Urban Plunge immerses students in poverty

Shannon Brown, a parishioner of St. Mary's Church in Nassau and a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, thought she knew all there was to know about Albany and the Capital District. That changed during her last visit home.

She was one of six Notre Dame students to participate in a two-day "Urban Plunge" in Albany. The program, run by Notre Dame and coordinated locally by Albany diocesan Catholic Charities, immerses students in poverty to help them learn about social injustices.

While Miss Brown originally thought she would like to go on an Urban Plunge in New York City or Boston, she decided to start in her own backyard and "learned a lot" as a result. Prior to the Urban Plunge, Miss Brown expected that she could find poverty in the larger cities and that Albany didn't have as big a problem. The experience served as an "eye-opener."

New perspective

Fellow student Steven Ponzillo, a junior at Notre Dame and a parishioner of Assumption/St. Paul Church in Mechanicville, was so moved by his first Albany Urban Plunge experience that he came back for a second. "It gives you a different perspective on your own life," he said.

While some would think living for two days in poverty could be depressing, both young adults found it to be inspiring.

"People who live without homes have courage that you don't see every day," said Mr. Ponzillo. And those meeting the needs of the poor are role models for the young man. "They inspire me to try to improve my faith."

"I saw so many people make a difference," Miss Brown, an architecture major, said. "It made me think what kind of difference I could make."

Full program

During the 48-hour Urban Plunge, the students met with service providers and recipients, and worked in social service agencies. They visited and volunteered at Community Maternity Services and Heery Center for Young Families, St. John/St. Ann's parish, Untied Tenants of Albany, the Neighborhood Community Center, and the parish outreach centers at Cathedral, St. Mary's and St. Patrick's. They also learned about the struggle of farmworkers in the area.

Both students reported that the differences between them and the poor were negligible.

"A lot of people I talked to had the same experiences as mine," Miss Brown said of the people receiving assistance from Catholic Charities. "They were from the same background. A lot that are poor do have jobs but can't make ends meet. The majority are trying to improve their financial situation."

Mr. Ponzillo agreed, adding: "People who are poor or homeless are the same as everyone else. We talked about politics, the Super Bowl, cartoons, crime. They are not on the periphery of society -- unless you put them there."

Challenge and surprise

Miss Brown was most surprised by her experiences at Heery Center for Young Families.

"It surprised me," she said of the center. "I didn't know there was a need for it. It was a challenge. I didn't know what to say. Their lives are so different. A 13-year-old was the youngest one there and a 15-year-old had two children."

Both were moved by experiences at local food pantries and soup kitchens. "I didn't expect people to be so excited and appreciative" of their volunteer efforts, said Miss Brown. "They kept saying `thank you' and `God bless.'"

Mr. Ponzillo was moved by the outreach workers. "You see all of these people working," he said. "Sister Madeleine Wheeler at St. Mary's had so much energy. Where do they get this energy? It's from their faith."

More to come

Both students want to make a difference. Mr. Ponzillo, a government and English major, hopes to assist those in need in his profession. Until then, he will continue to be involved in service experiences.

Miss Brown, who had been involved in community service while a high school student, will continue to volunteer and also hopes to go on another Urban Plunge.

(02-06-97) [[In-content Ad]]