My name is Chris Shore, and I participated in a JSC year of service during 2014-2015. What initially drew me to the Johnson Service Corp was the mixture of being able to gain experience in non-profit management and work, the chance to grow spiritually, and my curiosity life in an intentional community. I still find it hard to describe what intentional community is like, but it has been a major force in my life over the last few years.
After college in 2014, I started my year with JSC. I had no background and did not expect to be working in the mental health field, but my placement was with Club Nova, a community clubhouse for adults with serious mental health issues. After working there for a year through JSC, I actually continued on with Club Nova, and I am still working there today!
Club Nova in itself is an intentional community. Many of the lessons I learned at Club Nova I could then take back to JSC and vice versa. In intentional community I am able to reflect on what I am going through on a day to day basis, and to listen to my own needs and those of others in the discerning process. I try to answer the question, “How do we want to interact in our community now and in the future?”
During my JSC program year, there were many challenges that arose and forced us to come together. This formed a comforting spirit in the group and helped me to feel secure enough to be authentic. I cherish the times we had during the year and since then. (I keep in touch with many of the other alumni from my JSC year). Currently I am still living in an intentional community with two dear friends who were also a part of the JSC community, as well as our pet, a retired therapy dog. This type of living has drawn me closer to others and given a deeper meaning to the relationships I have today.