Through J-Walking, I had the opportunity to discover those less privileged in our community by feeding the homeless,  spending time with them, looking them in the eye, and by giving them their dignity.

Normally I would be scared to visit those on the fringe of society.  I don’t feel scared anymore. 
I look at life differently now.  I live life differently now.  They’re not so different from us.  I don’t take everything for granted. I feel blessed.  J-Walking has not only opened my eyes but also given me experiences and insights about Catholic social justice teaching.

J-Walking put me in a situation that was outside of my comfort zone in terms of service activities and also ideas of Catholic social justice teaching.  It seemed a lot to risk at the time.  I’m willing to take the risk now.  I feel it’s worth it.  These people need help and no one seems to be helping them.  I am there to affirm their dignity.  Their voice is loud and present, and real.

The discussions during our J-Walking sessions were challenging.  Our group got to know each other in depth.  We got a lot closer as time went on.  We weren’t really good friends when we began.  We just knew each other and said “hi” if we saw each other.  We came from different backgrounds and had different friends.  Now, I could go to any one of them for help.  Even though we’re completely different, we come together and share one common belief; we strive for a community of equal beings---where everybody is treated equally and fairly---justice for all.

J-Walking has afforded me the opportunity to work with people who aren’t as fortunate as I am.  I’ve gotten to know the realities of life in our community. I’ve become close to members of our team while helping out in the community.

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