Potawot Health Center Volunteering

[edit] Background

Figure 2: Potawot volunteers planting trees Photo Courtesy of Eric Johnson

Potawot Indian Health Village is an organization run by paid staff that has benefited from the aid of volunteer work (Figure 1). Potawot grew out of the concern from Indian women for the need of better health care for their families. Potawot is a center that was built on the support and efforts of volunteers. It began with volunteers from the community and local students in 1994 (Figure 2) from Humboldt State University donating plant materials and working in the first gardens.

Past Volunteer Numbers

From the years of 1999 to 2001 Potawot had 920 volunteers. Those volunteers put in over 3,225 hours total and helped in planting over 10,000 native plants.^[1] From 2002 to 2003, Potawot had 1,760 volunteers and from 2005 to 2008 Potawot had 850 volunteers. Volunteer numbers are continuing to decline for uncertain reasons.^[1]

[edit] Volunteering Opportunities

Figure 3: Potawot volunteer clearing garden plants. Photo Courtesy of Eric Johnson

Potawot is always looking for more volunteers and offers two main days that are dedicated to volunteering which are Cesar Chavez Day (March) and HSU Day of Caring (September). Cesar Chavez, the Mexican-American labor rights activist, is honored every March by Potawot with volunteers helping out in the gardens.^[2]The HSU Day of Caring is very similar in that several volunteering opportunities are available and many groups from Humboldt State University participate. ^[1] This event is scheduled in conjunction with United Way and Volunteer Center of the Redwoods. According to HSU Student Affairs, Students, staff, faculty, and community members commit to a half-day of service in the community working with community agencies, county and city governments, and local area non-profits. ^[3]

Figure 4: HSU Volunteers trimming trees. Photo Courtesy of Eric Johnson

[edit] Activities

There are several activities performed by volunteers that contribute to the sustainability of Potawot. In the fall, volunteering activities include working mostly in the Potawot Herb Garden and the Potawot Community Gardens. An example of a volunteering experience would be the 2008 HSU Day of Caring. Student and community volunteers participated in activities such as pulling up strawberry plants from their beds. Afterwards volunteers were allowed to collect and eat as much produce as they want. Also, during the HSU Day of Caring, volunteers weeded the Herb Garden and trimmed trees.^[4] Other volunteering tasks include:

• Planting various types of native plants
• Collecting Grass for basket weaving.
• Working in the nursery (Figure 4).^[1]

[edit] Contributions

The following groups and organizations have contributed to Potawot by donating time, materials and/or technical support and are involved volunteering partners.

Volunteer Partners:

• Volunteer Center of the Redwoods (VCOR)
• Two Feathers
• HSU (Housing and other departments/programs/clubs)
• Northern California Indian Development Council (NCIDC)
• Youth Serve AmeriCorp ^[5]

[edit] Contact Information and Hours

Volunteering hours are open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm^[1]

For information on how to become involved with volunteering at Potawot Health Center contact:

Eric Johnson
Traditional Land Management Specialist
United Indian Health Services, Inc.
Ph - 707.825.4144

[edit] Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Eric Johnson. Personal Communication. 10/14/2008.
2. ↑ America's Story. Accessed Online. 11/13/2008. http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/chavez
3. ↑ HSU Student Affairs. Accessed Online. 12/09/2008. http://studentaffairs.humboldt.edu/slee/info_students.php
4. ↑ Woodland Schultze. Personal Communication. 10/14/2008.
5. ↑ . Potawot Health Village: Integrating Health, Community and the Environment. Accessed online 10/24/08. http://www.humboldt1.com/~water/main_pages/PHVP.html