Cydney Anderson has been the Child Care Specialist for the families of Sojourner House since 2018. She was studying elementary education at CCAC when she learned about the role, and she has been here ever since. While the moms of Sojourner House work and grow in their recovery journeys, Cydney and their kids have fun and grow, too. We recently sat down with Cydney to hear about her role in her own words: With about how many kids do you work? Right now I have about three. On average, I tend to have about six. At one time it was about 12 of all age groups, from age 1 up to 12 years old. In a room full of children there is no such thing as a typical day, but what does your day “normally” look like? So I get everyone in the [child care] room and we say our good mornings. And then I ask … [Read more...] about An Interview With Cydney Anderson
Children
Updated: April 23, 2020 In response to COVID-19, all Sojourner House and Sojourner House MOMS non-direct care staff are working remotely until Friday, May 15. Sojourner House and Sojourner House MOMS are considered to be essential, life-sustaining services. Please know that our programs are operating and continuing to accept clients while our staff members practice universal precautions for screening and intake, via the Department of Health and CDC guidelines. Sojourner House continues to provide 24/7 services while residents follow Governor Wolf’s Stay-At-Home Order. At this time, we are not allowing visits from any outside providers. All groups and sessions for participants who do not show signs of illness are taking place in-house. We are still available to help those … [Read more...] about Sojourner House & Sojourner House MOMS Response to COVID-19
Thanks to our new friends at Albert Anthony Real Estate, Sojourner House families were able to celebrate Valentine’s Day a little early this year. Volunteers from Albert Anthony Real Estate provided a wonderful Valentine’s Day-themed celebration the evening of Feb. 10, for the families of Sojourner House. Phillip and Colleen Anthony and Jenny Butler decorated for the holiday, and prepared dinner. Board members were also invited to assist with set-up. They brought homemade desserts, provided Valentine’s Day cards for the residents to send to their loved ones, and enjoyed dinner with the residents. Albert Anthony Real Estate is a Pittsburgh-based brokerage company that provides Real Estate Services to buyers and sellers. All of their volunteer work and contributions are … [Read more...] about Albert Anthony Real Estate share the Valentine’s Day Love with Sojourner House
Nishauna Ball joined the Sojourner House board in June 2019 and joined the Sojourner House MOMS board in November 2019; however, her relationship with Sojourner House is a lifelong one and one that has played a pivotal role in the course she has taken in life. Nishauna is Program Development Manager at Pennsylvania Organization for Women in Early Recovery (POWER). In addition, the Penn Hills resident earned her Master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh with a focus on Social Work, and in January 2020 she passed the Social Work Boards examination earning her licensure in social work. How did you first learn about Sojourner House? I am a former employee. I'm a former volunteer. And I am a former child that lived there. I've been a part of Sojourner House my entire … [Read more...] about Meet Nishauna
Sarah Shotland was in her first year of her MFA program at Chatham University, when her program director, Sheryl St. Germain, mentioned that she taught creative writing at a women's prison when she was in grad school. St. Germain mentioned that she would love to start something similar at Chatham, if any of the students would be interested. Soon thereafter, the two started a program at the Allegheny County Jail, in 2010. After three years, they expanded their work to include the women of Sojourner House. The creative writing courses are taught in 8-15 week semesters, with two teachers from Chatham coming into Sojourner House for weekly 90-minute classes. The teachers are a Chatham faculty member and a graduate student or two graduate students. Shotland explains why creative writing … [Read more...] about Words Without Walls Receives 2020 Pearl of Hope Award
In the time of year when so many think about giving and giving back, Sojourner House is blessed with a great deal of love and support during the holiday season. One of the annual holiday traditions the residents and families enjoy is a Christmas dinner prepared and served by Mitzvah Day volunteers. Mitzvah Day is a holiday tradition where Pittsburgh’s Jewish community volunteers on Christmas Day. “We have Mitzvah Day on Christmas because we recognize that this is not our holiday and we want to make other people’s holiday better,” explains David Chudnow, the Volunteer Center Manager of Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. “Sometimes that is in the form of a friendly face at a fun event like the dinner at Sojourner House or by helping out so that the staff at an organization can take … [Read more...] about Christmas Day Mitzvah is Holiday Tradition