Tag Archives: Degage

Dégagé to focus lens on homelessness through film series

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Hard News, Health, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

 Dégagé Ministries is excited to host Unhoused, a film series on the causes, realities, and solutions to homelessness. The event series will include two films shown at Wealthy Theater on June 22 and July 20 from 6-9 p.m., followed by an outdoor community celebration at Dégagé Ministries, 144 Division Ave S, on Aug. 10 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

US AND THEM from Krista Loughton on Vimeo.



To register, attendees can visit https://www.classy.org/event/unhoused-a-film-series-on-the-causes-realities-and-solutions-to-homelessness/e406342, or contact Kacey Spencer at 616-454-1661 ex. 227, or kacey@degageministries.org with any questions.

Each film will be followed by a Q&A with representatives from various organizations, including Mel Trotter Ministries, Family Promise, and Network180. Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Kyd Kane will moderate all sessions.

The film series will culminate in an Outdoor Community Celebration on Aug. 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., outside Dégagé Ministries at the corner of Cherry and Sheldon Avenue. This celebration will feature local food trucks and a live poetry reading by Kane. Food and drink will be available for purchase at all three events, but are otherwise free for the public.

 

The first film featured, Us & Them, documents ten years in the lives of four individuals facing homelessness. Directed by Krista Loughton and Jennifer Abbott, the film explores the challenges of homelessness, and the powerful transformations created through human connection.

The second film, The Public, continues the theme by retelling a story of civil disobedience in Cincinnati, as people turned to a public library for shelter from the outdoor elements. Both films seek to explore and educate the general population about the complexities of homelessness in our community, and wider society.

“Homelessness is a multi-faceted issue with widespread effects in our city,” says Dégagé Ministries Executive Director Thelma Ensink. “Our goal is to bring the complexities of homelessness to light, and promote education and conversation in our community.” 

Wyoming resident takes the helm of Dégagé Ministries

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health, , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boormsa
joanne@wktv.org

When Thelma Ensink decided to step down as the administrator for Calvin Christian Schools, all she knew was the calling to go back to her roots and work with the most vulderable population.

Within a few months, the Wyoming resident would discover a possible direction as Marge Palmerlee, the longtime executive director for Dégagé Ministries, had announced her plans to retire. 

“When I did hear about that position opening up, I thought this is the right fight,” Ensink said. “This is the type of organization I wanted to serve in this next chapter of my career.”

Born and raised in South Africa during apartheid, Ensink said her experiences ignited “a passion for social justice because I grew up around racial injustice.” Her family immigrated to the United States, settling in the Grand Rapids.

Ensink attend Calvin University and through a friend’s suggestion became a paramedic, which introduced her to Dégagé Ministries, where she learned the residents’ stories were not that much different form her own.

“In may ways they were living lives just like mine until there was a tragic event or maybe they served in the military and that sent their life into a very different course,” she said. “All of sudden they find themselves experiencing poverty, being without a home, being without the resources and relations to be in a stable place.”

Ensink did not forget those stories through her career which included working at a rural Ionia medical practice and serving as a teacher and administrator for Calvin Christian Schools.

Heeding the call to work with the most vulnerable population, Ensink decided to leave Calvin Christian Schools last spring.

“I just knew I wanted to work in that field, so I kind of took a step of faith, stepping away from the education world and really seeking the right opportunity,” Ensink said.

Now in the Dégagé director position for about a month, Ensink said she is enjoying the opportunity to work with the staff and volunteers. 

She admits it has been an interesting time to step into the role as many, because of the pandemic, are facing hardships for the first time.

 

“We are focused right now on the immediate needs and looking forward to when we can welcome our volunteers back and host community events,” Ensink said.

Also this past October, Degage broke ground on a new $6 million project that will expand services to the area’s homeless and low-income families. Part of that project includes a sleeping area for those who are on third shift and a recovery area for those who had surgery. 

For more on Dégagé Ministries, its projects and needs, visit degageministries.com.

Uncovering the importance of Degage’s Open Doors shelter through the Pillowcase Project

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Area residents come together to help create pillowcases for the Dégagé Ministires’ Project Pillowcase. (Supplied)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Smile. Love. Stay Strong. One day after at a time.

These are the words of hope and encouragement that area residents have been painting on pillowcases as part of the Dégagé Ministries’ Pillowcase Project.

Started as a 2020 ArtPrize exhibit, the Pillowcase Project is designed to honor the more than 4,700 women who have accessed the Dégagé Ministries Open Door Women’s Center since it opened in 2003. 

“We really wanted to do something to reflect the number of women who have come here and received helped through Open Door,” said Bob Kreter, marketing manager for Dégagé Ministries. 

While the 2020 ArtPrize has been cancelled, the Pillowcase Project is moving forward as part of The Bridge GR event scheduled from Sept. 10 – Oct. 1. With that in mind, project organizers are hoping community involvement will help them collect the needed 4,700 decorated pillowcases by Sept. 2.

“We are about half way through the process and we have about three more weeks to go,” Kreter said, adding that they still need about 2,000 more pillowcases.

Participants are encouraged to used fabric paint to decorate pillowcases. (Supplied)

All of the pillowcases will be displayed at Ah-Nab-Awen Park, located in front of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in downtown Grand Rapids, from Sept. 10 – Oct. 1, which Kreter noted Dégagé was “honored” to have been given the entire Ah-Nab-Awen Park for this project. It is hoped that the display will create a powerful narrative concern the increasing number of women facing homelessness, a number, according to Kreter, that Dégagé expects a surge in need due to factors related to COVID-19.

Open Door is a women’s shelter that provides a safe haven during overnight hours for adult women in crisis. Women, who are 18 or older, can also scheduled to stay at the shelter with most coming in at 7 p.m., staying the night, and getting up at 6 a.m. to leave by 7:30 a.m. Kreter noted that the program is much more than just an overnight shelter.

“We walk along side of those who come to the shelter,” Kreter said. “We work with those who come here to help them find a place to live, a job. We try to discover what are the hurdles they face and then set them up so they can be more self sufficient with their lives.”

Completed pillowcases need to be turned in by Sept. 2. (Supplied)

Dégagé’s Ministry’s Open Door Women Center has been one of the more well known aspects of the organization which was founded in 1967.

Those interested in participating can decorate a new or gently used pillowcase. Most people are using fabric paints for the project. Dégagé does ask participants to refrain from using glitter or other fragile materials in decorating pillowcases.

Pillowcases need to be dropped off by Sept. 2 to any of the following locations: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday – Friday and 7 a.m. – noon Saturday and Sunday at Dégagé Ministries, 144 S. Division Ave.; 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Lions & Rabbis Center for the Arts, 1264 Plainfield Ave. NE; or various Lake Michigan Credit Unions. For more information about the project, click here.