All posts by Kate

Teaching Event Reflection

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I posted 100 flyers throughout the campus about my teaching event in various academic buildings, residence halls, and bathrooms to capture people’s attention. At the bottom of each flyer was information about a teaching event to learn about homelessness.

 

My teaching event was a success. We met in the Women’s Center . A total of twelve people who attended. Ten of the twelve people who came were my friends. Two of the twelve people were students who I had never met before. I felt happy, excited, and to some degree surprised that two girls who I did not know came. I met my goal of having 10-20 people attend.

 

The event lasted a little over an hour, which was my goal. I began the event as planned, sharing a little about myself and the course. I then went around the room and asked people what they hoped to learn from the event. I took notes to ensure that I would address their questions. Some questions by students included the homeless population demographics, causes, what groups have more help, information about homeless veterans, homeless youth, and solutions.

 

I then started to address their questions with using both experience from my internships and information from the Hunger and Homelessness course. I would also check back in with my audience periodically asking them if they had more questions or needed clarification.

 

I also left sometime at the end for students to come up and ask more questions one-on-one. I had some students ask about volunteering and I handed them a handout of the local agencies provided by the class website.

 

I chose to teach topics that students were interested in. I wanted the student audience to take initiative for their learning. I wanted them to be interested in the event and I wanted it to be as informative as possible that is why I based my event off of the student generated questions.

 

Sometimes you do not know who will be affected by what you do. I had one person approach me for assistance because her friend is going through domestic violence. In that moment I felt that my teaching project had been a success in a way that I had not imagined. I felt to some degree honored that she felt like she could talk to me. I shared my knowledge from the experiences that I had when I worked at the domestic violence shelter. I also gave her a brochure about resources for domestic violence victims in Redlands.

 

I suppose this is a lesson in teaching because you might think that you are going in one direction; yet you might have a more meaningful experience than expected. When you offer something by teaching it can go in an unexpected direction; in a way that was better than imagined.

Finding My Way

Books and Films, How we should treat each other, Local organizations

It was refreshing to read Toni Flynn’s “Finding My Way: A Journey Along the Rim of the Catholic Worker Movement.” It has been so long since I have read a book like this. At first my eyes had difficulty adjusting. I could not read a whole sentence in its entirety because I have become so used to skimming for key points, dates, and themes. Once my eyes began to slow down I began to savor each word and the truth in Flynn’s writing. Flynn invited me to take a look into myself.

I found the book to be beautifully crafted and organized. The different books provided a foundation as did the opening words at the start of each book. Flynn wrote with such intimacy and truth. The book served as a reflection of Flynn while provoking reflection in the reader. Flynn writes in a way that seeks to question our motives for our actions. While working with others Flynn finds a shared humanity and discovers the darkness within herself. Flynn constantly looks inward. At one moment when she is at the chapel hospital Flynn writes, “I look inward at my own stubborn refusal to let go of the memory of past wounds inflicted on me as a child” (47).

I feel in a way that this course, Hunger and Homelessness has been an exercise in finding my way personally and as a student. This course has caused me to look inward, as I take what we learn to heart. Balancing, accepting, and letting go are tasks I am learning.

Final Internship Report

Local organizations

My internship works with runaway youth, with the primary goal of family reunification. The shelter director, youth advocates, counselors, and volunteers play a critical part in meeting this goal.

Multiple times a day the youth advocate provides a space for the youth to check-in. Check-in provides a space for the youth to share their feelings. During check-in a youth advocate will ask each youth questions such as, on a scale from one to ten how are you feeling? Why are you feeling this way? Is there anything that we can do? What attitude are you going to have today? What are your goals for the day and week? I participated but the youth advocate did not participate. I question if this creates the assumption that the youth advocate is better than the youth. Perhaps the youth advocate not participating helps protect the youth advocates authority.

The highly structured program makes the organization successful. A struggle that the organization faces is how fast the population changes. New clients quickly change the atmosphere. Not only do the clients shift, but the volunteers, and youth advocates change too. A group of students from Cal State San Bernardino used to bring in weekly art lessons that the youth really enjoyed. The students stopped coming and the kids were left with no art. This presents a difficult situation because you want the youth to enjoy art and you want to welcome whatever time and talent the volunteers have but what happens when the volunteers go and the youth remain?

Limited staff train volunteers, who might be there short or long term. I recommend that volunteers are used in areas in which the volunteers are strong so the volunteers can be used more productively. In addition, the volunteer process might prevent students and community members from helping.

Poverty is never mentioned directly, but referred to indirectly. I listened to one conversation which the youth talked about their past experiences of stealing and using drugs. Some of the youth’s behavior reflects that of those who are living in poverty. Programs are offered to change some of the youth’s behavior, such as teaching coping strategies.

The organization is doing good considering that it was only established three years ago. The organization does a great job at treating the youth as an individual and providing them with the required services.

 

 

 

Finding Hope

Related topics

During the Hunger and Homelessness course I have had many moments were I have felt emotionally struck and stuck by the content. I have felt trapped by structural constraints. I have felt overwhelmed of where to start. At times I have experienced deep sadness and a loss of hope. Tuesdays and Thursdays class offered much needed hope.

The organizations discussed on Tuesday from Heise’s book The Book of the Poor offered ways of dealing with the problems of hunger and homelessness. The fact that many of the organizations are still running and making a difference is reassuring. Despite the small staff size the organizations are able to offer assistance to many.

I am grateful that Nickeled and Dimed will be brought to University of Redlands by the theater department. The production will provide a way to educate students, faculty, and community members about the impossible nature of living off of a minimum wage job. The production provides an opportunity to reach out to others who would not otherwise learn about the real life struggles of having a minimum wage.

ABCs and Rice is an example of a nonprofit organization that saw a problem and a way to help. ABCs and Rice picked a target group- impoverished children living in Siem Reap, Cambodia. They then developed a mission of breaking the cycle of poverty through education. They recognize barriers that prevent children from going to school and seek to find solutions to break barriers.

A lesson I have taken away after Tuesday and Thursday’s class is find a cause that you are passionate about. This might mean joining a nongovernmental organization or creating your own. This requires recognizing your skills and limitations. Develop a vision and mission of what you hope to accomplish. Hard work is an ingredient in this process. Yet, one must find a healthy balance between working and taking care of you yourself so that burnout is avoided.

On the Other Side of the Spoon

Local organizations

This weekend I embarked on my third street retreat through the organization Faithful Fools, located in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, a place where many homeless reside. I spent the day on my own observing the homeless community. I carried no belongings- no watch, phone, water bottle, or money. It was raining the entire day and I coped with being soaked. I ended up spending time at the public library and saw and smelt a number of homeless people doing the same. I noticed that the homeless people developed strategies to stay much dryer than I was.

I had lunch at the soup kitchen Glide, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. All of the homeless people at the soup kitchen new what to do. I felt silly for asking where the line started, and was afraid of cutting in front of someone. I stood in line in a room called, “Freedom Hall.” The ratio of women to men was approximately 1:13. The meal was served in the churches basement. Kind volunteers with smiles served me a tray that food had been thrown on. After receiving my food I nervously looked for a table to sit. I had a conversation with one man, although it was very hard to hear what he was saying due to the very loud atmosphere. The feeling is quickly eat your food and go so the next person can do the same. I could tell volunteers were confused by my presence- who was I, why was I here?

I reflected on what it felt like to be on the other side of the spoon. I have served many meals at homeless shelters. I have been that young girl who smiles and hands the homeless their tray of food. Yet, when you are on the other side of the spoon the feelings are different.

http://www.faithfulfools.org

“City Demands Church Stop Sheltering the Homeless”

Homelessness, News link

The article,“City Demands Church Stop Sheltering the Homeless” addresses a nationwide trend of cracking down on both those trying to help the homeless and those who are homeless.  One worker from a church that served the homeless comments how the homeless people have feelings and basic needs just like all people. This relates to the common theme of treating homeless people with dignity and respect.

Politics must be involved that prompted the conclusion that the church has inadequate zoning permits. People in power have access to resources and the ability to enact laws and pass legislation. In my home town members generally agreed that there was a need for another homeless shelter, yet the disagreement resided in where. Nobody wanted the homeless shelter by them.  Perhaps a large reason why is because of the negative untrue stigmas attached with being homeless.  I wonder if people knew more about homelessness if their perception would change. Maybe some of the people living around the church were upset and did not want the church to act as a warming shelter for homeless people and voiced their concerns to public officials.

Not allowing the church to help homeless people also prevents non homeless people from interacting with homeless people. While interacting with homeless people the housed population will be able to witness the humanity in homeless individuals which can help combat with negative stigmas. The relationships and interactions that develop might be shared with community members and facilitate in developing a more accurate perception of homeless individuals which will be beneficial in challenging existing structural inequalities.

 

Inequality for All

Uncategorized

I recommend the documentary Inequality for All by Robert Reich. Reich explains the disappearance of the middle class. He answers the following questions including, what is the problem? Why? How? Reich was the Labor Secretary while Bill Clinton was in office; he is now a professor at UC Berkley. Reich is referred to several times in one of our course books, The Book of the Poor by Kenan Heise.

http://inequalityforall.com/

Differences between Wednesday and Friday

Local organizations

This Wednesday and Friday I went to my internship at a runaway youth shelter located in Redlands. Each day was a completely different experience due to differences in the youth’s feelings. Wednesday I struggled because the boys were pushing me and testing my authority. It is interesting because the girls see me as a celebrity. I feel more comfortable when I am working with the girls, but being strong and maintaining authority is an important skill to develop. Friday I just worked with the boys because one of the girls had a migraine and the other girl was having health issues. It makes me sad going there because there are problems that I cannot help with. I leave and it is not like things will be better tomorrow.

The boys were all pretty sad on Friday. It is interesting to observe the differences in the youth advocates. One of the youth advocates on Friday really acknowledged each youth. During snack the youth took turns answering questions such as how are you feeling on a scale of one to ten? Why? What are your goals for the week? What is your favorite food? The youth advocate carefully looked at each youth while they were speaking. The youth advocate gave whoever was speaking complete attention. If another youth spoke when it was not his turn the youth advocate would firmly and calmly reminded the youth that it was not their turn.

An ongoing struggle that I have observed is when the youth are supposed to do their homework. I have never witnessed successful homework time. The youth have so much going on that they are unable to concentrate on their work. This is a painful time, the youth are so bored. I wish that I could interest them with what they are learning. I try but I am still struggling with learning how to do so.

Across the Street, Behind the Park

Local organizations

I am interning at a runaway youth shelter located in Redlands for youth 11-17 years old. Their primary goal is family reunification. The youth are allowed to stay for a maximum of ninety days; the average stay is six weeks. The organization was established three years ago.

The organization has strict rules that are explained to clients during the intake process. Clients are required to follow the program and dress code rules. During the intake process the youth and the youth’s family are asked what help they need. Youth follow a schedule that includes various programs and services such as learning coping skills, meeting in groups, art sessions, counseling, and tutoring.

The organization has ten staff and twenty-four hour coverage. The staff have numerous responsibilities including monitoring client interaction, assigning client chores, conducting groups, answering phones, setting up appointments, preparing meals and snacks, recording in shift logs, which record client activity every half hour. The youth advocate works with the client to develop goals. Clients are brought here in a variety of ways including coming in on their own or being brought in by a parent, school officials, social workers, or law enforcement.

I have met several students from other colleges. One group of students does art with the clients. On my first day of working with the youth I participated in decorating pillows. When we were making pillows one of the girls started to cry. The radio was playing and I asked her if she wanted to change the song. She cried for a little and then stopped. When I was making pillows with the youth they treated me like a celebrity. They gave me multiple compliments, I like your shirt, your hair is pretty, your pillow looks good. One of the youth shared that she was making her pillow for her four month old child.

In a tight safe bubble University of Redlands students occupy themselves with their day. They go from class to class, do assignments, read, or decide not to. Students play sports, go the gym, and parties. Students go from place to place in a sheltered small bubble surrounded by other people who do similar activities. I am surrounded by other students constantly. Yet, I can feel so disconnected. The Commons might be filled, yet I feel no connection. Many students are so busy and consumed with their own life. It is so easy to overlook what exists across the street, behind the park, this organization is almost like a different world.

“Behind the Orange Curtain”

Books and Films

I strongly encourage all to watch the film, “Behind the Orange Curtain” about the prescription drug epidemic. One topic that we frequently discuss in Hunger and Homelessness is alcohol and drug abuse among the homeless population. Beside the Golden Door Policy, Politics, and the Homeless shares data about substance abuse among the homeless population. Alcohol abuse among the nation’s homeless is the most single disorder diagnosed. Nationally 40% of homeless women and 50% of homeless men abuse alcohol. I often hear comments made by the housed population such as, “I don’t want to give the homeless money because they will spend it on drugs and alcohol.” You have the permission to get drunk in the privacy of your home, apartment, dorm room, but not in the public space of the street.

“Behind the Orange Curtain” shares the story of the increased use of prescription drugs primarily among the high school population of children of affluent families from Orange County. Drug and alcohol use is a problem that exists regardless of socioeconomic status.

http://behindtheorangecurtain.net/