Vincentian Living
We were lost! I was the navigator fighting with the Garmin as we found ourselves at the correct address, but not the right place. So technically we weren’t lost, just in the wrong ‘local.’ This evening my service group and I were looking forward to a home-cooked dinner hosted by the Vincentian Service Corp located … Read more
MADE by Downtown Women’s Center
One of my favorite days on my service trip was the day we walked to the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) and their associated retail store called MADE. The facility is a renovated warehouse that has an apartment community exclusively for women living in Skid Row. It is a beautiful, historic facility and home to a number of … Read more
A Community for the Arts
When I was passed a flier that promoted the ‘Skid Row Art Festival’ I was honestly taken by surprise! I had not thought about Skid Row as a community that appreciated and gave focus to the arts. After going to the karaoke night, I was able to see a lot of people who were quite … Read more
Reality Check at Midnight Mission
“Wiggle your fingers and toes. It’s going to be a good day!” Margaret, our group leader, would say this softly as we were waking up around 5AM. We woke up this early before the sunrise for a few days to serve breakfast at the Midnight Mission. The mission offers many services, one of which is … Read more
The Electric Slide: Breaking Social Barriers
A smile, laughter, music, dance…these are all parts of life that can transcend any level of wealth, social class, and culture. Think about those little things that make all of us on this earth human. So what do you do on a Wednesday night in Skid Row? Join the residents singing karaoke and dancing at … Read more
A New Perspective
I have always viewed any law enforcement officer in the US with respect and the knowledge that he/she is there to help me and is a friendly figure. On our second day in LA we went to the Central DePartment of the Los Angeles Police Department located in Skid Row for a tour. During this experience … Read more
Living Simply
When did you last check your e-mail, send a text, post a status on Facebook? A few hours or only minutes ago! For the week in LA we ‘unplugged’ from the daily digital distractions that more often than not clutter our lives. Without cell phones, iPods, and internet access, the impact of the immersion was … Read more
A Glimpse of Skid Row
That was such  a long Day! It began at 4AM; getting ready to catch an early morning flight to LA with my service group. Fun fact, this was my first time to the west coast! Leaving a frigid Chicago, I arrived 1740 miles later in sunny and warm LAX. During the descent I looked in … Read more
And the journey begins…
We too often become caught up in the motions and dramas of our daily lives. The microcosm we call life includes friends, family, (home) work, and more. I’m guilty of allowing this bubble to limit my sight and amplify any immediate problems or conflicts. You might think that living in a such a huge city … Read more
