Mary Laphen's Reflections

My experiences with my community partner ranged from a friendship over a Chinese lunch to an intricate conversation concerning the financial ramifications of running a non-profit organization. The Adams County Literacy Council fosters an environment built upon relationships both personal and social. Because of the creative nature of the work that we do, one must feel comfortable asking questions and asking for feedback in order to for our students to thrive. With this idea in mind, my community partner and I have intentionally worked to build a strong professional relationship in which we can openly share ideas as well as concerns.

I have learned a great deal about not only professional development but also responsible etiquette through my work with my community partner. When I assumed the position of Program Coordinator for the Adams County Literacy Council I had very little experience working as a partnership with an organization as opposed to an assistant or volunteer. Through this experience, I have learned the invaluable tool of obsessive organization. Being responsible for not only the success of my tutors but also other projects at the Adams County Literacy Council has forced me to always be organized and to present information to my community partner as well as tutors whenever needed. I have also learned the importance of communication. When a large group of people are working together towards a common goal, but all working on different parts of that goal, it is imperative that everyone share their ideas and progress in order ensure success.

The experiences I have had at my learning circle Circles of Support have probably made the biggest impact on my motivations and opinions considering social justice. Through this program I, along with a few other students from CPS, are granted the opportunity to join the community group Circles of Support each Wednesday night. Here, we listen to the stories, thoughts and opinions of the women in the group. They are all living in a state of borderline poverty, and have courageously joined this group in order to set specific goals such as financial and emotional. The women along with the group proctor work through strategies to help them to obtain and then maintain their goals. Through this opportunity I have not only had the opportunity to learn a great deal about the financial situations in Gettysburg, but I have also had the opportunity to form valuable friendships with the women in the group. Not only do we talk about our days and families each week over dinner, but we also run into each other around town and greet each other as friends and not as college students who happen to know women in the community. CPS talks a lot about bridging the gap between the college and the town; this is one program where I think the mission has definitely been accomplished.

The title “Learning Circle” does not give justice to the knowledge obtained while working with Circles of Support. I have learned a great deal about class issues; however I suspect that only a fraction of what I have learned would be in a book about the subject. What would be in a book is the policy flaws in Adams County in Gettysburg and how they affect the financial health of Gettysburg families as well as the hidden rules which govern our society which have finally been addressed in print by a select enlightened individuals. Beyond the books, I have learned about the actual lives, experiences and thoughts of women experiencing financial difficulty. They shared with us their everyday concerns such as having enough money to pay for gas to get to work. These types of concerns are small but vital and are often overlooked by policymakers when looking at their already flawed policies dealing with issues such as healthcare. Probably the most valuable lesson I have learned through this experience is that when you try to support or help someone you have to cater to what they want and not what you think they want.

My experiences and training at CPS has given me the confidence and opportunity to exercise both direct and indirect student leadership on campus and in the community. My most obvious venue of student leadership while working at CPS has been with my volunteers. Through my position, I first motivated Gettysburg College students to care about literacy and to want to help in the community. As a result, I recruited and enrolled several students into the ESL training program at the ACLC, all of those students then became tutors at the ACLC. Additionally, I have taken the role of indirect leadership through conversations and interactions I have had on campus with my peers. I have made a concerted effort to encourage my friends and other peers to get involved in such programs as D.C Outfitters and El Centro, as well as special projects like the Thanksgiving and Easter basket drive. In my opinion, the most important aspect of my student leadership efforts has been to engage my friends, peers, professors and other people who I come into contact with, in conversation regarding social justice. Through these conversations we not only discuss social justice and what steps need to be taken, but also clear up misconceptions and stereotypes which many people have concerning groups such as those in a state of homelessness. 

When I first started working at CPS in August, I would self-describe myself as having less than proficient leadership skills. I lacked the confidence as well as the “know how” of how to be an effective leader to my peers. Through training and first hand experience at CPS, I now feel as if I now am able to take an active leadership role in not only performing acts to encourage social justice, but also to engage in intelligent dialogue concerning sensitive topics such as race, classism and migration policy. Additionally, I have learned where to find the line between educating and motivating people to act and really making an impact as opposed to “preaching” at someone to do “something” and then being forgotten a few minutes later. I’m sure that many things I have said have been ignored or forgotten, but I am also confidant that for a few people the leadership and motivation I inspired helped them to become active in social justice and to become leaders themselves.

Very few people can honestly say that every person they have come into contact with through some type of experience has had a profound impact on the way they view themselves in the world; however, I am one of the lucky few able to post this accomplishment on my life list. Through my job at CPS I have had the opportunity to converse with all types of people from authors, social justice activists, inspiring peers and community members each with their own unique story and view of society. At the ACLC I have spent a semester of Saturday mornings getting to know adults from all over the world and all types of backgrounds. Each one has their own story for coming to America and the struggles they have faced here. Additionally I have spent a semester worth of Wednesday nights getting to know some of the most courageous women I have ever had the privilege of being introduced to. Each one of these women is ready and willing to step out of their comfort zone to help bring themselves and their families out of poverty. Each person I have talked to and each story I have heard has given me the motivation to not just volunteer, but also educate others about social injustices as well as taking steps myself to try and end some of these injustices.

The position I have as a Program Coordinator for the Adams County Literacy Council spans way past just recruiting and managing volunteers and become a portal for me to not only learn about social justice but to also confront my own preconceptions and be able to rise past them. Through my relationship with the staff at the Literacy Council I have learned how to important clear communication is with not only community partners, but also volunteers and students. Additionally, I have come to learn how interrelated responsibility and organization are. When one is responsible for having certain information and completing certain task, they must also be very organized in order to readily provide the information and complete the tasks. I have also personally become much more educated not just on certain issues concerning literacy and class, but also how these many issues are intertwined and can be the cause of one another. I have had the privilege to get to know many students at the Literacy Council, and in turn have learned about their background and lives. Many students do not just face the enormous challenge of illiteracy in their native or second language (English), but also face the prejudice of race, class and gender each day as well as navigating through governmental structure which makes it very difficult for one to find their way out of poverty once they have had a couple set backs to put them there in the first place.