Thankfulness

Today millions of Americans come together with family and friends and celebrate this day called Thanksgiving. This is my 27th year being a part of this world...today spending it with intention and meaning with my family. I think like most consumer driven American holidays, the meaning and history has been lost along the way, however, this one, for me, asks that I reflect on my life and the many blessings that I am truly thankful for. It does not require purchasing gifts, making resolutions, or asking for forgiveness....I do generally over eat the feast my parents usually provide, and am grateful for the over filled belly at the end of the day that requires a long nap on the couch. Holiday, celebration, genocide, or not, taking the time to be present and grateful for all the beauty in my life proves once again how amazing this world really is.

I woke up this morning with the typical Humboldt weather of cloudy overcast skies and the dear sun trying its hardest to find its way around the clouds. I decided my little garden in the front patio of my studio needed some attention, so I put on my work pants with holes in the knees, pulled on some boots and gloves, and started weeding the morning away. How much I love working my hands in the soil. I pulled the last of my summer flowers (dahlias) and turned the earth up before winter truly sets in. I made sure all my spring bulbs were in place and ready to poke their heads up with a season. I later stopped by to feed a friends cat, who anxiously awaited my arrival by nearly dashing out the front door, and then headed to my parent's house, where the beginnings of what was soon to be a meal to feed 15 but meant for 4 was taking place. Grandpa came to join us, and a conversation with my brother on the phone completed the family circle. We are not a family of traditions, nor of saying grace or thanks or what have you, but we laugh, share stories, and most defiantly tease each other. My late evening was spent dancing and laughing with a friend, to the tune of old classics. My day was full, complete, and satisfying.

Today was filled with so many of the things I am thankful for...family, friends, sunshine (sort of?), good food, wine, laughter, warm shelter, health, the earth and my little garden, music etc etc etc....today I thought of the world around me, of the millions of people who go without enough, and of the people who have suffered and had to give up something for me to be here, now. As the rain sleets down outside my thoughts go to those sleeping in unsheltered places, without full bellies, who go unnoticed and underserved, in this county and around the world. My heart goes to them as I am truly reminded how thankful to be for what I do have.

Confrim or Ignore?

I think Facebook has been both a blessing and the existence of my demise. Ever sense I started using Facebook I have struggled with the dilemma of confirming friend requests or ignoring them. There are the friend requests in which you thought you would never hear from again, and are eager to see what they have been up to, and those you wish you would never hear from again. Is it socially unacceptable to ignore a request? What if the chances of you running into them at the grocery store are high? What then? Although I’ve never been confronted for not accepting someone, there are the lingering requests that I’m just not sure what to do with that stay in my “request” box for days and weeks until I ultimately decide either to accept them out of guilt or obligation, and those that I somehow manage to justify to ignore. And there are the ones that send multiple requests after I managed to justify that I can’t remember that person well enough from high school to want to reconnect etc etc. Oh, and then there are those that I’ve accepted, who post non-stop, and am tempted to hide out of annoyance for their unnecessary updates.

Has this social networking just became another source of addiction and attempt at moving us (people) further and further away from real face to face contact? Well maybe I’m just made for this modern day technological way of communicating with people or something. Not to mention the corruption of personal information being distributed by Facebook to who knows who. And what about the pictures we all post? Where do they really go? It is kind of creepy to think that friends of friends of friends have access to snap shots of my life. And what about the people who frequent Facebook but never write anything, but then make some comment to you in person about a picture they saw of you.

Funny story is I’m logged onto Facebook right now as I write, and an old college buddy just posted how he is addicted to Facebook and has nothing better to do while visiting his parents then constantly is on it. Ha, just proves my point that social networking is weird. With that, there have been some benefits to my break down of socially influenced pressure to conform. I have appreciated the few friends I lost contact many years ago, who have reappeared in my life. But the question still is, do the benefits outweigh the coasts? Do I confirm or ignore?

Using Self in Community Practice

“When people see that you get things done, they line up behind you. D. Kessler (as cited in L. Thompson, 1990, p. 1)

I found it interesting the timing, delivery, and discussion that was shared in class a few weeks ago, which felt ironic to the group process and cohesion of the community within. A few weeks back now, we studied the chapter in our community practice book (Hardcastle and Powers, 1994) on using self in community practice and assertiveness. It was ironic in that the discussion/lecture on assertiveness followed a break though moment of communication and miscommunication amongst our class as a community. The aggressive and passive aggressive behaviors that were taking place surfaced to a peak of disequilibrium in which we could no longer ignore and attention was needed in moving forward from the past. Once this shift was achieved, the idea of the use of self (in the text as a social worker, but I think applies to all facets of life), became an interesting and important discussion to reflect on.

So often in my work as a social work intern, and in my work facilitating anger management groups with both teens and adults, the idea of aggressive, passive –aggressive, and assertiveness has come into play. As I grow both professionally and personally, this is the one area I have felt the most challenged in. Hardcastle and Powers (1994) may call this “expansion of self” and “becoming more mindful.” As I have told many of my clients, awareness is the first step in change, and I believe it can also apply here. Understanding our role, how we perceive ourselves, and others and how we choose to respond are important in practicing assertiveness. I think for most, and true for me, assertiveness is a learned behavior that takes time to perfect, and even so, is one of those skills that just never goes away from perfecting. I think another piece I’ve experienced in assertiveness in the work world is the idea of confidence in the work I’m doing, as well as the belief that I can make positive change (both in agency policy/politics, but also with the populations served). “Assertion is the act of standing up for one’s own basic human rights without violating the basic human rights of others” (Hardcastle and Powers, 1994, p. 218).

Our text also notes the importance of critical thought, self-examination, making judgments, and taking positive actions. From my experience, the type of relationship given greatly affects the depth and breadth of critical thought and assertiveness put into practice. For example, I use different skills when it comes to interacting with my family then I do with friends, classmates, co-workers, and so forth. How does my belief about these relationships change my behaviors? For me, it means understanding my strengths and limitations, in knowing my place, understanding and believing in my confidence, and my resilience toward resistance and conflict. As Hardcastle and Powers (1994) state, healthy assertiveness transmits to a sense of empowerment, personal power, advocacy, client (and self) self-determination, behavior modification, personal comfort, and ethics.
Hardcastle, D. & Powers, P. (1994). Community Practice. New York. Oxford University Press.

Prison as an Industrial Complex

For every inmate there is ...
a family left behind;
a potential job unfulfilled;
an impact upon our communities;
a life with little hope for a productive future.
It does not have to be this way.
Excerpt taken from: http://www.unicor.gov/information/publications/pdfs/corporate/catar2008.pdf

This weekend I took a workshop on Prison Industrial Complex. The following is a reflection I wrote following the dialog/video/guest speaks, and discussion had during the workshop.

I came to this workshop having some idea of our country’s prison system, of the disproportionately of people represented in the justice system, and of the corporatization of prison in our culture. Several years back now, I took a women’s studies class in my undergraduate course work in Arizona, and a component of the course was to visit an all women’s prison outside of Phoenix. Many of the topics discussed in our workshop were issues I had explored during my visit. I remember leaving the prison and thinking both what a rare opportunity to have a guided visit of this place was, and yet how strange and surreal the experience felt. It really did feel like the women were on display, especially the 4-5 women they pulled for us to interview. I remember thinking the same thing we discussed in the workshop, that if felt like we were visiting the zoo. The workshop furthered my understanding of comparing prison as a warehouse and as a cage for racism, sexism, homophobia, homelessness, poverty, mental health etc. The words “social junkyard” “security housing unit” “catch and release” and “waste management” were terms used during the workshop that had real affects to my understanding of the injustices prison and the justice system has on our society.

I remember we toured the highest security setting in this prison, and at the time I remember feeling scared of the experience. We went through several metal detectors, and screenings, and were asked to wear stab proof vests, as well as hold plastic shields. We walked through the halls in small groups of 2-3. I clearly remember the intimidation I felt as I walked down the hall. Women were yelling and screaming at as, holding their scar covered wrists up to the slotted windows in their doors, and sexually harassing us as we walked by. At the time, I was maybe twenty years old and probably didn’t think too much about the context of these women’s lives that would help explain their behaviors. Now, as a master’s graduate student in social work, and with more life/work/educational experience, I think I have a greater understanding for the complexity and depth that would/could make up the psychologies of the women incarcerated. Interested in women’s studies, and now focusing on clinical social work with women survivors of trauma, I think it’s important to take into perspective the historical trauma, sexualized violence, and issues of oppression women face, that represent the disproportionately and marginalization of women in the prison system. Although the workshop mentioned the increase in women being incarcerated, we didn’t discuss many the reason(s) for this increase, as well as discuss the core crimes women are being committing for. During my prison visit, I remember hearing from the women we interviewed that most of them were incarcerated for assisting their partners (men) in robbery/theft, usually for money or/and drugs. I’m wondering if this is true or still the case for women today.

I found the workshop discussion on the roots and history of our US prison system interesting and noteworthy in understating the prison as an industrial complex (PIC). Historic to slavery, white privilege, patriarchy, political values, economic growth opportunities, the war on drugs, and the prejudice that prevails in our culture, PIC’s exist because we allow it to. The criminalization and disproportionately exhibited in our workshop touched upon the social issues of race, class, unemployment, low education, gender inequality, poverty, mental illness, abuse history, and substance abuse. One area I hadn’t really thought too much about was the culture and union of the prison guards themselves. The correctional communities that are built and the effects they have on their families and community at large.

Not suspiring to learn that the United States is the leading country for use of imprisonment to deal with crime. Thus prison as an industry or industrial complex is also not surprising. We live in a consumer, for profit society. Any help to increase economic stimulus, exploit natural resources, exacerbate political agendas, increase shock value through the media, “control” cultural and social norms, and perpetuate militaristic views seems at the core of the United States values and ethics when it comes to crime and punishment. The interview with the incarcerated women lead itself to talk about the “work” opportunity’s for “good” behavior allowed while in prison, sponsored I’m sure by some corporate agenda. We also discussed the meals and nutrition provided in prison, which at the time shed light to the corporatization and privation of prison for profit. We live in a culture based on punitive punishment rather than rehabilitation. We need the immediate “fix” rather than develop preventative measures.

Of all the field trips and discussion had during my educational journey, the visit to the prison outside of Phoenix seems to be so clear and vivid in my memory. Why is that I wonder? My guess is because of the realization from an early age of the injustices and inhumanity our county values. In my last year as a graduate student, I reflect on the impacts the justice/criminal and prison system have on me as a social worker. Often working and viewing the world from an ecological and systems perspective, I see that the prison system greatly impacts everyone. I think about the last few years working in the social service field, and thinking about the many encounters I witnessed while working with people in my direct community that have been greatly affected by the prison/justice system. I wonder if this awareness is simply enough in providing the greatest empathy and understanding? Or is more action necessary?

Dominate Culture as a Culture of Violence

A Mother’s Kinaaldà Prayer
The child, a sacred being
whom we have been entrusted with
now herself is Changing Woman
The years of my journey on Earth Mother
to nurture her, she now begins as a woman
as I speak to the Holy Ones, I am centered
my thoughts are focused, well organized,
good thoughts for her coming of age as
She welcomes the change in her body, mind and
spirit
as she evolves into a flower of blossom for the
world to witness, behold, and honor,
she will carry her clanship into eternity
Be it her essence as she glories in the yearning
in her being, as she begins to see the universe in
a
different light, she walks lightly and gently as
not to disturb the beauty of life, the kindred spirit
she feels for her relatives of all walks, the creatures….
Now, at this time, she feels the core of who
she is, the spirit of the fire, the spirit of the water,
the spirit of the air, and she is the heartbeat of
the Earth Mother, they are one
We join her to embrace ourselves
she has always belonged, not to us,
but to the Way of Life, she is blessed
by the ancestral spirits,
the chants have beckoned them
And someday, she will be prepared and
when she is ready, in maturation, she, too,
will bring forth sacred beings to cherish
She will continue the Way of Life
-Shea Good luck


Tonight I went to a video screening and discussion of a film documentary: Listen to the Grandmothers, sponsored by The Humboldt County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, Two Feathers Native American Family Services and Ink People Center for the Arts, and supported by Humboldt Domestic Violence Services and North Coast Rape Crisis. The video was created to help share the lessons and stories of elders as well as too help tribal governments and communities improve their support system and ground their methods and techniques of supporting and protecting women in their cultural traditions by better understanding violence against Native Women, from both traditional responses to violence as well as a cultural perspective. The video supported the response and awareness needed for survivors, advocates, tribal leaders, elders, health care workers, law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges.

It is something in our blood
It is something in our song
It is something in our soul
That makes Native Women strong
-Jayci Malone, Stockbridge,-Munsee Band of Mohicans

-Calvin Morrisseau, Ojibwe
(Anderson 2000)

For me, the film was a great reminder of women’s strength and wisdom, and that somewhere along the way, the value and respect women had has been lost. What happened to the “sacred woman?” It reminded me of the strength and importance women carry in raising a family, and how that role and those values seem to be lost. The video mentioned a few ways in which the value of women as the leaders of their communities has shifted. Reflections of this shift are due in part to both colonialism and the Native boarding school era. The genocide and oppression Natives have experienced has not only reminded me of the need of cultural values to be honored and remembered, but it has also shifted my awareness of the change in people’s relationship to alcohol, drugs, domestic violence, child abuse, mortality, depression, and suicide (this list is not exhausted by all means). Violence has real affects on the lives of children and their children’s children, and what does keeping them safe really mean? Something that was powerful for me in the video was something along the lines of hands and bodies are sacred, and were not mean to be violent. How can we as people, be responsible for our actions? How can we instill equality for women, men, and children?

“Many of the practices from the past cannot address current problems. However,
if the values attached to those practices could be reclaimed and new practices
built upon them, then it could work. For example, if the value of respect for elders
could be taught to young people in effective ways, then the knowledge of the elders
could inform youthful behavior in ways which would be acceptable to both.”
-Joan Ryan (1995)
Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at the University of Calgary and
Senior researcher with the Arctic Institute of North America


The poem, quotes, and some of the information regarding this entry come from the following source:http://www.tribal-institute.org/download/Listen_to_Grandmothers_Video_Guide_%20June08.pdf

Community Organizing

"Raindrops are quite small, you know, but when enough of them gather, they just might change your day." Raindrops~Lama Drimed

As I sit in my community work course every week, and read the text from our “Community Practice” book I question what it really means to do community work. Thus far our course assignments and class discussions have only given me a very small glimpse of ways in which to see or do community activism, mostly which consist of cyber assignments. I am still seeking tangible or relevant examples of what community work looks like in my own community, or further developing my practical skills in application of community organizing. As my classmates bantered back in forth in class last week on how to go about organizing and uploading a class assignment of adding a class definition to Wikipedia, it downed on me that my course work in my undergraduate degree provided me with exactly what I felt had been missing in this course. I instantly reflected back on my own experiences of what I think a piece of community work could look like. For my senior project in my undergraduate studies, I organized a Take Back the Night rally and candle light vigil for my community of Prescott, Az. As I thought about the achievement I had accomplished many years ago, I slowly began to remember all the pieces that came together to organize this event. Although my experience of community work is not reflective or representational of an agency, or organization, nor of service delivery or client contact, it was providing a voice to often silent experiences of discrimination and oppression.

In order to graduate, we are asked to design a senior project that demonstrated our depth, understanding, and proficiency in our chosen field of study. I had designed my own competency studies in human development with an emphasis in gender studies, and I knew I wanted a hands-on project that would involve and give back to my community. I remember brain-storming with my faculty advisor, and came up with the idea to bridge my interests in gender studies with a community outreach project. A take Back the Night event used to take place in Prescott many years prior, but no one had continued to organize this event. Fortunately during the same semester that I was putting together my senior project, I was also taking a Women’s Psychology course taught by my advisor. We decided that one of the course assignments would be to help me organize this project. I facilitated tasks that I needed assistance in making this project happen, and worked with my classmates in getting them done. I put together student committees to help me, which included: getting food donations for a reception after the event, deigning and printing t-shirt logo, gathering musicians and speakers, organizing the candle light vigil and ceremony at the end, and assisting in flyer distribution and advertisement.

I saw a need to bring awareness to the community about violence and oppression against women. I began to gather information and research what other communities have done to organize this kind of event, as well as researching issues and work done around violence, and sexualized violence against women and children. I also began to build a resources list of community partners that may be interested in supporting the event, or by tabling a booth to represent their resources/services in the community. I made phone calls, sent out letters, met with individuals, and held a community meeting to discuss ideas and concerns. The main concern that came up in one of the meetings was providing support services for individuals who attend the event and may experience triggering events or thoughts of their own experiences surrounding sexualized violence. Counselors at school and community providers offered to be available if needed.

I remember that I also put together a small grant proposal to the student union counsel at my school requesting funding for my project, which was granted. I had a vision to make t-shirts for the event, and to sell them and donate the profits to the local domestic violence shelter as another way to give back to the community. In the end, I was able to donate over $500 to the shelter.

As the keynote speaker, musicians, poets, etc came together, other logistical and safety considerations that were brought to my attention. I needed to obtain and pay for a permit to hold the vent on our town square, and I also need to notify law enforcement.Eventually it all came together, and the vent took place late April.

Part of my intention and goal for this senior project, besides bringing more awareness around issues of violence, was to produce a binder of resources and how-to’s on putting on this event that I could leave with the school after I graduated, in hopes that other students or classes would take on this project annually.As far as I know, the Psychology of Women's course now organizes this event annually.