Site Reflections

Posted on 07/06/2010 @ 01:01 PM

Impact: Boston

Greater Waltham Arc (GWArc- People First)

"During my time at GWArc, I had the amazing opportunity to spend one-on-one time with the consumers and truly get to know who they are. From joking around with them to learning about serious topics, the bonds I’ve formed with the consumers at GWArc will be with me forever. One of my favorite parts of my experience was when one of the consumers expressed to me how much he appreciated our group being at the organization and spending time with him. I’ll never forget this experience and am so grateful I was able to be a part of such a wonderful cause."

Robyn Croft, Bellaire, TX

"GWArc has had a really huge impact on me and I will never forget this amazing experience...We learned about People First language and how we shouldn't just say mute or blind but instead say a person who can't speak or hear. This is really important because it is respectful. They are people too. They have emotions and they are aware of their surroundings."

Raphaela Kramer, Pittsfield, MA

"People First has really made me look at many things in different ways. Like how to treat a person with a mental disability. . .I now know that people like Stephen (my partner at the site) can be just a interesting as anyone else you know. This experience will change me for life."

Jeremy Samarel, Charlotte, NC

WCI (Work, Community, Independence)

This week at WCI, the teens were hard at work on their creative information boards. They painted one large canvas along with individuals in the Social Skills/Art Initiative program, and collaged a smaller bulletin board with the individuals in the higher-need Life Skills program. Additionally, we paid a visit to the office of Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) to advocate for continued public funding to organizations like WCI. All of the teens were able to spend a few minutes with one of Senator Brown's aides, and they valued the opportunity to make their voices heard.

Youth Force

“In order to raise awareness and promote our campaign for youth jobs, we went out into the Dorchester area and knocked on people’s doors asking them to vote in the upcoming election for governor. We helped convince citizens to vote in the election and reminded them when the election takes place. In downtown Boston and Boston commons, we went around handing out flyers and informing people of our campaign. Since Scott Brown is against funding for youth jobs, we tried to get people to call his office and attend the rally to gain support. To end off our time with the Youth Force teens, we went down to City Hall and participated in a rally to try to convince the city council to include funding for youth jobs in their budget for the city. We also sat in on the city council’s final vote for Boston’s budget and listened to the issues being brought up. By us participating in the rally, we raised attention to show that we care about youth jobs and that
our campaign is important.”

Sami Beatty, Centennial CO

“Through Youth Force we have helped make an impact in the Greater Boston area, we have learned skills to bring back home to make an impact on our own communities, and just as importantly, we have built relationships with the youth force teens, making an impact on ourselves. We went into Youth Force with assumptions and not really understanding the importance of their cause, but we learned they are teens just like us who trained us in community organizing. We learned about each others’ lives through heart-to-hearts and we connected with them on multiple levels. We contributed what we could to their campaign, but they have given us so much more. They showed us their community and how important it is to be involved and make changes to better it. We learned all about their campaign for youth jobs, but we learned on a personal level why it is so necessary. As much as we have gotten out of our experiences within the community, we have gotten so much more out of the friendships we have grown with each other.”

Rachel Beiser, Potomac, MD

Spare Change News

“We learned that ignorance about homelessness is just as big of an issue as homelessness itself."

Dylan Weil, Lyndhurst, OH

“Too many times do we pass people on our way to work or school who are begging for any amount of spare change without even stopping to say “good morning.” But who would have ever guessed that Mr. Important Businessman is one paycheck away from losing his house? Or that Ms. Dirty Dorris who wears ragged clothing every day is really much happier by purchasing clothes with her million dollar inheritance to donate to those less fortunate? A homeless person has no specific gender, race, or look. It is impossible to tell a person’s social or economic status by the clothes they wear or the people with whom they associate. Everything is, truly, not what it seems."

Shira Solomon, Cherry Hill, NJ

“All people should be respected and treated fairly without regard to one’s socioeconomic status. I’ve heard stories of kind people being kicked out of a restaurant or not allowed to use the restrooms because they were not the venue’s target clientele. Homeless people walk with a lot of weight on their shoulders figuratively and literally. . . Homeless people lead hard, brutal lives,and are often more likely to smile at another homeless person or offer some words of wisdom than the average businessman who I see disrespect or completely ignore other people. Where has the world’s compassion gone?”

Jaclyn Turner, Atlanta, GA

"There is no one look for homelessness. Homelessness is not as easy to spot as a neon t-shirt-- it camouflages itself differently on each of its victims. “

Claire Nuchtern, Houston, TX

“I no longer walk past homeless people and turn the other way out of fear, discomfort or content. Rather, I stop and spare some change for the less fortunate; but more importantly, I share a smile and some words of comfort. I now know that in addition to providing a good source of protein and nutrition, a package of peanut butter crackers for under two dollars at CVS can make a homeless man’s day.” Jori Epstein, Dallas, TX

Impact: Boston Video

Posted on 06/30/2010 @ 11:38 AM

Impact: Boston

Each week we will be creating a video for you to get a glimpse into the participants' experiences at Impact: Boston. Check out this week's video to learn about the project sites, the work the participants are doing, and what Impact: Boston is all about.

Shabbat at Impact: Boston

Posted on 06/30/2010 @ 11:06 AM

Impact: Boston

We had the wonderful opportunity to share our first Impact: Boston Shabbat together.

We all went into Shabbat keeping in mind that we were trying to create a comfortable environment for everyone's religious practices; we focused on sharing and learning from how others choose to celebrate Shabbat while teaching our friends about our own practices.

The participants were in charge of planning the different parts of Shabbat:

- Setting the atmosphere - Friday night services - Saturday morning services - Havdallah

Our atmosphere committee used the theme "the Lion King" to set a tone that recognizes the interconnectedness of life. For Friday evening and Saturday morning services, our teens planned and led traditional and non-traditional service option. Havdallah's theme was sweetness and recognizing diversity in the world, which gave us all great perspective about the coming week.

Over the 25 hour period, we learned from each other, bonded with each other and got some much needed relaxation after a week of very hard physical and/or emotional work.

We are already looking forward to and planning our next (and last) Shabbat together.

Making Connections

Posted on 06/30/2010 @ 10:59 AM

Impact: Boston

Connections are our way of creating a live conversation between the work we are doing and the values that guide that work. The connection sessions are an opportunity for the site groups to process their experiences on site as well as view it through the lens of Jewish texts.

Connections 1

This session focused on the idea of holiness. Participants were asked if they thought their work here at Impact Boston was holy work, and in what ways they can help others and learn from the people they will meet at their site. Many participants noted that they see service as an opportunity to both give and receive -- they dedicate their time to their site, but they recognize that the individuals they are meeting are going to be teaching them a lot as well.

Connections 2

During Connections 2, participants explored various "Visions of a Just Society." After perusing several Jewish texts, they were able to think about the gap between the just society prescribed by the Torah and the realities of society. They examined the ways in which non-profits aim to close this gap and most importantly and began to reflect on their initial experiences at their Partner Sites.

Connections 3

Connections 3 was entitled "Honoring the Dignity of Other People," and participants discussed how learning people's stories affirms their dignity and humanity and raises service to a higher level. They explored their relationships with individuals in varying socioeconomic classes through a personal storytelling exercise, and committed to gathering stories from different kinds of people on and off the Brandeis campus during the rest of Impact: Boston.

Getting to Know the Sites

Posted on 06/30/2010 @ 10:40 AM

Impact: Boston

Greater Waltham Arc (GWArc)

GWArc's mission is to serve people with developmental disabilities and their families, utilizing a person-centered, whole life planning approach. They provide quality, flexible programs and services that maximize independence, foster inclusion and build community connections. GWArc's programs are based upon self-determination, sound teaching practices and the latest technology. Participants are focusing on "People First Language," a campaign in which they are working with GWArc's consumers to learn about they like to be addressed in order to maximize the respect for them in society.

Work, Community, Independence (WCI)

WCI (Work, Community, Independence) provides housing, day support, and employment to individuals with a wide range of developmental disabilities. We'll be working alongside the individuals in three of the day support programs (Life Skills, Deaf Supports, and Social Supports/Art Initiative) to create information boards for display at WCI. Participants will interview individuals and staff, and paint/add sensory elements to a large cork board in order to describe "Who We Are and What We Do" at WCI. For more information on WCI, visit their website.

Waltham Fields Community Farms By Lara Schewitz, Charlotte, NC

Waltham Fields mission statement is: "Waltham Fields Community Farm (WFCF) promotes local agriculture through growing and distribution practices that are socially, ecologically, and economically sustainable. We forge relationships between people, their food supply, and the land from which it grows."

Here at Impact Boston 2010, we are working in the educational garden, performing maintenance work that will enhance the experience of the wide variety of program participants that visit the farm. We are learning more about the many components of nonprofit organizations and gaining tools that we can bring home to our communities. For more information about the farm, visit them on the web.

Waltham Police Department

Participants at this site are working with Officer June Conway of the Waltham Police Department in Community Policing. In addition to understanding how police work keeps our neighborhoods safe, we are working with Officer Conway to build a positive community in three of Waltham's housing projects. We will be organizing a summer fun day for the children at one of the sites and creating an art project at another. Along the way, we will learn about low-income housing and how government policies translate into real life for the developments' residents.

Youth Force

At Youth Force, we will be engaging with teens from Dorchester, MA (a neighborhood of Boston) in a series of community organizing trainings. The Youth Force teens have been working for 2 years on a campaign trying to garner support for youth jobs in the Greater Boston Area. We will be learning the skills of community organizing, along with doing some direct service. We will be helping the Youth Force teens proclaim to the Boston area how important youth jobs are. On Wednesday, we will be participating in a rally held by Youth Force. We are so excited about this adventure. For more information about Youth Force, visit their website.

City Mission Society of Boston

Our teens are working with the City Mission Society of Boston, whose mission is "Uniting Communities-- Transforming Individuals." CMS is the oldest multi-service agency in New England. They have been addressing the educational, economic and social needs of impoverished area residents since 1816. CMS provides opportunities for congregations and communities to engage in social action through three main programs: Homeless Prevention, Youth Peace Empowerment and Faith & Community Engagement. Our participants have been helping out in a number of ways, including cleaning up spaces that are used for homeless awareness programming and participating in peace empowerment training. For more information on CMS, visit them on the web

Horizons for Homeless Children

Horizons seeks to improve the lives of homeless children and their families. They provide homeless children with nurturing, stimulation and opportunities for early education and play that all children need to learn and grow in healthy ways. To improve the lives of the children they serve over the long-term, they connect their parents with the tools they need to achieve social and economic self-sufficiency. They provide leadership in advocating for homeless children and their families through leveraging and sharing their expertise with others and advocating with policy makers and the public.

As part of the learning experience, our teens at Horizons are learning about the issue of homelessness with a focus on homeless children. They are learning about how work has to be done just to provide a safe environment where children of 0-6yrs old can still develop accordingly: everything from fundraising to advocacy and recruitment of volunteers to cleaning toys. Already, many have been quite vocal about how little we, as a nation, know about the seriousness of the issue and how unstable funding can be in these current times. For more information on Horizons, visit their website.

Spare Change News

Spare Change News is a newspaper dedicated to helping the homeless help themselves. Since 1992, Spare Change News has been a forum for individuals experiencing homelessness to express themselves, obtain skills training in writing, and work towards becoming financially stable by selling newspapers. Participants at this site will be meeting with one of the co-founders of the paper, and spend some time in areas of Boston selling papers and breaking down assumptions of the homeless. Participants will also spend some time writing their own thoughts and articles for the paper. For more information on Spare Change News, visit them on the web.