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Solby Yoon

If any volunteer embodies the phrase “speak softly and carry a big stick,” it’s our Hayward regular Mok Reon Yoon – known around the construction site as Solby. While Solby projects a calm, quiet persona - as her Korean name, translated as “lotus tree,” would suggest - her reputation as the powerhouse of the Hayward rehab has overflowed from the worksite and travelled up the I-880, into the far reaches of Habitat East Bay’s office where Rehab Manager Seth Melchert gushes tales of her relentless work ethic and enthusiasm. “Solby doesn’t try to attract a lot of attention,” says Seth, “but she gets the job done.” Those last words were spoken emphatically, evoking an image of our featured volunteer not as merely a silently puffing steam engine but as a cyclonic tour-de-force of quiet productivity. Indeed, this Cal Berkeley grad – an Architecture major at that – is a weekly devotee at our Pompano Avenue rehab.

Approaching Solby on the construction site about this award proved difficult; it was a guilt-provoking task because it implied breaking her carefully refined, focused, and downright impressive work rhythm. The news seemed to come as a complete surprise – and it even took quite a bit of convincing to convey how much she really deserves this award. It is obvious that Solby does not seek personal recognition; in fact, she only accepted the award after we reassured her that it was really for the benefit of the entire organization, as her story can be an inspiration to others. Needless to say, we were delighted when she accepted our offer of Volunteer of the Month for October, and simply wowed by the depth of devotion to Habitat as shown in her interview questions below.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Besides work and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity East Bay, what other things do you do with your time?
I'm very interested in sustainable energy and green building methods and technologies. I'm planning to apply to a graduate program in energy and resources next year. Before I thought it would be a great learning experience of volunteering for Habitat so I could get hands-on experience with building construction. I work at the Japanese restaurant during the day and study at night.

How did you first get involved with Habitat East Bay?
When I was in high school in L.A., I dreamed about becoming an architect. I heard about Habitat from my counselor and she suggested I volunteer. I did so when I lived in L.A., but when I began studying architecture in Berkeley, I found I was spending all my time in the studio. I'm happy that nowadays I have more time to volunteer.

What is your current role and level of involvement with us?
I started to volunteer regularly in August. Although It's been only a few months, it's something I'm enjoying very much. I will definitely continue to volunteer and be able to contribute more.

What motivates you to continue with Habitat East Bay?
The people who work at the construction site motivate me the most. Although I feel like I'm still new at this, people are always so patient and nice. We motivate each other to finish the job. I feel so great and more confident after a long day of volunteering knowing how much it's going to improve the lives of a family.

Why do you make volunteering for Habitat East Bay a priority?
Volunteering for Habitat East Bay is the best way for me to return what I received from the community myself. As an immigrant here in America, it was not easy for me to adjust to a new culture and language, but I always met good people who wanted to help me and encourage me.

What have been your most memorable experiences?
The most memorable experience was working on the roof. It was very exciting to go up to the roof and do work on a part of a house you normally don't see or have access to. You really can get a sense of what you are accomplishing looking down from the room. It also feels great when you get a cool breeze blowing on your face when sweat is pouring down your face!

What are your future projects or goals at Habitat East Bay?
I'm planning to volunteer for Habitat East Bay every week for as long as possible. I'd like to find out more about how the organization runs and find other ways of working for Habitat.

How does the mission and philosophy of Habitat East Bay fit in your own life values?
My life goal is learning about green buildings and ultimately using that knowledge to help Korea become a more sustainable country and society. I think Habitat provides me with a lot of practical experience because green policy has to be backed up with practical and economical approaches in order to be successful. I hope that my experience will give me insights when I study about this or that policy or ideas.

If you could be a tool what would you be and why?
I would be a caulking tool. When I caulk the gaps of wood and window, I feel like a mother who buttons down her son's jacket so that he does not feel cold when he goes outside. Except that I'm buttoning down a house!

What is your favorite job on the construction site?
My favorite job is carpentry at the site. I'm still not very good with this and learn a lot every time I do it. [When we first started carpentry] I wasn't really good doing it because it required detailed work. On the first day, I was really depending on . . . my partner to do carpentry and I just measured and helped him cut the wood. But the second time I was able to do a better job. It was exciting to make something from wood since I never thought I could do it well. This is one of the favorite things about the job on the construction site. There is always something challenging.

As a woman how does working on a construction affect you?
Every time I volunteer, I learn to think more like a construction worker, which is a different way of thinking about things that I'm used to. It's kind of liberating, actually, because with the tools of construction, you're able to solve problems creatively. Instead of buying a cabinet, for example, you can rebuild a closet to better suit your needs. It's something I'm appreciating more and more since I didn't have much experience working with tools while growing up.

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