Jeff's Service Learning Log 1

Service Learning Log 1—Project Homeless Connect

                  At Project Homeless Connect I guided a homeless person around the Richie Center and Gates Fieldhouse so that they could receive certain services. I worked with a man by the name of Dwight Henson. He was about 5’11” tall with grayish brown hair. He was very kind and talkative because the entire day we worked together he talked with me about his life and the jobs he has had in the past. He explained to me that he had run for mayor of Denver in the last election a few years ago. It really surprised me because I did no expect to meet a homeless person that had run for mayor. He proved many stereotypes of homeless people wrong. He seemed very connected within the homeless community because many people recognized him because of running for mayor. He also explained to me that he will be running for mayor again the next time there is the election. That surprised me because it shows his dedication and commitment. I envy him with his ability to “go after” things that he wants. He proved to me that no matter the class or situation in life a person is in that they have the ability to follow their dreams and accomplish what they set their mind to.

                  The stations we visited at the event were the job station where we entered his information into the workforce computer system, got him a resume, and gave his resume to various businesses that were at the event. From developing a resume for him, I learned that he had been a caretaker and farm help person at various farms in Colorado and Michigan. Because we had the entire day together, I had the opportunity to get to know lots about him. While waiting in the lines at the job station he discussed the situation he lives in now where he is currently in transitional housing and looking for a job. Also I realized that he has been through a lot in his life because he is diabetic. This puts a burden on him because he explained that he wouldn’t get hired for certain jobs in the past because of being diabetic. I felt compassion for him because it seemed like it was very hard for him to get a job. I think I helped him a lot in guiding him through the many job stations such as getting him a resume.

                  When I took Dwight to the healthcare area within the Richie Center, he wanted to check his sugar level because of being diabetic. Throughout the entire day including when I filled out the paper work for him to get checked by a healthcare official, I recognized that he didn’t have the best writing and was slightly illiterate. I filled out much of his paperwork throughout the day and I think it made it easier on him. He even seemed a little guilty for being slightly illiterate. Once his sugar level was checked out by a healthcare official, they told him that his sugar level was extremely high and that he shouldn’t be alive. Dwight reacted very calmly, although I was very worried but did not show any emotion. We had recently just eaten lunch which he said would make his sugar level higher than normal but I was still worried. He told the doctor thank you and we left the station. This experience impacted me greatly because it seemed that Dwight worried about other, more important things in his life. It showed me where his priorities in life are and that possibly this has been a problem before. Meeting and spending the day with Dwight Henson was an experience I will never forget because he proved many stereotypes wrong and provided me with a greater understanding of homelessness.