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Meet the Volunteers
Olivia Caceres
Imagine making the decision to attend school in a foreign country where you are unfamiliar with the language. Imagine learning that language well enough in one year to be able to communicate fluently and teach it to people who speak your own language. That is exactly what Olivia Caceres did and the reason she chose this path is even more amazing.
Olivia grew up in Guatemala. Her mother, from the Mayan culture, was proud of her indigenous heritage, and her father, a local farmer, worked hard to raise the family in their small village. When Olivia was 13 she began volunteering with her church, working with the nuns assisting members of her community. “The nuns helped me discover my spiritual side. They left an impression on me that has affected my whole life.”
When she turned 18, she began working with young women who had experienced violence in their lives. “Violence against women is a big problem in Guatemala and men have very little respect for us. The second cause of women’s death in my country is sexually transmitted disease. Women don’t know how they can protect themselves and there is no education about this from our families or in our schools. I wanted to change that.” Olivia began working with Women’s Rights and now sees herself as a Human Rights Activist. She began teaching HIV prevention focusing on fidelity in marriage, protected sex and choosing to wait until you are married to have sexual relations.
But Olivia soon realized that the websites with the most up-to-date information were in English. “I am the oldest in my family and the first woman to graduate from a University but without the ability to read and write in English I felt stifled by my lack of access to this knowledge.” That’s when Olivia began dreaming of coming to America and when she was accepted to Donnelly College she knew that her dream had come true.
Right away Olivia began preparing for her schooling in America by reading children’s books in English. This allowed her to skip Level 1 English and move on to a more advanced class. She also found that she learned more by becoming acquainted with English speaking people and that’s when she decided to volunteer at Keeler Women’s Center. “The Sisters are very respectful and I am willing to do whatever needs to be done to help the women who come here. I want to be able to offer hospitality to them.”
Within a very short time Olivia’s English began to improve, so much so that the Sisters asked her to help in the Easy English class offered at Keeler. “The first time I met with the women I spoke in Spanish to gain their confidence. Then I told them that the rest of their classes would be in English. That’s the way they taught me at Donnelly. I am compassionate to their frustration because I have been there. I am a student too and because of that they take my advice. We both learn together.”
Olivia has been here a year and it is time for her to return home. With her new knowledge of the English language she feels she will be an agent of change in her home country. “I am a very independent woman and come from a long line of strong independent women. When I get home I want to help Guatemalan women find grants to become educated in the United States.
“Five years ago my mother died in an automobile accident. For a period of time I lost my vision and my goals for my future. Since attending Donnelly and finding Keeler Women’s Center I feel I can do anything. I came here all alone, not knowing the language or a single person in this country. Now I am returning home having established new friendships and with a stronger sense of who I am and what I am capable of doing. I will always remember my ties to the Keeler Center. They have changed my life.”
Holly Ratliff
With a bright smile and laughing eyes Holly walked into the room looking like a normal high school senior. But Holly is anything but normal. Senior Class President at JC Harmon High School, President of GSA (Gay Straight Alliance), member of the Robotics team (where they have 6 weeks to build a robot that plays soccer from parts sent to them in a box), the LINK CREW (helping Freshmen feel comfortable in their new surroundings) and the National Honor Society leaves Holly very little free time to enjoy movies (her favorites are “chick flicks” and comedy), play her trumpet and read (her favorite book is “To Kill a Mockingbird”). She has also been working at the County Courthouse for the last 2 years.
But somehow Holly found time to involve herself in two areas that she is passionate about, The Keeler Women’s Center and KCK’s Ray of Hope for the Animal Humane Society. The similarities between these two organizations are not lost on her. Ray of Hope gives Holly the opportunity to volunteer for weekend adoptions at Pet’s Mart and the Legends helping animals find a loving, pet friendly home. The Keeler Women’s Center allows her to work with the children of the women who come to the Center for classes and assistance. Both organizations help those who need help the most.
Holly can’t remember how she started volunteering at Keeler’s but she does remember the warm reception she received. “I like the relaxing atmosphere here. It’s a volunteer position that doesn’t have a dress code and there aren’t a lot of rules. And now that I’ve been here over a year and a half everyone knows me and I feel comfortable. I am treated like an adult.”
Holly has been helping out on Tuesday evenings. Sometimes she answers the phone but mostly she babysits the children ranging in age from newborn to 3rd graders while their mothers attend the Easy English class. Holly says at this point in time she doesn’t really want children of her own. Her younger brother has special needs and she sees the time involved in caring for him but says “I enjoy working with the kids, spending time and interacting with them.”
Holly hopes to attend Southern Missouri State University in Joplin next year and major in Forensic Science, an area she became interested in after watching the television series “Criminal Minds”. She is hoping to enter as a 2nd semester Freshman or a Sophomore with the 19 college hours she is taking this year at JC Harmon. “But I still want to volunteer at the Keeler Women’s Center when I come home in the summer. It’s a great place to be and the sisters are so welcoming. Your schedule can be flexible and there are so many areas in which to volunteer.” The sisters would welcome her back with open arms. A 19-year-old with this many talents is a asset to the Center.
Karina Rivera
Karina could be a model with her beautiful face and lovely, sweet smile. The warmth that she exudes when she shares her life and involvement at the Keeler Women’s Center is captivating. With her poise and grace you’d never know she’s just 17 and a senior at JC Harmon High School.
When Karina was in 6th grade she started thinking about her future when she joined the Kaufman Scholar program which provides services to help students prepare for college and become college graduates. This year she is enrolled in science and health classes and is hoping to be accepted into the pre-med program at either the University of Kansas or Emporia University.
By her own admission Karina doesn’t have a lot of free time and enjoys staying busy. She is on the volleyball and soccer team at school and is a member of the National Honor Society, the League of United Latin American Citizens which raises money for Hispanic scholarships, and Pay It Forward an organization that finds people in need and addresses that need (last year they gave backpacks to children and served food in local soup kitchens).
And just about every Saturday you will find Karina playing the piano at a wedding, baptism or Sweet 16 as part of her father’s band. “I started playing the piano when I was 7 and now it’s how I make my spending money.” And if that wasn’t amazing enough she also plays the guitar, bass and violin.
But it was through the local CABA organization (Central Area Betterment Association) where she discovered the Center. “I filled out a job application with CABA three years ago and was placed at Keeler. I’ve lived in Kansas City, Kansas, my whole life and I never knew The Keeler Women’s Center was here.”
That was three years ago and Karina’s been here ever since. She first started volunteering a few days a week in the summers doing office work, helping with child care and, because she is bilingual, translating when a Spanish-speaking woman came for assistance. This year she volunteered every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 to 4 and on Tuesdays from 12 to 8. But when school started she didn’t want to give up her Tuesday nights. “I enjoyed the women who came to the groups on Tuesday nights so I decided to help out during the school year.”
“The Keeler Women’s Center made me open my eyes to the number of people in need. I tell all my friends about the wonderful services they offer. When they ask me how much it costs I love telling them that the services are free.”
Even Karina is amazed at the number of classes that are offered and the wonderful people who volunteer their time to teach them. “There are a lot of volunteers who have been at the Keeler Women’s Center for a long time. It’s a wonderful gift of time that they offer to women who would not otherwise be able to take advantage of these services.”
“I love how calm it is when you walk into the Center. The music is playing; the cookies and beverages are out. It’s so peaceful. Recently a woman came back and thanked Sr. Carol Ann for helping her find a job. I just love the way they help out in any way they can. It’s such a positive environment. That’s why I’ve been here for three years.”
Deborah Boltz
On the outside Deborah’s life appeared somewhat typical for a middle-aged woman. Divorced with two grown children and four grandchildren she devoted herself to 26 years in banking and hotel management and on weekends attended her grandchildren’s sporting events.
But Deborah knew something wasn’t right. In her free time she found herself shopping, spending more than she should and bringing home items she didn’t even need. When she met with her parish priest he said, “Deborah, something is missing in your life. You are buying things to fill a void.”
That’s when she found Keeler Women’s Center. Originally she planned to just volunteer and would bring her crocheting along each time she helped out in the office. Then she heard about the Re-constructing the Self class that was being offered and decided to sign up.
And then Deborah’s life began to change. The women in the group were from all walks of life, nurses, social workers, homemakers, and at each meeting they shared their stories and wrote in their journals. “By getting what you’re feeling down on paper it helps take it off your mind and really makes you start thinking.”
The class also helped her to release pent up anger. “When my daughter was three my mother died as the result of a surgeon’s error. My father didn’t want to take legal action. I was so mad that I didn’t speak to him for 5 years.”
But Deborah also realized that part of that anger might be the result of never taking time for herself. The Re-constructing the Self class gave her the permission she needed. Something as simple as a bubble bath, writing in her journal or praying were things she would never have found time to do. Now Deborah wakes up an hour early each morning and sits on the porch and reads her Bible. She has also started taking better care of her body and has been attending Weight Watchers. She has noticed that along with the weight loss her cholesterol level and blood pressure have improved.
And her children have noticed a difference too. They say she is more at peace and appears less anxious. All of this was put to the test last fall when her father passed away. “The old Deborah would have been angry at his death. I wouldn’t have talked about my feelings. But I handled his death much better having gone through the class. I know my dad had a calling and I feel at peace with his passing.”
She still enjoys journaling and her daughter has started her own journal also. This spring Deborah planted a garden, a hobby she would never have pursued in the past.
When asked how she has changed since coming to the Keeler Center she shares, “Material stuff doesn’t mean that much anymore. Now I ask myself if I really need it. I would rather put the money to good use.” Like last week when she gave gas money to a friend whose husband had lost his job. “I would never have done anything like that before. I lived life with blinders on. I wasn’t paying attention to anyone else and was just living in my own little world.”
Deborah has shared the Keeler Women’s Center calendar of events with her Spanish speaking co-workers and three have signed up for the Easy English classes. She is also hosting a Knitting and Crocheting class on Tuesday nights as a way to give back to the organization that has given so much to her.
“I tell everyone that the [Benedictine] Sisters and Keeler Women’s Center have changed my life. I feel like coming here was meant to be. And all my friends don’t even ask what I’m doing on Tuesday nights. They know I’m with my friends, crocheting at the Keeler Center.”
For more information or to volunteer, please click here.
You can contact Keeler Women's Center:
Sr. Carol Ann Petersen, Director
Keeler Women's Center
2220 Central
Kansas City, Kansas 66102
913.906.8990
email: kwc@mountosb.org