Spotlight: Olivia Ajiake and Feed A Few

housethehub
Apr 1, 2016
5 min read

Hi, my name is Olivia Ajiake! I am a sophomore. My major is Social Work, my minors are Women’s and Gender Studies and Social Justice. I’m currently earning a certificate in Women’s Leadership as well. I live in the Bay Area California, and have enjoyed coming to the East Coast to attend Rutgers. Most people are perplexed when I tell them that I left the West Coast, but choosing Rutgers is one of the best decisions I’ve made thus far. I was looking for a school with diversity, an urban geographic location, a great sports programs, and expansive academic opportunities.

On campus, I’m involved with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Black Campus Ministry (an ethnic-specific bible study associated with the Christian Fellowship), the Institute for Women’s Leadership, the Douglass Global Village program, and etc. In the community, I’m involved with a mentoring program called ShineGirl, the Conversation Tree program, and Feed a Few.

How do you perceive homelessness in this city?

New Brunswick is a very interesting city because Rutgers permeates many aspects of it as an institution. I’d like to highlight that gentrification probably plays a huge role in the homelessness we see in the city. People from all over the country and the world who take interest in what Rutgers has to offer are drawn to the area and as far as I understand prices for homes, apartments, and etc. have dramatically increased over time due to the influx of people from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Now, Rutgers does and can continue to play a very active and beneficial role in the community. However, I’ve noticed that as students we often forget that we aren’t just members of the university, but of the community as well. Because of this divide, students don’t necessarily get to know the people outside of the university including those suffering from homelessness. So often we see homelessness as a problem happening out there in the world and not within our own surrounding environment of New Brunswick.

I’ve noticed that as students we often forget that we aren’t just members of the university, but of the community as well.

What would you say is a solution to the issue of homelessness, either in New Brunswick or globally? What do you think are major roadblocks?

It’s tough to think about practical solutions because there are many institutional and systemic roadblocks that stand in the way. We don’t have enough restorative and forgiving programs because once you have bad credit, a criminal record, or etc. you’re trapped in a cycle. A few other things that come to mind are that there seem to be more soup kitchens than there are spaces where housing options are negotiated. I could be wrong, but many of our efforts simply put a band-aid on the problem which isn’t terrible but we could be doing more. I would also say that there needs to be more resources in the New Brunswick area- more shelters and more affordable housing.

Feed A Few nights are really about getting to have conversations with people on the street and learning from them; it goes beyond what we have the ability to offer them.

How and why did you get involved with Feed A Few?

I got involved with Feed A Few last year when I was a freshman. Feed A Few is modeled after Feed 500, a LOGOFF initiative that students learn about at the New York City Urban Project and bring back to their perspective campuses. When I was a freshman, Feed A Few was led by two wonderful people and when they graduated last year they asked my co-partner Dominique Sharpe and I to step up and lead it.

What does a regular night entail?

A Feed A Few night usually begins by gathering at the student center and praying together as a group. From there, we walk to the train station, Easton Ave, and George St. areas to see if we can offer sandwiches, water bottles, or clothing to anyone in need that we come across. Usually, we get to have lengthy conversations with the people we meet. Because we’ve been doing this for some time now, there are quite a few people that we are familiar with. Feed A Few nights are really about getting to have conversations with people on the street and learning from them; it goes beyond what we have the ability to offer them. In some cases, we have the opportunity to offer prayer to the people we meet and they often pray for us students too!

Have you had any eye-opening experiences that you want to share?

We’ve been told on multiple occasions that we brighten their days when we stop by to see them and talk to them. I feel like we also are privileged when we get to meet them.

One really nice experience was a time where we were in the train station and hanging out with some of the people who stay there for the night. Somehow, we wound up singing a song together. There are so many moments like that where we get to connect, share a laugh or story, and even sing!

I’ve also gotten to know one gentleman very well and introduced him to mom when she came for a visit.

Of course, the reality is that we get to go back to our nice warm dorms and they don’t necessarily have a place to stay that night. In that sense, I’m always reminded to be grateful for what I have and I think the other people who come out to Feed A Few would say the same. It’s a grounding and humbling experience where we get to build relationships beyond just handing out a sandwich.

What is your main hope with Feed A Few?

Feed A Few is one part of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship’s ministry so we believe in sharing God’s love with all of His people. My main hope with Feed A Few is that we will continue to be beacons of hope and lights in dark times. I want people to know that they are valuable no matter what situation they are in at the moment. Even though we are in the business of dealing with a lot of tough social injustices, I hope that we will find healing through faith.

I would like to find ways to partner with other organizations so that we contribute more to grassroots organizing efforts.

I want people to know that they are valuable no matter what situation they are in at the moment. Even though we are in the business of dealing with a lot of tough social injustices, I hope that we will find healing through faith.

How can people be more involved with the Feed A Few?

People can be more involved with Feed A Few by hitting me up for more info! Our outings are very informal and we always appreciate it when people join us.

What are some innovative programs that you think the Rutgers community could provide to the homeless population?

House the Hub :) and other programs that are faith-based. We need churches and other organizations in the community to continue to have a heart of social justice that seeks to reduce homelessness. And lastly, what is one thing you wish everyone knew about homelessness? I wish that more people knew that homelessness could affect anyone at anytime. The college educated. Those with well-paying jobs. The orphaned. In an instant, everything could change. Those who are homeless are people just like us.