While jazz singer, songwriter and saxophonist Curtis Stigers' touring schedule is on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic, his wife Jodi Peterson-Stigers continues to go to work in Boise, Idaho.
Jodi is the Executive Director of Interfaith Sanctuary. The shelter serves people of all genders, races, religions, and sexual orientation, as well as families with children, by providing a safe overnight emergency bed and practical services to transition out of homelessness.
Peterson-Stigers says she has 22 staffers at Interfaith Sanctuary. What is she learning about them during this difficult time?
"They're heroes. They're unbelievable. Their ability to look past themselves and serve others is incredible. I'm also learning a lot about our guests and their strength and their willingness to step in and help us do this work. It's life-affirming for me. I know this is why I can do this work because of what I experience everyday from the actions that happen at our shelter. Also very much from the community support that has been with us since this started. They're aware that we're in a pretty tricky situation and they're figuring out in all different ways how to help us."
Peterson-Stigers says that inspiration combines with her inner-makeup when approaching her challenging job.
"For me I'm not someone who operates with fear much, it seems to be a missing emotion for me. I think that's why I've been able to do the kind of work I do. This new COVID-19 reality has kind of kicked my fear in a little bit as far as responsibility. I have to figure out how we can be really good at this because I don't want loss of life. I don't want my elderly guests to not have the same kind of protections as someone who is housed. That's weighed really heavily on me. I asked my husband, because we have to keep him busy creatively or he'll go crazy, I gave him a prompt to write a song 'How do you know what to do what you don't know how to do?' And that's what I feel like everyday is like. How do you do keep doing that? It's about reaching out and talking to as many people as you can to get their innotative ideas and then implement quickly."
Jodi says her husband has been a huge help at home.
"He (Curtis) has turned out to be the most wonderful house husband in the world. He makes it easy for me to come home. He's doing an excellent job as a partner because it's a little stressful right now to say the least."
The couple, who met while working on a music fundraiser, have three dogs to keep them company too.
Stigers' new tune "Shut-ins" was recently featured on the WBGO website in an article written by Nate Chinen.
Click above to hear more about the shelter and why Jodi Peterson-Stigers got involved with Interfaith Sanctuary many years ago.
