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.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
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.
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