With whom did Jesus spend virtually all of His time while He was here? With those He was mentoring and also with the most vulnerable people in every community He visited. Where do we find these same vulnerable neighbors, so often talked about in the New Testament, here in Sonoma County? In our local homeless shelters, foster group homes, special schools and sites for hurt children, daytime drop-in centers for adults living with mental health issues, non-profits that serve at-risk teens and people living with disabilities; in centers for the elderly, and also in our local juvenile hall and jail, among other places.

So many of us, whether we are secular folk or engaged in some form of spiritual practice, want to help in our community but may or may not be quite sure how to do so. Many of us have a lot of experience volunteering and are interested in expanding our skills and capacities for service.

In this training, we will look at:

• our beliefs and ideas about the most vulnerable among us and the ways in which our own human vulnerability is our best asset as trusted servants

• the challenges and joys of service 

• learning the healthiest orientation to community work: one that respects our own needs and limitations and protects the dignity of those we come alongside

• which beliefs and ways of relating support the healing and empowerment of our neighbors

• how to approach and collaborate well with the agencies and non-profits with whom we want to serve, so that we can build positive, workable volunteer relationships with these invaluable community centers

• issues of diversity and safety as well as many basic skills that come in handy in volunteer work with sometimes very compromised children and adults

• ways to support each other through the variety of experiences inherent in heartfelt volunteering

Register on our website or by calling the Journey Center at 578-2121.

Facilitator: Kalia Mussetter is the founder of Living Bridges, a local non-profit consultancy that “brings people together for transformative community service.”  She is an artist and writer with more than 20 years of experience in many kinds of service with vulnerable neighbors in many local populations. She is also an alumna of the vulnerable world, having “sat on both sides of the helping desk,” first as a consumer, and then as a provider of essential support services. She has detailed knowledge of, as well as extensive contacts in, the local human services community, with both leaders and front-line workers, and does a great deal of resourcing and deep-networking for many local non-profits. Kalia experiences local service, including training new and returning volunteers, as a privilege and a joy, and looks forward to a rich, collaborative learning experience with you this spring.   
Cost: $20 donation.

Six days a week she prepares lunch for 50 people and her focus is on improving nutrition for this very special group of folks. She absolutely depends on food donations to make this possible and the Journey Center is now collecting food if you would like to help. Suggested items that are currently most needed are: meats of any kind (we have a freezer), coffee (regular ground and instant), cheese, fresh fruits/veggies/herbs including lettuce, split peas, cooking oil, soy sauce, minced garlic and salsa. You can contact Jill at for up-to-date needs and to sign up for her emails that will let you know what food items are needed from month to month.