The Words of the Redmond Family |
"Become more": these are the guiding words behind the Barrytown Renovation Project, a brand-new summer internship at the Unification Theological Seminary. This 8-week property management program seeks to train interns how to maintain an authentic life of faith while honing their professional and technical skills. It is a full-time job, a summer class, and a supportive but demanding spiritual environment all at once.
Interns work 40 hours a week renovating the UTS property in order to prepare for the up-and-coming undergraduate college. They learn a variety of skills through on-the-job training, such as plastering, professional painting, and even heavy machinery operation. Additional classes are given to certify interns for specific jobs, such as vintage window repair and lead paint removal.
The interns kicked off their summer by tackling the 3rd floor dorms on the east wing of the building. The walls were repaired and painted according to a design by John Foss, the architect for the project. These fresh living spaces will be accompanied by a student lounge and a bathroom on each end of the east wing. The future classrooms and student life spaces on the second floor have also been revitalized and repaired with fresh paint and new whiteboards in some of the rooms. The ceiling of one of the large classrooms, previously damaged by leaks from the upstairs bathrooms, was carefully restored by one team, and another team began work on repairing the steel windows outside the building. Even the library is getting new carpets and a paint job as part of the restoration. The most exciting project so far was the removal of the statue of St. Joseph from the front of the building using a high lift and a fork lift. The statue was donated to St. Peter's Parish in Hyde Park in order to assist them in their efforts to restore their grounds. Every day, the interns are able to use their technical skills to create a beautiful space for future students while working with their group of like-minded co-workers.
In addition to the normal work day, classes on property management and professional development are offered twice a week. Here, interns take a step away from the day-to-day work and learn about management and developing a vision. One class, given by architect John Foss, covered the concept of an architectural overview and blueprint reading, giving the interns a useful skill as well as access to the long-term vision of the property. Professional development classes are also given, which focus on career development and teaching interns the skills and mindset necessary to excel in any field.
The heart of the internship program lies in building an "authentic spiritual life." As defined by this project, an authentic life of faith is one where God is present and honored. Each person's life of faith should be evident to them and should put them in touch with their own spirituality each day. The Barrytown Renovation Project respects that spirituality is expressed on an individual level and this may include a variety of activities. The internship program promotes the idea that living a real life of faith should never stop and should extend through each and every daily activity. Ownership is encouraged and evaluated through periodic evaluations in which the intern reflects on their personal efforts to connect with God. This spiritual environment is supported by the social environment that the interns build with each other during and after work hours, living together as friends, co-workers, and spiritual brothers and sisters.
In any other setting, these three elements of work, study and faith would be kept separate, inhibiting the growth that can arise from their integration. Through this pilot internship at Barrytown College, young Unificationists can have it all in one holistic experience, gaining the habits and tools that will spur them to success in their future endeavors. They leave behind the ill-suited compartmentalization of the secular world, and in so doing, will become more.