Mikki's Musings - March 2009
Well I'm back in Oregon now...and all day I've been in a weird fog. I have never had such a hard time coming back from an ASB experience. I truly feel as though I formed a new family with 50+ people from around the country, and I'm sad to have to leave all of you! For most of you, I will most likely never see you again. But I would do it all again in a heartbeat.
For one week we came together in service and lived united. I feel so blessed to have served with all of you, to have learned from each and every one of you, and been filled with a piece of each of your passions for bettering our communities.
I return to work tomorrow to put my replenished passion to good use, mobilizing volunteers in my own community.
There is no doubt in my mind that we changed the world in a week. Not only did we touch the lives of individuals and agencies in Detroit, but we fueled the passions of 50+ young leaders from across our country. Young leaders that will return to their homes, and will inspire and mobilize others to Live United.
Five years ago I participated in my first ASB experience, and it literally changed my life. While a career in the non-profit world might not be for all of you, I know that you will all return to be a more active citizen because of the week you just experienced.
The only way the week you just experienced could fail is if you don't allow the energy of ASB 313 to ripple forward. Tell your friends, tell your family, tell complete strangers about how you Live United, let the amazingness that just occurred in Detroit echo through out our country.
Thank you for letting me Live United with all of you! You have truly touched my life.
For one week we came together in service and lived united. I feel so blessed to have served with all of you, to have learned from each and every one of you, and been filled with a piece of each of your passions for bettering our communities.
I return to work tomorrow to put my replenished passion to good use, mobilizing volunteers in my own community.
There is no doubt in my mind that we changed the world in a week. Not only did we touch the lives of individuals and agencies in Detroit, but we fueled the passions of 50+ young leaders from across our country. Young leaders that will return to their homes, and will inspire and mobilize others to Live United.
Five years ago I participated in my first ASB experience, and it literally changed my life. While a career in the non-profit world might not be for all of you, I know that you will all return to be a more active citizen because of the week you just experienced.
The only way the week you just experienced could fail is if you don't allow the energy of ASB 313 to ripple forward. Tell your friends, tell your family, tell complete strangers about how you Live United, let the amazingness that just occurred in Detroit echo through out our country.
Thank you for letting me Live United with all of you! You have truly touched my life.
Well we ended up continuing our work at Vista Maria for Day 3 and Day 4 because they found more work for us to do. We had the awesome opportunity to continue our work with facilitates staff member Bob, while painting a 3-tiered hallway in a girls' dormitory area for the Bridges Program.
I'll write more about my observations and experiences in a different post, but here I wanted to highlight a story we found while working in the dormitory. I've seen in movies how girls in rehab or other institutions will write their stories or leave messages on the furniture in their rooms - dressers, beds, etc. While painting we found a dresser in one of the dorm rooms that had a story written in red marker on the side of the dresser that took up the entire side of the three drawer dresser. The story touched me in a number of ways, and so I wanted to post it in this blog so that others would have the chance to read it.
The Dresser Story (unedited):
"The System is meant 4 ur ass 2 fail!
Prove them Wrong!
I came from nothing the only person that showed me love (my momma) past away. My dady sold me to my momma. My aunt & uncle took me in after my mom died. My uncle raped me and took my pride which was my body I had nothing... I looked back to my family but they didn't believe me I cried myself to sleep every night in a place that I never felt safe enough to call home. I feel alone my whole family is in a different country (Philippines). The closest family I got lives somewhere in Chicago I have nobody but myself. Life is a struggle itself and my sleep can't help cuz I still have nightmares of getting beat up by "stepDAD" I was locked in the closset for hours... But I tell you that wasn't enough. I'm so use to pain that I punish myself by cutting I've almost taken my life away by pulling one of the veins out with a staple I got stitches before and I got my skin glued back together. I was born to fail But somehow I still keep going."
Reading this story, on the side of a wooden dresser, in a room that was MAYBE 8 feet by 10 feet for 2 people really weighed heavy on me. I don't know this girl...I don't know where she is today. But I've heard her story, and she does a very good job of telling it.
Life for me is so easy compared to this. Look at all the obstacles this young woman has to overcome just to get up in the morning, much less be successful or really make anything of her life.
Before the age of 18 this young woman had been sold, raped, lost her mother, beaten, locked in a closet, and had been cutting herself. And of the family she did have...no one believed her. Who do you turn to when your own family doesn't believe you? I can't even begin to fathom how I would deal with the challenges this girl faces.
Reading this story makes me thing about the assumptions we make, the conclusions we jump to about people in need. What do we not know about the people we interact with on a daily basis that makes them who they are? When a co-worker bites your head off, what's going on that you don't know about that could be creating that? When a child is misbehaving in school why do we always assume that they're just a bad kid? When someone is homeless, why do people so quickly turn to - oh they must be lazy or they wouldn't be homeless?
This is the story of a nameless young woman...a young woman who represents young women and men across our country and across the world. Young people who are born into situations and systems that set them up to fail. Young people who are dealt an unfair hand. For those of us who are dealt the winning hand...how can we be satisfied to just be happy with our lives and not reach out to those in need? Stories like this are why I volunteer, why I choose to be active in my community...because we're not all dealt the same hand, and sometimes all it takes to succeed in life is someone who cares. I don't go on these trips in service of others...I go on these trips to serve with others, to show our world that we care, and hopefully if and when I'm in a time of need, someone will care enough about me to reach out their hand as well.
This week I painted a boiler room and the hallway of a dormitory. The hallways of the Bridges program at Vista Maria are brighter and cleaner and provide the girls of Vista Maria a clean slate at the place they call home.
Keep going author of the dresser story...prove them wrong!!
I'll write more about my observations and experiences in a different post, but here I wanted to highlight a story we found while working in the dormitory. I've seen in movies how girls in rehab or other institutions will write their stories or leave messages on the furniture in their rooms - dressers, beds, etc. While painting we found a dresser in one of the dorm rooms that had a story written in red marker on the side of the dresser that took up the entire side of the three drawer dresser. The story touched me in a number of ways, and so I wanted to post it in this blog so that others would have the chance to read it.
The Dresser Story (unedited):
"The System is meant 4 ur ass 2 fail!
Prove them Wrong!
I came from nothing the only person that showed me love (my momma) past away. My dady sold me to my momma. My aunt & uncle took me in after my mom died. My uncle raped me and took my pride which was my body I had nothing... I looked back to my family but they didn't believe me I cried myself to sleep every night in a place that I never felt safe enough to call home. I feel alone my whole family is in a different country (Philippines). The closest family I got lives somewhere in Chicago I have nobody but myself. Life is a struggle itself and my sleep can't help cuz I still have nightmares of getting beat up by "stepDAD" I was locked in the closset for hours... But I tell you that wasn't enough. I'm so use to pain that I punish myself by cutting I've almost taken my life away by pulling one of the veins out with a staple I got stitches before and I got my skin glued back together. I was born to fail But somehow I still keep going."
Reading this story, on the side of a wooden dresser, in a room that was MAYBE 8 feet by 10 feet for 2 people really weighed heavy on me. I don't know this girl...I don't know where she is today. But I've heard her story, and she does a very good job of telling it.
Life for me is so easy compared to this. Look at all the obstacles this young woman has to overcome just to get up in the morning, much less be successful or really make anything of her life.
Before the age of 18 this young woman had been sold, raped, lost her mother, beaten, locked in a closet, and had been cutting herself. And of the family she did have...no one believed her. Who do you turn to when your own family doesn't believe you? I can't even begin to fathom how I would deal with the challenges this girl faces.
Reading this story makes me thing about the assumptions we make, the conclusions we jump to about people in need. What do we not know about the people we interact with on a daily basis that makes them who they are? When a co-worker bites your head off, what's going on that you don't know about that could be creating that? When a child is misbehaving in school why do we always assume that they're just a bad kid? When someone is homeless, why do people so quickly turn to - oh they must be lazy or they wouldn't be homeless?
This is the story of a nameless young woman...a young woman who represents young women and men across our country and across the world. Young people who are born into situations and systems that set them up to fail. Young people who are dealt an unfair hand. For those of us who are dealt the winning hand...how can we be satisfied to just be happy with our lives and not reach out to those in need? Stories like this are why I volunteer, why I choose to be active in my community...because we're not all dealt the same hand, and sometimes all it takes to succeed in life is someone who cares. I don't go on these trips in service of others...I go on these trips to serve with others, to show our world that we care, and hopefully if and when I'm in a time of need, someone will care enough about me to reach out their hand as well.
This week I painted a boiler room and the hallway of a dormitory. The hallways of the Bridges program at Vista Maria are brighter and cleaner and provide the girls of Vista Maria a clean slate at the place they call home.
Keep going author of the dresser story...prove them wrong!!
Day 2 at Vista Maria with Team $killz - and I think it might be our last day. Our team was just simply amazing and powered through the project that the agency thought was going to take us four days in just two days. So now we are at a loss for work. Oh the story of managing volunteer projects. So tomorrow we are looking for backup projects - either with Grandmont Rosedale or Gleaners Food Bank. I'll update tomorrow on where we end up and what that project ends up looking like.
I wanted to give props to my group today though. I'm just continually amazed by their optimistic and positive attitudes. And we accomplished so much. I painted with a 30 foot pole today for the first time ever...A LOT harder than it sounds and looks. We painted like a 900+ square foot room from floor to ceiling in under an hour. We premiered the video of our newly launched professional dance crew (as unfortunate as it might be). I managed to not mess up any more Michigan left turns in the 15 passenger van or to get lost - which is more than I can say about yesterday. We practiced our walkie talkie lingo (Boiler Room to Bob). And we continued to bond without any hiccups along the way - definitely the most important accomplishment!
Today we had the opportunity to work with some of the girls that call Vista Maria home. We spent about an hour at the end of our day playing games with about 10 of the girls. All of the girls I interacted with were between the ages of 15 and 17. I always find my time spent just simply hanging out with the clients of the agencies we work with as definitely the most rewarding experience of my ASB trips. The work is great, and seeing a finished project provides a feeling of accomplishment...but really getting to talk with the clients of the agencies and hear their stories is why I keep coming back.
I look forward to what tomorrow has to bring!
I wanted to give props to my group today though. I'm just continually amazed by their optimistic and positive attitudes. And we accomplished so much. I painted with a 30 foot pole today for the first time ever...A LOT harder than it sounds and looks. We painted like a 900+ square foot room from floor to ceiling in under an hour. We premiered the video of our newly launched professional dance crew (as unfortunate as it might be). I managed to not mess up any more Michigan left turns in the 15 passenger van or to get lost - which is more than I can say about yesterday. We practiced our walkie talkie lingo (Boiler Room to Bob). And we continued to bond without any hiccups along the way - definitely the most important accomplishment!
Today we had the opportunity to work with some of the girls that call Vista Maria home. We spent about an hour at the end of our day playing games with about 10 of the girls. All of the girls I interacted with were between the ages of 15 and 17. I always find my time spent just simply hanging out with the clients of the agencies we work with as definitely the most rewarding experience of my ASB trips. The work is great, and seeing a finished project provides a feeling of accomplishment...but really getting to talk with the clients of the agencies and hear their stories is why I keep coming back.
I look forward to what tomorrow has to bring!
I didn't have a chance to blog about my perceptions of Detroit on Sunday after our 3 hour tour of the city - why was amazing by the way! Thank you Jeanette from Inside Detroit (www.insidedetroit.org). But I was really challenged in my expectations for the city, so I feel that it's very important for me to share what I learned and experienced, especially to those of you back home.
I participate in these sorts of volunteer immersion experiences on a fairly regular basis. I have traveled to some of our country's most neediest cities to volunteer, usually staying in the most dangerous parts of the city. But for some reason, it was this trip to Detroit that really set all my friends and family on edge. Everyone always tells me to travel safely...but this time around, friends and family were legitimately concerned for my safety, and were not shy in expressing that concern.
I had done my research - I knew the stats about Detroit in terms of poverty, need, unemployment, murder, crime, drugs, etc. I also as an econ major had done a fair amount of studying on the pros and cons of urban growth boundaries - specifically as a case study looking at Detroit as an example of what happens with large population influxes and no urban growth boundary - basically the idea of urban sprawl, urban decay, and the Ring of Fire effect all compacted into one city. What happens when buildings start to age or problems arise in a neighborhood, and there's no limit to how a big a city can grow? So people start moving out, building new buildings, and abandoning the old. Quickly the oldest parts of your town are going to erode and it's just down hill from there without the proper supports in place.
Anyway, I came to Detroit not really sure what to expect. After all my research, I had really begun to associate the entire city of Detroit with poverty, need, and danger. And for some reason in my mind, I viewed the entire city in that manner. But I was SO wrong.
Don't get me wrong....Detroit definitely has needs. There are whole neighborhoods that are literally falling apart. Where one in four houses is boarded up and abandoned. The crime rates are staggering...and as America's capital for auto manufacturing....well I don't even need to finish that thought.
But the opportunities in Detroit are endless. The potential HUGE. And the current offerings of the city are immense. Detroit's downtown area is beautiful and offers everything that other large metro downtowns have to offer, including the country's second largest theater district, one of the largest varieties of restaurants (in fact 125 restaurants and bars in one square mile of downtown Detroit)...and OH did I mention, that you actually travel south from Detroit to enter Canada? You actually see Canada over the body of water that borders downtown Detroit! It's like a 20 or 30 minute drive. Amazing hospitals, gorgeous buildings, and so much history. I found it humorous when we drove by an old church that was celebrating it's 150th birthday...that's what Oregon is celebrating this year!
I guess what I want people to take away from this blog and my thoughts is really that even though Detroit has a lot of needs, it has a lot to offer too. All cities across our country have need....but that doesn't mean that they don't have anything to offer.
Let's identify the need. Let's ask ourselves why the need exists. And then let's ask what we can do to make sure the need doesn't exist in 5 or 10 years. But at the same time, let's look at the positives. And let me tell ya....Detroit has a lot of positives. So if you have a chance to come visit...I HIGHLY recommend it!
Have a Coney Dog while you're here - because they apparently started in Detroit. mmmm Yummy!
I participate in these sorts of volunteer immersion experiences on a fairly regular basis. I have traveled to some of our country's most neediest cities to volunteer, usually staying in the most dangerous parts of the city. But for some reason, it was this trip to Detroit that really set all my friends and family on edge. Everyone always tells me to travel safely...but this time around, friends and family were legitimately concerned for my safety, and were not shy in expressing that concern.
I had done my research - I knew the stats about Detroit in terms of poverty, need, unemployment, murder, crime, drugs, etc. I also as an econ major had done a fair amount of studying on the pros and cons of urban growth boundaries - specifically as a case study looking at Detroit as an example of what happens with large population influxes and no urban growth boundary - basically the idea of urban sprawl, urban decay, and the Ring of Fire effect all compacted into one city. What happens when buildings start to age or problems arise in a neighborhood, and there's no limit to how a big a city can grow? So people start moving out, building new buildings, and abandoning the old. Quickly the oldest parts of your town are going to erode and it's just down hill from there without the proper supports in place.
Anyway, I came to Detroit not really sure what to expect. After all my research, I had really begun to associate the entire city of Detroit with poverty, need, and danger. And for some reason in my mind, I viewed the entire city in that manner. But I was SO wrong.
Don't get me wrong....Detroit definitely has needs. There are whole neighborhoods that are literally falling apart. Where one in four houses is boarded up and abandoned. The crime rates are staggering...and as America's capital for auto manufacturing....well I don't even need to finish that thought.
But the opportunities in Detroit are endless. The potential HUGE. And the current offerings of the city are immense. Detroit's downtown area is beautiful and offers everything that other large metro downtowns have to offer, including the country's second largest theater district, one of the largest varieties of restaurants (in fact 125 restaurants and bars in one square mile of downtown Detroit)...and OH did I mention, that you actually travel south from Detroit to enter Canada? You actually see Canada over the body of water that borders downtown Detroit! It's like a 20 or 30 minute drive. Amazing hospitals, gorgeous buildings, and so much history. I found it humorous when we drove by an old church that was celebrating it's 150th birthday...that's what Oregon is celebrating this year!
I guess what I want people to take away from this blog and my thoughts is really that even though Detroit has a lot of needs, it has a lot to offer too. All cities across our country have need....but that doesn't mean that they don't have anything to offer.
Let's identify the need. Let's ask ourselves why the need exists. And then let's ask what we can do to make sure the need doesn't exist in 5 or 10 years. But at the same time, let's look at the positives. And let me tell ya....Detroit has a lot of positives. So if you have a chance to come visit...I HIGHLY recommend it!
Have a Coney Dog while you're here - because they apparently started in Detroit. mmmm Yummy!
Today was our first full day of volunteering at our agency, and it was a GREAT day! I'm so excited to have the team that I do - I'm sure that all the other teams are amazing as well. But our team has SKILLZ so you know...naturally we're the best!
On a serious note however, I think this group of individuals is one of the best groups that I have served with. All the members are so optimistic and passionate about the work that we're doing. I didn't hear a single person complain today - and not only is that a joy to be around, but it's totally inspiring to me. I feel as though I have so much to learn from my teammates, and I'm excited for the week to come.
Vista Maria is a non-profit here in Detroit that focuses on at-risk girls, specifically those that are state mandated to live at Vista Maria while continuing their education, addressing their needs, and setting them up for a brighter future. The staff at Vista Maria was very passionate about the work that they do, it was apparent in everyone we came in contact with, from the volunteer manager to the facilities staff. A true sign of an effective organization.
Vista Maria's volunteer manager today told us that some of the girls that are state mandated to live on campus have had 15 - 19 failed placements in the foster care system. There's one girl currently there that has had 33 failed placements.
Vista Maria's greatest needs at this point lie in their facilities. Their agency is over 100 years old, and a number of their buildings aren't much younger. The need we will be addressing this week is painting their boiler room to get it up to code so that the agency can remain open and continue to serve at-risk girls in Detroit, and across Michigan. We already today made great progress towards our project goal for the week. It's amazing what a fresh coat of paint will do for even a building as un-appealing as a boiler room!
While the buildings wear their needs on their sleeves (although don't get me wrong, the campus is BEAUTIFUL!), and I'm sure Vista Maria has needs that are below the surface...and I can't help but think about the reasons that these girls are where they are at today. This isn't just a Detroit specific thing...this is a deeper look at the foster care systems, the parenting education, the prevention programs for child abuse, sexual abuse, parental incarceration across America...What has led these girls to need the services of Vista Maria? And what systems and programs have allowed girls to have 10+ or even 30+ failed placements.
Tomorrow we get to spend the afternoon with a few of the girls that are living currently at Vista Maria, as well as continuing our work on the boiler room. I'm very excited to get to talk with the girls, hear their stories, and learn from them.
My questions about the systems in place won't be answered this week although it will be the beginning of my exploration...but the questions have to be asked in order for answers to be found.
On a serious note however, I think this group of individuals is one of the best groups that I have served with. All the members are so optimistic and passionate about the work that we're doing. I didn't hear a single person complain today - and not only is that a joy to be around, but it's totally inspiring to me. I feel as though I have so much to learn from my teammates, and I'm excited for the week to come.
Vista Maria is a non-profit here in Detroit that focuses on at-risk girls, specifically those that are state mandated to live at Vista Maria while continuing their education, addressing their needs, and setting them up for a brighter future. The staff at Vista Maria was very passionate about the work that they do, it was apparent in everyone we came in contact with, from the volunteer manager to the facilities staff. A true sign of an effective organization.
Vista Maria's volunteer manager today told us that some of the girls that are state mandated to live on campus have had 15 - 19 failed placements in the foster care system. There's one girl currently there that has had 33 failed placements.
Vista Maria's greatest needs at this point lie in their facilities. Their agency is over 100 years old, and a number of their buildings aren't much younger. The need we will be addressing this week is painting their boiler room to get it up to code so that the agency can remain open and continue to serve at-risk girls in Detroit, and across Michigan. We already today made great progress towards our project goal for the week. It's amazing what a fresh coat of paint will do for even a building as un-appealing as a boiler room!
While the buildings wear their needs on their sleeves (although don't get me wrong, the campus is BEAUTIFUL!), and I'm sure Vista Maria has needs that are below the surface...and I can't help but think about the reasons that these girls are where they are at today. This isn't just a Detroit specific thing...this is a deeper look at the foster care systems, the parenting education, the prevention programs for child abuse, sexual abuse, parental incarceration across America...What has led these girls to need the services of Vista Maria? And what systems and programs have allowed girls to have 10+ or even 30+ failed placements.
Tomorrow we get to spend the afternoon with a few of the girls that are living currently at Vista Maria, as well as continuing our work on the boiler room. I'm very excited to get to talk with the girls, hear their stories, and learn from them.
My questions about the systems in place won't be answered this week although it will be the beginning of my exploration...but the questions have to be asked in order for answers to be found.
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