Putting People First

Katie Riedesel

Manager of Community Life, programs for women at The Bowery Mission

On Moving to NYC: I was working for an emergency shelter in Kansas City when the realities of COVID-19 hit. I’d always wanted to move to New York and had already been planning to move in April of 2020, but had to adjust my plans as things got worse. Fortunately, The Bowery Mission was still doing job interviews. I applied while in Kansas City, did my initial interviews via Zoom, drove to New York City in a moving van, and arrived in the city on June 1st with my first in-person interview scheduled for the 2nd!

First Day Memories: My first official day at the Mission was July 7th. It was strange trying to meet people and learn a new job behind a mask, it felt so out of context. Moving to a new city during a global pandemic, and trying to build relationships with clients while staying six feet away, was disorienting to say the least.

What Motivates You: I believe it’s my responsibility, at the very least, to have the courage to show up. Not everyone has the privilege of a home to isolate themselves in, but they are still scared of getting sick and want to be safe. I want to lead by example, that we can be safe and still show up for those in need. We are actually safer as individuals when we show up for our community.

Moments of Heroism: My staff never complained about coming to work, even when understaffed. They worked all through COVID, and didn’t take vacation because they knew they were needed. They wore the proper PPE when we had clients in isolation and served them three meals a day.

Being People-Focused: Something I’m constantly reminding myself is: “the person needs to come first.” Our society tends to value productivity over people. Productivity is what “matters” when it comes to work, achievement, promotion… But when you work with people, it’s so important to remember your values are so different. It’s about setting aside time to be present and to prioritize that conversation over your to-do list.

Favorite Part of Job: I love finding ways to better support my team. I also love seeing the clients succeed, like when they get a job. For example, one woman has a gig tomorrow and it’s the first employment she’s gotten since entering the program. She’s over the moon about it too, so it’s exciting to celebrate those small victories together. To be present in those moments is definitely a highlight.

On Creating Safety: We do our very best to create an environment where, no matter what else, women can feel safe and supported. A place where they can come home after work or their job search without the anxiety of wondering where they’re going to sleep that night or what they’re going to eat. No matter what, we're going to provide that consistency.

Lessons Learned: In contrast to Kansas City, you can’t run from homelessness in New York City. In fact, you’d have to be pretty proactive to avoid it. When I moved here, one of my goals was to connect my 9 to 5 to life outside of work, so I’m not just valuing people when it’s my job, but valuing people because it’s who God called me to be. How do I still acknowledge someone, and honor their personhood, when I meet them on the streets — yet also acknowledge my limits so I’m not coming to work exhausted? It’s about creating balance and doing what you can. And I don't know how many times I've heard someone say, "Hey, at least thanks for stopping to talk to me and learn my name."