Volunteer Voices: Joe Elgin

Joe Elgin

Community Volunteer

Founder and Lead Technician, Maui Tech Support

Dear EPA Maui and Roots Reborn, 

Having gone through quite a few training courses with your org, I wanted to share my experience. 

I've now attended both El Pueblo en Acción Maui's "Know Your Rights" training and their "Know Your Rights Sim Practice Lab," and the Practice Lab is on another level entirely. There's a real difference between learning information and being asked to act it out. The simulation format made everything click in a way a standard training never could. I walked away not just informed, but genuinely clear on what my role in the community could be. 

The experience stayed with me. I started reaching out to my own business network to make sure they knew this training existed. Many of them are restaurant owners and nonprofit leaders who work directly with the public every day, and I think every organization like theirs should go through it. EPA Maui is doing essential work, and this training in particular deserves to be seen by as many people as possible. 

I happened to be at the most recent KYRs training this last Friday. After the training I spoke with a few of my clients and just mentioned they also do a training with a practice lab, which was met with enthusiasm, especially from the medical staff who have concerns about what they would do if ICE came onsite. 

I also attended the Accompaniment training, and it was eye opening in a different way. I had heard about the watch group volunteer tip line before, but it wasn't until this training that I really understood how vulnerable members of our community are and what that experience must feel like. That understanding is what moved me from being aware of the tip line to actually wanting to get involved. 

Thank you for the work you're doing. Trainings like this one are exactly what our community needs right now, and I hope you're able to keep offering them and reach even more people who don't yet realize how much they need it. 

EPA Maui’s Response

Mahalo nui loa, Joe. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed nunc lectus, rhoncus in arcu eu, tristique blandit sapien. Duis bibendum viverra venenatis. Nunc vulputate ex mauris, id pharetra lorem maximus non. Suspendisse lacinia dapibus tellus sed malesuada. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce ultricies luctus leo eu laoreet. Sed ac vestibulum elit, in scelerisque elit. Suspendisse vulputate risus quis auctor rutrum. Praesent dictum vestibulum rhoncus. Praesent elementum leo eu quam sollicitudin vulputate. Pellentesque ac elit urna. Donec elementum porta congue. Etiam lacinia, nunc sed volutpat pharetra, ex risus rutrum nunc, scelerisque venenatis sapien augue eu tortor.