I thought I’d welcome summer this weekend with an afternoon stop in Dupont Circle to enjoy the weather and do some reading (i.e. people watching).
When I was approached by a Street Sense vendor and asked if I’d like to buy a paper, I couldn’t refuse, as I really love the mission of Street Sense, which is to "make the public more aware of issues related to poverty and homelessness while also providing homeless men and women with an economically beneficial opportunity and a forum to be published."
And, since on this particular Memorial Day in the park the vendor was a woman–the first time I’d met a female vendor–I doubly couldn’t refuse.
And was so glad I didn’t, as Muriel Dixon introduced herself and explained proudly that her story, of graduating, was on page 13.
"Graduating from what?" I asked, to a beaming smile.
"I just graduated from the Goodwill of Greater Washington‘s Environmental Services Training Program," she told me. "And I got a job!"
When I told her that I worked for an organization that partnered with Goodwill on similar training programs, she went on to tell me how much it had meant to her, and that it had changed her life.
She would be starting a job soon, she said before bounding off. "Page 13!"
When I turned to page 13, I couldn’t help but smile when I read the second paragraph of her story, which stated, "Vendor Muriel Dixon uses the income she earns for the necessities and as stepping stones to increasing her skills for other potential employment opportunities."
While this program isn’t one that we fund in particular, I couldn’t help but think of its similarities to our Stepping Stones, and to the general truth that with a little training, encouragement and investment, lives can be stepped up in amazing ways.
It was a nice thought, in the park on a nice summer day to realize that while I’d have to give up the park tomorrow to head back to work, that I’d be doing so somewhere devoted to just that.
