I get to live and play in McLaughlin. I get to work in McLaughlin. I get to worship in McLaughlin. My world is small and centered and grounded and I love it. Before this? Lived in Japan and traveled Asia. Taught English to hundreds of Japanese students, slept on tatami mats and in Buddhist temples, ate sushi cross-legged, drank Asahi and green tea, biked hundreds of miles of back roads, and learned what being “in the minority” means. Lessons from that world seep constantly into experiences in this world.

Muskegon is the only home I’ve known. I grew up here (actually in McLaughlin Neighborhood on Grand Street!) and raised 5 boys in Muskegon. I taught elementary school for 27 years, and since retiring have worked at Love, INC and Mission for Area People. Now, they call me the “Mother” of Community enCompass. My birth certificate says I was born in 1942, but I think that’s mistaken somehow, because I’m not that old. I love working at Sacred Suds because of the people I get to meet and serve. It’s humbling to be able to help people who are going through hard times.

I’m a mother of three Roman 20, Sasha 7 and Kanye 4. I love to cook for my family and friends that is my idea of relaxing and sharing. I work at Sacred Suds and I really love the interaction that takes place with the neighbors. We all talk and share which is great! Building community is so important and at Sacred we are there adding the blocks to the foundation of our neighborhood.

I am so blessed, to be employed doing what I love. When I am not rabble- rousing I enjoy writing poetry and reading. I absolutely love to laugh and tell jokes. My passion is youth and giving them a voice and hope.

I love my job because it allows me to work right where I live, in my community. I’m constantly finding new leaders in our neighborhood. I enjoy mobilizing them to begin and grow positive projects that strengthen community. I live to inspire our youth to dream and spark their creativity to keep moving forward and take us beyond my imagination.

Graduated in 2008 from Kalamazoo Valley Community College with a degree in video game design and digital animation. Now I’m a farmer with McLaughlin Grows as an AmeriCorps worker! Life is full of surprises. I enjoy painting, playing music and gardening. I’ve grown up around gardening and been active in the Green Movement for my entire life. I love my position with community encompass because we are trying to offer growth to the community in ways new and creative ways.

I love to have fun. I love people. And I love making fun of people I like. You’ll know that I like you if I give you a nickname or if I tease you about something I know about you or have seen you do. I love my job at CenC because it allows me to use my powers for good and not for evil.

Hello, I’m B. Anthony, and I love to have a great time. I enjoy laughing, playing all types of games, as well as, learning from people who are different from myself. I love sports, mysteries, movies and food. I have three children at home that serve as my personal entertainment. With the way life goes sometimes, a sense of humor goes a long way.

Virginia Taylor is energetic, talkative, and animated. With joy and passion, she serves as an advocate for justice and change. Guided by the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi: “Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love,” she has a knack for igniting hope while empowering people to move from being victims of their circumstances to the architects of their own destiny. At Community enCompass, she is able to use her tremendous energy doing what she loves—helping people discover what it means to find their destiny and live the Abundant Life.

I am excited about the opportunity offered through the Muskegon Learning Lab to invite people into the adventure of learning! I believe we are all created to learn, and when we do, we are able to see the hand of our Creator in this world. As a teacher, I am called particularly to serve those individuals who struggle and have lacked success in their past. By empowering others to walk through life’s challenges and frustrations, we all move closer to Shalom … that peace we have when we experience the presence of God.