A Journey of Hope and Love with Poor and Marginalized People
The seed for working with poor and marginalized people was planted in me as a child. I grew up in rural western Pennsylvania with my family who had meager means.
In the Society my first experience was living and working at Sursum Corda, a low income housing development. in Washington,D.C. All of my ministries would be in the Washington, D. C. area.
At Sursum Corda I directed teens in a drug prevention endeavor that became a teen leadership program.
After Sursum Corda I was part of the Mazique Parent Child Head Start Program. They were one of many programs across the country who were part of a five year multi million effort to track the effects of poverty on children from birth to five years of age’
The next place I journeyed was The Saint Luke Institute, a psychiatric hospital for priests and religious, and some other faiths. There were many valuable lessons God showed me in working with this population.
After St. Luke’s I needed a sabbatical and was granted one. I applied and was accepted at The Maryland School of Art and Design. I studied the art of polymer clay. I made jewelry, mosaics and all kinds of wonderful objects. I have used this art with countless women through the years. Teaching them the skill and showing how they could add to their incomes in creative fun ways
The Spirit led me next to use my skills at Geriatric Mental Health Services. I was assigned to nursing homes with residents who had long term diagnosed mental health disorders or developed one upon entering a nursing home.
Next I worked at My Sister’s Place, a safe house for women with and without children of domestic. While here I also supervised three Master level students from three different universities who were doing their field service work. I was also an adjunct professor at Catholic University.
There was and continues to be a mental health care crisis in this country. Too many people cannot afford mental health services. So I went into private practice to help in this way.
I also worked at Living Wages proving job coaching and career services.
I was an ESL teacher at Langley Park, Maryland
Currently I live at Anne Montgomery House, a ministry began 5 years ago. Young women live with us for a year who have an interest in spirituality and social justice.
Also I connect by phone with frail and elderly adults mostly without family who live alone.
