Communio . . .

JVs can always list the factors that made their JV year special to them. Usually these include their community mates, clients, placement, etc. When JVs at Bean’s Café in Anchorage, AK, think about their experience, Barbara Bennett’s name inevitably makes that list. As the Social Services Director at Bean’s from 1985-2000, Barbara was instrumental in bringing the JVs to the café. In her 15 years there, she mentored numerous volunteers, making a lasting impression on each one. However, Barbara’s touch extended past the Bean’s volunteers to the Anchorage JV communities and beyond. She was an extremely generous, patient, vibrant individual who dedicated her life to service of others.

Bean’s Café is a day shelter and soup kitchen for the poor and homeless of Anchorage. Barbara Bennett created the social services program at Bean’s from scratch and built it into a strong, respected, yet wonderfully simple program. Barbara’s vision for social services was mirrored from Bean’s Café’s mission statement: “...a belief in the inherent dignity of every person, a belief that people respond with kindness when treated kindly, with trust when trusted, and respectfully when respected.” She created a program that gave people a few basic needs such as phone calls, first aid, a place to receive mail, and referrals for other agencies. Barbara fashioned social services that fill some of the small and necessary gaps for her clients. The program has evolved over the years but remains brilliantly simple in the aid it offers.

Not only did Barbara single-handedly create the social services program, she also ran it for 15 years. Let me tell you from my own experience as a former Jesuit Volunteer, Social Services Director, and Barbara’s successor, 15 years in that office is nothing short of miraculous. Barbara Bennett was no normal social worker. She was a powerful, outspoken, headstrong little firecracker. A one-of-a-kind woman who would back down to no one and nothing; yet she would show up at the native hospital in a clown suit and go door-to-door cheering her clients up. She had a passion for service and it showed in her every action. She wholeheartedly supported, defended, and loved the clients of the café. Her extraordinary personality, contagious laugh, and enormous heart fueled her love to serve others.

She continuously gave everything she had and more to her clients, affectionately known as “Beanies,” as well as to the staff at Bean’s. She became a mother, sister, teacher, doctor, caseworker, and, most of all, cherished friend to hundreds of Bean’s patrons. Barbara was one of the few steady and unchanging things in the Beanies’ lives. She took each client under her wing and helped them through some of their toughest times. She knew when to push, when to let go, when to give “tough love,” and when to simply give a clean pair of socks and a warm smile.

Barbara not only touched the Beanies’ lives, she also became somewhat of an icon in the social services world in Alaska . Caseworkers, judges, counselors, and family members came to highly respect the work she zealously undertook. Many professionals relied on Barbara as the only person their clients would trust. Likewise, the staff at Bean’s Café has been forever touched by working beside her. Long after their volunteer year, former JVs continued to keep in contact with her and have nothing but the greatest respect for her and everything she taught us. Barbara instilled in each JV her philosophy which, I can honestly say, every one of us took to heart. I remember in my phone interview with her, she told me very bluntly, “You’re not going to change anyone but yourself this year.” She was right. Years of working with the Beanies had taught her how to help without enabling and how not to expect miracles.

She found ways to support the JVs in all of our values. Barbara had a deep sense of spirituality that was evident in her daily life. She strove for simplicity in all aspects of her life; finding fulfillment in minimalism. Barbara’s commitment to community showed through the homeless community, her women’s group, her devotion to the volunteer community, and more. A perfect example of this was her love for the Bean’s softball team which has been comprised of current and former JVs for over 20 years. She rarely missed a game and JVs will remember her softball antics and hilarious playing for years to come. However, Barbara did not make things easy for her volunteers. She challenged us to find a deeper patience, understanding, spirituality, and sense of justice than we knew we had. Her every action was a wonderful example to the JVs of Anchorage.

Beyond Bean’s, Barbara founded the Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness. She received numerous prestigious awards for her tireless service to the community. When she left Bean’s in 2000, she created a care coordination service to continue serving the poor and disabled.

She was diagnosed in early 2005 with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. In true Barbara fashion, she fought for her life with energy and enthusiasm that most people cannot comprehend. She died July 19th, 2006 at the Renaissance Hospice Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Her selfless contributions are immeasurable and even now continue to mount. She is dearly missed by the Anchorage community.