Today I had a great meeting with someone about human capacity and the innovation in ideas from young people like me. Then I headed for class--I was already late. And the bus-ride seemed to be long.
When I sat, I made the conscious decision to sit by an African American older man. A bit of background here is important: I grew up in an environment where people of color and Native American are seen as less even if sometimes we as people of color are making such prejudices. My point is that I know white privilege exists and that often times whites have a better starting line in life than brown people. But sometimes we discriminate within our own ethnic groups (will write about this another time). Other times we discriminate or hold prejudices of other minority ethnic groups (minorities only in the U.S. because we are majority globally).
When I took that sit, I made the decision to not sit by the white college student across from the African American man I chose to sit by. Right when I sat, I started thinking about who this person right next to me might me. He was reading the sports section in the newspaper. I begun to write in my cute black leather journal about the meeting I had just had (I didn't want to forget those new thoughts about humanity, the power of youth, and my role int he world!). On the top of the page where I was writing I had previously written something in Spanish sometime ago (talk about not letting everyone know what you are writing while in the bus, right?).
My first thoughts about this man were the following. Well, he's African American and is on the bus--was wearing "ordinary" clothing. The story I started to make up, through my lenses of what inequality in the world is, was that this man, right next to me, is probably living in poverty, probably doesn't have a job (it was after 11am when this happened), and probably has no formal eduction or any "advanced" education. This I was thinking while listening to La Oreja de Van Gogh, Beyoncé and Gloria Trevi because I did not find the book I am reading for pleasure (I usually forger where I am while reading).
I am not proud of this and I will never say I have never before had racist thoughts.
Well, my assumptions, which sometimes could hold true due to the history of inequality in the nation, were wrong. The person sitting next to me asked in Spanish where I was from (here I frown because I always get this question and it always leads to me getting annoyed for certain reasons). I looked at him funny and asked, "What?" And I think this question came from my beliefs of who he might have been and the disbelief that a black man could speak Spanish so well. I even started thinking about other options to why he might speak Spanish. Was he from the Caribbean? How could he speak Spanish? My stereotyping was falling apart!
Then, after a small conversation with this soft spoken person, I learned that he had lived in Guatemala and Mexico in the past. He used to be a Spanish professor. And now studies Latin Literature. WOW! WHAT?!
I, as an individual committed to social justice, must learn to think of people as people first. I must learn to acknowledge that there are differences between communities, but that stereotypes are stereotypes and were created to be challenged. I must learn to name what it is I think and feel when events happen. Today, I felt compelled to sit by a black man because I have learned that race does not define a person as I have been told many times before. Today, though, I learned that I still hold racist thoughts. I do believe we all hold them, but my first step to progress as a person, is to name it and bring it up whenever I can. And that is exactly what I am doing here. Again, I am not proud of it, but naming it might assist me having less racist thoughts, if not eradicating them from my systems (which I don't think is possible).
Monday, December 14, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Glee-ed Advent Vespers Wanted
It has been sometime now that I have been told about that Glee show. Although I have only seen two episodes of it, I enjoyed the show's over-the-top humor. Of course, there is something to day about a show that for the "first time" tried hard to be racially, sexual-orientation, ability, and so forth diverse. At the same time it does look like that is what is trying to do, but that's besides the point.
Tonight I got to go to Advent Vespers, of course after being for a few minutes at Holidazzle before going to eat. I went with my great roommate and another friend. There we saw many fellow Augsburg, and I am sure many more Norwegian descendants who gathered for the 30th Anniversary of Advent Vespers.
Anyways, I had been to this event my first year of college, which seems a LONG time ago, but it was only the winter of 2007. And last time I had been a bit troubled by the organized religion of it all. This time I actually wanted to enjoy it, and for a couple of hours not think too much about the readings, the lyrics, etc. It was a time to go see fellow friends be part of something great of Augsburg. And it was.
But at the same time, whenever those songs with tones that made me want to stand and rock back and forth (not a music expert here by the way) and sing (which hardly ever happens if it is not Paquita la del Barrio, Lady Gaga, Shakira, before her whatever she's doing now, or Banda Limon, etc).
More importantly, I envisioned, as all the choirs did their thing, that some people would start dancing and performing as characters in Glee do. In my mind it all worked out, of course there would be no "Wheels" because the church does not have that capacity from what I could tell. I kept smiling throughout the whole service because it was so fun to imagine it! Oh, how I wish it had happened though.
Overall, though, Advent Vespers is a great event. Yeah it is part of organized religion, but that has its ups and downs as everything else. I am not as reluctant to build alliances with people who are part of congregations and with congregation of course.
Tonight I got to go to Advent Vespers, of course after being for a few minutes at Holidazzle before going to eat. I went with my great roommate and another friend. There we saw many fellow Augsburg, and I am sure many more Norwegian descendants who gathered for the 30th Anniversary of Advent Vespers.
Anyways, I had been to this event my first year of college, which seems a LONG time ago, but it was only the winter of 2007. And last time I had been a bit troubled by the organized religion of it all. This time I actually wanted to enjoy it, and for a couple of hours not think too much about the readings, the lyrics, etc. It was a time to go see fellow friends be part of something great of Augsburg. And it was.
But at the same time, whenever those songs with tones that made me want to stand and rock back and forth (not a music expert here by the way) and sing (which hardly ever happens if it is not Paquita la del Barrio, Lady Gaga, Shakira, before her whatever she's doing now, or Banda Limon, etc).
More importantly, I envisioned, as all the choirs did their thing, that some people would start dancing and performing as characters in Glee do. In my mind it all worked out, of course there would be no "Wheels" because the church does not have that capacity from what I could tell. I kept smiling throughout the whole service because it was so fun to imagine it! Oh, how I wish it had happened though.
Overall, though, Advent Vespers is a great event. Yeah it is part of organized religion, but that has its ups and downs as everything else. I am not as reluctant to build alliances with people who are part of congregations and with congregation of course.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
A Cold Evening
So, last Sunday I was losing it and decided to take a walk by the Mississippi River. I got my sweater on, put on my sneakers and of course got my iPod on.
As I was walking by the river, almost half way done with my walk, I decided to sit down and just be there. It was a few somber and tranquil minutes of just sitting by the river, listening to my romantic and cynical iPod shuffle, thinking, reflecting, and watching life go by in the city. Then I realized I had been there for a few minutes and I was getting cold. It was getting chilly out there. And it was getting dark too. I decided I would go back to my room and maybe eat something.
As I was getting up, I started to think about what I had just thought: will just go back to my room and maybe eat something. I know there are many things that I cannot control in my life and that sometimes that sucks, but on Sunday, that evening, I had somewhere to go. And cash to go to Hardtimes and get what I always get when I go there.
Was it guilt I was feeling because of the privileges I have? Was it pity because others don't have what I currently have? To be honest, I have no idea what it was. For sure I know that I was recognizing those privileges I enjoy today, such as having somewhere to go and where to eat without thinking twice. I was also thinking about what it would feel not having anywhere to go, anywhere to eat, no one to go to for assistance. And in reality I have no idea how that feels. I have always had these privileges at least.
I need to work on understanding my privileges, using them for the common good, and not being scared to talk about them. I need to do more than this I know.
As I was walking by the river, almost half way done with my walk, I decided to sit down and just be there. It was a few somber and tranquil minutes of just sitting by the river, listening to my romantic and cynical iPod shuffle, thinking, reflecting, and watching life go by in the city. Then I realized I had been there for a few minutes and I was getting cold. It was getting chilly out there. And it was getting dark too. I decided I would go back to my room and maybe eat something.
As I was getting up, I started to think about what I had just thought: will just go back to my room and maybe eat something. I know there are many things that I cannot control in my life and that sometimes that sucks, but on Sunday, that evening, I had somewhere to go. And cash to go to Hardtimes and get what I always get when I go there.
Was it guilt I was feeling because of the privileges I have? Was it pity because others don't have what I currently have? To be honest, I have no idea what it was. For sure I know that I was recognizing those privileges I enjoy today, such as having somewhere to go and where to eat without thinking twice. I was also thinking about what it would feel not having anywhere to go, anywhere to eat, no one to go to for assistance. And in reality I have no idea how that feels. I have always had these privileges at least.
I need to work on understanding my privileges, using them for the common good, and not being scared to talk about them. I need to do more than this I know.
Monday, November 16, 2009
What a weekend!
So, I've been sick for a few days now--it sucks for sure. But the kool thing has been to have a really cool roommate (who might be sick now too--no!) who takes care of you :)
I haven't really been able to do anything because of my illness--the joke had been that for once in MN we had a real Mexican with H1N1, but I did't have it. No joke then--just me with a bad cold. But Samalama even made soup.
We'll see how he feels in the next few days--going to try to learn to cook something, so I can make it for him...but hoping he doesn't really get that sick.
I haven't really been able to do anything because of my illness--the joke had been that for once in MN we had a real Mexican with H1N1, but I did't have it. No joke then--just me with a bad cold. But Samalama even made soup.
We'll see how he feels in the next few days--going to try to learn to cook something, so I can make it for him...but hoping he doesn't really get that sick.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
My 'Brown' Weekend
I had an amazing weekend; a weekend that was marked by the people I had the chance to meet. I would like to highlight the significance of this weekend because it is special to me now, obviously.
On Thursday, after my HECUA class that was maybe a bit too long, I went to hear Richard T. Rodriguez speak of his book "Next of Kin: The Family in Chicano/a Cultural Politics." The topic of queerness in the Latina/o community is certainly something that we don't spend much time talking about due to the politics of the culture, very machista la pinche.
In any rate, the importance of this day, besides hearing Richard speak, was who he is. He is a professor at a prestigious university and he is Chicano (I would say Latino, but this gets to another whole thing about language...). For the first time in my life I saw someone who, in theory, looks like me and was speaking to a crowd about a book HE wrote. This is important because I have never had that before--granted he was only going to be here for a couple of days, so I had to get to know him a bit better. I got to have dinner with him and other student leaders, who also look much more like me as opposed to my great-white roommates and mostly white classmates at Augsburg.
Alright, so that's that. On Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, I left my internship early because I was excited to go hear Richard give a lecture: "Queer Chicana/o Studies: A Personal Itinerary." Again, this is something I had never heard someone who looks like me speak about. It would be important for me to point out, since I engage in a lot of racial profiling (and I'd say we all do but never really acknowledge it), that the audiences of both aforementioned events were mostly Latina/o students in college--either undergrad or grad students.
That afternoon I got to go for dinner with Richard and other Latina/os. Note that I am saying I was hanging out with Latina/os. This is important for two different reasons. One, most of those going to dinner were professors, undergrad and grad students, community leaders, and just cool people. While I know many Latina/os, I had never gotten the chance to connect to a professor, a student much ahead of me, or just having a critical discussion about education who, again, look much like me.
Then on Saturday I got to go to the MN Network of Latinos in Higher Ed. Again, another day learning about how "our" issues are imperative that are solved now. We talked about education in our community, our engagement as students, and what we can do to make things better for our community. Another thing, again, was to hear from professionals who look like me, people who share more than just the interest in advancing our communities. We talked from GLBT issues to trends in education and the importance of getting more of our students in college. It was great seeing so many of us gathered for a common reason, and I know there were many missing (like all of those from Augsburg who went to another retreat I opted out of for various reasons, but whatever, I gotta share what I learned with them later)--our numbers are increasing and it is very exciting!
Over all, it is no wonder now why I was so excited for Sonia Sotomayor to be confirmed to the Supreme Court over the summer. And I am not surprised I wrote her a letter stating how proud I am to see her in the U.S. Supreme Court (the issue now is getting it to her....). I mean, in college I have never really had that group of leaders who look like me and who can tell me and make me believe I am someone who can get wherever I want. I do have great support at Augsburg, but having people who share the culture, the life experience, maybe the language, the place of origin, or even the kind of food I grew up eating is just something I don't get every day. Another thing is what we read everyday--I can't remember the last time I read something in school by someone who looks like me (and I mean that in a broad sense). My education thus far has been bi-racial: black and white only.
Really, there is no wonder to why so many people were excited that Obama was running for president--his leadership was important, but his looks were also important for many. The same for me. I have said it before that I have frantically looked for a professor of color and it has not been possible. So being around so many who look like and who share much with me and who are all professionals and who are great was just the self-esteem boost I have needed for the past few years. Thank you my brown friends! I will dearly miss you and I hope to see you again as I navigate white America.
This weekend was emotionally draining in that I was for just a weekend amongst the Brown Dioses in MN. I even said, changing the quote from a movie, "It was a great weekend to be a Chicana/o."
I now yearn for another day like that.
On Thursday, after my HECUA class that was maybe a bit too long, I went to hear Richard T. Rodriguez speak of his book "Next of Kin: The Family in Chicano/a Cultural Politics." The topic of queerness in the Latina/o community is certainly something that we don't spend much time talking about due to the politics of the culture, very machista la pinche.
In any rate, the importance of this day, besides hearing Richard speak, was who he is. He is a professor at a prestigious university and he is Chicano (I would say Latino, but this gets to another whole thing about language...). For the first time in my life I saw someone who, in theory, looks like me and was speaking to a crowd about a book HE wrote. This is important because I have never had that before--granted he was only going to be here for a couple of days, so I had to get to know him a bit better. I got to have dinner with him and other student leaders, who also look much more like me as opposed to my great-white roommates and mostly white classmates at Augsburg.
Alright, so that's that. On Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, I left my internship early because I was excited to go hear Richard give a lecture: "Queer Chicana/o Studies: A Personal Itinerary." Again, this is something I had never heard someone who looks like me speak about. It would be important for me to point out, since I engage in a lot of racial profiling (and I'd say we all do but never really acknowledge it), that the audiences of both aforementioned events were mostly Latina/o students in college--either undergrad or grad students.
That afternoon I got to go for dinner with Richard and other Latina/os. Note that I am saying I was hanging out with Latina/os. This is important for two different reasons. One, most of those going to dinner were professors, undergrad and grad students, community leaders, and just cool people. While I know many Latina/os, I had never gotten the chance to connect to a professor, a student much ahead of me, or just having a critical discussion about education who, again, look much like me.
Then on Saturday I got to go to the MN Network of Latinos in Higher Ed. Again, another day learning about how "our" issues are imperative that are solved now. We talked about education in our community, our engagement as students, and what we can do to make things better for our community. Another thing, again, was to hear from professionals who look like me, people who share more than just the interest in advancing our communities. We talked from GLBT issues to trends in education and the importance of getting more of our students in college. It was great seeing so many of us gathered for a common reason, and I know there were many missing (like all of those from Augsburg who went to another retreat I opted out of for various reasons, but whatever, I gotta share what I learned with them later)--our numbers are increasing and it is very exciting!
Over all, it is no wonder now why I was so excited for Sonia Sotomayor to be confirmed to the Supreme Court over the summer. And I am not surprised I wrote her a letter stating how proud I am to see her in the U.S. Supreme Court (the issue now is getting it to her....). I mean, in college I have never really had that group of leaders who look like me and who can tell me and make me believe I am someone who can get wherever I want. I do have great support at Augsburg, but having people who share the culture, the life experience, maybe the language, the place of origin, or even the kind of food I grew up eating is just something I don't get every day. Another thing is what we read everyday--I can't remember the last time I read something in school by someone who looks like me (and I mean that in a broad sense). My education thus far has been bi-racial: black and white only.
Really, there is no wonder to why so many people were excited that Obama was running for president--his leadership was important, but his looks were also important for many. The same for me. I have said it before that I have frantically looked for a professor of color and it has not been possible. So being around so many who look like and who share much with me and who are all professionals and who are great was just the self-esteem boost I have needed for the past few years. Thank you my brown friends! I will dearly miss you and I hope to see you again as I navigate white America.
This weekend was emotionally draining in that I was for just a weekend amongst the Brown Dioses in MN. I even said, changing the quote from a movie, "It was a great weekend to be a Chicana/o."
I now yearn for another day like that.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The City as a Classroom
From the program I did on Tuesday, there were somethings that bothered me.
I have been in college for more than two years thus far. And it is 2009 as well. But it took for me to be in a program to learn about homelessness to have an educator of color for a day. I am not demeaning my all-thus-far white professors (most of them good, some of course not), but this says something about society. I have frantically sought to have a professor of color teach me for just one semester and one class at least, but it has been impossible. I do believe someone who looks more like me will help believe in me more. When you have all professors come from one perspective more or less, our education is not as rich (I assume, but obviously I don't know since I have not had a racially diverse pool of professors--do know that other types of differences are important, but race is crucial). It was frustrating that it took my for-a-day educators a life-time in the streets to be become educators like the ones they are today.
I also found it disturbing the food people are fed in the streets. What we had to eat was lots of sodium, oils, carbohydrates. There was fruit given out as well, which is healthy, but so many in the streets can't eat because their teeth are not well-suited for that and often times are not there. Where we went to we so much white bread and butter, that I know is unhealthy if consumed in so large quantities. If people are eating this every day, then it is safe to say they are being killed slowly; the streets can kill you.
I am a vegetarian, but I knew I was not going to have much options. I do recognize my privilege for having choices, which often times healthy food is disregarded (my choice). I am also in this program that takes me out to learn about the homeless and that speaks amounts about our privilege as students in college and receiving an education and not having to stay in the streets. We also have access to many other things homeless people don't. I was privileged to be able to attend for a day this food shelf.
The other thing that disturbed me was who was serving the food and who was being "served." Most of the people serving the food were some white nuns, some more whites, and some white kids--did hear that? Kids serving food! And then those cleaning the dishes and tables were most if not all people of color (for lack of a better term). Most of the people in this room, either behind the kitchen washing dished or on front of the tables were people of color; the disproportion racially was shocking. Again, this says something about where we live.
Besides that all, it was important to learn that we all got something out of this experience in the life of a homeless person. For the first time I had an educator of color for day. I learned about the different ways a homeless person is kept homeless or not being able to stay in descent housing. I also witnessed the transformation of thinking in many of us in this group that day.
It is important for me to say and reinforce what I learned this summer--something we hear often times at Augsburg, but never really take it to heart. We are a city in the college and what that means for us as a school was a major topic in my research this summer. I found that working with people in what we can collaborate together is more important than trying to solve their problems; that every person we encounter is an educator, that we learn from them and that they might learn from us. In conclusion, the city is an extended classroom of the college full of a diverse group of educators.
So, let us all come together and learn from each other, even the person we have deemed cursed and do our part in working with each other to end the atrocities of the world.
I have been in college for more than two years thus far. And it is 2009 as well. But it took for me to be in a program to learn about homelessness to have an educator of color for a day. I am not demeaning my all-thus-far white professors (most of them good, some of course not), but this says something about society. I have frantically sought to have a professor of color teach me for just one semester and one class at least, but it has been impossible. I do believe someone who looks more like me will help believe in me more. When you have all professors come from one perspective more or less, our education is not as rich (I assume, but obviously I don't know since I have not had a racially diverse pool of professors--do know that other types of differences are important, but race is crucial). It was frustrating that it took my for-a-day educators a life-time in the streets to be become educators like the ones they are today.
I also found it disturbing the food people are fed in the streets. What we had to eat was lots of sodium, oils, carbohydrates. There was fruit given out as well, which is healthy, but so many in the streets can't eat because their teeth are not well-suited for that and often times are not there. Where we went to we so much white bread and butter, that I know is unhealthy if consumed in so large quantities. If people are eating this every day, then it is safe to say they are being killed slowly; the streets can kill you.
I am a vegetarian, but I knew I was not going to have much options. I do recognize my privilege for having choices, which often times healthy food is disregarded (my choice). I am also in this program that takes me out to learn about the homeless and that speaks amounts about our privilege as students in college and receiving an education and not having to stay in the streets. We also have access to many other things homeless people don't. I was privileged to be able to attend for a day this food shelf.
The other thing that disturbed me was who was serving the food and who was being "served." Most of the people serving the food were some white nuns, some more whites, and some white kids--did hear that? Kids serving food! And then those cleaning the dishes and tables were most if not all people of color (for lack of a better term). Most of the people in this room, either behind the kitchen washing dished or on front of the tables were people of color; the disproportion racially was shocking. Again, this says something about where we live.
Besides that all, it was important to learn that we all got something out of this experience in the life of a homeless person. For the first time I had an educator of color for day. I learned about the different ways a homeless person is kept homeless or not being able to stay in descent housing. I also witnessed the transformation of thinking in many of us in this group that day.
It is important for me to say and reinforce what I learned this summer--something we hear often times at Augsburg, but never really take it to heart. We are a city in the college and what that means for us as a school was a major topic in my research this summer. I found that working with people in what we can collaborate together is more important than trying to solve their problems; that every person we encounter is an educator, that we learn from them and that they might learn from us. In conclusion, the city is an extended classroom of the college full of a diverse group of educators.
So, let us all come together and learn from each other, even the person we have deemed cursed and do our part in working with each other to end the atrocities of the world.
Our Role in Poverty
Yesterday I did A Day in a Life.
What that means is that one goes with an educator from St. Stephen's Human Services around the city learning about homelessness. My first thought about it was doubtful because I knew that after we were done with this, we were going to get pizza and then go back to our comfortable homes/filthy dorms (our inaction to clean).
At our arrival we met the educators who will take us around; some are former homeless. My group was Richard, who identifies as Indian American and Chicano, four white students and I, identified as "other" today. We learned a lot about natives, art and identity, heard some poetry from Richard, and walked up and down Franklin Ave. Richard teared up when he talked about getting a gift from a Vet and said: "This country has taken so much from us, but we have given so much to it." He's now trying to get the country to recognize those Natives who fought in majors wars and have yet to be recognized. Then we visited some low-income apartments that are a model to what can be possible if we decided we actually end homelessness.
Then we met Terry, who was homeless on and off since 9 years old. His family took him here and there and ended up in drugs. He traveled throughout states seeking for shelter until he came to MN. Here he was able to find low-income housing and even took us to his apartment. At one point he asked: Imagine going from the streets where the cold and indignity kills you to your own place; imagine growing up in unthinkable situations and going to your own little place, your own little kitchen, your own bed. Imagine living in the streets to moving into your own place. He then gave us cookies. The reason was because that was what was available when he was homeless: junk food, which is one of the reasons why people in the streets have bad teeth. Today he works three jobs, but is still considered low-income. Health issues are numerous and now many might lose their health care because Pawlenty, through allotment, has cut the General Assistance Medical Care.
After that we walked to Sharing & Caring by Mary Jo where we had lunch. There were many people, mostly people of color. When we arrived, we saw staring at our group. Certainly it was not me, but to our well-dressed white students who obviously were not there for necessity to food in reality. I am sure we were all hungry to learn, but there was some sense of unaccountability. After being on line and getting food, we sat down and found some tension between a guest to this food shelf and us who had no idea of the rules of this place.
There was also some racial tension, which is interesting to think about. From various readings we found that people of color, children of color, mentally ill, vets, and women are more likely to require this kind of assistance in a daily basis in MN. So here you have a bunch of white kids coming to eat at a place that many had never been to and where those who go there regularly probably felt threaten that we sat in their sits. Some racial slurs were thrown at my white peers and some to Richard. But at the end we moved and all was fine.
The Salvation Army was next, where we got to see what they offer and met two people who used the facilities last year after biking their way to MN from Missouri and a dog (one died in the way) and after escaping the Iowa flood on the last car that left Iowa before roads were shut down. We saw where people stay at night and where they sleep. On the walls in this cold room are numbers on blue-Scotch tape signaling where mats go. Someone said, "Every number is a body." Seeing that the floor was empty and mats on the corners on top of each other I assume each person who comes there gets assigned to a number and where they will spend the next night. I could not help but imagine how society designates the future of people the same way Germany officials dictated the faith of millions of Jews in the 40s. I could not help but think of the book Night.
The last person was someone who list everything to drug-addiction. When I say everything, I mean it. She was making over 1,000,000 dollars a year! She had the material things many strive to get in life. She decided to try drugs for the first time in her late 20s after seeing that her husband could not leave the drugs. She wanted to know why. She is now in MN recovering--not after losing her monetary wealth, her husband, prostituting herself, not on the streets, but by being in relationships with men who could only afford her addiction. She also went to jail three times, so three felonies in her record, and lost custody to her children, one of whom has been sexually abused and she can't do much.
Over all, it was an intense day, a day to remember, people to remember, people to keep in mind when decisions to cut programs are cut. Politics are one thing, but the well being of people shall be more important and yesterday that was reinforced. I learned that drugs could cripple in any one's life at any point and I learned that if one listened to those in the outcast, we will be better off, we will be better humans to each other. In the streets I met real people, people we have learned to avoid, people with troubled histories but with enormous dreams, dreams many of us take for granted for we posses them.
We all have a role in this; we all can do something. And here are some things we can all do:
1. Believe poverty can be alleviated.
2. Tell the truth (not all homeless people are there by choice as many other stereotypes can be challenged)
3. Learn about the different plans in place today to end homelessness
4. Call elected officials to support legislation that will protect people's human rights, such as shelter
5. Do A Day in a Life (but be aware of your own privileges before going into this and thinking people need you--people we met they wished they did not have to depend on human services and all those involved in that. Clearly they also want to get rid of such programs, but today cutting programs will make things worst, for those in the streets and for those who work with them)
6. When you see a homeless person, do not cross the street, so that you avoid them; we are all human beings; we all deserve dignity
What that means is that one goes with an educator from St. Stephen's Human Services around the city learning about homelessness. My first thought about it was doubtful because I knew that after we were done with this, we were going to get pizza and then go back to our comfortable homes/filthy dorms (our inaction to clean).
At our arrival we met the educators who will take us around; some are former homeless. My group was Richard, who identifies as Indian American and Chicano, four white students and I, identified as "other" today. We learned a lot about natives, art and identity, heard some poetry from Richard, and walked up and down Franklin Ave. Richard teared up when he talked about getting a gift from a Vet and said: "This country has taken so much from us, but we have given so much to it." He's now trying to get the country to recognize those Natives who fought in majors wars and have yet to be recognized. Then we visited some low-income apartments that are a model to what can be possible if we decided we actually end homelessness.
Then we met Terry, who was homeless on and off since 9 years old. His family took him here and there and ended up in drugs. He traveled throughout states seeking for shelter until he came to MN. Here he was able to find low-income housing and even took us to his apartment. At one point he asked: Imagine going from the streets where the cold and indignity kills you to your own place; imagine growing up in unthinkable situations and going to your own little place, your own little kitchen, your own bed. Imagine living in the streets to moving into your own place. He then gave us cookies. The reason was because that was what was available when he was homeless: junk food, which is one of the reasons why people in the streets have bad teeth. Today he works three jobs, but is still considered low-income. Health issues are numerous and now many might lose their health care because Pawlenty, through allotment, has cut the General Assistance Medical Care.
After that we walked to Sharing & Caring by Mary Jo where we had lunch. There were many people, mostly people of color. When we arrived, we saw staring at our group. Certainly it was not me, but to our well-dressed white students who obviously were not there for necessity to food in reality. I am sure we were all hungry to learn, but there was some sense of unaccountability. After being on line and getting food, we sat down and found some tension between a guest to this food shelf and us who had no idea of the rules of this place.
There was also some racial tension, which is interesting to think about. From various readings we found that people of color, children of color, mentally ill, vets, and women are more likely to require this kind of assistance in a daily basis in MN. So here you have a bunch of white kids coming to eat at a place that many had never been to and where those who go there regularly probably felt threaten that we sat in their sits. Some racial slurs were thrown at my white peers and some to Richard. But at the end we moved and all was fine.
The Salvation Army was next, where we got to see what they offer and met two people who used the facilities last year after biking their way to MN from Missouri and a dog (one died in the way) and after escaping the Iowa flood on the last car that left Iowa before roads were shut down. We saw where people stay at night and where they sleep. On the walls in this cold room are numbers on blue-Scotch tape signaling where mats go. Someone said, "Every number is a body." Seeing that the floor was empty and mats on the corners on top of each other I assume each person who comes there gets assigned to a number and where they will spend the next night. I could not help but imagine how society designates the future of people the same way Germany officials dictated the faith of millions of Jews in the 40s. I could not help but think of the book Night.
The last person was someone who list everything to drug-addiction. When I say everything, I mean it. She was making over 1,000,000 dollars a year! She had the material things many strive to get in life. She decided to try drugs for the first time in her late 20s after seeing that her husband could not leave the drugs. She wanted to know why. She is now in MN recovering--not after losing her monetary wealth, her husband, prostituting herself, not on the streets, but by being in relationships with men who could only afford her addiction. She also went to jail three times, so three felonies in her record, and lost custody to her children, one of whom has been sexually abused and she can't do much.
Over all, it was an intense day, a day to remember, people to remember, people to keep in mind when decisions to cut programs are cut. Politics are one thing, but the well being of people shall be more important and yesterday that was reinforced. I learned that drugs could cripple in any one's life at any point and I learned that if one listened to those in the outcast, we will be better off, we will be better humans to each other. In the streets I met real people, people we have learned to avoid, people with troubled histories but with enormous dreams, dreams many of us take for granted for we posses them.
We all have a role in this; we all can do something. And here are some things we can all do:
1. Believe poverty can be alleviated.
2. Tell the truth (not all homeless people are there by choice as many other stereotypes can be challenged)
3. Learn about the different plans in place today to end homelessness
4. Call elected officials to support legislation that will protect people's human rights, such as shelter
5. Do A Day in a Life (but be aware of your own privileges before going into this and thinking people need you--people we met they wished they did not have to depend on human services and all those involved in that. Clearly they also want to get rid of such programs, but today cutting programs will make things worst, for those in the streets and for those who work with them)
6. When you see a homeless person, do not cross the street, so that you avoid them; we are all human beings; we all deserve dignity
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
An Intense First Day
Today I started classes. I am not taking classes at Augsburg, but an urban studies program called MUST through HECUA. The program takes in consideration three questions: why does poverty exist, why it reproduces, and what are way to alleviate poverty.
It was an intense day. First thing, we had class at a local library in St. Paul. We had lunch in a local restaurant. Everyone seems excited for the semester and I am excited for it too. We talked about personal experiences with poverty and reasons why we want to be in this program.
That was a challenging task because one is vulnerable to others, free to speak one's mind, and chances are that we might not like to share in public about oneself. It seems that this exercise will be part of the program and I hope that I become comfortable talking to this group about my life and why I am interested in civic engagement.
Tomorrow I get to go explore the Eastside in St. Paul. We will be talking about the makeup of the neighborhoods we visit under each students' perspective. More to come on this then!
After classes today (which was over 5hrs), I had my first meeting with the Citizens League, where I will be doing my internship over the semester as required by the must program. The Citizens League is a nonpartisan policy maker in the state of MN based out of St. Paul. I am really excited for this opportunity since I have been trying to get an internship with them for a year now, whose vision really invites us all to be engaged in our communities: "To create the common ground where 'We the People' can achieve the common good."
Then I came to campus and had a great time at the Campus Ministry Block Party where we shared icecream, t-shirt designing, great conversations, and I got to speak to new students about ALAS, our not-just-for-Latin@s-students organization. Again, excited for the year ahead!
It was an intense day. First thing, we had class at a local library in St. Paul. We had lunch in a local restaurant. Everyone seems excited for the semester and I am excited for it too. We talked about personal experiences with poverty and reasons why we want to be in this program.
That was a challenging task because one is vulnerable to others, free to speak one's mind, and chances are that we might not like to share in public about oneself. It seems that this exercise will be part of the program and I hope that I become comfortable talking to this group about my life and why I am interested in civic engagement.
Tomorrow I get to go explore the Eastside in St. Paul. We will be talking about the makeup of the neighborhoods we visit under each students' perspective. More to come on this then!
After classes today (which was over 5hrs), I had my first meeting with the Citizens League, where I will be doing my internship over the semester as required by the must program. The Citizens League is a nonpartisan policy maker in the state of MN based out of St. Paul. I am really excited for this opportunity since I have been trying to get an internship with them for a year now, whose vision really invites us all to be engaged in our communities: "To create the common ground where 'We the People' can achieve the common good."
Then I came to campus and had a great time at the Campus Ministry Block Party where we shared icecream, t-shirt designing, great conversations, and I got to speak to new students about ALAS, our not-just-for-Latin@s-students organization. Again, excited for the year ahead!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
An Honor my Friend
I was honored that Sam Smith, Augsburg Student Body President, spoke about my URGO research project I conducted this summer. I am sure many have no idea about such project, but Sam is my roommate, so he heard about my project often as I heard about his throughout the summer.
It was great seeing all the new students. New people means new energy and a new challenge to have people interested in being engaged, either in the college or the surrounding community. Sam did a great job at encouraging people to be engaged, to seek opportunities. Over all, the first convocation was about inviting people to embrace the many chances to change the world, or help at least.
As I write this, President Obama came up at the end of a show talking about three people who went far through education and being engaged! So inspirational!!!!! Today, I heard President Obama, President Paul C. Pribbenow, and President Sam Smith speak--what a day!
Looking forward to the coming year--classes start here tomorrow!
It was great seeing all the new students. New people means new energy and a new challenge to have people interested in being engaged, either in the college or the surrounding community. Sam did a great job at encouraging people to be engaged, to seek opportunities. Over all, the first convocation was about inviting people to embrace the many chances to change the world, or help at least.As I write this, President Obama came up at the end of a show talking about three people who went far through education and being engaged! So inspirational!!!!! Today, I heard President Obama, President Paul C. Pribbenow, and President Sam Smith speak--what a day!
Looking forward to the coming year--classes start here tomorrow!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Role Model Needed
I was playing with my little brother the other day when this girl approached me and asked, "Are you an Auggie?"
"Ummm, yeah....?" I answered sort of questioning how she knew that.
Then I asked her how she knew about Augsburg because I was in fact wearing an Augsburg t-shirt that I had gotten after being accepted to Augsburg in 2007. She mentioned that she remembered me from the time she visited Augsburg with her school class.
Then I remembered! Students in the 2nd grade from Bruce F. Vento Elementary had come to visit our school along with their teacher. Well, their teacher happened to be my roommate's mom. My roommate and I helped out with their visit.
We played, went along campus tours, had lunch with them, and talked with them. It was a great visit. The Admissions people later in the Spring went to visit the students to their school.
Well, where my family lives is a place where children are more likely to end up in many places other than college. I see this in different ways. One is that there are no libraries close by. There are no healthy food outlets, other than gas stations and liquor stores. Transportation is very hard to navigate and housing is very inadequate. Many of the families living in this area are more likely to be low-income, do not speak English as first language at home, and do not know how to navigate the system.
This means that these students really lack role models. My experience in school is that there were not many people who looked like me, other than students, for example. At home our families struggle to make ends meet and sometimes education, although important, becomes secondary to the daily survival. Overall, their future looks very grim.
It has been a few times that I have seen this student. I have talked to her a few times. Sometimes, while I am outside playing with my siblings, she has gone into her place and bring out her Auggie backpack she got when she visited Augsburg in the Spring. Some of her peers now know me as well.
We've talked about college and what I do. I also have asked her about what she wants to do when she is older and if she is going to go to Augsbugr when it is time. She always says yes--I hope she does.
But, what has been eye-opening to me is that not am I a role model for those in my family; I have become a role model for students who live in this area. There needs to be more students like them going into college. Because I came out of a place they know, I hope they see that they can do it too. That they can make it to college, to Augsburg.
Now I have another reason to visit my family at home.
"Ummm, yeah....?" I answered sort of questioning how she knew that.
Then I asked her how she knew about Augsburg because I was in fact wearing an Augsburg t-shirt that I had gotten after being accepted to Augsburg in 2007. She mentioned that she remembered me from the time she visited Augsburg with her school class.
Then I remembered! Students in the 2nd grade from Bruce F. Vento Elementary had come to visit our school along with their teacher. Well, their teacher happened to be my roommate's mom. My roommate and I helped out with their visit.
We played, went along campus tours, had lunch with them, and talked with them. It was a great visit. The Admissions people later in the Spring went to visit the students to their school.Well, where my family lives is a place where children are more likely to end up in many places other than college. I see this in different ways. One is that there are no libraries close by. There are no healthy food outlets, other than gas stations and liquor stores. Transportation is very hard to navigate and housing is very inadequate. Many of the families living in this area are more likely to be low-income, do not speak English as first language at home, and do not know how to navigate the system.
This means that these students really lack role models. My experience in school is that there were not many people who looked like me, other than students, for example. At home our families struggle to make ends meet and sometimes education, although important, becomes secondary to the daily survival. Overall, their future looks very grim.
It has been a few times that I have seen this student. I have talked to her a few times. Sometimes, while I am outside playing with my siblings, she has gone into her place and bring out her Auggie backpack she got when she visited Augsburg in the Spring. Some of her peers now know me as well.
We've talked about college and what I do. I also have asked her about what she wants to do when she is older and if she is going to go to Augsbugr when it is time. She always says yes--I hope she does.
But, what has been eye-opening to me is that not am I a role model for those in my family; I have become a role model for students who live in this area. There needs to be more students like them going into college. Because I came out of a place they know, I hope they see that they can do it too. That they can make it to college, to Augsburg.
Now I have another reason to visit my family at home.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Moo if you ...
I just watched a movie with good Auggie friends (not sure if naming people is legit here...) and had come great ice cream (all ice cream should be great) and tomato soup with some grilled cheese.
Anyhow, tonight I was reminded of how kool sometimes it is to just hang out around. Usually one just gets too cought up in things and does not relax sometimes.
Looking forward to this coming school year- and I am sure I will get the chance to enjoy some night as I have enjoyed tonight.
Oh, and the picture connects two way here. One in that it is related to ice cream- I'm sure you got that. And the other one is about last year. So, I have been part of Student Senate since my first year here at Augsburg. During my year the Vice President, when asking member to vote, instead of raising hands, sometimes he would say, "Those in favor please say, 'Moo." How funny?! Those were good times... Moo, agreed!
Oh, again. And the picture, I just realized, is from our past food service providers. They are gone now- that must say something, right? Student Senate was active there... No cow no more in The Commons. Oh, well. We got Avian's now and have seen improvements.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Why "Del Pueblo"
This will be my second post, and I have to say that I have now started to think more about blogging. Or actually taking the time to put those thoughts into writing. As I said in my previous blog, I will attempt to put into words the reasons why I call this blog, "Del Pueblo."
The title is Spanish for two reasons. One reason is because I happen to speak Spanish, so that makes sense. The other reason is because "pueblo" means town. This, at least where I come from, means more than just a town. It speaks of community, of people coming together. There is a sense of belonging to it, where town's people are part of a tight community- a community that looks out for its fellow members. And I want to voice some of the experience in the Auggie community.
At the same time, I am very much interested in democracy, and politics as well. Del Pueblo alludes to the idea of government for the people, by the people. Because I am a member of the Auggie community, I thought it was appropriate to claim that this blog is authentic to its core and true to its community. It is done by someone in the community; that is by an Auggie.
The title is Spanish for two reasons. One reason is because I happen to speak Spanish, so that makes sense. The other reason is because "pueblo" means town. This, at least where I come from, means more than just a town. It speaks of community, of people coming together. There is a sense of belonging to it, where town's people are part of a tight community- a community that looks out for its fellow members. And I want to voice some of the experience in the Auggie community.
At the same time, I am very much interested in democracy, and politics as well. Del Pueblo alludes to the idea of government for the people, by the people. Because I am a member of the Auggie community, I thought it was appropriate to claim that this blog is authentic to its core and true to its community. It is done by someone in the community; that is by an Auggie.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Creating a blog
So, I just created this blog: http://juvedelpueblo.blogspot.com/
Well, it all went well. It's exciting to start your own first blog where you have no idea what you will be writing about- whether or not you will be able to contain yourself to not convert the blog into your diary where your reactionary mind speaks out...
Anyhow, I was saying that everything was going well. I had to come up with a name for the blog (which I will explain later) and whatnot. However, when I got to the part where you have to enter this code (to "prove" that I am a human (never use "prove" on front of Professor Crockett...)), I couldn't do it. I mean, I could not read what that thing said. It was irritating (when I am not trying to be irritated) and the thing won't work!
I almost gave up, but as a great Auggie, I kept trying. Finally, this thing is working and now I am able to move on and start writing about the wonders of the world (not really).
Moral of the story: and everything was good- not perfect for sure! (Took that from the Bible since we are a Lutheran school; gotta show it somehow, right? Learned something in religion class I have to say)
Well, it all went well. It's exciting to start your own first blog where you have no idea what you will be writing about- whether or not you will be able to contain yourself to not convert the blog into your diary where your reactionary mind speaks out...
Anyhow, I was saying that everything was going well. I had to come up with a name for the blog (which I will explain later) and whatnot. However, when I got to the part where you have to enter this code (to "prove" that I am a human (never use "prove" on front of Professor Crockett...)), I couldn't do it. I mean, I could not read what that thing said. It was irritating (when I am not trying to be irritated) and the thing won't work!
I almost gave up, but as a great Auggie, I kept trying. Finally, this thing is working and now I am able to move on and start writing about the wonders of the world (not really).
Moral of the story: and everything was good- not perfect for sure! (Took that from the Bible since we are a Lutheran school; gotta show it somehow, right? Learned something in religion class I have to say)
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