Sarah's Community Report 2016

2016

Report to the Community A Ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province

STAFF Cheryl Behrent ~ Director Martha West ~ Community Relations Associate Faith Clark ~ House Manager Heather Robinson ~ House Mentor Lindsay Schaefer ~ St. Joseph Worker Sarah's bids farewell to our 2015 staff members: Sara Nelson Pallmeyer, House Manager, Heather Renetzky, St. Joseph Worker and Katie Molnau, Communication Intern.

ADVISORY COUNCIL Blanche (Bea) Abdallah ~ External Relations and

Fundraising Professional Sarah Brenes ~ The Advocates for Human Rights Nancy Davis ~ CSJ Marilyn Harder ~ Friend of Sarah's Mary Hunt ~ CSJ Consociate, Chair Renuka Jayatunge ~ RN, Former Resident Amanda McDonald ~ Center for Victims of Torture Margaret McRaith ~ CSJ Consociate Colleen O’Malley ~ CSJ Teri Fink Peterson ~ ELL Teacher Alex Philstrom ~ Human Resources Professional Betty Schindler ~ CSJ Consociate Amy Smith ~ International Institute of Minnesota Cheryl Behrent ~ Sarah’s Director and CSJ Consociate Martha West ~ Sarah’s Community Relations Associate and

2nd Year CSJ Consociate Candidate The Advisory Council bid farewell to our 2015 Council members: Baya Clare, CSJ, Jeanne Jones, and Emilee Sirek.

VOLUNTEERS Carmen Griffin ~ Staff-in-Residence Caroline Agbonlahor ~ Staff-in-Residence Sue Reaney ~ Creative Activities Coordinator Mary Kerres ~ Plant Whisperer Mary Pat Fitzpatrick ~ Yoga Instructor Corrina Thomas ~ FSPA, Spiritual Friend Madeleine Hallberg ~ House Helper Mary Himrod ~ Ignatian Volunteer Sarah's bids farewell to our 2015 volunteers: Annette Hegler, Ignatian Volunteer and Martha Conway, House Helper.

Sarah’s is a home dedicated to the safety and dignity of a diverse community of women where they are empowered to begin new and productive lives. During the last 20 years, Sarah’s has served over 650 women from 70 different nations. They have survived violence, abuse, torture, war and discrimination. Transition is different for every woman who comes to Sarah’s, but every woman has the goal to heal and restart her life.

Sarah’s was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province (CSJ) and is funded in part by the Sisters and the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Ministries Foundation. At Sarah’s, we honor and affirm the Sisters’ commitment to social justice and their mission of “loving God and the dear neighbor without distinction.” Sarah’s program is a community-based model where Sarah’s is the home, and residents are connected with a variety of service providers offsite. The residents live with dignity and in peace at Sarah’s while restarting their lives.

Once they leave Sarah’s, they take the support of their service providers with them so they maintain important connections in the community.

For the past 20 years, Sarah’s leadership, staff, advisory council and volunteers have been honored to walk with the women who come to Sarah’s. Residents leave Sarah's self-empowered to live their lives with a stronger sense of direction, safety and possibilities for their future.

There is no other program like Sarah’s in Minnesota.

Our community is blessed by the dedication of time and energy that so many people have contributed to this outstanding program.

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Report to the Community 2016

Sarah's will always be

20 years ago, the CSJs still living in Derham Convent began to receive and house homeless women from nearby neighborhoods. Former Sarah’s Director, Margaret L. Kvasnicka, CSJ, recalled in her essay, Women’s Voices: Sarah’s… an Oasis for Women, that the severity of homelessness of immigrant and refugee women in Minnesota was of great concern. Therefore, Cheryl Behrent most of the 650 women served at Sarah's have been Director of Sarah's new to the USA. Today, the need is greater than ever as women from all over the world are often forced to relocate without warning. Thankfully, Sarah’s is still a home dedicated to dignity and safety for women who are seeking a better life.

We celebrated the accomplishments of the women of Sarah’s at our 20th anniversary benefit dinner in June, 2016. Benefit guests included many from the CSJ community as well as donors, community partners, and volunteers. We celebrated the strength of Sarah’s residents, both current and former, and the generosity of those who have ensured, through their ongoing support, that Sarah’s has and will continue to be a home for those women who are homeless and without resources.

We spent nine months documenting the community impact of Sarah’s from the perspective of former residents. The results are summarized in this community report and highlight new and valuable insights into the long-term impact of living at Sarah’s. In July, 2016, we celebrated the many accomplishments of the women of Sarah’s, and we welcomed home many former residents during Sarah’s annual reunion.

Even as we humbly rejoice in our work over the past 20 years, we are keenly aware of the continuing need for temporary housing. The lengthy and arduous asylum process results in women waiting even longer thus increasing the need for the kind of support Sarah’s provides. Sarah’s beautiful home environment provides stability while everything else is so unstable in their lives. We are glad to have a place like Sarah’s and the loving support of the CSJs and with open eyes, we are preparing to respond to changes as they occur in the world.

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Mary Hunt, Chair, Sarah's Advisory Council

The dedicated members of Sarah’s Advisory Council were involved in several community-building events at Sarah’s and elsewhere this past year. In November 2015, Council members provided food and fellowship for a celebration of Thanksgiving with Sarah’s residents and staff, and are planning a similar event to celebrate Thanksgiving in 2016.

CSJ consociates, including several Advisory Council members, hosted a potluck dinner with residents in March 2016. The residents appreciated the opportunity to connect with consociates and understand the role of consociates in the community. Consociates appreciated the opportunity to be with the residents at Sarah’s.

In June 2016, Advisory Council members contributed to the success of the 20th anniversary benefit celebration at Mt. Zion Temple in St. Paul by providing financial support, serving as table hosts, helping with set up and clean up, and sharing their enthusiasm for the work of Sarah’s with friends and family.

I am so grateful for the individual and collective contributions of the Advisory Council members to the ministry of Sarah’s, and I especially want to express my gratitude to Baya Clare, CSJ, Jeanne Jones, and Emilee Sirek as they complete their Council terms.

I’m delighted to welcome new members Nancy Davis, CSJ, Margaret McRaith, Alex Philstrom, and Amy Smith, who joined the Council in September 2016.

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When I came here I didn't know how to speak English, no job, everything was confusing. But now I speak English well and got job help for my family and myself.

I have confidence.

Sarah's made me to be independent and made me achieve my goals.

On Thursday, June 23, 2016, Sarah’s celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a benefit held at Mount Zion Temple in St. Paul.

Former Sarah's Advisory Council (SAC) chair, Cheryl Maloney, was our MC for the evening. Featured speakers included Rebecca Makayi, Sue Reaney, Colleen O’Malley, CSJ and Cheryl Behrent, Sarah’s Director.

There were many people who supported this occasion in a special way including Sarah’s staff, Sarah’s Advisory Council, and many volunteers.

Sarah’s extends a gracious thank you to the following:

Event Sponsors ($1000.00): • • • • • • •

• • • • • •

The Advocates for Human Rights Al Michael and Jeanne Jones Michael Stinson Leonard Street, LLP Sue Reaney Sisters of St Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ) CSJ Ministries Foundation Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, LaCrosse Wisconsin Mary, Sarah and Susan Hunt Individual CSJ Consociates International Institute of Minnesota Marilyn Harder Betty and Joe Schindler Michael Ziomko

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20th Anniversary Celebration

Hosts ($500.00):

In-Kind Donations:

• • • •

• Thomas Liquors • Total Wine & More

Eide Bailly, LLP Greene Espel, P.L.L.P. Renuka Jayatunge William McDonald and Virginia Claessens McDonald

Co-Hosts ($250.00): • • • •

Blanche (Bea) Abdallah Center for Victims of Torture Barbara Kellett Paul and Roberta Murphy

• • • •

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Asian Foods Immigrant Law Center Tom and Sharon Kosel Martha West and Karen Smith

20 Years of Successful Community Impact

You come to Sarah's in order

Molly Sullivan spent nine months putting her passion for women's health and well-being to use as Sarah's... an Oasis for Women's Research Assistant, bringing her experience in qualitative research, non-profit fundraising, and counseling women in crisis to her role. She collected important data and inspiring stories from many of our former residents. Her research is compiled in a detailed research project entitled, “Assessing the Impact of Sarah’s… an Oasis for Women.” The report focuses on the long-term impact of Sarah’s program for our former residents and the communities where they live. A summary of our findings is provided below; for details on the complete report, please contact info@sarahsoasis.org.

Sarah's also published a book, Inspirations of Hope, based on Molly's research with former residents. A copy is available for a donation of $10.00 or more; please contact info@sarahsoasis.org.

Assessing the Impact of Sarah’s… an Oasis for Women Molly Sullivan Research Assistant Sarah’s… an Oasis for Women The Sisters of St. Joseph Ministries Foundation generously gave Sarah’s… an Oasis for Women (Sarah’s) a grant of $11,500 toward a research project to examine Sarah’s impact on society. This grant has funded my position as Research Assistant and enabled me to conduct interviews with 34 former residents (including three Sisters who lived and worked at Sarah’s) and six service providers, in order to gain an understanding of how residents are doing on their life goals after leaving Sarah’s.

I conducted in-depth in-person interviews and asked questions on employment, housing, education, health and family, and their experience at Sarah’s.

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These interviews revealed very positive trends in these life areas. Employment among former residents is high, with over one-third working in the health professions, a job market that offers stability and upward mobility. However, almost one-third of residents are working part-time, with some on-call hours. On-call hours do not provide satisfactory wage stability, and it is my hope that on-call workers will move up to more permanent positions in their field. Additionally, the vast majority of former residents are living in stable housing, though the majority are renting privately, which is very expensive. Several former residents renting privately talk of finding a cheaper apartment, or trying to get into public housing (which is notoriously backlogged). However, that all but one former resident is in stable housing is a huge achievement, and far surpasses the statewide average for supportive housing outcomes. Former residents also have made huge strides in their educational goals, though most of these achievements came during their time living at Sarah’s. While many former residents now hold GEDs, professional certificates, and even advanced degrees, many others are finding it difficult to fit their educational goals into their busy lives now that they have to support themselves and their family to a greater degree than while at Sarah’s.

Overall, Sarah’s succeeds beautifully in providing a level of safety, stability, and support for women in transition. It can continue to support its residents even after they move on with repeated points of contact and regular check-ins on progress and needs. I have designed a check-in process with Sarah’s staff that will help staff keep better track of former residents. I also recommend that Sarah’s play a greater role in the community of transitional housing providers nation-wide, and share best practices with other homes who might benefit from Sarah’s model.

Sarah’s wishes to thank the CSJ Ministries Foundation for funds from the Kickstarter Grant that made this project possible.

Molly Sullivan

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Sarah's was the kick I needed to start my education, to finish my immigration status, to get a job. Whatever I achieved today in America is thanks to Sarah's because it was there for me giving me that kick in the right moment.

Sarah’s creative activities coordinator, Sue Reaney, has been teaching jewelry-making and other crafts to the women at Sarah’s for over three years. She is very passionate about Sarah’s, its mission, and the women she has come to know and love. Here is Sue’s story about how she came to Sarah’s and why she supports Sarah’s with her time, talent and treasure: Four years ago, after suffering with pancreatic cancer for fourteen months, my husband passed away. The first year after his death was spent in relative numbness. The second year was different.

I decided that my house was too big for one person and that I needed to move. With much effort, I started going through what seemed like hundreds of boxes, almost forty years of memories. All the while, a deep sadness seemed to hang over my house.

A friend told me that a place called Sarah’s… an Oasis for Women, near her house, had a need for suitcases, bedding and clothing.

I'd never heard of Sarah’s but found the idea of a home for women, many of them immigrants, an interesting one.

On a bright summer morning, I loaded my car with a ton of items and headed out to a place called Sarah’s.

The first thing I saw when I arrived was a peace pole, with the words, “May Peace Prevail on Earth Today” in four languages. I entered Sarah’s and was astonished at the beauty of the home.

The walls were painted in bright and cheerful colors and beautiful art work, much of it oriented around peace and justice issues, decorated the walls. Several women said “Hello” to me and I was enchanted by a handful of others laughing in the kitchen.

I thought I might volunteer at Sarah’s in a year or two, but by the end of the next week, I was back at Sarah’s, teaching jewelry-making skills to a handful of eager women. I fell in love with Sarah’s, its beautiful art and cheerful walls, but even more, with the brave and beautiful women who live there.

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Volunteer Profile ~ Sue Reaney Creative Activities Coordinator

I can honestly say that I credit the women I serve for giving me a purpose and helping me return to life. I enjoyed getting to know each of them, hearing their stories and struggles and laughing and joking with them.

I am still volunteering at Sarah’s three years later, and I have also become a donor. Here’s why Sarah’s has become my largest donation each year: I have a strong commitment to help women who have been abused.

I firmly believe that, given the right help, they can heal.

I believe that my donation will go far at Sarah’s, that there are many ways that various individuals can be helped, be it money to spend on bus fare to work or money to spend on college I feel it is my responsibility to help the citizens of the world, having hosted many wonderful exchange students and teachers over the years and been entertained in their countries. It is time for me to give back, considering all that has been given to me in this life.

I believe that these women are worth it. Many of them are the same age as my own daughter and I feel strongly that each of them is as deserving of individualized help, care and attention as my own daughter, Katie.

On the day following the Orlando tragedy, I sat at the beading table at Sarah’s with four women. Two women were Christian and the other two were Muslim. Together, we laughed, we created, we teased each other, we drank ginger tea and had a wonderful three hours together. I thought of how calm and magical this time was and I remembered the Peace Pole and all that Sarah’s does to promote peace in our world. I do believe the peace-making skills that are emphasized at Sarah’s are part of the great effort to work toward peace in our times. As we say at Sarah’s, “May peace prevail on Earth today!”

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2016 Accomplishments

One

at a time. at a time.

Sarah’s continues to receive calls from women desperate to find safe, temporary housing. The residents of Sarah’s suffered trauma, left their countries of origin and found themselves adversely affected by the economic conditions of the United States. All of our residents are economically disadvantaged. Most arrive without family, friends, or a network of support. In addition to being homeless, many women who come to Sarah’s do not have the skills or resources to live independently a re connec and lack access to social te d 0% 0 1 services and medical care. moved on from One of the reasons many Sarah's women are unable to be self-sufficient is are because they are in working need of healing from full or abuse, torture, or part-time discrimination. Sarah’s serves adult women, aged 20 years or older, who have no other are in resources, and do not qualify or have access to school to any other type of housing s ap rce support. The average age u p ro p r i a te r es o of Sarah’s resident is 34 years old. Sarah’s residents come from all parts of the world, and currently, most of Sarah’s residents are from Africa.

43%

82%

63%

At Sarah’s each woman is self-empowered to accomplish her goals and revive her spirit in order to be well-prepared for life beyond Sarah’s.

Each year, Sarah’s remains at full capacity with 32 residents. Last year, Sarah’s served a total of 43 individual and unique women.

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at a time.

Sarah's First Resident Regina Wozee Regina was the first woman to make Sarah's her home.

She accomplished many of her goals while living at Sarah's and remains an active part of the Twin Cities community.

Sarah's Welcomes New Staff Members Faith Clark House Manager Faith first learned about Sarah's during her time as a St. Joseph Worker. Her first visit to Sarah’s revealed to her the uniqueness of the Sarah's home. Hospitality is a powerful way to build community and Faith looks forward to fulfilling her role as House Manager through that lens. Her goal is to ensure consistency so the residents can focus on their own goals and feel at ease in their home.

Lindsay Schaefer St. Joseph Worker Lindsay is from Lacrosse, Wisconsin, and recently graduated from St. Olaf College.

She earned degrees in Sociology and Middle Eastern Studies. She was inspired by the mission of Sarah’s and wanted to be part of such a great organization. Her goals while at Sarah’s include helping residents with job searching, editing resumes, and finding classes. She is excited to be a support for the wonderful women at Sarah’s.

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Service Providers May prevail on Earth today!

Sarah’s is honored to be a collaborator with over eighty different service providers in our community. Our wide variety of service providers and supporters generously assist the women of Sarah’s in accomplishing their life goals.

• AccessAbility • The Advocates for Human Rights • Bridges to Safety Network of Services • Apple Tree Dental • Breadsmith • Caribou© Coffee • Center for Victims of Torture • Century College • Community Action • CommonBond Communities • Council on American-Islamic Relations, MN • Cycles for Change • Daily Work • Dress for Success Twin Cities

• Expo Elementary School • Family Means • Goodwill/Easter Seals • Hennepin County Medical Center • Highland Park Neighbors • Holy Spirit Church • Housing Link • Hubbs Center for Adult Education • Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota • The Insurance Shoppe • International Institute of Minnesota • Jewish Community Center • Job Connect MN 12

• LensCrafters© OneSight • Lift Garage • Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service • Lutheran Social Services • Metro State University • Metro Transit Discount Pass • Midwest Careers Institute • Minneapolis Community and

Technical College • Minnesota Literary Council • Minnesota Workforce Centers • Minnesota Works Job Training Program • MNSure • People's Health Clinic • Places of Worship/Sarah’s Chapel • Portico Healthnet • Prepare + Prosper • Ramsey County • Reach and Restore • Regions Hospital • Resource Employment Services • Salem Arts Exchange • Second Harvest Heartland • Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

St. Paul Province • St. Catherine University • St. Mary’s Health Clinics • St. Paul College • St. Paul Police Department • St. Paul Public Housing • St. Paul Public Library System • Sarah’s Volunteers • United Gospel Mission • United Hospital – St. Paul (Allina Health) • University of Minnesota Law Clinic • University of St. Thomas Interprofessional Center • Vocational Rehabilitation Services (part of Minnesota

Department of Employment & Economic Development)

• Wells Fargo • Women Achieving New Directions (WAND) • Women’s Initiative for Self-Empowerment (WISE) • The Yarn Mission 13

Sarah's is a place where I draw my strength.

Sometimes I just pass by without going inside and I can feel the quiet strength that emanates. I entered Sarah's as a victim, a "nobody", I got out of Sarah's as a Survivor, a Fighter and an Advocate.

In 1996, a convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in St. Paul became available after a twenty year ministry of healing among sisters from across the world was completed. A group was commissioned to ask, "What shall we do with this space?" Without hesitation, commitment to women among women on a larger scale was embraced. Sarah's was named for Sarah of the Old Testament, the elderly biblical woman who faced the impossible in her life with humor and hospitality. This ministry would welcome any woman in any kind of life transition, to live [in community in a convent run by] sisters.

Sarah's opened its doors to women who were homeless, in need of safety, and willing to share a community experience with other women. Sarah's... an Oasis for Women is one expression of the Sisters' overall ministry commitment to direct service among those most in need, and advocacy for systemic change where there is structural injustice affecting the lives of people around the world.

The CSJ community continues its life and ministry today among ‘every dear neighbor.’

An excerpt from “Women’s Voices: Sarah’s… an Oasis for Women, An Essay”

by Margaret L. Kvasnicka, CSJ and women of Sarah’s

Sarah's... an Oasis for Women

A ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

651-696-8672 www.sarahsoasis.org