Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Post 1c: Experience at VOA
If responding to this post, please provide some reflective comments on your first visit to VOA. What stood out to you? What surprised you? What material that we have read so far and/or discussed resonated with you in thinking about your experience? What are you hoping to learn as a result of this experience?
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11 comments:
I feel like the VOA is doing some amazing work for these families. I was surprised at how easily the lady we spoke with was willing to share her story. I wouldn't expect someone to share that much with a group of strangers. I know that whatever project we do there will help out so much. There isn't a very homey feeling to the building, and I know we can come up with some inexpensive ways to help with that. The readings that we have had, have been helping to remind me of what I should be doing in the classroom. A lot of times I feel like because my school doesn't have ethnic diversity we don't need to focus so much on multicultural issues. But I know that's wrong and I'm going to work on that for next year. I'm also excited about trying to help get the parents of our students more involved at the school. That is something that we don't have a lot of and I think it hurts our school community. Amanda
I agree with Amanda that the VOA seems to be doing a great service to Louisville. I was impressed with how friendly the staff seemed and how clean the environment was kept.
I hope we get the chance to talk more to the residents of VOA. Sylvia seemed thankful for a place like this to go, and I wonder what are some of the others' attitudes. Are they resentful that life hasn't turned out the way they planned? Do they view this as just a resting stop on the path in life? Is there hope that things will get better soon and, if so, how is VOA providing that hope?
I am glad that we have the opportunity to improve the physical well-being of VOA, and I am curious to see what programs are in place for the emotional and financial well-being of the residents, as well. These, of course, are much harder for us to address, especially in the period of time we have. I would be interested to find out more about the other aspects of VOA, too.
Although I had been to VOA several times before, I have never been able to interact with the residents on a one-on-one basis. It is really a unique shelter in that the whole family is able to stay together. I feel like we were welcome there and I value the opportunity to share in this life experience. I believe in the education of the whole person- mind, body and spirit. By taking our class out into a real life situation, our discussions and readings are much more poignant. Learning should not be separated from life. We could call this education by immersion. As we continue to meet there, I will be reflecting on my first experience with service-learning so that when I have the opportunity to introduce this to students I will be able to relate to the questions and concerns they may have. A shelter such as this is a great setting for teachers because we see the individuals there free from all material trappings. "What you see is what you get." I think we have a tendency to make decisions about people based on how they dress or what they drive. As I listened to Sylvia talk, I was impressed by her intelligence and ease in communicating. I look forward to building a relationship with the residents there and hope to be able to return their hospitality in some way.
I was shocked to find out that they were only helping 11 families. I felt like they would be more beneficial to the community if they could help more families. I felt like they were doing a wonderful thing and even thought that it would be something that my community could use. The reading have helped me to better understand and not be judgmental of where these families are. It make me realize just how much we take for granted the things that we have. I have realized that my community doesn't really know how to deal with the needs of our students and the diversity that we are faced with even if it is not a racial difference but a cultural difference of how the families live. I also realized just how much the area doesn't want to help the students that are stuck in situations that cause them to have to move homes but they can't stay in a consistent place for school. I think that our visit to VOA opened my eyes to the fact that these students need the consistent things more than anything else.
I too have been to VOA before. I am always happy to see new things being done to the place for the families. I, like Sylvia, was surprised to see that they allow the community room to be a smoke room as well. If it is a community room where everyone can go and feel at home why would they allow smoking in there? I wish in the future that they can resolve that problem. It has been an okay experience and I am sure as time goes by and we actually leave VOA having accomplished something it will be an awesome experience. It was a great idea for us to ask the residents what they wanted added or changed being that it will affect them first hand. The readings have made me aware of what more we can do at my school, which is located in the south end and has a high ratio of cultural diversity. We can never do too much and I will surely be sharing these ideas with my adminstration come August so they too can see that we need to do more for our immigrant families.
Afer visiting VOA, the thing that stood out the most to me is that there is a group of people in this world that are almost invisible except at Christmas and Thanksgiving--homeless families. When I was growing up, the homeless guy was just that--a guy who got put out of his house because he drank too much and didn't want to work. To realize that there are so many children that are homeless goes against everything that my mind was conditioned to believe homelessness was and truly is. A lot of times, when people are homeless, we believe that it is their fault. As Adam pointed out in the first class meeting, most of us are closer to that reality than we think. That is truly a scary thought. What I hope to take from this experience is something that I read in the text from one of the case studies. I want my education to be about more than just getting a good job. I want my education to be about making a difference in the lives of someone besides myself.
The experience has been an overwhelming one to me and one where I question myself and my own bias that I may carry into my own classroom. The first thing when we walked into the shelter was the unfriendly hallways, the questioning glances of some of the residents, and the smell. Yes the smell of bugspray and disinfectant. I hate to think that my students or anyone of our students may come from a shelter or close enough to living in one..The other demon I am fighting is that of "pulling yourself up by your bootstraps" mentality. I did-why can't you.. I also reflected on my experiences and realize that I still have the mentality that all students come from the nuclear family or close enough to one that they can still learn. I know that isn't the case and I agree with Mary Ann when she says that often we judge others by what they wear,etc. and by working at the shelter these next weeks we know that "what you see is what you get" will be the order of business. And by being in the shelter and trying to make things a little nicer for the residents,the readings become more real and more meaningful.
I am surprised to learn that the shelter only serves 11 families but at least it is the whole family. So often the students come to us split apart and traumatized. I couldn't imagine being split from my children! This experience has shown me to be more sensitive to the diversity of my students backgrounds-that diversity doesn't necesarily mean black, white, hispanic, but there are all kinds of backgrounds and experinces our students bring to us everyday. Build on that and help them to be comfortable in "their own skin" and help them define success-not in our eyes but their own definition. But make sure that we set the bar high and don't give into or pity those that are less fortunate. Being a volunteer in this shelter for the next few weeks is going to be worthwhile and I want to make sure it continues somehow either in my community.
Sorry didn't finish my sentence- I want this experience to continue either in my community or here and maybe let my students become involved.
I can ditto a few of the comments that others have posted about VOA. I was overwhelmed at how respectful everyone was to each other and to us….allowing us to peak into their lives. It is amazing that there is on 11 families living at VOA. I was also impressed that the whole family can stay there. What a testament that the whole family is being served, it seems cruel when you hear that the family has to be split up because the structure of the shelter won’t allow both sexes.
You may have heard the one woman that was outside as we were leaving Friday say the she was leaving in the next few days. She said it was the most awesome place… and the other young women couldn’t think of anything the place needed. I think that is a testament to VOA…they weren’t complaining at all.
I really wish we had more time to interact to see what folks who stay there so we could get their perspective on what they would like to see done.
I can really appreciate the way you are reflecting on your experience at VOA. I too am quite impressed by the service they provide and am disheartened that they are able to serve fewer and fewer families based on funding and, ultimately, space. Of course, what would be best is for there to be more affordable housing, not additional rooms at the homeless shelter, but it is a tricky balance—meeting immediate needs while thinking of the future. I was so glad we were able to sit down with Silvia and to meet other residents outside, as well. While we did not totally overcome the ‘server’ / ‘served’ chasm with one conversation, we took some important and critical strides toward democratizing this experience--making our class more than just sitting around talking about ideas. Instead, we are taking our learning out to the community and getting, perhaps, more of an education than we bargained for. I have no idea how this class ends. I look forward to sharing the journey with you as I too am student.
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