So, this is what procrastination looks like... It's about midnight and I'm on duty and am sick of writing papers for actual classes.
This year has been an especially challenging one at St. Catherine Laboure Medical Clinic. With the economic recession has come many new patients calling the clinic. Everyone's story is unique, but almost everyone includes something along the lines of "I got laid off and can't pay my COBRA."
It has been incredibly encouraging to take on so much more responsibility at the clinic this year. I feel comfortable filling prescriptions by myself, calling other Philadelphia service providers to arrange appointments for our patients, taking detailed descriptions of medical problems from patients on the phone, and basically doing whatever comes up. I understand Medicaid, Medicare, Charity Care, the power that insurance and pharmaceutical companies have, and a lot of other important information that my classes could never adequately teach me.
At the same time, it is very discouraging to hear heart-wrenching stories every time I go to the clinic. For example, last week as I was about to leave, a guy knocked on the door and told me that he had four blood clots about 6 weeks ago and was on Coumadin but ran out of meds. He had been to the Philadelphia city clinics a few times, but the lines were always too long and he couldn't wait there all day without bringing his oxygen machine. This is something that wouldn't get him admitted from an emergency room, so he felt completely at a loss. St. Catherine's doesn't see walk-in patients...with only one doctor it's nearly impossible to see all our regular patients. The nurse who was with me that afternoon took notes and was going to squeeze this man into the book, but I can't help but think about all the other people like him who didn't run into St. Catherine's by accident and who will probably die of the health care system's neglect.
The other thing I've learned a lot more about this year is the way social problems don't stand alone. I've always been aware of the way food stamps (I'll be p.c. and call the program SNAP, I guess) have impacted the health of the patients at St. Catherine's. Our patients that are diabetic have an especially difficult time buying healthy food on limited incomes, and the individuals who receive SNAP benefits often find that they cannot afford nutritious food.
However, I had never really thought about the level of violence in Philadelphia and how it relates to St. Catherine's until the other day. I was at the clinic very late with just Dr. Davis trying to catch up on paperwork. I answered the phone and it was a patient who had been mugged in her house a few weeks ago. She had been repeatedly hit in the face and then her purse was stolen. She suffered very severe head injuries, not to mention the fact that she refused to go home until the man who hurt her was arrested. Evidently, he assaulted and robbed more than 10 women before the police caught up with him. After Dr. Davis finished telling me this story, she casually said, "I feel like every time I see a report of violence from Philadelphia, it affects one of my patients." I asked her to elaborate, and she went on to say how almost every patient visit includes a story about how a patient's family member/friend/neighbor was shot/beaten up/etc. She went on to say, "I don't think it's a coincidence that people who don't have money for health insurance are also the people victimized in acts of violence." I'm embarrassed to say that I had never thought of the Philadelphia violence in the context of St. Catherine's, but this conversation has made me think a lot more everytime I open a newspaper.
Despite all the terrible things going on in the world, I am very pleased to say that St. Catherine's has hired a marketing director who has started sending out bimonthly updates on what's going on there. They also won a pretty big grant recently, which will definitely help keep them afloat for another year.
It's hard to believe that this Tuesday marks the end of my 5th semester at St. Catherine's. I really feel at home there, and think of the staff as just another group of friends. Being there inspires me in my goal to become a physician, and I always joke about the fact that I want to work there after I get my degree. Of course, I'd rather that the US has socialized health care by that point and therefore the clinic could close, but if not then working there would be my second choice :)
I'll leave you with a quote from Ita Ford:
"I hope you come to find that which gives life a deep meaning for you...something that energizes you, enthuses you, enables you to keep moving ahead. I can't tell you what it might be- that's for you to find, to choose, to love. I can just encourage you to start looking, and support you in the search."
Happy end of the semester!
Peace,
Carla
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
New Semester What What??
Hey all you party people in the place to be,
So we got a whole new semester of weekly service and with a new semester comes new sites! YES!! These are our wonderful new sites with the site coordinators:
Olivet Baptist- Kieran Mccourt
Back on My Feet- Maria Selde
Students Run Philly Style- Beth Ford
Caring Person's Alliance- Carly Maurer
Build-A-Book- Cathy Chezik
Prison Ministry- Sean Duffy
All of these sites provide exciting new options for volunteers that are looking for maybe something a little different then service that they've done in the past. So, if you're looking to mix it up a little bit or are driven to one of these new sites, please contact the site coordinators.
Last semester we reached numbers of volunteers for weekly service that have never been seen by SJU before. We should really be proud of these numbers, but use them to take the initiative to invite others to participate in service. We all have our stories from service experiences, and if we tell them to someone new, the sky is the limit. There are opportunities for everyone no matter what your interests may be. It is definitely an exciting time to volunteer in the surrounding St. Joe's community!
So we got a whole new semester of weekly service and with a new semester comes new sites! YES!! These are our wonderful new sites with the site coordinators:
Olivet Baptist- Kieran Mccourt
Back on My Feet- Maria Selde
Students Run Philly Style- Beth Ford
Caring Person's Alliance- Carly Maurer
Build-A-Book- Cathy Chezik
Prison Ministry- Sean Duffy
All of these sites provide exciting new options for volunteers that are looking for maybe something a little different then service that they've done in the past. So, if you're looking to mix it up a little bit or are driven to one of these new sites, please contact the site coordinators.
Last semester we reached numbers of volunteers for weekly service that have never been seen by SJU before. We should really be proud of these numbers, but use them to take the initiative to invite others to participate in service. We all have our stories from service experiences, and if we tell them to someone new, the sky is the limit. There are opportunities for everyone no matter what your interests may be. It is definitely an exciting time to volunteer in the surrounding St. Joe's community!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Branching out of the First Semester
Our theme for weekly service this year has been something along the lines of "If one does not tend to the roots of the family tree, then the tree will whither wilt." At our final reflections for the first semester we are thinking about the branches of this family tree. What does this mean in terms of community service? Last night I ruminated about this and so I'm going to try and relate what I said to this blog.
Branches are the parts of trees that reach out to the world. In spring they have life, in summer they peak, in fall they begin to wilt, in the winter the leaves fall and everything is barren. The leaves and seeds fall off the tree in winter and they leave their marks on the ground in piles of leaves and small seeds that hold future promise. Then the branches are open to the world, still reaching out, but this time they have nothing on them.
This parallels the way I think people experience community service. In order to build relationships and grow from the experience (grow the branches), we must ourselves become vulnerable and allow our coverage to fall off. Once all of this stuff is off of us, only our lives will be open to those who want to share in it and try and understand it. We leave all of the parts of our lives open for all to see so that we can plant the seed of hope inside of people. In the same way, those who we serve allow us into their lives so that we may learn from them.
Our vulnerability leads to solidarity with all who want to join in. The challenge is to allow our leaves and our seeds to fall off our branches so that we can partake in this solidarity.
Hope everyone has a good Christmas break!
-Jeff
Branches are the parts of trees that reach out to the world. In spring they have life, in summer they peak, in fall they begin to wilt, in the winter the leaves fall and everything is barren. The leaves and seeds fall off the tree in winter and they leave their marks on the ground in piles of leaves and small seeds that hold future promise. Then the branches are open to the world, still reaching out, but this time they have nothing on them.
This parallels the way I think people experience community service. In order to build relationships and grow from the experience (grow the branches), we must ourselves become vulnerable and allow our coverage to fall off. Once all of this stuff is off of us, only our lives will be open to those who want to share in it and try and understand it. We leave all of the parts of our lives open for all to see so that we can plant the seed of hope inside of people. In the same way, those who we serve allow us into their lives so that we may learn from them.
Our vulnerability leads to solidarity with all who want to join in. The challenge is to allow our leaves and our seeds to fall off our branches so that we can partake in this solidarity.
Hope everyone has a good Christmas break!
-Jeff
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Reflections of a Bi-Cultural Baby
Here's the deal: I am a half-Columbian, half-white child. I know what an arepa is, I know what cocadas are, but I grew up eating bagels and eating chocolate chip cookies. Half of my extended family lives in Bogata Santa Fe, but most of the time I visit my family in Mississippi, Texas, Florida and Louisiana. I've traveled to the farm town El Socorro in Columbia once or twice, but every five years I travel down to one of the states listed above and have a family reunion. Right now, on this thanksgiving holiday, my father, my brother, his fiancee and friends are sitting in the lighted TV room, while my tia and primo are sitting in the unlighted computer room sitting around doing nothing. And I'm up in my room blogging.
My family is not like the families most of you have grown up with. I had the option of learning Spanish at a very early age, something that my father decided to pass up on. I have the opportunity to go and stay at length in Columbia if I just ask, but I don't have time. I've grown up with the mentalities of a people who came from the impovershed South American continent and the simple American "small-town" with fields and dirt roads. Both my mother and father had accents and acted differently than everybody in New Jersey ever did. They never had many friends and never acted like the families I hung around when I was a young boy. We always did our own thing and I never really thought anything about it.
In all I don't really think anything about it, but everytime I sit around another family's dinner table I can't relate. I didn't grow up hearing stories about aunts and uncles or that "one time" or "one day" when something funny happened that described ever-so-perfectly the personality of family members who I see every so often. My family didn't live close by so I never had Thanksgivings, Christmas or New Years with anyone but my immediate family. In fact I even have family who probably never celebrated Thanksgiving until one year when they came up from Columbia and experienced it. I never had grandparents to give me a few extra bucks or pieces of candy just because they "liked my face" or whatever grandparents use as excuses to do things under parents' noses. In all it's an experience to think that when I was younger I probably had spanish talked at me more than english.
Now I'm sitting upstairs in my room thinking about all of this stuff. It's hard having family with a language barrier. It's hard trying to communicate with people who you barely know. It's hard to try and relate to cousins from a distant country after meeting them for the first time. It's espeically hard when these cousins are 20 years old and have the same desires to go out and have fun that I do.
I'm a cultural mutt. I want to try and understand a culture my mom wanted me to learn about when I was younger, yet I feel as if I rooted myself too deeply into a culture my father helped me accept by buying me Super Nintendo, bicycles, 4th of July celebrations, and Baseball tickets. In all I am grateful that both of my parents tried. But it's still hard to figure out who I am when I could do so in two different languages.
Happy Holidays or Feliz Vacaciones. It's all the same to me.
My family is not like the families most of you have grown up with. I had the option of learning Spanish at a very early age, something that my father decided to pass up on. I have the opportunity to go and stay at length in Columbia if I just ask, but I don't have time. I've grown up with the mentalities of a people who came from the impovershed South American continent and the simple American "small-town" with fields and dirt roads. Both my mother and father had accents and acted differently than everybody in New Jersey ever did. They never had many friends and never acted like the families I hung around when I was a young boy. We always did our own thing and I never really thought anything about it.
In all I don't really think anything about it, but everytime I sit around another family's dinner table I can't relate. I didn't grow up hearing stories about aunts and uncles or that "one time" or "one day" when something funny happened that described ever-so-perfectly the personality of family members who I see every so often. My family didn't live close by so I never had Thanksgivings, Christmas or New Years with anyone but my immediate family. In fact I even have family who probably never celebrated Thanksgiving until one year when they came up from Columbia and experienced it. I never had grandparents to give me a few extra bucks or pieces of candy just because they "liked my face" or whatever grandparents use as excuses to do things under parents' noses. In all it's an experience to think that when I was younger I probably had spanish talked at me more than english.
Now I'm sitting upstairs in my room thinking about all of this stuff. It's hard having family with a language barrier. It's hard trying to communicate with people who you barely know. It's hard to try and relate to cousins from a distant country after meeting them for the first time. It's espeically hard when these cousins are 20 years old and have the same desires to go out and have fun that I do.
I'm a cultural mutt. I want to try and understand a culture my mom wanted me to learn about when I was younger, yet I feel as if I rooted myself too deeply into a culture my father helped me accept by buying me Super Nintendo, bicycles, 4th of July celebrations, and Baseball tickets. In all I am grateful that both of my parents tried. But it's still hard to figure out who I am when I could do so in two different languages.
Happy Holidays or Feliz Vacaciones. It's all the same to me.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
untitled?
so I'm at Bluford and we work with their afterschool program whose coordinator is a little off. She screams and her language simply does not appeal to the five year olds sitting next to me licking the same finger he just tied his shoe with. Then there's this guy who comes in and teaches them karate, which is great! Often times, when kids misbehave, he'll go, "Drop and give me 10!" to six year old Keron who has no idea what that means. Last week, I was working with one kid I was assigned (by the screaming coordinator) to because he has a behavior problem, and I noticed that he has some sort of mild dyslexia, and hardly does his homework, then suddenly I was swamped with four other kids who needed help too. As you can imagine, It was difficult to focus just on the one kid. And lastly there's this bald man who has no idea what his purpose is, one day he's making boys do push-ups, the next he's passing homework assignments. My point is, the adults around these kids don't seem to connect with them or have the desire to. It seems like its just another job and what I fear is that the kids can't look to an adult as someone who cares for them and consider them valuable. The mere language is something that goes right over their heads and so there hardly is a response because the adults have not met these kids where they're at.
The adults are not paying attention to the children which is why ADHD, dyslexia, or any learning disorders goes unnoticed until the tenth grade where they are on the verge of dropping out. School is one of the major agents of socialization and at a very early age, kids can determine who cares and who doesn't, and with the exception of educators who sincerely care, many of them are underqualified or in the position they're in because of money. I remember when I was in a Philly school, my english teacher used to hustle bootlegged DVDs and CDs on 52nd and Chestnut before he thought us. Do you see the affects of social inequalities on this part? Especially in the Philadelphia School District, these children, our children, or inevitably given the short end of the stick... this is why I do service, ( and I'm sure most of you guys can agree) its because we give a damn.
***forgive my spelling and gramatical errors***
The adults are not paying attention to the children which is why ADHD, dyslexia, or any learning disorders goes unnoticed until the tenth grade where they are on the verge of dropping out. School is one of the major agents of socialization and at a very early age, kids can determine who cares and who doesn't, and with the exception of educators who sincerely care, many of them are underqualified or in the position they're in because of money. I remember when I was in a Philly school, my english teacher used to hustle bootlegged DVDs and CDs on 52nd and Chestnut before he thought us. Do you see the affects of social inequalities on this part? Especially in the Philadelphia School District, these children, our children, or inevitably given the short end of the stick... this is why I do service, ( and I'm sure most of you guys can agree) its because we give a damn.
***forgive my spelling and gramatical errors***
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Social Justice & Advocacy Group
Hey All,
Since the beginning of the semester I have been apart of the Social Justice and Advocacy group led by Ryan Moratta. At times it has been truly inspirational while some days I am left wanting.
I regretfully missed our first outing due to schedule conflictions, so I cannot comment on the trip to a recently homeless shelter that other members of the group could. However I have been to every other occurrence.
The first and quite possibly most influential meet was a trip to Joe's Fair Trade Coffee. Not only does the coffee taste better than Americanized coffees, which apparently contain less percentages of true coffee grinds (Joe said the USA only requires 65-70 percent of American coffee grounds to contain true coffee grinds), but the fact that you know that the people behind the rich textured flavorful cappechinoes, lattes, the's, and coffee flavors were awarded fair pay. Due to this fair pay, the villagers and farmers who used to live on barely five USD a week had enough to substantially increase their incomes, lifestyles, and education for the children of the community.
If that wasn't enough, Joe told us the origin of his Fair Trade Coffee. Similar to our Social Justice and Advocacy group, Joe was inspired to take a trip to South America. In essence the group of Americans changed the lives of every one of the townspeople that they came across. Despite the fact that the trip was informative, emotional, and heartbreaking, Joe and his service group took it to the next level. Fair Trade representatives were sent to Similar South American towns who would inform the proper exchange rates for coffee beans, ways to transport the beans before they dry-rot, and how to barter with traders for increases or decreases in price based on the surplus or shortage of local coffee beans.
The true importance of this experience for the Social Justice and Advocacy Group was the revelation that A SINGLE person can make a difference as long as they never let the faults of man keep them down. Joe told us how all his friends and family had originally told him his plan was idiotic, lacked true vision, and would eventually bankrupt him. As of now, Joe has expanded his venues through friends and similar Coffee Shops opened not only by Joe's personal friends, but random customers who were inspired by Joe's cause. On a side not the fact that his coffee was much better as well as cheaper than the typical Starbucks didn't hurt either. Point of it all though still comes to the fact that one person can make a difference as long as the put in the fight.
Since the beginning of the semester I have been apart of the Social Justice and Advocacy group led by Ryan Moratta. At times it has been truly inspirational while some days I am left wanting.
I regretfully missed our first outing due to schedule conflictions, so I cannot comment on the trip to a recently homeless shelter that other members of the group could. However I have been to every other occurrence.
The first and quite possibly most influential meet was a trip to Joe's Fair Trade Coffee. Not only does the coffee taste better than Americanized coffees, which apparently contain less percentages of true coffee grinds (Joe said the USA only requires 65-70 percent of American coffee grounds to contain true coffee grinds), but the fact that you know that the people behind the rich textured flavorful cappechinoes, lattes, the's, and coffee flavors were awarded fair pay. Due to this fair pay, the villagers and farmers who used to live on barely five USD a week had enough to substantially increase their incomes, lifestyles, and education for the children of the community.
If that wasn't enough, Joe told us the origin of his Fair Trade Coffee. Similar to our Social Justice and Advocacy group, Joe was inspired to take a trip to South America. In essence the group of Americans changed the lives of every one of the townspeople that they came across. Despite the fact that the trip was informative, emotional, and heartbreaking, Joe and his service group took it to the next level. Fair Trade representatives were sent to Similar South American towns who would inform the proper exchange rates for coffee beans, ways to transport the beans before they dry-rot, and how to barter with traders for increases or decreases in price based on the surplus or shortage of local coffee beans.
The true importance of this experience for the Social Justice and Advocacy Group was the revelation that A SINGLE person can make a difference as long as they never let the faults of man keep them down. Joe told us how all his friends and family had originally told him his plan was idiotic, lacked true vision, and would eventually bankrupt him. As of now, Joe has expanded his venues through friends and similar Coffee Shops opened not only by Joe's personal friends, but random customers who were inspired by Joe's cause. On a side not the fact that his coffee was much better as well as cheaper than the typical Starbucks didn't hurt either. Point of it all though still comes to the fact that one person can make a difference as long as the put in the fight.
Musings on health care
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/us/09deport.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
The link above is an article form the New York Times from Nov. 9, 2008. A woman in my hospice class gave me a hard copy of the article and told me that it was a good way to bring healthcare and immigration issues together. I know it's a little long, but it is definitely some food for thought for people interested in either issue (or both).
Today, at Saint Catherine Laboure Medical Clinic, I spent quite a while on the phone with a man named Steven. He called looking to make a new patient appointment because he is having trouble with double vision. I asked when it started, and he said that last Sunday (so over a week ago) he fell down the stairs. He is uninsured, so he decided to wait it out and see how he felt after a few days. However, on Tuesday (8 days ago), he started experiencing double vision. He went to the emergency room at Chestnut Hill hospital and the doctors did a CAT scan and MRI. They saw a "dark spot" on his brain, which indicates a bleed. This is most definitely the source of his vision problems, but the doctor said it should get better and he just needed to wear an eye patch on one eye. They also determined that he had broken four vertebrae and discharged him with some analgesics. When Steven called today, he said that his double vision has been getting worse, and that the doctor at Chestnut Hill referred him to our clinic. Chestnut Hill is a for-profit hospital that probably did not want to deal with a patient without health insurance, but they know very well that our clinic does not have the technology to deal with brain and spinal cord injury. As I continued talking to Steven, I calmly told him that he needed to go to an emergency room because Dr. Davis said that the bleed could be getting worse. He said that he was going to the VA hospital because he was a war veteran and because Chestnut Hill probably wouldn't serve him.
When I relayed the entire story to Dr. Davis after I got off the phone, she said that we would probably never be able to see Steven because technically he has veteran's healthcare. Then she paused and took her statement back. She said that, in reality, the benefits that veterans get depends on who is currently president and what their policy is. Therefore, people like Steven might go from having full health coverage to very limited assistance in a matter of four years. As veterans age, it obviously does not get any easier for them to pay for prescription drugs or get access to other care they may need.
What does it say when one of the wealthiest countries in the world with huge expenditures on military does not guarantee its veterans care for after their service? And what does it say when we cannot be consistent from state to state about whether or not people deserve healthcare if they live and work there legally? (People who are not there legally adds a whole other element to this discussion.) It seems like the world of healthcare is full of contradictions, and it scares me that I will probably be entering that world at some point in the near future.
It will be interesting in the coming months, now that we have a new President, to see what happens with situations like these.
The link above is an article form the New York Times from Nov. 9, 2008. A woman in my hospice class gave me a hard copy of the article and told me that it was a good way to bring healthcare and immigration issues together. I know it's a little long, but it is definitely some food for thought for people interested in either issue (or both).
Today, at Saint Catherine Laboure Medical Clinic, I spent quite a while on the phone with a man named Steven. He called looking to make a new patient appointment because he is having trouble with double vision. I asked when it started, and he said that last Sunday (so over a week ago) he fell down the stairs. He is uninsured, so he decided to wait it out and see how he felt after a few days. However, on Tuesday (8 days ago), he started experiencing double vision. He went to the emergency room at Chestnut Hill hospital and the doctors did a CAT scan and MRI. They saw a "dark spot" on his brain, which indicates a bleed. This is most definitely the source of his vision problems, but the doctor said it should get better and he just needed to wear an eye patch on one eye. They also determined that he had broken four vertebrae and discharged him with some analgesics. When Steven called today, he said that his double vision has been getting worse, and that the doctor at Chestnut Hill referred him to our clinic. Chestnut Hill is a for-profit hospital that probably did not want to deal with a patient without health insurance, but they know very well that our clinic does not have the technology to deal with brain and spinal cord injury. As I continued talking to Steven, I calmly told him that he needed to go to an emergency room because Dr. Davis said that the bleed could be getting worse. He said that he was going to the VA hospital because he was a war veteran and because Chestnut Hill probably wouldn't serve him.
When I relayed the entire story to Dr. Davis after I got off the phone, she said that we would probably never be able to see Steven because technically he has veteran's healthcare. Then she paused and took her statement back. She said that, in reality, the benefits that veterans get depends on who is currently president and what their policy is. Therefore, people like Steven might go from having full health coverage to very limited assistance in a matter of four years. As veterans age, it obviously does not get any easier for them to pay for prescription drugs or get access to other care they may need.
What does it say when one of the wealthiest countries in the world with huge expenditures on military does not guarantee its veterans care for after their service? And what does it say when we cannot be consistent from state to state about whether or not people deserve healthcare if they live and work there legally? (People who are not there legally adds a whole other element to this discussion.) It seems like the world of healthcare is full of contradictions, and it scares me that I will probably be entering that world at some point in the near future.
It will be interesting in the coming months, now that we have a new President, to see what happens with situations like these.
Justice: The Musical
Last night's justice jam was a huge success. I would like to thank everybody who came out last night to what I think was the best Java Jam I've ever been to at SJU. The quality of the performers, the atmosphere, and the space were great, and everything worked out well for all who planned it and participated in it. This isn't just my opinion either as a performer; if you talk to anyone who went or heard the Justice Jam they would probably agree that hey had a great time. All the music played last night and just...well, everything was just incredible. It was a great tribute to Saint Joseph's university and its spirit. There is an implicit indication here, though, one that's more subtle.
As I observed some of the acts after mine I realized something that music does for people, something that I've always thought music did but never really personified so clearly until last night. For example, a freshman named Geoff came up and rapped his heart out for the whole crowd. In the middle of his set he asked everyone to get up and dance, and a substantial amount of people did. Everybody was throwing up their hands when he threw his up, people were dancing and having a great time. During his last song, people echoed the refrain "It ain't murder if we do it with a smile, right?"
Another example is when shining TV screens got up and performed an acoustic set for all of us. Towards the end of their set people were calling out for a song everyone could sing along to, and they obliged the crowd. What ensued was singing, dancing, and even some swaying for a slower part of one of the songs. Generally, during the set everyone just was feeling good and smiling, laughing, and just allowing themselves to be free of the stress of school and life.
For me, these aren't any big deals. I have been go to shows like this all my life: people are frenzied and dancing, singing along to the songs, throwing up fists, meeting new people. This is characteristic of music: Music creates community. Last night the community was so strong. Everybody there was excited for the music playing and excited for the songs. Yet, there was something else everyone was excited for: justice.
The Poverty Awareness Week Committee didn't intentionally do this, but they were able to create a tangible community that was interested not only in the music being played, but in the idea of justice: Justice that isn't marred by hate for anyone else or moral superiority towards other, but that is guided by love and liberty for all. This is a wonderful reality that was realized last night, and so I say we continue this tradition. Whenever you're at a show or a demonstration (see: SOA protest), get lost in the music. Allow yourself to meet new people, sing along with strangers who you don't know, dance, and by building this community, you will begin to build a community of justice. I know I'll be there.
-Jeff
As I observed some of the acts after mine I realized something that music does for people, something that I've always thought music did but never really personified so clearly until last night. For example, a freshman named Geoff came up and rapped his heart out for the whole crowd. In the middle of his set he asked everyone to get up and dance, and a substantial amount of people did. Everybody was throwing up their hands when he threw his up, people were dancing and having a great time. During his last song, people echoed the refrain "It ain't murder if we do it with a smile, right?"
Another example is when shining TV screens got up and performed an acoustic set for all of us. Towards the end of their set people were calling out for a song everyone could sing along to, and they obliged the crowd. What ensued was singing, dancing, and even some swaying for a slower part of one of the songs. Generally, during the set everyone just was feeling good and smiling, laughing, and just allowing themselves to be free of the stress of school and life.
For me, these aren't any big deals. I have been go to shows like this all my life: people are frenzied and dancing, singing along to the songs, throwing up fists, meeting new people. This is characteristic of music: Music creates community. Last night the community was so strong. Everybody there was excited for the music playing and excited for the songs. Yet, there was something else everyone was excited for: justice.
The Poverty Awareness Week Committee didn't intentionally do this, but they were able to create a tangible community that was interested not only in the music being played, but in the idea of justice: Justice that isn't marred by hate for anyone else or moral superiority towards other, but that is guided by love and liberty for all. This is a wonderful reality that was realized last night, and so I say we continue this tradition. Whenever you're at a show or a demonstration (see: SOA protest), get lost in the music. Allow yourself to meet new people, sing along with strangers who you don't know, dance, and by building this community, you will begin to build a community of justice. I know I'll be there.
-Jeff
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Life Center!
Hey guys! I volunteer weekly at the Life Center of Eastern Delaware County, an outreach center for those who are homeless in the area. I along with 5 other SJU students go on Tuesdays at 6 and help to serve dinner. As a non-profit organization, the Life Center relies on local volunteer groups to provide their meals. The meals vary with the different groups that come. A few weeks ago, a man who owns his own Indian restaurant brought homemadecurrie and chickpeas for everyone!
Lately, it has been really busy. Last week the line of people went out the door and around the block! Since the weather has been nice, tables have been set up outside, and the center was able tp serve more people than usual. I have noticed a pattern of the same people coming each week and it is nice to see that they are beginning to recognize us. In addition to forming relationships with the people at the site, my group of volunteers have also been bonding as we reflect on our unique experiences during service.
I felt our growing relationships with the people of our site especially this past week. Before we left, Ms. Tamika, who manages the meals on Tuesdays, gave each of us a flyer, inviting us to celebrate their annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the Center. This truly made me feel as if we were welcomed and accepted as part of the community that they have here
-Rachel
Lately, it has been really busy. Last week the line of people went out the door and around the block! Since the weather has been nice, tables have been set up outside, and the center was able tp serve more people than usual. I have noticed a pattern of the same people coming each week and it is nice to see that they are beginning to recognize us. In addition to forming relationships with the people at the site, my group of volunteers have also been bonding as we reflect on our unique experiences during service.
I felt our growing relationships with the people of our site especially this past week. Before we left, Ms. Tamika, who manages the meals on Tuesdays, gave each of us a flyer, inviting us to celebrate their annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the Center. This truly made me feel as if we were welcomed and accepted as part of the community that they have here
-Rachel
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
More voting stuff (But probably the last of it)
Yesterday was Election Day, and I of course rocked the vote early on in the day.
After I voted though we went to Inglis House (A wheelchair community down the street from SJU). We went there to help them vote, by pushing them back and forth from their rooms to the voting booths on the first floor.
It's weird, because I had a conversation with one of my friends the night before about mentally disable people and voting. He asked the question of whether or not people that are severely mentally disabled should be able to vote. He thought they should, and so did I because by the nature of the "right to vote", if they're American citizens they should obviously be able to vote.
Saying something like that and then seeing it are two different things. The first person that I transported didn't know whether she wanted to vote or not. After fifteen minutes of transportation we got down to the booths, and we found out that she wasn't even registered to vote. The second man who I transported was severely severely mentally disabled, he couldn't speak and could barely move in his wheelchair. His nurse told me to take him down to vote and after a half hour we finally got to the booth, only to find out that he had already voted earlier in the day...
I just can't picture him having ANY idea about who he was voting for. I understand protecting his rights to vote, but did he really know anything about the election?
Later that night at Project H.O.M.E. was another interesting experience. We did a phone bank and called almost every shelter or transitional home in the city to see if people needed rides to the polling booths. Literally no one needed any help (it was 6:00 PM so many of them had already voted), but still.
I met a guy that night that didn't vote. I asked him who he wanted to win and he said "I guess that Oracka" guy. I understand that he might've been mentally disabled, but it was interesting because I hadn't met anyone yet that didn't know who was running for president.
Well anyway, we have a new president and thank goodness I don't have to worry about it anymore!!
After I voted though we went to Inglis House (A wheelchair community down the street from SJU). We went there to help them vote, by pushing them back and forth from their rooms to the voting booths on the first floor.
It's weird, because I had a conversation with one of my friends the night before about mentally disable people and voting. He asked the question of whether or not people that are severely mentally disabled should be able to vote. He thought they should, and so did I because by the nature of the "right to vote", if they're American citizens they should obviously be able to vote.
Saying something like that and then seeing it are two different things. The first person that I transported didn't know whether she wanted to vote or not. After fifteen minutes of transportation we got down to the booths, and we found out that she wasn't even registered to vote. The second man who I transported was severely severely mentally disabled, he couldn't speak and could barely move in his wheelchair. His nurse told me to take him down to vote and after a half hour we finally got to the booth, only to find out that he had already voted earlier in the day...
I just can't picture him having ANY idea about who he was voting for. I understand protecting his rights to vote, but did he really know anything about the election?
Later that night at Project H.O.M.E. was another interesting experience. We did a phone bank and called almost every shelter or transitional home in the city to see if people needed rides to the polling booths. Literally no one needed any help (it was 6:00 PM so many of them had already voted), but still.
I met a guy that night that didn't vote. I asked him who he wanted to win and he said "I guess that Oracka" guy. I understand that he might've been mentally disabled, but it was interesting because I hadn't met anyone yet that didn't know who was running for president.
Well anyway, we have a new president and thank goodness I don't have to worry about it anymore!!
It's not about BARACKing or MAVRICKing the vote...
After last night's election, it seems that there are still tensions brewing between young democrats and young republicans. Only a half hour after Mr. Barack Obama was elected, Facebook statuses changed with conviction, stating things like "YES WE CAN <3" or "I'M MOVING TO CANADA!" It's obvious that there are people (even among our weekly service ranks) who are either extremely happy about the election or not happy at all about the election.
On my part, I can say that I am happy about the outcome. I think that it's a great change for our country from not only a policy standpoint, but also from a racial standpoint. It is a landmark in American history, and everyone, regardless of party, should view election as such. No matter if one is conservative or democrat, he or she should view this election as something that is bound to bring change in some way or another. Because no matter who was elected, change was going to happen somehow. It's not going to satisfy everyone, but hopefully it will bring everyone to an equal standing somehow. If Mr. Obama has any chance of keeping public favor, he will have to act quickly and definitively to fulfilling his policy. And honestly, I think that he will be able to do so. This is why:
There was an obvious influx of first time voters during this election. Not just recent immigrants; we were a big part of this election. We all gathered around an idea, the idea of democracy, and we decided to act upon it. We all had our own view points of how democracy should be fulfilled, and all of our voices were heard. There was no foul play like in past years; it seems at the outset everybody's voice has been heard. This election should be a symbol for all of us young voters, young people inside of this democratic body: We have the power to change. We have the power to rally around one idea and manipulate it and participate more fully in it. We are the ones with the power.
That being said, let's all just relax for a bit. If we stay divided on this one election without realizing how much it has actually brought us together, then we will never make any sort of progress. We will continue to have a broken country, crying out for something greater to help it. If we ignore the problems in order to focus on partisan politics, then we will have lost this election. We will give up and allow whatever's working in the white house to work without monitor.
So this is my challenge: be a revolutionary. It seems that Obama will listen to what we have to say (he said it in his speech last night), so let's let him hear our voices. If you don't agree with him on something, let him know by organizing and showing him. If you do agree with him, then be in dialogue with those who don't agree with him. UNDERSTAND each other. Work together to figure out differences and if they are irreconcilable, then work from there. Barack Obama CANNOT CHANGE THIS COUNTRY ALONE.
We must be the change we want to see the world. We must be the ones showing where our next president must work. We must be the ones. Because we are a part of this system now it is our Duty to be the change. It is our duty to work together for a more peaceful, loving nation that will in turn effect the world. We must start here.
On my part, I can say that I am happy about the outcome. I think that it's a great change for our country from not only a policy standpoint, but also from a racial standpoint. It is a landmark in American history, and everyone, regardless of party, should view election as such. No matter if one is conservative or democrat, he or she should view this election as something that is bound to bring change in some way or another. Because no matter who was elected, change was going to happen somehow. It's not going to satisfy everyone, but hopefully it will bring everyone to an equal standing somehow. If Mr. Obama has any chance of keeping public favor, he will have to act quickly and definitively to fulfilling his policy. And honestly, I think that he will be able to do so. This is why:
There was an obvious influx of first time voters during this election. Not just recent immigrants; we were a big part of this election. We all gathered around an idea, the idea of democracy, and we decided to act upon it. We all had our own view points of how democracy should be fulfilled, and all of our voices were heard. There was no foul play like in past years; it seems at the outset everybody's voice has been heard. This election should be a symbol for all of us young voters, young people inside of this democratic body: We have the power to change. We have the power to rally around one idea and manipulate it and participate more fully in it. We are the ones with the power.
That being said, let's all just relax for a bit. If we stay divided on this one election without realizing how much it has actually brought us together, then we will never make any sort of progress. We will continue to have a broken country, crying out for something greater to help it. If we ignore the problems in order to focus on partisan politics, then we will have lost this election. We will give up and allow whatever's working in the white house to work without monitor.
So this is my challenge: be a revolutionary. It seems that Obama will listen to what we have to say (he said it in his speech last night), so let's let him hear our voices. If you don't agree with him on something, let him know by organizing and showing him. If you do agree with him, then be in dialogue with those who don't agree with him. UNDERSTAND each other. Work together to figure out differences and if they are irreconcilable, then work from there. Barack Obama CANNOT CHANGE THIS COUNTRY ALONE.
We must be the change we want to see the world. We must be the ones showing where our next president must work. We must be the ones. Because we are a part of this system now it is our Duty to be the change. It is our duty to work together for a more peaceful, loving nation that will in turn effect the world. We must start here.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Hablas Espanol?
Hey all,
For the past few weeks I have been doing service at the Welcome Center, which is a site in North Philly that focuses on teaching English and Citizenship classes to Philadelphians who are working to attain citizenship and are eager to learn a new language. The site offers great placements for SJU volunteers who share an interest in issues concerning immigration or volunteers that simply want to spend time with some great open minded people.
At first I was very nervous to start service at a new site. I have volunteered weekly at soup kitchens, homeless shelters, nursing homes, and schools, but have never had to really teach anything. I have taken multiple courses in Spanish in high school and at SJU, but never really was placed in a situation that required me to speak Spanish in my daily life. I was ignorant to the fact that because I speak English, I automatically have opportunities open to me that would not be possible otherwise. The English classes that the Welcome Center provide for Philadelphians are opening doors for greater opportunities. When I think about this, it is hard not to bring enthusiasm to each visit to the Welcome Center.
This site has also given me the opportunity to put myself in the student role and let the class teach me. In the SJU atmosphere, I often am focussed solely on grades and other things that plague the mind of a College student. Each week I feel privileged to be able to open my mind to the stories and experiences of others through service. I have learned so much from the class in only two weeks of service! Although everyone generally laughs at my meager attempts to speak Spanish to explain myself during class, I am genuinely benefiting from the constant exposure to a language that I have wanted to become proficient speaking. Class has been great so far, I only hope that the class is getting as much from my visits as I am getting from them.
Tom
For the past few weeks I have been doing service at the Welcome Center, which is a site in North Philly that focuses on teaching English and Citizenship classes to Philadelphians who are working to attain citizenship and are eager to learn a new language. The site offers great placements for SJU volunteers who share an interest in issues concerning immigration or volunteers that simply want to spend time with some great open minded people.
At first I was very nervous to start service at a new site. I have volunteered weekly at soup kitchens, homeless shelters, nursing homes, and schools, but have never had to really teach anything. I have taken multiple courses in Spanish in high school and at SJU, but never really was placed in a situation that required me to speak Spanish in my daily life. I was ignorant to the fact that because I speak English, I automatically have opportunities open to me that would not be possible otherwise. The English classes that the Welcome Center provide for Philadelphians are opening doors for greater opportunities. When I think about this, it is hard not to bring enthusiasm to each visit to the Welcome Center.
This site has also given me the opportunity to put myself in the student role and let the class teach me. In the SJU atmosphere, I often am focussed solely on grades and other things that plague the mind of a College student. Each week I feel privileged to be able to open my mind to the stories and experiences of others through service. I have learned so much from the class in only two weeks of service! Although everyone generally laughs at my meager attempts to speak Spanish to explain myself during class, I am genuinely benefiting from the constant exposure to a language that I have wanted to become proficient speaking. Class has been great so far, I only hope that the class is getting as much from my visits as I am getting from them.
Tom
Sunday, October 19, 2008
The Homeless -- help not needed??
I visited 802 North Broad Street the other day for one of my site visits. I'm also planning on volunteering there full time now, but that's besides the point of this blog. So I was walking around with Carly Maurer, the SSC of 802 for Thursdays, and two other volunteers underneath City Hall. As we were walking upstairs by the big clothing pin, we saw a man sitting on a milk crate. He was asking people for money, wearing combat gear, and (the most unfortunate part) sporting half of a leg. Carly, the two other volunteers and I happen on this man and approach him. We casually say "Hi" and he begins a long, drawn out tirade about how people don't even see him on the streets of Philadelphia. He feels invisible, and he wonders why people don't give him "a penny, nickle, or quarter" even though he knows that these people have the money. His name was James, and after a few more minutes talking with him, another man came up and began to scold James about what he was talking about, and so our group of four went up the stairs and out of the scene.
After this event, a discussion ensued: James seemed to talk about how people don't help him out by giving him "a penny, an nickle, or a quarter," and how people don't even notice him. At the same time, when I offered James a sheet that had places where he could find meals in Philadelphia, James denied it. Also, according to one of the volunteers, James spoke about how he felt as if he didn't want the help of those passing him by. As weekly service volunteers, this is a conondrum to us.
So here's my question that I will leave open for discussion. Leave your opinion in the replies.
What does a volunteer do if he or she encounters someone like James, someone who is hypercritical of society, but when someone tries to help, this someone doesn't take it? Is it a matter of perspective? In your own view, what factors contributed to James' point of view?
Happy thinking!
-Jeff
After this event, a discussion ensued: James seemed to talk about how people don't help him out by giving him "a penny, an nickle, or a quarter," and how people don't even notice him. At the same time, when I offered James a sheet that had places where he could find meals in Philadelphia, James denied it. Also, according to one of the volunteers, James spoke about how he felt as if he didn't want the help of those passing him by. As weekly service volunteers, this is a conondrum to us.
So here's my question that I will leave open for discussion. Leave your opinion in the replies.
What does a volunteer do if he or she encounters someone like James, someone who is hypercritical of society, but when someone tries to help, this someone doesn't take it? Is it a matter of perspective? In your own view, what factors contributed to James' point of view?
Happy thinking!
-Jeff
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Rock the Vote
I recently changed my service site from Inglis House to a new site called "Social Advocacy." I had done service at Inglis House for a long time, and felt like it was time to move on. The new site, "Social Advocacy", is actually a program where we go to a different site each week and do things that have to deal with advocating for the poor in our area.
Their big focus is, right now, the election season. I don't know the statistics, but there are many many homeless people in America and the Philly area that don't know their voter rights or just aren't registered. This could be because of a variety of things, some including apathy, but most for the simple reason that they don't have an address (hence, homeLESS).
Last week we went to a Red Cross shelter to register people to vote. Ryan Marotta is our Service Site Coordinator, so he planned for us to go and just talk to the people there and let them know that if they haven't registered, they can and probably should. We registered about 6 people to vote, which was pretty good in my opinion.
One of the challenges that I had though was a conversation we had with one of the men there. He was telling us a lot about his life, and for the first time ever I heard someone that was legitimately PROUD that he had only worked "ten days in his life". He was bragging to us about how he used legal loopholes to scam the government, and he told us some other unsavory stories. He was actually a really funny, nice guy, but there was definitely something about the conversation that left me feeling uneasy.
Especially because this man is registering to vote!!
The other people were great and expressed a lot of happiness in being able to vote in this election. They were afraid that if they moved before election day then they wouldn't be able to vote, but we were told that they could return to the district of where they registered or whatever.
Anyway, it was a really great time and I definitely saw the merit. This week we're going to a Fair Trade coffee shop. I'll let Ryan or one of the other volunteers blog about that one!!
--Sal
P.S. Here's an interesting chart about each state's policies on homeless voting.
http://www.veteransparty.us/homeless.htm
Their big focus is, right now, the election season. I don't know the statistics, but there are many many homeless people in America and the Philly area that don't know their voter rights or just aren't registered. This could be because of a variety of things, some including apathy, but most for the simple reason that they don't have an address (hence, homeLESS).
Last week we went to a Red Cross shelter to register people to vote. Ryan Marotta is our Service Site Coordinator, so he planned for us to go and just talk to the people there and let them know that if they haven't registered, they can and probably should. We registered about 6 people to vote, which was pretty good in my opinion.
One of the challenges that I had though was a conversation we had with one of the men there. He was telling us a lot about his life, and for the first time ever I heard someone that was legitimately PROUD that he had only worked "ten days in his life". He was bragging to us about how he used legal loopholes to scam the government, and he told us some other unsavory stories. He was actually a really funny, nice guy, but there was definitely something about the conversation that left me feeling uneasy.
Especially because this man is registering to vote!!
The other people were great and expressed a lot of happiness in being able to vote in this election. They were afraid that if they moved before election day then they wouldn't be able to vote, but we were told that they could return to the district of where they registered or whatever.
Anyway, it was a really great time and I definitely saw the merit. This week we're going to a Fair Trade coffee shop. I'll let Ryan or one of the other volunteers blog about that one!!
--Sal
P.S. Here's an interesting chart about each state's policies on homeless voting.
http://www.veteransparty.us/homeless.htm
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
St. Catherine Laboure Medical Clinic
Hey hey!
So this morning I went to St. Catherine's. When I got there, the physician's assistant and the doctor were waiting to greet me and tell me how happy they were. They told me that another student who used to volunteer there weekly from St. Joe's had found out that the "regular" volunteer (an older woman with a normal schedule) would be out on Monday. Without volunteers, it is very difficult for the clinic to run smoothly, so this student went to the clinic on Monday morning just to lend a helping hand. The doctor who founded the clinic is actually a St. Joe's grad and therefore knows how awesome our university is, but the P.A. could not stop singing the praises of SJU volunteers. She said we are far more committed and passionate than any of the volunteers she has had from Penn, Nova, Lasalle, etc. It was quite the compliment! And to continue boosting my ego, they asked me to help double check the patient finances this year. I have been volunteering there for two years and they are veryyy picky about who handles money, so I felt really honored that they trust me so much!
After all of this, I spent a long time copying a patient's chart. I was also able to get a few patients set up in rooms (aka take blood pressure and weight and then chat about life a bit) and to talk to a representative from Campus Philly who is trying to get people from the clinic to speak at a volunteer fair about the importance of public health.
I'm super excited because this Saturday I'll be going to a Presbyterian church with some people from St. Catherine's to run a blood pressure clinic. For some reason, people tend to love chatting when they have blood pressure cuffs on, and I always have the most interesting conversations while doing that! :)
<3 Carla
So this morning I went to St. Catherine's. When I got there, the physician's assistant and the doctor were waiting to greet me and tell me how happy they were. They told me that another student who used to volunteer there weekly from St. Joe's had found out that the "regular" volunteer (an older woman with a normal schedule) would be out on Monday. Without volunteers, it is very difficult for the clinic to run smoothly, so this student went to the clinic on Monday morning just to lend a helping hand. The doctor who founded the clinic is actually a St. Joe's grad and therefore knows how awesome our university is, but the P.A. could not stop singing the praises of SJU volunteers. She said we are far more committed and passionate than any of the volunteers she has had from Penn, Nova, Lasalle, etc. It was quite the compliment! And to continue boosting my ego, they asked me to help double check the patient finances this year. I have been volunteering there for two years and they are veryyy picky about who handles money, so I felt really honored that they trust me so much!
After all of this, I spent a long time copying a patient's chart. I was also able to get a few patients set up in rooms (aka take blood pressure and weight and then chat about life a bit) and to talk to a representative from Campus Philly who is trying to get people from the clinic to speak at a volunteer fair about the importance of public health.
I'm super excited because this Saturday I'll be going to a Presbyterian church with some people from St. Catherine's to run a blood pressure clinic. For some reason, people tend to love chatting when they have blood pressure cuffs on, and I always have the most interesting conversations while doing that! :)
<3 Carla
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Honest to Blog?
Hey everybody!
Sal here, and if you are an SJU volunteer, then
I
WANT
YOU
to blog about your experiences doing service!
Did you take any pictures?
Did you meet someone new?
I know that you're probably saying "WOW! Look at Campus Ministry--they are sooooo 21st century! It's totally modern!"
Tell your fellow students how it's going, what challenges you face doing service, and how you see Ignatian values being lived out at your service site.
I know that I will be updating here as well, but if you are reading this and you are interested in blogging, send an e-mail to
SJUWeeklyServiceBlog@gmail.com
and we'll set you up with the password and username so you can blog too!
Sal here, and if you are an SJU volunteer, then
I
WANT
YOU
to blog about your experiences doing service!
Did you take any pictures?
Did you meet someone new?
I know that you're probably saying "WOW! Look at Campus Ministry--they are sooooo 21st century! It's totally modern!"
Tell your fellow students how it's going, what challenges you face doing service, and how you see Ignatian values being lived out at your service site.
I know that I will be updating here as well, but if you are reading this and you are interested in blogging, send an e-mail to
SJUWeeklyServiceBlog@gmail.com
and we'll set you up with the password and username so you can blog too!
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