Justice Journeys 2007

Washington, D.C.

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Traveling to Washington, D.C., usually involves a visit to the capitol, the Washington Monument and the Smithsonian museums. For seven Concordia students and a faculty leader those landmarks weren’t the focus of their Justice Journeys trip. They spent their weeklong spring break connecting with the homeless people of D.C., learning the causes and influences of homelessness and discovering the policies and programs in place to help them.

Maria Anderson ’08, the student leader, was most affected by what they learned and appreciated being able to explore the deep social roots of our culture.

“The most shocking thing for me to learn was that homelessness is a lot bigger problem than I realized,” Anderson says. “I also learned that many people who are homeless are people just like you and me.”

The group visited with North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad and his staff about homelessness issues and policies. Maren Ydstie ’07 felt for the homeless families of D.C. and wants more government policies to focus on them.

“A lot of shelters are either for women or men. Very few are for families,” she says. “This breaks my heart, seeing families separated due to life challenges.”

Josh Ydstie ’10, Maren’s brother, says his view of the homeless was grossly misconstrued before the trip, but this view was shattered.

“I used to think that they had no drive to do anything and that they bummed on the street as an easy way through life,” he says. “They didn’t try to become homeless. Some of them went to school and to college, but certain events caused them to become homeless.”

Because of the trip they learned the importance of how to treat homeless people.

“The trip gave me a different perspective on how we should help the homeless and how to treat people who are homeless with dignity and respect,” Anderson says. “I hope I can influence the thoughts and beliefs of my fellow students in ways that will help to impact and bring positive change to the homeless population in Fargo-Moorhead.”

The group felt the most enriching experience was when they served breakfast and lunch at the soup kitchen So Others Might Eat (S.O.M.E.). This place serves two meals a day to the homeless and poor of the D.C. area.

“We helped them serve 160 people breakfast in seven minutes,” Josh says. “It was amazing!”

Maren enjoyed what Justice Journeys has to offer, including how her faith became more powerful, her mind opened wider and her relationship with her brother grew stronger.

“You not only have the chance to serve, but you have the opportunity to meet wonderful individuals from a different part of the world who can teach you so much about life, things in which you would never expect,” Maren says.