Introduction to Trip Leader

Hello! I’m Ericka, and I’m leading the Chicago Bear Breaks trip! I’m so excited to be a part and lead this trip!

Panel Reflection

This past week, my fellow trip leaders and I had the chance to listen in on a panel that involved Professor Lyle Foster and Amanda Stadler from Community Partnership of the Ozarks. They were aware of the problem of homelessness and hunger, which the Chicago trip is heavily focused on. I loved the passion that these speakers held, and they really knew their stuff! I’m glad we got to hear from them, and I feel a lot more aware of what I’m getting into in Chicago. It was also really great to see the service opportunities in Springfield as well, yet I wasn’t aware of them. The two also talked about the multiple organizations that they are a part of; like Safe to Sleep and The Kitchen, which are both very powerful and have great outreach within the community!

What I’m Looking Forward To

The panel this past week made me really excited! I’m looking forward to making a change with Chicago and learning how to make change. I feel like some of the things we’ll be taking part in, which will include putting kits together, cleaning buildings, packing food, and organizing items, could give myself and other participants ideas about how we could impact our on communities whether it be our hometowns or Springfield. I can’t wait to grow and learn with my fellow bears in Chicago!