Center helps to build community
Richard Friedman
A Skewed Perspective
A couple of blocks down the street at the corner of Eddy and Howard sits a colorful building known as the Robinson Community Learning Center.
Developed after a six-month long process that involved community leaders, residents and community organizations, the Center, which opened in 2001, was designed to be an outreach by the University to the Northeast Neighborhood of South Bend.
According to the Center's Mission Statement, the Center was designed to build trust through partnerships that stimulate community revitalization, thus strengthening the interaction between the Northeast Neighborhood and the University. It goes on to state that the Center was designed to enhance the area's life and gifts by providing teaching and learning opportunities through a range of educational, health and faith-based initiatives.
In order to accomplish all of these goals, the Center has eight full-time staff members who are responsible for overseeing and maintaining the overall direction of the Center, as well as running the adult programs. In addition to this staff, the Center also has 100 student employees and volunteers from Notre Dame.
It is as a student employee that I have had contact with the Center. Since October of last year I have been volunteering at the Center twice a week as a tutor for the after school program. Not quite sure what to expect at first, I must admit that I was somewhat uneasy about the whole idea of trying to tutor children from South Bend. I was unsure about how I would be able to connect with these children whose backgrounds seemed to be so different than mine and what it would be like to try. As I sat there through the tutor training sessions, however, I began to get somewhat excited. After listening to the directors talk about how much the children looked forward to the tutors' arrival and how much the tutors helped, I realized that this was a unique and valuable opportunity.
My first day of tutoring only served to further my excitement. I could not believe the excitement on some of the kids' faces when their tutors arrived.
They were so excited to tell how their day was, so excited to just have someone who was there specifically for them. As my relationship grew with my assigned child I began to experience that glow and excitement from the inside as well.
I began to realize that what so many of these children need is some stability and knowledge that someone is taking time out specifically for them. It is hard to imagine that helping a child do simple math problems or taking the time to play a few games of Connect Four a week can make a difference, but I can assure you it does.
That is not all to say that the work is always easy, because it is not. With such a relationship comes responsibility, and these children hold you to your word. Seeing the disappointment on some of the children's faces when their tutors cannot be there one day can be painful. And, of course they do not always want to work. But despite all the challenges and the extra responsibility, there is no doubt that it is worth it.
This semester I have been lucky enough to have had even more of an opportunity to work at the Center. Due to more schedule flexibility, I am able to get there at the same time as the children and interact with them for an hour before the rest of the tutors arrive. What I have found through this experience is that the more time you spend at the Center, the more you come to love it and the children. The more comfortable they become with you, the more open they are and the more you can see how much their time there and their relationship with you means to them.
As tutors we give these children someone to look up to and a sense of stability, something they may not get anywhere else. Just to know that you mean so much to a child, just to know that what you are doing is making such an impact, is unbelievable, and truly an experience that everyone should have.
Overall, the Robinson Center has made a large impact in my life here at Notre Dame and changed the way I view South Bend. The Center allows us as students to really get involved with the community and to take part in helping to revitalize it and to make that difference that everyone talks about wanting.
It allows us to see the connections that we can have with the residents and it lets us take part in helping them improve their lives.
It is something that I would encourage everyone who has the time to do, because there is nothing quite like it. So, as you plan your schedule for next semester, think abut leaving from 3:30 to 5:30 open on either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday so that you can volunteer at the Robinson Center and have an opportunity to help and really connect with the community.
Richard Friedman is a senior double majoring in architecture and psychology. His column runs every other Thursday and he always welcomes your comments or suggestions at rfriedma@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
All Viewpoint Stories for Thursday, April 10, 2003
