Saturday, January 11, 2014
The Pitch...
Although it did not take too much effort to assemble my presentation, my thought process behind the whole project was going out of control with ideas. Like I said during my pitch, I've been looking for an outlet to present this idea of ZEEBags in America for a long time. I was surprised at how eager people were to buy bags, and that gave me newfound hope that my ideas could actually work. I looked at my phone after I presented, and 3 people sitting around the table had already contacted me about helping me make this a successful feat here on campus. I'm amazed at the outcome of my simple, humble pitch, and I'm proud to have been the one to present it. Just the reassurance that people are excited about these bags makes me feel like I'm aiding the problem, not putting a bandaid on. It's a good feeling.
I take this entire ZEEBag project almost as a duty to those women, and to Zimbabwe. I go on and on about my life back home, all the service I've done and all the people and places there that I love. I wouldn't be justifying any of what I say if I wasn't making an impact from this far away. I had the opportunity of talking to the Vice President of Zimbabwe-- Amai Joyce Mujuru-- and we had hours and hours of conversation on women's empowerment over multiple cups of tea on her tobacco farm in the rural areas. Not many people get that opportunity. The topic at hand was such an intense one, and we talked so freely about it. Her being a strong women's activist herself, urged me in later email to continue the work I do with women, and lift them up. In the last email she sent me, she said "Us women, we have to work double the time our male friends do my girl.You know why, it's because we are the chosen ones to nurture people of the Universe biologically,birth,teach and grow them.That needs a heart with immeasurable love."
I'm going to be committed to this project. There are so many factors propelling me to make it successful.
I remember saying at the beginning of the Fall Semester that all the knowledge I gain out of Africa, I'm going to take it back, and implement it there, and make it better in any way that I can. This si still my goal. At the beginning of the year I struggled with moving, and finding device groups that I clicked with instantly, the way I did back home. The problem was I was trying to do service exactly the same way I did there, and that's not how things work in this country. There are more rules, more safety features, more authoritative figures and a larger plan or structure that I had to follow. Now that I've learned how to do that, and service here has become a huge passion, I think I am ready to implement "African service" back into my life. I now know how to balance these two lifestyles, and I know how to incorporate service there into my life here. In doing so, I feel like I am fulfilling my duty, and that motivates me to do the best I can.
Thank you to all the facilitators for such an eye opening experience. No two immersions are every quite the same. Our individual projects were a great way to rap up our events and keep the spirit of this immersion alive for a long long time.
I take this entire ZEEBag project almost as a duty to those women, and to Zimbabwe. I go on and on about my life back home, all the service I've done and all the people and places there that I love. I wouldn't be justifying any of what I say if I wasn't making an impact from this far away. I had the opportunity of talking to the Vice President of Zimbabwe-- Amai Joyce Mujuru-- and we had hours and hours of conversation on women's empowerment over multiple cups of tea on her tobacco farm in the rural areas. Not many people get that opportunity. The topic at hand was such an intense one, and we talked so freely about it. Her being a strong women's activist herself, urged me in later email to continue the work I do with women, and lift them up. In the last email she sent me, she said "Us women, we have to work double the time our male friends do my girl.You know why, it's because we are the chosen ones to nurture people of the Universe biologically,birth,teach and grow them.That needs a heart with immeasurable love."
I'm going to be committed to this project. There are so many factors propelling me to make it successful.
I remember saying at the beginning of the Fall Semester that all the knowledge I gain out of Africa, I'm going to take it back, and implement it there, and make it better in any way that I can. This si still my goal. At the beginning of the year I struggled with moving, and finding device groups that I clicked with instantly, the way I did back home. The problem was I was trying to do service exactly the same way I did there, and that's not how things work in this country. There are more rules, more safety features, more authoritative figures and a larger plan or structure that I had to follow. Now that I've learned how to do that, and service here has become a huge passion, I think I am ready to implement "African service" back into my life. I now know how to balance these two lifestyles, and I know how to incorporate service there into my life here. In doing so, I feel like I am fulfilling my duty, and that motivates me to do the best I can.
Thank you to all the facilitators for such an eye opening experience. No two immersions are every quite the same. Our individual projects were a great way to rap up our events and keep the spirit of this immersion alive for a long long time.
Coalition for the Homeless
I was nice having a slower morning and afternoon to reflect, recuperate, and rejuvenate from the intense work the last two days. It was also nice to have everyone being even more nice to me on my birthday. The drive home was smooth, the weather was perfect and cloudy, and the atmosphere was just mellow.
I was excited to learn about our Commitment Project, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do. The ZEEBags foundation has been in Zimbabwe for almost 3 years now, and I want to make it big at Rollins and in our surrounding communities. I think that America presents so many outlets for small entrepreneurial businesses, and sales here could have an immense impact on the HIV positive women that are trying to make ends meet.
Coalition for the Homeless was not what I expected. Working there as a Bonner volunteer, I had full attention from the people in charge of volunteer services (Marty and Kristen), and it was different doing a group project with the women. Obviously we could not have known what to expect; and neither could the women doing our jewelry making activity. I know a few of them thought we were going to teach them how to make intricate jewelry, and a few didn't eve know if was a jewelry making class. The thing that I saw the most was connection-building. A few women had made really beautiful pieces, but everyone in the room was talking; Rollins and the Coalition. So often we take basic conversation for granitoid, and I've learned to appreciate it more working with the homeless this week. Although I try my hardest to remember how privileged I am to be living the life I do, this week has taught me that even without material things, and private duration, people are making their lives better in their own capacities. It is my job, as the ones with more resources, to help them one their way- "Hand Up, Not Hand Out"
I was excited to learn about our Commitment Project, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do. The ZEEBags foundation has been in Zimbabwe for almost 3 years now, and I want to make it big at Rollins and in our surrounding communities. I think that America presents so many outlets for small entrepreneurial businesses, and sales here could have an immense impact on the HIV positive women that are trying to make ends meet.
Coalition for the Homeless was not what I expected. Working there as a Bonner volunteer, I had full attention from the people in charge of volunteer services (Marty and Kristen), and it was different doing a group project with the women. Obviously we could not have known what to expect; and neither could the women doing our jewelry making activity. I know a few of them thought we were going to teach them how to make intricate jewelry, and a few didn't eve know if was a jewelry making class. The thing that I saw the most was connection-building. A few women had made really beautiful pieces, but everyone in the room was talking; Rollins and the Coalition. So often we take basic conversation for granitoid, and I've learned to appreciate it more working with the homeless this week. Although I try my hardest to remember how privileged I am to be living the life I do, this week has taught me that even without material things, and private duration, people are making their lives better in their own capacities. It is my job, as the ones with more resources, to help them one their way- "Hand Up, Not Hand Out"
Friday, January 10, 2014
Blessed beyond compare.
A blessing, as defined by Dictionary.com, is a "special favor, mercy, or benefit". This entire experience over the course of the last five days has proved to be more of a blessing and a challenging growth opportunity for myself rather than a personal giving back testimonial. Time after time, one of my peers or a member of the community we were serving would strike me or speak into my life personally. Time after time, I was engaged, I was challenged, I was pushed, but even more so I was convicted and burdened for the condition at which our world so easily turns their heads in ignorance toward.
I am ashamed of my behavior. I am ashamed at the fact that I have lost sight of the moral truth that all life is sacred and should be placed at a position of honor and respect. No life should be taken for granted or abuse in any way, shape, or form. When I boiled it down, I had been afraid of the poverty, of the issue I was seeing because of the false pretenses being stereotypically infused in my media driven diet. It would be my goal to remedy this fear and combat it with directly engaging the impact area by carrying "go packs" of necessities in my car and on my person at all times. I would use said packs to minister to the under served individuals I would be interacting with and to provide them with the sensation that they are thought of, appreciated, and loved by someone out in the world. I would pray that this realization in my own life would stem to encourage and to challenge others to take a stand, be uncomfortable, and make the world a place we would be proud to call our home.
On the drive back to Lake Nona where I live yesterday, my thoughts kept crossing the occurrences and opportunities I have been given to make a difference in the life of someone less fortune than I. Every single day that I drive to Rollins, I pass at least four homeless individuals partaking in panhandling along side specifically the corner of Semoran and Aloma. There hasn't been a single time that I have chosen to look those individuals in the eye and pay them the humane respect that they are due. I have time and time again chosen to ignore their existence, pretending the problem or the individuals do not exist when they so evidently stare me boldly in the face.
I am ashamed of my behavior. I am ashamed at the fact that I have lost sight of the moral truth that all life is sacred and should be placed at a position of honor and respect. No life should be taken for granted or abuse in any way, shape, or form. When I boiled it down, I had been afraid of the poverty, of the issue I was seeing because of the false pretenses being stereotypically infused in my media driven diet. It would be my goal to remedy this fear and combat it with directly engaging the impact area by carrying "go packs" of necessities in my car and on my person at all times. I would use said packs to minister to the under served individuals I would be interacting with and to provide them with the sensation that they are thought of, appreciated, and loved by someone out in the world. I would pray that this realization in my own life would stem to encourage and to challenge others to take a stand, be uncomfortable, and make the world a place we would be proud to call our home. A Leader and A Follower
The immersion has ended but in spirit, I feel like it has already began. It amazes me the amount of leadership ability, experience, conviction, and intellect that the Alfonners have. I was literally blown away by the presentations that were presented. Each Alfonner had their own approach and their own way of conveying their feelings and emotions.
I would personally like to say to all the Alfonners that this has really been a great experience for me. It is so nice to be surrounded by like minded individuals, individuals who want to do so much more with their lives, individuals that want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. That amount of energy in one room is simply amazing.
My act of commitment seemed very fragmented to me so over the upcoming semester I will make it a point to organize my commitment and to make sure that is implemented into action. It's such a hard thing to wrap your mind around that you can make a difference or that you can make impactful change in a big way. I've learned that once you commit to something, once you really evaluate your motives and inspirations, you will stop at nothing to get it done. My goal of self-publishing a book has shown me that if you really want to change your lifestyle and take action you will do anything to do it.
The Alfonners are utterly amazing. If anyone reads this blog know that I second all the acts of commitment that were presented tonight. I will do anything that I can to help others achieve their goals. If this simply means being someone's sounding board or helping someone fundraise or designing posters, I will help in anyway possible. If we've learned anything over the break, I've learned that we are a group that works well together and that cooperation is a must if we want to make lasting, forward progress.
I would personally like to say to all the Alfonners that this has really been a great experience for me. It is so nice to be surrounded by like minded individuals, individuals who want to do so much more with their lives, individuals that want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. That amount of energy in one room is simply amazing.
My act of commitment seemed very fragmented to me so over the upcoming semester I will make it a point to organize my commitment and to make sure that is implemented into action. It's such a hard thing to wrap your mind around that you can make a difference or that you can make impactful change in a big way. I've learned that once you commit to something, once you really evaluate your motives and inspirations, you will stop at nothing to get it done. My goal of self-publishing a book has shown me that if you really want to change your lifestyle and take action you will do anything to do it.
The Alfonners are utterly amazing. If anyone reads this blog know that I second all the acts of commitment that were presented tonight. I will do anything that I can to help others achieve their goals. If this simply means being someone's sounding board or helping someone fundraise or designing posters, I will help in anyway possible. If we've learned anything over the break, I've learned that we are a group that works well together and that cooperation is a must if we want to make lasting, forward progress.
The Final Blog
Today was
very reflection heavy, with plenty of different perspectives and takes on the
Immersion experience coming to light. I was absolutely floored by the
creativity and sheer passion expressed by everyone at the dinner. Everyone
tapped into their creative side to produce beautiful poems, artwork, and
displays of what they learned and have to share with Rollins and the community
at large.
The good
that lives inside everyone in this intercession course is quite apparent, and I
cannot wait to see what everyone accomplishes both in their commitments and in
their futures. For their commitments, each person incorporated their own
personal talents and visions to create goals that I have no doubt we have the
ability to achieve. I am certainly willing and thrilled to help everyone meet
their commitment goals.
This week
has resulted in thought provoking experiences, friendships, and perspectives. It
has served as a solid beginning to the semester and has provided me with just
the perspective I need before I set out to start my second semester of college.
The people that we have encountered have profoundly affected my view of
homelessness, and I will carry with me the generosity shown by the people such
as Jack, the homeless man who offered his jacket, and countless other people
who dedicate their lives to doing good in the world. I cannot wait to apply
these lessons to my life as a student and an active citizen of the world.
As a reminder of my commitment to let people who have impacted my life know just how much they matter, I have decided to make my last picture a picture of one of the children of my Dominican family who I want to reach out to again.
Thank you for a wonderful intercession!
We Are The Crazy Ones
Hey guys! I just wanted to thank you all so much for this week. I had such an amazing time and it was really great to meet some other student leaders who value service as much as I do. I felt like our chemistry was amazing throughout the entire Intersession :)
As for tonight, I had such a great time hearing what everyone's Act of Commitment was and to just simply hear the dedication in everyone's voices as they spoke about what they were passionate about. You all have worked so had on everything you throw yourselves into and I feel so lucky to call you guys my friends. Sitting there at dinner tonight I felt so empowered by everyone's presentations. You guys had so much passion in your voice when you spoke about how certain issues of service impacts you and how you want to make a difference. As the quote on the back of Kristyn's Band-Aid stated, "the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do" and I truly believe this applies to all of us. Some bystanders may look at the problems we choose to dedicate our lives to and think, "wow, I could never make a difference" but in reality we are the dreamers who can see a day when everyone has a home and no child goes to bed hungry.
As for tonight, I had such a great time hearing what everyone's Act of Commitment was and to just simply hear the dedication in everyone's voices as they spoke about what they were passionate about. You all have worked so had on everything you throw yourselves into and I feel so lucky to call you guys my friends. Sitting there at dinner tonight I felt so empowered by everyone's presentations. You guys had so much passion in your voice when you spoke about how certain issues of service impacts you and how you want to make a difference. As the quote on the back of Kristyn's Band-Aid stated, "the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do" and I truly believe this applies to all of us. Some bystanders may look at the problems we choose to dedicate our lives to and think, "wow, I could never make a difference" but in reality we are the dreamers who can see a day when everyone has a home and no child goes to bed hungry.
My Final Vlog Post
Thank you so much for a great intercession!! :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X03jaHFGP0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X03jaHFGP0
Day 5- Dreams Come Alive :)
Hi again!
Today was the last official day of intercession, and I don't think we could have finished our session in any better way. Yesterday, before venturing to coalition, we were assigned a final project for the academic portion of our intercession. For this project, we were told to make an active commitment plan. To be entirely honest, I was expecting a few minor commitments scattered throughout various papers displaying a few different creative lenses. What I encountered tonight, however, was an incredible group of people with incredibly large commitments to change the world on an incredible scale. Here is the gist of everyone's active commitments:
Shree- education and agriculture in Nepal
Avani- Zee Bags
Mariana- The Humbler
Grace- WiTs (Words to Strangers)
Me (Abby)- real beauty sketches
Andrew- including the homeless and being conscious of the environment
Cailah- Go Bags (and washing our feet which was touching beyond compare)
Kamil- message a homeless man who inspired him every week
Meghan- let people know how much they have impacted her life
Jackie- information and resources for the homeless
Robby- formal declaration of commitment
Divya- education and literacy around the world
Elena- LGBTQ+ rights ally
Kristyn- awareness of animal abuse
Brandon- petition to change panhandling laws
Thank you all so much for making this a perfect week of friendship and learning. I hope the students who have the opportunity to attend this immersion next year have even half as much fun as we did. :)
Today was the last official day of intercession, and I don't think we could have finished our session in any better way. Yesterday, before venturing to coalition, we were assigned a final project for the academic portion of our intercession. For this project, we were told to make an active commitment plan. To be entirely honest, I was expecting a few minor commitments scattered throughout various papers displaying a few different creative lenses. What I encountered tonight, however, was an incredible group of people with incredibly large commitments to change the world on an incredible scale. Here is the gist of everyone's active commitments:
Shree- education and agriculture in Nepal
Avani- Zee Bags
Mariana- The Humbler
Grace- WiTs (Words to Strangers)
Me (Abby)- real beauty sketches
Andrew- including the homeless and being conscious of the environment
Cailah- Go Bags (and washing our feet which was touching beyond compare)
Kamil- message a homeless man who inspired him every week
Meghan- let people know how much they have impacted her life
Jackie- information and resources for the homeless
Robby- formal declaration of commitment
Divya- education and literacy around the world
Elena- LGBTQ+ rights ally
Kristyn- awareness of animal abuse
Brandon- petition to change panhandling laws
Thank you all so much for making this a perfect week of friendship and learning. I hope the students who have the opportunity to attend this immersion next year have even half as much fun as we did. :)
#AlfonnerLove <3
Day 5
This week has really shown me a lot about the societal issues that are occurring in our own communities. They are often pushed into the shadows out of ignorance and fear,resulting in a compounding problem for underserved individuals. The whole experience has really impassioned me to be a more active citizen. While our group worked with impoverished people, I find that the issue draws many parallels with that of my own personal passion- animal rights. The well being and livelihood of non-human beings are often passed over in our daily lives. I believe it is my responsibility to identify and educate people on the gruesome injustices animals face at the hands of human consumption.
I am declaring that I will make my passion for animal justice a priority and forefront theme in my daily life. I will continue to practice a compassionate and cruelty-free vegan lifestyle. However, I will also take more public steps in order to increase awareness and hopefully enlighten more people to stop the exploitation of animals. I have already gotten in contact with Animal Rights Florida- a group based out of Orlando that organizes protests and rallies for the well-being of animals. I will collaborate with them and attend events that bring injustice to the public eye. It is my duty as an active citizen to enthusiastically participate in breaking the cycle of mindless consumption of other living beings. I can start this weekend by
attending the aforementioned group’s protests at the Ringling Brothers circus which is at the Amway Center for the next several days. I will continue to actively participate in events that reflect my passion for animal rights and expose injustice in my community.
This class has taught me so much and has really inspired me to start acting on my passions. I'm so thankful for the whole experience and all the wonderful people I have gotten to know a bit since Monday. Thank you all so much for being such amazing and enthusiastic people!
Love,
Kristyn
I am declaring that I will make my passion for animal justice a priority and forefront theme in my daily life. I will continue to practice a compassionate and cruelty-free vegan lifestyle. However, I will also take more public steps in order to increase awareness and hopefully enlighten more people to stop the exploitation of animals. I have already gotten in contact with Animal Rights Florida- a group based out of Orlando that organizes protests and rallies for the well-being of animals. I will collaborate with them and attend events that bring injustice to the public eye. It is my duty as an active citizen to enthusiastically participate in breaking the cycle of mindless consumption of other living beings. I can start this weekend by
attending the aforementioned group’s protests at the Ringling Brothers circus which is at the Amway Center for the next several days. I will continue to actively participate in events that reflect my passion for animal rights and expose injustice in my community.
This class has taught me so much and has really inspired me to start acting on my passions. I'm so thankful for the whole experience and all the wonderful people I have gotten to know a bit since Monday. Thank you all so much for being such amazing and enthusiastic people!
Love,
Kristyn
Uhm... HOLY GOODNESS GRACIOUS MOTHER OF EVERYTHING!!!!
I LOVED TONIGHT!
I was so blown away by all of the talent expressed tonight by both the Bonner and Alfond students. From impromptu rap sessions, to exemplary artwork, Cailah's tear jerking confessional, and so much more. What a brilliant and talented cohort of students so parallel in their direction. I'm very glad this group was created and united for this intercession. Within every student's project was a thread of themselves, something that expressed their innermost selves. It was impressive. I am extremely proud of my Bonners for representing us so well and am thrilled to have been to meet the Alfonds on an intimate level. It was a great week led by great facilitators, and seems to be a hint of the greatness next semester holds within.
Also, Avani's Zee Bags filled me with ideas and we're meeting Monday. I think her concept has the potential to blossom and is definitely something I want to be a part of fostering.
I LOVED TONIGHT!
I was so blown away by all of the talent expressed tonight by both the Bonner and Alfond students. From impromptu rap sessions, to exemplary artwork, Cailah's tear jerking confessional, and so much more. What a brilliant and talented cohort of students so parallel in their direction. I'm very glad this group was created and united for this intercession. Within every student's project was a thread of themselves, something that expressed their innermost selves. It was impressive. I am extremely proud of my Bonners for representing us so well and am thrilled to have been to meet the Alfonds on an intimate level. It was a great week led by great facilitators, and seems to be a hint of the greatness next semester holds within.
Also, Avani's Zee Bags filled me with ideas and we're meeting Monday. I think her concept has the potential to blossom and is definitely something I want to be a part of fostering.
Last night, we went to the Coalition for the Homeless following our drive back to Orlando from St. Petersberg. I so love going to the Coalition, or "The Coco" as it is affectionately called by those who inhabit it. Often, there is criticism levied against facilities like the Coco. They're labeled as bandaids that do not truly solve the problem. First off, I find this insulting to all of the staff that fill this facility, it further insults the donors who support the Coco in the name of over $1.4 million. The Coalition in particular acts as so much more than a bandaid and it is a place I truly love with people I care for.
Day 4 - Coalition for the Homeless
I really enjoyed going to the Coalition for the Homeless yesterday. As a Bonner Leader I will be working with them intensely throughout the spring semester because I chose them as my Community Partner, which I am really looking forward to!
As we were getting the tour of Coalition for the Homeless I was struck by the fact that Lakeside (the counseling center) had a therapist who worked on the premises. This is an excellent step in the right direction towards getting homeless people necessary psychological services. This is really important to me because when you're not in the right state of mind, or maybe you're battling past traumas such as sexual abuse, you can't go throughout your day and function properly in society, let alone take care of three children and look for a living wage job.
For my act of commitment I wish I could do something related to getting psychological and psychiatric care to more of the homeless population in Orlando, but not having the ability to counseling anyone is a major road block. If anyone knows and ways or ideas I could help out in this area please let me know :) Thanks!
As we were getting the tour of Coalition for the Homeless I was struck by the fact that Lakeside (the counseling center) had a therapist who worked on the premises. This is an excellent step in the right direction towards getting homeless people necessary psychological services. This is really important to me because when you're not in the right state of mind, or maybe you're battling past traumas such as sexual abuse, you can't go throughout your day and function properly in society, let alone take care of three children and look for a living wage job.
For my act of commitment I wish I could do something related to getting psychological and psychiatric care to more of the homeless population in Orlando, but not having the ability to counseling anyone is a major road block. If anyone knows and ways or ideas I could help out in this area please let me know :) Thanks!
Day Four
Day Four: Two different settings
Today was a good day. Unfortunately we did not build again with Habitat for Humanity, but I left that project with a sense of accomplishment. We directly assisted in the renovation of a house, a house that will give a family a home to call their own. Recognizing that fact gives me a sense of pride, something that reaffirmed my love of service. It brought to the forefront of my mind what service is all about; we serve not out of a particular obligation to serve, we serve out of a want to serve. We want to help those who don't have as much as we do, and because of that we serve.
The part of the day that really stuck in my mind was going to Coalition for the Homeless. Sitting with the women and kids, making jewelry with them, I was struck by how at ease they seemed. There were those few exceptions that just sat there quietly, not really interacting with us, but they were few. Most of the women seemed eager to talk with and have a normal conversation with another person. Providing that conversation was really fun, I was glad to be there for the short amount of time that we had.
Something came to me when I was at Coalition for the Homeless and then while we were reflecting. Someone brought up how there was a difference in reactions to our service during our two interactions with homeless on this immersion. During the hot dog handout, there was probably a 50/50 split of people who viewed us with either suspicion or gratitude. It seemed like a much colder place, both emotionally and metaphorically. At Coalition, the atmosphere seemed much warmer and welcoming. I believe that the difference in living settings factors into this, but Ed brought up a good point that Rollins works extensively with Coalition and because of that, the residents may be warmer towards us because they know we're genuine and that we really want to help.
Today was a good day. Unfortunately we did not build again with Habitat for Humanity, but I left that project with a sense of accomplishment. We directly assisted in the renovation of a house, a house that will give a family a home to call their own. Recognizing that fact gives me a sense of pride, something that reaffirmed my love of service. It brought to the forefront of my mind what service is all about; we serve not out of a particular obligation to serve, we serve out of a want to serve. We want to help those who don't have as much as we do, and because of that we serve.
The part of the day that really stuck in my mind was going to Coalition for the Homeless. Sitting with the women and kids, making jewelry with them, I was struck by how at ease they seemed. There were those few exceptions that just sat there quietly, not really interacting with us, but they were few. Most of the women seemed eager to talk with and have a normal conversation with another person. Providing that conversation was really fun, I was glad to be there for the short amount of time that we had.
Something came to me when I was at Coalition for the Homeless and then while we were reflecting. Someone brought up how there was a difference in reactions to our service during our two interactions with homeless on this immersion. During the hot dog handout, there was probably a 50/50 split of people who viewed us with either suspicion or gratitude. It seemed like a much colder place, both emotionally and metaphorically. At Coalition, the atmosphere seemed much warmer and welcoming. I believe that the difference in living settings factors into this, but Ed brought up a good point that Rollins works extensively with Coalition and because of that, the residents may be warmer towards us because they know we're genuine and that we really want to help.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
A State of Being Not a Quality
Today I visited Coalition for the Homeless. And it really is a coalition. David Shipler in his book mentioned frequently how a lot of "solutions" to poverty really only targets the symptoms and not the causes. Coalition for the Homeless attempts to target the main causes of poverty. They are not one of the shelters that maintain the "vortex of poverty" as it has so rightly been named. They want to help people move up in life. I was surprised by the variety of services and programs that Coalition offers to people that are homeless, especially all it does for families.
Over the course of the Immersion, my ideas and perceptions of homelessness and poverty have changed dramatically. During reflection, a thought occurred to me. Language is a very powerful thing. And as much as some of wield their words carelessly may not want to believe, words do mean things. When we think of someone who is homeless many ideas may pop into one's head. We think of the man who is grimy begging for money on the side of the road. We think of the woman pushing around a shopping cart in mangled clothes. They are lazy, they are dirty, they are stupid. They are to be feared. They make us uncomfortable. Whether you admit it or not, these are the usual responses. And I can be completely honest, homeless individuals make me anxious because of my stigmatized and stereotypical thinking.
When we think of homeless, I bet before this trip and before the book, few thought of the English and philosophy major. Few thought of the little kid who still manages to look somewhat decent in school because they live out of their moms car and still have nice clothes. No one thinks of the woman who is homeless after divorce, who has fallen from the comfort of her middle class suburban home. The definition of homelessness is simple. It is the state of being without a home. The word in itself has become twisted and convoluted. Instead of describing a state, a way of being, it is now used to describe a person. It is used to determine the and portray the background, the work ethic, the education of an individual, and that is a shame.
I am ashamed of my previous thinking as anyone who carried prejudiced views should be ashamed. I am greatly ashamed.
Over the course of the Immersion, my ideas and perceptions of homelessness and poverty have changed dramatically. During reflection, a thought occurred to me. Language is a very powerful thing. And as much as some of wield their words carelessly may not want to believe, words do mean things. When we think of someone who is homeless many ideas may pop into one's head. We think of the man who is grimy begging for money on the side of the road. We think of the woman pushing around a shopping cart in mangled clothes. They are lazy, they are dirty, they are stupid. They are to be feared. They make us uncomfortable. Whether you admit it or not, these are the usual responses. And I can be completely honest, homeless individuals make me anxious because of my stigmatized and stereotypical thinking.
When we think of homeless, I bet before this trip and before the book, few thought of the English and philosophy major. Few thought of the little kid who still manages to look somewhat decent in school because they live out of their moms car and still have nice clothes. No one thinks of the woman who is homeless after divorce, who has fallen from the comfort of her middle class suburban home. The definition of homelessness is simple. It is the state of being without a home. The word in itself has become twisted and convoluted. Instead of describing a state, a way of being, it is now used to describe a person. It is used to determine the and portray the background, the work ethic, the education of an individual, and that is a shame.
I am ashamed of my previous thinking as anyone who carried prejudiced views should be ashamed. I am greatly ashamed.
Blog 4: Coalition for the Homeless
Today I
awoke fully equipped with eight hours of sleep to successfully go about my day.
After yet another exciting van ride with the group, we received our final
assignment before preparing to depart for Coalition for the Homeless.
Entering
Coalition, one could immediately sense that this experience would be different
than the coffee and hotdog experience in the park. The woman who greeted us
filled us in on a number of facts and statistics about the Coalition that further
debunked plenty of myths commonly mentioned in the same breath as the word “homeless”.
All in all while touring the shelter, it was, on the surface, a clean and decent
place to stay. At the same time, as I pictured the people adorning the pictures
on the walls having to live day in and day out there, I cannot imagine life in
their shoes. The idea of growing up in a homeless shelter does not match the
idyllic childhood that every child deserves to have.
When it
came time to make jewelry with some of the women at the Coalition, both of the
women near me were evidently far more experienced in making jewelry than I and
produced artful bracelets. On my left, a number of us were entertaining and
being entertained by a four year old with perfectionist tendencies. The little
guy clearly had a vision for what his lizard and butterfly bead pieces were
meant to look like, and made sure we knew it. The energy and CEO potential he
brought to the table has made me reflect on how his current situation might
hinder all that he and kids just like him are capable of. With all of the other
situations we have seen on the intercession and read about in the book, there
are plenty of children like him out there with enormous potential to attain
what our society deems as “success,” but that situation might prevent. While I
lack any genuinely plausible solutions to these situations, I hope that as a
whole our community can work towards finding them. I can only imagine that with
projects like Habitat for Humanity and the work that the Coalition for the
Homeless does, we are making steps in the right direction that will hopefully start
to move even faster.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Day 3: More Painting!
Today was the third day of the trip and the second day of volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.
Im going to just take a second to point out that I have almost never done this kind of stuff before. So I was left feeling pretty accomplished after we completed the living room painting, the second coat of the outside walls and did some other things. Our supervisor, was overlooking our work the whole time. He was one of those guys that had a hard exterior but a soft interior and you could see that especially when he spoke about the homeowner of the home we were building and how important it was to do the home well for her and her family. I think it is so important to have people like that part of an organization- people passionate about the organization and what it stands for because honestly without them, there would be no organization.
I remember one of the main things that amazed me today was seeing the foundation for the next house being laid down and a significant portion of it being completed. This was all done in less than a day. There was much said about how houses were being built really quickly I mean, we were told that at the fastest paces, two houses were going up every week. But it is another thing to actually see it in front of your eyes. I guess, I emphasizing on this so much because I come from a country where some sort of strike or riot would have already occurred to stop this good work or the whole project may have been shut down due to some form of corruption or the other. At the very least, each house had to take a minimum of one year to even get the basic structure up. None of those dysfunctional occurrences were involved here. There were 32 houses that had already been built and 20 more remaining.
That is what I love about this country. Whatever the case is about poverty here (whatever we experienced and whatever we read in out textbook) people are still willing to help and there are organizations where people could contribute to either physically or by donating money. They know where their contributions are going and that sense of charity, of community is very strong (this is obviously not true for all the people but for a significant number). In my country, even if you want to help and even if you want to better the community you are never really sure how because you don't know which organization is going to actually reach your contribution to the poor and which ones are just going to keep 80% of what you have given and give 20% to the poor (this is of course if the contribution is in terms of money). So due to this, the people also develop a mistrusting attitude and refuse to give.
So this is mainly why I really enjoyed and appreciated this whole experience- it was very different and very good and I'm sorry that we couldn't stay behind and do a little more.
Im going to just take a second to point out that I have almost never done this kind of stuff before. So I was left feeling pretty accomplished after we completed the living room painting, the second coat of the outside walls and did some other things. Our supervisor, was overlooking our work the whole time. He was one of those guys that had a hard exterior but a soft interior and you could see that especially when he spoke about the homeowner of the home we were building and how important it was to do the home well for her and her family. I think it is so important to have people like that part of an organization- people passionate about the organization and what it stands for because honestly without them, there would be no organization.
I remember one of the main things that amazed me today was seeing the foundation for the next house being laid down and a significant portion of it being completed. This was all done in less than a day. There was much said about how houses were being built really quickly I mean, we were told that at the fastest paces, two houses were going up every week. But it is another thing to actually see it in front of your eyes. I guess, I emphasizing on this so much because I come from a country where some sort of strike or riot would have already occurred to stop this good work or the whole project may have been shut down due to some form of corruption or the other. At the very least, each house had to take a minimum of one year to even get the basic structure up. None of those dysfunctional occurrences were involved here. There were 32 houses that had already been built and 20 more remaining.
That is what I love about this country. Whatever the case is about poverty here (whatever we experienced and whatever we read in out textbook) people are still willing to help and there are organizations where people could contribute to either physically or by donating money. They know where their contributions are going and that sense of charity, of community is very strong (this is obviously not true for all the people but for a significant number). In my country, even if you want to help and even if you want to better the community you are never really sure how because you don't know which organization is going to actually reach your contribution to the poor and which ones are just going to keep 80% of what you have given and give 20% to the poor (this is of course if the contribution is in terms of money). So due to this, the people also develop a mistrusting attitude and refuse to give.
So this is mainly why I really enjoyed and appreciated this whole experience- it was very different and very good and I'm sorry that we couldn't stay behind and do a little more.
Today was...
Today was an ideal day. Compared to yesterday, which involved a to of thinking behind action, today was predominantly based on action and motivation to build. I focused a lot of today's time at the Habitat site on painting, and during that time, I got to reflect on previous days and the mission behind habitat. I imagined myself in the situation many Americans face, not being able to afford a house on the normal market, and what I'd require in a more moderately proved home. What if I had a family? What would my life be like? What would my job and my work schedule be like? I thought of more frivolous things, like how I'd decorate the place, what color house I'd want, and how bright and in-you-face my house in Zimbabwe is painted.
Rick and the volunteer supervisors had such different stories about how they became part of the Habitat for humanity community,and it was so interesting how some one them left their previous jobs to become full time members of Habitat. I wonder if, and hope that I find a career that I am so passionate about as these admirable and awe-inspiring people I go to know.
It's sad to think that our time here is already over. I don't quite feel lie our job is done. In my mind, e got a glimpse of how much there is to do, and we haven't gotten the opportunity to address the root cause. Suggestion: Homelessness becomes the Alfond/Bonner impact area, and it continues on in many capacities long after this. Yes. I suggest this in the morning. :)
Overall is was a fulfilling day, an inspiring trip, and a wonderful time to get to rekindle the love between us bonnets and welcome the Alfonds into our ever-expanding Service Family <3
Rick and the volunteer supervisors had such different stories about how they became part of the Habitat for humanity community,and it was so interesting how some one them left their previous jobs to become full time members of Habitat. I wonder if, and hope that I find a career that I am so passionate about as these admirable and awe-inspiring people I go to know.
It's sad to think that our time here is already over. I don't quite feel lie our job is done. In my mind, e got a glimpse of how much there is to do, and we haven't gotten the opportunity to address the root cause. Suggestion: Homelessness becomes the Alfond/Bonner impact area, and it continues on in many capacities long after this. Yes. I suggest this in the morning. :)
Overall is was a fulfilling day, an inspiring trip, and a wonderful time to get to rekindle the love between us bonnets and welcome the Alfonds into our ever-expanding Service Family <3
Day 3!
Here's a link for tonight's blog.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Mn81ShUXI&feature=youtu.be
Kristyn:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Mn81ShUXI&feature=youtu.be
Kristyn:)
My Family
In this, my third blog, I want to reflect on how being a Bonner and becoming friends with the Alfonds has truly had a profound impact on my life. Through all the time spent since August together, I have NEVER been surrounded by a group of such caring, intelligent, and just outright amazing people. I will cherish the friendships I have made through these groups for the rest of my life and I cannot explain just how lucky and grateful I am to simply be one of your friends. I want every single one of you to know that I love you all. In every single individual, I see a unique flame shining in your words, actions, and demeanor. I have made life-changing memories with many of you, and if I haven't already, I look forward to it in the future. You guys are my everything; my inspiration, my support group, my family.
I can't help but just get a little choked up when I think about all the simple things that you guys do that make me love you so. My day isn't complete without seeing at least one of you. I know I may annoy some of you quite often, but it's only because I feel comfortable enough around you guys to show my weaker sides that haven't been revealed until this year. Spending these last few days with you guys has reminded me of these things and so I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for everything you do.
I love you.
You are my family.
Thank you.
I can't help but just get a little choked up when I think about all the simple things that you guys do that make me love you so. My day isn't complete without seeing at least one of you. I know I may annoy some of you quite often, but it's only because I feel comfortable enough around you guys to show my weaker sides that haven't been revealed until this year. Spending these last few days with you guys has reminded me of these things and so I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for everything you do.
I love you.
You are my family.
Thank you.
Helping Those Who Help Themselves
Today we demolished. Today we braved the cold. Today we ate paint.
I've seen ghastly shades of neon lavender paint. I've seen wallpaper that even your grandmother wouldn't want.
In summary, the third day of the Habitat Immersion was amazing. I would just like to say that the Alfonner chemistry is off the charts! The groups worked so well together. The group that I was in participated on a site that needed a lot of renovation meaning there was a lot of demolition and touching up things that were shabbily done. This also meant that there were a lot of road bumps and surprises.
Through it all however, we managed to keep the group chemistry alive. Usually, in activities that require team building and cooperation, the team falls apart quicker than a Jenga puzzle. But in this case, the groups just seemed to get closer together with each task. Throughout the entire home you could always hear: "Hey, do you need help with that?" Or "Here, let me help you." It was nice working with a group that really helped each other. I loved how each member of the group found their niche but also was able to contribute when anyone else needed a helping hand or a little assistance.
This immersion experience has been interesting because I got to talk in depth with Rick, one of the Habitat supervisors. He explained to us all the preparation that goes into being a new homeowner with Habitat. I did not know that the new homeowners have to go through homeowner classes, make payments, and work some many volunteer hours on their homes and the homes of their fellow community members.
Habitat is an organization that I really love because they do more than they have to. Not only do they build homes and make them reasonable for people that may never have been able to afford one, they also provide them with the tools and the experiences to be good neighbors and homeowners. Habitat goes above and beyond.
They are not giving a hand out. They offering a hand up for those who take the initiative and reach back.
I've seen ghastly shades of neon lavender paint. I've seen wallpaper that even your grandmother wouldn't want.
In summary, the third day of the Habitat Immersion was amazing. I would just like to say that the Alfonner chemistry is off the charts! The groups worked so well together. The group that I was in participated on a site that needed a lot of renovation meaning there was a lot of demolition and touching up things that were shabbily done. This also meant that there were a lot of road bumps and surprises.
Through it all however, we managed to keep the group chemistry alive. Usually, in activities that require team building and cooperation, the team falls apart quicker than a Jenga puzzle. But in this case, the groups just seemed to get closer together with each task. Throughout the entire home you could always hear: "Hey, do you need help with that?" Or "Here, let me help you." It was nice working with a group that really helped each other. I loved how each member of the group found their niche but also was able to contribute when anyone else needed a helping hand or a little assistance.
This immersion experience has been interesting because I got to talk in depth with Rick, one of the Habitat supervisors. He explained to us all the preparation that goes into being a new homeowner with Habitat. I did not know that the new homeowners have to go through homeowner classes, make payments, and work some many volunteer hours on their homes and the homes of their fellow community members.
Habitat is an organization that I really love because they do more than they have to. Not only do they build homes and make them reasonable for people that may never have been able to afford one, they also provide them with the tools and the experiences to be good neighbors and homeowners. Habitat goes above and beyond.
They are not giving a hand out. They offering a hand up for those who take the initiative and reach back.
A Hope to Build A Dream Upon
Service isn't something that becomes a part of someone over night. There are people and moments captured in instances of time that mold who one is suppose to be as an active member of the global community. Over the course of the past few days, my understanding of my position and responsibility as a global citizen has shifted tectonically beneath my seemingly planted perspective. To be honest, the central thematic top of our immersion is something that I am somewhat uncomfortable with. I never understood or even more so wanted to understand what a homeless individual goes through on a daily basis. The homeless population, as a whole, makes me nervous and I think those nerves stem from the stereotypical judgmental view I was baptized with time and time again through different societal mediums who preached that homelessness was for criminals and the evil of the evil, who will harm at any cost to gain what they want.I couldn't have been more blinded. Homelessness is a result of unfavorable events piling up upon the shoulders of a neighbor, or a brother, or the nurse who just administered the saving dose of a concentrated anti-biotic to one's ailed family member. It is something that exists on every street corner, at every turn, and yet as a society we brush it under the rug and are taught to fear those who live in the darkness of instability and severe poverty.
There was a gentleman yesterday that Grace, Abby, and I had the pleasure of conversing with after we handed out hot dogs and coffee in one of the many occupied parks around the St. Pete area. The man stood a good ways off the path way that the side walk followed, standing watching the privileged pass him without any regard for his existence. I walked slightly behind the other two girls watching, reading faces and seeing the pain and hungry of the community peppered along the cold, hard cement street. He looked concerned, slowing stepping backward and away from us when Grace called up to him and asked if he wouldn't mind us learning more about the people and the culture of the area through his eyes. He gladly shared his vantage point and his position as a member of the homeless community. His main point stemmed from the idea that it is our responsibility as members of our local and global communities to serve one another and go out of the way to ensure that every member of our interconnected populations and nations are taken care of, regaining their humanity and identity as a part of societal normalities.
I learned so much. I've been challenged by different beliefs, different leadership ideologies, and all around different people and yet some how the one thing that has kept us united, kept us engaged with one another was: service.
If we all took the opportunity to even once a day do something out of our conditionalized tunnel vision walks of life to help another human being, what would the world and the posture of humanity look like?
Day 3- The best part of me :)
"That was kinship in its broadest meaning, extending further than blood and tribe into a larger affinity and commonality. It is a safety net that improves the material dimension of life; for those who have that network of connectedness and caring within a family and beyond, the brink of poverty is a less dangerous place" (Shipler 180).
With another day of Habitat for Humanity construction behind me, I think I may take a different approach to my blogging. One of my favorite teachers of all time was my AP Language and Composition teacher, as well as my Creative Writing teacher, Mrs. McGovern. A right side of the brain thinker and a lover of all things creative, Mrs. McGovern always insisted that poetry- in its raw and unedited form- is the most efficient way to delve into the thoughts of the conscious and subconscious. So, without further adieu, here is a poetic analysis of my day. (Keep in mind, it's unedited, so it may leave some to be desired.)
Hear, hear, the sound of wind
Rustle through the gaps,
Between the slats of a shingled roof
Just off the beaten path.
I was once told that the human race
Could not withstand the force
Of what some call a perfect storm-
Nor a condition worse.
See, see, the dripping paint
Envelop all it knows,
Cloaked with such sincerity
It traces every fold.
I was once told that I, myself,
Could never change the world
For true change comes from only strong-
And "sorry" is my word.
Feel, feel, anxieties
Slowly slip away.
It's your best self that you've brought here
Pay no heed to what they say.
With another day of Habitat for Humanity construction behind me, I think I may take a different approach to my blogging. One of my favorite teachers of all time was my AP Language and Composition teacher, as well as my Creative Writing teacher, Mrs. McGovern. A right side of the brain thinker and a lover of all things creative, Mrs. McGovern always insisted that poetry- in its raw and unedited form- is the most efficient way to delve into the thoughts of the conscious and subconscious. So, without further adieu, here is a poetic analysis of my day. (Keep in mind, it's unedited, so it may leave some to be desired.)
Hear, hear, the sound of wind
Rustle through the gaps,
Between the slats of a shingled roof
Just off the beaten path.
I was once told that the human race
Could not withstand the force
Of what some call a perfect storm-
Nor a condition worse.
See, see, the dripping paint
Envelop all it knows,
Cloaked with such sincerity
It traces every fold.
I was once told that I, myself,
Could never change the world
For true change comes from only strong-
And "sorry" is my word.
Feel, feel, anxieties
Slowly slip away.
It's your best self that you've brought here
Pay no heed to what they say.
#AlfonnerLove <3
Day 2 Vlog Post (corrected)
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Big Dog in Training
Jack,
Growing up, teachers tend to ask their students who their idols are. Many kids respond by naming celebrities from a movie or a fictitious character in a novel they have recently read. However, there is a small percentage of kids who choose there parents, as well as provide a seemingly intelligent explanation for there choice. I was one of those kids, whenever someone would ask me who my idol was, I would respond by saying my step-father. The reason being, was because he filled the shoes my biological father never dared to fill. He cared for kids who had no relation to him and expressed zero gratitude for his actions. He payed for my cloths, my car, my food, my phone, my education, and to be completely honest every item I own. There are few people I can sincerely say I strive to be more like. Today a new individual has been added to that list. I met one of few men in this world who truly put others before themselves. Jack (aka BIG-D) gave me hope for those who suffer from homelessness. He works diligently and compassionately expressing his care for the community through his construction projects. Big Dog has made me understand that there is more to life then just worrying about your own needs, because there are people whose needs posses a much greater magnitude. Jack is a great guy who has morals I wish to mirror my own after.
Sincerely,
Big Dog in Training
Homeless not Helpless
The title is something a homeless person said today. Funny thing is, I was not present when it was said and thus, I was not the person it was said to. It was brought up during reflection period, and it really struck a chord in me. When we do charity or service, we have all the good intentions. We sympathize with the people that we are trying to help, we sympathize with the situations that they are in and thats why we want to help them. However, sometimes we go slightly overboard where our sympathy turns to pity or become overbearing. And that I believe is when the people we are trying to help get offended or irritated. They know the situation that they are in, and there is no need for us to rub salt into that wound by pitying them because I guess in a way, that would be taking away their dignity. They have been through many rough experiences and lost much and they don't need to lost that too. These are the thoughts that phrase triggered off in my mind and though I guess I may have known this in theory, there is nothing like a few well chosen words to just put everything into perspective.
If you did not already realize, today was the second day of the Alfonner intercession. Today we did some volunteer work through habitat for humanity and in the evening, we visited a church where we heard the stories of some people who were currently or formerly homeless and then we headed out to a particular park where we handed out hot dogs and coffee to the homeless people. One of the things I really enjoyed about these experiences was actually being able to do service. What I mean by this is that where I come from, service usually involved hosting big events and then donating the money to a charitable foundation. We never actually went out and did things like building houses for other people or handing out to food to those who really need it or even just starting up conversations with them to know about them and their lives. I like it because you can actually see whom your service or hard work is impacting and I found that very rewarding- especially when we got to meet the homeowners of the house we were helping build. It is a very different feeling, something I have never felt before and I am really thankful for the fact that I had the opportunity to experience it. I was really happy that we were able to hand out hot coffee to the homeless and the hot dogs today especially because it was going to be a freeze night.
Which reminds me. Today was COLD. COLD COLD COLD COLD COLD. COLD as I have never experienced with the winds and everything to just freeze you to your bones. I am super thankful to have a warm room to be able to sleep in tonight (and every night) and I really hope that all the people with no place to go have found some sort of shelter against the cold.
Service is selfish.
To be honest I was not exactly excited before this trip began.
The first semester of Bonner service, I had come across a lot of situations that tugged at my heart strings that lit a fire of anger and doubt for all the suffering in society. I struggled with understanding how society could go on so selfishly unconcerned with the well being of others. I also became very frustrated and confused about our types of service. I felt like I was giving hand outs, temporary solutions that didn't really make an impact in the long run towards solving a solution. Today that view was changed.
After handing out hot dogs in a park with a large amount of homeless people looking for their bus or doing other tasks, we quickly ran out of food. The gratefulness of some and unappreciative attitude of others did not surprise me at all. My "aha" moment came later on when Mer shooed me away and told me to go talk to someone. Quickly grabbing Abby and Cailah we walked across the street to approach a stranger.
Veering left towards the bus stop, we all seemed skeptical of what we could get out of what was to come. The first person I saw to my right was a man seemingly around 40 years of age. Without hesitation I began to walk towards him. He simultaneously took a step back. As I got a little closer I asked if we could talk to him for a minute. He asked me why. I told him casually we were not from this area and wanted to learn more about the people here. As I read his concerned facial expression I added we were just helping around and were passing around hot dogs earlier. His entire demeanor instantly transformed and he began talking about things here and there that we all instantly related to. We spoke about the mentality of people with regards of how they treat others, especially those less wealthy. We spoke of the gaps in America and how we chose to live life, how our attitude towards others completely changes our outlook. We shared a moment that I will be forever grateful for and was truly amazing. The man spoke of how people preach things without practicing them. The most important thing he said was that our action right then and there, reaching out to him and having a normal conversation as if we were old friends reconnecting was what makes the difference. That was making the change.
We didn't hand a homeless person a hot dog and pat ourselves on the back. We asked another human being about his hardships and experience in this city. There was so much to retain from that conversation that I wish the world could understand or at least witness.
Alfonner love,
Grace
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)