Observation #1

I have decided to my observing at the Pillsbury House and volunteer with their Youth Arts after school program. I am still in the initiation stage in the process of observing, and was informed, largely for safety reasons, that I will not be able to do any actual observing of the children until my background check clears.

I did have a meeting and interview with Mary Beth, who is the volunteer coordinator, and Eyenga, the youth arts coordinator. Mary Beth's time was spent mainly taking care of her daily duties of answering the phone - which was constantly ringing during the time I was there - and assisting people who came in, so our interaction was brief overall; she did tell me about the history of the organization and its time operating a facility in the Powderhorn neighborhood. Eyenga did more than an adequate job informing me of the various programs and services Pillsbury House offers.

Pillsbury House has something for children of all ages, with an Early Education Center for preschool aged children and an Afterschool Program for kids in grades K-6. They also have programs for youth in middle and high school, including a program that trains homeless youth how to fix bicycles and provides them with employment opportunities.

There is a strong emphasis put on the arts and fostering creativity, and it seems that is an artistic component incorporated into almost every program Pillsbury House offers. They bring in artists of all disciplines to come in and work with the youth; Eyenga had given me an example of how a professional dancer comes in to work with the youth, introducing them to music and dance moves they are not necessarily familiar with, but pick up on the moves and connect with the music as if they were parts of their daily routines. A theater is within the establishment, but I did not get a sense for how much the youth are involved with or how often they use the theater, but they do have adult theater programs.

I believe the only person I had any interaction with that was actually involved in working with the youth was when I met with Eyenga. It is easy to see that she has a sincere passion for not just some, but all of the children that walk through the Pillsbury House doors. I remember how she expressed that the biggest challenge for her was finding a way to emotionally detach herself from the young people that eventually age out programs and no longer come to Pillsbury House.. And then, as if on cue, a group of adorable little kids from the Early Education Center made their way through the lobby. "You see what I mean?" Eyenga asked, referring to how it easy it is to start to care for the children at first glance.