Wendy Zhang- 50 Stories for 50 Years (Story # 19)
Wendy started working at Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House after her second son was born. Her friend told her about a part-time job working with children at a Neighborhood House near Main and Broadway in Vancouver. It sounded like a great chance to return to a job Wendy loved while raising her two young boys.
At her interview, Wendy admired MPNH’s shared space. High ceilings filled the room with natural light. Sofas and coffee tables surrounded a large fireplace. There was even a kitchen! It felt like a home, not like any daycare she had worked in before.
Wendy thought, "This is special!"
She started hosting the Family Drop-In every Friday. But this job was different from the childcare she did before her sons were born. At a Family Drop-In, parents do not leave. They stay and take part in the activities. This made Wendy nervous at first, but she soon grew to love it.
Then, one morning, she woke up and her voice was gone.
There was no warning, no sore throat, and no other symptoms. Wendy’s husband had to call MPNH to tell them she could not come to work.
Her doctor suggested Wendy find a job that did not require constant talking or raising her voice. But if she could not run the Family Drop-Ins, what would she do?
MPNH offered Wendy a chance to work in the daycare and preschool. In these settings, her colleagues could help when she could not use her voice.
Wendy worked one-on-one with children and soon knew she had found her calling. She felt inspired working with MPNH’s knowledgeable and talented childcare providers. Each day she came to work, Wendy knew she was making a difference.
"We are not just watching children," Wendy says. "We are wiring their brain for trust, resilience, and love."
Wendy is passionate about working with children whose talents are not obvious. One of her favorite experiences was working with a preschool boy with autism. He did not communicate easily. But Wendy did not want to just guess what he needed. Day by day, she watched him. She tried different ways to communicate so she could understand him.
Slowly, Wendy discovered his brilliance. He drew complex pictures. He loved the alphabet. At first, Wendy could not tell what his drawings were. Then she realized he was drawing three-dimensional words.
They formed a strong bond through the boy’s time at MPNH. Before he left for kindergarten, he drew his family tree. It showed his mom, his brother, his sister, and Wendy. She was part of his family.
Looking ahead, Wendy hopes MPNH keeps providing excellent childcare. As an immigrant herself, Wendy knows how important it is to have a respectful, inclusive place where people know they are welcome. Fifty years from now, she hopes MPNH will serve even more families – not only through more childcare, but through more of all the programs that enrich MPNH’s community.
Story written by Carrie Keen through an interview with the staff during her practicum placement at Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House.
50 Stories for 50 Years at MPNH is a collection of meaningful stories that celebrate the lasting impact our Neighbourhood House has had over the years. These stories come from long-time participants, families, youth, volunteers, community members, and regular visitors whose lives have been touched, supported, or transformed through our programs, services, and connections at the House.
