BRIDGES’ Work with the Student Equity Council at Great Oaks
As part of my 10-month apprenticeship with Public Allies, a program of BRIDGES for a Just Community, I serve as a Coordinator of Volunteer Programs and Communications. At BRIDGES, our core values center around community, justice, respect, inclusion, collaboration, responsibility, integrity, learning, celebration and sustainability, and as an ally, I observed these values put into practice at a recent Student Equity Council session.
First established by Great Oaks in 2008 as a way for students of different backgrounds to learn respect for others and his or her school, the Student Equity Council institutes teach juniors and seniors equity leadership principles they can implement as student ambassadors and future community leaders. At the first SEC institute of the 2011-2012, academic year hosted by Scarlet Oaks’ Assistant Dean, Craig Williams, I enjoyed the privilege of attending a session with BRIDGES’ Director of Programs, Shawn Jeffers, who facilitates. In a series of activities and discussions, I interacted with an energetic group of high-school students from Diamond Oaks, Scarlet Oaks, Winton Woods, Mount Healthy, Harrison and Taylor High School.
At SEC trainings, students not only learn practical nuts and bolts of community leadership, but they discuss what diversity looks like in terms of accepting and acknowledging different backgrounds of race and ethnicity, neighborhoods, economic class and sexual-orientation. The discussions around pre-conceived notions and stereotypes are candid, but there are conditions for success— community rules of engagement that prepare each participant to remain engaged, behave respectfully but speak their truth, grant amnesty to those who may step out of bounds when speaking their truth, challenging oneself to experience discomfort in new situations, and accept nondisclosure.
Helium Bar and 60 Seconds
During the day, I took the opportunity to lead and participate in activities designed to frame tangible ideas of leadership and self-awareness while incorporating BRIDGES’ core values. For example, “the Helium Bar” activity focused on aspects of collaboration, respect and community, and was acted out by two rows of students who faced each other trying to lower a 20-foot tent pole to the ground in unison. Students soon learned the pole was malleable, therefore, harder to prevent from warping or one end rising higher than the other end. In order to achieve the objective, students needed to collaborate with each other respectfully and figure out what input from the community needed to be implemented. At first, a few students reacted in frustration and blurted attacks instead of instructions, like ‘You’re messing it up!” or “Stop pushing it so much!” Others who were more patient tried a different approach by making suggestions or listening to another student’s vision of how an approach could work. I noticed the students began to calm down and listen to each other’s instructions and even congratulate each other when the beam remained straight as they lowered it to the floor.
Another activity, 60 Seconds, allowed the students to "put themselves in each other’s shoes," and as Jeffers further suggested, “lace them tightly and walk around in them.” For example, when students shared out their immediate one-word reactions to prompts like “poor,” “black women,” and “gay and lesbian,” the responses were seen as funny when it wasn’t that student’s demographic or identity marker. Under the black women category, most words were derogatory as well as stereotypes, and they were stereotypes that you're more likely to see exploited on shows like Maury, i.e.; being loud,physically combative and high-strung, speaking inarticulately, being unwed mothers who are lascivious and lustful, and lifelong welfare recipients. I observed that when students got the chance to read all the sheets, I could tell how painful it was to read what other people put about their demographic, and the African-American girls seemed especially offended, even though many of them were the ones to write the words on the sheet. The offense came after seeing others outside of the identity group laugh and make jokes about the words, or say things to another student such as, "Yeah, I see that all the time; that's definitely how Black women act!" When the group was asked to share thoughts about the exercise, several students shared that they wanted to defend their group and dispel the myth that these stereotypes were normative and all-encompassing of a group's identity.
Implementing Community Agreements At School
After creating a list of community agreements for students to carry out successfully at their prospective schools, the group discussed accountability as leaders. For many of the students, it was more important to be seen as a peer who leads by example, not by policing and admonishing others’ behavior. When asked how they would deescalate violence and bullying, a few students suggested that SEC ambassadors bring calm to both sides by reminding students of the disciplinary consequences of such behavior. They also said they would offer empathy and act as peer counselors to students who fight because they have trouble fitting in, especially if they recognize an opportunity to show they can relate.
The Student Equity Council is just one way BRIDGES teaches organizations how to foster environments of inclusion. For more information about BRIDGES and its programs,visit: www.bridgescincinnati.org.
Author: Mildred C. Fallen
Monday, December 19, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Beechwood Students Learn about Inclusion and Anti-Bullying Tactics
It was two hours before the end of the day at Beechwood Independent School District in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, where students were asked to recall the origins of their names in preparation for the speech they would hear regarding inclusion and building relationships. It’s not a typical thought that most young students reflect upon towards the end of the day, yet it became so relevant to the topic of discussion-bullying.
As he engaged the enthusiastic students, speaker Shawn Jeffers, Director of Programs at BRIDGES for a Just Community, decided to share the origin of his name with the young crowd. “Nicholas… Demetrius… oh yes, S.h.a.w.n. is what we will name him,” Jeffers mentioned when sharing how his parents came up with the name he has today. Informing the crowd of how his parents met in Europe while his father was stationed in Germany, Jeffers discussed how he got the unique spelling of his name due to its relation to his relatives in the Netherlands.
Eager to connect the purposes of his story to the topic of bullying, Jeffers then discussed with the students that each of our names are unique and different, therefore we are unique and different from each other. In fact, our names may even be spelled differently from one another to define its uniqueness from other names. Yet, there are those who cruelly judge our names and go as far as to make fun of the way it looks and sounds, instead of getting to know the uniqueness behind our names, therefore getting to know us. Just because someone’s name is unlike yours, doesn’t mean you have to treat him or her any differently.
This same concept was shared with the kindergarten through third grade crowd, but it involved their favorite colors. Jeffers asked those students whose favorite color is blue “for people who don’t like the color blue, are they wrong?” The students quickly answered “No,” while embracing their understanding that we are all different and there’s nothing wrong with being different.
Being different or unlike someone else is the underlying cause of bullying, especially in elementary and junior high school. Therefore, in order to prevent or minimize bullying BRIDGES teaches children about acceptance and understanding of others’ differences. Using two of the character words “respect” and “honesty” that the children have learned over the last couple of weeks, the students of Beechwood were taught to respect those who are unlike each other and show honesty when reporting that someone is being bullied are only some of the effective ways in which bullying can be eliminated.
Keeping in mind the Platinum Rule-“Treat others the way THEY want to be treated,” is just one of the many key themes BRIDGES for a Just Community enjoys promoting through their “JUST Community,” “Village Schools,” and other issue and advocacy programs, Jeffers explained.
Since its beginning year in 1944, BRIDGES has been our region’s leading human relations organization and is a founding member of the National Federation for Just Communities, a coalition of like-minded organizations working together across America to bring the values of diversity, inclusion and social justice to our communities, schools, workplaces and institutions. BRIDGES aligns this idea of diversity, inclusion and social justice with the values Beechwood School has in guiding their students down a pathway of social excellence among other things.
Wanting to leave the students at Beechwood with a message about bullying and inclusion, Jeffers referred back to the name-game activity that helped the children build their understanding around the topic of bullying by stating;
“We have to honor our names by making a difference and getting to know others by their names… we have differences as much as we have similarities and we have to respect that! We may look different and have different experiences, but we can still have a conversation with others… get to know who they are and don’t just assume who they are because they are different.”
Other tactics Jeffers mentioned for ways to handle bullying include reporting any bullying activities to an adult like a teacher or a parent, standing up for a peer or friend who is being bullied and prevent becoming the bully or bully police by simply “asking the bully to stop verses angrily demanding him or her to stop.”
In a final effort to convince the students at Beechwood about the seriousness of bullying, Jeffers brought up the lives of Carl Walker Hoover, an 11 year old boy who hung himself after being bullied daily because his peers thought he was gay, and Ashlynn Conner, a 10 year old honor student who was alleged to have hung herself after being taunted by the girls at her school. These young innocent children are only few of many who have felt that no one stood up for them when they were being bullied. Sadly, there are more cases like this each day and the toll of deaths as a result of bullying continue to rise. Learn to stop the bullying before the bullying stops you!
Author: Alexis Williams
Communications Intern
Source List:
www.beechwood.k12.ky.us
http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20111028/NEWS0102/110290323/School-district-fights-bullying?odyssey=nav%7Chead
www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/news/record/2400.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-funeral-today-for-girl-10-whose-family-says-killed-herself-because-of-bullying-20111116,0,3663336.story
As he engaged the enthusiastic students, speaker Shawn Jeffers, Director of Programs at BRIDGES for a Just Community, decided to share the origin of his name with the young crowd. “Nicholas… Demetrius… oh yes, S.h.a.w.n. is what we will name him,” Jeffers mentioned when sharing how his parents came up with the name he has today. Informing the crowd of how his parents met in Europe while his father was stationed in Germany, Jeffers discussed how he got the unique spelling of his name due to its relation to his relatives in the Netherlands.
Eager to connect the purposes of his story to the topic of bullying, Jeffers then discussed with the students that each of our names are unique and different, therefore we are unique and different from each other. In fact, our names may even be spelled differently from one another to define its uniqueness from other names. Yet, there are those who cruelly judge our names and go as far as to make fun of the way it looks and sounds, instead of getting to know the uniqueness behind our names, therefore getting to know us. Just because someone’s name is unlike yours, doesn’t mean you have to treat him or her any differently.
This same concept was shared with the kindergarten through third grade crowd, but it involved their favorite colors. Jeffers asked those students whose favorite color is blue “for people who don’t like the color blue, are they wrong?” The students quickly answered “No,” while embracing their understanding that we are all different and there’s nothing wrong with being different.
Being different or unlike someone else is the underlying cause of bullying, especially in elementary and junior high school. Therefore, in order to prevent or minimize bullying BRIDGES teaches children about acceptance and understanding of others’ differences. Using two of the character words “respect” and “honesty” that the children have learned over the last couple of weeks, the students of Beechwood were taught to respect those who are unlike each other and show honesty when reporting that someone is being bullied are only some of the effective ways in which bullying can be eliminated.
Keeping in mind the Platinum Rule-“Treat others the way THEY want to be treated,” is just one of the many key themes BRIDGES for a Just Community enjoys promoting through their “JUST Community,” “Village Schools,” and other issue and advocacy programs, Jeffers explained.
Since its beginning year in 1944, BRIDGES has been our region’s leading human relations organization and is a founding member of the National Federation for Just Communities, a coalition of like-minded organizations working together across America to bring the values of diversity, inclusion and social justice to our communities, schools, workplaces and institutions. BRIDGES aligns this idea of diversity, inclusion and social justice with the values Beechwood School has in guiding their students down a pathway of social excellence among other things.
Wanting to leave the students at Beechwood with a message about bullying and inclusion, Jeffers referred back to the name-game activity that helped the children build their understanding around the topic of bullying by stating;
“We have to honor our names by making a difference and getting to know others by their names… we have differences as much as we have similarities and we have to respect that! We may look different and have different experiences, but we can still have a conversation with others… get to know who they are and don’t just assume who they are because they are different.”
Other tactics Jeffers mentioned for ways to handle bullying include reporting any bullying activities to an adult like a teacher or a parent, standing up for a peer or friend who is being bullied and prevent becoming the bully or bully police by simply “asking the bully to stop verses angrily demanding him or her to stop.”
In a final effort to convince the students at Beechwood about the seriousness of bullying, Jeffers brought up the lives of Carl Walker Hoover, an 11 year old boy who hung himself after being bullied daily because his peers thought he was gay, and Ashlynn Conner, a 10 year old honor student who was alleged to have hung herself after being taunted by the girls at her school. These young innocent children are only few of many who have felt that no one stood up for them when they were being bullied. Sadly, there are more cases like this each day and the toll of deaths as a result of bullying continue to rise. Learn to stop the bullying before the bullying stops you!
Author: Alexis Williams
Communications Intern
Source List:
www.beechwood.k12.ky.us
http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20111028/NEWS0102/110290323/School-district-fights-bullying?odyssey=nav%7Chead
www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/news/record/2400.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-funeral-today-for-girl-10-whose-family-says-killed-herself-because-of-bullying-20111116,0,3663336.story
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Working together to end hate
Not in Our Town: Light in the Darkness is a one-hour documentary about Patchogue, New York, a community devastated by hate. In 2008, the Long Island village was the site of a series of attacks against Latino residents including the murder of Marcelo Lucero, an Ecuadoran immigrant. The film profiles the community’s efforts to take action after the anti-immigrant hate crime. The town’s courage in facing down hate is underwritten by the belief that small actions by everyday people can lead to big changes.
This week is the Not in Our Town National Week of Action and now is the time to ask ourselves what we are doing to end hate in our own communities. Check your local listings and make sure to watch this documentary. In the meantime, learn more about ending hate in your community.
Michelle Watts
This week is the Not in Our Town National Week of Action and now is the time to ask ourselves what we are doing to end hate in our own communities. Check your local listings and make sure to watch this documentary. In the meantime, learn more about ending hate in your community.
Michelle Watts
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Work to Do*
August was a difficult month. In early August, there was a murder-suicide in Deerfield Township. Amanda Borsos was killed on her 17th birthday. Her boyfriend killed himself later that same day. It’s been about three weeks since 16 year-old Davon Mullins was killed by a police officer at Fountain Square. The whole city was shocked by the shooting that took place in Cincinnati’s ‘living room.’ The shock was understandable, especially considering that just the day before, there had been another officer-involved shooting at Findlay Market. These incidents are no longer lead stories on the news; and maybe that’s a good thing. After all, there are families, and officers, who need time to heal from these tragedies. On the other hand, we have to make sure that the absence of reporters and cameras don’t lull us into believing that things have changed. As the families heal, the community should take the time to think about what it means to be a young adult in 2011.There are indeed a number of challenges facing young adults and ignoring those challenges won’t make them go away.
I don’t want to suggest that every young adult in our area is an accident waiting to happen. I do, however, want to think more about how we respond to these incidents and what we can do to prevent them from happening in the first place. Typically, a community responds to incidents of violence with sadness, sorrow and talking points. Pundits bemoan the easy accessibility of guns and analyze the links between race and violence. Schools respond with ‘zero-tolerance’ policies. Parents and city officials enact strict curfews. And all responsible adults talk to each other about the plight of today’s youth. But in the midst of all of these responses, there is one critical missing element. Many times, we forget to talk to the young adults themselves. If we really want to know how they feel, what they think about their circumstances, when and where they feel threatened and how we can work together, then at some point in time, we have to sit down and have a constructive, open dialogue.
If you still aren’t convinced of the need to talk to young adults, think about what is now being called “America’s Generation Gap.” By 2042, people of color will be the majority in America. That majority will also be signifihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifcantly younger than the white minority. We are in a period in which there exists a contrast in needs and priorities between a largely young, nonwhite population and a largely white older population. Policy Link states that, “For the first time, America's seniors, business leaders, and elected officials simply do not see themselves in the faces of todays young. For many, this signals less obligation and commitment to the kinds of programs and resources that would help provide a boost for the next generation.”
While the pain heals, the community has to step in and do the important work of talking to and working with our young adults. Sometimes the first step is the most important.
Michelle Watts
August was a difficult month. In early August, there was a murder-suicide in Deerfield Township. Amanda Borsos was killed on her 17th birthday. Her boyfriend killed himself later that same day. It’s been about three weeks since 16 year-old Davon Mullins was killed by a police officer at Fountain Square. The whole city was shocked by the shooting that took place in Cincinnati’s ‘living room.’ The shock was understandable, especially considering that just the day before, there had been another officer-involved shooting at Findlay Market. These incidents are no longer lead stories on the news; and maybe that’s a good thing. After all, there are families, and officers, who need time to heal from these tragedies. On the other hand, we have to make sure that the absence of reporters and cameras don’t lull us into believing that things have changed. As the families heal, the community should take the time to think about what it means to be a young adult in 2011.There are indeed a number of challenges facing young adults and ignoring those challenges won’t make them go away.
I don’t want to suggest that every young adult in our area is an accident waiting to happen. I do, however, want to think more about how we respond to these incidents and what we can do to prevent them from happening in the first place. Typically, a community responds to incidents of violence with sadness, sorrow and talking points. Pundits bemoan the easy accessibility of guns and analyze the links between race and violence. Schools respond with ‘zero-tolerance’ policies. Parents and city officials enact strict curfews. And all responsible adults talk to each other about the plight of today’s youth. But in the midst of all of these responses, there is one critical missing element. Many times, we forget to talk to the young adults themselves. If we really want to know how they feel, what they think about their circumstances, when and where they feel threatened and how we can work together, then at some point in time, we have to sit down and have a constructive, open dialogue.
If you still aren’t convinced of the need to talk to young adults, think about what is now being called “America’s Generation Gap.” By 2042, people of color will be the majority in America. That majority will also be signifihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifcantly younger than the white minority. We are in a period in which there exists a contrast in needs and priorities between a largely young, nonwhite population and a largely white older population. Policy Link states that, “For the first time, America's seniors, business leaders, and elected officials simply do not see themselves in the faces of todays young. For many, this signals less obligation and commitment to the kinds of programs and resources that would help provide a boost for the next generation.”
While the pain heals, the community has to step in and do the important work of talking to and working with our young adults. Sometimes the first step is the most important.
Michelle Watts
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
An Opportunity Lost At the Table of Brotherhood and Sisterhood
An opportunity to sit down together at the “table of brotherhood” (and sisterhood) at a local high school, Mother of Mercy, recently was lost because of outcries from a few who missed the larger and more important messages of peace, and justice and interfaith understanding. Earlier in their efforts to find common ground, Catholic and Muslims students were seeking ways to expand their own learning of each others' religious traditions by breaking the traditional Ramadan fast with a shared meal. Regrettably, that particular meal was never prepared.
In one of the most critical moments in his life, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. guided us with his words from The Strength to Love (1963), when he wrote “The ultimate measure of a man (or woman) is not where he (she) stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he (she) stands at times of challenge and controversy." In his honor, a stone monument stands in our nation’s capitol as a reminder to all of us and generations to come that justice and peace aren’t easily attained.
BRIDGES for A Just Community has stood with the greater community to bring voices to the voiceless, and as a mediator and advocate when communities and people find themselves on opposing sides of important social and human rights issues. From our early work under the name of the National Council for Christians and Jews to the evolving inclusive efforts as the National Conference for Community and Justice, BRIDGES for a Just Community (our new corporate name) continues to work quietly, behind the scenes, and when necessary, visibly and publicly as a convener to bring together people with varying points of view to seek and find common ground. We have a long, rich and proud history of human relations work in the Greater Cincinnati community.
Yet, our work is far from complete. BRIDGES recently partnered with more than a dozen like-minded organizations to plan an upcoming community-wide commemoration of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. This group, which includes the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-OH) and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati – are working together, along with the other 14 organizations to “remember, unify and hope.” Amidst the effort to focus on the events of 9/11, a smaller disruption of unity occurred when a student-led opportunity to come to the “table of brotherhood and sisterhood” was lost.
The high school students who wished to simply eat together and learn from one another was a courageous act to achieve Dr. King’s dream. We are hopeful that the cancellation of the dinner at Mother of Mercy (although it was still held at a different location) will open dialogue rather than to slam the door on learning about differences.
Especially as we approach the observance of the many tender and unifying commemorations of 9/11, we hope that this episode will not prevent the students from losing hope to serve our community and our nation - together. For too long, we have asked young people to care about one another with their words AND their actions. Now, we must ask ourselves, will the school, the students, and the parents close their hearts and minds to others who worship differently? Will the students be too discouraged to care about one another? Will the barriers of misunderstanding and misinformation prevent important dialogue and community service from occurring? Will the communities that would have been served by these young, enthusiastic people suffer because of pressures outside of their control?
Our community is facing serious economic and social challenges that require every citizen to work together. We encourage the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and CAIR-OH to engage in constructive and respectful dialogues to heal and find common ground. We hope that everyone involved will stand together, even when it is uncomfortable, to set an important example of leadership, love and conviction modeled for all of us so many years ago.
#####
About BRIDGES for a Just Community, Inc.
BRIDGES for a Just Community brings people together to achieve inclusion, equity and justice for all who live and work in the Greater Cincinnati community. As the region’s leading human relations organization, BRIDGES’ vision is to create a respectful, equitable and welcoming community for all citizens through education, advocacy and dialogue. Formerly the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) of Greater Cincinnati, BRIDGES for a Just Community has served the region since 1944. For more information, call BRIDGES at 513-381- 4660 or visit online at www.bridgescincinnati.org.
In one of the most critical moments in his life, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. guided us with his words from The Strength to Love (1963), when he wrote “The ultimate measure of a man (or woman) is not where he (she) stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he (she) stands at times of challenge and controversy." In his honor, a stone monument stands in our nation’s capitol as a reminder to all of us and generations to come that justice and peace aren’t easily attained.
BRIDGES for A Just Community has stood with the greater community to bring voices to the voiceless, and as a mediator and advocate when communities and people find themselves on opposing sides of important social and human rights issues. From our early work under the name of the National Council for Christians and Jews to the evolving inclusive efforts as the National Conference for Community and Justice, BRIDGES for a Just Community (our new corporate name) continues to work quietly, behind the scenes, and when necessary, visibly and publicly as a convener to bring together people with varying points of view to seek and find common ground. We have a long, rich and proud history of human relations work in the Greater Cincinnati community.
Yet, our work is far from complete. BRIDGES recently partnered with more than a dozen like-minded organizations to plan an upcoming community-wide commemoration of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. This group, which includes the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-OH) and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati – are working together, along with the other 14 organizations to “remember, unify and hope.” Amidst the effort to focus on the events of 9/11, a smaller disruption of unity occurred when a student-led opportunity to come to the “table of brotherhood and sisterhood” was lost.
The high school students who wished to simply eat together and learn from one another was a courageous act to achieve Dr. King’s dream. We are hopeful that the cancellation of the dinner at Mother of Mercy (although it was still held at a different location) will open dialogue rather than to slam the door on learning about differences.
Especially as we approach the observance of the many tender and unifying commemorations of 9/11, we hope that this episode will not prevent the students from losing hope to serve our community and our nation - together. For too long, we have asked young people to care about one another with their words AND their actions. Now, we must ask ourselves, will the school, the students, and the parents close their hearts and minds to others who worship differently? Will the students be too discouraged to care about one another? Will the barriers of misunderstanding and misinformation prevent important dialogue and community service from occurring? Will the communities that would have been served by these young, enthusiastic people suffer because of pressures outside of their control?
Our community is facing serious economic and social challenges that require every citizen to work together. We encourage the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and CAIR-OH to engage in constructive and respectful dialogues to heal and find common ground. We hope that everyone involved will stand together, even when it is uncomfortable, to set an important example of leadership, love and conviction modeled for all of us so many years ago.
#####
About BRIDGES for a Just Community, Inc.
BRIDGES for a Just Community brings people together to achieve inclusion, equity and justice for all who live and work in the Greater Cincinnati community. As the region’s leading human relations organization, BRIDGES’ vision is to create a respectful, equitable and welcoming community for all citizens through education, advocacy and dialogue. Formerly the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) of Greater Cincinnati, BRIDGES for a Just Community has served the region since 1944. For more information, call BRIDGES at 513-381- 4660 or visit online at www.bridgescincinnati.org.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
JUST Community 101
Even though I don’t teach anymore, I still get excited about the beginning of a new school year. One of the best things about a new school year is the opportunity to meet a new crop of students who have the potential to impact your life and teach you as much, or more, than you can teach them. Well, my opportunity to learn came a little early this year. On a sunny and hot day in July, I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with thirty-three energetic, interesting and thoughtful students from the greater Cincinnati area.
So, in the spirit of the back-to-school season, here are some lessons I learned at JUST Community 2011:
You are never too old for a great game of Musical Chairs.
Long-time volunteer Eddie lead the group in a high-energy game of musical chairs after lunch. I initially thought this was a just a fun way to prevent the students from getting sleepy; however, I was in for a huge surprise. After a few rounds of musical chairs, he reminded the students that the same energy they used to play the game is the same energy they would need to challenge bullying and bigotry in their schools and communities.
Honesty + Vulnerability = Enlightenment
Over the course of the week at JUST Community, the students had to take part in various exercises designed to get them to think about race, gender, sexual orientation and a whole host of other issues that would intimidate most adults. One such exercise, “60 Seconds,” required them to think about their own bias and use of stereotypes. By the end of the exercise, the students learned that when they are honest about the stereotypes they believe in and vulnerable enough to confront them, they can then begin to see the real person, not a label.
Gold is good, but platinum is better.
One of the first things you learn in home or school is the Golden Rule. Although the Golden Rule is still an important, JUST Community participants abided by the Platinum Rule: ‘Treat others the way they want to be treated.’ The Platinum Rule shifted the focus to the feelings of others and gave the students a new and improved way to relate to their peers and counselors.
Diversity and Inclusion aren’t synonymous.
Diversity can mean having a lot of different people from a variety of backgrounds and experience. JUST Community did indeed have a large group of young adults, from different schools, all with a range of different experiences. But the group that I saw was more than a diverse community; the group was an inclusive community. In an inclusive community, everyone has a voice and a role to play. By the end of the day, each student had an opportunity to participate. While some students were more vocal than others, it was obvious that even the quiet students appreciated the opportunity to engage with their peers and develop a sense of their leadership potential. One of final activities for the day included the students developing their own back-to-school Action Plan in which they outlined the ways they could change their respective communities by using what they learned. In doing so, they learned from each other and I learned a lot from them.
BRIDGES has a GREAT Program Staff
I already knew that the Program Staff was wonderful and JUST Community gave me another great opportunity to see their commitment and talent in action. Many thanks to David, Shawn,Tynisha, the Public Allies and all of the volunteers for a great JUST Community 2011.
MW
So, in the spirit of the back-to-school season, here are some lessons I learned at JUST Community 2011:
You are never too old for a great game of Musical Chairs.
Long-time volunteer Eddie lead the group in a high-energy game of musical chairs after lunch. I initially thought this was a just a fun way to prevent the students from getting sleepy; however, I was in for a huge surprise. After a few rounds of musical chairs, he reminded the students that the same energy they used to play the game is the same energy they would need to challenge bullying and bigotry in their schools and communities.
Honesty + Vulnerability = Enlightenment
Over the course of the week at JUST Community, the students had to take part in various exercises designed to get them to think about race, gender, sexual orientation and a whole host of other issues that would intimidate most adults. One such exercise, “60 Seconds,” required them to think about their own bias and use of stereotypes. By the end of the exercise, the students learned that when they are honest about the stereotypes they believe in and vulnerable enough to confront them, they can then begin to see the real person, not a label.
Gold is good, but platinum is better.
One of the first things you learn in home or school is the Golden Rule. Although the Golden Rule is still an important, JUST Community participants abided by the Platinum Rule: ‘Treat others the way they want to be treated.’ The Platinum Rule shifted the focus to the feelings of others and gave the students a new and improved way to relate to their peers and counselors.
Diversity and Inclusion aren’t synonymous.
Diversity can mean having a lot of different people from a variety of backgrounds and experience. JUST Community did indeed have a large group of young adults, from different schools, all with a range of different experiences. But the group that I saw was more than a diverse community; the group was an inclusive community. In an inclusive community, everyone has a voice and a role to play. By the end of the day, each student had an opportunity to participate. While some students were more vocal than others, it was obvious that even the quiet students appreciated the opportunity to engage with their peers and develop a sense of their leadership potential. One of final activities for the day included the students developing their own back-to-school Action Plan in which they outlined the ways they could change their respective communities by using what they learned. In doing so, they learned from each other and I learned a lot from them.
BRIDGES has a GREAT Program Staff
I already knew that the Program Staff was wonderful and JUST Community gave me another great opportunity to see their commitment and talent in action. Many thanks to David, Shawn,Tynisha, the Public Allies and all of the volunteers for a great JUST Community 2011.
MW
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Reflections on a day at Just Community Camp
This seems to be my summer for going to camp. In June my husband and I went to Tai Chi camp at a small Catholic college in western Indiana. We played a lot of tai chi, honed our skills, made new friends, had some good laughs and got deeply immersed in the spirit of support and comradeship of fellow tai chi players.
On Friday, July 23, I had the privilege of spending most of the day with the students and counselors in the Just Community Camp at Wilmington College. I was only there for part of the day—from 11 to about 3:30, but I could tell that the group was experiencing that same level of support and comradeship that we had felt in our camp earlier. That’s probably part of the point of going away to camp: participants are outside their normal environment and able to focus whole-heartedly on the subject at hand. In the case of Just Community, the students even agreed to leave their cell phones off—a whole week unplugged! By the time I showed up, near the end of their experience, any isolation they may have suffered from being off the grid seemed to have been replaced by strong bonds with each other, by verbal communication rather than texting.
So what is JUST Community all about? Why should 33 teenagers from 15 different area high schools spend a week together on a college campus? What are they supposed to learn or experience?
Listening to them de-brief from exercises and looking over the curriculum for the week, here is my take: BRIDGES is invested in this program because it allows the participants to identify and become aware of all of the various “isms” that confront them every day. Biases that may lead to unfair treatment or bullying. Then it helps them figure out some constructive ways to confront those “isms” and to become change agents in their schools. Some of the “isms” they looked at were classism, gender/sexism, ableism, and racism. Not easy stuff to deal with in one fast week.
Posted on the walls around the large room where they met were the products of their exercises and discussions. There was a set of posters developed from the “60 Seconds” exercise on the first day where students recorded all the descriptors of terms like “white person” or “handicapped” they could come up with within a minute. The second part of the exercise was to read back the list while a person of that descriptor stood in front of you. It was pretty powerful, just reading some of the lists. Early on, students filled out a Life Map questionnaire about themselves: gifts they possessed of hands, head and heart, questions they would like to answer in their lifetime, what they would like to change in their school and their world.
These will be revisited at the end of the week. Reading the ones posted on the walls, this is an inquisitive and ambitious bunch of high schoolers.
One of the activities I got to observe was a series of role plays about how to handle conflict in school situations, for example, girls getting in a dust-up about one stealing the other’s boy friend. As someone who has spent some years studying conflict resolution and mediation, it was really heartening to see their creativity in finding ways to defuse potentially hostile situations. They were also pretty tough on themselves during de-briefing, looking for still better ways to resolve the conflicts.
After lunch, and after a very competitive game of musical chairs to see who would win a midnight snack, the first floor (girls) or second floor (boys), the students began to come up with ideas on which issues needed to be addressed in their schools and how to best approach the issues they identified.
In one way, this exercise was what the whole week had been leading up to…how to take what they had learned and apply it in their lives back in the “real world.” The issues they identified were tough: gay-baiting, disrespect for teachers in the classroom, racism, picking on anyone who was different. Some of the solutions were creative, others were sort of tried and true. All of them have the potential for success because the students will act as agents for change within their schools.
They will be the voices speaking up and the bodies standing up to call out the bullies and the disrespectful. The kids know it won’t be an easy task. But they have acquired the tools. They also know that staff from the Just Community program will be available to support them and help make sure school administrators work together to address the issues. They know they have absorbed the lessons of the week at camp. They have the ideas and the tools to make their schools better places to learn and grow. They have the ability to make permanent changes for the better in their communities. That’s what Just Community Camp is all about and why it is worth every penny.
WRITTEN BY BETSY SATO
On Friday, July 23, I had the privilege of spending most of the day with the students and counselors in the Just Community Camp at Wilmington College. I was only there for part of the day—from 11 to about 3:30, but I could tell that the group was experiencing that same level of support and comradeship that we had felt in our camp earlier. That’s probably part of the point of going away to camp: participants are outside their normal environment and able to focus whole-heartedly on the subject at hand. In the case of Just Community, the students even agreed to leave their cell phones off—a whole week unplugged! By the time I showed up, near the end of their experience, any isolation they may have suffered from being off the grid seemed to have been replaced by strong bonds with each other, by verbal communication rather than texting.
So what is JUST Community all about? Why should 33 teenagers from 15 different area high schools spend a week together on a college campus? What are they supposed to learn or experience?
Listening to them de-brief from exercises and looking over the curriculum for the week, here is my take: BRIDGES is invested in this program because it allows the participants to identify and become aware of all of the various “isms” that confront them every day. Biases that may lead to unfair treatment or bullying. Then it helps them figure out some constructive ways to confront those “isms” and to become change agents in their schools. Some of the “isms” they looked at were classism, gender/sexism, ableism, and racism. Not easy stuff to deal with in one fast week.
Posted on the walls around the large room where they met were the products of their exercises and discussions. There was a set of posters developed from the “60 Seconds” exercise on the first day where students recorded all the descriptors of terms like “white person” or “handicapped” they could come up with within a minute. The second part of the exercise was to read back the list while a person of that descriptor stood in front of you. It was pretty powerful, just reading some of the lists. Early on, students filled out a Life Map questionnaire about themselves: gifts they possessed of hands, head and heart, questions they would like to answer in their lifetime, what they would like to change in their school and their world.
These will be revisited at the end of the week. Reading the ones posted on the walls, this is an inquisitive and ambitious bunch of high schoolers.
One of the activities I got to observe was a series of role plays about how to handle conflict in school situations, for example, girls getting in a dust-up about one stealing the other’s boy friend. As someone who has spent some years studying conflict resolution and mediation, it was really heartening to see their creativity in finding ways to defuse potentially hostile situations. They were also pretty tough on themselves during de-briefing, looking for still better ways to resolve the conflicts.
After lunch, and after a very competitive game of musical chairs to see who would win a midnight snack, the first floor (girls) or second floor (boys), the students began to come up with ideas on which issues needed to be addressed in their schools and how to best approach the issues they identified.
In one way, this exercise was what the whole week had been leading up to…how to take what they had learned and apply it in their lives back in the “real world.” The issues they identified were tough: gay-baiting, disrespect for teachers in the classroom, racism, picking on anyone who was different. Some of the solutions were creative, others were sort of tried and true. All of them have the potential for success because the students will act as agents for change within their schools.
They will be the voices speaking up and the bodies standing up to call out the bullies and the disrespectful. The kids know it won’t be an easy task. But they have acquired the tools. They also know that staff from the Just Community program will be available to support them and help make sure school administrators work together to address the issues. They know they have absorbed the lessons of the week at camp. They have the ideas and the tools to make their schools better places to learn and grow. They have the ability to make permanent changes for the better in their communities. That’s what Just Community Camp is all about and why it is worth every penny.
WRITTEN BY BETSY SATO
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Visions of the Future from Kids in Cincinnati
Visions of the Future from Kids in Cincinnati
Our Future, Now is a collaborative youth art project created by Kennedy Heights Arts Center and Public Allies Cincinnati in 2011.
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Thus far, 200 5th-8th grade students from throughout greater Cincinnati have shared their visions of the future, for themselves and their communities, good and bad, with their city as part of the project. The artists expressed their visions within transparent “windows”.
In May 2011, these visions were displayed within a cityscape installation as part of an exhibit that was included in SOS Art 2011, an annual community art show of socio-political expressions for peace and justice. Hundreds of people from all over Cincinnati visited this exhibit and encountered the visions of these young artists.
You can view all of the artwork here.
Our Future, Now is a collaborative youth art project created by Kennedy Heights Arts Center and Public Allies Cincinnati in 2011.
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Thus far, 200 5th-8th grade students from throughout greater Cincinnati have shared their visions of the future, for themselves and their communities, good and bad, with their city as part of the project. The artists expressed their visions within transparent “windows”.
In May 2011, these visions were displayed within a cityscape installation as part of an exhibit that was included in SOS Art 2011, an annual community art show of socio-political expressions for peace and justice. Hundreds of people from all over Cincinnati visited this exhibit and encountered the visions of these young artists.
You can view all of the artwork here.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
On this day.
“It is a crime for people to live in this rich nation and receive starvation wages. And I need not remind you this is our plight as a people all over America.”
Martin Luther King in Memphis, March 18, 1968
I often wonder what happens the day after the annual celebration of the King Holiday. After the pomp and circumstance of the all of the events, I think about whether or not people are actually living the dream. Sure, we all want equality, but do we do anything to advance that ideal? And yes, we say that we want a fully integrated society, but recently released Census statistics are a sobering reminder of how separated we really are.
But the days after the King Holiday were different this year. About a month after Dr. King’s birthday, the spirit of protest and social change swept the state of Wisconsin. The protests were multiracial and relatively peaceful, but that’s not the King connection I want to make. The Wisconsin protests reflect a version of Dr. King that we don’t always hear about. We usually hear about the “I Have a Dream” King. However, Dr. King realized that the acquisition of civil rights was only one component of the equality for which he fought. During a five day retreat with a group of close aides in 1967, King began to plan an equality campaign that he hoped would bring about a radical change in the American way of life. This second phase of the civil rights movement was to known as the Poor People’s Campaign. Dr. King wanted to pressure Congress into passing an Economic Bill of Rights for the American poor. King believed that the Economic Bill of Rights would force Congress to work to decrease unemployment and increase affordable housing for the poor.
The speeches that King made during this era in his life were far more radical than the speeches we hear in sound bites during King celebrations and Black History Month. As a champion for the poor, King wanted to sound the alarm and make the connections between the evils of the war in Vietnam and the injustice of racism and poverty. His 1967 speech, “Where Do We Go From Here” outlines his social vision that linked economic inequality to race and culture. King believed that a fundamental reorganization America’s economic life would result in far-reaching benefits for communities of color: “Beyond these advantages, a host of positive psychological changes inevitably will result from widespread economic security. The dignity of the individual will flourish when the decisions concerning his life are in his own hands, when he has the means to seek self-improvement. Personal conflicts among husbands, wives and children will diminish when the unjust measurement of human worth on the scale of dollars is eliminated.”
The whole of King’s life is important. However, the King of the Poor People’s Campaign is precisely what we need at this moment in American life. On this day, 43 years ago, Dr. King was killed during one of his man trips to Memphis. He was there to lend his support to striking sanitation workers and told them, “All labor has dignity … You are going beyond purely civil rights to questions of human rights.” Today, Americans across the county are taking part in demonstrations to remember King and the Poor People’s Campaign. The We Are One Campaign is attempting to breathe new life into the war on poverty and serve as a show of solidarity with workers in Wisconsin, Ohio and other states. In joining together on this day, Americans are continuing Dr. King’s legacy by rallying for affordable housing, the freedom to bargain, an affordable and equitable education and justice for all workers. So, if Dr. King’s birthday is a day of celebration, let the anniversary of his death be a day of action. We can work together to keep all of Dr. King’s dreams alive.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Open Letter to Representative King
Dear Representative King,
I am writing this in the spirit of activism and civic engagement that is sweeping our nation. It’s surprising and inspiring to see so many people taking a stand against inequity and I am happy to do my part. While many people were focused on the Wisconsin protests, some of us were also paying close attention to the hearings that you sponsored last week, “The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community’s Response.” Wow, that’s quite a title. I care about the safety and well-being of our nation and I care about the growing radicalization taking place across the country; however, I don’t care very much for the way in which you singled out an entire community. I mean, really, do you think it’s a good idea to single out one religion for such scrutiny? Well, let me take the time to express my concerns, because I truly believe that open and honest dialogue has the power to change hearts and minds.
Over the last few months, Muslims in America have been the object of some really interesting conversations. In February, Katie Couric wondered if America needed a Muslim version of the “Cosby Show” so that America could familiarize themselves with Islam and counter the bigotry that many Muslims in America face on a regular basis. Perhaps such a show might be similar to the Canadian show, “Little Mosque on the Prairie.” And just recently, I had the pleasure of watching “Mooz-lum,”, a provocative movie that explores the complexity of the lives African American Muslims. These three moments represent some interesting narratives about Muslim life and underscore our collective need to offset the bigotry with genuine compassion and understanding.
On the other hand, the hearings reflect the type of fear and mis-understanding that has given rise to some of the darkest moments in American history. When I hear some of the rhetoric associated with the hearings, I am reminded of George Santayana’s prophetic words, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” It just isn’t productive or fair for a single group to be singled out for ‘investigation.’ This type of ‘investigation’ reminds me of the anti-immigration nativist Know Nothing Movement that was popular during the 1840s and 1850s. That movement was rooted in a fear that the nation was being taken over by German and Irish immigrants. Similar fears about difference and bigotry fueled Jim Crow and the history of lynchings throughout the nation in the early twentieth century. And might I add that fear and hysteria prompted the interment of over one hundred thousand of Japanese in the early 1940s. As a result, many Japanese American civil rights groups are aligning themselves with the Muslim community in an effort to fight the rampant misinformation and stereotyping that characterizes discussions about Muslim life in America.
I don’t mean to belabor the point, but I just need to know more about how you define radicalization. I just read an enlightening article in the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Report that shed some light on the rise of radical hate groups in our country. The article states that “For the second year in a row, the radical right in America expanded explosively in 2010, driven by resentment over the changing racial demographics of the country, frustration over the government’s handling of the economy, and the mainstreaming of conspiracy theories and other demonizing propaganda aimed at various minorities. For many on the radical right, anger is focusing on President Obama, who is seen as embodying everything that’s wrong with the country.” The article also points out that the most dramatic growth of hate groups were in the antigovernment Patriot movement, conspiracy minded governments that see their enemy as the federal government. I tell you, those are some troubling statistics. Will there be hearings about these groups coming soon?
The bottom line is that singling out the Muslim community contradicts the values upon which America was founded. Likewise, it distracts our leaders from researching more productive security strategies. We absolutely have to stop the stereotypes that dominate conversations about Muslim Americans. We are all concerned about the safety of our nation, but there is a better way to talk about the reality of terror in America. We have to learn from our nation’s mistakes. Now is the time for us to be better than our past.
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2011/spring/the-year-in-hate-extremism-2010
I am writing this in the spirit of activism and civic engagement that is sweeping our nation. It’s surprising and inspiring to see so many people taking a stand against inequity and I am happy to do my part. While many people were focused on the Wisconsin protests, some of us were also paying close attention to the hearings that you sponsored last week, “The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community’s Response.” Wow, that’s quite a title. I care about the safety and well-being of our nation and I care about the growing radicalization taking place across the country; however, I don’t care very much for the way in which you singled out an entire community. I mean, really, do you think it’s a good idea to single out one religion for such scrutiny? Well, let me take the time to express my concerns, because I truly believe that open and honest dialogue has the power to change hearts and minds.
Over the last few months, Muslims in America have been the object of some really interesting conversations. In February, Katie Couric wondered if America needed a Muslim version of the “Cosby Show” so that America could familiarize themselves with Islam and counter the bigotry that many Muslims in America face on a regular basis. Perhaps such a show might be similar to the Canadian show, “Little Mosque on the Prairie.” And just recently, I had the pleasure of watching “Mooz-lum,”, a provocative movie that explores the complexity of the lives African American Muslims. These three moments represent some interesting narratives about Muslim life and underscore our collective need to offset the bigotry with genuine compassion and understanding.
On the other hand, the hearings reflect the type of fear and mis-understanding that has given rise to some of the darkest moments in American history. When I hear some of the rhetoric associated with the hearings, I am reminded of George Santayana’s prophetic words, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” It just isn’t productive or fair for a single group to be singled out for ‘investigation.’ This type of ‘investigation’ reminds me of the anti-immigration nativist Know Nothing Movement that was popular during the 1840s and 1850s. That movement was rooted in a fear that the nation was being taken over by German and Irish immigrants. Similar fears about difference and bigotry fueled Jim Crow and the history of lynchings throughout the nation in the early twentieth century. And might I add that fear and hysteria prompted the interment of over one hundred thousand of Japanese in the early 1940s. As a result, many Japanese American civil rights groups are aligning themselves with the Muslim community in an effort to fight the rampant misinformation and stereotyping that characterizes discussions about Muslim life in America.
I don’t mean to belabor the point, but I just need to know more about how you define radicalization. I just read an enlightening article in the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Report that shed some light on the rise of radical hate groups in our country. The article states that “For the second year in a row, the radical right in America expanded explosively in 2010, driven by resentment over the changing racial demographics of the country, frustration over the government’s handling of the economy, and the mainstreaming of conspiracy theories and other demonizing propaganda aimed at various minorities. For many on the radical right, anger is focusing on President Obama, who is seen as embodying everything that’s wrong with the country.” The article also points out that the most dramatic growth of hate groups were in the antigovernment Patriot movement, conspiracy minded governments that see their enemy as the federal government. I tell you, those are some troubling statistics. Will there be hearings about these groups coming soon?
The bottom line is that singling out the Muslim community contradicts the values upon which America was founded. Likewise, it distracts our leaders from researching more productive security strategies. We absolutely have to stop the stereotypes that dominate conversations about Muslim Americans. We are all concerned about the safety of our nation, but there is a better way to talk about the reality of terror in America. We have to learn from our nation’s mistakes. Now is the time for us to be better than our past.
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2011/spring/the-year-in-hate-extremism-2010
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
PA Day – Make the Call!
Today is Tuesday, March 15, 2011 and it is ‘Make the Call to Save Service Day.’ If you are reading this, please promise to show your support for AmeriCorps and other service programs by calling your Senator. Funding for AmeriCorps is being debated in Washington, D.C. As you know, the House voted to eliminate funding, but the Senate has yet to decide. In short, there is still time to let our voices be heard. Members of the Senate have to hear from each and every constituent who cares about AmeriCorps.
Currently, there are approximately 125 AmeriCorps and National Service members serving in our region. Budget cuts would eliminate or reduce the ability to transform distressed communities into healthy places to live, teach literacy to people of all ages and extend the reach of more than 75 community based organizations.
The message is simple: Don’t cut National Service funding! National Service positively impacts the lives of more than 250,000 people in this community each year. We meet needs. We foster self-sufficiency. We create opportunity. We provide skills and training. We build community. We develop leaders. We make a difference. We change lives. We understand servant leadership. In order to continue serving those in need, we are calling for the understanding and awareness of our impact to be felt by those whose job it is to support our civic leadership.
Now is the time to participate and to stand up for your beliefs. Make the call today. When you call your Senator’s DC Office, there are three simple things that you should say: let them know that you are a resident of the state they represent in Senate, voice your support of National Service and share your story of the PA-AmeriCorps impact in your community.
Click here to find your Senator’s contact information. Those of us in Ohio can reach Senator Rob Portman at 1.800.205.6446 and Senator Sherrod Brown at 1.888.896.6446.
Stand up and let your voice be heard. Make the call to save service!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Every Tuesday is Public Allies DAY!
Welcome to the first PA Day of the year! PA Day on JUSTCause is a new feature that is devoted entirely to the Public Allies Program. Public Allies is a dynamic program in which young adults from diverse backgrounds address some of the most pressing needs in our community. The Allies work in a number of organizations throughout the Greater Cincinnati region, including the UC Racial Awareness Program, YWCA-Girls,Inc. Society of St. Vincent DePaul and The Ohio Center for Progressive Leadership. The Allies’ work is grounded in five core values: focusing on assets, collaborating, continuously learning and improving, valuing diversity and inclusion and leading with integrity. Be sure to visit PA Day on JUSTCause to learn more about Public Allies and this vibrant group of young leaders.
What Emerging Leadership Looks Like
Two years ago when I started as a Public Allies Program Manager, I embraced any element of the program that featured numbers. Data driven decision-making was not only what I knew, but also what I was counting on to help me thrive in my new position.
Scouring the program components, my interest was piqued any place where I came across metrics. There were people served, volunteers recruited, members retained, and objectives achieved. Craving ways to demonstrate the tangible impact of the program on its participants and the community, I created spreadsheets to organize and analyze these numbers.
Among all of the metrics and tools for collecting them, the 360 evaluation, which assesses each Ally’s leadership on a scale of 1-7 in 17 different areas, stood out to me as the crowned jewel of demonstrating impact. With the 360 assessment on the table, my vision of the goal for each Ally coming through the program became clear: to work as hard as possible to reach a 7 in each category. My goal as a Program Manager was also quite straightforward: to support each Ally in the quest to achieve this highest level of excellence in leadership. Over the long term, after a few decades of graduating highly-rated, emerging leaders Public Allies graduates would shape non-profit leadership in this region without any problem.
Of course, as with any over-simplified understanding of a concept as multi-faceted as leadership, my perspective on the feasibility of capturing leadership development with 17 ratings began to shift. I recognized that what I held to be the universal qualities of all effective leaders were actually my individual perspectives on one version of leadership, a version that couldn’t possibly encompass the assets of 40 individuals practicing their leadership at organizations throughout the region.
One of the 17 traits that the 360 survey assesses is an individual’s ability to collaborate across boundaries in order to find common ground. When I first imagined what this trait would look like when taken to the highest level, I, naively, pictured a series of orderly community-based meetings all pertaining to a clear goal that an entire neighborhood wanted to achieve. Leading these meetings would be an energetic Ally.
Over the course of my first year, I saw so many different versions of collaborating across boundaries to find common ground, I lost track, and not a single one of them came close to my original vision, yet all of them helped me set a standard for exemplary leadership.
There was the Ally who worked month after month with the same woman, helping her to balance her budget and save a little bit of money. Eventually, this woman was able to buy her first ever pair of winter boots. The purchase meant so much to her that she wrote the Ally a letter. This was collaboration across boundaries that I couldn’t have imagined.
Also collaborating to find common ground was the Ally who at the beginning of the year approached a group of high school students with a community gardening project, only to find that these students thought that gardening was the craziest idea they had ever heard. For a few months this Ally worked to gain the trust of these students. At the end of the year, the class was working in the garden on a weekly basis to tend to what very literally became their common ground.
For each of the other 16 areas of the 360 survey, my preconceptions of what I thought the highest level of performance might look like has been challenged. What’s reassuring is that as I talk with Allies, supervisors, and colleagues, I hear that this diversity in leadership consistently challenges other’s preconceptions of what leadership looks like as well. It is through this process of challenging the status quo to set new standards for what leadership will look like that I believe makes Public Allies a great program.
D.Warner
In Theaters Now: “Mooz-lum”
There’s still time to catch one of the year’s most provocative movie at AMC Newport on the Levee. Quasim Basir’s “Mooz-lum” is playing through this Thursday. The film is a coming of age tale that chronicles the life of a young African American Muslim male in college during the months leading up to 9/11. This movie is particularly timely in light of Peter King’s (R-NY) hearings, “The Extent of radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community’s Response.”
I hope you have time to see the film. Stay tuned to JUSTCause for more about
“Mooz-lum.”
I hope you have time to see the film. Stay tuned to JUSTCause for more about
“Mooz-lum.”
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Let’s do big things
During the last State of the Union Address, the President reminded Americans that ‘we do big things.’ At the time, he was referring to the creativity and ingenuity that many feel to be synonymous with the American spirit. Now is the time for us to do big things and save the Corporation for National and Community Service.
As you know, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1 on Saturday, February 19, 2011. If this bill is signed into law, the legislation would make severe cuts in government spending for the rest of the fiscal year. Included in this bill is the elimination of the Corporation for National and Community Service and its programs, including Americorps. We cannot allow this to happen.
The Corporation for National and Community Service is the largest grant maker in support of service and volunteering. The organization was founded in 1993 when President Clinton signed the National and Community Service Trust Act. The program oversees Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, VISTA, NCCC, Learn and Serve America, the Volunteer Generation Fund, and the Social Innovation Fund. The citizens involved in these various organizations are making a difference in the lives of Americans. They are serving and helping those of us have who have been made to feel invisible because of the ravages of poverty and inequity. If these programs end, a number of valuable and life-saving services will be lost.
If you can, imagine an America without the Corporation National and Community Service. A world without these services would mean that over 3 million at-risk children would not get instructional support from citizens serving through programs such as Teach for America, City Year, and Citizen Schools. It would also mean that more than 10,000 pre-school students served by Jumpstart tutors will not start school ready to read. Likewise, it would mean that more than 620,000 frail seniors and the disabled served by Senior Companions and RSVP will lose in-home support. In short, the elimination of these services would be a devastating loss to Americans who are already struggling to survive in a world that seems to turn a blind eye to their suffering.
We do big things.
If you want to make a difference in the lives of underserved children, the elderly, and the disabled, please log on to saveservice.org to make your voice heard. Let’s remind our elected officials by making the following appeal: “National service POSITIVELY impacts the lives of more than 250,000 people in this community each year. We meet needs. We foster self-sufficiency. We provide skills and training. We develop leaders. We make a difference. We change lives. We vote. What will you do?”
I don’t want to imagine a world without American service. I hope that you don’t either. Please take the time to stand up in support of service. Please visit saveservice.org.
As you know, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1 on Saturday, February 19, 2011. If this bill is signed into law, the legislation would make severe cuts in government spending for the rest of the fiscal year. Included in this bill is the elimination of the Corporation for National and Community Service and its programs, including Americorps. We cannot allow this to happen.
The Corporation for National and Community Service is the largest grant maker in support of service and volunteering. The organization was founded in 1993 when President Clinton signed the National and Community Service Trust Act. The program oversees Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, VISTA, NCCC, Learn and Serve America, the Volunteer Generation Fund, and the Social Innovation Fund. The citizens involved in these various organizations are making a difference in the lives of Americans. They are serving and helping those of us have who have been made to feel invisible because of the ravages of poverty and inequity. If these programs end, a number of valuable and life-saving services will be lost.
If you can, imagine an America without the Corporation National and Community Service. A world without these services would mean that over 3 million at-risk children would not get instructional support from citizens serving through programs such as Teach for America, City Year, and Citizen Schools. It would also mean that more than 10,000 pre-school students served by Jumpstart tutors will not start school ready to read. Likewise, it would mean that more than 620,000 frail seniors and the disabled served by Senior Companions and RSVP will lose in-home support. In short, the elimination of these services would be a devastating loss to Americans who are already struggling to survive in a world that seems to turn a blind eye to their suffering.
We do big things.
If you want to make a difference in the lives of underserved children, the elderly, and the disabled, please log on to saveservice.org to make your voice heard. Let’s remind our elected officials by making the following appeal: “National service POSITIVELY impacts the lives of more than 250,000 people in this community each year. We meet needs. We foster self-sufficiency. We provide skills and training. We develop leaders. We make a difference. We change lives. We vote. What will you do?”
I don’t want to imagine a world without American service. I hope that you don’t either. Please take the time to stand up in support of service. Please visit saveservice.org.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Rosa Parks or Rogue Parent: The Curious Case of Kelley Williams-Bolar
Kelly Williams-Bolar’s story has been the subject of intense debate over the past few weeks. Williams-Bolar is the Akron area mother who was jailed because she lied to district officials so that her children could go to a better, safer school in a suburban school district. Some are calling this the “Rosa Parks moment for education” and other believe her actions to be criminal and worthy of the harsh punishment.
But before we rush to judgment, let’s consider the facts of her story. Williams-Bolar is a single, African-American mother of two who was concerned with violence in her subsidized housing neighborhood. After her house was burglarized in 2006, she decided to send her children to live with her father, who she believed lived in a wealthier and safer school district. The events that followed eventually resulted in felony charges. Williams-Bolar maintains that she was acting in the best interest of her children. However, the school district accused her of lying about her address, falsifying records, and having her father file false court papers to get around the system. As a result of these claims, Williams-Bolar served 9 days of a 10-day jail sentence and faces community service and probation. This conviction is particularly troubling because she is a teacher’s assistant only twelve credits shy of her teaching degree. A felony charge on her record will jeopardize her career. Governor Kasich has since ordered the Parole Board to investigate the felony sentencing.
Some have called her a criminal and others are calling this an act of civil disobedience akin to Rosa Parks’ historic act of defiance. Regardless of where you stand on this issue, most can agree that this incident reinforces the need for some frank discussions about education and equity.
We don’t need another documentary to tell us what we already know … the American system of public education is struggling. In many cases, poor students and students of color suffer the most. As we think about the significance of this case, let’s take the time to think about what educational equity really means. We should also take the time to think about the relationship between violent environments and academic achievement. People will continue to judge the actions of Williams-Bolar. But in the midst of the judging, take some time to think about her intentions. What would you do if faced with similar circumstances? Nearly six decades after Brown v. Board of Education, our nation is still trying to figure out the best way to educate all of our children. Maybe it’s time for a new movement to demand a safe, equitable and liberating education for our children. Think about it.
But before we rush to judgment, let’s consider the facts of her story. Williams-Bolar is a single, African-American mother of two who was concerned with violence in her subsidized housing neighborhood. After her house was burglarized in 2006, she decided to send her children to live with her father, who she believed lived in a wealthier and safer school district. The events that followed eventually resulted in felony charges. Williams-Bolar maintains that she was acting in the best interest of her children. However, the school district accused her of lying about her address, falsifying records, and having her father file false court papers to get around the system. As a result of these claims, Williams-Bolar served 9 days of a 10-day jail sentence and faces community service and probation. This conviction is particularly troubling because she is a teacher’s assistant only twelve credits shy of her teaching degree. A felony charge on her record will jeopardize her career. Governor Kasich has since ordered the Parole Board to investigate the felony sentencing.
Some have called her a criminal and others are calling this an act of civil disobedience akin to Rosa Parks’ historic act of defiance. Regardless of where you stand on this issue, most can agree that this incident reinforces the need for some frank discussions about education and equity.
We don’t need another documentary to tell us what we already know … the American system of public education is struggling. In many cases, poor students and students of color suffer the most. As we think about the significance of this case, let’s take the time to think about what educational equity really means. We should also take the time to think about the relationship between violent environments and academic achievement. People will continue to judge the actions of Williams-Bolar. But in the midst of the judging, take some time to think about her intentions. What would you do if faced with similar circumstances? Nearly six decades after Brown v. Board of Education, our nation is still trying to figure out the best way to educate all of our children. Maybe it’s time for a new movement to demand a safe, equitable and liberating education for our children. Think about it.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Show your support for AmeriCorps
The House voted to shut down AmeriCorps in the current year's budget. Please take two minutes and call 202-224-3121 and ask for your Representative's office. Tell them you are a constituent and not to kill national service and explain why you care.
We need to shore up supporters and let opponents know we won't just lie down. The most important thing is that you share that you live in their district and explain why you care. If you wish for additional talking points, see below.
----------------------
I am calling to urge you to vote NO on H.R. 1. Please do not shutdown the Corporation for National and Community Service or eliminate AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Learn & Serve America or the Volunteer Generation Fund.
The CR will decimate vital services in our communities when millions of Americans need food, shelter, healthcare, job training and educational support.
Communities are counting on national service participants and community volunteers to meet the increased demand for services.
Provide an example of your local impact and what will be lost if your program is eliminated. Example: My organization has 140 AmeriCorps members serving in 10 Boston Public Schools. They are providing targeted and school-wide interventions in literacy, match, attendance and classroom behavior. If Congress eliminates AmeriCorps, nearly 2,000 high-risk 3rd-9th graders will no longer receive this additional support in the classroom.
The CR will only push unemployment rates up. Unemployment numbers -- particularly for young people, veterans and military spouses, older Americans and people of color-remain alarmingly high.
For Americans who are struggling to find work, national service programs offer participants the opportunity to earn a subsistence-level stipend, develop skills, and create pathways to future employment. Eliminating programs like AmeriCorps will result in jobs lost for the corps members and the staff who supervise them. Example: If Congress eliminates AmeriCorps, our 140 AmeriCorps members and the staff that supervise them will be out of work.
The federal investment made in faith based and community organizations through the Corporation for National and Community Service leverages $799 million in matching funds from companies, foundations and other sources.
If you defund the national service programs, whole organizations will shut down and most will not be able to reopen again even if funding is restored.
Add your name to a petition to save AmeriCorps (http://www.change.org/petitions/save-americorps)
Learn more here and here.
We need to shore up supporters and let opponents know we won't just lie down. The most important thing is that you share that you live in their district and explain why you care. If you wish for additional talking points, see below.
----------------------
I am calling to urge you to vote NO on H.R. 1. Please do not shutdown the Corporation for National and Community Service or eliminate AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Learn & Serve America or the Volunteer Generation Fund.
The CR will decimate vital services in our communities when millions of Americans need food, shelter, healthcare, job training and educational support.
Communities are counting on national service participants and community volunteers to meet the increased demand for services.
Provide an example of your local impact and what will be lost if your program is eliminated. Example: My organization has 140 AmeriCorps members serving in 10 Boston Public Schools. They are providing targeted and school-wide interventions in literacy, match, attendance and classroom behavior. If Congress eliminates AmeriCorps, nearly 2,000 high-risk 3rd-9th graders will no longer receive this additional support in the classroom.
The CR will only push unemployment rates up. Unemployment numbers -- particularly for young people, veterans and military spouses, older Americans and people of color-remain alarmingly high.
For Americans who are struggling to find work, national service programs offer participants the opportunity to earn a subsistence-level stipend, develop skills, and create pathways to future employment. Eliminating programs like AmeriCorps will result in jobs lost for the corps members and the staff who supervise them. Example: If Congress eliminates AmeriCorps, our 140 AmeriCorps members and the staff that supervise them will be out of work.
The federal investment made in faith based and community organizations through the Corporation for National and Community Service leverages $799 million in matching funds from companies, foundations and other sources.
If you defund the national service programs, whole organizations will shut down and most will not be able to reopen again even if funding is restored.
Add your name to a petition to save AmeriCorps (http://www.change.org/petitions/save-americorps)
Learn more here and here.
Monday, February 14, 2011
News You Can Use
You’ll never guess what this Cleveland high school coach said to his basketball team.
The Southern Poverty Law Center reports that a battle is brewing over a proposal to honor a former KKK leader in a series of specialty license plates.
The ugliness of Islamophobia is alive and well at a Gainesville, FL church.
LA-area school creates a “Stand Tall Day’ to combat bullying.
Early childhood learning changes lives and saves money!
The Southern Poverty Law Center reports that a battle is brewing over a proposal to honor a former KKK leader in a series of specialty license plates.
The ugliness of Islamophobia is alive and well at a Gainesville, FL church.
LA-area school creates a “Stand Tall Day’ to combat bullying.
Early childhood learning changes lives and saves money!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
BRIDGES CEO to retire
Thank you for visiting our blog. Your interest in the cause of
BRIDGES, your passion for social and community issues and your support
to BRIDGES as an organization is what keeps us motivated and committed
to serve you and the Greater Cincinnati region. You, the reader, the
well-wisher, the believer, are the force that gives us the momentum to
go forward.
I write to inform you of a new phase in the life of BRIDGES. Last
Friday, we announced in the media, the retirement of Chip Harrod, our
beloved leader for the past 27 years. I know you, like many others,
appreciate the innumerable contributions Chip has made to our
organization and the Greater Cincinnati community, such as providing
leadership to NCCJ nationally in its evolution and to the visionary
group that created the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. He
also led some key work post the civil unrest in 2001 to improve
police/community relations. And over many years under his leadership,
BRIDGES has played a key role in working to bring marginalized groups
into mainstream society, enabling them to serve and help strengthen our
region. We will surely miss his leadership and ability to bring people
together to work and dialogue in harmony over some of the most difficult
and troubling human relations' issues of our time.
While he will be a hard act to follow, we respect his decision to retire
and wish him the very best of luck in his future endeavors. Irrespective
of what he does in his 'encore' career, he will remain an integral part
of BRIDGES history. The search committee is chaired by Raghu
Krishnamoorthy (GE Aviation), and consists of Michael W. Hawkins
(Dinsmore and Shohl, LLP), Evans Nwankwo (Megen Construction), Jessica
Baron (Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce), Jeff Hopkins (US
Federal Bankruptcy Judge), and the myself.
We are very interested in hearing from you if you know of any potential
candidates to replace Chip. As you know, there are not many
organizations that have the branding and the reputation of BRIDGES and
finding a stellar candidate is a responsibility that we all take
seriously.
If you need to find out more details on the job, please go to www.bridgescincinnati.org for the position specs that you can use for this purpose.
We look forward to your suggestions.
Shakila
BRIDGES for a Just Community
Board Chair
BRIDGES, your passion for social and community issues and your support
to BRIDGES as an organization is what keeps us motivated and committed
to serve you and the Greater Cincinnati region. You, the reader, the
well-wisher, the believer, are the force that gives us the momentum to
go forward.
I write to inform you of a new phase in the life of BRIDGES. Last
Friday, we announced in the media, the retirement of Chip Harrod, our
beloved leader for the past 27 years. I know you, like many others,
appreciate the innumerable contributions Chip has made to our
organization and the Greater Cincinnati community, such as providing
leadership to NCCJ nationally in its evolution and to the visionary
group that created the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. He
also led some key work post the civil unrest in 2001 to improve
police/community relations. And over many years under his leadership,
BRIDGES has played a key role in working to bring marginalized groups
into mainstream society, enabling them to serve and help strengthen our
region. We will surely miss his leadership and ability to bring people
together to work and dialogue in harmony over some of the most difficult
and troubling human relations' issues of our time.
While he will be a hard act to follow, we respect his decision to retire
and wish him the very best of luck in his future endeavors. Irrespective
of what he does in his 'encore' career, he will remain an integral part
of BRIDGES history. The search committee is chaired by Raghu
Krishnamoorthy (GE Aviation), and consists of Michael W. Hawkins
(Dinsmore and Shohl, LLP), Evans Nwankwo (Megen Construction), Jessica
Baron (Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce), Jeff Hopkins (US
Federal Bankruptcy Judge), and the myself.
We are very interested in hearing from you if you know of any potential
candidates to replace Chip. As you know, there are not many
organizations that have the branding and the reputation of BRIDGES and
finding a stellar candidate is a responsibility that we all take
seriously.
If you need to find out more details on the job, please go to www.bridgescincinnati.org for the position specs that you can use for this purpose.
We look forward to your suggestions.
Shakila
BRIDGES for a Just Community
Board Chair
Friday, January 28, 2011
Here are some stories you might have missed …
NEWS ROUNDUP!
A New York man will face hate crime charges for a brutal attack.
Anti-immigrations are costing us millions.
A civil rights leader reflects on the state of the African America union.
Tensions are running high between African American officials and Latino voters in Compton.
Are there changes ahead for No Child Left Behind?
Learn more about the many faces of the immigration debate.
The debate over standardized testing continues.
Rush Limbaugh talks … you know what happened next.
A mother faces felony charges for putting her kids in a better school.
Is there hope for the DREAM Act?
A New York man will face hate crime charges for a brutal attack.
Anti-immigrations are costing us millions.
A civil rights leader reflects on the state of the African America union.
Tensions are running high between African American officials and Latino voters in Compton.
Are there changes ahead for No Child Left Behind?
Learn more about the many faces of the immigration debate.
The debate over standardized testing continues.
Rush Limbaugh talks … you know what happened next.
A mother faces felony charges for putting her kids in a better school.
Is there hope for the DREAM Act?
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Déjà vu: Immigration Reform 2011
State level immigration reform is back in the news and this time the controversy is much closer to home. Legislators in Kentucky are considering an immigration reform initiative similar to Arizona’s controversial SB 1070. The Kentucky law, SB6, would expand the power of Kentucky law enforcement officials to enforce federal immigration laws. Supporters of the bill argue that the state has to act because federal officials are failing to enforce immigration laws. Opponents of the bill feel that it is too harsh and punishes undocumented residents without offering constructive, comprehensive solutions for reform.
As it stands, SB6 would target anyone for detention who does not speak English or who appears to have been born outside the United States. The law would also target anyone who ‘assists’ an undocumented worker of their undocumented children. This might include a person who provides transportation to church or a doctor’s visit. The long arm of this particular law would ultimately cost the Kentucky state treasury $40 million in lost tax revenue. The passage of this law could also result in millions of dollars in lost foreign investors and fewer foreign students at Kentucky universities.
Is Kentucky really on the verge of enforcing an Arizona-style immigration law? Is this law even constitutional? Is it fair? Do states have the money, or the right, to enforce laws such as this one? Is this law symptomatic of larger anxieties about the changes taking place in our country? What do you think about SB6?
To learn more about SB6, visit: Kentucky.gov and HERE!
As it stands, SB6 would target anyone for detention who does not speak English or who appears to have been born outside the United States. The law would also target anyone who ‘assists’ an undocumented worker of their undocumented children. This might include a person who provides transportation to church or a doctor’s visit. The long arm of this particular law would ultimately cost the Kentucky state treasury $40 million in lost tax revenue. The passage of this law could also result in millions of dollars in lost foreign investors and fewer foreign students at Kentucky universities.
Is Kentucky really on the verge of enforcing an Arizona-style immigration law? Is this law even constitutional? Is it fair? Do states have the money, or the right, to enforce laws such as this one? Is this law symptomatic of larger anxieties about the changes taking place in our country? What do you think about SB6?
To learn more about SB6, visit: Kentucky.gov and HERE!
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