At iACT, we have great appreciation for the wonderful volunteers who make our service work possible! In this Volunteer Spotlight, Mary Evan tells us a little more about herself.
1. Where are you from/Where did you grow up?
I am from and grew up in Minneapolis, MN. I have been in Austin for 31 years. I also served 10 years in the USAF where I got to live in Washington D.C., Michigan, Texas, Philippines and Sicily (Italy).
2. How did you first hear about The Red Bench/iACT?
A friend of mine posted something on Facebook inviting people to come to a discussion called Red Bench: Interfaith Conversations that Matter. I decided why not, and went to my first Red Bench event at First United Methodist Church. I was hooked!
3. How long have you been volunteering with iACT?
I have been volunteering since 2011 when I became a table host for the Red Bench.
4. What first made you want to volunteer with The Red Bench? What kinds of tasks have you performed as an iACT/Red Bench Volunteer?
One evening after the conversation had concluded, a request was made for those who would like to go a step further and deepen their experience by becoming a table host, whose job it is to help guide the conversation around the table. In 2011, I attended the training and became a table host. About one year later, someone mentioned the Red Bench Steering Committee. I currently put together the conversation quotes that are put on the Red Bench tables and put together and maintain a calendar of events showing all of the Red Bench activities. I now volunteer in the iACT Hands on Housing program helping out with whatever needs to get done.
5. What do you most enjoy about volunteering with iACT?
I am thoroughly enjoying my involvement with iACT and the Red Bench. Volunteering in the office has shown me all of the things iACT is involved in.
6. What do you most enjoy about the Red Bench Program? Why would you encourage others to volunteer with iACT or attend a Red Bench event?
What keeps me returning to Red Bench? Where else could I or anyone else for that matter, have a thought-provoking conversation with people from so many faith traditions and belief systems that include Sikh, Muslim, Wiccan, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Atheist and so many more? Each person speaks from the heart and brings the perspective of their belief system/faith tradition to the conversation. I believe that you can learn something from everyone you meet so I always walk away from a Red Bench conversation learning something new. As for volunteering with iACT: what better way to learn about a nonprofit than to volunteer. Mother Teresa said: “I can do things you cannot; you can do things I cannot. Together we can do great things”.
