From Shelter to Stability
The Making of Butterflies
September 2011
By Jennifer M. Drummond and Ronald Stilwell
Every five weeks at the CARITAS Works Program, something miraculous happens. A small group of individuals who have made their share of mistakes in life and who have learned how to transcend those mistakes, take a giant leap in their transformative journey. Their unwavering commitment and amazing personal growth become as tangible and amazing as watching a butterfly break forth from a cocoon and take flight.
Weeks earlier these men were not so different from caterpillars who eagerly consume all the food they can. Instinctively caterpillars realize that this is necessary for their development. Similarly, these students eagerly take in and digest all the program has to offer. They acquire the both head learning and heart learning that allows them to become something beautiful to themselves and inspiring to others. CARITAS Works graduation day on August 18 was no different.
The celebration was held at The Healing Place, a residential homeless shelter and substance abuse rehabilitation center in southside Richmond. Most students are residents of The Healing Place and the balance are residents of Freedom House, another southside homeless shelter. The large community room was painted with a calming light peach, however there was too much excitement in the packed audience for the peaceful hue to have much of an impact. Attendees included CARITAS Works and The Healing Place staff and residents, along with friends and family of the students. Though the graduates were sharply attired in business suits, their best asset was their “attitude of gratitude”, as noted by CARITAS Works Director Ron Stilwell.
One graduate, David Conway, expressed his appreciation this way, “I am not the same person. I ask you to help me to stay strong and I hope to give back which was so freely given to me.” Another student, Marquis Morgan tearfully shared, “I have so much to be thankful for because of CARITAS, I now feel like a man. These people taught me how to respect myself. God did it and I am grateful and especially to Karen Stanley, Executive Director of CARITAS and The Healing Place.” Another graduate, Michael Davis expressed his thanks, “When I came here, I had no hope, I was lost and angry. I was given another chance. These guys are not just friends but family… you are all my family.”
In a surprise gesture, one of the students at VCU’s School of Mass Communication program, Austin Wilson, presented a key to each graduate with the word “Strong” engraved on it, symbolic of the students’ journey. Austin came to know and admire the CARITAS Works program and students during a summer college course project. Some of the students put the key on a chain and continue to wear them on their necks as a reminder of their inner strength and the web of strong relationships they are developing. It is also a reminder that like the seemingly fragile Monarch butterfly who flies thousands of miles in the fall from the northern U.S. to Mexico, these graduates are taking flight and are growing stronger and more capable with each passing day.