Enlarge The Staff at the Villages at Hope Haven

Posted: August 4th, 2009 Brant Aycock

Facilitators for Crossroads Charlotte had the privilege of visiting the Villages at Hope Haven as part of their Community Outreach program. Hope Haven is a residential facility in uptown Charlotte whose mission is “to provide life skills for homeless chemically dependent adults and families within a supportive residential environment—leading to independence.” Seventy Hope Haven residents and staff participated on July 24th of this year.

After viewing the Crossroads Charlotte movie, poet Quentin Talley engaged the group in a “sensory” creative writing exercise—where participants were asked to write a poem about what they currently see, hear, taste, feel and smell that reflects one of the four Crossroads stories.

Participants were also asked which Crossroads Charlotte story best reflected the current situation in our city (answers varied), and what it would take to move Charlotte towards a more positive future.

Perhaps the most empowering activity of the night was when residents were asked what they personally could do to improve Charlotte’s future. Residents expressed their desire to “mentor others who are working to maintain their sobriety”, “to work with youth”, to recommit themselves to “staying clean and sober”, and “to work with organizations who serve the working poor”.

Facilitator Jatrine Bentsi-Enchill remarked, “The residents of Hope Haven are working to overcome serious life challenges and too often they are denied access to services and opportunities many may take for granted. This session underscored the fact that the residents of Hope Haven share the same concerns about our community as the bankers, teachers, artists and parents who live and work throughout this community. Community Engagement is about engaging ALL members of a community.”

One participant who began volunteering at a halfway house for women after attending the session noted, “I feel like the Crossroads Charlotte project helped inspire me to do something to help women in the community. I have found a way that I, one person, CAN help the community as a whole!”

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