| Possumus Spring 2008 |
Human Migration |
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The first CSJ any woman meets at Sarah’s is Sister Margaret. In her office, the resident-to-be is warmly welcomed. The house rules are explained, and, on this first day, life goals are agreed upon that will eventually result in the woman’s departure from Sarah’s. “You come to Sarah’s in order to leave,” Sister Margaret tells her. This is the first of many mantras each woman learns during her time at Sarah’s, and the first of the many evaluation meetings she will have with Sister Margaret as she works her way toward a life lived on her own.
In the past year (June 2006-July 2007), Sarah’s was home to 42 women. During that time, 17 became secure enough to live on their own, while 25 were still working toward that goal at year’s end. | Throughout Sarah’s history, nearly 90% of residents have found employment. Given that success rate nearly 500 women may have been kept off the Minnesota welfare rolls because of the time they spent at Sarah’s. In so many ways, Sarah’s is an oasis of hope.
The low-slung building that houses Sarah’s...an Oasis for Women is set well back from the street. It is as unassuming as possible, in order to keep its location a secret. (Some of Sarah’s residents have reason to fear for their lives.) As for the interior, it would seem somewhat institutional were it not for the abundance of beauty and color coming from the collection of ethnic art and textiles that adorns every room in the house and adds to the U.N.-like atmosphere. Of course, the real purpose of this eclectic decor is to make residents from various cultures feel at home.
The public rooms at Sarah’s include a learning center (named Sarah’s Well, because past residents thought every oasis should have a well); equipped with computers and internet, a laundry room; parlors for sitting, visiting and watching TV; a kitchen commodious enough to prepare a meal for dozens of people simultaneously and, of course, a dining room that seats all the residents, staff and their guests at cozy round tables. Because this building used to house only Sisters, it includes a chapel. In this lifetime, the Catholic icons have been replaced by more interfaith adornment and the pews have all been turned invitingly toward the center of the room. Now anyone may worship and find solace here. At any given time, there are residents of many faiths at Sarah’s. Continued...
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