Author: annawclary

Dignity and Respect. Two simple words that at Paul’s Place become a catalyst for change. “You’ll hear a lot when you’re talking to people here, about dignity and respect.” Deputy Director Terry Manning said, “That’s because we truly believe that and you have to start there.” Paul’s Place does not just aim to feed, clothe, or care for the community members its purpose is to provide resources and programs to promote growth of self and community.
Paul’s Place, a non-profit operating in the southwest of Baltimore, recently celebrated 35 years of service in the community. They offer over 20 services including a soup kitchen, farmers market, a free computer lab, social workers, after school programs, clothing, life skills classes, and other community classes and programs. “We meet people where they are,” Executive Director William McLennan said, “and help them map a route for their personal self-sufficiency.”
“What do we do? We do a lot and we impact people.” Manning said plainly, “finding people out on the streets, finding people that come in our doors and treating them with dignity and respect and helping them get the support that they need.” Approximately 250 to 300 people enter Paul’s Place for their services every day, up to 400 when counting the children’s programs. Paul’s Place also sees up to 30 volunteers daily, including community ambassadors.
Ambassadors of Paul’s Place all once entered to receive help, and in finding security and safety at Paul’s Place chose to give back. Joining the ambassador program provides the opportunity to further self-development while providing community outreach. Ambassadors of Paul’s Place volunteer their services not just to Paul’s Place, but the entire community. Ambassadors are Integral in building connections in the community and bringing more people into Paul’s Place. “We interact with them as if they were our staff,” Manning stated “We have very good relationships with them, we really count on them to provide a lot of services with us.

Alongside Ambassadors who serve regularly, Paul’s Place has many regular volunteers. One group of such who has gained a fond nickname “The Tuesday Ladies”. The Tuesday Ladies include Donna Goon, Carole Graves, Betty Moore, and Shirley Braddy. Without whom the Market Place wouldn’t run smoothly. “I didn’t know these ladies before.” Graves said, “Tuesdays worked out for all of us, so now they call us the Tuesday ladies.” The Ladies sort, process, organize, and display all the clothing donations Paul’s place receives. “You can process a coat here and the next day somebody is keeping warm in the street.” Graves said, “I found that it was just what I was looking for. An area where I could make a contribution. You could have an immediate impact.”

Ambassadors, staff, board members, and volunteers make the extensive amount of services Paul’s Place offers feasible. Now Paul’s Place will add to its numerous services with a restaurant doubling as a culinary school. The new program will see 15-20 people through a 13-week culinary program. Then working with referral agents and partners Paul’s Place culinary graduates will be employed. Not ending there, Paul’s Place will follow them through case management for 6 months, ensuring solid progress. “Our goal is within a given year 60 plus people will actually have employment and find stability in their lives.” Manning exclaimed. The restaurant will seat 30 people as well as having a catering component.

“It’s sincerely genuine, you feel it because it’s real.” Manning stated. The culture of Paul’s place, merged with the mission, is what makes it truly unique. “You can feel it as soon as you walk in. “Manning said. “Because no matter who you are people will embrace you, you already feel like you’re a part of the group.” At Paul’s Place every individual is instantly apart of a family, a united front of open arms. “Paul’s Place draws the best out of people.” McLennan said, “Our guests, our volunteers, our staff and our Board.”
Paul’s Place works to get to know their guests, treating everyone with dignity and respect no matter their background. Manning likes to stand outside, pulling in guests that wouldn’t have necessarily come in. She likes to listen to their stories, and understand their roots, in order to make connections that can really help them get the most out of Paul’s Place resources. “Everyone has a story, some are veterans some have fought for our country. some have had just really horrible things happen to them in life,” Manning said, “and if you take the time to listen to their stories and put it in context it really makes a difference in how you view what the next steps are with that person.” For manning being “in the trenches” is where she feels at home. “I’ve been at the top. I’ve made lots of money. The money wasn’t making me happy, it’s the work that makes me happy.” Manning stated.
The culture in Paul’s Place has stolen the hearts of many who enter. “I got connected to Paul’s Place through my college, and now I am a regular, weekly, volunteer.” Michael Cook a Sophomore at UMBC said. Michael has been serving for over a year and says he has “yet to be involved in an organization that feels so local and involved”. “Everyone that comes through the door is treated with dignity and respect, and this helps foster an atmosphere of community that is hard to find anywhere else.” Cook said on the culture and mission that drives the organization.
The organization is in a location where conditions in the area are not what they could be. “The community is considered a good desert,” Cook said, “which means there is no easy access to fresh produce and other healthy food. Paul’s Place is trying to fix that.” Paul’s place faces challenges because of the lack of affordable housing, employment, and personal or health struggles individuals may have. However, with each individual brought into the folds of their programs, there is hope.
Recently a student that went through the after-school program, a program for children K-12, with the help of Paul’s Place now is in college. “He is a first-generation college student, and the first one in this community for a long time. It’s a big deal!” Cook exclaimed. Paul’s Place strives to have a way to help everyone, from children’s programs to rehabilitation, if it can benefit the community and its members Paul’s Place strives to provide it.
To volunteer, learn more, or contact Paul’s Place visit their website at https://paulsplaceoutreach.org/

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© 2018 Clary, Anna. All Rights Reserved

Home, Home on the Bay

By Anna Clary

Fran and Vickey Black, Catherine Wille and toddler Sebastian Wille, Julie Dietzel-Glair and Doug Glair, all attest to the positive impact living on a boat has had on their lives. All lounge on a cushy white couch that wraps its way around a wooded coffee table laden with fruits, olives, cheeses, and crackers. The group is laughing, glasses of wine in hand, as toddler Sebastian plays behind. The neighbors enjoyed the sun, and company on the stern of the boat. The boat, The Black Pearl, is home to Vickey and Fran Black and is one of many house boats in the marina community.

The Blacks, Vickey (mid-50’s) and Fran (mid-60’s) are more recent to living on a boat full time, but already the lifestyle has captured their hearts. “Marina life is unbelievable. You know you can go wherever you want to go.” Fran said, “You bring your whole house with you, you don’t have to pack your clothes, you have your clothes, your food, everything.”

House boats are misunderstood as cramped, not amenable, not suitable for starting a family, and problematic during inclement weather. However, house boats have the same features as the average home. “You won’t meet someone that was disappointed in their decision and what they did, the decision to live on a boat.” Fran said, “It’s just incredible, you get up in the morning and most of the time the sun is up and you have your coffee and you’re looking out on the water and other boats and it has a nice comfort living feel.” Though the Blacks know the potential a house boat has, they, as well as neighboring house boat owners, lamented that many do not understand what houseboat living is really like.

While living on a boat comes with its own difficulties it is no different than living in a house; boats and houses merely have different difficulties. “You know you have quirky things about a boat, but you have quirky things about your house” said Catherine, “Everyone’s kind of familiar with those because everyone lives in a house, but when you live on a boat you just figure out the quirky things about living on a boat and it’s just like a house. Just different quirks.”

Much of the apprehension towards living on a boat is regarding size. “People misconstrue, non-boaters think that they could never live on a boat,” Doug said, “well it depends on the size of the boat that you have.” Many boats, if they are sized right, have a lot of living space and amenities. “We have a kitchen, we have a living room, we have two bedrooms, we have two air conditioners, we have a central bath system.” Fran said. “The amenities on some of these boats are incredible. Now the new one we are getting, it has three bedrooms and an awful lot of room.”

The Black Pearl has a spacious interior with a full living area, as well as the living area above deck. The boat has plenty of storage room, a large kitchen, and full bathroom and master bedroom. “It’s literally just like a house.” Vickey said, “I have a full-sized refrigerator that is the same as what you would have in a house, my bathroom here is bigger than the bathroom I had in my house.” The Black’s new boat, The Chesapeake Lady, will have even more spaciousness with three bedrooms and more square footage.

Living on a boat may even be better for children. According to Catherine Wille, her son Sebastian has largely benefited. “He’s having a lot more experiences than most of his peers are having and its allowed him to be a lot more adventurous.” Catherine said of Sebastian, “and I think, just take risks that he wouldn’t have taken if we were living in just a regular house. Which I think helps developmentally a lot too.” As she spoke, Sebastian played and interacted with the (much older) people around him, engaging in his surroundings, not shying away. Catherine also spoke of how her son is constantly around different kinds of people of all ages, helping him to grow socially.

Julie and Doug Glair have found that boat life has strengthened their relationship. “Maybe it’s a reflection on how long we’ve been married or maybe it’s a reflection on living in a smaller space. I would say we argue less.” Julie said as husband Doug nodded in agreement, “I can’t escape to my own wing of my McMansion, you know? If we’re arguing we’ve got to deal with it because I can’t not see you. You’re right there.” While a house boats space is far from cramped, it does conduce being around family or spouses, which the Glairs have found to be positive for their relationship.

As far as lifestyle changes go, Julie has found it to be freeing. “This lifestyle is just amazing.” Julie said, “We’ve known the Blacks for a year now, not even a year and now we consider them good friends because that’s just how marina life is. I would say instead of sacrifice lifestyle is better.”

Despite all the positive experiences and changes, the Glairs have found that due to misconception of house boats, in the public people don’t understand that living on a boat is no different than a house. “People ask us what do we do when it rains,” Julie said, “well we just go inside. Like you do your house.” Weather has no different an effect than in a traditional house, yet they are often questioned as to how they handle it. “People ask us all the time so you know parts of Baltimore are flooding are you okay?” Julie said laughing, “My house floats, how’s your basement!?”

While living on a boat is like a house, a key difference the Black’s, Wille’s, and Glairs’ have found, is the strong community. “We all have a shared love of boating, there’s an automatic connection with everybody” Julie said of the strong sense of community. “I think its stronger too, I think that we are always willing to help each other.” Fran said, “If they need help on their boat, need to repair something, fix something there’s always somebody here to help you. That goes without even saying.”

The biggest benefit, other than community, for the Black’s, Wille’s and Glairs’, is the stress-free feel to the lifestyle. “Our home life is more relaxing, you have a stressful day at work and then you walk down the pier and see your view and it’s like all right I can deal with life again.” Catherine said, “So, it has kind of helped us relax at home more, and be with each other and with Sebastian. You know when you’ve got a short fuse you walk down the pier and you’re like all right I can deal with this.”

“We don’t understand why people live on land at this point.” said the Glairs, “We’re good with this. We’re in for the long haul.”

A view above deck at the helm of The Black Pearl

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© 2018 Clary, Anna. All Rights Reserved