Our President on New Beginnings Dear Friends: For me, September has always been synonymous with fresh starts; the transition back from summer vacations, first days of school, weather that is beginning to change all give the sense of starting back or starting anew. At Rosie’s Place, new beginnings happen every day, in every season. We hope that, for our guests, a visit to Rosie’s Place will be an initial step down a new path. Whether a guest is coming to us for the first time, or coming back to continue a conversation, we aim to create an environment in which opportunity emerges. This could take the shape of new housing, a new job, or sometimes simply a moment of respite from the chaos that is chronic poverty. Steps big and small are taken and they are equally weighted. Time and again I am struck by the resilience of the women I meet here. Just a couple of weeks ago, a guest in our overnight program stopped by my office to say “good morning” on her way into work. She’s been homeless for the past year but, throughout, she’s maintained her employment—in fact, that job has been one of the only constants in her life. I thought two things in that moment. First, how hard it must be to get ready for work when you’re living with 19 other women, in a place that’s temporary. And second and most importantly, how I hoped she knew that for as long as she needs us, Rosie’s Place would also be a constant. Unfortunately, permanent housing isn’t on the immediate horizon for this guest. But, thanks to you, a good night’s sleep, in a clean safe bed, at an organization that can help her move on to what’s next, is. While her journey to stability may well be long, she will know that we’re walking this path together. Particularly in these dark and divisive political times, my thoughts go to our immigrant guests. The women who bravely sought out new beginnings writ large—new lives in new lands with new languages. They come to Rosie’s Place for all sorts of services—legal advice, food from our pantry, meals in our dining room, and most noticeably, ESOL classes in our education center. Needing help is universal; it transcends borders and economic class. That women can find all that they need at Rosie’s Place–without the English words to ask–continues to be something for which I am grateful and proud. Of course this begs the question of why one must ask for something as necessary as food to start with; but until that broken system is fixed, Rosie’s Place is here with welcome. For 45 years, our doors have been open to any woman who seeks to walk through them. On the other side, she’ll always find love, compassion, acceptance, and expert help from those who believe that impactful change doesn’t just happen, it’s made. In recent years, our reach has extended beyond our fixed address in the South End and into the community. Our services are in area courthouses, Boston public schools, and a housing development in Dorchester. But undeniably our community is bigger than any building or neighborhood—Rosie’s Place is wherever you are reading this. With your faith in us, and your commitment to our guests, together new beginnings are made. With appreciation, Leemarie
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Tending to Guests’ Health for a Quarter Century In 1993, while at Regis College accepting an honorary degree, Rosie’s Place founder Kip Tiernan was presented with an intriguing offer by Regis nursing faculty member, Mary Smalarz, EdD, RN: Could her nursing students obtain valuable, relevant communitybased experiences by providing nursing care to the guests of Rosie’s Place? According to Mary, Kip was reluctant at first, but she soon supported this mutually beneficial arrangement, and the Wellness Center at Rosie’s Place was born. The program started with one Regis RN student and one faculty advisor finding any corner of our busy dining room to offer blood pressure screenings and wellness-related education on a variety of topics. Five years later, Health Care Without Walls volunteered their physician and nursing services to the Center, joined in 2009 by providers from Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. Today, 25 years after its doors first opened, the Wellness Center has grown into a dedicated space for exams, direct care and consultations, providing an average of 4,600 appointments with guests each year. “We are so grateful to have been able to offer our guests excellent wellness care under our roof for the past quarter century,” Rosie’s Place President /Executive Director Leemarie Mosca says. “Because of the generosity of these three organizations, our guests are comforted, knowing they can see a caring clinician for a range of medical needs five days a week. We extend our deep appreciation to everyone who makes the work being done in our Wellness Center possible.” Regis College faculty Laurel Gourville, RN, MSN, CPNP, who oversees their nursing students in the Wellness Center, agrees that providing health care access to poor and homeless women is essential. “Over the years it remains surprising that, in a country with great wealth, we continue to witness an unmet need for care for vulnerable populations. It is heartwarming to work with a Memorial during fabrication dedicated group that does their best to meet these needs, butKipit Tiernan is heartbreaking to see that the need never ends.” She adds, “At Regis, we so appreciate the opportunity to partner with Rosie’s Place so that we can extend to students the opportunity to become part of the health care work force that does understand.” According to founder Roseanna Means, MD, her organization, Health Care Without Walls (known as Women of Means until 2015), was invited to join the nurses from Regis College to expand their programming to include nurse practitioner students and an MD on-site for clinical supervision. “I have been volunteering continuously at the Wellness Center for all 20 years,” says Dr. Means. “Over the years, we hosted medical students and medical residents side by side with Regis nursing students. Our emphasis is on safety, autonomy and dignity, and we are gratified that our long and consistent presence has nurtured close relationships that are reflected in improved health and fewer emergency room visits.” “For the more than a decade that Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program has provided on-site services for the guests of Rosie’s Place, we have seen both an increase in the complexity of the health care needs of people experiencing homelessness and a health care system that is more difficult to navigate,” says Melinda Thomas, BHCHP Assistant Medical Director. “It is essential that we, and all of the organizations that partner with the Wellness Center, continue to work in collaboration with Rosie’s Place to maintain this important access point for guests to receive care that addresses their full scope of health needs in a compassionate, dignified, and culturally competent way. We are appreciative of the opportunity to provide services in the Wellness Center and look forward to continuing this work for years to come!” Rosie’s Place will mark the Wellness Center’s 25th year with a celebration and recognition of its partners on September 19.
QUOTABLE
Heather Anderson Fitzpatrick
Eveliss P.
“Pre-baby I volunteered teaching English at @rosies_place but I definitely took a hiatus from volunteering after [my son] was born. What’s so wonderful about their volunteering process is that it’s super easy and efficient– you apply online and once you are approved you have access to a calendar with tons of offerings for days/times and where to volunteer, and you sign up for whatever works for you. Tonight I volunteered in the Food Pantry and it was so much fun and the time flew by so fast that I was actually disappointed when it was over. If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity I highly suggest you check them out. I could go on and on about how great Rosie’s Place is, but I would rather you see for yourself.”
“One day I fell in love with the wrong person…he tried to control my life…and that included physical and verbal abuse…I could not take it anymore and I decided to leave. I write these short lines so that you will realize that not all is lost…We are valuable and we always achieve what we desire. Life always gives us another opportunity to be happy. Today I am in a happy relationship with a man who values me together with my children. I am proud of everything that I have achieved in my life, especially if I could inspire you to never give up and to seek help.”
Excerpted from an Instagram post by volunteer and personal trainer Heidi Anderson Fitzpatrick.
“Interning in the Women’s Education Center has inspired me to think about the relationship between immigration and poverty/ homelessness in Boston. I have two years of experience teaching ESOL in China and being in the classroom here with the guests constantly humbles me and reminds me that I’m a learner instead of a teacher. “ (Mandy) “During my time as an intern, I’ve learned a lot about the needs of our guests, and how important it is to keep the curriculum interesting and relevant. The students usually need English to get around and for their jobs, so it’s helpful for them to learn everyday terms they can immediately put to use. It’s exciting to learn from the dedicated staff who works every day to make an impact.” (Taylor)
ROSIE’S PLACE NEWS is published three times a year to inform our friends about activities and events taking place throughout the Rosie’s Place community. OUR MISSION is to provide a safe and nurturing environment to help poor and homeless women to maintain their dignity, seek opportunity, and find security in their lives. President/Executive Director Leemarie Mosca Director of Communications | Editor Michele Chausse Communications Coordinator | Contributor Mikayla Mercado Design Colette O’Neill We’d love to hear from you! Please contact us with your comments at mchausse@rosiesplace.org or 617.318.0210.
Excerpted from the piece, “Domestic Violence,” by Eveliss P. (reading above at our spring book celebration), one of the ESOL students who takes classes at our satellite office at Franklin Field, a housing development in Dorchester, and a contributor to our fourth book of student writing, My Life, My World.
Mandy You & Taylor Langdon
Reflections from two of the 15 college interns who were with us this summer– Mandy You (left), a rising sophomore studying international relations and political science at Wellesley College and Taylor Langdon, a rising junior studying psychology and politics at Pomona College–on their experience at Rosie’s Place.
