tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52312372947637519762024-02-21T05:52:17.988-08:00DC: Homelessness in the Heart of Our Country 2013Catalyst Alternative Spring Breakshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07817528935199903007noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231237294763751976.post-9346115553853177112013-03-29T22:17:00.005-07:002013-03-29T22:17:02.392-07:00It's Not the End, It's the Beginning!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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There are many things that could I reflect upon after this
week long adventure in Washington D.C.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For example, I could talk about the amazing people that we met and how
we (as a group) will hold on to their stories for the rest of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could talk about the service work we did
and how it has inspired us all to do more and act more in ways that will change
the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could also talk about all
the food we ate and all the food we didn’t eat (especially during the homeless challenge).
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OR I could talk about how the city comes
alive at 4a.m. and wakes the street sleepers up with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I can’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can’t talk about those things. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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It is not that those experiences weren’t amazing to me—because
they were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But through this whole trip
there was one constant, beautiful, even more amazing thing that I encountered.
This was a life changing trip for me and it is all because of the people on it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To Cristina, Kate, Taty, Steven, Maleni, Mariya, Muna, Jezebel, Ayja Pa, and Corinne, thank you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are a young group of world changers and I feel so
honored to have been the staff member on your trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each day you had me smiling, you had me
excited, you had me happy, and you had me remembering why I came on this trip—to
show the world that there is goodness and it is in the form of people serving
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You all were open to trying new
things and having new experiences in ways that, when I was a student at HU, I
don’t think I would have been able to do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t explain how proud I am of you and the
work that you have done this week. Each and every one of you are strong
individuals who will make the world a much better place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for everything that you have done
and will continue to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep being the
people you were on this trip and one day, sooner than you think, homelessness
will end and it will because of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love you all and couldn’t be a prouder Mama Maryse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thank you. Thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Catalyst Alternative Spring Breakshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07817528935199903007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231237294763751976.post-43362983781430441632013-03-29T20:55:00.003-07:002013-03-29T20:55:34.516-07:00Reflections on the Week: 03/23-03/29Well, here we are. We've finished our final reflection for the week, and most everyone has headed off to bed (or to pack). Tomorrow we'll be leaving the hostel at ("What time are we meeting?!") 7:15 am, headed home to Minnesota.<br />
<br />
I can't believe it's been a whole week. It feels like yesterday that twelve of us were gathered in Sorin at 3:30 am, shy, but mostly tired, nonetheless virtually silent, anxious at what the week would bring. Personally, after spending months planning the trip and preparing the group for the service we would be doing, I was very nervous. I had high hopes that the group would learn a lot, make bonds, and grow together. This was the third Catalyst trip I had been on during my time at Hamline, and while I was ecstatic about returning to Washington and continuing the work on homelessness, a part of me was also very scared that the trip wouldn't be meaningful. Mostly, I was worried that the Homeless Challenge wouldn't work out--I was honestly somewhat apathetic towards it the first time I completed it, but this year, I was excited and willing, but unsure about the rest of the group.<br />
<br />
I was so wrong.<br />
<br />
There really isn't one word that can express exactly how impressed, inspired, amazed, moved, and energized I am about the group of people that has emerged from this experience. It is really an exhilarating feeling to be surrounded by a group of people that are as passionate as they are, as educated and learned as they are, as motivated as they are, and as inspired they are to be doing this work. We've had an interesting week. More times than not we've been exhausted, with sore and blistered feet; we've been hungry, tired and even dreading the next time we had to get out of our beds. But every day, everyone gave their full effort to the service work we were doing. Every day during reflection, everyone shared something that they learned from the day, and every day I was moved by the deep analysis and quality of thought that came out of the day.<br />
<br />
For many, if not all, I feel like this trip really was a catalyst--a springboard for the subsequent action that will ensue when we return to Minnesota. A fire truly has started here, and is burning bright as I write this blog post. We talked about the fact that there is no reason why the fire needs to die when we go back to Minnesota. There really is no legitimate justification for falling back on stereotypes and ignorance. By participating in this trip, and engaging in meaningful discussion, we have all equipped ourselves to defeat ignorance surrounding homelessness, one step at a time. I am confident that the lessons learned here will resonate loudly at home, and that waves will roll. I am confident that this group of people will accomplish much regarding homelessness, and I am so proud and honored to have been a part of this experience.<br />
<br />
Upon our return to our privileged homes, in our privileged lives, it is my hope that we will all remember all of the individuals we met and spoke with and shared time with this past week. It is my hope that we all remember to think critically about homelessness, and always continue to fight the ignorance and stereotypes that plague this issue that really is hidden in plain sight.<br />
<br />
Before I close, I would like to share one piece of knowledge with you, readers, that we've talked about this week, with the hope that you will take this information and use it to stop the perpetuation of the "us-them" mentality pandemic. When talking about homelessness, and specifically referencing or talking about individuals experiencing homelessness, be aware of your language. Be aware that homelessness is not an identity, and that we should try to semantically separate homelessness from individuality, as homelessness is but one period of time in a person's life. While a person may have been brought up in homelessness, experiencing homelessness is not inherent to their person. Instead of using terms such as "homeless person," or "homeless people" to talk about the entire group of individuals who are homeless, try to use language such as "experiencing homelessness." This way, we can separate the experience of homelessness from a person's inherent identity. Moreover, we don't typically use terms such as "the housed" in everyday language, as this generalizes an entire class of diverse, unique individuals. The same principle guides the resistance from using terms such as "the homeless" to make general statements about every member of the community without homes that is diverse and unique in and of themselves. Please be aware of your language. Use these new terms when you talk about homelessness--and this change may spark others' awareness as well.<br />
<br />
Please continue to talk about this issue--make people aware of how critical an issue it is, and continue to transform your words into action.<br />
<br />
See you all next year~<br />
<3 CristinaCatalyst Alternative Spring Breakshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07817528935199903007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231237294763751976.post-44523094690709136292013-03-28T19:34:00.000-07:002013-03-28T19:34:13.979-07:00Thursday 3/28/13We started our day off by volunteering at Christ's House. At this place we learned about the people who reside there. They are men without houses who have medical problems. At this place, we split up into two groups. One group planted pulled old flowers and planted new ones. The other group cooked the food for everybody. After we were done with these tasks, we joined together with the men and sat and ate with them. Soon after, we cleaned up the dishes and headed out for Senator Franken's office.<br />
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At Senator Franken's office we met with his assistant and discussed issues with housing in Minnesota. One thing that I found shocking was that because of the sequester, all areas lose funding. This is bad because that means that people who live in Section 8 housing, may possibly become homeless. We learned that homelessness is not one of the top priorities because not that many constituents have brought it up as an issue. In order to get this as a higher priority, she told us that we need to write our representatives.<br />
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Lastly, we went to D.C. Central Kitchen. At the kitchen we did a lot of food preparation. We did things such as make sandwiches, cut potatoes, and peel the skin and fat off of turkey. When we were done with that, we had a community dinner with the high school group that was there volunteering with us.<br />
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<br />Catalyst Alternative Spring Breakshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07817528935199903007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231237294763751976.post-36532108881388594502013-03-28T19:21:00.001-07:002013-03-28T19:21:30.865-07:0028 March: Christ House, Meeting with Emily Hogin, and D.C. Central Kitchen<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Today
was an extremely tiring yet satisfying day. We started the day off at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Christ House</i>, which is an organization
that provides medical care, healthcare, and housing services for individuals
who are experiencing homeless. My volunteer work at that organization involved
mainly packing and unpacking food. We also managed to meet a bunch of wonderful
people including Hollywood who works in the kitchen and Bob who happens to have
also worked at the White House through his own catering company. Serving the
people there was a great experience, though later on in the day I began
realizing how significant our contributions really were.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After
our service at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Christ House</i>, we met
with Senator Al Franken’s assistant who deals with Housing and health care
services: Emily Hogin. Our meeting was not what I expected especially since it
seemed like she was not prepared for the visit. Though we ended up standing
outside of her office, I still noticed that we managed to make an impact by
drawing her attention to the problem of homelessness. Even though there are
acts being put into place to help students who are at risk for homelessness, I
still believe there is a lot we can do to continue drawing attention to this
issue, which includes writing to our representative and having talks with our
friends and family. Overall, meeting Al Franken’s assistant really shows the
importance of talking with those who represent us in legislature in order to
show them that issues such as homelessness are significant and deserve proper
consideration. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally,
we ended our service at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">D.C. Central
Kitchen</i>, which serves up to 5,000 individuals who are low income and may be
experiencing homelessness. Our work there was especially energizing because our
group drive and energy was especially inspiring. It was also really amazing to
learn that the food we made also goes to the places we have served throughout the
trip such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rachael’s Woman Center</i>
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Christ House</i>. Serving with a
group of wonderful, inspiring people has also made service a worthwhile and fun
endeavor. Regardless of what happens in the future, I feel like I definitely
hope to continue servicing and advocating with and for individuals who are
experiencing homelessness. This experience, again, has been really
life-changing, and I hope to bring all that I have learned back to campus and
the greater Twin Cities Area. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Catalyst Alternative Spring Breakshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07817528935199903007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231237294763751976.post-25009384870406753992013-03-27T17:40:00.003-07:002013-03-27T17:40:51.728-07:0003/27: D.C. helps back<br />
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222;">Today Wednesday March 27, we went to two different sites. First we went to Bread for the City then we went to Catholic Charities. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
*<i>Bread for the City</i> is an organization that helps anyone who needs a helping hand by providing them with multiple services such as providing clothes, food, medical care, dental care, etc. Here we helped organized the donated clothes into bags, help bag food in the food pantry, got a tour of the building and ate lunch.</div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">At this site I saw how many youths and working adults would take their time into to help someone we needed help. Also they did not discriminate and label someone experiencing homelessness as homeless but as someone who just needs help and that they were willing to help them.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
*After we took the Metro bus to <i>Catholic Charities</i> where we help clean the house. There are six people who lives in the house. Each of the people that lives in the house have their own room and they paid a portion of the cost to live there because they have some kind of mental disability. Although we did not get the time to meet them it was nice to know that we can help by cleaning the common living of their for home for them. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
After the homeless challenge I had a lot of negative thoughts towards D.C.'s role in not doing much about their issue with people experiencing homelessness. However after going to a few sites in D.C. that </div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">help people who are experiencing homelessness and reflecting on the people that I already knew who take their time and help people who are homeless, I saw that even if D.C. have a greater amount of people who are experiencing </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222;">homelessness, they also take the time to help each other, give back and probably has one of the biggest support communities. Concluding our day we had an awesome group reflection about language and a good amount of us talked about how the media creates a lot of stereotypes as we were growing up but how now we see and face reality and hope to be the change we want to see, like our amazing Catalyst trip motto. And a few of us went to get ice cream. Hehe. Unfortunately I was not one of them, but it's okay I had some yesterday. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222;">Pa Xiong V.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222;"><b>2013 D.C. Catalyst Trip Team Awesome Sauce :) </b></span></div>
Catalyst Alternative Spring Breakshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07817528935199903007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231237294763751976.post-9381697877534354042013-03-26T21:17:00.000-07:002013-03-26T21:17:30.910-07:00<br />
Our challenge has come to an end, the morning started off really early. We went to the National Coalition for the Homeless. Not only had my perspective on the homeless community changed, but the challenge also gave a huge impact to my life. If someone told me that I will be sleeping outside for two nights, I'd probably not believe it. But doing the homeless challenge where I was homeless for 48 hours;I now understand that it takes a very strong person to make it through the night in the streets. I learned that society has become very sanitized when it comes to the homeless community. I remember how invisible I felt as I tried to ask for money when I portrayed as a homeless person. I didn't realized how fortunate I was until I heard the stories of the different people in the homeless community. This morning we talked about our highs, lows, and new perspectives of the last 24 hours of the homeless challenge. During this time, something that really stood out to me was when Steve, one of our guides during the nights of the homeless challenge, said "Even when you feel like your parents are being harsh, and being hard on you they are only doing this because they care and your success is your parents success." This really stood out to me because I have those parents, and I know that a lot of the stories interconnected. Such as when they shared their stories, many of the homeless said that they didn't have that support system, which brings me back to the point that my parents have always wanted what is best for me. I know that once I get back home I will let them know how thankful I am. The homeless are just like any other human being, why treat them differently? When I return home I plan on acknowledging every person who needs a helping hand. I hope to also start a food drive on campus.We also need to learn the stories of people because we would never understand why a person became homeless in the first place. Like some of the guides stated we have lawyers, doctors, educators that are now homeless. Homelessness can possibly happen to anyone; it does not discriminate. This is an experience that I will always carry on in my life and share with others. Learning about the homelessness by taking the role of a homeless person is an experience that I would never change because I have gained and saw a lot of perspective from society and self reflection. I hope to continue to be the change that our society needs in order for us to progress.<br />
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-Maleni Mendoza-GarciaCatalyst Alternative Spring Breakshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07817528935199903007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231237294763751976.post-34886264531996924402013-03-26T21:06:00.004-07:002013-03-26T21:06:39.732-07:00Taty's First Few Days Rolled Into One Post<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrSM_T6c4xXmDZ4Tp4jNCJkxcU8wvEMx60CHDJYCmP8TnRyJr1DS21KkxUqGUgw1THfQP9uvl7EFzjRs-k2-3VPC6R8VT8wcWdqCWDVzvVK3F71d-My_QpH2OiF5qJFmqNJJYKhibKgY/s1600/882901_10200252564935110_1266200787_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrSM_T6c4xXmDZ4Tp4jNCJkxcU8wvEMx60CHDJYCmP8TnRyJr1DS21KkxUqGUgw1THfQP9uvl7EFzjRs-k2-3VPC6R8VT8wcWdqCWDVzvVK3F71d-My_QpH2OiF5qJFmqNJJYKhibKgY/s400/882901_10200252564935110_1266200787_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group Picture (Some not pictured)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Since we have been so busy with the homeless challenge,
today was the first time that I truly got to start to process my thoughts. In
the last few days I have gained so much in experiences that I would not give up
for anything. I do not think I expected this trip to have this great of an
impact on how I view the world. Yet with our experiences over the last 48
hours, I have a completely different outlook on life than I did before I got on
the plane for this trip. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we entered into the 48-hour homeless challenge we were
all quite nervous to be entering into a situation that we had barely any
experience with. We were introduced to the challenge, given blankets, and told
where we were going to meet up that night. We were then set free to wonder the
streets of DC as homeless individuals. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do not think I can even begin to explain to you what we
experienced. You all will just have to come experience it for yourself. Our
experience with the inhumanity of people that believe that they are above you
is one of the most demeaning feelings. We were encouraged to panhandle, watch people’s
reactions, and just expose ourselves to emotionally vulnerable situations. We
went through the first 12 hours allowing ourselves to gain a glimpse of what
the homeless community feels on a daily basis. By the end of the day we were
exhausted and ready to settle down to go to sleep. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2N7-qckZlfrcl0Ufb6he4YYeLKXUjgVVF0PnS4wlZ7GU9cm6BKqPs0vnu0_kXhHRBq6HE0KuXRMvuGHCzg9UeOSoWnLSdxDtAgRENnyFZjy2JdCmMuLhnxkLuyGkV90lc3UVk8J6cJ0/s1600/216653_10200252573295319_1217221442_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2N7-qckZlfrcl0Ufb6he4YYeLKXUjgVVF0PnS4wlZ7GU9cm6BKqPs0vnu0_kXhHRBq6HE0KuXRMvuGHCzg9UeOSoWnLSdxDtAgRENnyFZjy2JdCmMuLhnxkLuyGkV90lc3UVk8J6cJ0/s200/216653_10200252573295319_1217221442_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleeping outside!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The night time was probably the start of where I felt like I
gained something out of the trip. We were given the luxury of having guides
that showed us where it was safe to sleep, watched over us throughout the
night, and shared their life story with us. Their insight on the homeless
community was honest and humbling. While we slept we were exposed to the cold
and the elements of being outside. Some of us were told to move throughout the
night and move on to a different place. Needless to say it was not the most
comfortable sleeping situation I have ever had. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the biggest things I gained out of this experience
was having the stereotypes I had about the homeless community completely torn
apart. During the last few days I have met some of the most amazing people
ever. Some of them have been dealt the harshest hands in life and treated
horribly by society. Even through that they still are still the most caring,
humble, truthful, fun, and loving people. They opened my eyes to a community
that I have been taught to ignore. The issue of homelessness is always talked
about but I do not think many people want to take action. They are thought of
as being a group that can be put on the back burner. Through this experience I
had my privilege laid out in front of me and through this I and others can
start to make movements. We can always work harder and there is no excuse. There
is definitely a lot that needs to be done in our society, which can be seen through
many different perspectives. Yet, homelessness is one of the many that needs more
awareness than it is given. <o:p></o:p></div>
Catalyst Alternative Spring Breakshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07817528935199903007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231237294763751976.post-24752567516745101712013-03-26T19:53:00.003-07:002013-03-26T19:53:48.498-07:00Read Me a Bed Time Story, Please?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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The Homelessness Challenge was such a great experience. I
learned so much about not only homelessness but also how to survive with
nothing but the clothes on my back. The most influential part of the trip was
sleeping on the streets. To be honest I was absolutely terrified to sleep
outside in Washington, D.C. but I stepped outside of my comfort zone and did
it! My guide was Anthony and he took us to an alley way to sleep. We went
dumpster diving for cardboard to sleep on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was such a grounding experience to dig through the garbage to find
cardboard to use as what I would call back home a mattress. All four of us
girls huddled together for warmth as Anthony our guide began to tell us his
story of how he became homeless. His story was very powerful and put in
perspective that anyone can become homeless. This part of the trip was my
favorite because I felt like I really got to know Anthony and I got a chance to
ask questions that I otherwise never would have gotten the chance to. Anthony's story is something that I will never forget. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Catalyst Alternative Spring Breakshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07817528935199903007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231237294763751976.post-1323430941798028712013-03-26T19:46:00.007-07:002013-03-26T19:46:56.493-07:00Ayja’s Experience on March 24th 2013I was only able to participate in the homeless challenge for
one night because I attained a fever the second day because I got wet from the
rain and it was cold at night.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I learned so many things from the challenge that naming all
of them would take forever but one thing I learned that I didn’t think I would
was just how much it actually hurts when someone doesn’t recognize you as a
human being. I can honestly say I have never experienced indifference on a
level like that before. Also how low you feel when you are shut out by society
and no one wants anything to do with you. Something connected to this that my
guide Andre told me was that many people do not become homeless because of drug
use, but start using when they become homeless to deal with the pain and loneliness.
This shocked me because it never had occurred to me how lonely being homeless
actually is/must be. Before this challenge I was just like any other member of
the housed society; I always saw homeless people but never acknowledged them
because it is a social taboo and like most people, I didn’t know what to do. Many
don’t know how to address homeless people and I learned that we should just
speak like we normally would to any other person. We should not let the stigma
against the homeless population dictate who we come in contact with and connect
with, because we are truly just shutting ourselves out. After participating in the challenge my
outlook has completely turned around, I learned that we should not be afraid of
homeless people because people are just that; simply people. There is nothing
in the world that makes any housed person immune from being homeless. <i>Anybody </i>could end up on the streets; it
just takes a series of unfortunate events. I also did a lot of self-reflection during the
challenge and realized that I was never truly afraid of the people that were
homeless but society itself. I think what scared me most was what society could
have possibly done to put someone in a situation like not having a place in
world. I don’t think I wanted to acknowledge that. These are just some of the
insights that I learned from my one day on the homeless challenge but I will
take these insights with me for the rest of my life. <o:p></o:p></div>
Catalyst Alternative Spring Breakshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07817528935199903007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231237294763751976.post-69019598750616850572013-03-26T19:31:00.002-07:002013-03-26T19:31:32.178-07:00Our Experience on the Homeless Challenge: Second and Third Days in D.C.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
homeless challenge started off right away at the National Coalition for The
Homeless. After watching a video of previous college students who conducted the
challenge, we were separated into groups of two and given a map along with
information on shelters, soups kitchens, and other resources that the coalition
normally gives to homeless individuals. At the start, my partner and I began
planning our day which included attending a service and making sure we knew how
to get to the soup kitchen by one o’clock that same day. At any rate, we ended
up getting lost in Georgetown, but we did manage to attend an Anglican service. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
biggest thing I noticed after the service and throughout our day was the fact
that the individuals we encountered were ready to ignore or otherwise deny that
we were homeless. Though the priest and other members of the church were nice
to us, it was also clear that several of them did not want us there especially
since one of them told us to make sure our clothes did not touch the food.
Based on the few people there, it was clear that many of them were from privileged
backgrounds, and many of them assumed that we were “looking” for jobs and that
we would be able to get back on our feet. But homelessness is not a thing that
occurs over-night nor is it temporary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
was apparent when we slept outside that very night with a guide. His name was
Steve Thomas, and he told a remarkable story about growing up unloved by his
mother and facing negative influences through drugs and alcohol. His story
deviated immensely from the typical stereotypes of homelessness that these
individuals face such as addiction problems, being lazy, or having mental
disorders. Though some of these stereotypes may be true for some, they are typically
the direct result of a lack of a supportive community. The greatest lesson I
gained from Steve’s story is that he ultimately became homeless because his
mother did not care about him and his support system failed to help him get
back on his feet. Steve’s story and my experience panhandling has really
contributed to the belief that we need to be able to meet people where they are
at and support one another especially through hard times.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
next day involved a lot of panhandling, and there were remarkable acts of
kindness where a woman bought us breakfast and gave us her gloves to another
woman offering to house us in her three-bedroom apartment. Despite these acts
of kindness, there were also difficult moments where people would mumble that
they did not have spare change or they would walk straight past us without even
looking at us. There were also moments where people were adamant and treated us
differently. At a Hilton hotel, the woman there refused to give us access to
showers and basic toiletries, and at a Potbelly restaurant the employee lied
about having only applications online. If anything, this experience has really
showed me the spectrum of human interaction from kindness to outright discrimination
and ignorance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is also important to note that we did not gain
insight into what it is like to be homeless. To be homeless means to experience
it, and it is usually a chain of events that causes an individual becoming
homeless. That being said, building community by acknowledging homeless
individuals and offering help ranging from a dollar to a meal is an important
way of ending homelessness. Like any problem, homelessness is not the fault of
an individual, but it is the result of a lack of affordable housing and
societal stigmatization. Moreover, homelessness results and remains a problem through
the lack of individuals to acknowledge it as a problem of society and a failure
of building community. This is why I plan on bringing this information back to
Minnesota because I strongly believe that everyone should be an advocate for
homeless individuals. We all have the potential to give and to feel the
warmness from giving, and I know that it means the world to the receiver. </span></div>
Catalyst Alternative Spring Breakshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07817528935199903007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231237294763751976.post-50288252761007481452013-03-23T18:14:00.002-07:002013-03-23T18:14:22.450-07:00Our First Day in DC: Mariya<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Our morning started insanely early, or, as some may look at
it, insanely late. Van doors slammed at 3:30am, wheels up at 6:30am, and feet
on the pavement by 10:00am. Walking, subway-hopping (done by most for the very
first time), quickly eating, a few hours exploring, and meetings to discuss our
upcoming Homelessness Challenge, which is a major topic on everybody’s minds. I’m
struck by a lot of different topics however, all of which deserve some
attention, I feel.</div>
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<br /></div>
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For instance: the DC area is absolutely gorgeous! The
sidewalks are so wide and clean, and every building we pass is a masterpiece of
architecture. So many of the major monuments and landmarks are grouped within
walking and subway distance. Just today a part of our group, myself included,
chose to visit the nearby Holocaust Museum—a beautiful building with
heart-touching exhibits. We reconvened later met two incredibly inspiring individuals
a part of the advocacy community, and discussed some of what it meant to
experience homelessness. A portion of our group prepared dinner for us later
and I, at least, set upon our pasta like a starving wolf.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Tomorrow begins our moderated experience with homelessness—without
any of our typical resources, such as money or cell phones, we’ll be challenged
to do our best to manage our situation on the streets, attempting to find ways
to eat and take shelter, and even to use the restroom! Though many of us are
nervous about the challenges and difficulties, and are wary about the
implications of experiencing homelessness, our group at the end of the day has agreed:
we will do our best to bridge the gap between our own fortunate lifestyles thus
far and that of the individuals experiencing homelessness. Stay strong, everyone!</div>
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<br /></div>
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~Mariya Khan, DC Catalyst Trip</div>
Catalyst Alternative Spring Breakshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07817528935199903007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231237294763751976.post-2651793254306140792013-03-23T16:46:00.000-07:002013-03-23T16:46:09.469-07:00First Day in DC!<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>First Day in DC!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Today having been the first day we spent in DC was great. Sight seeing, memorials, and many more historic statues and figures around this part of the country where amazing. The many diverse people in this state walking to the flow of their own busy days.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Once we reached the inner part of the city I noticed that something was a little off. The many beautiful buildings and landscapes just couldn't mach the many homeless people walking the park. This opened my eyes to notice that the homeless challenge that we are about to face tomorrow will definitely be one of the major learning experiences that any college student will ever have. Hope it goes well! </div>
Catalyst Alternative Spring Breakshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07817528935199903007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231237294763751976.post-48855365662715212342013-03-22T11:18:00.002-07:002013-03-22T11:18:51.873-07:00Washington, D.C. BlogsHello and welcome to the blog for the Catalyst trip to Washington, D.C.. This trip focuses on homelessness in the heart of America. The group will begin posting when they leave for their trip and will try to post once a day (trust us, they'll be plenty busy.) There will be lots to talk about in these updates, so please, enjoy the blog, and thank you for your support!Catalyst Alternative Spring Breakshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07817528935199903007noreply@blogger.com0