Tuesday
By Freddy and Anthony
[As part of the San Jose immersion, students participate in a "Homeless Simulation" in an effort to learn as close to first hand as possible what a day in the life of a homeless individual in San Jose is like. This program is facilitated by Sacred Heart Community Service each year. The students are given a list of tasks that Sacred Heart staff have established as regular events in the lives of their homeless clients.]
We started off our day with Carol telling us not to shower or “do hygiene” and that we were gonna be homeless from 9 to 3. I’m pretty sure everybody was nervous in some way about how the day would go, not really knowing if we’d offend the people we met somehow, or even worse, if they’d just
ignore us all together.
When we arrived at Sacred Heart, Carol gave us a bin to choose “new” clothes from and only gave us minimal instructions and then literally kicked us out. We split up into groups of two: Barbara and Nova; Mark and I; Anthony and Michelle; Rawley and Andrea; Lauren, Heidi and Sachin.
Mark and I first checked off applying for a job by going to Southern Lumber Co. right next to Sacred Heart and then a small Mexican restaurant down the street. The lumber store had applications but no openings, and the Mexican restaurant had no applications and no openings and both were minimum wage.
Since Carol told us to not have breakfast too we had to figure out a place we could go to get a free meal. Our directions said to go to the Little Orchard Shelter, which the restaurant owner told us was only a mile down the street. When we got there though, they wouldn’t give us food because we weren’t in their program but we could sleep there for the night, so we were at least able to check off another item. But a new friend of ours, Peta Pete (“you won’t forget it”) came in the clutch and told
us that St. Anthony’s Cathedral (actually called St. Joseph’s) on San Fernando and Market served hot lunches around noon. We start walking out of Little Orchard after making a couple friends and hearing a couple stories and run into some old friends, Anthony and Michelle. We told them that Little Orchard didn’t have food and so from then on we joined forces and embarked on an epic journey to San Fernando and Market. On our expedition we took detours to ask for jobs at Geico, GameStop, McDonald’s, SubWay, and Mark at a Credit Union in his one of a kind outfit, a Jean
jacket, a women’s bucket hat and a garbage bag of cans and bottles.
As we collected bottles along the way, we had dreams of Jack in the Box tacos filled our heads. We ultimately got $3.60 for our troubles at a local scrap metal shop, which I have no doubt in my mind was the most valuable $3.60 I have ever seen come out of an ATM.
One of the checklist items was to get a free ride from a bus driver, which was even harder for a group of four people on a busy Tuesday afternoon. Walking down Monterey, we decided that we’re going to ask the next bus where it goes and just bite the bullet and ask for a ride. Right away, a bus stopped next to us. I went up to its doors and asked the driver if the bus goes to San Fernando and
Market. He said it stopped a block short. Michelle asks the driver if the four of us could have a ride for free. And the nice guy almost has no choice but to tell us to hop on. We ended up all sitting together in the back after a couple stops and started reliving our adventures through the scrap yard, dumpsters, and our taco dreams.
Next to us, a man named Bill in his early thirties with glasses and wearing jeans, a button-up shirt, and pullover sweater seemed fairly interested in our conversation and asked what our stop was. We told him we’re going to get some food from the cathedral downtown. Apparently, he had the same stop for a doctor’s appointment at a nearby hospital. We started talking about all the services for homeless in San Jose and about our immersion program with Sacred Heart. He told us that he was actually homeless once in Contra Costa and on his first night he was so tired and just wanted to lie down so bad that he jumped into an empty dumpster to sleep. But 10 minutes later the cops showed up and told him to get his hands up and get out of the dumpster. They told him that neighbors reported him and he had to go somewhere else. He was so tired and desperate that he asked them if they could take him to jail for at least the night so that he could at least lie down, but since he hadn’t done anything illegal they couldn’t help him.
He was homeless for only a month, but he talked about how lucky we were to have each other, that our situation was only temporary and that the worst part by far for him was the loneliness he felt and the isolation he felt during that month. He ultimately decided that he wanted to help us out, and he offered to house us for the night. We told him that we could just sleep at the Little Orchard Shelter for the night, and he decided he at least wanted to accompany us to the cathedral and show us the way around. His story touched all of us and we kept talking to him more on the way to the church, but as we would later find out all of us were thinking the same thing: Oh crap, he misunderstood, he thinks were a quartet of actually homeless teenagers with nowhere to go and not in an immersion trip as
we told him.
When we got off the bus we thanked the bus driver like a hundred times for the free ride and all five of us walked to the church. Bill found out for us that they served lunch in a half hour at 1:30. We stood there for a second and then he finally asked us “What are you going to do after this?” A mutual feeling filled all of us because we didn’t want to lie to this incredibly nice man but also did not want
to make him feel deceived or betrayed. Mark ripped the proverbial band-aid off for us and told Bill that we were going back to school and then just restated everything he earlier said about our immersion trip and why were doing it. His face halted for a second and then the most honest expression of relief filled his face as he told us how happy he was that he didn’t have to worry about us. He was so genuinely happy for us, moving entirely past the misunderstanding of the situation and directly to how much he cared about us. As he was about to go he asks us to pray for him as we are about to go to bed that night, to which Mark asks about what specifically and he responds, “Strength.” Strength to move forward because even though he had food and a roof over his head now he was still alone and the loneliness was by far the worst part of it all. Our hearts reached out to Bill and Mark showed great initiative and started a pretty emotional 4-stop hug train. He left for his doctor’s appointment and we walked around the church thinking about this great person we’d just met which somehow led to us going on a tour where we learned how the windows were made red in the cathedral by being oxidized with a lot of gold. We then made our way back to Sacred Heart.
The rest of the day, all I could think about was Bill and how crazy it was that someone in his situation, who had been through hard times would just reach out to four people he had never met before and be so open about his past, his present, and about the strength he needed in his future. The fact that the man who was homeless was reaching out to us to help us in whatever way he could really sent the message home of community across to me more than anything I’ve ever done in my life.
Friday, March 29, 2013
LA: Fragile Futures
Fragile Futures
Sitting at the table with the kindergarteners coloring today I thought of Josh’s story. Josh was 14 when he started “gang banging” and another homie we talked to today was 7 when he started. That’s only a few years older than the sweet faces sitting next to me at the lunch table. While Josh talked I was reminded of how fragile we as humans are. Little Josh watched his step dad shoot up, watched him beat his mother and was kicked out of his house. In search of a family he found himself in a gang, full of resentment and anger, hurt, wounded and left yearning for love, acceptance and a home.
The kindergarteners at Asencion Catholic school, Josh when he was nine, myself and every other kid I know, all have these same needs. The need for love, safety, affection, security, family and a sense of home. And by some random luck I landed in shoes that afforded me the privilege that made having those things a little easier. As a white, middle class woman I was born into a set of advantages that have allowed me to get where I am today. The color of my skin, the place I was born and my parents background provided me with the ability to navigate the system, to receive a quality education, to make choices and demand my rights, to avoid being targeted by law enforcement and to have the resources and support I needed when life got rocky.
The thing is we are all fragile. Josh was so vulnerable when his world was crumbling around him. There was a point where my world was crumbling too. Addiction ran rampant in my family and somedays I wondered if it would tear us apart. But we had the resources to work through it. The money when someone needed to go to rehab, the prescriptions from doctors that we could afford that made those addictions legal, the family and friends to fill in when others couldn’t be there, the access to therapy to help us through it. Dysfunction is not exclusive to those who are less privileged, it just hits harder when there are not the resources and the masks to remedy or simply bandaid the situation.
Josh spent 29 years in prison starting when he was 16. When he was my age he had 22 years left ahead of him. He thought about if he would get to go outside and exercise that day, if he would survive the wrath of the “organizations” or gangs that existed inside the prison. He thought about missing his family. The unfair claim that put him there.
I worry about what graduation will be like. The year I will be spending in El Salvador next year. When and where Ill meet my future husband. What my kids will look like. How my life will play out. But in the last few days I have come to understand how privileged I am to have a future that is unknown and full of possibility. In Boyle Heights, in LA and across the globe so many kids do not have the privilege of wondering what their future will look like. Today another homie said “I never knew if I would make it to 16”. They talk about prison sentences of 10-30 years as if they are somewhat normal. We read a passage from Tattoos on the Heart that talked about homies who commit suicide by walking into enemy territory rather than putting a gun to their head. And we were again reminded of the concerns of so many 14 year olds- “will I die or will I go to jail”.
The fragility of human beings is so much more obvious in this context when rather than so many privileges providing stepping stones to success, they are fighting against the barriers society places in front of them day after day. Schools with less resources, parents who struggle to get good paying jobs, skin color that leave the police all too aware of their actions- they are fragile and have no safety nets. Safety nets become gangs, drugs and violence when the world is not on your side. As I sat with the kindergarteners today I felt both heart broken and hopeful. Heart broken at the reality they are fighting against. Yet hopeful that a school with a high success rate may be their out. Then we returned to Homeboy silkscreen and another homie told us about how some of his family calls him a sell out for leaving the gangs and again I was reminded of how fragile we all are.
We are all grasping for something. The homie at the silk screen and the kids and teachers at Asencion have focused that grasp on their faith. And something about it seems to work.
We are fragile and we need something more. We are searching for meaning, for love and for light. The homies and these young kindergarteners might not be able to find it in the people around them, their circumstances, the barriers they are facing- but so many of them seem to find it in God. Despite all the questions I and so many have- faith gives something to these people. To the homies, the teachers at Asencion, the families who are a part of Delores Mission and work through Christain Base Communities to meet the needs of their community. Their faith drives them and gets them out of bed in the morning. There is a sense of oneness in our need for something more in this community. People know we can not do it alone and there is no attempt to fake that we can. They don’t have the masks to cover it up and fake it so instead they turn to God to hold them. It is the most beautiful, strongest faith I have ever seen and so inspiring amidst such deep suffering.
So many of them don’t have a future of “it will get better” to hold onto like I do on rough days. But they do not deny that they need something, that they are fragile and vulnerable. So instead they place their faith in God- despite all the reasons to believe things WONT improve- they hold onto a hope that it will, that God, like Father G, is in their corner. Is suffering with them, going to immigration marches with them, in the midst of gang violence with them- and will love them unconditionally, protect them and help them find their way to that “it will get better” they have never even been able to dream about.
~Michelle Maddex
Sitting at the table with the kindergarteners coloring today I thought of Josh’s story. Josh was 14 when he started “gang banging” and another homie we talked to today was 7 when he started. That’s only a few years older than the sweet faces sitting next to me at the lunch table. While Josh talked I was reminded of how fragile we as humans are. Little Josh watched his step dad shoot up, watched him beat his mother and was kicked out of his house. In search of a family he found himself in a gang, full of resentment and anger, hurt, wounded and left yearning for love, acceptance and a home.
The kindergarteners at Asencion Catholic school, Josh when he was nine, myself and every other kid I know, all have these same needs. The need for love, safety, affection, security, family and a sense of home. And by some random luck I landed in shoes that afforded me the privilege that made having those things a little easier. As a white, middle class woman I was born into a set of advantages that have allowed me to get where I am today. The color of my skin, the place I was born and my parents background provided me with the ability to navigate the system, to receive a quality education, to make choices and demand my rights, to avoid being targeted by law enforcement and to have the resources and support I needed when life got rocky.
The thing is we are all fragile. Josh was so vulnerable when his world was crumbling around him. There was a point where my world was crumbling too. Addiction ran rampant in my family and somedays I wondered if it would tear us apart. But we had the resources to work through it. The money when someone needed to go to rehab, the prescriptions from doctors that we could afford that made those addictions legal, the family and friends to fill in when others couldn’t be there, the access to therapy to help us through it. Dysfunction is not exclusive to those who are less privileged, it just hits harder when there are not the resources and the masks to remedy or simply bandaid the situation.
Josh spent 29 years in prison starting when he was 16. When he was my age he had 22 years left ahead of him. He thought about if he would get to go outside and exercise that day, if he would survive the wrath of the “organizations” or gangs that existed inside the prison. He thought about missing his family. The unfair claim that put him there.
I worry about what graduation will be like. The year I will be spending in El Salvador next year. When and where Ill meet my future husband. What my kids will look like. How my life will play out. But in the last few days I have come to understand how privileged I am to have a future that is unknown and full of possibility. In Boyle Heights, in LA and across the globe so many kids do not have the privilege of wondering what their future will look like. Today another homie said “I never knew if I would make it to 16”. They talk about prison sentences of 10-30 years as if they are somewhat normal. We read a passage from Tattoos on the Heart that talked about homies who commit suicide by walking into enemy territory rather than putting a gun to their head. And we were again reminded of the concerns of so many 14 year olds- “will I die or will I go to jail”.
The fragility of human beings is so much more obvious in this context when rather than so many privileges providing stepping stones to success, they are fighting against the barriers society places in front of them day after day. Schools with less resources, parents who struggle to get good paying jobs, skin color that leave the police all too aware of their actions- they are fragile and have no safety nets. Safety nets become gangs, drugs and violence when the world is not on your side. As I sat with the kindergarteners today I felt both heart broken and hopeful. Heart broken at the reality they are fighting against. Yet hopeful that a school with a high success rate may be their out. Then we returned to Homeboy silkscreen and another homie told us about how some of his family calls him a sell out for leaving the gangs and again I was reminded of how fragile we all are.
We are all grasping for something. The homie at the silk screen and the kids and teachers at Asencion have focused that grasp on their faith. And something about it seems to work.
We are fragile and we need something more. We are searching for meaning, for love and for light. The homies and these young kindergarteners might not be able to find it in the people around them, their circumstances, the barriers they are facing- but so many of them seem to find it in God. Despite all the questions I and so many have- faith gives something to these people. To the homies, the teachers at Asencion, the families who are a part of Delores Mission and work through Christain Base Communities to meet the needs of their community. Their faith drives them and gets them out of bed in the morning. There is a sense of oneness in our need for something more in this community. People know we can not do it alone and there is no attempt to fake that we can. They don’t have the masks to cover it up and fake it so instead they turn to God to hold them. It is the most beautiful, strongest faith I have ever seen and so inspiring amidst such deep suffering.
So many of them don’t have a future of “it will get better” to hold onto like I do on rough days. But they do not deny that they need something, that they are fragile and vulnerable. So instead they place their faith in God- despite all the reasons to believe things WONT improve- they hold onto a hope that it will, that God, like Father G, is in their corner. Is suffering with them, going to immigration marches with them, in the midst of gang violence with them- and will love them unconditionally, protect them and help them find their way to that “it will get better” they have never even been able to dream about.
~Michelle Maddex
LA: Homeboys
Ryan Selewicz
(names changed)
We had just parked on an industrial side street in East Los Angeles. This was my
group’s next stop after a day working with students at a local Catholic elementary
school. The buildings on each side of the street had beautiful graffiti-esque murals
and the street itself was in desperate need of repaving. We looked for the Homeboy
Industries sign and when we found it, we walked towards the building we knew
must be their silk screen shop.
The Homeboy Industries silk screen shop is part of the non profit organization
founded by Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. that provides jobs for former gang members.
We were greeted by a man named Anthony. He introduced himself as a Sales
Manager at Homeboy Industries’ silk screening business. He started by telling us his
story.
Anthony was pulled into a gang at the age of seven by his father’s side of the family.
Hearing this after spending a day with children at an elementary school really
brought this to life for me. I struggled to imagine one of the second graders I had
just been playing with out on the blacktop, participating in gang activity. Anthony
told us that had his first child at the age of fifteen and became a heavy drug user.
After spending four years in prison, Anthony realized he needed a change in his life.
His mom, who had met Fr. Greg while he was in prison, referred him to Homeboy
Industries
Anthony told us about how his job acts as a lifeline for him just as it does for all of
his colleagues by keeping them away from the harmful practices and people they
were once associated with, as well as providing a new family and the resources to
live a positive life. He shared with us that many of his former fellow gang members
were not supportive of the fact that he had left the gang to work at Homeboy, but
that it really doesn’t matter anymore. He has a new community.
Since our tour was during normal business hours, the shop was in the middle of
production. Anthony told us they’ve been known to fill an order for 3000 shirts
in half a day. They work together like a family. We made our way over to the silk
screen machines and were so excited to see that the shirts they were working on
were for “SCU Sustainability.” I already knew what Homebody Industries does
and that many organizations at Santa Clara University use them to print shirts, but
meeting the people who do the silk screening, seeing them in action, and hearing
about how this job has made such a difference for them and their families was
really powerful. I always see students wearing these shirts on campus. I’m excited
because now I know that whenever I wear one of my shirts or see somebody else
wearing a shirt from a Search retreat, or other on campus organization, I will
remember the stories from Anthony and the other homies, and how much their jobs
mean to them.
(names changed)
We had just parked on an industrial side street in East Los Angeles. This was my
group’s next stop after a day working with students at a local Catholic elementary
school. The buildings on each side of the street had beautiful graffiti-esque murals
and the street itself was in desperate need of repaving. We looked for the Homeboy
Industries sign and when we found it, we walked towards the building we knew
must be their silk screen shop.
The Homeboy Industries silk screen shop is part of the non profit organization
founded by Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. that provides jobs for former gang members.
We were greeted by a man named Anthony. He introduced himself as a Sales
Manager at Homeboy Industries’ silk screening business. He started by telling us his
story.
Anthony was pulled into a gang at the age of seven by his father’s side of the family.
Hearing this after spending a day with children at an elementary school really
brought this to life for me. I struggled to imagine one of the second graders I had
just been playing with out on the blacktop, participating in gang activity. Anthony
told us that had his first child at the age of fifteen and became a heavy drug user.
After spending four years in prison, Anthony realized he needed a change in his life.
His mom, who had met Fr. Greg while he was in prison, referred him to Homeboy
Industries
Anthony told us about how his job acts as a lifeline for him just as it does for all of
his colleagues by keeping them away from the harmful practices and people they
were once associated with, as well as providing a new family and the resources to
live a positive life. He shared with us that many of his former fellow gang members
were not supportive of the fact that he had left the gang to work at Homeboy, but
that it really doesn’t matter anymore. He has a new community.
Since our tour was during normal business hours, the shop was in the middle of
production. Anthony told us they’ve been known to fill an order for 3000 shirts
in half a day. They work together like a family. We made our way over to the silk
screen machines and were so excited to see that the shirts they were working on
were for “SCU Sustainability.” I already knew what Homebody Industries does
and that many organizations at Santa Clara University use them to print shirts, but
meeting the people who do the silk screening, seeing them in action, and hearing
about how this job has made such a difference for them and their families was
really powerful. I always see students wearing these shirts on campus. I’m excited
because now I know that whenever I wear one of my shirts or see somebody else
wearing a shirt from a Search retreat, or other on campus organization, I will
remember the stories from Anthony and the other homies, and how much their jobs
mean to them.
San Jose: Food Justice
Today we learned about food injustice and how difficult it can be for people in
poverty to find healthy food options. We went out into the community and surveyed
different food places, which mainly consisted of convenience stores. Seeing the
limited food options and the prices of healthy food versus unhealthy food was
definitely an eye opener. We were each given two dollars for lunch. We were aware
that unhealthy food options are cheaper and easier than produce and other healthy
options, but being put in this position made it much more clear to us. With limited
money, we found the realistic options were fast food or food from convenience
stores. Tomorrow we will be learning more about the importance of providing
healthy food options and the injustices around food in this community.
poverty to find healthy food options. We went out into the community and surveyed
different food places, which mainly consisted of convenience stores. Seeing the
limited food options and the prices of healthy food versus unhealthy food was
definitely an eye opener. We were each given two dollars for lunch. We were aware
that unhealthy food options are cheaper and easier than produce and other healthy
options, but being put in this position made it much more clear to us. With limited
money, we found the realistic options were fast food or food from convenience
stores. Tomorrow we will be learning more about the importance of providing
healthy food options and the injustices around food in this community.
Borderlinks: Wednesday March 27, 2013
Wednesday March 27, 2013
Today we started off our day with a presentation from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). This is the first time that we heard from the “other” side of the immigration issue. The presentation broke down the different fields and aspects that make up HSI. We got more in to detail about the laws surrounding immigration as well as weapon/drug smuggling. As a group, we felt a bit uncomfortable with the language being used, especially since we’ve been learning about terminology and the power of language.
After the presentation, we went to the University of Arizona to visit the exhibit, “A World Separated by Borders”. It was a photo gallery depicting different aspects of migrating across the border. The gallery showed a very realistic view of what occurs daily and the emotions that many migrants feel/experience. One photo that struck us depicted a migrant showing off a tattoo of his baby girl that he is separated from. This photo really humanized what it means to be a migrant because we were able to put a face to it and a face to the issues that we have been learning about and discussing.
We then walked over to another part of campus where there was a sculpture, including a part of the old border wall. The sculpture had two metal people on both sides of the wall, pushing off of it. We were told that, when this was at the actual border, all four figures would be on the US side and then switched over to the Mexico side, periodically. It was very striking to us that all the four figures were on one side, we originally thought that two were on one side and the other two were on the other side. It was also very striking to see the sculpture on the university campus, signifying how prominent the issue is to the community.
We had the opportunity to see a documentary titled Two Americans which showed both sides of the immigration issue, specifically in Phoenix. The documentary was very eye opening and emotional. It led us, as a group, to question how we can get involved and contribute. It made us reflect on the laws, like SB1070, and how one group in power can really make all the decisions or affect the greater community.
We ended the day with making pupusas with Martha, a Salvadorian migrant. It was a great bonding experience for all of us and it lightened our emotionally draining week.
Today we started off our day with a presentation from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). This is the first time that we heard from the “other” side of the immigration issue. The presentation broke down the different fields and aspects that make up HSI. We got more in to detail about the laws surrounding immigration as well as weapon/drug smuggling. As a group, we felt a bit uncomfortable with the language being used, especially since we’ve been learning about terminology and the power of language.
After the presentation, we went to the University of Arizona to visit the exhibit, “A World Separated by Borders”. It was a photo gallery depicting different aspects of migrating across the border. The gallery showed a very realistic view of what occurs daily and the emotions that many migrants feel/experience. One photo that struck us depicted a migrant showing off a tattoo of his baby girl that he is separated from. This photo really humanized what it means to be a migrant because we were able to put a face to it and a face to the issues that we have been learning about and discussing.
We then walked over to another part of campus where there was a sculpture, including a part of the old border wall. The sculpture had two metal people on both sides of the wall, pushing off of it. We were told that, when this was at the actual border, all four figures would be on the US side and then switched over to the Mexico side, periodically. It was very striking to us that all the four figures were on one side, we originally thought that two were on one side and the other two were on the other side. It was also very striking to see the sculpture on the university campus, signifying how prominent the issue is to the community.
We had the opportunity to see a documentary titled Two Americans which showed both sides of the immigration issue, specifically in Phoenix. The documentary was very eye opening and emotional. It led us, as a group, to question how we can get involved and contribute. It made us reflect on the laws, like SB1070, and how one group in power can really make all the decisions or affect the greater community.
We ended the day with making pupusas with Martha, a Salvadorian migrant. It was a great bonding experience for all of us and it lightened our emotionally draining week.
Borderlinks: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
We started
off our day by reuniting the group (since we had spent the night in three
separate home stays . We headed to the Sierra Club in Tucson to meet with Dan
Millis to learn about the harmful effects that the militarization of the border
has had on the border and its various ecosystems. From there, we went to the
desert lands near Arivaca. Here, ready with trash bags and gloves and coated
with sunscreen and packed with water, we went on a desert walk to pick up the
belongings that migrants had abandoned along the migrant trail. We walked under
88 degree weather and after some ten minutes of walking, we began to see
objects: water bottles, clothes, backpacks, backpacks, and more backpacks. The
road began more rugged and as we walked on further, being scratched and coming
close to falling onto edgy rocks, we came across underwear, bras, toothbrushes,
Colgate toothpaste, and ruminants of what once used to be deodorant. We came
across shoes, boots mostly, bent and without soles. Upon reaching a place where
Dan suggested we stop, the large group began to pick up the articles that
immigrants had left behind. There were more backpacks, clothes, many with
brands worn by school children in the US. They were colorless, bleached by the
sun and coated with dry layers of dirt. Under a thorny bush, we pulled a corner
of the backpack only to find three or four backpacks more. There was also a
Minnie Mouse diaper and a plastic pink hair clip small enough to belong to a
child. We had walked less than half an hour and yet most of us were exhausted
and thirsty.
We returned
to our air conditioned white vans carrying bags full of what had been the most
vital possessions to the immigrants on that trail. In reality, we will never
know what the people who travel these lands face. Our short-lived trip through
that trail was evidence to us that the desert is unforgiving and what these
migrants face is beyond explanation. We have a new found level of respect for
the immigrants who come to this country looking for a better life.
New Orleans: Group with homeowners
A picture from today with the whole crew and Leroy and Leona who are the homeowners:
Navajo Nation: Navajo Language and Clan System
Navajo Language and Clan System
Yesterday evening after a dinner of mutton stew and fry bread we received a presentation on Navajo language and the clan system present by Mrs. Kenesley who is a Navajo language teacher at Dine College. The Navajo are proud of their complex language and are currently working to make sure it stays alive by teaching it in the schools. The language has 36 letters and 48 different vowel sounds which makes reading and speaking the language very difficult. The language is very precise so they were taught to be very careful with what they say especially because there is no word for sorry. The language is so complex it was used as a weapon in World War II when the Navajo Codetalkers created an unbreakable code used to communicate within the army.
The first things the Navajo say when they introduce themselves are their four clans. Their last name is not considered to be important. Rather your four clans form your identity. They inherit their clan from their mother but also share the clan they are "born for" which is their father's clan and then the clans of the mother's father and their father's father. They are not allowed to marry into their first two clans and probably not the last two either because everyone in those clans are considered relatives. The clan system can be used to make connections and find relatives in new places immediately. Almost everyone is somehow related which helped reduce infighting among the Navajo. Each clan also has associated characteristics. For example, the Many Goats Clan is known for their hospitality and the Towering House Clan is known for it's leadership. This is a very complex system that is probably fully understood by the Navajo themselves and we are hoping to learn more about it throughout the week.
Callie and Daisy
Yesterday evening after a dinner of mutton stew and fry bread we received a presentation on Navajo language and the clan system present by Mrs. Kenesley who is a Navajo language teacher at Dine College. The Navajo are proud of their complex language and are currently working to make sure it stays alive by teaching it in the schools. The language has 36 letters and 48 different vowel sounds which makes reading and speaking the language very difficult. The language is very precise so they were taught to be very careful with what they say especially because there is no word for sorry. The language is so complex it was used as a weapon in World War II when the Navajo Codetalkers created an unbreakable code used to communicate within the army.
The first things the Navajo say when they introduce themselves are their four clans. Their last name is not considered to be important. Rather your four clans form your identity. They inherit their clan from their mother but also share the clan they are "born for" which is their father's clan and then the clans of the mother's father and their father's father. They are not allowed to marry into their first two clans and probably not the last two either because everyone in those clans are considered relatives. The clan system can be used to make connections and find relatives in new places immediately. Almost everyone is somehow related which helped reduce infighting among the Navajo. Each clan also has associated characteristics. For example, the Many Goats Clan is known for their hospitality and the Towering House Clan is known for it's leadership. This is a very complex system that is probably fully understood by the Navajo themselves and we are hoping to learn more about it throughout the week.
Callie and Daisy
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
New Orleans, Community: 3 days in NOLA
New Orleans, Community: 3 days in NOLA
We've been in New Orleans for three days now. Each day different from the other as we are constantly on the move. Today we woke up at 5:45am and started working on our house at 7 am. Through the St. Bernard project, we have the opportunity to serve as volunteers- hoping to build a house for residents that lost their home or are currently displaced due to Hurricane Katrina. after two days of work on the house, i can definitely say we've made some progress. We've sanded, mudded, and tapped the walls, and we also drilled in screws. I am beyond excited for tomorrow morning because we will be meeting Leroy and Lona-the future owners of the house. Even though it's been seven years since Hurricane Katrina hit, and many communities in New Orleans have been redeveloped, there are still other communities that look abandoned, desolate, and impoverished. Nevertheless, the city is still rebuilding and improvement which I'm sure brings a whole of encouragement and support to the people. There are so many ways to describe this vibrant city filled with so much culture, color and community. Although we have yet to speak to the natives here in New Orleans, I already feel attached. As we drive down Rampart St., passing the French Quarter, the business districts, and the residential areas, I feel this great aura of liveliness and openness that invites my curiosity to explore the depths of the city. There is so much history in this place, it's almost overwhelming. Every site we visit makes me hungry for knowledge-about this city, the effects of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and lastly, the community. well, thats all for now. We're going to Good Shepard school to lead a project at the after school enrichment! And tonight, we'll be having dinner with the JVC volunteers. As the folk down here would say... y'all have a good day! :)
San Francisco, Community
San Francisco, Community
Like most of my peers I had a preconceived idea about the homeless and what they would be like. Even though I had been informed about how the homeless population includes individuals who are living in temporary homes or families that are hopping from house to house, I was still shocked by how different my expectations are from reality.
Before I had often imagined the homeless to be living in isolation from one another without a feeling of belonging anywhere. I felt hesitant about approaching anyone and initiating a conversation because I felt that I could easily say the wrong thing or ask the wrong questions and offend someone.
I think the experience that radically changed my perception and forced me to step out of my comfort zone was the St. Vincent de Paul Wellness Center. On Monday we had the opportunity to do more than just serve meals to our clients. Instead of solely focusing on providing the bare necessities for survival, we had the chance to reach out and nurture their minds and spirits.
I feel like I had the chance to see firsthand just what St. Vincent de Paul does for this community. During the mindful meditation session I felt humbled and inspired by all the calm faces I saw as everyone went deep within themselves to find inner peace. I was also amazed by how open and accepting people were to sharing their experiences and thoughts about the meditation.
My favorite part was the art program. It is not art therapy because the clients' art is not being analyzed, but it is just as therapeutic. That was the moment where I started opening up and asking questions about the collages that people were working on. I heard fascinating stories and saw just how hopeful these people were despite their circumstances. They were not afraid to tell me if they were recovering from substance abuse or if they had struggles with their addiction. I think these people were honest and welcomed me to their community. I also felt like they had so much more to offer me than I could offer them. I had nothing to teach them, but I felt that they were so much knowledgeable and well rounded than me which was really refreshing.
I think that these people were a great example of community for me. Despite their different backgrounds and opinions they were all fighting the same things together. I watched as two women hugged and made up after a misunderstanding. One of them said "I've known you for far too long to fight about little things like that." When I heard that, I realized just how long these people had been together. And even if their families, friends, and most of the world had given up on them, St. Vincent de Paul and the other clients at the Wellness Center did not.
That's what a real community is supposed to be
San Francisco, Justice: A Few Poetic Thoughts...
San Francisco, Justice: A Few Poetic Thoughts...
Between Two Worlds:
We are from two different worlds and places
Yet essentially the same,
with the utmost respect in
Trying to understand where and how you came
As your story of all the miles will stay with me
From two worlds of a scholar and home
Moving the same direction in two different places
From here and where I from
A privilege to some
But at least all the while
I give you my heart and a smile
Serving in Solidarity
San Francisco, Community :Day 1
San Francisco, Community :Day 1
Day 1: Immersing in a Community
As I drive up to the platform of the Caltrain station, I lift my bags out of the car and begin looking for my immersion group. I hear my name called by a group member (Josue), and see a few familiar faces wave from the other side of the train tracks, as I headed down the stairs towards the platform sign "To San Francisco . On my way down the stairs, I see campus ministry staff member Matt Smith* who greets me on his bike and stops by to visit the group before we leave to which us a safe and meaningful trip/immersion experience.
About a minute later, our train pulls in, and we all lift our backpacks, sleeping and duffel bags towards immersing ourselves in a new community and experience together for the next 5 days of spring break. Talk on the train consisted of gratitude for a much needed break of simple living, from the frantic and fast pace of an exhausting finals week and ending of winter quarter, and Subway sandwich dinner orders.
(A Caltrain conductor noticed/commented about the pile of luggage of our group in the corner and asked where we were headed.)
Shortly afterwards, in about an hour, we arrived at the Millbrae BART station, our second stop and transportation connecting us to SF, as we clamored hurriedly off the train to our next destination.
At the BART station, there we at least several long flights of stairs through to our train, much to my dismay of having a slightly heaving rolling carry-on, wishing to have perhaps followed the 'simple living' in packing a bit lighter (and for an elevator).
However, struggling down the steep narrow staircase with my sleeping bag, luggage carry-on, and backpack, while a large mass of people were traveling upwards the opposite side of the staircase with half of my group behind (and in front) of me, I hear a woman's voice inquire "Do you need help?". As I turn around simultaneously, a woman with sunglasses held the other end of my bag, helping me carry it down the rest of the stairs, as I breathlessly thanked her in appreciation.
Then when I entered the BART train, one of my group members offered to trade, carrying two lighter sleeping bags for my carry-on luggage after we got off BART. I agreed in gratitude and thanked the brave and strong individual (yes there were a few more flights of stairs).
Escalator pulls up to the city street, and I am excited. We had arrived and were immersed in the City. I visited SF every now and then as a local with my family, but knew this would be San Francisco from a different and unique perspective, with excitement and insight into a community rarely seen from trolley cars, Muni buses, and the Golden Gate.
We got off at the civic center, and met our companion, Sean, a graduate Jesuit theology student, who greeted us near a prominent fountain in front of SF Federal Building.
We then walked a few blocks to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, our home for the next few days, and duration of our immersion experience.
There we met our host coordinators Anjali and Michael from St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVPD) , who greeted us with open doors,while we entered the building. Anjali and Michael provided a brief overview, introduction and tour of the organization facilities, its purpose and services offered, by the society for over 100 years.
After looking over our volunteer handbook and journaling our experiences thus far, we went out to a local market to shop for breakfast items and groceries at a convenient local can urban market around the corner (similar to Whole Foods*/many organic items, including a $15 jar of peanut butter, much to the disparity of later learning that the budget for a tray of food for a client at MSC food service, for many members of the Tenderloin community and homeless individuals is only about $1.25 to $2 dollars*).
We ended the day with a brief reflection, going over our journey and trip here so far, which led to a realization personal experience thus far that community can be found even in the most unexpected forms the moment we need it the most.
BorderLinks, Justice: Monday
BorderLinks, Justice: Monday
This morning we woke up early to make our trek down to Nogales, AZ, a town that is bisected by the US-Mexico border. We were able to see much of the Southern Arizona landscape on our trip, illustrating the truly inhospitable environment that immigrants must cross on limited food, water, and topographical knowledge.
Our first stop was the Kino Border Initiative, an organization that helps migrants on both sides of the border. They have a kitchen, shelter, and clinic in Nogales, Mexico for deported migrants, as well as an educational mission on the American side. The organization was founded in part by the Jesuit Order making us very proud and appreciative to be educated by such an active and compassionate tradition. A man named West presented a wide range of information pertaining to the border and undocumented immigration, including the economic roots, the obstacles of legal immigration, and the relationship between drug violence in Mexico and US drug consumption. We were all very surprised to learn the actual law that migrants break when illegally crossing the border: a misdemeanor known as "Entry without inspection". The violation seemed relatively minor given the human costs of immigration that have been repeatedly demonstrated on our trip. West asked us if anyone had ever broken a law. After everyone in the room raised their hands, he asked, "Doesn't that make us all 'illegals' then, and not just those who cross the border without inspection?"
After this very informative and enlightening presentation, we had lunch in a park. Shortly after, a woman named Jeanette came to talk to us about her work with an organization Home for Hope and Peace (HEPAC) which helps people in Nogales, Mexico by providing education, a positive environment and community, and shelter. It is the sister organization to Borderlinks. She shared with us her perspective as a lifelong resident of Nogales, Mexico and how the border has shaped her town. She discussed how her work targeted the divisive, invisible walls that are formed in the mind and are a more dangerous byproduct of the physical wall that divides the two Nogales's.
We then went to see the actual wall, an extremely imposing structure. It resembles prison bars or a giant metal picket fence. It is clear to all that see it that the wall is meant to divide, not just to demarcate the boundary. We were able to stand in the spot where, just months ago, a Border Patrol agent shot a Mexican teenager eight times for throwing rocks. The description of the incident was a clear example of the invisible walls that Jeanette told us about.
The drive back was a much needed time to relax from the emotional toll of the day's events. Nearly everyone fell asleep on the shoulders of our fast friends. Upon return, we had but a few minutes to pack for a big surprise: We were going to have homestays that night. We split into 3 groups, by various levels of Spanish (especially since one of the hosts didn't speak any English). One commonality between all groups was that the food was great, the company enjoyable, and the sleep, deep man. Deep.
Our groups stayed with the couple Tony and Rosalina. They'd recently married a year before, and they eagerly welcomed us all in with pasta and conversation. Tony had been everywhere and was currently working in a biochemistry lab. Rosalina was an immigrant from mexico who raised her daughters on her own after she fled her abusive husband in Mexico. She currently spent her days working a nonprofit called Darnos meant to educate people on how to avoid violent abuse. One thing that she shared with us was that although the problem of immigration is big, there are so many organizations working to make things better. That is a cause for hope.
Anyhow, it's getting late. Better turn in for the night.
Eric Wu and Patrick McDonell
San Francisco, Community & Justice: Day 2: The Other Side/Between the Lines
San Francisco, Community & Justice: Day 2: The Other Side/Between the Lines
Walking through the Tenderloin in the city (name rumored in origin by police earnings, activity and more), the atmosphere featured a unique, culture, smell, and sights as to announce arrival into the district. For the first time we had entered the Tenderloin. As we walked past in our group, a few individuals had acknowledged us in with "good morning" or "God bless", as they stood lining the streets and areas, singular and in small groups of two or three. Through the unique culture, atmosphere, smell, and sights, one could gather a sense of community, yet somehow unwhole due to current conditions.
That morning, we had woken up 5am to start out our day serving breakfast at the MSC center, to women and men. Next was a tour of the city from the Tenderloin, Grace Cathedral, Market and Mission, to Chinatown, as our immersion leader/coordinator asked us to take note in being mindful of the individuals and differences in each district.
That afternoon, we ate lunch with the people and community at St. Anthony's, an organization well know and established (for over 50 years) throughout the neighborhood for serving meals of breakfast and lunch to homeless and recovering from difficult circumstances, of individuals and families of the tenderloin and local community. We later learned this was a temporary location which serves of 2600 meals a day from one of the coordinators, while the new facilities, twice as large is being built across the street.
For conversation over lunch with individuals, many in the group voiced concerns in finding common ground and "minding the gap" of being college students interacting with various individuals, while serving in humility. As a delicate balance, admittedly it was difficult at first staring conversations with those who were interested with a simple "how are you? or hello". But once initially acknowledged, many became engaged and immersed in sharing their life stories and struggles.
Later in week, (next day) we served and assisted in food preparation from the other side of St. Anthony's, as volunteers, at a glimpse of the extraordinarily organized foundation* as a well oiled machine of volunteers serving individuals who hold up tickets indicating they are ready to be served for seconds and third time.
The food station consisted of two lines, a variety of individuals of the community being served, and volunteers ranging from college students from local universities (USF, SF State, St. Mary's etc.), college parents (including from SCU), and ages from elder retirees to middle and high schools students.
We worked collaboratively with the staff, to provide the experience, as every had their part in "breading" providing bread for trays and serving individuals who were seated. I enjoyed serving the individuals trays and meals in the fast paced environment and the efficiency and ease of the system in which individuals could take food with them in small bags provided by St. Anthony's to how much members of the community ans staff talked about how they loved the positive environment.
The line on volunteers and individuals being served were next to one another, separated by a tentabarrier*, made me think symbolically about how the only thing separating us as volunteers from the other side, was this thin barrier, of opportunities, society and circumstances, when a man who was volunteer and had brought his 12-year-old son, behind me mad e a comment about how "he wasn't too far from being the other side". We were essentially moving the same direction (of receiving the food trays), but from two different places and purposes to serve an be served. One side students discussed spring break, grad school, what was next for them, the other side concerned with the next meal. Both sides clearly visible to one another with a thin barrier. Essentially it is up to us to reach across the aisle and lend a helping hand.
San Francisco, Justice: Encouraging Encounter: "Street Smarts"
San Francisco, Justice: Encouraging Encounter: "Street Smarts"
Dwayne*, one the day after we first had our meal at St. Anthony's we we gathering the immersion group outside the building waiting for the others. when a man, who appeared to be about in his late twenties, early thirties, in a Raiders baseball cap, tan corduroys and carrying a black bag approached us.
He told us his name was Dwayne, and asked if we were college students and what year we were. He then began to describe how he was a college student at a CSU, and fell into heavy drinking and substance abuse, and social activities, while his grades slipped into academic probation, and further until he was kicked out and suspended from the university. He mentioned how he had three years there studying environmental mechanics of water systems, and yet fell deeper in to the habit of abusing substances while moving around California for several years. Originally from a two-parent household in Oakland, with siblings in the military from a middle class family, ha talked about how he would had been the first one in his family to graduate to a college degree and disappointment of his parents through his jail time and probation as a result of his substance habits.
Then, he mentioned an old friend he recently visited in the medical field who he knew in college, who had a family, and many others he knew were financially stable, who he went to visit. At the end of the visit the friend had dropped him back off in the tenderloin. Dwayne asked him how he had done it all, balanced a family, work, and managed to stay on his feet. The friend had told him, how he had grow up had with one a single mother with substance abuse issues struggling as an only child, and used his difficult circumstances as motivation to get to where he is today, in comparison to how he (Dwayne), had two parents and relatively stable economically.
Dwane had connected this story to us by saying he wanted to share a lesson with us on how one simple urge to "fit in" and be a part of a crowd partaking in substances and social activities ultimately led him down the path of "still trying to complete what he was supposed to 10 years ago, in terms of his education and life goals. Specifically he focuses on the message of motivation for the privilege and those who come from less privilege backgrounds, and how although it may be harder to find motivation with more resources which are harder to appreciate, he cited his own underappreciation of privilege as a downfall, and encouraged us to appreciate the privilege and opportunity of an education which will always ultimately be worth while.
Finally, Dwayne had revealed the fact he could hold his head up high today, was that he was dealing with his substance issues, and after his parole was able to enroll in a certification program due to his 3 years training and education from college in environmental mechanics. This opportunity then led him to a job opportunity and project with a local city on redesigning water systems, as he opened up his back to reveal his technical textbook, which he would proclaimed he reads all day long as a "ninja" on its dynamics.
An elder man, also served by St. Anthony's and member of the community, was listening and chimed in with his own lesson of being in solidarity with Dwayne's experiences, as a Vietnam veteran, and encouraged us to ask people and CEO "at the top", how they got to where they are and keep in contact with them (and not making the same mistakes) offering a different and important perspective on the benefits and creation of education and community.
San Jose, Community & Justice: Monday
San Jose, Community & Justice: Monday
By Mark Rogers
Group Recap
-Day started bright and early at 7 am in Sobrato. We packed our lunches, ate a little
breakfast, but primarily worked together to wake up.
-The first half of the day we served at the Sacred Heart Community Center. We got
a tour of the facilities and then half of us served in the food pantry and the other
half in the clothes closet. We packed hundreds of bags with food and helped over a
hundred people pick out clothes
-After delicious packed lunches the sacred heart staff led us in a session where
we learned about the context of poverty in Santa Clara county and hunger justice
overall.
-The final part of our day was at Loaves and Fishes cutting fruit, serving soup,
pouring juice, chatting with the (customers?) washing dishes, and overall having a
blast helping serve a meal to over 140 people.
-At the end of our day we arrived at the church we’ll be staying at for the week and
we had a great time making dinner together, eating, laughing, and then reflecting on
the day.
Personal Highlights
High: I had a ton of fun seeing smiles, hearing genuine thank yous, practicing my
Spanish, and serving others throughout the day.
Funny: We had some great laughs at dinner, and the group gets along really well.
Anthony Carnesecca especially is a total riot and goofball and adds endless laughs to
us all.
Deep: The session on hunger justice was really intriguing and inspired me to ponder
the big issues of hunger and poverty not just in our San Jose community, but also in
the world as a whole.
Random: Even though the issues of poverty and hunger in the world are very
intimidating and overwhelming, it was super cool and encouraging to see all the
things that people and organizations in our community are doing for the poor.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
LA, Justice: The Power of Second Chances
LA, Justice: The Power of Second Chances
Many times when someone makes a mistake, we as a society are quick to
disown or to disregard these people after the first mistake. Throughout this first half
of the LA Immersion trip, I have had the privilege to listen to people’s stories about
their fallings and their how they were able to rise up and overcome their past.
The first such story I listened to occurred on Sunday during a tour of the Pico
Gardens housing projects, which are low-income housing units in Boyle Heights. The
man saw our group approaching and shared his past with us. Fr. Greg Boyle of
Homeboy Industries picked him up off the streets and gave him a job at Homeboy.
This job helped him put his life back in order and he eventually had a young son.
That son, he explained, became his reason for living. After he told his story, his
young son ran up and his father picked him up, sharing a tender father-son moment
with our group. At this moment, I was touched because I could see the genuine
dedication this man had to his son and the love his son had for his dad. Especially
considering the past the man had, this represented a moment of triumph and pure,
unbridled joy for him.
The following day, our group had the chance to tour Homeboy Industries.
Our tour guide, Josh, told us about what exactly Homeboy Industries does and
shared with us his history and how he ended up working at Homeboy. Josh lived a
seemingly normal family life until he was 12. He was kicked out of the house upon
his mother getting involved with an abusive boyfriend and later joined a street gang.
At 16, he was witness to a homicide between two gang members and was arrested
and questioned by police. Because he wouldn’t give the identity of the shooter, he
was locked up in jail until he revealed the shooter’s identity. Revealing the shooter’s
identity, according to Josh, would have put his family in danger because in gang
culture, if someone who is arrested “snitches” upon other gangs, the other gangs will
go after the “snitch’s” family. After many failed parole attempts, his mother got in
touch with Fr. Greg, who proceeded to fight for Josh in parole court. Demoralized
after constant failures to receive parole, Josh was overcome with emotion upon
hearing he earned parole with help from Fr. Greg and Homeboy Industries. Upon
being released from prison after 29 years, he was overcome with similar emotion.
Shortly after, Fr. Greg gave him a job at Homeboy and has been working there for
the past 4 years, working his way up from within. The second chance Homeboy has
provided has given Josh a new perspective on life. He said that, “His worst day at
work is also his best”. This spoke volumes with me because through his struggles, he
learned to recognize the value of the “little things” in life. Homeboy was a huge
blessing for him, best indicated by what he told us at the end of the tour. His dream
was that in approximately 4-5 years, he could start his own division of Homeboy
Industries that would give others the opportunity for redemption that he took
advantage of for himself.
That brings me to the overarching theme of these two stories: the power of
second chances. Both the man we encountered on Sunday and Josh had a checkered
past that, without Fr. Greg’s help, would have kept them in a cycle of despair.
Because of the second chances they were afforded, each gathered the strength to
overcome their past, their fears, and to rebuild their lives into something they could
be proud of. The man lives for his son; Josh lives for sharing his stories with others
and seeing other former gang members rebuild their lives.
Society, as a whole, is reluctant to give these people second chances. They
will see them make a mistake and live in fear of seeing them fail to change. This fear
is often reflected in society’s general attitudes towards those in jail. It prefers to lock
them up, afraid that they will come back unreformed, and hurt others. Not 100%
of released criminals will change. That’s a fact of life. But should society let those
select few blind them to the fact that those who are in prison have the potential for
change? Is it just to give those who make a mistake “x” number of chances before
they are disregarded from society forever? As a society, it would be productive to
ask ourselves and reflect upon these questions.
As the man with his son and Josh showed, they can change. They can rebuild their
lives. When we see the results of their efforts and the efforts of people who give
them second chances, like Fr. Greg, it transcends itself into something beautiful
and touching. They’ve unlocked the power of human potential. Despite their past,
they’ve tapped into that potential more effectively than most people ever have.
Bearing witness to that unlocked potential was an amazing privilege. Sometimes all
it takes is a second chance for those with a dark past to rise up and take control of
their lives. That second chance can truly be a powerful thing.
~Joe Sarmiento
Many times when someone makes a mistake, we as a society are quick to
disown or to disregard these people after the first mistake. Throughout this first half
of the LA Immersion trip, I have had the privilege to listen to people’s stories about
their fallings and their how they were able to rise up and overcome their past.
The first such story I listened to occurred on Sunday during a tour of the Pico
Gardens housing projects, which are low-income housing units in Boyle Heights. The
man saw our group approaching and shared his past with us. Fr. Greg Boyle of
Homeboy Industries picked him up off the streets and gave him a job at Homeboy.
This job helped him put his life back in order and he eventually had a young son.
That son, he explained, became his reason for living. After he told his story, his
young son ran up and his father picked him up, sharing a tender father-son moment
with our group. At this moment, I was touched because I could see the genuine
dedication this man had to his son and the love his son had for his dad. Especially
considering the past the man had, this represented a moment of triumph and pure,
unbridled joy for him.
The following day, our group had the chance to tour Homeboy Industries.
Our tour guide, Josh, told us about what exactly Homeboy Industries does and
shared with us his history and how he ended up working at Homeboy. Josh lived a
seemingly normal family life until he was 12. He was kicked out of the house upon
his mother getting involved with an abusive boyfriend and later joined a street gang.
At 16, he was witness to a homicide between two gang members and was arrested
and questioned by police. Because he wouldn’t give the identity of the shooter, he
was locked up in jail until he revealed the shooter’s identity. Revealing the shooter’s
identity, according to Josh, would have put his family in danger because in gang
culture, if someone who is arrested “snitches” upon other gangs, the other gangs will
go after the “snitch’s” family. After many failed parole attempts, his mother got in
touch with Fr. Greg, who proceeded to fight for Josh in parole court. Demoralized
after constant failures to receive parole, Josh was overcome with emotion upon
hearing he earned parole with help from Fr. Greg and Homeboy Industries. Upon
being released from prison after 29 years, he was overcome with similar emotion.
Shortly after, Fr. Greg gave him a job at Homeboy and has been working there for
the past 4 years, working his way up from within. The second chance Homeboy has
provided has given Josh a new perspective on life. He said that, “His worst day at
work is also his best”. This spoke volumes with me because through his struggles, he
learned to recognize the value of the “little things” in life. Homeboy was a huge
blessing for him, best indicated by what he told us at the end of the tour. His dream
was that in approximately 4-5 years, he could start his own division of Homeboy
Industries that would give others the opportunity for redemption that he took
advantage of for himself.
That brings me to the overarching theme of these two stories: the power of
second chances. Both the man we encountered on Sunday and Josh had a checkered
past that, without Fr. Greg’s help, would have kept them in a cycle of despair.
Because of the second chances they were afforded, each gathered the strength to
overcome their past, their fears, and to rebuild their lives into something they could
be proud of. The man lives for his son; Josh lives for sharing his stories with others
and seeing other former gang members rebuild their lives.
Society, as a whole, is reluctant to give these people second chances. They
will see them make a mistake and live in fear of seeing them fail to change. This fear
is often reflected in society’s general attitudes towards those in jail. It prefers to lock
them up, afraid that they will come back unreformed, and hurt others. Not 100%
of released criminals will change. That’s a fact of life. But should society let those
select few blind them to the fact that those who are in prison have the potential for
change? Is it just to give those who make a mistake “x” number of chances before
they are disregarded from society forever? As a society, it would be productive to
ask ourselves and reflect upon these questions.
As the man with his son and Josh showed, they can change. They can rebuild their
lives. When we see the results of their efforts and the efforts of people who give
them second chances, like Fr. Greg, it transcends itself into something beautiful
and touching. They’ve unlocked the power of human potential. Despite their past,
they’ve tapped into that potential more effectively than most people ever have.
Bearing witness to that unlocked potential was an amazing privilege. Sometimes all
it takes is a second chance for those with a dark past to rise up and take control of
their lives. That second chance can truly be a powerful thing.
~Joe Sarmiento
Monday, March 25, 2013
Borderlinks: Day Two: "We are not 'illegal aliens'; We are people."
Borderlinks
Day Two: "We are not 'illegal aliens'; We are people."
Day Two: "We are not 'illegal aliens'; We are people."
After
a much-needed 8 hours of peaceful sleep and a healthy breakfast, we
walked to attend the Palm Sunday mass service at Southside Presbyterian
Church. There, we were warmly welcomed by members of the community. From
children gleefully processing in holding palm branches to individual
members of the community expressing their very own prayer intentions in
front of their fellow parishoners, the sense of community that the
church itself fostered was very obvious and prevalent. We even had the
opportunity to witness the baptism of an adorable little girl named
Ellie! Afterwards, the van took us to a street fair where we were
greeted with the inviting scent of kettle corn and tents of the most
unique and colorful hand-made items. Though we were only there for a
brief amount of time, it was enough for us to absorb a fascinating part
of Tucson culture. After enjoying the fair, we went back to home base to
have lunch and listen to three presenters speak on behalf of
Scholarships A-Z, a non-profit organization that provides resources for
undocumented students seek financial aid for college. The presenters,
Daria, Manny and Eddie, began with information regarding Proposition 300
(a legislative act that requires all undocumented students in Arizona
pursuing a college education to pay tuition at the out-of-state rate),
the DREAM act, and about DACA (Deferred Action Credibility Assessment).
They then elaborated on the history and mission of Scholarships A-Z. We
also had the honor of hearing each of them individually tell their own
stories on how they tackled the struggles of being undocumented and
obtaining an good and affordable college education, of working in a
system that wasn't made to work for them. We learned of their most
recent achievement of advocating for state legislators to vote in favor
of an act letting DACA recipients pay for college at the in-state rate
as well as their goal to make this act known to all educational
institutions statewide as quickly as possible.
Next, we headed to Casa Mariposa (Butterfly House), a
home started by a group of individuals from different religious
denominations for immigrants transitioning to a new life in America.
During our visit to Casa Mariposa, we met an ex-journalist and artist
from Guatemala named Cesar. He shared with us his experience attempting
to gain entry to America - which he did no less than nine times. Along
the way he witnessed unspeakable brutality, mostly from a Mexico-based
drug cartel called the Zetas. Fortunately, he eventually gained
political asylum, but even this has its challenges. He is not able to
work in America, which means it is difficult for him to support himself.
Instead, he sells his paintings to buy basic necessities. Each one is
a beautiful portrait of the hardships of immigrant life, which he
portrays through symbols. Since the rest of his work is in a gallery,
he painted three new pictures especially to show us! Three of our lucky
group members were able to buy them. On a happier note, we ended our
day with some delicious Sonoran-style hot dogs and horchata. We then
returned to Borderlinks to write, chat, and reflect on our days.
Borderlinks: Day One: Journey to Tucson and First Impressions
Borderlinks
Day One: Journey to Tucson and First Impressions
Day One: Journey to Tucson and First Impressions
Waking
up and meeting at 4 o'clock in the morning was a struggle for most of
us. But the excitement and anticipation that pondered our minds made it
worth it. Having our first flight to Phoenix delayed, our group put in
serious work, literally running to the next terminal to board our next
flight to Tucson. We definitely cut it short. And before we knew it, we
had arrived at Tucson, Arizona. At the airport, we were met by two
Borderlink delegates. They picked us up and we were on our way to the
Borderlink hostile. After an interesting icebreaker and a general tour
of the Borderlinks hostile, we sat down and had our first organic meal
with the Borderlink coordinators. Not the food we had in mind but
definitely delicious. After a healthy and filling lunch, we had a
presentation by another Borderlink leader. She gave us a history on
immigration and how it has evolved throughout the years, as well as the
differing perspectives surrounding this predominant issue. After a long
morning, it was time for some well deserved down time. While some of us
decided to tour the streets of Tucson, others decided to catch up on
hours of sleep. Then came the highlight of our day...Mike Wilson! Mike
Wilson came to Borderlinks to talk to us about his first hand accounts
with migrants and families of migrants, and his active role in the
issues surrounding immigration. Mike Wilson plays an active role in
serving migrants. He spends his days placing water at reserves where
they are available to people crossing the border. His insights and
contribution to the issue of immigration made him a truly inspirational
figure. Despite being shunned by government tribes, his strong moral
sense of community and perception of spirituality enabled him to do what
was morally right. And finally, we ended our day with a reflection on
our initial thoughts of Tucson, the speakers, and the issue of
immigration.
LA, Simplicity: What is it to be simple?
LA: Simplicity
What is it to be simple?
We concluded our first day of Immersion enjoying authentic Mexican food on
park benches where families and friends had gathered to celebrate a young girl’s
birthday (denoted by the lovely pink and white balloons) and where children
enjoyed sliding down a gravel slope using a flattened cardboard box. Each and
every one of us marveled at the beauty, the innocence, and the simplicity of the
children as their squeals of happiness were heard. It even inspired one of our
very own Immersion participants to roll down the grassy hillJ After satisfying our
tummy’s growls and enjoying each other’s company, we made our way back to
Delores Mission and were met with a mesmerizing sight. There, in front of us,
was one of the most beautiful sunsets we had ever seen: purple, pink, blue and
pale green against the skyscrapers of Los Angeles. We all just stood there, in
awe, soaking it in, and being present to the sunset, each other, and our own
beings. Had we had our phones, our technology, we would not have been
present, we would not have really seen the sunset. Instead, we would be
overcome with the need to share it with the world, to post a picture on facebook,
to tweet, to instagram. And even then we wouldn’t be satisfied; we would
constantly pull out our phones to see how many likes, how many comments, our
posts received. Enjoying a day of simplicity, a moment even, really enabled us to
be present and to recognize the small pleasures, the small joys. We were not
focused in capturing the sunset with our phone cameras, instead we saw it with
our very own eyes, and captured it in our hearts. While photos may get deleted
or whither in time, the picture that each one of us took with our eyes and hearts
will forever remain. Being simple and embracing simplicity allowed us to really
enjoy the pastel sunset, the colorful balloons, and the delight of the children. Our
dinner, our environment was very humble, yet it was the simplicity that enabled
us to enjoy our evening together as community, as family.
~Alyna Merali
What is it to be simple?
We concluded our first day of Immersion enjoying authentic Mexican food on
park benches where families and friends had gathered to celebrate a young girl’s
birthday (denoted by the lovely pink and white balloons) and where children
enjoyed sliding down a gravel slope using a flattened cardboard box. Each and
every one of us marveled at the beauty, the innocence, and the simplicity of the
children as their squeals of happiness were heard. It even inspired one of our
very own Immersion participants to roll down the grassy hillJ After satisfying our
tummy’s growls and enjoying each other’s company, we made our way back to
Delores Mission and were met with a mesmerizing sight. There, in front of us,
was one of the most beautiful sunsets we had ever seen: purple, pink, blue and
pale green against the skyscrapers of Los Angeles. We all just stood there, in
awe, soaking it in, and being present to the sunset, each other, and our own
beings. Had we had our phones, our technology, we would not have been
present, we would not have really seen the sunset. Instead, we would be
overcome with the need to share it with the world, to post a picture on facebook,
to tweet, to instagram. And even then we wouldn’t be satisfied; we would
constantly pull out our phones to see how many likes, how many comments, our
posts received. Enjoying a day of simplicity, a moment even, really enabled us to
be present and to recognize the small pleasures, the small joys. We were not
focused in capturing the sunset with our phone cameras, instead we saw it with
our very own eyes, and captured it in our hearts. While photos may get deleted
or whither in time, the picture that each one of us took with our eyes and hearts
will forever remain. Being simple and embracing simplicity allowed us to really
enjoy the pastel sunset, the colorful balloons, and the delight of the children. Our
dinner, our environment was very humble, yet it was the simplicity that enabled
us to enjoy our evening together as community, as family.
~Alyna Merali
LA, Community: Juntos
LA: Community
Juntos
Yesterday I learned a new Spanish word. Juntos. It means together. Together we
strolled down the stairs and started the day. Together we learned, we listened,
we breathed in the day. It is only day 2, our first full day, but I can already tell that
we will carry juntos with us throughout this week. For me, the most significant
aspect about community is each individual’s perspective on its meaning. For
a while now, we have been forming a community as a group of Santa Clara
students. The community we have started to build is as significant as the
community we are engaging with. As we value each other’s experiences, we also
get to feel the hurt, the small victories, the simple joys in life, and the hopeful light
that is in Boyle Heights. Together we signed up for this immersion trip…but we
may not necessarily have come from the same backgrounds and motivations. No
matter, the East LA community has brought us together.
Juntos. We heard juntos in the Dolores Mission Church’s youth group reading
of the gospel. We felt community in the tour of the Projects in Pico Gardens.
We met juntos with a short and spontaneous meeting with a man who used to
be involved in a gang and his family. We tasted juntos in the delicious Mexican
cuisine that the Underwings after school program’s fundraiser prepared so
freshly. It reminded me of family in Manila during Christmas when everybody
comes together in celebration of love, with the spirit of faith, and the truest sense
of family. It is only a week, and so I am a little afraid that no matter how much
we serve, how much we listen, how much we are present…it will not be enough.
At the end of a week, we will return to our own communities. I think the beauty
of our time here in Boyle Heights is its sincere openness, want, and hope for a
strong community. The trajectory to how we have arrived to today is so raw. So
worthy of our time. So giving. So full. So juntos.
~Cheska Concepcion
Juntos
Yesterday I learned a new Spanish word. Juntos. It means together. Together we
strolled down the stairs and started the day. Together we learned, we listened,
we breathed in the day. It is only day 2, our first full day, but I can already tell that
we will carry juntos with us throughout this week. For me, the most significant
aspect about community is each individual’s perspective on its meaning. For
a while now, we have been forming a community as a group of Santa Clara
students. The community we have started to build is as significant as the
community we are engaging with. As we value each other’s experiences, we also
get to feel the hurt, the small victories, the simple joys in life, and the hopeful light
that is in Boyle Heights. Together we signed up for this immersion trip…but we
may not necessarily have come from the same backgrounds and motivations. No
matter, the East LA community has brought us together.
Juntos. We heard juntos in the Dolores Mission Church’s youth group reading
of the gospel. We felt community in the tour of the Projects in Pico Gardens.
We met juntos with a short and spontaneous meeting with a man who used to
be involved in a gang and his family. We tasted juntos in the delicious Mexican
cuisine that the Underwings after school program’s fundraiser prepared so
freshly. It reminded me of family in Manila during Christmas when everybody
comes together in celebration of love, with the spirit of faith, and the truest sense
of family. It is only a week, and so I am a little afraid that no matter how much
we serve, how much we listen, how much we are present…it will not be enough.
At the end of a week, we will return to our own communities. I think the beauty
of our time here in Boyle Heights is its sincere openness, want, and hope for a
strong community. The trajectory to how we have arrived to today is so raw. So
worthy of our time. So giving. So full. So juntos.
~Cheska Concepcion
Monday, March 4, 2013
Pillars of an Immersion Trip
Simplicity
An integral part of the immersion experience involves eliminating excess to quiet the mind and engage the participant. The Santa Clara Ignatian Center encourages participants to live simply in order to discover what is necessary to their journeys. Without distractions we are better able to understand our own privilege and connect with our communities and one another.Spirituality
Spirituality focuses on personal and communal reflection. Students from all faith backgrounds are invited to reflect on the role of their own spirituality and deeper questions of faith through the lens of their immersion trip. In order to better understand their own humanity and that of the community they encounter, participants will engage in various types of reflection. Throughout the trip the students will continuously engage their spiritual discernment, both as individuals and as a group.Community
While on immersion, we have the opportunity to go outside of our comfort zone and experience the ways in which other communities live. Immersion creates space for students to hear stories and glimpse realities they would otherwise not encounter as readily. The pillar of community helps us develop our appreciation of human connections and our capacity to build relationships. Immersion also helps participants build relationships with Santa Clara peers through reflection and quality time together.Justice
The most basic understanding of justice is right relationships. Immersion participants are challenged to consider what relationships exists in their lives, from their closest loved ones to the broader global community. Reflection on this topic touches upon power, privilege, access, resources, impact, and structures. Individually and as a group, immersion participants consider how to create, sustain, and develop right relationships.
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