Assessment of my accomplishments thus far

As the semester comes to an end, I believe I did fairly well with my goals.  My revised learning plan is attached below as a reference for what I set out to do.

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REVISED LEARNING PLAN

Individual service site 

 Name of organization and location: 

The Dubuque Multicultural Family Center

 Name of contact who will serve as supervisor and reviewer

Madeline Cairney

Description of duties/activities

            Help in volunteering at the Multicultural Family Center.  Be there for the children to help them read and do homework as well as help in any activities that may be planned for the children.

Learning plan

What are your goals?  Why did you choose these goals?  How do they relate to coursework at Loras?

            My main goal is simply to be available to the children.  At the very least, I want the children to know that I’ll be there to help them with math or just a cool guy to play some games with.  It would definitely be great to have awesome programs, but the relationships that can be built are crucial.  Some of these children don’t have any constants in life, so for as long as I can, I’d like to be there for them.

            These goals really relate to the coursework at Loras because they focus on relationship, and relationship not only with myself, but with the children and the community.

 Means to the goals. What will you be doing to help you reach your goals?

            In order to reach my goal, I need to be at the MFC at the times I have set.  Though it is only Wednesday and Friday, if I’m consistently at the center on those two days, I will set a pattern that the kids will hopefully get to know.

 Assessments.  How do I know whether or not I met my goals?  How close did I come?

            In order to assess this goal, all I’ll have to do is go to the MFC and when the children come they just have to smile when they see me.  That will be the measure of my goal.

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Trying to be there and make somewhat of a change to just a few of the kids is a pretty high goal when I'm balancing the work of school and a job.  I, at first, thought this would be a piece of cake until the semester dragged on.  It did become more difficult to go to the center, but when I did, it was great.  A number of the kids have gotten to know me by name just from my being there.  And I've learned that there is so much potential in the kids that come to the MFC.  Most of them are very hard-working and very bright.  Some just need some consistency in order for them to be able to use their full potential.  Therefore, just making myself noticed by some of the kids is one big point that I wanted to point out that I accomplished in my learning plan.  Just getting a hug from one of the kids as she ran into the building proved to me that I, at the very least, accomplished that part.

As far as planning other activities and events, I don't think I quite lived up to my own standards.  In the beginning, I planned on really making a presence down there, but school and work sort of put a halt to devoting too much time down there.  However, though I didn't get to do it as often as I would have liked, we did get some activities planned.  There was a man that came down there that was a middle school teacher that had some ideas that we could do with the kids for activities, and I did partake in that.  We had a day where we made certain shapes out of some homemade play-doh and a few other fun little activities that kept the younger kids involved.

Overall, I think I did an OK job at providing service, but what did I learn in return?  Actually, I learned quite a bit.  Just learning about the potential in the depths of Dubuque, Iowa, really showed me that this world has  a lot to offer.  There are many young children with many talents, but sometimes they do not have the support that they need to use these talents.  I now think about how many people in this world didn't get the chance to share what God gave them.  I know that there is no way that I can make a huge impact on this, but I do know that I would like to help people use their talents, especially those within my family, because family is very important, and I've learned that a healthy life usually starts in the home.

Change

Change and communities.  It seems that some people are very welcome to change, however, there are many that fear change will change their lives for the worse.  In some cases, change is necessary to resolve community issues, while other times change is not necessary at all.  But no matter what, change is necessary to help us grow.  If we are so closed-minded to change, we become complacent.  We become content with what we are and what we have and do, and the same is true for communities.  If communities do not change, they stop growing, not in size, but in acceptance and understanding.

I have learned that it is difficult for communities to change.  Some communities have a hard time accepting new people into their neighborhoods, while other communities have a hard time accepting new ideas.  From what I've heard from some people at the MFC, I have come to understand that some people are very critical of it.  They do not like the idea of it, nor do they like the fact that there are a lot of kids there after school.  That is just one small community.  Look at this nation.  After the election of President-elect Obama, some of this country is not ready to accept him.  I recently read that some hate crimes are up in some parts of the country.  How do we change this?  How can we make people understand that change is sometimes necessary in order for growth?

The answer:  I don't know.  If I did, I'd be a Nobel Peace Prize winner.  I would make headlines across the world, and peace would reign.  However, I do know one thing, it takes a lot of time, patience, and effort to make even a small group change.  It's just human nature.  We all want to have our own ideas included, and not everyone agrees with our own beliefs.  This, if not treated in a fair manner, can lead to disruption and war.  If we can at least change or negotiate with others so that both parties or all the parties are satisfied with the results, then everyone will be content.  However, it seems that with the way things are today, it is nearly impossible for all parties to agree on a compromise because each group always thinks that they get the short end of the deal.

I believe that an "invisible" person much like the narrator in Invisible Man has the opportunity to initiate change.  I believe a person can do that through example.  That example, over time, will spread.  It will first start with family members, then to friends, then to coworkers, then to more and more people.  This change will not be immediate, it will not happen right away, but it will spread.  For it is not the big deeds that make change, but all the small ones.

Stories to be told

I have learned that there are many stories to be told by all of the children and families that take part in the Multicultural Family Center.  Just last week when I was helping with the Halloween party, I couldn't help to take myself away from the noise and just sit there...sit there thinking about these wonderful kids...each with a great story...and each with hope for the future.  Most of these children do not have much, and when we place food in front of them, they just go to town on it.  Some of them seem to lack some of the essentials in life...food and sometimes love.  I think because I see that a few of the children yearn for attention.

All of this makes me think of their stories--where they came from, what their situation is now, and what kind of possibilities these children have in store for the future.  Do they have the same opportunities as me?  This is a crude question, but I feel that some of these children are in very tough situations to grow.  Though there are some children that will definitely flourish from their experiences at this young age, I cannot help but place my attention to those that seem in need.

These stories need to be told because they are the foundation of many people that may struggle in society.  Some people look down on people of lower class that may not have the opportunity to work hard, or work really hard and aren't compensated for it.  And it is the latter story that needs to be told.  People need to know that there are a lot of people in this world who work very hard and do not get the time to spend with their family because they are trying to simply allow their family to live.  I think this story is of the utmost importance, especially in this society where some people get everything and don't work a darn for it...it pisses me off (excuse my language, but I feel very strongly about this) when I see this.  And this is what I think Nussbaum is trying to say.  She knows that a well-informed society is a society that understands, and if one can understand the circumstances of many people, that person is no longer ignorant.  If a whole society can understand the circumstances of the many people who suffer, that society is no longer ignorant.  Understanding is living well.

Service Update

Thus far, I have completed approximately 26.5 hours of service at the Multicultural Family Center in Dubuque as well as contributed in a city-wide winterization project. Overall, I believe I have learned quite a bit in my contributions. Though I am only at the center twice a week, it is refreshing to have a couple kids literally jump up on you in excitement just because you're there today. Though, it's not all fun and games.

Last Wednesday in particular, we had a different group of kids that were very disrespectful and did not listen to anyone. They would not listen to any elders and would roughhouse, use foul language, and just be plain right disrespectful to us and others. To me, I have no problem disciplining kids that are relatives of mine, but it is very difficult to me to really use so "force" to discipline these kids that I don't know or have only known for a short period of time. Sometimes I don't feel like it is my place because this disciplining is usually taught in the home.

Through that, it really makes me wonder what homelife is for some of these kids. A child may come in with snot dried up all over their face or is really young and just walking out in the town by themselves or with a slightly older sibling or cousin. It really makes me wonder...these parents are working so hard to give these kids the materials they need, but some of the kids aren't getting the love they need.

Last night at our Halloween party, I was sitting and thought to myself (sometimes I think way too much) where these kids will be in ten years. I look at them and see so much potential, but will they be given the tools to use it? Will they have the opportunities to go to college or train for the career that they are capable of? Will they have to work too hard for their kids? All these questions and more run through my mind, and I hope that these children get those opportunities, I hope they're in excellent positions, and I hope that they will have the time to really teach their children the basics of life. When these kids come from wherever and are absolutely starving when they get to the center, there is likely a deficiency somewhere.

Basically, my experience in service up to this point shows that I have a lot to learn. There are deep issues that this society faces, and with an election coming up in a few days, it really makes me wonder if anyone can turn this society around. The people that oppose helping these people are still afraid of a socialist society, and the people that want to help struggle to figure out what will help the most. There is no simple way out of where we currently are. There is much to be learned.

Catholicism

I have gone to a Catholic school all of my life. I am not "extremely" Catholic, and I try to question my faith in as constructive ways as possible--for a scientist that is. There are many things that I don't--and won't ever--understand because that's just the way things are. However, being part of a "Catholic" community has taught me a few things about people.

Now I never like to make generalizations about groups of people, but I think it is easier to describe what I've learned by doing so. I have learned that there are about four types of people.

One, the person who is overly faithful and believes that everyone should share the same faith.

Two, the person who has a strong faith, but understands that there are many religions, and that there is no proof that any one person is right or wrong.

Three, the person that has no preference but understands that there is something out there that is greater than us.

And four, the person who just doesn't care at all (in all honesty, there really aren't too many of these people, so I won't go into it).

So I'm going to admit that the first type is quite annoying to me. With my experience with people of many faith traditions, I simply cannot hold that view or agree that it is valid. You can't tell me that God will throw me into hell for supporting immigrants in the United States (as one man held a sign that said this up in Postville). I hate to have a Star Wars quote in here, but Yoda said that, "Only the sith deal in the absolute." And by sith, he meant the evil and selfish. And that is true, if a person is so focused on him or herself being right, only conflict will come out of that.

I personally like the second person. They are focused and seem to have a clear goal in life, but they still understand the world--or I guess they simply understand that the world cannot be understood. They believe that no one person is right, but if you live by a good set of morals, then you are living a good life (the third person is also quite similar). However, as soon as one mentions the word "morals," the discussion of religion and where morals come from now comes into play.

All-in-all, I guess there are two types of people that I discussed. Those that deal in the absolute, and those that try to understand. And these two are like oil and water, they don't go together. It seems that if you get two of these people in a room to discuss something, nothing gets accomplished and tempers flair. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but it would be better if we could all come to somewhat of an understanding.

So all this blabber that I just said gets me to this, I've had a lot of interesting conversations in my time at Loras College. I cannot say that Loras being a Catholic institution had anything to do with it, but I've had many--some had me up till three in the morning intrigued by the way other people view the world. I think it is awesome to share a great conversation with other people. It is a way to get to know how humanity works.

I do know one thing, though, I've never had to pull out a Dorothy Day quote or reference. It seems that when dealing with "backing up" your religion, I think it takes a personal understanding. You do have to know a bit about your religion, but you must be able to understand the view of the person you are conversing with. That is the key to what I've learn at Loras--UNDERSTAND, EVEN IF IT'S SIMPLY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DO NOT KNOW.

Politics

When I first see the word "politics," I first think of a bunch of old men and women jabbering on about a ton of money, yet they know absolutely nothing except how to get elected. Heck, I know (and I'm not trying to be arrogant) that a few well-educated people could run this country a lot better than a bunch of old men and women that make way too much money.

Anyhow, what really comes to mind is basically everything. Everything from the little interactions with managers at work to people who try to please professors by being afraid to comment on something they do not think is right. Too many times, I see someone try to suck up to someone else and completely lose theirselves. Politics, to me, seems to ruin people--it makes people lose their true selves if they are not strong willed. And the thing is, politics is everywhere. How do you think a building is built? First, you've got to go through all the rules and regulations that other people came up with. Recently in the news, I have read that soon, all taxis in New York and a few other towns must be hybird vehicles. The problem is that these vehicles are shorter than the current Crown Victorias. There is also a federal mandate that requires all taxis to have a bulletproof barrier between the passenger compartment and the driver. Now, this means there is a safety issue: there is a very stiff material that is close to a passenger. Thus, the passenger will strike this unforgiving material in the event of an accident. Engineers have been warning the federal government of such an issue, but the mandate continues--thus the engineers are left without a solution yet, and taxi drivers will end up paying tons of money to meet the mandates. BASICALLY, a lot of politics is costing tons of money (because people who know nothing about cars aren't listening to the engineers who build the cars), and they are wasting tons of time. Therefore, I say POLITICS=WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY. Simply put.

Now enough of my own jabbering about what I think about politics. When I'm down at the Multicultural Family Center (MFC), I find myself thinking about safety. Last Wednesday, we took the kids to the playground at Prescott elementary school, and I worried about safety a lot. White Street is a very busy street, and these kids can be wild. It is hard to control many of them, so I feared that if one of them were to get hit by a vehicle, my tail would be sued. That is what type of politics is instilled in my brain, it seems to inhibit my judgement at times. Nonetheless, I had a blast. It just seems that I want to make sure that everyone is safe, and everyone follows the rules. That way, no one can ever say something poorly about the MFC.

Also, this Wednesday, we were cleaning up for the day, and one of the ladies that works there was cleaning up outside when she came in and said that some guy was getting all cranky about the sidewalk chalk that was a block away from his house. You've got to be kidding me! This guy is ridiculous. It is sad that people have the right to complain about such negligible matters. It's sidewalk chalk for heaven's sake. It'll wash off in the rain, and it is simply a few energitic kids having fun. We later found out that this gentleman is not very accepting of other races, and he complains a lot about the kids that come from the MFC. I've been working with these kids for a few weeks now, and I know that they are sometimes overly energetic, or sometimes they leave a bit of a mess behind, but they would never try to do anything that would upset someone. I just think it was a ridiculous situation. And again, politics caused much of the roots of this. Though the link may be difficult to follow.

Overall, I personally am sick of all the situations where politics comes to mind (especially during a political season). It makes me so mad when I see people who do not even consider the side of others. But anyhow, I could ramble on for hours about my disgust with politics and how it complicates everything.

Service Projects

First of all, I'd like to talk about my service at the Multicultural Family Center thus far. It is a wonderful time when I get down there. I arrive, and the kids that come on a regular basis recognize me and seem to take a liking to me. They have TONS of energy, and they can wear you out or get a little loud. All-in-all, its a great opportunity to be a part of their lives.

Basically, my job is just being down there and helping out. When things get busy, there can be a lot of kids packed into a tiny building. Wednesday, with the beautiful weather, we took the kids over to the Prescott playground where they all had a great time. We were hanging on the monkey bars, playing basketball, and just messing around having a grand ole time. It brought back good feelings of childhood. But the great thing is how the kids enjoy it as well. I know that many of them don't have an older person to play these games with them. I think it allows them to enjoy it more when others join them. Plus, I had a lot of fun helping them have fun.

As far as our group service project goes, I think we're headed down the right path. Once we gather all the relevent information that we need about the happenings in the Washington Neighborhood and the Bee Branch line, things will start to fall into place. Getting a hold of the city's information was crucial, and with information from actual city council members, we are well on our way to getting the information we need. So long as the others get the call to the people for the oral history, we'll definitely accomplish our goals.

In general, things are going pretty well. As for myself, I'm enjoying the work at the MFC, and as a class, we're moving right along on our data gathering. It was a slow start on both projects, but I think that once we get going on these things, everything will fall into place just right, and rightly so.