This month is volunteer appreciation month! The Rose Andom Center has built a stellar cohort of volunteers and interns during the pandemic. To date, we have 17 volunteer guest navigators and two navigation interns. Our guest navigators respond to crisis calls, triage urgent medical, legal, and shelter referrals, and are a compassionate voice for survivors to talk with when they first connect with our center. Each month, we hope to share a bit more about our RAC volunteer and intern family. To kick off our series, here is a profile of our 2020-2021 navigation intern, Meredith Murgia.
What interested you most in becoming a guest navigator?
I was interested in this position because it worked directly with victims of interpersonal violence. I had previously worked at Crossroads Safehouse and found this work to be fulfilling and challenging. I also have a personal history of domestic violence in my life and wanted to give back to this population in any way possible. I really loved the Rose Andom Center’s model of being a “justice center” and having all the needed resources centralized in one location.
What have you found to be most fulfilling about your work?
The most fulfilling part about this position is hearing former clients call back. They often express their gratitude towards Rose Andom and how our advocates and the resources we provided drastically changed their lives. Additionally, I love hearing about the success stories from the intake specialists after a client has accomplished their goals. It’s nice to reflect and remember when I first spoke to that client on the phone. Seeing how far they’ve come from their first contact with RAC to the present warms my heart. Hearing these survival stories from victims reaffirms that we are doing efficient and amazing work.
What are the greatest challenges that you hear clients face?
It is difficult to pinpoint some of the greatest challenges I’ve heard as every client presents with a unique and sometimes tricky situation. I would say one of the frequent greatest challenges I have heard from clients is technology safety and technology stalking. With the continuous advancements of technology in our society, unfortunately abusers have found sophisticated ways to control, monitor, and prevent their victims from receiving help. When a victim’s email, mobile phone, and computer are compromised, it is a significant challenge to provide services…especially during a pandemic!
What advice do you have for others who might want to volunteer or intern at the center?
It’s important to meet the client where they are at. As navigators, we should never “tell” clients what to do or force our opinions on others. We are there to listen and offer appropriate resources and advice, based off the client’s needs and circumstances. Victims can also present with feelings of shame, embarrassment, and anger. It is important to always validate their feelings and empower their decisions when appropriate. You have no idea just how impactful a non-judgmental, listening ear can be to a victim.