Embodying a Love Stronger Than Fear

Cheryl Mitchell

Chief Program Officer, The Bowery Mission

Moments of Realization: I will never forget Friday, March 13. That was the day we felt the earth shift out from under us. We sat down as a Health & Safety Task Force at 2 p.m. in the afternoon and didn’t get up until 9:30 or 10 p.m. We kept thinking, "we’ll get through this.” But the world was shifting hourly. By the next day or so, we had totally revamped our services — defined what was essential, what was not, and refocused our resources.

Facing Fear: When I hear other people describe what it was like to ride the subway at that time, I really relate. It’s actually somewhat healing to hear others describe that same feeling of being alone and out there. I think that’s one reason why it felt so good to show up at the Mission. It felt so normal, like, “this is where you should be.”

A Poignant Memory: I remember how, in mid-March of 2020, I walked up to The Bowery Mission on a cold drizzly day and stood on the street corner. When I saw the people lined up outside, my heart just broke. The weight of it hit hard. Because I thought, “I’m seeing what is going unseen at this time.” While people were in their homes, doing what they could to take care of themselves and their loved ones, these New Yorkers no longer had access to public spaces and daytime services they needed for the most basic relief.

Turning the Corner: The next week, I walked up to the Mission in the same way and I was floored by what the team had accomplished — the transformation and the visible hope. I thought, “Oh my gosh, there’s the medical van! There are mobile showers! There are portable toilets! There are tents to protect people from the weather, and staff there to serve the meals, to sanitize and bleach and teach people about social distancing. I felt a hopeful resilience, a deep sense of: “We’ll be there. Whatever it is that people need, we will make it happen as long as we possibly can.”

Daunting Moments: None of us could appreciate just how dangerous this would become. The first wave hit NYC with such force and speed. One of the most daunting days for me was when Elmhurst, Queens became the epicenter of the pandemic. That was the only day that I felt really gripped by fear, by just how out of control this was, and the weight of what we were asking people to do in coming to work. It was a true “count the cost” moment. Another daunting moment was when we were trying to send emergency shelter guests who were symptomatic to the hospital, and the EMTs told us that they could only take the most severely ill. By Easter Sunday, we gained access to isolation rooms through the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and and NYC Health & Hospitals. But you can imagine what the weeks were like leading up to that. People were being told to shelter in place, but for our guests and clients, The Bowery Mission is home.

In This Together: I knew The Bowery Mission couldn’t do this alone. Who else do we need to talk to? What else do we need to know? The more wise input we had and the more connected we were to our external partnerships, the stronger we would be. So as the world changed daily, I just tried to pick up the phone. I was so grateful to have relationships with the Salvation Army and DHS Outreach, who connected us to leadership in DHS and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). Because of the good input we received, and the access to isolation and quarantine hotel resources, we were able to keep our communities healthy and mitigate potential outbreak, which is remarkable.

Solving Programs: We had to reexamine every service, from the distance between bunk beds to how we cared for hard hit families in East Harlem and the South Bronx. For every activity that formerly took place inside, we had to decide what was essential and what was not, and how the essential services could run in a safe and socially distanced manner.

Being There for the Team: I focused a lot of energy on showing up and seeing things in action. The role of leadership, in any high-risk situation, is to show up and be a reassuring presence. I could not think of asking anyone on my team to be anywhere or do anything that I wouldn't do right alongside them. We don’t gain courage by dismissing the reality of harm or danger. We gain courage from one another.

Tender Moments: Last August, we had a number of guests who needed to be referred to isolation hotel rooms. Unfortunately, we had just done our first contact tracing and, because they had been exposed to the virus, we had to inform them that they could not spend the night with us as planned but would have to return to isolation hotel rooms. The most impressive part was how many people thanked us from their hearts for the care. It reminded us how important it is to show that individualized care — to be the ones who know people’s name, what hotel they are going to, and help them into the cab and wave as they drive off. It’s not just that we serve, but how we serve that makes a difference and tells people “you’re not alone, you’re loved, and we’re here for you.”

Lessons Learned: I've learned my own limits. There is goodness in that, because that is where we find how much we need each other. Even though this pandemic has thrust isolation upon us, we're not meant to do any of this alone. As we showed up to care, there were times when each one of us had to call out and be cared for too.

What Kept You Going: Working alongside people of such deep compassion, deep care, and inspiring faith, courage, and joy. This is truly a community of joy! And we’re not being disingenuous. We've been in enormous pain together and faced such loss. But I am reminded that “we don’t grieve without hope.” I'm so proud to be a part of the Mission, just to have leant my heart and life to this work and to this community.

Parting Words: I want each and every person to know they can make a difference. No matter who you are or what seat you’re sitting in, you are needed in somebody’s life. If you show up to love and care, it will make a difference. How did we do it at The Bowery Mission? It wasn’t the absence of fear. It was a heart of love that inspired, motivated, and sustained us. Love prevailed, and that love was greater than fear. I think that's truly the way the world is supposed to work.