Everyday Life and the Rural Community Health Worker Network Training Center



Jessica Murrell, Shannon Lijewski and Andrea Burton

"Training opens a person's eyes to how they can help others so generations to come, people can live on their own wings.” 
- Shannon Lijewski
Founder and CEO of Everyday Life and The rCHWn Training Center

There is something to be said about good steady bridges. They get us from where we are, take us over an obstacle, to where we long to be, or more importantly where we need to be. Here, right in our very own county, are men and women working to be bridges in many different ways, each way just as important as the next. They are Community Health Workers, or CHWs as you will hear them called.

In many urban communities CHWs are becoming very well known for the work they do, but in a predominantly rural county like Midland, Michigan, many people often don't know that CHWs are starting to make effective connections in the neighborhoods and communities outside the city limits as well. There is an overwhelming need for bridge builders in the country.

CHWs come in many forms. A workforce that started predominantly in the medical field is now seen as successful and effective in many other facets. A CHW is an individual who helps to bridge the gap between community members in need and the professionals that can help meet those needs. For example a CHW could be a liaison between a medical professional and a community member. They help the community member navigate through the questions the doctors or nurses would ask in a way that may be more understandable and less intimidating. And now CHWs work way beyond the medical field. As Shannon Lijewski explained, just as there are different types of doctors and teachers, there are different types of CHWs. Some help with integration into society after an addiction, some help with those who fall victim to human trafficking or abusive relationships, yet others are first responders, equine therapists, school paraprofessionals, and faith workers. Many CHWs are busy neighbors who simply see a need to break a cycle in their
very neighborhood and help with community gardens, visiting neighbors, food pantries and little free libraries.

Community Health Workers know the culture of the area they work in, usually because they too live in that exact area and have for quite some time. They understand the lingo, the nuances, and the socio economic norms for the area very well, better than many doctors, judges, parole officers and DHS workers would, who are usually from different areas and circumstances. Also, a rural community health worker would pick up on things that an urban CHW might miss in the same situation, and vice versa. Even in a town as small as Midland, the cultural differences from Center City to the county lines can be vast. Community Health Workers are known for carefully using a nonjudgmental approach. This way of connecting with people breaks down barriers so those that are receiving assistance feel little to no intimidation accepting the help offered to them. CHWs don't provide a hand out, or a hand down, they provide a hand over to their very neighbors, simply helping, connect and educate. And what can fuel their fire to do so, besides their already tremendously beautiful hearts, is incredible, quality training.

More than 10 years ago Shannon Lijewski, started her consulting firm "Everyday Life". A name thought up as she and her husband Keith discussed the importance of helping people in their community navigate through the ins an outs of the very place they all live, work and play... in their every day lives. Shannon grew up the child of an entrepreneur father who strictly hired parolees in order to better their lives and a mother who was a corrections officer, it was in her blood to have a passion to help break cycles and help people see their full potential. Seeing a great need that was going unmet in rural areas, she also began the Rural Community Health Workers Network (rCHWn)Training Center. The training center is located in the village of Sanford within Midland County.

Although she is the founder and CEO, Shannon is incredibly humble and runs the business with a view of her employees as complete equals. Along with Shannon, the team at the rCHWn Training Center consists of Andrea Burton, Director of Training and Outreach with a Bachelors in Marketing, and Jessica Murrell, Creative Marketing Director with a Masters in Business Administration. As a team they fit like a "perfect storm" as Shannon refers to them. The wonderful thing about networking, even with your own employees, is that you all can work together incredibly well when you are each contributing in the areas you are talented in. They all bring their own incredible strengths into play which makes a thriving and effective small business. The rCHWn Training Center started in April and is the only known rural CHW training center in the nation. The need for such a place in our community and country has been confirmed by their 400% growth rate from April to July alone. 

 

 The Training Center offers a very high quality training, preparing CHWs around the state and the nation to effectively work in their communities and make a difference. Training is a 6 week course, 2 days a week, a schedule that offers CHWs time to process what they are learning, but also allows them to continue a somewhat normal work week at there places of employment. Training focuses on many skill sets and aspects such as "motivational interviewing" and "nonbiased thinking". The training truly empowers people who at times are doing the work of a CHW and are not aware of the position they are already play in the community.

So what sets apart this Training Center from others? Mostly the great balance of diverse talents available in the team. Jessica mentioned, rCHWn and Every Day Life is a great place to work, everything is always new, every day something positive happens, and although they are not faith based in their actual training, employees are free to talk about God and pray about situations they encounter. The Training Center is hugely inclusive, drama free, safe atmosphere for employees, trainees and members of the community. As Andrea says "it is not about your knowledge, but about the connections you make. This is a workforce where individual experts grow with maturity so they can be equipped to respond to situations effectively without creating more trauma".

Director of Training and Outreach, Andrea Burton, is a very highly sought after trainer. People from near and far have come to receive training especially from Ms. Burton. She is one of only 10 individuals in the entire state that have completed the core competency to be a trainer. Andrea has received additional training through Michigan ACEs Initiative giving the rCHWn Training Center recognition as a "Community Champion". She is also a recipient of the Shining Star Award from the United Way of Midland County. Her training sessions are known to be full of her engaging charisma and confidence, but most of all for her passion to help others see how they can influence their communities effectively. Her passionate message to fellow rCHWs throughout the country is that "training is available, necessary and valuable". She desires to help those in other communities realize they are CHW's. 

As often time happens for CHWs, Andrea did not realize that she was doing the work of a CHW until Shannon pointed it out to her, then through training she went beyond her potential in understanding and effectiveness. Andrea has always had a natural passion to help others. Working on the truancy team for Bullock Creek Public Schools, she could see clearly that so many issues rural community members deal with, go much deeper than many people realize and her desire to do more grew continuously. She is now the visionary and creator of a program of The Rural Community Health Workers Network Training Center known as C.O.R.E (Community Outreach Resource Extension). The program's proof of concept site is based at Midland Missionary Church, a local church in the Lee Township area. This program has many successful facets to help in the community, including a community garden, food pantry and little free library.

The rCHWn Training Center just recently gained its non profit status and is currently building up their board of directors. Shannon Lijewski currently serves as the interim president, Keith Lijewski, also a CHW in the community, serves as treasurer, and Jessy Bordeau serves as secretary and is a passionate community advocate that is willing to stand up for those under served in the community. A goal is set for a future board of 10 members with at least 51 percent of directors being CHWs. It is important to the team that the board is constructed by those who know the heart and work of a CHW. A steering committee will also soon be organized.

If you are a CHW, are interested in the work of a CHW or even just wanting to stay connected to how CHWs are growing and the differences they are making, you're encouraged to become part of the network!
To do so please visit www.everydaylifechw.com/join-now.

The Rural Community Health Worker Network Training Canter in Sanford, MI is available as a free space for all CHWs to work and gather. This is an incredible resource as many CHWs do not have budgets to allow investment in personal offices or work spaces, and the aspect of being together with other CHWs is powerful.

To learn more about Every Day Life and the rCHWn please visit

 www.everydaylifechw.com

or their Facebook Page

Center location: 

 344 E. Saginaw, Sanford, MI 48657

Article and Photographs by Hope Krotzer

Paper Heart Design

“I get to be a tiny part of other people’s big dreams…of their stories.” - Annie Stout

If you are anything like me the second you meet Annie Stout from Paper Heart Design, you want to be like her when you grow up. Yes, I sort of like design but that is not why I want to be like her, it’s because she said to me that she has her dream job. One day she realized “oh my gosh, all of the things I wanted have come true.” She wanted to be a mom-check. She wanted to be an artist-check. And she can do all of this because she has the support of her best friend and husband, Jerod. Goose. Bumps.

Ready to be impressed? You have seen Annie’s logo work all around Midland—Live Oak Coffeehouse, Captured Community, Serendipity Road, RE Krotzer Construction and Let’s Go Midland—to name a few.

One of the best things about small business owners is finding out how they got where they are. So, let’s do that. How did Annie come to have her dream job, her dream life?

Annie has always been an artist. Almost every time her mom, Diane, would ask her what she wanted to be when she grew up, it was some form of artist—except that one year she thought she might be a professional soccer player. Her mom said she had to buy a new box of crayons every other week.

GEEK-OUT MOMENT: I had to ask: What is your favorite Crayola® 64 color? Cerulean. I gasped because I had been saying Cerulean in my head (ok, I was mispronouncing it in my head, but it was the same color). FYI it’s: [səˈro͞olēən].

Not only did her mom keep her stocked up with supplies, she was one of her inspirations. She was supportive, helping Annie to write stories and cut pictures out of magazines; she even took Annie to a course about being an entrepreneur at the age of 10. She sat with Annie for hours as she sold handmade book marks and those Rudolph candy canes with the googly eyes. Annie shared that her mom is also an amazing sewist/quilter and used to do woodworking regularly. Today, her mom is really into nature photography so, it’s clear she is creative at heart too.  Same with her dad, Allan. He might not seem creative in a traditional way, but his support was endless. He was really into music and would spend time with Annie looking at album cover art while they listened to Joni Mitchell and Jimi Hendrix. One time he rented the VHS ‘Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller’ from the library, so she could see the original to help her with her dance performance. Annie said, “My parents did a good job of letting me be who I was and encouraging what I was clearly meant to do.” They sure did, and for that, we are thankful!

    Annie went to CMU to study and finished with BAA in Graphic Design, Sculpture, and Art History. Turns out she was her own first client. For a final school project, she created her wedding invites. This started a small side gig where friends and family members were asking for invites for weddings and parties. She opened Paper Heart Design on Etsy in 2008. She worked odd jobs through the years; chain store photography manager, in-house graphic artist at a print shop, marketing manager, but she always comes back to Paper Heart Design. Her heart is in freelance. Having the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom to her two daughters, Allison and Madeline, has afforded her the time as they have gotten older, to focus back on her design work.

WHAT ABOUT THAT NAME? Annie has always loved Stone Temple Pilots and her favorite song at the time was “Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart.” She didn’t want the name to be obvious. Mission. Accomplished. Well, until now…the secret is out.

    Annie has been doing this for 10 years, but she feels like 2016 is when she started legitimately. An acquaintance (now friend and business partner, Mirandy) posted on Facebook asking if there were any creative moms out there looking to make extra money as a painting instructor once or twice a month. It was for Captured Community, which is part of Captured Studios. By the end of the first meeting/interview she was asked to help complete the design for their logo. They had a good idea of what they wanted, they just didn’t have the programs to make the professional vector art files needed—they entrusted Annie with that task. When she started teaching at Captured Community she said it just felt right— “I’m supposed to be here.”  

    As you can imagine, this is how she came to design that iconic Live Oak logo and then word of mouth led her to create logos for so many other local Midland businesses.

    As with many small business owners she really isn’t selling her business, she is selling herself (she is the business): “people don’t want to just fill out a form, they want a connection.” She wants that collaboration, she wants to help small business owners get what is in their head out and create a piece unique to their vision. Annie might think that a design is perfect at round one or two, but she will revise until the owner is completely satisfied—it’s going to represent them and their business. Annie’s work is so important, as she said it: “the logo is your first impression.”

    Annie’s biggest challenge as a small business owner is time. With a young family and a one-person shop, she has had to take sabbaticals now and again from her work to refresh or focus on family. But this woman is on fire, not only is Paper Heart Design up-and-running she is co-owner to two other small thriving businesses: Mittenprints (that Midland map on Live Oak’s wall and a ton of other Michigan inspired goodies) and Wildflower Trust (a faith-based apparel and accessories company that donates 50% of its proceeds to charity).

    Another challenge is simply awareness but the small business community in Midland and Mid-town, in particular, is so supportive. Word-of-mouth business has been fruitful. She said to me “Nobody goes into small business because they feel indifferent. They do it because it’s their heart and soul. They put everything into it.” That is what Annie does and she wants to help her clients, she loves hearing the passion people have for their businesses and that she can help them look professional in a way they could not do on their own.

    Annie is special person; her passion and talent radiate from her. Annie would love to be part of your small businesses' creative process.
paperheartdesign.com
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Annie Stout, Graphic Artist

Paper Heart Design
989.600.2104 | paperheartdesign@gmail.com

Article written by: Joslyn Chulski