Community Living Ontario

Jordan-Burns and those she works with get out and give back
Friday August 20, 2010 -- Michelle Strutzenberger

Cheryl Jordan-Burns often volunteers at a local soup kitchen, along with a person she works with through Plainfield Community Homes.

Doing so makes them both feel like they’re a valued part of the community, says Jordan-Burns.
 
When the two visit the soup kitchen, people recognize them and call out a greeting. After they prepare and serve food and tidy up, they leave feeling they’ve connected with people and also made a real difference in the community.
 
“It is amazing the friendships that have sprung up there,” says Jordan-Burns.
 
“We just feel like we’ve really become part of that family at the soup kitchen, both the people that help out and the people that actually use the soup kitchen.”

That, the developmental services worker (DSW) adds, is how you build citizenship.

You get out there and you give back, however much you can.

Giving back to the community is a main theme of the activities Jordan-Burns takes on with the people she works with through Plainfield Community Homes, a Community Living association in Belleville.

Some of these activities include joining the annual Terry Fox Run to raise funds for cancer support and research. Jordan-Burns and those she works with also participate in a local recycling program.

“We try and be really good citizens,” she says.

“We try and give back to the community and we try and be out there as much as possible
so that people get used to seeing us in these roles.”

Her hope and expectation is that people will see “with new eyes” that “we can contribute, that we are valued members of society, that we’re not just here for somebody to look after us. We’re here to contribute, to be part of this society.”

The DSW adds she feels very strongly about spreading this message, noting she believes that as more people realize that everyone has a contribution to make, people’s sense of self-worth will be boosted and inclusion increased.

Jordan-Burns adds she believes citizenship could be enhanced on a local level by engaging local community members to help liven up Belleville’s downtown core.

“The downtown core could use a lot of TLC,” she notes. “It’s just not a welcoming place at the moment, and I think if maybe they encouraged people to be active participants in really getting a revitalized downtown, you would see a much better sense of community.”

The Community Living Ontario news program is running a series on ways to build citizenship. If you would like to share your thoughts and experiences please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 27, or michelle(at)axiomnews.ca.

If you have feedback on this article please contact michelle(at)axiomnews.ca, or call the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 27.