Empowerment and Capacity-Building: It’s About ‘Us’ | Teresa Strausz, MSOD, LMSW

Empowerment and Capacity-Building are words and phrases I hear (and use) in my work almost daily. I often hear these terms used to describe something that is given or provided as if they were commodities that can be wrapped up like a gift and handed out to those in need of them. Those of us in the business of empowerment and capacity-building feel good about this version of the story. We are helping. We are making lives, communities, and organizations better.

February 20, a group of dedicated Wichita State University students and Wichita State VISTA Fellows attended the inaugural WSU Civic Leadership & Service Summit co-sponsored by the Office of Student Involvement and the Center for Community Support and Research. After a couple of hours of panel discussions and workshops about civic engagement and service learning, participants selected one of two sites in which to engage in service. One of the sites, Rainbows United, Inc. provided an opportunity for volunteers to engage with youth with different abilities to make paper chains. The activity was to not only provide the youth with opportunities to engage in a fun activity with the visitors, but also for the volunteers to learn first-hand what it is like for persons with different abilities to be involved in such activities meaningfully.

What a lesson. The tender moment at which this youth and volunteer connected to mutually help each other. That is empowerment. Both gave and received a gift. Empowerment is less about what we do and more about what we do with those with whom we are working. The end result? Beautiful!

Finding relief and acceptance from support groups | Zachariah McCallister

Recovery can be a long, complicated process which everyone goes through in different ways.  Recovery happens for different reasons:  it could be medical, emotional, or about self-improvement.  My recovery occurred because of the brain trauma and nerve damage I received from an accident a few years ago. I have made great progress, but there are some things I wish I had done differently.

A regret I have is never trying to connect with others who have experienced brain trauma.  There were times I felt isolated and alone because of my situation.  During these times my family and friends had a hard time trying to understand the support I needed.  They could not see what my injuries were or how they were affecting me.  I could not figure out how to describe what had changed and what I needed.  There were times when the easiest thing to do was to avoid everyone. 

McCallister

Two years after my accident I started realizing which changes would likely never heal.  I decided to look for a support group.  Even though I found some, I did not attend one.  I tricked myself into thinking that my experiences were unique.  I also felt guilty asking for help when I was mostly okay.  My mind changed and my ability to think was difficult, but I could still walk, talk, and do most of the things I enjoyed doing.  As I look back, not reaching out for help was one of the biggest mistakes I made.

I missed so much by not joining a support group.  Comfort, support, and understanding can be found in a group of people with shared experiences.  You do not have to be guarded or worry about being judged.  Knowledge and wisdom can be gained from the stories each person brings to the group.  You are seen as a whole person who needs support and you are more than a diagnosis that needs medication.  You and the group decide what you need to feel better and how to meet those needs.

Last fall marked the ninth year after my accident.  I finally got the chance to visit two support groups because of my work at the Center for Community Support and Research.  I felt relief to be around people who understood me, even though I had already worked through most of my challenges.  I no longer felt odd.  My personal experience has strengthened my resolve to recommend support groups when someone tells me they feel alone and are facing a difficulty.  Some things in life are already hard to get through, why try to get through them alone?

Editor’s Note: Zachariah is currently in the second semester of his Wichita State University social work practicum at CCSR.