"Some Who Feel No Reason For Thanksgiving"

Social justice sock puppet theatre :)

A requirement for our Community Work class this semester is to create a Youtube video which relates a social justice issue and/or put on a social justice theater performance for the community. As a group project, we decided to combine these two assignments to create a video which we will be screening on campus in order to open dialogue around our chosen topic(s).
Tales from the Sock Drawer: Multicolored Complications is a series of vignettes which feature social justice issues, specifically surrounding diversity across systems. With the help of the Fairy of Disenfranchised Socks, sock drawer community members explore issues of racism, discrimination, colonization, and competition for resources and search for solutions through community organizing.
We've put a lot of work into the creation of the video. Please join us for a screening with a discussion and snacks! Tuesday, December 1st at 6:30 in BSS Native Forum. We hope to include feedback from the screening with the final video which will be posted on YouTube.


UPDATE: We're on Youtube- thanks Robi! Enjoy!

Lewin's Force-Field Analysis

Last week we took an in-depth look at Lewin's field theory (1951), including the Force-Field Analysis model for change. It was interesting and helpful to see a breakdown of the various elements involved in changing (or maintaining) the status quo. The analysis is a step by step process which focuses on weighing “driving forces” of change against “restraining forces” in order to determine possible steps toward shifting power to the side of driving forces, thus creating disequilibrium and ultimately enacting change (Hardcastle and Powers, 2004). The process includes first identifying a need/problem and a goal that would alleviate the need. After a goal has been identified, restraining and driving forces are measured depending on their strength and relationships to one another. Finally, a “gap analysis” requires brainstorming ways in which restraining forces might be weakened and/or driving forces might be strengthened, so as to create better opportunity for change. It also includes identifying key players in the change process.
Using examples generated by classmates, we were able to analyze some of the oppressive systems which are currently in place at different levels of society (from agency policies we have seen in our internships to the national infrastructures which work to marginalize countless people such as the U.S. Prison Industrial Complex). In looking at the “driving” vs. “restraining” forces in many of the examples, common themes began to arise, including money and scarcity of resources on the side of the restraining forces and the mobilization of “the people” and community need on the side of driving forces. In some cases elements might show up on both sides of the force field such as statistics/evidence which might be used to keep policies or structures in place, but could also be used as a resource to support change.
Here is an example of a force field analysis template.
This model can be used to help with change efforts on countless levels from many different perspectives (although the examples we came up with in class focused on positive social justice topics, I imagine the model could be used in a business setting or by the “powers that be” hoping to keep oppressive structures in place). I found this exercise very helpful, and hope to utilize it again in the future.

Assertiveness and social work

This week in class we discussed the concept of "using self in community practice" from our text. In chapter 8, Hardcastle and Powers emphasize the use of assertiveness as a tool in community social work. I found this week's readings and discussion to be very eye-opening, as I was forced to reflect on my own use of assertion (or lack thereof) and ways in which I might be able to develop my assertiveness skills. Admittedly, when faced with situations in which I fear confrontation or other uncomfortable interactions, I usually act ‘passive’ or ‘non-assertive’. I came across this assertiveness test on my classmate, Rachel’s blog (http://rachmicaela.blogspot.com/) and decided to take it just for fun…. http://www.queendom.com/tests/access_page/index.htm?idRegTest=675 . Although I had expected my score to be low, it was still difficult to go through the process of the test and see the low results. While I realize that this brief internet test is not a very accurate measure of assertiveness, mainly because it asks a set of questions based on a specific standard of the concept of assertiveness without really taking into account variables, including cultural, gender and community norms (as discussed in the text), it was an interesting way of analyzing nonassertive/assertive/aggressive behaviors.

Feeling somewhat discouraged after class this week, I revisited the text and found some encouraging ideas. I was especially drawn to the section on “Assertiveness and Being” from Shoma Morita’s Zen Buddhist perspective.

· Know your purpose: Know what you want to accomplish, as (perhaps) distinct from what others want you to accomplish or what you want others to believe.

· Accept your feelings: Accept being angry, scared, and so on but recognize that while you are not responsible for feelings, you are responsible for how you manage them and your behavior.

· Do what needs to be done: Put your energy into developing and using the skills needed to deal with a situation, not avoiding or being anxious over it. Actively choose the strategy for managing the situation (Morita, as cited in Clifton & Dahms, 1993, pp. 164-165)

The more I reflect on the idea of assertiveness, I realize that although I am sometimes more passive/nonassertive in my reaction to certain situations, I can also think of many instances when I have been able to overcome my fears in order to assert my needs and the needs of those I work with. Kelly (1979) defines assertion as the “act of standing up for one’s own basic human rights without violating the basic human rights of others”. As an advocate for the rights of both human and nonhuman animals, I have found that I have been able to overcome my feelings of fear and discomfort with taking assertive actions when I see injustice towards others. As a social worker, I believe in empowering practice- helping those I work with find their own voice, while advocating alongside/behind them rather than on their behalf. That said, I feel it is sometimes necessary to speak assertively on behalf of voiceless nonhuman animals who suffer. In my mind, I have expanded this definition to read “assertion is the act of standing up for basic rights without violating the basic rights of others.” I think that this definition could be further expanded to include the 'basic rights' of the earth/environment as well.

KHUM's 'Stop The Violence' campaign begins this week

The Times-Standard
Posted: 11/01/2009 01:24:14 AM PDT

KHUM-FM 104.7/104.3 will begin its annual “Stop The Violence” campaign on Tues-day. This national effort, started by KHUM co-founder and morning host Cliff Berkowitz in 1990, enters its 14th year here in Humboldt County.

The three-week program seeks to increase public awareness about various aspects of violence in the community and to empower people to change their lives and the lives of their families. Interviews and discussions will take place on KHUM and online at khum.com, Tuesday through Thursday at 9 a.m., with round-table discussion panels on Friday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. Each week will have a different focus.

The first week, the campaign will investigate how the current economic downturn has impacted domestic violence and family dynamics in general. On Tuesday, Sheri Johnson, director of field education for the Department of Social Work at Humboldt State University and chair of the Humboldt County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, will join Berkowitz as they discuss this year's campaign. (Johnson also serves as co-host of the Friday panels).

On Wednesday, Dawn Watkins from Humboldt Domestic Violence Services and Mary Boletta from WISH (the women's shelter) in Southern Humboldt will join the program. Berkowitz will be speaking on Thursday with a representative of the Department of Health and Human Services' Suicide Prevention Program. On Fri-day there will be a two-hour round-table discussion
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with experts on the week's theme of the economy and domestic/family violence.

The second week of the campaign will deal with the question, “When Is It Abuse?” On Nov. 10, the subject will be dealing with child abuse, with guest speaker Pam Owens from Child Welfare Services. On Nov. 11, Dr. Arthur L. Kovacs, psychologist, will talk about emotional abuse. The subject on Nov. 12 will be animal abuse, with Sequoia Humane Society Executive Director Cynthia Ryan. Friday's panel of experts will engage in a two-hour, call-in roundtable discussion about “When is it abuse?”

Week three, beginning Nov. 17, will attempt to answer the question, “What Can We Do?” as individuals and as a community. On Nov. 17, Dr. Vincent Felitti will discuss a study on adverse childhood experience. Nov. 18 will feature Debi Farber-Bush from the Human Rights Commis-sion focusing on its upcoming community events. On Nov. 19, Berkowitz will speak with Scott Matsuura of M.E.N.D./W.E.N.D. (Men and Women Exploring Non-abusive Directions) who will bring members of the group along to talk of their experiences.

The campaign's third week will conclude on Nov. 20 at 8 a.m. with a live, two-hour healing breakfast and panel discussion at the Wharfinger Building in Eureka. The public is invited to this free event that includes a continental breakfast. There will be a surprise keynote speaker and a number of community organizations will be represented. Guests will discuss the topics of this year's campaign; a microphone will be available for the public to make comments and ask questions.

The event will conclude with the presentation of a check to a deserving organization from the Stop The Violence Fund, founded by KHUM in 1996. For more information, visit www. khum.com.

I hope everyone is able to check out this radio campaign. We have talked a lot in class about using various types of media, including photographs, television and the internet to help facilitate social change. This radio show is a unique approach to community education and action because it will reach a large audience of people who may not otherwise be connected around the topic of violence. Last week's reading in our Rural Social Work text emphasized the unique needs of rural communities which included dealing with difficulty connecting to resources and isolation (Scales & Streeter, 2004). While I realize that not everyone has a radio (and if they do, might not be tuning in), the campaign is still relatively accessible. It also invites community members to actively participate in the process by calling in and sharing their opinions and asking questions and also coming together at the Healing Breakfast. I attended the breakfast last year and was greatly moved by the presence of such support from the community which included local service providers as well as survivors and families of victims who shared their stories on air. I will be there again this year tabling for the Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse Prevention Committee- hope to see you there!

Les glaneurs et la glaneuse

I recently watched the documentary film Les glaneurs et la glaneuse- "The Geaners and I" by Agnes Varda. The film looks at the practice of gleaning (collecting food left behind after a harvest) in rural France. I enjoyed the perspective offered though this film, which sheds light on unique way of life and community made possible by the production of mass amounts of food waste. Traditional gleaning is also compared to more modern practices of scavenging such as "dumpster diving".
Here is a link to a clip of the first 4.5 minutes of The Gleaners and I. I really like the last part of it which has a rap song about gleaning!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKgjjEJvMbM

Here are some folks from Brooklyn who have created community around recycled food.




What is a Freegan?

"Freegans are people who employ alternative strategies for living based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources. Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed."- freegan.info/

animal cruelty is family violence!

On Friday I helped facilitate the Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse Prevention (DVAAP) Committee's 2nd annual Building Community Partnerships workshop at the Humboldt Area Foundation. The purpose of the workshop was to raise awareness about the connection between animal cruelty, domestic violence, and child abuse and to increase inter-agency communication and collaboration in Humboldt County. As an intern and co-chair for the committee, it was exciting to see the product of the months of planning we have put into the workshop (since last year’s). Service providers from the fields of domestic violence advocacy, child welfare and animal welfare (as well as any interested community members) were invited to participate and contribute to community building activities and discussions around the issues associated with these intersections of violence.

Last year we only did a half-day workshop and we received feedback from some participants that they would have liked to spend more time on the subject so this year we did the workshop in two parts- Section A in the morning was basic education about the intersection of family violence and animal abuse and Section B in the afternoon focused on more in-depth conversation around “Next Steps” to violence prevention. I think that overall, the workshop went really well. I was glad to see all three of the areas represented by local service providers, including several social work students. Individuals were able to share their experiences with barriers they have faced in the field and strategize with others about how services could be more inclusive and supportive. At the end of the day, each participant was asked to fill out a “commitment card” which named one thing that they could do with the information they gained at the workshop, such as taking actions to strengthen relationships between community organizations, reviewing laws concerning issues around violence in unfamiliar fields (i.e. DV workers looking into animal cruelty laws) ect…. We also brainstormed ideas for the DVAAP committee including doing more abuse prevention education in schools for students as well as faculty and staff and trying to include animal control officers in DVERT (Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team) based on a model program in Colorado Springs.

I was able to make some connections with participants who want to be involved in some of the “Next Steps” that I am focusing on through my internship including giving anticruelty humane education lessons to local third grade classes. I feel energized to continue my work on the committee and expand our outreach as suggested and supported by workshop participants. If interested, there is quite a bit of information out there about the connection between child abuse, animal abuse and domestic violence. Here is just one place to start

http://www.americanhumane.org/human-animal-bond/programs/the-link-of-violence/