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support in the workplace

5/30/2014

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I’m the executive director for Kirkland Interfaith Transitions in Housing (KITH). Here at KITH we have four case managers who work with homeless families living in our housing. Being homeless is stressful, of course. Helping the families is also stressful because there are so many challenges to consider, such as finding jobs, food, child care and health care. Our case managers need a lot of support because they are doing some really hard work.

Being the new director I wanted to impact the culture of the organization for the good. I wanted it to be an environment where people felt appreciated and safe. I was familiar with Gracious Space from my previous employment, and so I contacted the Center.

When the Center brought the concept of Gracious Space to the staff, they loved it. People were really open and shared their personal stories. Even though Gracious Space was a new concept for everybody, people made themselves vulnerable and they shared. People are now thinking about how we can be even more appreciative of one another.

Since then I’ve seen some positive changes. Gracious Space is present in the way the case managers interact with the families and each other. At KITH we don’t have a lot of physical space, and case managers have to share offices, which can get a little touchy sometimes. Gracious Space helps the staff be more forgiving, and they try to look at the other person’s point of view. I want them to feel supported and Gracious Space is a big piece in how those goals are coming about.
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    Author

    Jan Dickerman

1752 NW Market St, #952
Seattle, WA 98107 
206-328-3020
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