It's way overdue, but I did want to mention a bit about the new job. I love it so far. It is tough, tough, tough leaving Annie, but I spend my lunch hour with her, which is a nice refresher for the afternoon. Also, my hours are 7:30-4:30, so she hangs out with her dad in the morning and then I pick her up and we're home by 5. I really can't complain.
I love the Red Cross. It is a great organization, truly a volunteer-led organization, with an extremely unique culture. There is certainly such a thing as a Red Crosser, and I'm not sure the same thing can be said about any other nonprofit organization. When we're retired, I picture Chris and I volunteering all over the U.S. with the Red Cross. That being said, I was burned out from the job. I am not sure if it was the commute or the sheer magnitude of the job, but I was feeling less than enthusiastic about the nonprofit field as a whole. I am still not sure it is the fit for me and unsure if this is where I'll spend my career, but I have a renewed faith in nonprofits and have rediscovered the passion for community building that I first found on Cape Cod.
OK, blah, blah, blah. So what the heck are you DOING? I am employed by the United Way as part of the State of Florida's Full Service Schools iniative. The idea behind Full Service Schools is that children are unsuccessful in school for a variety of reasons. Some are academic and some are not. Examples of nonacademic barriers to success are divorce of parents, death of a loved one, depression, homelessness, and lack of proper nutrition, among many others. Full Service Schools works with students and famlies to eliminate there barriers. I manage the Jacksonville beaches Full Service Schools site, which is a two-minute commute from home. (YAY!!!!!!!!) The job involves day to day management of about 8 staff members and a lot of work out in the community, forming partnerships, marketing our programs, and, most importantly, seeking solutions to problems facing this community.
There is absolutely no reason why a family living at the beach should not have food, decent housing, needed medication, etc. It is a solvable problem. You have all heard the old quote, "think globally, act locally." What ever happened to that phrase? I like it, and it is precisely what I am doing now. My job is flexible and open ended and designed to be site specific. There are so many opportunities to improve my community and I can take positive steps in this position.
A big concept that I feel passion for is that of sustainability. One of the best things you can do to create a sustainable community is to work where you live, shop where you live, meet your neighbors, know your local political leaders, etc. and work for change. That is what Chris and I are doing now, and I'm proud of it. I'm happy and energized and focused and feeling great about the work I'm doing. Life is good and I'm where I'm supposed to be!
I'm not sure how long this will be up, but I was in the local newspaper (front page, no big deal - HA!): http://www.beachesleader.com/articles/2008/12/26/beaches_leader/news/doc495298c459928574255103.txt
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