11. Meet the New JVs!

In this episode, Cory and Chris introduce the WCA's 2021-22 Jesuit Volunteers Emily and Caro. Listen to learn what drew them to a year of service with Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest and why they chose to serve at the WCA.

If you or someone you care about have experienced domestic, dating or sexual violence please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or one of the WCA's 24-hour hotlines (Sexual Assault:  208-345-7273; Domestic Abuse:  208.343.7025).

Follow us on social media!
@wca_boise

For more information and resources, check out our website: wcaboise.org

Contact us at outreach@wcaboise.org 

Transcript

Intro: 0:01

Welcome to what compassion accomplishes: a podcast dedicated to sharing information, ideas and resources about domestic abuse and sexual assault. The topics discussed in this podcast, including survivor stories, supportive services, and domestic abuse or sexual violence can be difficult, and we urge you to listen with care. Our hosts are not licensed counselors or mental health professionals. If you or someone you care about have experienced domestic, dating, or sexual violence, please call the WCA's 24 hour hotline at 208-343-7025 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233. You can also find more resources in the description of this podcast.

Cory Mikhals: 0:53

Welcome to another edition of what compassion accomplishes. Hi, I'm Corey Michaels along with Chris Davis with the WCA. And another wonderful chance for us to get together and have some conversations.

Chris Davis: 1:05

Hi, Cory, it's so great to be here with you. And thank you for helping us out with this.

Cory Mikhals: 1:09

Oh, always. It is just my honor. I'm thrilled whenever it comes time to do our next episode and today we've got a very cool one, do you want to introduce our our guests?

Chris Davis: 1:20

I am so excited to introduce our guests. We have our two new Jesuit volunteers here. The JVC house was closed down in Boise last year, but it's been here since I've been with the WCA. We've had a JV community in Boise and those for those of you who don't know, I encourage you to go out and check out the JVC Northwest website. They have JVC national but here locally, we have the JVC community in Boise and they have it all over the Northwest. It's a service community organization. They actually are like full time staff, but they are doing a year of service. So they come and they do 40 hours a week and do a job but they're doing a year of service. So they're doing like a volunteer job, but doing real jobs. And they they do it after either they finish their bachelor's or finish a master's degree typically. And I think it's just a fantastic program. And I think I was counting up and either directly on my team or at the WCA specifically, I've worked with 15 different JV volunteers on my time at the WCA from all over the US and they're just fantastic humans. And so we have our two JVs in the house here with us today that just started with the WCA and I'm so privileged to introduce Caro and Emily to you today. We get to learn a little about them, a little about the program and what what really drives them to do this. It's a year of their life. They move away from their homes, their families and like live together in community. It's it's just pretty awesome. So I'm excited to share them with you.

Cory Mikhals: 2:57

Well, and welcome ladies, as we were talking about before we started the podcast, you just got here both of you at the starting of August?

Caro Woodard: 3:06

Yeah, a couple weeks ago, I think like August 1. So it's been a hot minute, but we're still getting our feet

Chris Davis: 3:10

We've got Caro Woodard and Emily, so tell us on the ground. first, and take it one at a time. Tell us who you are and what brought you here.

Caro Woodard: 3:18

Awesome. My name is Caro from Atlanta, Georgia. I graduated from the University of Georgia with degrees in educational theory and practice specifically in teaching Middle School. When kind of considering what to do after college, I really considered Peace Corps for a while and just a year of service is so attractive because while I realized I love teaching, I really loved the relational side of it and getting to work with communities and families more than the actual just sitting up there and talking about math or science and JVC Northwestern programs of such sorts definitely offer an opportunity to do those things to build a community with different kinds of folks, to get involved in new things and really learn about the systems that young adolescents and their families are interacting with in their daily lives. And that was very attractive for me kind of thinking about how do I enhance my knowledge of communities and the students I'll be working with and then do a year of service where I'm partnering with communities to do some really cool work.

Cory Mikhals: 4:04

That's wonderful. Alright, Emily?

Emily Dehmer: 4:07

I'm Emily Dehmer, and I'm from Lino Lakes, Minnesota, and in May I graduated with my bachelor's from St. Norbert College. I studied psychology and peace and justice studies. One thing that drew me to a year of service is that I graduated in three years of college and I'm young for my grade. So technically, when I graduated with my bachelor's, I was 20. And so I wasn't necessarily ready to enter the quote unquote, adult world.

Cory Mikhals: 4:40

I'm not ready yet either, so...

Chris Davis: 4:43

I haven't decided what I'm doing when I I grow up yet Emily, so you're not alone.

Emily Dehmer: 4:47

I knew I was thinking I wanted to go on to grad school, but I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted if I wanted my master's or doctorate in psychology, and I figured the worst thing to do would be to enter a program just because I didn't know what to do and then decide like two years into the program or something that it just wasn't for me. And I've also always been drawn to service and serving my community. And though, like Caro mentioned, we just moved to Boise, I've always been drawn more to serving in a local sense, as opposed to internationally, just because there's all sorts of concerns about, you know, ethics and motivations for doing such things. So to be able to help at home was really meaningful to me, and specifically at the WCA was a really good position for me.

Cory Mikhals: 5:41

Well, good. Well, again, welcome to Boise. And I hope in your year, you get a chance to really soak in all that we have to offer. It's a wonderful community. And I know I'm a little biased, but one of the most beautiful places I've ever been in my life.

Chris Davis: 5:59

So yeah, that's this second question. So how the process works is we apply for a position, you know, where there's a need, and it's an unduplicated position. So you don't replace the JV program, the positions don't replace a staff position. So it's expanding our capacity. So it's pretty cool. They don't they don't replace a position. So Emily's working with our outreach team and Caro's working with our prevention team, so enhancing our ability to go out and work. We've had some of our JVs in the past and in our service area, and we've opted to provide opportunities to help expand our work out into the community, which has given us opportunities to build foundation and provide structure to new programs and just do some really cool stuff. So it builds each year, by the way it builds, we have new presentations and new programs that they help us build. And so we have that that we can then implement, whether we have a new JV the following year or not, which we've been very fortunate to continue to have that support but gives us new building blocks, if you will. But what I want to know from these amazing young people, by the way, they're just absolutely fantastic and delightful and very smart, is why the WCA because they're, you know, all over the Northwest and Alaska and in different settings. I would like to know from them why they chose the WCA.

Caro Woodard: 7:29

Yeah, I was truly drawn to the WCA because of the position I'm serving in right now, the Prevention Coordinator. I really value being able to talk to young people about things that they're seeing in their daily lives, such as dating, relationships, you know, how to navigate the world as a young person in 2021. And this position allows me to go into schools, talk to youth groups, and just like middle schoolers, high schoolers about, you know, healthy dating norms and consent relationships. And that was just a really an opportunity that I think would expand my capacity to be able to connect these kinds of people inside and outside the classroom and work with some really cool folks who are already doing incredible work in their communities. And kind of as we've been here, Emily can attest to this as well, we realized what a pillar the WCA is in the community and the great services it does. So it's just truly an honor to be able to do some good work with some really great folks.

Cory Mikhals: 8:13

That's wonderful. Emily for you, what was what really drew you to the WCA?

Emily Dehmer: 8:20

I guess initially I was drawn to the WCA because of my psychology background; I knew that in my year of service, I wanted to sort of enhance my resume, as you will, but also I wanted to get more insight into what specific field of psychology I wanted to go into. And I was looking for a position that would be relevant, and in the field, but also not one that was so direct with service that I ended up burning out and being so emotionally exhausted. The Outreach position really drew me in because there's some educating the community on things that I didn't have a chance to learn when I was, you know, in middle school or high school. And yeah, so I, I, the subject is very close to my heart, I am a survivor, and so to be able to do that outreach is really meaningful, because we're sort of targeting the presentations at other people who have experienced either domestic violence or sexual assault. And so to be able to sit there and either give a presentation or be at an outreach table at whatever event is really cool. I'm excited to get to do that and just approach these subjects with people who've either directly experienced it, or like in the role that Caro does, hers is all about prevention. And ideally, you know, the statistics are sobering, so to be able to prevent somebody from even having to go through that would be ideal. I've really loved everybody at the WCA so far. It's a wonderful environment. And like Caro said, I mean, when anybody asks where we are and we say the WCA, they have nothing but good things to say. Absolutely.

Chris Davis: 10:17

Cory, what I want to ask, pose that question to you, you are you are helping us. You're guiding us through this process of learning how to do this podcast, and you've been nothing but enthusiastic about participating in this and chatting with me anytime. Why do you want to participate? What draws you to help start these conversations about what compassion accomplishes?

Cory Mikhals: 10:39

Well, you know, being being someone, obviously much, much older, I think we could combine the two young ladies here. And I'm still older than the two of them combined. So, in my years, I've had, from when I was young, friends and people that I know, that were survivors, and some survived better than others. Because the, you know, years ago, the services really weren't there. And so there wasn't that, you know, even if the perpetrator went to jail, whatever, that still didn't fix the person who had this horrific thing happen to them. And some grew strength out of that and went on to be advocates; others, they just, they never were able to get past it. And it just, it broke my heart. And so this is something when I moved here 20 years ago, and I started doing things with the WCA and I used to do a program called adopt a family when I was still on the radio, and we you know, adopted different families that were in some very, very horrific situations. And for years, we got one of our, for a few of the years at least, we've got some from the WCA and, you know, Nampa Family Justice, and local. In these cases, were gals and kids that had literally left in the middle of the night with nothing. But they had each other, they were out of that situation. And we had the services here, the WCA was here for them to not just--okay, yes, give them a blanket and some food and encouragement--but truly be able to work with them so that they can get past that sometimes guilt of feeling somehow they brought this on themselves. And you know, all those different thoughts that run through someone's head that's in a traumatic situation, seeing the good and working directly with so many of the the families and seeing them blossom, the best part was seeing some of those young ladies and their kids 2, 3, 4 years later, and they were not just surviving, they were thriving. And it was because of the services that were provided there. So when the opportunity came up to be able to help the WCA, and to be a part of this podcast, there really wasn't even a thought behind it. It's like, yes, I'm in.

Chris Davis: 13:30

That is so cool. And that is what we talk about, with what compassion accomplishes, and your compassion. And we talk about a lot of things on this podcast, which is why Emily and Carol, I'm happy you're here today, sharing with us why you're doing what you're doing. And and it's so important in both the outreach and prevention, I think, those roles are crucial. And sharing education--Emily, you're learning to the presentations that are really important right now, which are really hard to learn to talk about, the break the cycle, which is, you know, the 50,000 foot kind of one on one, about domestic abuse, about the different types which we take out into the community, and really will give to anyone, we've been doing it over Zoom mostly, and Never Your Fault, which is about sexual assault, consent, those things. Those things are hard to talk about. And you're immersing yourself in that. Caro's learning some of the curriculum, small group stuff, which we take into the schools in small group, but really for at risk youth. We go into the homeless shelter or going to the local organization that provides a safe place for youth who are dealing with substance abuse, some of those risk programs. So those really are crucial programs that we have, in addition to the services that we provide to women and men and children who are in it. They are dealing with the trauma of domestic abuse. And also those who have gotten out but are still dealing with the trauma because like you said, Corey, sometimes you get out and you're safe. or hopefully you're safe where you get out. But you, you just, you just haven't broken free from that trauma. Because as you are learning, both of you--I'm looking at Carolyn Emily, like you can see what I'm doing; forget there's no video on this one--sometimes that trauma and lives in the body, we can we can talk a lot about trauma. And it stays with you. So there's a lot about domestic abuse and about trauma that we're learning over the years. But we'll get back to this. And I want to ask Emily and Caro a question: What do you hope to accomplish with your year of service? If I could just ask you one thing, what's the first thing that comes to your mind? What do you hope to accomplish? And maybe what do you hope to gain? You can answer either one of those things.

Caro Woodard: 15:54

Sure, that's a great question, Chris. I think considering my background in education, kind of looking forward to a career like that, I hope to kind of gain more confidence in talking to young folks about topics of justice and injustice. And, you know, at the heart of domestic violence and sexual assault, there are power dynamics and systems of oppression that are impacting groups, more so than others. And I think in learning how to navigate these conversations in safe spaces, and create, you know, cultures of care, where you can talk to young folks about these issues, I have to really find my ability to create those spaces and facilitate those conversations, to be that supportive force for young adolescents and middle schoolers, high schoolers. So we can, you know, really base prevention in education and by educating change minds change norms around dating, violence, sexual assault, and, you know, by doing that really do our duty to create safer communities. And that's just a small role I hope I can play and really improve my ability to contribute to,

Chris Davis: 16:47

I would say, that's a big role.

Caro Woodard: 16:50

We take it day by day.

Chris Davis: 16:52

No, I think that's so crucial, you know, and I want to give props to you. Because if everyone looked at that, from that standpoint, and said, that's a small role I have to play, that's a big role. And everybody can play that small role in their homes, in their churches, in their youth groups, in their jobs, when they're interacting with young people. You're looking at it as a small role. And you're you're going into a career field that does interact with youth every day. But that's a big role. That's a really a big role. But you're looking you know, it's just a small part of your job. So hats off to you. That's great.

Caro Woodard: 17:27

Thank you. Absolutely. I think you speak really well to the ways all of us can play a role in that. And I think that's YWCA is such an incredible organization, because it does, like aim to inform you know, teachers, community members, parents, kids, and it does start at home, it starts in a little circle, whether that be our communities on a smaller or like bigger level.

Chris Davis: 17:44

Yeah, it's a it is a very big role. So you speak to it as a small role, but I would say that's a big role and one that all of us can play. When we evaluate the roles we play with young people of all ages, starting small, but Middle School high schoolers, whether we're educators, but if we interact with youth in our homes, and our youth groups, in our churches, as coaches, it may just feel like it's a small role. But it's really a very big role in changing cultures and changing our communities so that it's a safer place for those young people as they grow into adults. How about you, Emily?

Emily Dehmer: 18:25

I guess two words that come to mind when I'm thinking of my motivations for my year of service, specifically my position at the WCA, and what I hope to accomplish, are empowerment and awareness. I think empowerment, both for myself as a survivor, but also for those who have experienced or are currently experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault, to know that they're not alone, that they have worth, that there is life after abuse, and that healing is possible and that there are so many resources there to help them and people who care is really important to me. And also, from the awareness side, so many people, not out of a lack of caring, are simply just not educated on these topics or realize how truly prevalent they are in the community. And there's a lot of misconceptions, of course, about both those topics and the people that they happen to and the people who perpetrate them. And so to be able to go into the community and have those conversations about, you know, warning signs to look out for for you know, parents or friends of people who really have loved ones and lives that they really care about, but also to educate people about their rights and what they deserve in healthy and thriving relationships to hopefully make it so that one day, while it's a hard concept to grasp, but one day, nobody will have to be be victimized or experience such things, and that the WCA would just go out of business because there wouldn't be people to serve. That's a lofty goal, but it's one to keep in mind as a motivation for doing the work that we do.

Cory Mikhals: 20:27

Well, and I think that is, or at least should be the goal of anyone--and no matter what type of prevention services that you're doing--to make your own job obsolete.

Chris Davis: 20:39

Absolutely. I'm over here doing an invisible mic drop. You know, and I, I need to not have a job, literally, because that because that means there's no more work to do. You hit it right on, you know, the nail on the head. Both of you, I think, know why you're here and have the absolute goal just within a few weeks. I think it's a beautiful thing to know. I mean, you know, we say like, that's the perfect story. That's a good story. And that means it's not a good story, right? It's a terrible, horrible story. But it's the perfect story to illustrate, it's a good story to tell, to try to help people understand. And try to engage them in those conversations, to try to help them look around and understand that it is their--it is all of our--problem, and we all should care about everybody and this issue because it is much more prevalent. It is much more than physical violence. And we all can play a part. And we all should be playing a part. And I think you both have very good reasons and motivations and rationale. And I think you're going to have a great year. And I do hope you just take care of yourselves. Because vicarious trauma, for anybody listening to this, is a very real thing for anybody doing any kind of work like this. And when you think about this stuff, a lot of it can, you know, get you down a little bit. So if this podcast has triggered anything, I encourage you to reach out to somewhere like the WCA, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline, we'll make sure those links are in the description. But get up and go take a walk. I know I see some beautiful light coming inside here, inside the studio. Take a bath, read a book, reach out to someone that you care about, have a good talk. Self Care is very important in any kind of work if you're working in victim services, but it's also just important, especially right now, because there's a lot of heavy stuff going on in the world. It's important to take care of yourself, period, especially if you are a survivor of any kind of trauma, or stress.

Cory Mikhals: 22:49

Right.

Chris Davis: 22:49

There's a lot of stress in the world right now.

Cory Mikhals: 22:51

Yes, there is.

Chris Davis: 22:51

It's important to take care of yourself period. To be in good relationships with other people, you need to be in a good relationship with yourself. And a lot of people don't recognize that. So I want to say thank you to Caro and Emily, for coming in today because I know they've got a lot of work on their slate today, still learning a lot and making good relationships with folks. They're doing great stuff

Cory Mikhals: 23:17

I'm sure they are. That's kind of along those lines, because it is still so new. They are learning, just got here, getting the whole lay of the land and everything. I think we should have them back on podcast in six, eight months

Chris Davis: 23:34

Absolutely.

Cory Mikhals: 23:34

or so after they've been doing it and had the time to really immerse yourself into the program and to all of that and and then see, you know, what the perspective is and how you're feeling then and what growth you've been able to find in yourself and in the programs through your time here. Is that okay?

Caro Woodard: 23:56

Yeah, absolutely. We're thrilled to be here. We would be honored to come back.

Cory Mikhals: 23:59

Okay!

Caro Woodard: 23:59

Thank you so much, Corey.

Cory Mikhals: 24:00

Oh, absolutely. And Chris, again, a very different one this time than some of our others; that's what I love about our podcast is each time we try very hard to make sure we're bringing in lots of different perspectives and lots of different things that all affect the community. And just like these two outstanding young ladies, we're gonna have Crispin coming back on for another one, he was fabulous--and again, a very different perspective there. We've had law enforcement, we've had Dr. Salazar, and so if there is a subject, if there is something that you haven't heard us go over and you think it would be important,

Chris Davis: 24:46

We're going to have a survivor, we can have some more survivors.

Cory Mikhals: 24:49

Yes.

Chris Davis: 24:50

Reach out to us. And again, I'd say if you have a survivor story you want to share, reach out to us. We want to make sure that folks are in the right space on their journey to survivor on their survivor journey, so that it doesn't re-traumatize. We've had some folks reach out and let us know they want some survivor stories. And we just want to let folks know that it's not always the right place for people to share, so that is why we don't always share more survivor stories. We want to be cognizant of that. Because, it can be re-traumatizing to share sometimes, and we know it is helpful for people to hear other people's story of survival, so it's a fine balance there.

Cory Mikhals: 25:33

It is, because at the end of it, even though the circumstances and the stories are horrific, no matter what the circumstances were, it's a horrific situation that no one ever should have to endure.

Chris Davis: 25:47

Sometimes sharing can be helpful

Cory Mikhals: 25:50

Yes.

Chris Davis: 25:51

and sometimes it can also be harmful and triggering. And, you know, well, kind of vet that out

Cory Mikhals: 25:58

We want to remind everyone that it's the hope, at the end, as we go through this horrific story, for the ones that are in the right place, to be able to share and they find it cathartic, it's good for them to be able to share

Chris Davis: 26:11

And if it's physically safe for them to share, because it sometimes isn't.

Cory Mikhals: 26:16

Right. Well, I've done a lot in the past where, yes, we've had to use, you know, just yeah, just make up a name for them just to keep them safe.

Chris Davis: 26:27

But if you're interested in hearing something specific or you want to share, reach out and let us know. We've got some that we're recording coming up, that I think will be hopefully really helpful to folks, because we're talking about what compassion accomplishes, just like these two guests today, their compassion for sharing and engaging and helping make their community better by giving up a year of their life to come hang out with us in Boise, Idaho, and help engage youth and help engage the community. I am always so impressed by the folks that come participate in the JVC Northwest program. Again, I've worked with almost, or directly worked with or been involved with about 15 now, so impressed. I'm impressed by the, truly the compassion that they have for making the world a better place and their communities. It's just astounding. I have so much respect for them. And what a great program. So I appreciate you coming today.

Cory Mikhals: 27:25

I wish I wish more people had that compassion.

Chris Davis: 27:27

Absolutely. It's inspiring to me. It's truly inspiring, and it fills me with hope.

Cory Mikhals: 27:34

It does. And that's what this is all about. And we thank you and remember all of the links, any of that, any of the phone numbers, contact info for the WCA. That's all in the description here of the podcast. Thank you again for joining us for another edition of

Emily Dehmer: 27:54

What Compassion Accomplishes.

Intro: 27:56

Thank you for listening to this episode of what compassion accomplishes. Again, if you or someone you know has experienced domestic abuse, dating or sexual violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or the WCA's 24 hour hotline. 208-343-7025.