Students who live at the Upper Eastside Lofts and take the chance to be employed as a Community Assistant learn valuable life skills that prepare them for the real world outside of school, all the while bonding with fellow student residents and having fun. But, the job isn’t for everyone.

“The Community Assistant is basically the same thing as a Resident Assistant except it’s off campus. We call them Community Assistants just to differentiate from the on-campus/off-campus feel,” said Danny Hyche, community manager at the lofts.

A CA has the responsibility of building community, maintaining communications between management and residents and assisting in administrative tasks. In exchange, the lofts provide free housing, utilities and whatever else it takes to live in the off-campus community.

CAs are a crucial component of the success of student housing projects. The lofts, which are managed by Allen & O’Hara Education Services Inc., employ more student staff CAs than any other position, Hyche said.

“That’s huge. If we didn’t have community assistants, our company would fail,” Hyche said.

Danny Estrada, sophomore kinesiology major who has lived at the lofts since May, was one of three CAs to have recently quit. The reason for his departure, he said, was to pick up more hours at his other job at Journeys in the Galleria Mall.

“I needed to make some more money and the lofts, they give you free rent but they don’t pay you,” Estrada said.

Performing the duties of a CA requires a significant time commitment, which is another reason why Estrada and possibly the other two students quit.

Besides the 12 hours a week that CAs are obligated to work at the leasing office front desk, CAs must also attend mandatory weekly staff meetings, serve on-call shifts after regular business hours and execute numerous community programming activities.

Programming activities must meet the category requirements of a nine-spoke wellness wheel, which is a program that the Sacramento State residence halls are also participating in.

The wellness wheel consists of nine categories of wellness that are essential for a complete, healthy lifestyle, said Sonya L. Maestas, residence life coordinator. The nine categories are spiritual, emotional, physical, sexual, cultural, intellectual, environmental, social and occupational.

“For example, how to make a stress ball can count as emotional. Recycling 101 can count as environmental,” Maestas said.

Each CA plans at least three community-programming activities a month.

Both Hyche and Maestas said by committing to the CA job, students also agree to being role models.

“Before they give us the position, they tell us it’s like being in a fish bowl. People look at you and try to see the things you’re doing,” said CA Scott Bohannon, senior kinesiology major.

Bohannon, however, isn’t bothered by it. He says it’s just part of what he signed up for.

An important characteristic that CAs must possess is the ability to be approachable. According to the Allen & O’Hara website, which describes the duties and responsibilities of CAs, CAs must practice an “open-door” policy.

“Sometimes when you’re trying to catch up on sleep, you get a knock on the door from someone who wants to talk,” Bohannon said.

CAs are trained in conflict and time management.

“Whenever two people living in a room have issues with each other, the CA is there to be that good person to help them work through the issues,” Hyche said.

Even with the responsibilities and time commitments, Bohannon makes it clear that being a CA is still worth it for him.

“It’s an adventure. I used to be really shy. Being here made me come out of my shell more,” Bohannon said. “I feel like this job has really brought out a better side of me.”

Inna Gritsak can be reached at [email protected].