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Juliana Tamayo

EXPL 390
3-18-20
ABCD Reflection

The team at Catholic Charities does a great job of finding a balance between what they have

and the resources they lack. Coming in, I remember feeling overwhelmed with amount of work

that needed to be done. Clients came all day and there were only 3 full time specialists in the

office. I remember wishing I could help more and asking why more people weren’t hired. It

seemed like this was a simple answer to the problems I observed. I was frustrated because I

thought we could serve more members of the community if more staff was hired. All my

observations were focused on what the department lacked. This only made my work harder

because I didn’t use the resources and tools available to me. Instead of looking at the good that

could be done with the information and connections that were already established, I wrote lists of

what I thought needed to change. As I became more comfortable with the specialists and Nancy,

I realized that their perspective was different. Yes, there are days were they also become

frustrated, but they also work with what they have to give clients the best experience.

Staffing is a constant problem in office. Funding cuts have made it harder to hire full time

staff and this puts more pressure on the those who work in the department. One thing I’ve seen in

the office is that everyone knows each other’s strengths. If a client comes in or calls a specialist

who cannot answer his question, they are immediately transferred to the staff member who can

give them the best guidance. No time is wasted; the specialists know who focuses on each aspect

of the law. This helps keep appointments on schedule and the office in order. The staff knows

when another member of the team is having a bad day and step up to help them in any way they

can. They make lack staff, but the small group is strong a united. After years of working with
one another, they know how to work well together. They get the work done with a small team

because they know how to maximize their time and energy. They’ve learned how to work with

what they have and their small team.

Recently there has been some talk about the decrease in clients that are coming to the office.

I noticed it more during February as there weren’t many clients coming into the office for

consultation or pick-ups. This decrease can be attributed to the fear people have about seeking

legal assistance or because they think they cannot offered the services. Ever since the current

administration came into office, rumors spread constantly about what the government’s next

immigration move will be and the consequences it will have. Understandably, many members of

the community live in uncertainty and would rather remain in the shadows where they are not

bothered. This can be a problem and deficit for the organization since they are not meeting with

the usual number of clients. In the future, this can lead to more budget cuts and could harm the

services provided in the agency. Instead of focusing on the negative, staff are using the spare

time to attend conferences and community events. They listen to the concerns of the community

and try to strategize to find ways to reach a larger audience. They realize that people need legal

aid but there are many outside factors that prevent them from reaching out.

Seeing the way, the organization works and how they value their resources has helped me

better contribute to their work and the community they serve. I remember that in one of the

videos we watched on asset maps, the speaker said that you couldn’t help a community by

bringing in outsiders and this stuck with me. We must work with what is already available to us

and the gifts of everyone in the community to seek change. In this way, they help build a

community within the organization and with community members. Recently I attended an ICE

check in with Nancy. A member of the community had to present himself to ICE and have an
interview with them. At this interview, he would either be allowed to stay in the country or

would face immediate deportation. I did not know what to expect but I was welcomed by a big

crowed of people who all came together to support this man. It wasn’t just Catholic Charities,

there were people from all backgrounds and ethnicities who came together to pray for the

wellbeing of the family.

This was a great example of community building and way CC uses its resources to connect

with all different types of people. Even though this was a stressful time, the family felt some sort

of security knowing that there was a big group of people downstairs wishing them the best.

When Oscar came downstairs everyone cheered as he was given a one year extension to stay in

the United States. CC used their message of unity and rights for all to connect individuals who

might otherwise never cross paths. While facing this challenge, Oscar and his family also gained

a new support system made from a diverse group of people.

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