Sinsinawa
Spectrum
A Congregation News Magazine
DVUSA Celebrates 10 Years in 2010
by DVUSA Executive Director Tony Butler and Cochair of the Corporate Board of DVUSA Elizabeth Dunn, OP
 Dominican Volunteers USA in 2010, front row, from left: Rachel Debruin, Kristin Dempsey, Emily Bell, Elizabeth Collette, Bridgette Powers, and Trent Noffsinger. Middle row: Rebecca McIntosh, Jennifer Hughes, Katie Friedline, Kira Maffett, and Daniel Burke. Back row: Joe Loeffler, Amy Heiser, Sarah Deak, Stefanie Flax (assistant director), and Tony Butler (director). |
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In 2010 Dominican Volunteers USA (DVUSA) celebrates 10 years as a collaborative adventure of the Dominican Family in the United States. The roots of the program go back farther; nearly 40 years have passed since the earliest days of the Apostolic Volunteers at Sinsinawa. To mark this celebration, events will be held across the country, with the main event happening at Dominican University in River Forest, IL. Watch for further details in the coming months.
DVUSA is taking a new approach to screening candidates. In the past, we have met people in person for interviews, but often we have conducted interviews over the phone. This year DVUSA is using Skype, iChat, and Google Chat as means for conducting interviews. These web-based programs allow staff to meet applicants in a much better way. Additionally, the application is now web-based, allowing DVUSA to print less and efficiently get information out to potential community and ministry sites. This is particularly helpful as application numbers have risen this year.
The Dominicans of Sinsinawa are hosting five volunteers this year. Two volunteers live with the Penn community in Atlanta with Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters and minister at the International Community School. Three other volunteers live with Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters at the House of Connections community in Chicago and minister at the following sites: Horizons for Youth, Casa Juan Diego School, and Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly.