Rhonda English Cherishes the Divine Within

Since starting at Catholic Charities as a volunteer at My Sister’s Place in 1999, Rhonda English has held a variety of positions at My Sister’s Place  and My Sister’s Place Lodge including program assistant, life skills coordinator, volunteer coordinator and operations supervisor. In addition, she has served as the weekend volunteer coordinator at Our Daily Bread Employment Center.  Currently, she is the residential operations supervisor at My Sister’s Place Lodge, a transitional housing program in Baltimore City that provides case management and other support services to formerly homeless, mentally ill women.

Rhonda oversees the daily operations of My Sister's Place Lodge which includes the upkeep and maintenance of the building, ensuring the safety and well being of the residents, and managing the accounting.  She also supervises a staff of thirteen employees.

"Rhonda really goes the extra mile. She has taken a leadership role in bringing the staff together and working as a team. This has been a huge benefit to the residents and the staff," says Lynda Meade, acting supervisor of My Sister's Place Lodge and Holden Hall.

"This is a humbling experience. I thank God that I have been given the opportunity to serve in this capacity," Rhonda says.  "This is not work to me . . . it is ministry. I love what I do."

Up to twenty-eight women live at the Lodge at any given time and most, if not all, cannot afford their own housing.  For two years the Lodge provides them with the life skills they need to succeed on their own and Rhonda says that seeing them striving and fighting to get where they need to be is uplifting to her.

"This is the beginning of their future. Thanks to the Lodge, they are on the road to becoming self sufficient," she says. 

According to Lynda, Rhonda sees value in every person she meets. “She embodies the Catholic Charities mission of cherishing the Divine within. It has been a privilege working with her,” Lynda says. 

My Sister's Place Lodge

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