Understanding our Communities

       As we look at the communities in our project group, it is difficult at times to understand how we can  truly help them.  We can see a common thread in the communities of Marlo Heights, Colony Park, and Holly Street. Each community has a low median income of the mid to upper $20,000.00 as compared to Austin's median income, which is $55,000.00.  The three communities lack parks, grocery stores, and more importantly their voices to be heard.

      Looking at Colony Park, we see a great need for their voice to be heard within Austin's city government and with the community of service through the University of Texas.  According to the data we have, Colony Park was not asked what they felt their greatest needs were and also if they were, their voices were not acknowledged.  They are faced with a community center that is currently unusable and also the prospect of being labeled a low income housing community.  The residents of this community long to be heard and have a community that is thriving, family oriented and offering a safe place to live.  Battling the city against a low income housing project is not an easy war to fight.

     We see the impact the paper plant had on the residents of Holly Street and their inability to win the battle with trash and rodents.  Holly Street like Colony Park and Marlo Heights is facing growing pains.  Individuals are coming in and buying homes, fixing them up, and/or tearing down and building new.  The residents face higher tax rates and the grief over the loss of a neighborhood as they once new it.

     The residents of Marlo Heights struggle to have a voice.  As we look at the recommendations of the team from UT, we can see the problems this community faces to as they long for safety and a united front.  Each of our communities have struggles. The greatest thing we, as a project development team, can do is to listen, hear their concerns and try to understand the challenges before them.

      Looking at the redevelopment of Mueller, there is definite controversy over the way this redevelopment was  handled.  Communities like Marlo Heights, Colony Park, and Holly Street need to unite and have a voice prior to big development coming in and changing their neighborhoods.

     The food desert is certainly a huge problem for these communities.  We see a great deficit in access to not only healthy foods but also food in general. The lack of access to food, especially for those that don't drive, continues to plague these neighborhoods.  Local and chain grocery stores are not going in to these areas because it does not benefit them.  Residents cannot even walk to the near by grocery because there isn't one.

I am hoping the community of UT and our project development group can have an impact on the lives of these people.  Because what starts here really can change the world.

 

Relationship Learning

I was impacted by the story of Rhodessa Jones.  I love how she stated she wanted to make a difference with her work. I guess for all of us that resonates - we want to make a difference. So often our idea of making a difference is not at all what others need.  We go into community and see what we think is important, what is broken and how we can fix it.  For Rhodessa, she rushed in and started over sharing about her life. In spite of her behavior, the women responded to her and they began to develop a relationship.  Sometimes that isn't always the case. Often we rush in and over step our boundaries and violate trust.  I value this story because it is a reminder to be invited and welcomed into community. By waiting and developing those relationships, which take time, we can truly make a difference.

There is a saying "rules without relationship leads to rebellion."  As we go into a community to assist them, if our agenda is more important than the people and their needs, it can look like we have rules.  Although a community may not rebel, they can certainly withhold the relationship.  I believe it is critical to remind ourselves why we are there and what it is we hope for that community. But more importantly, what do they envision for themselves.  And how can I or others assist in helping them achieve their dreams and goals?   I also feel that building these relationships doesn't occur over night and we can expect resistance until trust is built. The greatest lesson I can remember is that my time frame, my ideas, and my goals are far less important than the people I encounter.  Maybe then I can be the difference!

White Girl Privilege

I consider myself to be sensitive and aware of others, their struggles and culture;  therefore, it is difficult and uncomfortable to look at and often admit there are definite advantages to being white. In spite of some of my own struggles and difficulties, I can only say that I am blessed and full of gratitude for the many opportunities and privileges in my life.

This past week I spent a day at the Early Childhood Intervention Lab.  It made me think about all I take for granted. I don't have a special needs child nor am I afflicted with any kind of  physical or learning disability.  My days have no struggles in comparison to the many who find something as simple as getting dressed a challenge.  And so it is with being a white female, I take a lot for granted.

• I can walk into any neighborhood, night or day, and nobody questions my motives for being there
• I have favor with the valet guy, the waiter, the bartender, the coffee shop attendant
• Moving to Austin, nobody questioned my ability to live where I was looking
• I can be in an upscale store and no one judges my ability to purchase any item
• I can be in relationships with only white men and women
• I can assume I will never have a person of another race as a supervisor
• My workplace is predominantly white
• My social circle allows me introductions to other privileged white people
• Strangers assume the best not the worst
• I can sit alone in a restaurant, bar or coffee shop and not be questioned about my motives
• Not having to learn a new language to communicate with my peers
• Policemen always assume I have auto insurance
• The majority of my friends have white girl privileges
• I am not accused of dressing to make a statement about my culture or ethnicity
• If I complain about how I am treated,  I don't get accused of playing the race card

These are just a few of the many advantages and there are so many that I overlook and forget.  I can only hope that I will treat others with respect and dignity regardless of race, culture, SES and skin color. 

My Culture

Individuals...we are multifaceted and many parts make a whole.  Part of my being is female. This consists of daughter, sister, friend and mother.  All are important and have helped mold me into the person I am today. My experience varies in each of those relationships; however, it is through  the challenges, acceptance and love of others that we become who we are.




Not only being female but being a white female, fortunately or unfortunately, has an advantage in our society. Unfortunately being a divorced, white female has another set of challenges economically and socially. I am keenly more aware of this through aging, experience and studies.  I am grateful yet saddened that we live in a world where we truly do not treat others with equality.  One can only hope that each individual fighting for what is good for everyone will eventually make a difference in the wage discrimination between women and men and also in the way we treat those who have different cultures, beliefs and ethnicities than our own.

Being outdoors, you learn so much about yourself, others and the beauty around you. If a person can be an athlete at my age, then yes, I am an athlete. Running brings me into a place of peace and stress reduction; it can be done with a community or alone.  I also love tennis; it is relational, competitive and also a place of release from the stressors of life.  The love of running and tennis provides relationships and exposure to others that I might not otherwise have.

My faith is the foundation of who I am. It drives me to have more gratitude, compassion,  empathy and  love for others and self.  It is the glue that keeps me together when situations can appear as hopeless, painful, and often times impossible.  It is a place of grace and mercy and love for others regardless of our differences.  I believe it is the backbone of my desire to see positive changes for others through community service.  Quite often I am the one who reaps more than I sow.





Reading has been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember.  It is another dimension of who I am and who I am becoming: a culture of readers.  It opens up a world to your imagination, exposure to other ways, ideas and cultures.  It is a tool to stepping outside of egocentric thinking and remaining open and responsive to new attitudes, ideas and beliefs that differ from your own. I belong to a book club and it is a culture of women who share diverse ideas and philosophies on life. We share this common love of reading and learning from others.

Being stretched and challenged is a component of who I am as a student.  The environment and diverse culture of the University of Texas allows me to encounter those of like mind and those whose opinions vary greatly. It is place to learn respect for a community of students who have their own unique culture and who add vast knowledge to my limited and unlimited experiences.

Global Project Development

About Me:

• I moved to Austin from the Dallas/Fort Worth area two years ago to attend UT. I love the university and my life in Austin.
• I am a psychology major, graduating in December and currently applying to grad schools for Social Work.
• I enjoy running, cooking, nutrition, reading, college sports, tennis and hanging out with friends. 
• You can find me every morning @ Lady Bird Lake either running or walking.
• I love to laugh and enjoy people with a great sense of humor!
• I have three amazing, talented daughters who keep me laughing, challenged and inspired.

This Class:

• I am passionate about community service and love the concept of service learning.
• Prior to moving to Austin I served on a service sorority and raised monies for high school seniors to go to college.  It was rewarding and eye opening. 

• I am looking forward to another semester of working on the oral history project @ Martin Middle School. 
• I am excited about  being a part of PROJECT 2014 and UT's day of service in the Holly Street Community.
• I hope to gain more knowledge about serving others and all that entails.
• I love learning and believe there is so much to gain from others experiences and knowledge.

Vulnerability

Before we started our projects, I had heard of Brene Brown; however, since seeing her TED talk in class, she has become my hero and motivator.  I loved her talk on vulnerability.  As I sat in class for presentations, I realized that each person was demonstrating vulnerability. By sharing our expectations, successes, goals, challenges and what some might consider failures, each of us opened ourselves up by being real.

I enjoyed so many of the presentations. It is exciting to hear and see how each person had grown and struggled with some aspect of their individual project or being a lead or integral part of PROJECT 2013.   I have to say that Jabez rocked it! It was so incredibly real and funny and such a depiction of how I have felt so often during this semester.  Juan also forced me to think about children and the impact of being encouraged to go to college and yet not providing the resources for those families to understand what a certain goal like that means.  We instill an idea and yet provide no hope for the goal to be achieved.

As I go forward desiring a life of service to those in need, I cannot imagine the impact this course is going to continue to have on my life.  Being a small part of Project 2013 and my involvement with Martin Middle School has enlightened me regarding community service.  Understanding the importance of not only recognizing a need but also allowing those who are in need to have the greater voice. I have gained so much from my readings and the teaching that has taken place. From Wasteland to Wicked Problems, I am not sure I will view relationships or community service the same way. 

Needless to say, the encouragement to take risks in this class was huge in helping me be able to let go of my agenda with Martin Middle School. I have found it also gave me courage to be more of a risk taker in my other classes.  My hope is that individually we will continue to be risk takers as we step out into different communities. Some of us will be moving on and not be a part of PROJECT 2014 but for others, we will remain and continue our work in Holly Street. I am excited to see what will take place there. I have loved this class far more than I ever imagined and I will miss Paula and all the tools and encouragement she brought to each of us.  I look forward to being an instrument of change and I am sure each of my classmates do also.  

Serendipity

I had the privilege to be a part of Martin Middle School's inaugural story night.  This is an event that Carmen Williams, Martin's librarian, has wanted to do for quite some time. Finally, her dream came to fruition. It was exciting to see her plans and dreams unfold to a night of success.

I have difficulty describing the sweetness that permeates the environment at Martin. It is something I think you have to breathe in and allow it to envelop your being. I wish I could capture the emotions and find the words to describe how I feel when I am there. Tonight was no different. Families love their school and neighborhood. The staff and teachers love the students and their families and want them to be successful.  Martin is a place that speaks encouragement and understanding to the the obstacles that the majority of their student's face.  It speaks hope and resilience to fragility and weariness.

Watching Carmen was an experience in and off itself. She was, as to be expected, nervous. You have a dream or vision and you can only hope that others will be on board and that participation will confirm the need.   As families entered the building, you sensed this anticipation of something exciting on the horizon.  From infants to teens, the enthusiasm in watching story tellers, making book marks and puppets, and sharing a meal was uncontainable.

For many of us, we take story night for granted. We read stories to our children every day; we lounge in our favorite chair and enjoy the latest bestseller,  and we download our next read on our iPad.  We roam through the library as though it is our home. For the families at Martin, this is not the norm. Many of them have no access to the internet, have no favorite author to follow, and do not have a library card because they lack a  permanent address. Imagine you have no home, books within your home and you don't speak English and yet, you want all that is available for your children.

 Magically, or so it seems, a night like this happens and you have the opportunity to see your children growing in knowledge and love for books.

I  am moved to tears by what I see happening at Martin. It speaks volumes to my spirit as I face the end of another semester.  I am inspired and reminded that this is why I am at the University of Texas.  I have to chuckle as I ponder my luck to be working on an oral history project with Martin. I am their facilitator for oral history and yet, they are my lifeline of confirmation to press on to the goals I have set before me.  My desire is to bring tools to children to be successful in spite of the obstacles. In comparison to what I have already gleaned from Martin,  I can only hope that I will be able to give back as much as I have received.

Serendipity....Meeting Genevieve, a UT student studying library science, who just happened to be at story night because one of her peers volunteers at Martin. Genevieve went to Martin 19 years ago. We had a delightful conversation regarding her experiences and I look forward to further interviews with her as we move through oral history startup and completion,  Another beautiful accident, meeting Polly. Polly worked at Martin and has lived in the Holly Street neighborhood for over forty years.  Excitement is an understatement as I conversed with two women who have a wealth of information regarding this community and school.