What a year.

I am feeling a little bittersweet as July 29th approaches. It is hard for me to believe that my 11 months as an AmeriCorps member are up on July 29th, and it is even harder for me to leave the organization I have served for 11 months. Funny enough, nearly 1 year ago I was losing my job at College of the Siskiyous, and on the anniversary of that date, I will be leaving the job I fell into purely by accident.

My 11 months at the Yreka Community Resource Center are impossible to cover in one little blog post. I lived in this community for 18 years of my life, left for 8 years, and returned to rediscover a community in need. I suppose the community was always in need, I was just never in the position to notice. Teenagers are apt and allowed to be self-absorbed, as they so often are.

Words cannot describe my experiences as a Family Advocate at the Yreka Community Resource Center. Many times over I have wanted to blog about a day at work, an event we held, a family I spoke with...but I felt it would fall flat. And I still feel that way. But I am compelled to convey my appreciation for these enlightening and eye-opening experiences. Many people are continually blind to the growing problems and challenges facing our small town, whether this blindness is by choice or by ignorance, I do not know. And, unfortunately, these problems and challenges will only continue to grow with the ever-declining economy. The recession hit Siskiyou County early, and it will last here longer than most.

I take no solace, but I find small relief knowing I have done something, however small and seemingly insignificant, to help alleviate the daily struggle for some of the families and individuals we see on a daily basis. It is true that in my community, many families cannot pay their electric bill. It is true that many families cannot afford to buy clothing for their children. It is true that many families are one step away from homelessness and hunger. And it is true that these families could be your next door neighbors. The services I provided were small indeed, but they were meaningful. And that is what keeps me going.

I will be taking a position at Grenada Elementary School as an Instructional Aide starting August 22nd. But, intermixed with my excitement for this new classroom position in a school district, I feel sad that I will no longer have the privilege of working at the Yreka Community Resource Center. I will continue to fight for these families, and I will continue to try to make people aware of the problems that face many families in our small community, I just hope...

...well, I guess I just hope.