Becoming Who She Needed: Mary Margaret’s Journey From Volunteer to Art Teacher
Mary Margaret (center) with Trinity Academy students wearing traditional Thai clothing on the last day of school.
By Cora Davis, Communications Director
"I was taught that God is love and our purpose here is to love each other," reflects Mary Margaret Blum, a dedicated NDMV alum from 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. This principle shaped her service experience over two impactful years, helping her become the inspiring art teacher she is today. Mary Margaret learned to love others by experiencing the gifts of love in action from different community members along her life's journey. Each act of kindness, peace, and love left an imprint that she continues to pass on.
As an art teacher at Ebbets Field Middle School in Brooklyn, New York, Mary Margaret recalls, "When I first started teaching, I felt I began losing my 'why'." It was her experience with NDMV that reminded her that "teaching can make a difference and change people's lives," and that was the teacher she aspired to be.
Mary Margaret started serving with NDMV in August of 2019 at Trinity Academy in Hartford, Connecticut. It was a small school with only 40 students. Several of the students were learning English as a second language, as well as students of color. Some of the students were Karenni refugees from Burma. She was enjoying her job and loved getting to know the students. One day, the unexpected happened, she recalls, "The art teacher quit". She shared her portfolio with the principal and, from then on, was able to complete her service year as an art teacher.
The most profound experiences for Mary Margaret occurred in 2020 when COVID-19 forced the school into a virtual model. After receiving two new students who were new to both the school and the country, she explains, "They didn't know any English, so I taught them English and supported them." This was the moment when Mary Margaret had the chance to become the support she wished she'd had during her own struggles in life.
When Mary Margaret was younger, her mother moved her away from the home she knew—away from her father and some of her siblings. In her new environment, Mary Margaret felt like she didn't belong. She expressed, "I didn't fit in; I didn't feel accepted in my community. A lot of that was due to missing home and my family." This provided her with the opportunity to be the teacher she had needed during her times of loneliness and to have some understanding for her students.
That year, Mary Margaret got to know the Karenni refugee family and their culture, and she became friends with the student's mom. Although they needed a translator to communicate, this didn't prevent them from forming a connection. Mary Margaret served as a bridge, helping to transition from isolation to community.
Mary Margaret said, "I think NDMV is founded on a strong principle of going to a community, seeing what they need, listening to them, and then working to meet that need". When the school year began, Mary Margaret approached her principal about bringing laptops to her students' homes, fully aware of the risks involved. She confidently decided to take the risk because she recognized the students' need for an immersive experience that was otherwise lost during the pandemic.
Over time, she became part of the family she served, sharing special moments like carving pumpkins during Halloween and providing school supplies for Thanksgiving. The student's mom was around for every visit. She had a niece who lived next door who could translate, so that she and Mary Margaret could get to know one another. Mary Margaret loved the relationship she built with her student's mom. During these interactions, Mary Margaret remarked, "It changed my life. I learned a lot about how women are treated in other parts of the world".
"At the time, I had a lot of ideas about what it looked like to go abroad to serve," she said. Mary Margaret had an offer to join the Peace Corps in Madagascar, but felt compelled to serve in the US. "I was still brought into another culture and had an incredible culture exchange". At the end of the year, the family gave her some traditional clothing as a way of thanking her.
Mary Margaret learned to give support by having to receive it. When Mary Margaret was in college, she experienced some car troubles and was unable to access essential items, such as the grocery store and a laundry mat. She had a friend who saw her need and took her into their home. It is from that place of receiving love and peace that she is inspired to give the same to others.
Mary Margaret often recalled the MidYear conference in 2020 (NDMV's annual professional development conference) when she learned about Sister Dorothy Stang and her commitment to peace and service. The words "blessed are the peacemakers" echoed in her mind, reminding her of the essence of Sr. Dorothy Stang's work, which rested on compassion and understanding.
Mary Margaret graduated with her Master's last year and is excited to have her own classroom. She said, "Through my experience with NDMV, I learned that being a teacher is not just a job, it's a calling to be of service to a community. I take that into my life right now."
