Street Roots •
Dec. 2-8, 2016
News
Page 7
A purposeful life
Tyrone Rucker reflects on taking volunteer work to another level
BY CORINNE ELLIS
Community Volunteer Corps offers work
experience and community service
opportunities to help improve participants
n a sterile hospital room in the depths of
lives, whether it be helping them overcome
Oregon Health and Science University,
addiction or move off of the streets. The
Tyrone Rucker sat with one of his
patients and shared a big greasy pizza. They program was founded in 2009 and has since
helped hundreds of people. The program
only had a few days left, and Rucker knew
recently reached the milestone of 100,000
that he wanted to make it meaningful.
hours of community service.
The reality of Rucker’s job as the
Over the span of several months
Integrated Health and Recovery Treatment
participants of the program complete 80
case manager at Central City Concern, or
volunteer hours with organizations such as
CCC, is that some patients will pass away. It
the Oregon Food Bank, Free Geek or
is a difficult aspect of the job, but it also
Habitat for Humanity. Once completed,
happens to be one of
graduates receive a certificate of completion,
great importance to
a letter of recommendation and a small
Rucker.
"W hen I graduated, th a t
stipend.
Being able to bring
Working with a team, problem solving and
was m y boost. I knew I
comfort and company
building good work habits are just a few of
to
those
who
are
sick
could complete som ething.
the skills gained through community
or dying gives him
• TYRONE RUCKER
volunteering
that help prepare graduates to
hope. “There are so
find permanent employment.
many times where I
At a graduation celebration for the most
sit back and think,
recent CVC cohort, graduates were given the
that’s why I love working here,” said Rucker.
opportunity to make a brief speech a*s they
“They might not have anything, but they
received their certificates. The common
have us.”
thread between those who spoke was the
It takes a profound sense of empathy to
deep gratitude for CVC. Whether they had
do the job, but for Rucker it seems to come
been struggling with addiction or living on
naturally. This may be because he was once
the streets, each person had a story to tell
on the other side of the patient and case
about how their lives had changed for the
manager relationship. He was once that
better.
patient reaching out for help. That
Like these new graduates, CVC had a
experience imparted on him a deeper
profound impact on Rucker’s life. It taught
understanding of what it means to be a good
him the skills he needed to find employment
case manager.
and make a better life for himself and his
Rucker first came to Portland in 2009
young son. More than anything, it gave him
after moving from Los Angeles in search of
a renewed sense of self-confidence and
something new. Portland was a change of
understanding of what he is capable of
setting, a new way of life and a chance to
achieving. “When I graduated that was my
start over.
boost. I knew I could complete something,”
He didn’t have a plan when he boarded
said Rucker.
the Greyhound bus, but with a positive
The saving grace for him was the fact that
attitude and a sense of hopefulness nothing
he was never pressured into doing more
else really mattered. He didn’t know who or
than he could handle. “They know that for
what was in his future but said that he just
some people it’s their first time doing
needed to remind himself to stay positive,
anything, and there was an agreement that
then the rest would fall into place. “If you’re
maybe you can’t work four hours but how
on a positive frequency the universe will
about two,” said Rucker.
shift itself for you,” said Rucker.
The skills he gained through CVC
His first experience with CCC was
eventually lead him to his current job at CCC
through its mentor program. He had just
as a member of the Integrated Health and
moved to Portland and it was just what he
Recovery Treatment team. It is his job to
needed to get himself on a better path.
coordinate care between a variety of health
Through his mentor, he was connected with
services and get people the care they need
the Community Volunteer Corps program,
to get better, whether that means
but admits that he had some initial
transporting them to appointments or giving
hesitations. Going out into the rain to clean
them a haircut.
up graffiti wasn’t how he had planned on
As a single father, finding a balance can
spending his time, but before long he found
sometimes be difficult. Between the
himself enjoying the work.
STAFF W RITER
I
Dignity
P H O TO COURTESY OF
demands of work and school, Rucker’s main
priority is making sure that his son receives
as much love as possible. Meshach, who is
nearly 2 years old, completely changed
things for Rucker.
“Things are different now. I see that he
copies things that I do so I’m trying to be an
example for him,” said Rucker. “It took me
out of me - it’s not about me now, it’s about
the kid.”
Rucker is currently in his second year at
Warner Pacific College where he is working
on a bachelor’s degree in health care
administration. He plans to stay there and
get his master’s degree in human services.
After that, his ultimate goal is to work on
the quality management team at CCC
because he enjoys working in the
background and making sure that everyone
is getting fair and equal care.
For those still in CVC or considering
joining, Rucker said it is a worthy
commitment. Even if the work does seem
easy or the outcome doesn’t seem worth it,
the benefits are numerous.
“Sacrifice yourself for a few months to get
this work done, because then you’re going to
be a priority when it comes to hiring,” said
Rucker.
T y r o n e
Poverty
ruck er