Photo: The QVS Portland house 2023-2024 Tas, Samantha, Salem and Imani being silly at national orientation last fall.
Samantha Paladini, in her second year as a QVS Fellow, reflects on her experience.
Life as a Quaker Voluntary Service fellow created the opportunity for me to attend my first rally. I could feel the collective hope for reform buzzing around energized friends, families who brought their young children, and brave members of the community sharing their personal stories all in support of more affordable and accessible housing. As we stood in front of Boston’s capital building encouraging those with power to make equitable change, I told my housemate that I never knew rallies could feel so positive and empowering. Being a QVS fellow means dismantling white supremacy culture, learning that there is more than one way to voice injustice, and being a part of the movement to build a “liberated future” for everyone.
“Life as a QVS fellow is learning what it means to live with others in community, understanding everyone’s varying levels of capacity, listening to personal journeys, joys, and challenges with an open heart and mind.“
Life as a QVS fellow is learning what it means to live with others in community, understanding everyone’s varying levels of capacity, listening to personal journeys, joys, and challenges with an open heart and mind. It means gazing up at the stars with people who are also working hard to change broken systems. It means trying new foods and dancing until your feet hurt. It means having a shoulder to cry on. It means creating space for others while learning how to take space for yourself. It means moving through conflict and not around, and most importantly, being vulnerable.
Life as a QVS fellow means you gain an incredible network of alumni and Quakers who teach you how to support one another without submitting to capitalistic tendencies. This could look like sharing homemade bread, offering transportation, or listening to how someone’s day went at their site placement. When you meet the Local Coordinators at National Orientation, you know you are in good hands and will not be forgotten. They will empower you to ask for your needs and embrace change. I was fortunate enough to spend two terrific years with QVS, exploring new cities and cultures while practicing mindfulness, experiencing exponential personal growth, and making the greatest friends along the way.
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