Other Duties as Assigned

For those playing along at home, I am in a new role as the Executive Director of a non-profit social service agency. I love my job at La Casa de Amistad and would not trade it for anything, but man it makes for an interesting day... lets recap Tuesday, January 21st, 2014.

8:30AM - my pre-K teacher was a little late, so helped get our facility opened up and families checked in for our Yo Puedo Leer (I Can Read) class.

9:30AM - our food pantry van (cargo van) had a flat tire. I brought in a air compressor to pump it up and see if it holds (van sat for about five weeks during break). Van wouldn't start (for me to plug in compressor), so I got keys for our passenger van. Well batteries are on opposite sides so can't jump it, and compressor cable isn't long enough. So looks like I will be using the passenger van (huge conversation van with pimp plush seats) for our food bank run.

11AM - Meeting with South Bend School Corp Staff in the adult education department. Building partnerships and sharing resources.

12:30PM - Worlds fastest lunch (AKA McDs), and they had free small coffee. SCORE!

1PM - Conference call with my Immigration/Citizenship Class coordinator and potential future volunteer/staff person. Did intros and left call early to run to food bank in conversion van.

1:15PM - Warm up conversion van, open gate, get van stuck in unplowed alley.

Stuck Van

1:20PM - Get one of my staff to help me un-stuck van. Van still stuck.

1:25PM - Get one of our interns to help steer van, while my staff and I push it. Van unstuck.

1:30PM - Back van up, plan to drive it out in straight shot to avoid getting stuck. Van slides into fence, decide not to stop (risk getting stuck again) and just keep on driving (luckily damage was minimal).

2PM - Pack and load nearly 500 pounds of food. Cans of tomato sauce are heavy!

2:30PM - En route back from food bank, van nearly runs out of gas... made it to station. Whew. Good news is gas prices are down.

2:45PM - Have to work the receptionist desk, my administrative coordinator was filling in my our Pre-K teacher that needed to leave early.

3:15PM - Youth Program First Day. Our assistant coordinator not there, because a temp job for Feb (filling in for expectant Spanish teacher) was moved to Jan when baby came early. Those babies, sometimes just can't wait.

3:30PM - While helping third grader with reading assignment learned that soccer originated in China. When asking him if he knew that, he said no, and I told him I didn't know that either so I learned something as well.  He replied, "Well everything is made in China". True, kids are so smart.

Old Building. Old Pipes.

4:00PM - Remembered we found a leak in the basement yesterday. Go down to check it out, it is worse. So can't be melting snow coming in... rip out more drywall. Tear out pipe insulation. Find pin hole leak in a pipe. Mental note, need to call plumber tomorrow. Mental note part two, Ask if anyone reading this post know a plumber in South Bend?

4:30PM - Run upstairs to take photos of kids (K to 6th grade) in the program to post on our Facebook. Then run down to the basement to take photos of the students down there (7th grade +). Second workout for the day.

4:45PM - Update Facebook Page (Like us please)

5PM - Work with accountant on plan for staff W-2s and unemployment insurance issues.

6PM - Class from IUSB comes. Do presentation, tour of building, discussion about volunteer opportunities. Students had lots of questions, I LOVE questions, cause it means they actually listened and care. Thank you Titans!

7:15PM - Class leaves. Enjoyed tour.

7:45PM - Locking up office. Cops all over outside. Shooting a block from center, reminds me why it is so important for us to be there, helping those who want a better life to be able to raise up. Also means we need to write an emergency policy in case that happened while our kids are in the building.

8PM - Put the building alarm on, head home. All in a days work.

You might think that this all means I am too busy during the day and need a break. No, I wanted to let the world know that I helped a third grader with his reading skills yesterday. That, and putting my 3 year old to bed when I got home made the entire day perfect.