Work Now Program Connects the Homeless With the Community: An Insider’s View
How Trash Unites Us All
Before he told us that his real name was Jonas, we knew him as Jal for a few months. Always willing to help out, he was encouraged to give the Work Now program a try, and soon became a trusted leader. In this essay he shares his thoughts and observations on his involvement with Work Now.
My crew was walking on Payne Avenue one morning, around the east side of St. Paul, picking up trash, heading back to Listening House. We ran into a friendly, self-proclaimed “people person.” A peace officer in training, picking up trash as a volunteer. She walked and talked with us most of the way.
At some point one of my coworkers said, "If it weren't for this program, someone like you and someone like me would never be speaking like this.”
I jokingly said, “trash unites us all.”
While in the Work Now program I have had the pleasure of meeting and conversing with strangers, sharing waves with horn-honking drivers, interacting with excited store owners about the Work Now program, and more.
“The greatest among you will be your servant.”
I think about that quote all the time while picking up trash. Yes, we get paid, but that doesn't negate the fact that this is a service. We get down and dirty, go into spaces people usually avoid, navigate fields covered with dog poop like they are minefields, and it's a lot of walking!
In my spiritual family purple represents royalty. While working, that purple vest garners respect and appreciation, in stark contrast to when you don't have it on.
Honestly, moving around with multiple bags, or lots of stuff, in downtown St. Paul, people will just assume you're homeless. They don't acknowledge you. Either you feel invisible, or embarrassed, like there's something wrong with you.
That’s why Work Now is so important. It bridges the gap between the homeless and non-homeless residents of St. Paul. It creates an opportunity for people struggling with any type of homelessness — or, in my case, someone who may just be having a rough time and no support system — to find a sense of purpose while they get back on their feet.
The Work Now program is more than just a job. It's work with purpose, healing, understanding, and beauty attached to it.
It takes trash and uses it to unite us all.
BONUS CONTENT: Jonas offers a St. Paul restaurant recommendation: Shout out to Big River Pizza! They’ve shown us excessive kindness, even blessing our crews with free, DELICIOUS pizza. Give them a visit!
Learn more about the Work Now program:
Innovative Listening House Program Cleaning Up Businesses and Public Spaces in St. Paul
St. Paul Pioneer Press:
St. Paul, Listening House hire homeless to clean up downtown
About the Author
Though he spent much of his childhood in a small town in Kenya, Jonas was actually born in South Dakota to South Sudanese refugee parents. After a short stay in New York City, he returned to the Midwest, discovered Listening House, and quickly endeared himself to the staff, first by always being willing to help out — and then by standing up and reciting his poetry during Listening House’s first-ever Talent Show!
