Vincent Family Resource Center
helps families achieve goals

With a downturn in the economy and jobs, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which traditionally serves the needy, plays an even more crucial role. Vincentians, or followers of St. Vincent de Paul, serve people throughout the archdiocese. People in need of home furnishings can select needed goods at no cost from the society's thrift stores and meal programs are operated at several sites throughout the archdiocese. In this, the first of a two-part look at the services provided by the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Catholic Herald features the Vincent Family Resource Center.

HITTING THE BOOKS -- Sr. Ann Marie Palmisano, center, helps Titus Coulter, left, and Judith Ingram, right, with their assignments in a GED class at the Adult Learning Center of the Vincent Family Resource Center in Milwaukee. (Photo by Sam Lucero)

MILWAUKEE -- Despite her gumption and proficiency with computers, Tamara Cox has not been able to land a permanent job. A single parent supporting two young children, Khionna, 7, and Isaiah, 5, Cox until recently worked at a temporary job in medical records at Froedtert Hospital. She applied and had hopes of obtaining a permanent job there, but another candidate got the position.

Cox is a graduate of Families Forward, a program sponsored by The Vincent Family Resource Center, 2610 N. Martin Luther King Drive. Robi Borsuk, director of the center, described Families Forward as "a special program where we work with families on an intensive basis to get the goals they set for themselves."

Cox, 27, has a goal. She longs for a job with a "steady income. I just don't want another temporary assignment because it ends," she said quietly over a cup of hot cocoa at the resource center on a wintry day, a few weeks before Christmas. Now that her temporary job is over, Cox gets her two children to school, then takes a bus around the city job-hunting. She is registered with five agencies and has sent out a stack of resumes.

"It's so frustrating. I just don't think people really understand how hard this job market is. You can't support a family on a fast food job of $7 or $8 an hour," said Borsuk, director of the center for two years. She formerly worked at the Next Door Foundation and taught family resources consumer education, also known as human ecology, for 12 years.

The Cox family is one of 10 families who participated in the Families Forward program last fall. The resource center also has supported her in other ways, helping her obtain a stove and refrigerator for her family through the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

How can you help? • Snacks, homemade or store-bought, are appreciated for those enrolled in the programs for children and adults. • Financial sponsors needed to compensate a dance teacher so students can continue to learn African American dances and experience the arts. • Volunteers are always needed, especially men willing to work with men or boys. For information on other ways to become involved, call Borsuk or one of her assistants, (414) 374-0109.

According to Borsuk, "the program is a special part of what we do. It's by invitation only. It's only for people who have come to other classes and programs here," she said of the center's site on the grounds of the former St. Gall Church.

But the Families Forward program is just one of numerous programs offered by this resource center. While some 30 similar resource family centers exist in the Milwaukee area, this is the only one run by the St. Vincent de Paul Society in the archdiocese. It has been in existence for seven years.

One component this family resource center has, which others in the area don't, is an economic support specialist. "She can sign people up, who don't receive W-2 benefits, for food stamps and medical care," said Borsuk. "This is an outpost station of 12th and Vliet street, so people don't have to deal with that (bureaucracy)," she added.

"This place is built on the premise that families have strengths -- this is not a family fix-up place. Good parents and families want to build on strengths and get better," emphasized Borsuk.

The center's services are supported by the St. Vincent de Paul Society and other foundation donors, benefactors and churches.

While the administrative offices are in the homey atmosphere of the former St. Gall rectory, an after-school program for youth is held in the heart of the former church. Through beautiful stained glass windows, natural light recently bathed the youth center in a warm glow. The youth center is staffed by Marquette University students. Twenty to 30 neighborhood youth are enrolled in the after-school program, where they are tutored, given snacks and allowed to use computers once homework is done.

Upstairs in the church in the former St. Gall School, Dominican Sr. Ann Marie Palmisano runs the Adult Learning Center, where adults from their 30s through age 70 are learning the basics from grade two to GED preparation.

Computers, owned by Milwaukee Area Technical College, fill one classroom. The only problem? There is no computer teacher.

"We're in dire need of a computer teacher who can provide that service in a loving way," said Jeannie E. Berry-Matos, program director for the resource center.

The resource center also has other programs, including "Sister-to-Sister," a young women's group coordinated by Lorene Simon, children and support staff director of the center. Simon meets with the girls "to give support and for girl talk," said Borsuk. She said staff are looking forward to spring when Martin Skala will start a support group for young men.

According to Borsuk, Simon's work goes beyond working with children. She helps provide transportation for people to get to the center in a van (up to five miles) and oversees child care for parents who come to classes. That care is held in the site of the after school programs. Simon, who recently hosted a Santa Workshop for about 100 kids to pick out gifts for their parents for the holiday, said she often cooks soul food, including chicken and greens and cornbread for special events at the center.

"I believe people should be warm and comfortable, when they come here," said Berry-Matos.

Other groups at the center include "Circle of Women," which discusses family issues and relationships. In the spring, Berry-Matos said three parenting classes will start.

"For first-time parents, we also provide prenatal and post-natal nurturing. That kind of support I don't remember when I became a first-time mom," said Berry-Matos with emotion.

(Next week: Read about the St. Vincent de Paul Meal ministries in the archdiocese.)