Member Highlight: Jacqueline Hubbard
Jacqueline Hubbard’s journey with Union Capital stands out from the rest. Originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, Hubbard eventually made her way to Roxbury before settling in East Boston, bringing a unique perspective to her story.
Hubbard was not always social. She didn’t want to stick out in crowds and felt she was better off standing in the shadows. However, this changed when her niece introduced her to Union Capital.
Hubbard reflects on her first UC meeting, a Halloween event. This meeting was a Roxbury UC event, which she attended for a few years with her niece before moving to East Boston. She has been a standout member for seven years since.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m stuck being not happy where I’m at, Union Capital helps get me out of that rut,” said Hubbard.
Living in East Boston, a mostly Hispanic community, the events she attends for UC run predominantly in Spanish. This raises the question, why? Why does Jacqueline Hubbard attend events that are not in her primary language?
The answer is easy. Hubbard loves the community. She reflects on how welcoming everybody at the meetings are, how easy it is to walk into an event and find a smile. There’s interpreters, but beyond that there’s people. Hubbard walks with a cane and remembers how the UC East Boston members are eager to help her be more comfortable in the community spaces.
“They [Union Capital] have somebody there to interpret for you so you understand what they’re saying. They’re all very friendly, that’s why I like it. And they [UC East Boston members] help me when I go there. I walk with a cane, so they’ll make my food for me and wherever I sit they help bring it to me. What I like is that everybody tries to interact with me as much as they can, even without much English, but they let me know that I’m welcome there. And I feel welcomed, I feel good to go there every time,” said Hubbard when asked about why she chooses to attend UC meetings that don’t happen in her language.
Through UC, Hubbard has been able to grow and become a social butterfly. “I have changed. Before I wouldn’t socialize with people, now I socialize. I’m more comfortable and confident.” Hubbard also has set a goal for herself to learn more Spanish in order to better interact with the people in her community.
Some of Hubbards favorite events are the ones that have arts and crafts, or the ones that take place in the parks or in outdoor spaces. She has always been a creative person but since joining UC has been able to harness more of her creative abilities.
Hubbard has recently faced troubles with her housing and struggles to get through to her management. Through UC, Hubbard was able to connect with Seniors in Power and Purpose who helped her overcome her fear of the management at her housing.
“They help me a lot. They helped me to overcome my fears of talking to my management, and how to overcome a lot of difficulties. They also gave me lots of resources, things I can go to for these issues I’m facing. They gave me some encouragement, and it helped a lot,” said Hubbard.
Hubbard is open to learning at all times. She loves being able to connect with resources and wants to learn new things every step of the way. In opening new chapters of her life, Hubbard reflects on how far she’s come in her time with UC.
Jacqueline Hubbard’s journey with Union Capital is a testament to the power of community and personal growth. From her initial hesitations to becoming a vibrant, engaged member of her community, Hubbard’s story illustrates the impact of connection and support. Being a member of UC has helped her embrace her voice, creativity, and confidence. As she continues to navigate challenges and learn, Hubbard’s story reminds us that growth often begins with a single step into an open and welcoming space.