Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Do-Right Woman: Celia Medina divides her time between good works in Willow Glen and abroad.




New Chances in Old Mexico

'Pro volunteer' acts locally and globally by tutoring English in Dolores Hidalgo

By Suzanne Barnecut

Celia Medina is a self-proclaimed "professional volunteer"--appropriately so, as she divides her time between kindergarten students at Sherman Oaks Elementary School and a number of committees within the San Jose community.

In February she teamed up with 15 other North American volunteers to teach conversational English at the Technological University of Northern Guanajuato in Dolores Hildalgo, Mexico, through the Global Volunteers program.

As our interview began, Medina, a woman small in size though robust in spirit, held out a snapshot of the central park in Dolores Hidalgo. This was the birthplace of Mexican independence, where Miguel Hidalgo called for the people to fight the Spaniards in his "Grito de Dolores." In the photo two small children run carefree down a shaded pathway.

"If you hang out in the park, people talk to you," Medina said. "It was very gratifying to meet people in the street who recognize you and know your name." She offered another photo of two young girls sitting on a park bench. She explained that they are sisters and are also her new pen pals.

Medina first encountered Global Volunteers five years ago when she attended a meeting at the public library. Global Volunteers organizes two- to three-week, tax-deductible volunteering trips throughout the United States and the world. Despite the tax incentive, however, it wasn't until this year that Medina had the time and resources to go. She completed the thorough application process, and in February found herself walking nearly a mile to the university before classes began at 8 a.m.

"It wasn't flat, mind you," she laughed. "We got our exercise!"

During the two weeks in Dolores Hidalgo each volunteer had an individual schedule of classes to assist. Medina helped students primarily with their pronunciation.

"In the groups I taught, there were people from all walks of life," she said. "I was intrigued by the young women. I raised a question in Spanish about whether they thought they could rise or if they would hit a glass ceiling. They thought they could rise, but I don't think so."

Medina has a very grounded opinion of her work in Mexico. She explained that the Technological University of Northern Guanajuato was built five years ago in order to develop competitive skills in Mexico's young, and to keep them from emigrating to the United States for work. Medina pointed out that the number of automobile plants, including General Motors, Volkswagen and Ford, would be good places to fill jobs in business administration that were previously not an option for young Mexicans.


Photograph courtesy of Celia Medina

Desk Set: Celia Medina (lower left) with some of her university students in Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico.




In many ways, Medina sees her involvement with Global Volunteers as an extension of what she does locally. A retired social worker and therapist, Medina believes in prevention intervention, meaning she hopes to recognize a problem early on and intervene in a way that will make a difference. This is why she chose to work with kindergarten students at Sherman Oaks Elementary School immediately after her retirement three years ago.

"I try to use the classroom environment to meet the emotional needs of kids. We don't know what's happening at home, but some kids come to school needy," she said. She gave an example of a little girl who arrives at school angry and wants to kick the other children. She holds the girl on her lap two mornings a week until the girl has calmed down and is able to work. She can give the one-on-one attention that some students may need, but the teacher can't give.

Medina has also participated on the MacArthur Committee to help plan a reunion for past recipients of MacArthur grants. Most recipients of this award are artists and writers.

"We have to provide the support services for these artists to let them be what they are," she explained.

Medina is also a member of People Acting in the Community Together (PACT), a group that works on community concerns and tries to solve those problems. She has helped get a traffic light installed at a dangerous intersection near Sherman Oaks Elementary and is working now on setting up a center for senior citizens and teenagers on Fruitdale Avenue.

Volunteering is an on going job. "I feel like I have my fingers in a lot of pies," Medina said thoughtfully. "They all require energy that sometimes I don't have. Sometimes I feel like I'm doing too much and I have to cut back."

Right now is one of those times. Medina has a daughter and grandson living in the area, she sings with the Serendipity Singers (though she claims that she can't carry a tune) and will be performing on May 1, at St. Joseph Cathedral at 7 p.m. She also enjoys reading, sewing and traveling. Her trip to Dolores Hidalgo was not her first to Mexico.

"I think a lot of people think they can't do something like Global Volunteers, or that they can't travel," she mused. "I have an old car. I live frugally. I walk everywhere. I'm practically a vegetarian and I grow my own food. If you live frugally, you can do a lot."

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