the Lasallian Volunteers. Many lives are changed by this great program. Volunteers, teachers, Christian Brothers, and the students/clients volunteers come into contact with are only a few of the people whose lives have been impacted by LV’s. Job skills are learned, growth is experienced, relationships are made, and true life lessons are shared through this program. True education is happening. If able to contribute in some way, why would a person not want to be a part of this program?

Faculty of La Salle Academy

• Learn more about the awards here >

The Lasallian Volunteers F.S.C. Awards are a small way to show appreciation to individuals whose involvement in our mission makes our service possible. The recipients are honored in the spirit of three Christian Brothers who embodied the Lasallian Volunteers values of Faith, Service and Community during their lifetime. The awards will be presented annually at orientation and will be rotated between the Districts of the Christian Brothers to celebrate our national reach.

This year, the FSC Awards are making their way to California! The ceremony will be held in conjunction with Buttimer at Saint Mary’s College of California.

Join the award winners, LV staff and alumni, Buttimer participants and others as we come together to celebrate Faith, Service and Community.

NOMINATE A RECIPIENT
We are currently accepting nominations for award recipients from the San Francisco and New Orleans-Santa Fe Districts.

Deadline: May 7

Delve a little deeper and realize Gabe struggles with his self-esteem, finds it difficult to verbalize his feelings, has tendencies of self-depreciation, faces anxiety in loud or chaotic environments, and has a shyness that is enhanced when others look at him. Gabe struggles with behavioral and social issues. His parents struggle as well: Gabe’s dad hasn’t been able to come to terms with Gabe’s challenges, and believes Gabe just needs to grow up and act right. His mom recognizes Gabe’s challenges and wants his son to succeed, but she doesn’t possess the resources to support him.

This week Gabe arrived in his classroom and had a great morning. He was in a phenomenal space…until he had a difficult interaction with a fellow classmate, which led him to fall apart for two hours. He became hung up on the interaction and his anger got the best of him. Distraught, upset and unable to bounce back, Gabe was facing suspension from this little incident. He is a student in a classroom where the teacher works to help him feel safe, teach him coping mechanisms and celebrate his successes when he’s having a good day. He’s a student at a school that invites parents to engage their students alongside administration and teachers.

Rather than getting suspended, Gabe was given some space for quiet. He was invited into conversation with his mom and his teacher Ms. Logan (a Lasallian Volunteer) in which they discussed what happened, offered reassurance that he was wanted at the school, that they believe he can succeed, and that giving up when things get tough is not an option.

Gabe returned to his class while mom did some work in the school’s main office. Gabe felt more secure knowing she was nearby. Ms. Logan and Gabe re-joined class, and during the math lesson, she volleyed to his strengths in place values, encouraging him, building his esteem by bringing his intelligence to light and putting it on display.

Gabe’s support network went the extra mile. They’ve shown he can be successful and loved despite his behavior problems. When he trusts them, they can help him navigate his anger, gather tools and resources to succeed, and he can have the confidence to step back into the classroom and strive to be his best self the next day.

She has overcome amazing obstacles throughout her life and her story provides the evidence of her perseverance. In her native country of Haiti, she found herself trapped in an abusive relationship due to her husband’s violent alcoholism. Fearing for the life of her children and her own, she fled the country with her kids despite the threat of being disowned by her family. She arrived in New York City and was able to provide a better life for her sons, who have now graduated from college and have families of their own thanks to Jane’s efforts.

Jane, a woman that has used her independence to create her own success and pave the ways for her sons, now faces a seemingly insurmountable road block. The impact and side effects of conflicting medications have bound her to a wheelchair contributing to feelings of loneliness. This loneliness has led to Jane feeling like she’s fading away into the background of daily life.

Thanks to the encouragement of a Lasallian Volunteer, Jane’s outlook on life has changed. After being encouraged to share her story and get involved with other residents at the senior home, Jane has realized her own potential to impact the world and people around her. By going the extra mile for Jane, this LV reminded her of the meaningful miles she can travel on her life journey.

The prom court grew quickly, considering the fact that students from all over the school had character.  Michelle said, “I think Cyndie makes people want to be involved because she really cares about the students, and you can see that in the way she interacts with people.”

What is one way that you can go the extra mile like Cyndie does? Instead of doing things the way they always have been done, is there a way that you can take the time to be thoughtful about the tasks that you have to do? Is there a way that you can highlight people who might not always get recognition?

Michelle Chan — an LV serving in campus ministry at De La Salle North Catholic High School in Portland, Oregon — easily identified a student going the extra mile. Lasallian Volunteers inspire the students that they work with, and a lot of times the students inspire the LVs.

Entering the first large area of the cave was simple, but making his way into a smaller crawl space proved to be a surprising challenge.

As the space became tighter and more difficult to navigate, a part of Danny panicked and he froze in place–ridden with anxiety. Without hesitation, he cried out to his teacher, “Mr. Gomez, I’m afraid!” Mr. Gomez replied, “It’s ok, you got this” as he quickly soothed Danny’s nerves.

By affirming Danny’s progress and reminding him that he’ll be alright, Mr. Gomez coached Danny through a couple of feet through the crawlspace. After a few minutes, Danny was calm again and was able to make his way out of the crawlspace confidently.

For La Salle School and Danny, going the extra mile means taking each step in an ongoing process of learning what it means to be a man. In Danny’s case, going the extra mile did not involve athletic ability, pride, or toughness. Going the extra mile was acknowledging his fear, revealing he cannot succeed alone, and entrusting his doubt to the support around him.

Rudy’s found some semblance of peace in the eight-grade classes that I teach him, but the consequences of one wrong step or one missed opportunity are too large for most of us to comprehend. Once you’re swept up in the gangs, you don’t just “get out.”

Rudy came to me in a panic one day after school. We had a test on the Constitution planned for the following day, but there was a problem with his grandmother’s car and he couldn’t get across the city to school in time. I listened and we made a deal: if he could find a way to get here, I’d make sure he take that test and I’d drive him home.

He found a ride to school. He took his test. He earned a 90%. I dropped him off that afternoon.

That’s how it is with Rudy, myself, and the other Lasallian Volunteers who have taught him along the way. I go the extra mile for Rudy—or, in this case, I drive the extra miles with him.

Stephanie tutors a student in pre-calc

Service Site: Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Minneapolis, MN

University: Loyola University Chicago

What do you do?
I am a Hire4ed Coordinator at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Twin Cities.  At Cristo Rey, students are required to work five days a month to help off-set the cost of tuition. As a Hire4ed Coordinator, I am a liaison between students and their supervisors at work.  I travel to sites to observe students in their working environment and follow up with students back at school about their experiences. I also teach pre-calculus to an advanced math student.  During my first semester at Cristo Rey, I was the extracurricular activities coordinator and the girls basketball coach.

The 2011-2012 Girls Varsity Basketball team with coach Stephanie

What have you discovered about poverty from your work?
In working at CRJHS-TC I have learned a great deal about teenage urban poverty.  Previously, I had mainly worked with adults in similar situations. While I understood that poverty can effect every member of a family, I never quite knew the effect it had on students. From a work standpoint, I have learned how flexible you have to be with students. Many of the students have difficult situations at home, which translate into their performance at work.  I teach students skills that will be beneficial as they continue working in adulthood. Sometimes work is difficult or boring, however the job needs to get done and I help students realize this concept. Furthermore, I am also helping them understand that work and home need to be two separate entities.

What is the most challenging obstacle that your students face?  How do your school and your own outreach try to empower them to overcome this obstacle?
The most challenging obstacle that students face is understanding the significance of working during the school day.  Sometimes it is difficult for a supervisor to recognize that a 14 year old high school student needs a significant amount of guidance in completing their job.  Students also struggle with communication with supervisors. They are often quiet and shy with supervisors. As a Hire4ed coordinator I coach them to realize that supervisors are not “scary” or intimidating. In helping both the student and supervisor realize that this is a beneficial relationship, both parties have the ability to learn from each other.

Stephanie in front of the Hire4ed board and a map of the 24 Cristo Rey schools in the US

Have you noticed any signs of success in your work?  What are they?
One sign of success that I have noticed occurred when visiting students at work: Students are proud of what they do at work.  When they learn that I am going on a site visit to see them, they love to show me exactly what happens in thier day at work. Their faces light up, even if the tasks the student do are not exciting, showing off the workplace is exciting to them. They are proud of what they accomplish throughout the school year. I want the students to be successful at work and when they find their work meaningful I believe that this is a major success as a coordinator.

What would you say to one of your students who came to you discouraged about a particularly troubling problem?
If a student gets fired at work, it is necessary to have difficult conversations with both students and parents.  We have a re-employability process that requires the student to reflect on why they were fired and how they can improve so this problem does not happen again.  It is important for students to identify their strengths and weaknesses.  This self reflection allows for a conversation about how to be successful at their next job and life.  I believe it is important to establish responsibility for actions.  Letting the student take responsibility for what happened, they are able to learn from this mistake and grow.

Stephanie's LV community members support her in her first 10K