November 30, 2010
Dear Friend of Geneva,
“You can’t do that. It’s impossible.”
Ten years ago, those words echoed in my ears when many individuals heard of my plans to start a home for kids who have no where else to go. “What makes you think the state is looking for new agencies?” “How are you going to…blah, blah, blah?” Ten years later, Geneva perseveres while most of those naysayers have long departed the scene.
Yes, it’s been 10 years. Ten years of transformation and transition. Trite as it may be, it does, in many ways, feel like yesterday. In other ways, it feels like this is all I have ever done. I've been known to jokingly compare the journey to parenting. Giving birth to this agency was unbelievably difficult and intense. Infancy through the toddler years nearly killed me. As Geneva approached school age, I could breathe a little easier. Now, we head into our "tween" years, and those familiar with child development know we are in for it. As it happens, that metaphor's no joke. With both macro and micro economies in distress, with everyone’s piece of the Illinois State funding pie growing smaller, it is reasonable to forecast a long, rough road ahead.
That being said, we are still here doing the work we committed to a decade ago. Young people still pass through our doors, changing us, and with any luck, changed by us. I’ve collected a number of good stories from among the 350 kids that have lived with us. (Read a new one every month between now and our Gala Celebration in June at http://www.geneva4youth.org/10years/). One of my favorite stories involves Joe.
Joe was easily one of the toughest kids we've ever served. The first time I met him, he was wearing an orange jumpsuit and was shackled at the hands and feet. He was 16, and he'd been locked up for selling drugs and assaulting a police officer. When I asked him what he thought about coming to live at Geneva, he rather emphatically told me that he didn’t need a home; jail was his home. I asked him what he would do when he was released. He shrugged and said, “Be homeless again.” The rest of the interview revealed a little boy who had seen his father murdered by rival gang members, a boy who was unaware of the whereabouts of his mother and siblings. “I ain’t seen them since I was six," he said without emotion, never even looking at me.
I talked to Joe a little bit about my belief in the power of healing, the power of change. I asked him whether he could imagine a different life for himself, and what that life might look like. I told him that I believed in the possibility of transformation and that this might be a good opportunity to turn things around. I let him know about Geneva's rules concerning drugs and gangs. Finally, I invited Joe to come to Geneva and give a different life a try.
He did come to live with us, but struggled to find a different path, a different way of being in the world. He refused to call Geneva home or “the crib,” as the other boys did, and even disappeared for days at a time. One afternoon in June, the Geneva family attended the graduation of one of the boys. Joe sat in front of me with several other boys and a staff person. When the ceremony was over, Joe said, “So, are we going out, or back home?” Immediately, he clapped his hand over his mouth and gasped. Wide-eyed, he said, “Did you just hear what I said?” The staff member grinned, “I heard. You said you wanted to go home, HOME!” We all laughed, teasing him while he sat back in his chair. The look on his face can only be described as relief. After that day, things shifted for Joe. He continued to struggle at school now and then, and had difficulty finding work, but he stopped vanishing, and came to develop real insight into how his past was influencing his present choices.
Before our Thanksgiving meal last week, each of us at Geneva took turns, as many families do, naming what we're thankful for. One of our newest boys mumbled that he was grateful for a place to live, and I was reminded of Joe. We haven’t heard from him in a while, but that is not unusual. While many of our boys call or stop by regularly, some do what they need to do here and move on. Reminders of the past can be painful; sometimes it is best for them to look ahead. I trust that he is well and wish for him what I wish for my own children: a safe place in the world, surrounded by people who love him.
As we move into the holidays and begin to shift our focus toward giving, I ask that you consider including Geneva’s kids in your thoughts. This year you can “Adopt a Kid” for a month by contributing $125 to cover expenses like bus passes; chore money to spend at the movies; a trip to the bookstore with a $20 gift card; hygiene products; and a haircut. This month, $250 allows you to "Adopt a Kid" and buy gifts to put under the tree for him. Of course, if you are feeling particularly blessed, you may “Adopt a Kid” for several months! Some of our donors at this time of year get together with family or friends, combining to make a gift. Any means or level of giving that feels comfortable for you surely works for us.
No matter what your gift, I will make certain that it is used to continue providing a home where kids feel safe and well cared for. The kind of home they deserve. The kind we all deserve.
Warm Wishes for a fabulous holiday,
Lisa L. Boone, M.Ed., QMHP
Founder & Executive Director
