Educating the Heart: Service Learning at CMC

 “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” ~Aristotle

Service Learning in FY13

Mount Mercy Service Learners

Mount Mercy service learners clean toys for the Education Program’s childcare room.

 Each year, we engage students from middle school through college in the CMC mission through service. “Across several experiences with individual students and the courses I teach, we have been able to experience the spirit of Mercy by assisting in the delivery of programs and services dedicated to helping those in need. Our bond, forged because of the courageous work of the Sisters of Mercy, has enabled my students to experience service and the impact it can make on the lives of so many,” says Anne King, associate professor of marketing at Mount Mercy University.

Some students do their service learning off-site. Eva and Sean Deegan held a lemonade sale over their summer break to raise money for CMC programs.

Some students do their service learning off-site. Eva and Sean Deegan held a lemonade sale over their summer break to raise money for CMC programs.

 

Students are able to help CMC accomplish necessary tasks and learn important skills. Katie Pahlas, Grant Wood Area Education school social worker explains, “Our students who volunteer at CMC are students with severe autism. This opportunity to learn job related skills (i.e., putting away food, cleaning, and organizing shelves) not only helps CMC, but allows these students to strengthen skills which may someday transfer to the real world of work.”  Learning through service is both memorable and rewarding. Katie says, “The experience of lending their hands to help others is naturally gratifying. The relationship our students have with CMC is a perfect example of the importance of promoting the well being and dignity of every individual.”

 

 Read more of our FY13 Annual Report.

 

Check out more great volunteer photos on our Facebook page.

 

100 Hours of Volunteer Service in FY13

A special thank you to these amazing volunteers who each served more than 100 hours this year. The did everything from tutoring to graphic design, maintenance, and serve on a committee or the board. Together they served more than 3300 hours!

CMC Volunteers “100 Hours Club”

  • Amber Bohlen
  • Lalisa Brown
  • Deb Cave
  • John Chaimov
  • Lauren T. Duvall
  • Sara Elahi
  • Kimberly Gardner
  • Kristi Heiderscheid
  • Sr. Rita Heires
  • Rose Mary Kerschenske
  • Del LaGrange
  • Jennifer L. Mackey
  • Betty Mallie
  • Jennifer L. Reierson Mims
  • Melissa Pence
  • Floyd Sandford
  • Ann Sullivan
  • Robert Yeats
  • Beth Wallace
  • Gabrielle Watkins
  • Sarah Watson

 Gabby WatkinsOur PR volunteer, Gabby Watkins, dedicated more than 180 hours at CMC last fiscal year.

“I first began volunteering at the Center during an internship over the summer 2012 to finish my degree at Kirkwood. Once the internship was done, I was gone for only two months before I missed it too much and had to return. I am often asked why I volunteered so much at CMC and it’s really very simple: it made me feel like I was actually doing something to improve my community. The love the staff has for their work is infectious, as are the smiles of those they are helping. I know that my service really helps improve lives and, perhaps most importantly, has helped me grow as an individual.”

 Read more about our dedicated volunteers

Looking Ahead: 25th Anniversary Preparations

by Ann Sullivan

History PhotosI’m at an age where I often say, “Where has the time gone?” Maybe you’ll join me in that sentiment when I remind you that the Catherine McAuley Center is making plans to celebrate its 25th anniversary. That’s right. Twenty-five years of serving those in need, those who want to transform their lives. Whether you were one of the first financial donors 25 years ago or just recently began giving one hour a week as a tutor, you are an important piece of our 25-year history. Oh yes, things have changed over the years. What began as a small organization, meeting in a small space to help women with children work toward their GED, has grown to three buildings serving women in transitional housing and men and women who wish improve their basic academic skills, learn English or become U.S. citizens.

Being a tutor and now a board member has been so rewarding for me. I have been present for two of my students’ citizenship ceremonies. One of my students has now become a tutor herself. I have encouraged a few of my friends to become tutors and they now feel that sense of closeness to the Center. Each of us who has given of our time, talent, or treasure has a story to tell. What’s yours?

We encourage you to share your stories or photos with us as we prepare to celebrate our 25th anniversary. Contact Nicki Ross at 731-0448 or email her at nicki@cmc-cr.org if you have a story to tell.

 Read more of our FY13 Annual Report.

Be sure to check out our Facebook in the new year for photos and posts celebrating 25 years at CMC.

FY13 Staff and Board of Directors

Board of Directors

We want to thank our great board of directors who served in FY13.3-Board Photo

  • President: Maureen Kenney, Bradley and Riley
  • President-Elect: Joan McVay, Farmers State Bank
  • Treasurer: John Gilson, Rockwell Collins
  • Secretary: John Chaimov, Coe College
  • Past President: Melissa Pence, Sisters of Mercy West-Midwest Community
  • Martha Barry, Community Volunteer
  • Michele Brock, ME&V
  • Sr. Annette Fiala, RSM, Sisters of Mercy West-Midwest Community
  • Brian Globokar, Hills Bank and Trust Company
  • Julia Hawkins, Holmes Murphy & Associates
  • Todd Holverson, Collins Community Credit Union
  • Sher Jasperse, Writer
  • Larry Maiers, Community Volunteer
  • Sr. Peg Murphy, RSM, Mercy Medical Center
  • Ramadhan Muzo, Cedar Rapids Community Schools
  • Sr. Susan O’Connor, RSM, Mercy Medical Center
  • Steve Ovel, Kirkwood Community College
  • Tom Podzimek, Benchmark Construction Services, Inc
  • Joanne Stevens, NAI Iowa Realty Commercial
  • Ann Sullivan, Community Volunteer
  • Cheryl Tabarella-Redd, Mount Mercy University
  • Sarah Watson, Clickstop
  • Paula Land, Executive Director, Catherine McAuley Center, Ex-Officio Member

Special thanks to our 2012-2013 board members who recently completed their board term.

  • Tom Amosson
  • Bridget Janus
  • Sister Mary Lou Podzimek
  • Mary Hagen
  • Mary Tarbox

CMC Staff in FY13

  • Paula Land, Executive Director
  • Sheila Landers, Finance Manager
  • Nicki Ross, Development & Communications Manager
  • Amelia Waddle,  Administrative Coordinator
  • Tina Gossman, Volunteer Coordinator
  • Jennifer Tibbetts, Housing Program Manager
  • Malory Dreasler, Housing Program Coordinator
  • Alyssa Drury, Women’s Outpatient Counselor
  • Chelsea DeLarm, Support Services Coordinator
  • Wendy Arnold-Rodriguez, Education Program Manager
  • Greg White, Immigrant/Refugee Coordinator
  • Michala Price, Part-time Education Program Coordinator
  • Sherryl Gaffney-Paige, Part-time Education Program Coordinator
  • Tsega Habte, Custodial Staff
  • Sher Jasperse, Grant Writer

 

Welcoming New Staff and Board in FY 2014

As we start FY14, we have some new faces here at the Catherine McAuley Center. We want to welcome our new board members and those serving in new positions on the board.

New Board Members

Martha Barry is a Sister of Mercy Associate and has been a volunteer tutor at the Center for a year and a half. She looks forward to continuing to assist clients through service on the board.

Rama Muzo is an Intercultural Community Resources Specialist with the CR Community School District. Through service at CMC, Rama hopes to embrace diversity to bring unity in the community.

Steve Ovel is the Associate VP of Governmental Relations at Kirkwood Community College and is the current President of the Community Corrections Improvement Association. A long time supporter of the mission of CMC, he is interested in helping to provide financial oversight and community promotion.

Cheryl Tabarella-Redd is the Career Services Directory at Mount Mercy University. For the past three years she has served on the CMC Human Resources Committee and looks forward to serving on the board so she can support the Mercy mission and service to disadvantaged.

CMC Board Officers

President:  Maureen Kenney, Attorney Bradley and Riley

Treasurer: John Gilson, Controller, Air Transport Systems  Rockwell Collins 

Secretary: John Chaimov,  Associate Professor of German Coe College 

President-Elect: Joan McVay, Branch Manager, AVP Farmers State Bank

Past President: Melissa Pence,  Development Manager Sisters of Mercy West-Midwest Community

New Staff

Malory

Malory Dreasler, Housing Program Coordinator

Malory Dreasler, LMSW joined our staff as the Transitional Housing Program Coordinator in July of 2013. Malory recently graduated from the University of Iowa graduate social work program. Malory works closely with clients in transitional housing to help them set and meet their goals, build healthy relationships and become financially stable.

ChelseaChelsea De Larm, Support Services Coordinator

Chelsea came to the Center as an intern under our volunteer coordinator and we liked her so well we asked her to stay! She joined our staff in June 2013 in a position new to the housing program. As the Transitional Housing Program Support services coordinator, Chelsea will help the women with practical skills, finding employment and will continue services and outreach with women who have graduated the program.

Tina

Tina Gossman,Volunteer Coordinator

Volunteer Coordinator Tina Gossman joined CMC in July 2013. Tina has a long history of serving her community in northern Iowa as a volunteer evening advocate for Cedar Valley Friends of the Family and here in the Linn County School System.

Join us for the 2013 CMC Picnic!

August 14, 2013 at Bever Park

After a year off due to 10th Avenue construction, CMC is bringing back our picnic tradition. We hope you will join us on August 14th at Bever Park for our annual celebratory potluck picnic. picnic page 4

CMC will be grilling hot dogs and hamburgers. Bring a dish to share! RSVP to Amelia Waddle by emailing amelia@cmc-cr.org or calling 363-4993, and let her know what dish you plan to bring. We hope to see you at the end of the summer!

picnic 5

April Showers Bring May…Volunteers?

by Brianna Schwenk

Cargill front page

With the help of a generous grant from their corporate office, Cargill employees were able to transform our empty flower beds into beautiful, welcoming landscaping, designed by expert gardener, Dana Land with The Personal Gardener.

In the past few weeks, there’s been an exciting buzz of energy around the Catherine McAuley Center. Spring has finally arrived, and with it, came groups of committed, generous, and eager volunteers who were ready to tackle big projects and make a difference in the community. In just three days, volunteers logged over 430 hours of service – that’s $9542.34 in volunteer labor! Together, the May groups contributed over $2,000 in supplies and monetary donations. Check out more photos of our projects and the great volunteers who contributed on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CatherineMcAuleyCenter.

We  would like to extend a huge, heartfelt thank you to all of the volunteers who have shared their time and skills with us this May. Without support from groups like these, we would not be able to offer the welcoming, quality services we are committed to developing and maintaining at the Center. It takes a lot of heart and many hands to keep CMC running. Our volunteer coordinator, Brianna Schwenk, is available to schedule and design a group volunteer experience for anyone who is interested in making a difference. If you or your organization is looking for a volunteer opportunity that builds teamwork, creates memories, and has a definite impact on our community, please contact our volunteer coordinator at 319-363-4993 or e-mail volunteer@cmc-cr.org.

A crew from GE Capital took care of our many spring cleaning projects such as: cleaning shelves, organizing our food pantry, shampooing the carpet, and creating a great working space for our office volunteers.

A crew from GE Capital took care of our many spring cleaning projects such as: cleaning shelves, organizing our food pantry, shampooing the carpet, and creating a great working space for our office volunteers.

The group from Toyota Financial undertook the massive project of getting our community garden ready for planting. Thanks to their volunteer labor and materials donation, we were able to paint the fence, till and plant the garden, paint our deck, power wash our houses, and make more space in our garage for storage.

The group from Toyota Financial undertook the massive project of getting our community garden ready for planting. Thanks to their volunteer labor and materials donation, we were able to paint the fence, till and plant the garden, paint our deck, power wash our houses, and make more space in our garage for storage.

Be Part of the Conversation!

Welcoming the Marginalized

Catherine McAuley Center is excited to invite you to be a part of a “Community Conversation” on Wednesday, May 22 at 3pm. Community Conversations WordleAt that time, we will be participating in a conference call with Peter Block. CMC is one of several area partners that are hosting conversations around “Welcoming the Marginalized.”  We are inviting you because, as a supporter of the Catherine McAuley Center, you have demonstrated caring for those who are marginalized in our community. And we know that your participation will enrich the conversation!

Welcoming the Marginalized: When we befriend those on the margins of society by practicing hospitality and welcome, we create communities where justice can be lived out. Through these relationships, we will develop the new knowledge, practices, courage and commitment that lead to broad-based change.

Beyond this Invitation Conversation, you may decide to participate in continuing conversations. If you would like to review the Six Conversations that will be held in the next six months, please review the Community Conversations Partnership Flyer for more information or contact Greg White greg@cmc-cr.org or Paula Land paula@cmc-cr.org. Please let us know if you plan to participate on May 22 so we can allow enough space to accommodate the group! Call 319-731-0442 and ask for Greg, or email him at the above address.

Background: On April 4 and 5, Prariewoods hosted a conference called,  Engaging Community, Narrating Change led by three nationally renowned speakers/authors. 500 community members participated and got a great introduction to the powerful tools and strategies to engage our community in narrating change.

Prairiewoods is committed to the creation of restorative, sustainable, abundant community.  The mission of Engaging Community, Narrating Change Phase 2 is to bring into conversation the collective wisdom present within each and every individual within the community.  This circle conversation process will facilitate collaboration among residents, churches, local civic organizations and institutions to lead to a greater sense of belonging and comprehensive, asset-based community development.

Volunteers, We Couldn’t Do It Without You!

Celebrating Our Dedicated Volunteers

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Volunteer Coordinator, Brianna Schwenk, greets volunteers at the door with a special thank you gift.

On Wednesday, May 1, our volunteers joined us for CMC’s Volunteer Appreciation Open House.  As a small non-profit organization, it would be impossible to carry out our mission without the support of so many dedicated and passionate volunteers. This event is just one small way that we can show our gratitude.

Since May of 2012, CMC has had more than 500 volunteers who served in a variety ways.

  • Volunteer tutors provided more than 7,000 hours of one-on-one tutoring in the Adult Basic Education Program. This continues to be a great need at the Center, particularly for morning tutors.
  • Local Businesses, schools, churches and other community organizations gather groups of volunteers for big projects like painting, landscaping, and clean up.
  • Coe College, Cornell College, University of Iowa, Mount Mercy University have all sent talented students for internships in social work, public relations, volunteer management, and education.
  • We have a number of volunteers who come each week to help us with day-to-day operations by stocking the food pantry, entering data, and answering the phones.IMG_0204

Volunteer Award Nominations

Several of our dedicated volunteers were nominated for service awards in the past year: United Way Volunteer Award Nominees

  •  Students in the Mount Mercy STEPS Program commit to serving CMC throughout their college experience and provide valuable support on a weekly basis.
  • Mercy Medical Center is an incredible support to CMC and has several staff members who provide services to the Center.
  • Sr. Rita Heires and Amy Schwake were nominated for their incredible dedication to the Center and long record of service as tutors in the Adult Basic Education Program.

Governor’s Volunteer Award

Board Member and long time tutor, Sher Jasperse,  was nominated for the Governor’s Volunteer Award.

IMG_0205

Volunteer Coordinator, Brianna Schwenk and Executive Director Paula Land present a “100 Hours of Service” Certificate to Ann Sullivan who is a tutor and serves on the Board of Directors.

“One-Hundred Hours Club”

The event also recognized the volunteers who have logged over 100 hours of service at the Center in FY13. A special thanks to those volunteers!

  • Debra Cave
  • Carrol Chipokas
  • Sr. Rita Heires
  • Del LaGrange
  • Betty Mallie
  • Floyd Sandford
  • Ann Sullivan
  • Bob Yeats

Story of the Mustard Seed Retold Here

For the past 24 years, the Catherine McAuley Center has grown with our community to provide much needed services to our neighbors and help them learn the skills necessary to build a better future for themselves and their families.

Just a few short months after the Center opened in 1989, Carol Sudmeier wrote an article for the Gazette introducing the Catherine McAuley Center and retelling the story of the mustard seed. She wrote, “Today in Cedar Rapids, ‘The Story of the Mustard Seed’ is being retold. It is the story of how a small seed planted in the right place and with the right care and circumstances has poked its way through the ground and stretches out its arms.”

Click the image to read the PDF version of Carol Sudmeier’s article. 
The Story of the Mustard Seed Told Here