Monthly Archives: July 2019

DC, Internews, and Beyond by Daniel Herschel

Trying to summarize my experiences in Washington, DC, so far this summer, despite the short time that I have been here, is a somewhat challenging task.  I have learned a great deal of new information, whether it be at work or while experiencing the city. Much of this information I have taken at face value, trusting in the knowledge of those more experienced with DC than myself.  But as I have begun to acclimate to DC life and met more and more people, I am beginning to process my early experiences and make my own connections. And in some cases, I am starting to challenge some of my initial assumptions and things I have been told.

My first few weeks at Internews were fairly quiet.  I met with Jon, my supervisor, was given a desk space and laptop, was introduced to my coworkers who were in the office that day, and reviewed and started working on some of the projects that had been planned for me.  But the rest of the office was preparing for RightsCon. All the members of the Global Technology Team, my team, were attending the annual conference that was being held in Tunisia the following week. The conference focuses on the intersection of human rights and technology with an international scope, and is attended well by representatives from Internews and other organizations like it.

To illuminate, Internews is an international independent media development nonprofit organization.  Internews works with journalists, activists, and other organizations around the world. In many of these countries, the government, other actors, or external factors may exert control on what appears in the news or how accessible this information is to the public.  Much of Internews is divided into regional teams, serving Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and Eurasia, the Middle East and North Africa, and so on. My team, the Global Tech Team, works outside these traditional regional teams to provide more specialized services.  We plan and implement projects that provide technical support to organizations in the countries we serve. This is critical because these citizens in these countries are more and more reliant on technology as it becomes more widely accessible.

So, as my Team prepared for their conference, work started a little slow.  But, after they returned, we dove right in to work. I have weekly meetings with specific teams, check-ins with my supervisor, and optional meetings with other project groups with my own team or other teams.  In the meantime, I work on programming solutions to the projects I have been given, to support finished, ongoing, and potential future projects.

More specifically, I am working to revise and restructure their SAFETAG program documentation, a program that provides resources to perform digital safety audits for media organizations.  (These audits include asking questions like: how are we storing our interview notes, collected data, etc? Is it encrypted for our journalists’ safety? Is our website or application vulnerable to attack from bad actors (groups that we report on ranging from criminal organizations to our own government)?  In addition to this, I have been working on analyzing internet usage metrics to determine when governments are shutting down, throttling, or censoring the internet in their country. And I have a few more projects I might work on depending on how far along we get during the summer.

But just in working on these projects, I have learned a lot.  I have learned how many communities around the world struggle with internet shutdowns or censorship. I have learned that even in developing countries, more and more business is conducted relying on internet connection or smartphone usage.  And I have learned that countries that shutdown internet do so knowing it will cost their economy millions of dollars, directly affecting the livelihood of most of their citizens. And yet they continue to do so, to silence activists, to attempt to curb protests or demonstrations, or to keep the rest of the world in the dark about a coup d’état or human rights violations carried out by the government or military.

I have learned that although we all want to help these countries with their difficulties, getting funding for projects is competitive.  I have learned that international development can be messy, and that organizations like Internews have to be careful to think about consequences of running programs so that they do not escalate or make situations in certain countries worse.

I would say the most challenging and frustrating aspect of my work is that our organization addresses problems I have never had to deal with, in communities that I have never interacted with.  And yet, I find myself spurred on because I am constantly reminded of the freedoms that I enjoy. The promise of the internet, of integration into an ever more connected world, has often been heralded as the Great Equalizer.  But still there are obstacles to communication and access to information, and often to those in most need. And I am glad that I get to play a small part in trying to make it more equitable.

Beyond that, I have done the typical DC things.  I visited the monuments, some the of the museums, walked past the White House.  I have tried new restaurants and new kinds of food, gone to public events like Jazz in the Park and Jazzfest on the wharf, and visited Arlington National Cemetery.  I am hoping to catch a few games of professional tennis at the Citi Open this coming weekend, if I can get tickets. One of the most interesting things I learned about DC, and on of the things I like the most, is that there is a great deal of work that is done here that is not done anywhere else.  That includes the obvious ones like federal government and related fields like public policy, lobbying, government contract work, and international development, like Internews.

There are some drawbacks to having unique and interesting work, though.  It gives one a whole lot to think about when they are trying to decide whether they want to stay in DC after their summer fellowship ends…

 

Shattering Concepts by Braxton Jenkins

“CoCoDA is a lifestyle,” said one of the Latin American employees in the annual organization board meeting, while I was in El Salvador. Later in the meeting, he said, “CoCoDA is a tool,” for the communities we work with. Those statements essentially wrap up how immersive, transformative, and intentional community development in Central America is for the people who devote their careers to the mission of this organization.

As a person who spends much of the day theorizing how to fight for equality, the CoCoDA Board meeting was an oddly unfamiliar environment. Before traveling to Central American communities, I watched the Board of CoCoDA evaluate its position and discuss next steps in lieu of its past. This resonated with me because I was watching a large team of people brainstorm ideas to actually help real people. Part of CoCoDA’s model is to partner with NGO’s in the countries they work with. Even more impactful than seeing CoCoDA work was seeing an NGO in El Salvador operate. I saw innovative composting bins, iguanas that were being raised to supply supplemental protein, a greenhouse to grow vegetables and fruit, and a private news radio station on the same day that I saw the same organization hosting an event where hundreds of men who fought in the Civil War almost 30 years ago would tell their stories. I thought working on the team that is in the U.S. and has the most power made me the biggest helper. This experience complicated that conception because I realized crafting a direct connection with target communities is not only a suggested and time-consuming activity, but it is imperative to help the communities fulfill their dreams and seriously engage in the continual struggle of community development.

I also consider myself deeply involved in my faith and capable of identifying malice in my own intentions. My experiences in Central America have shown me that I am a privileged fellow who has profited from injustice. The United States funded wars and still funds government corruption. This is no secret in El Salvador and Nicaragua. In the U.S., however, our understanding is that Central America is having trouble ousting its systemic corruption. I heard story after story and fact after fact that undermined this fallacy. These truths undermined my foundation of religious understanding and premise for justice. How could I as a person from the U.S. who puts my faith into action excuse myself as someone less than a bystander to these continuing histories and issues?

These experiences move me to feel guilt and pity. Upon reflection, I realize those feelings are meaningless. They turn into a drive to fight for justice. But it’s not just a drive. It’s a commitment. Obstacles surely come. This organization has grinded through the worst of them and expects more in the future. Meanwhile, they also expect to continue working with Central American communities, if CoCoDA is still wanted. If this is the case, the communities decide not only what schools they want to build, water projects they want installed, or how many people they can send to college but also how they want CoCoDA to help. All of this seemed glamorous until I realized successfully completing one project inevitably leads to other problems. For example, building a school does not guarantee having teachers or all the proper materials to teach. Seeing fruit of this organization labor with Central American communities as they develop themselves is a demonstration of struggle and companionship that each experience differently.

The purpose of my internship was to evaluate dysfunctional residential solar panel systems (that a domestic company installed about 10 years ago) in a rural, indigenous community in El Cacao, Nicaragua. When I returned to the U.S. after 16 days in Central America (and 3 days of working with solar panel systems), I researched how components of solar systems work and what causes their failures. I wrote a report and prepared a presentation that CoCoDA will use to explain why their systems are failing and options they can pick from to install a more sustainable plan for their solar systems. This was the easy part because limited human interaction in community development is always the quickest way to complete projects. Thankfully, CoCoDA has spent more than a year collaborating with the community of El Cacao and its elected board to ensure they wanted an intern to evaluate their systems; this is the second project in five years with this community. Therefore, I consider my short-term incomplete service of a couple months complete because it is only one small part in a long-term effort that extends far beyond this one project.

 

Having a Child-like Faith by Maddie Fry

One of the fundamental lessons I have learned from working with kids is that you never know what to expect from them. Every day comes with another creative art project, an imaginative story, or crazy new game. So many ideas race through their minds and the world seems to be filled with wonder and excitement. The smallest object can be the source of immense joy. I have never seen a person be so consumed with a dead leaf as I have this past week. It never ceases to amaze me how children can see a generic object and transform it into something radically different. 

Working with kids is one of the most tiring jobs I have experienced, it has also been the most inspiring. Watching them learn and grow into better readers, skilled drawers, or professional lego architects makes everyday worth it. They find joy in everything and get along with everyone (most of the time). Even though they can’t always run fast or open their ranch packets at lunch, sometimes I feel like they have life figured out more than I do. They can see that friendships are easily built, learning is hard but necessary, happiness is everywhere, and naps are the best part of the day.

Being raised Christian, I have heard the following Bible passage read to me more times than I could count:

Matthew 18     2He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

I always figured it meant something along the lines of seeing God as a parental figure and honoring him. Some pastors I have met have claimed it was more metaphorical and it could also be read as if saying, “Children are young and impressionable, needing guidance and proper teaching.” I think both of these interpretations hold true but I think there is more to be said about the nature of being childlike. It is more than just being young or listening to your parents. In fact it’s about rediscovering our sense of joy, thinking of everyone as a friend, sharing your animal crackers, and always be open to learning something new. 

As educators or childcare providers, it may be easy to think about what we can teach our kids. However, taking the step further and asking what we can learn from them may be a little bit harder. Not only should be learn from them but we should aspire to be like them. In the simplest ways, I would love a day filled with toys and naps. Not only that but I want to view the world as an unlimited source of possibility instead of danger. Friendship instead of fear. Joy instead of repetition. I only hope that working with kids may bring me one step closer to that sense of life. 

Knowledge and Ignorance by Ty Snarr

Nearing the end of my summer, work at Heartland Alliance has proven both to be exactly what I expected and exactly what I did not expect. On a practical level, Heartland Alliance functions very similarly to how it was described. It is an underfunded non-profit. When I was originally told at the beginning of the summer that I would be taking participants to social services, health clinics, and completing administrative work, that has all turned out to be exactly true. However, the interaction with coworkers, participants, and the community has been anything but predictable.

Working in an office setting, I had both an expectation and hope for coworkers. Media often portrays office settings as problematic, dog-eat-dog, and full of annoying employees. Shortly after arriving, I realized how naive I was. Non-profits, or at least Heartland, cannot afford to function in this manner. The interdependence between departments at Heartland creates both a supportive work environment, but also one that can be slow as participants often cannot move towards independence without the backing of the whole office. If it weren’t for nice coworkers who were patient, work would be unbearable.

Secondly, working with the participants has been different than anticipated. Going into the job at Heartland Alliance, I expected to meet a population different than any I had encountered. I have worked with refugees from Central America in the past, but had not had the privilege of working with immigrants from elsewhere in the world. As I have spent more time with the participants (primarily from Africa and Asia), learning about their culture and way of life, getting insight into their histories, and talking with them about their lived experiences have taught me much about the world. Many participants have showed me videos describing their home countries and friends back home. This brings an extremely human element to hot button issue that is talked about in the news. The similarities between my family and theirs far outweigh the differences. Some citizens of the United States have a misconception about refugees draining social services of funding they have not paid into. This could not be further from the truth. I have not met a single participant feeling a sense of entitlement to any assistance they receive. More than anything, the refugees want to get off social services and become dependent from the help of the government. Finding a job and contributing to the United States becomes the number one goal for participants, which reminds me of anyone graduating college. This highlights a great similarity between the culture of the United States and refugees new to the country, and acts as a reminder that we share more than simply being human.

The DMV, Public Aid, Social Security Office, and health clinics, among many others, get terrible representation in the world. Although they provide services that are essential to most Americans, they are only thought of as slow bureaucratic offices never looking to help. I’d like to serve as a nice reminder that many countries do not have these institutions that help the United States run much more smoothly, and we should be thankful even during the frustration of interaction.

Ultimately, this summer has both a living and learning experience. I won’t say it was life-changing or that I am a whole new person coming out of this summer, but I will look at the world a little differently.

The Next Page of Forever by Veronica Campbell

“Forever is the most dizzying word in the English language. The idea of staying in one place forever was like standing at the border of a foreign country, peering over the fence and trying to imagine what life might be like on the other side, and life on the other side was frankly unimaginable.”

This is Lilia’s thought, from the novel Last Night in Montreal. In that moment her father, after being on the run with her for nearly her whole life, has finally settled down and invited her to join him. She enjoys the quiet life at first, living in a house with a family and routine, but finds that she can’t stomach the idea of forever in the same place. So she leaves them.

Most of us have not traveled so much as Lilia, that we, as she puts it, “don’t know how to stay.” But we do struggle with the concept of “forever.” An internship lasts two or three months; you can enjoy the good parts, learn from the new experiences, and remind yourself that anything that doesn’t quite feel right isn’t permanent anyway. But the very nature of CAPS, this taste of adult-ing, prompts thought about what comes after—what will come in the “real world,” once we’ve graduated and gotten a job that doesn’t end with the approach of the fall semester.

One of the very best parts about working at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois this summer has been talking to people in various positions about their jobs, because some of them exude an almost tangible joy for their work. I conducted a phone interview with a Child Welfare Specialist who reunites foster children with their biological parents, and even though we never met in person it was clear that she found deep meaning and fulfillment in what she does. An employee whom I see more often took me to Starbucks to tell me all about her work, and her enthusiasm for forming connections with donors was contagious. I want to have the kind of job that makes me light up, as those women did when they exclaimed in obvious sincerity, “Yes! I love my job!”

But there will always also be people, not only at LSSI but in every workspace I’ve experienced, who come to work because it’s a job. They do their work well, and may not dislike their job, but somehow lack that touch of passion, that touch of joy. They come in to the office, day in and day out, and life goes by, and the most exciting thing about work is jeans day every now and again.

I take that back. Jeans day is actually hard to beat. But you get the point.

Perhaps the line between these two groups isn’t really quite this pointed, but it still prompts one to question—what kind of response do I want to have one day, when the new intern at my office asks me about my job? The passionate enthusiasm, or the “it’s all right?” And, the far harder question—what vocation will I find that will light up that kind of passion in me?

That’s where I’m stuck currently. I don’t know.

But what I do know is that the path thus far has become clear, not far in advance the way I’d often like it to, but rather when the moment comes to move forward. Looking for options for the summer, I spent hours on LinkedIn and Handshake applying for everything, but none of that effort was relevant after a short conversation, originally about something entirely different, with Deaconess Kristin—“you should apply for CAPS, Veronica”—and I found an incredible growing experience without even looking. It simply came when the time was right.

So, as I move forward, I will keep trying to plan. More importantly, though, I’ll keep my mind open to the different opportunities that arise. I’ll try new things, I’ll gain experience, and I’ll see where the road takes me. Who knows? I may find passion in plain sight, but it may also be hiding somewhere I’d never look for it unless I had my eyes open.

Not knowing what my forever will be, as the somewhat obsessive planner I am, can be kind of terrifying. But I don’t have to worry about my forever. My forever will unfold as it is meant to, but only if I take advantage of the beauty and growth in my today.

Experiencing Through Stories by Ben Montgomery

I went into this summer expecting to gain practical experience, learn about nonprofit work, and contribute something to the organization I am working with. So far this has all proven true, but what has taken me by surprise is that the most powerful part of my experience has come from stories. I am spending my summer working with ICDI (Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants), an organization that responds to the many needs of immigrants in Chicago. Participants in ICDI programs, detained immigrants, asylum seekers, volunteers, and staff all have a story of how they ended up where they are and what they are doing to try to improve the situation. In the four weeks that I have been working with ICDI I have been lucky enough to have listened to many of these stories. Part of what I do is spend Thursday mornings in a detention center speaking with detained immigrants who have found themselves in an unfortunate situation due to a vast range of circumstances. Hearing their stories, each one so different from the next, is not something easily accessed outside of this niche environment. Stories of walking through the jungle in South America, fleeing political oppression in Bangladesh, and separation from family members at the U.S. border. Some tell these stories as if they are simply a part of life, assumedly something that everyone has gone through and had to deal with. Others tell them while withholding tears at the remembrance of their journey or fear at the thought of returning to the places they have fled. Though all are different, all are impactful.

The most compelling story I can tell from my summer so far is from the day I spent in an immigrant detention center on the fourth of July. That day, outside was a celebration of freedom and the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for the ancestors of immigrants. Inside were thick white cinderblock walls, covered windows, armed guards, orange jumpsuits, and a solemn attitude brought on by the knowledge that what was being celebrated that day was something tragically unavailable to those wearing orange. Inside was a heavy tension induced by the all too evident awareness of this celebration in juxtaposition with the circumstances that weighed heavy on the hearts of the people detained. The story that day was one of a struggle for freedom. A struggle defined by arbitrary rules, obstacles, threatening circumstances, waiting, hoping, praying for an end to the circumstances that were keeping these immigrants from experiencing what most people outside of those walls and inside of our borders were celebrating. So far this summer, nothing has been as eye-opening and thought provoking for me as listening to the stories of detained immigrants, most innocent people simply seeking what I have always taken for granted especially on a day meant for celebrating freedom and liberty.

One of the most remarkable things about exchanging stories this summer has been the lack of disconnect between myself and those whose stories could not be more different from my own. There are of course intimidating factors that go along with entering a jail but these all quickly vanished as a I began speaking with people so different and yet so relatable. One would think that a social barrier would stand between a college intern and an asylum seeker or detained individual coming from a different part of the world and sharing a much different story, but conversation comes as naturally as talking to a peer at Valpo. Stories are shared and we all learn a little bit more about each other and the world we live in.  Almost all of the people I have met are more than willing to share their story and many are eager to hear mine, which took me by surprise at first. While I have certainly found value in the work I have had the opportunity to contribute to my placement this summer, easily one of the most valuable parts of my experience has been hearing the stories from the people I am fortunate enough to interact with on a daily basis.

T-Minus One Semester: Differing Shades of Uncertainty by Emily Nelson

As I wrap up my last three weeks in Washington, D.C., I’m reflecting on the mounting ambiguity that’s slowly creeping into my life. Some of these forces have been expected; the events that directly preceded or have happened during my stay make for a rather tumultuous timeline. My grandmother passed away, my parents have moved, and I’m entering my last semester of undergrad after the conclusion of this fellowship. I guess it’s consolation that many of my peers are in the same position of uneasiness heading into the future, but it’s troubling nonetheless.

I am very thankful that I’ve been able to spend my summer in D.C. This area is a networking hotspot, and running into dignitaries or prominent government officials is no surprise. A few weeks ago, I attended an Interfaith Community work meeting for my organization. The director of Asian American Pacific Islander Initiatives at the White House was present, and I got to meet her through LSA’s Vice President of External Affairs. A few weeks prior, I attended a Phi Beta Kappa networking reception, where I reconnected with one of the PBK event coordinators, who I met my first weekend here during a volunteering gig.

Lincoln Memorial at Night

Those opportunities stem from my position at Lutheran Services in America, one of the largest nonprofit networks in the U.S. For its size and breadth, the office is surprisingly calm. It’s rare that you can find peace in this city, but for how close it is to the Supreme Court, Capitol, and Library of Congress (literally all down the street), it’s a hidden gem. During my time here, I’ve finished a few projects, most of which had a wide berth of creative freedom. I coded and formatted survey data in Excel and Powerpoint, wrote my first concept paper, researched all of the organizations within LSA’s CYF (Children, Youth and Families) network, read a lot of material, and made an email list for my supervisor.

Washington Monument at Night

Whether it was at my desk or at home, I’ve realized just how difficult it is to be motivated when surrounded by ambiguity. As a psychology person, I’ve learned this through lecture; as lived experience, it manifests so clearly. Especially when the due date is loose, my ability to be efficient is severely tested. If projects require a significant amount of creative thought and time, it’s incredibly easy to lose your sense of purpose and drown in the technicalities. As a result, work environment, location, and compensation are all factors I’m considering in life after Valpo, and I feel better informed to evaluate options.

DC CAPS cohort featuring Eric Maruyama

Though I’m actively (or attempting to be) determining post-grad possibilities, I’m trying to be present in the moment here. The opportunities, sights, and friends are just too good to miss. And if there’s anything I learned from study abroad, it’s to give myself and the world around me the current moment, because our time is finite.

Fourth of July Fireworks from Balcony

Surprise! by Meg Main

  On my first day in the studio of ArtMix I met a boy by the name of Alex Smith. He was the first student I spent a longer period of time with. In the first encounter, we were equally instructed by the current teaching artist, Emily to make these items. I didn’t know it until after, but this TA is trying to figure out how to apply Alex’s skills and abilities to our Urban Artisans program’s work environment and product creation. 

  Urban Artisans is one of five programs that ArtMix runs throughout the calendar year. I think it’d be fair to say, this is the top program that we are known for throughout the city. ArtMix prides itself on working with all people of all abilities. In community class, participants come and go as they please every Wednesday. However, UA is a more specific program, which intends to assist 16-21 year olds to transition from an education oriented student to a more workforce minded capable young adult and potential employee. So, the students in the UA program actually have an internship where they receive checks and they come in to work according to their assigned schedule, no matter their level of ability. On a weekly basis, most of our TAs are investing in the UA program day to day more often than not. This being so, the ArtMix gallery is primarily UA creations that are put together by several students.

  So, on that day, Alex and I worked on an untraditional piece that a TA thought of specifically for Alex. I’m not certain how long Alex has been with ArtMix, but on that day, I spent the entire morning with him. At first we talked a little, but as the day grew later, he spoke less and for that matter, he worked less too. 

  Since that initial day, I’ve learned that ArtMix tends to work with ceramics, illustrations and felting. However, this past week, a TA, Carrie, was on vacation, therefore the week could be labeled a little more untraditional than most. On one of the days, Ms. Beverly visited and worked with students in the morning. Ms. Beverly is a local actress who teaches in addition at various camps and programs, ArtMix being one. The TAs assigned students to work with her, me being an intern to participate and assist. Ms. Beverly and I had two sessions that morning. 

  In the second session my friend, Alex, was present. Alex is a difficult student to work with. He listens to instruction and his actions prove that, but often when given a piece of clay or a paper and pencil, he’ll make his own thing, which tends to relate to a transformer. Additionally, when sitting with the entire group, Alex will often act. I’ve never really understood what he’s acting out, but he’ll speak and move his body as if he’ s in a performance. 

  So, last Tuesday in the second session, Alex along with approximately 7 other students and myself partook in Ms. Beverly’s activities. Eventually, we got to the part where we were to draw a card with an action or feeling and one person is to act that out, it’s basically charades. Knowing Alex, I was thinking he wouldn’t want to participate or be in front of people, but I was aware of his ability to act, just through observing him and listening to the TAs about him, so I was curious as to how Alex would respond with this activity. 

  At first, he stood there with his paper that said “surprised”. Eventually, I entered his scene and I knew how to help. After seeing his paper, I held my hands behind my back and I explained to him that the best box is behind me, it’s a wrapped transformers gift. I “handed” it to him and Alex intricately grabbed the box, held it with one hand, opened it and began his scene. In a very real way, one in which I could not have done better myself, Alex acted out being surprised by the gift from his own perspective. 

  Without a doubt, this will be my favorite memory from this summer. By simply doing my job, being observant and working to genuinely understand the population I encounter everyday, I was able to watch someone excel at something some people wouldn’t even attempt. After his scene, Ms. Beverly was astonished by his acting, Alex was smiling from ear to ear and I was SO proud of him. 

  There’s so much I’ve learned from Alex and every other student I’ve met, but this moment in particular reinforced an ArtMix goal of never giving up on these individuals, even if it is a silly ice breaker game. Beyond that, I’m reminded of how much value everyone holds, no matter their diagnosis or capabilities, everyone can do something that’ll knock your socks off, exactly like Alex did last Tuesday.

 

*Names were changed to maintain privacy*

Finding My Purpose by Madison Magiera

So, I am back from Ethiopia now and I have pretty much gotten adjusted back to living and working in Austin. I absolutely loved my time in Ethiopia! I learned so much about the global water crisis and about the lives of our Water to Thrive beneficiaries. The people of Ethiopia were consistently so friendly and welcoming. Despite not having many of the luxuries and comforts that we enjoy in the U.S., like running water, hot showers, washing machines, microwaves and accessible clean water, the people I met in the villages we visited were so joyful and thankful. They are grateful for the things they do have: friends, family, faith, love and happiness. It truly made me reflect on my life in the U.S. I think that a lot of times in the U.S., we connect happiness to material wealth and things. In reality, it is not things that create happiness. Our beneficiaries showed me that first hand. They lead hard and physically demanding lives, but the children are curious, playful and giggly, and the adults are humble and faithful, praising God over and over for the clean water they have received (I doubt any of us in the U.S. have thanked God for our tap water lately).

Driving for hours to water project sites gave me a lot of time to reflect on my life and all that I was learning on my trip. For most of the trip, we did not have Wifi or internet, which I actually enjoyed because it gave me time to disconnect from the busy world of texts, emails, and social media. Being in Ethiopia with Water to Thrive, I felt so purposeful. Visiting water projects and seeing the impact that Water to Thrive has made first-hand made me feel like I was part of something life changing. For me, it was a very natural transition going from the U.S. to living in Ethiopia, but I definitely experienced culture shock when I came home. I was thrown back into the world of Wifi and the Internet and back into my life of comfort and privilege, but I couldn’t stop thinking about my Ethiopian friends. So many people are drinking dirty water and getting sick everyday back in Ethiopia. I felt guilty for enjoying things in Austin, like drinking $6 smoothies and going shopping. I never really felt guilty about doing these things before. I have realized more how lucky I am to have an education, to have my own apartment, to have all the food and clean water I need. Many times since returning, I have wondered why I am so lucky to have these things and others are not as fortunate. But, sitting around and feeling guilty does not solve anything. I have learned that the way to solve problems, like the global water crisis, is to use my privilege to help others with less privilege. I don’t know why I have been so blessed in my life, but I do know that with my blessings comes a responsibility to share those blessings, to use my voice to amplify others’ voices and to use my education and experiences to create awareness around social issues.

I struggled with feeling less purposeful once I was back working in the office. However, I tried to remind myself that sorting through pictures from my trip, posting on social media for Water to Thrive and writing blogs to share my experiences are still important to spreading awareness about the water crisis. The path to meaningful change is not a sprint, but a marathon, and even small tasks like posting on Facebook contribute to more awareness, more donations and eventually more water wells built. Through my experiences so far this summer, I have learned more about the water crisis and become passionate about working to end it. I have been reaffirmed of my desire to help others, which I plan to carry out by working in the non-profit field. Now, I am on the hunt for a job where I can fulfill my passion of helping people. Whether I work with people affected by the global water crisis abroad or marginalized communities in the U.S., I am not sure (wish me luck on figuring that out). But, overall, thanks to CAPS, I have a better idea of what I want to do in my career. I am so thankful to CAPS for giving me this experience and truly helping me find my purpose.

D.C. is More than Just Politics by Maddie Morehead

D.C. is lively and thriving. D.C. is friendly and beautiful. D.C. is jazzy and historic. D.C. is full of excitement and people from every walk of life with a different story or perspective worth sharing.

Being in a new city is a great excuse for friends to visit, and having a friend visit is a great excuse to explore the depths of said new city. A couple weeks ago, a friend that I met through my fall semester study abroad experience came to DC to visit me, and as any good friend would, I became a tourist with her.

We took a tour of “Black Broadway”, near Howard University, where tribute is payed to African American artists like Marvin Gaye, Chuck Brown, Sister Rosetta Tharpe , and Aretha Franklin. We learned about the fight it took to keep Go-Go alive – a genre that originated from The District, and joined our fellow tourists for lunch at Ben’s Chili Bowl, a Black owned restaurant originating in 1958 known for keeping the community together and for the famous D.C. half smoke. It was over chili dogs that we shared conversation and heard the beautiful love story between the couple that joined us on the tour.

Mural from Black Broadway tour on U Street

 

We also took a food tour through Georgetown, an extremely gentrified area of The District, attracting foodies from all over. However, this gentrification was met with philanthropy through a bakery called Dog Tag Inc., dedicated to providing education through Georgetown University and employment for service-disabled veterans and their families. Not to mention that their cookies were absolutely delicious too.

Food tour in Georgetown

Not only are tours a great way to meet the people traveling through the streets of Washington, but Lyft and Uber rides also proved to be a great way to meet fellow visitors and locals of the DMV (District, Maryland, and Virginia).

I’ve met people from all over the U.S. and even the world, just by sitting in the back seat of their car. One man who came to the U.S. “looking for a gold coin on the sidewalk”, told my friend and I that our friendship was beautiful after telling him that we met while studying abroad. He proceeded to tell us to cherish it forever because people just don’t make meaningful relationships as easily when they get older. Another driver, a woman, gave me life advice on my way to the International Airport to welcome IREX Fellows from all over Africa to the U.S. She graduated high school at 16 years old and was very accomplished in her professional life. She told me that instead of trying to live around working, one should learn how to work around living. Advice that I will never forget.

Another man I met who was willing to share a new perspective with me was a security guard at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. He was generous enough to share his point of view of the art that he observes on a daily basis for hours on end. He gave me my own personal tour saying, “This artist is very particular about everything she does, even the lighting”. Without him, I never would have noticed how the shadows on the wall are really the center of the art and not the sculpture, or how the way you tilt your head could reveal a completely new piece. And now I’m going back to see him when the new exhibit comes out at the end of this month.

Artwork from National Museum of Women in the Arts by Ursula Von Ridingsvard

It’s through these experiences that I have been able to learn about and experience the real D.C. The lively, and thriving, and friendly D.C. These experiences bring joy to my little heart, which thrives off of meeting new people; hearing their stories; and learning things that are not taught in schools, whether it be life lessons or history. Everyone here has a story, and I will take every chance I can get to listen and learn.

Faces of Hope by Hilary Van Oss

You can learn a lot about a person by looking at their face. The face is a portal to one’s soul; it shows what they are feeling and thinking. These past few weeks I have looked into the faces of many individuals who have just made a huge, courageous leap of faith by moving to and settling into the United States as a refugee. Working at Heartland Alliance’s Refugee and Immigrant Community Services (RICS) office, I have had the privilege to look into many faces of hope.

RICS is a refugee resettlement agency that works with refugees from airport pick-up when they arrive in Chicago to navigating public transportation to English class to assisting with public benefits and government services to searching for employment and the list goes on. I am specifically a Case Management intern which means that I am helping our participants extensively within the first 90 days of arrival by helping to make sure basic needs are met and after the 90 days helping to guide the participants to self-sufficiency. For me every day is different as I could be doing a combination of a variety of tasks. Everything from accompanying participants to the Department of Family Services office to receive public benefits, to the Secretary of State’s office to acquire a State ID, to conducting home visits to ensure our participants have everything they need, to helping a new family learn how to use the CTA to get from their home to the office, to assisting with the mounds of paperwork that is required for grant-funded and federal funded nonprofits, and the list goes on. At RICS they say that no two days are the same and that is 100% true.

Throughout these last few weeks, I have had the privilege of seeing faces of bravery, strength, courage, determination, fear, anxiety, but most of all hope. Hope is something that is so powerful. It has the ability to encourage someone to take a leap of faith in order for the possibility of something better on the other side. It has the powers of motivation and calming sense of reassurance that you are doing the right thing. It provides comfort when times are difficult while also inspiring someone to do something big. Hope is a funny little four letter word, but one that encompasses all these emotions and more.

The participants at RICS have faces that are filled with hope. It is that hope that accompanies single mothers with their children, families where some family members do not make the move, those who leave their entire support network and come alone, and those fighting for a better chance. Although other emotions such as fear, anxiety, and stress flash across faces, there is always a glimmer of hope that can be seen.

It is that glimmer of hope and the flash of a smile that bridges cultures and communities together. It brings people from the Eritrea, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan, Syria, Burma, and the United States together. It exceeds language barriers and allows one another to be linked; linked together through shared or similar experiences. It is a face of hope that encourages me to do what I do and it is a face of hope that shines bright on the participants face as they understand and settle into what their life here in the United States will be.

Following are portraits of RICS participants by Pam Ingalls. They were shown in a show entitled “Facing the New US” at Heartland Alliance in honor of World Refugee Day. The artist’s website is pamingalls.com.

Three Places. One Week. Too Many Questions. by Alyssa Brewer

In one week, I went from studying abroad in Namibia to spending time with my family in Arkansas to now living in Indianapolis. Throughout this week, so many emotions bubbled up inside me. It was a cycle of confusion, anger, sadness, and exhaustion. Culture shock overwhelmed me at times. I questioned the habits of the nation in which I grew up. Why are there so many aisle of cereal? Why are there so many ads on the radio? Why is there too much water over here and not enough over there? But then new questions arose when I traveled to Indy from Arkansas. Why are there so many one-ways? Why are there no grocery stores nearby? Why am I here? That last one has become the theme of this summer. Technically, I am an intern at Kheprw Institute in Indianapolis- however, I am still discovering what that means. 

Kheprw Institute is a Non-for-Profit organization that focuses on empowering marginalised communities to become self-sustainable. Throughout my experience interning here, I have developed even more questions than answers. The leaders host discussions each morning about critical themes- social capital, empowerment, entrepreneurship, climate, race, education- just to name a few. No other organization that I have worked at does this. 

In a way, this style reminds me of my time studying in Southern Africa. I find comfort in the fact that despite every other aspect of my life changing, at least here there is some similarity. I am not stuck in some 65 degree office wearing button-downs and fulfilling menial tasks. Instead, I am sitting on a front porch openly discussing economics with my supervisor. The culture here at Kheprw is as non-traditional as it is real. 

While I have encountered some bumps in the road- arriving later due to study abroad schedule, tearing a ligament in my foot, and navigating the city with a boot on- I have not let them hold me back. Even though this experience has been both mentally and physically challenging so far, I have learned to be patient with life, be patient with others, and most importantly be patient with myself. So now the only question on my mind is what’s next?

Growing Markets by Michele Poindexter

Let me first briefly explain what Growing Home does. Growing Home is a USDA certified organic urban farm located in Englewood. They have a paid job training program each growing season for people with employment barriers. Production Assistants, participants in the program, learn transferable skills in agriculture, project management, and effective communication.

In addition to the job training program, Growing Home sells its produce through several outlets. In this blog, I want to talk about just one of the ways the produce is sold – farmer’s markets. Farmer’s markets are one of my favorite places to be and work at, so I thought I would tell you a bit about why they are so great and how they could be even better. To get the inside scoop, I asked Growing Home’s Food Access and Distribution Manager some questions about markets.

So why are farmers’ markets so great? For starters, a strong community around food is built. People in this community get super excited about things like a new variety of tomato, they are genuinely curious and ask lots of questions, and they truly value all of the hard work a farmer puts into growing their produce. It’s a super supportive, creative, and fun group of people to interact with every week.

But that’s not all! Many farmer’s markets have also made the local and artisanal products more accessible to all by accepting several forms of nutritional assistance, such as LINK and Farmer’s Markets coupons (WIC and senior assistance). One difficulty with farmer’s markets is that local, organic, and small business products are inherently more expensive, because they are higher quality, require more labor, and small businesses need to stay afloat. This can create a divide in who is able to access and benefit from these products. However, by accepting forms of nutritional assistance and offering a double value program, these products become somewhat more accessible to people with lower incomes.

Unfortunately, price is not the only barrier to accessing products from farmer’s markets. Location is also an issue. In Chicago specifically, there is a disproportionate number of farmer’s market on the north side compared to the south side. If you know anything about Chicago, you are probably aware of the racial and income disparities between the north and the south sides. With bus and train fare, the cost of transportation and time constraints of getting across the city can be an impediment for many. Fortunately, there are more farmer’s markets opening on the south side. This provides people who live on the south side easier access to farmer’s markets. It also provides farmers and artisans from the south side another place to sell their products. This way, people who choose to shop at these farmer’s markets are directly buying from and supporting local businesses from their immediate community. Growing Home looks forward to participating in a couple of these markets, so more of the produce stays in the community in which it is grown.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg! Farmer’s markets are extraordinary places with lots of good, and some not so goods that are being improved with awareness, creativity, and direct action. So if you haven’t yet, I’d highly recommend experiencing a farmers’ market soon (ps summer is the best time to)!

Exploring is the Nice Word for Lost by Haley Brewer

An hour and forty-five minutes.

That’s the longest I’ve gotten lost here amongst the Chicago streets. I’ve gotten lost looking for bubble tea, I’ve gotten lost looking for museums, I’ve gotten lost looking for countless bookshops and more. My second day here, I got lost looking for the Target and I still think a little part of me is out there looking for the red and white store.

When my mom asks, I tell her I’ve spent most of my time “exploring” the city because that sounds a lot better than “my google maps lost connection ten minutes in and I wandered up and down Washington for thirty minutes.” It’s all about the rebranding, folks.

However, a month in, my hopeless sense of direction has marginally become less so. I say marginally because just last Friday, I almost exceeded my record on time lost when I was looking for a new ramen place.

Although, it’s not like I’m gifted in directions back home. If it weren’t for the multiple map apps I have on my phone, I’d hardly be able to leave me apartment parking lot in Valpo.

I hate getting lost, I really do. It’s the constant bone I have to pick with myself and the universe, my complete lack of direction. But it’s not all bad. While lost, I’ve found adorable little parks, farmers markets, a secondhand book store I would literally die for, and rainbow roads.

While “exploring,” I’ve also tried things I never would have considered back home. Numerous small coffeeshops that are nothing like the Dunkin Doughnuts I usually stick to, little bakeries smell like sugar and bread, thai ice cream shops where they roll up the cream right in front of you. Wonderful little places I’m happy to find and even more happy to share with my friends when they visit.

Usually, when I’m in stage 4 of being lost (the first stages being 1. Obliviousness, 2. Creeping Dread, 3. Denial and/or the Bargaining stage) I’ll wander over to the nearest Wifi providing establishment, buy a drink of tea/coffee/juice/etc. to provide sustenance for my journey, and attempt to find my way with the assistance of the Wifi. This usually works, and I usually get the perk of whatever iced drink I’ve just acquired. With my mood instantly given +5 HP and some newly loaded directions, I’m off again. Despite how much I hate getting lost, it’s almost enjoyable nowadays.

With a month left in the program, I’m sure I’ve still got loads more time I’m going to dedicate to finding my way. At least I have all those iced drinks to look forward to!

P.S. Here’s the ramen I got lost for on Friday. Totally worth it.

Community Work as Dance by Maria Kubalewski

One of my close friends is a ballroom dancer. Although my wish to become a better dancer by osmosis has yet to come to fruition, my eyes were opened to how unique of a craft ballroom is. 

Kheprw’s approach to community work reminds me a lot of ballroom dance. 

Kheprw Institute is a grassroots organization that works primarily out of the Riverside and Highland Vicinity neighborhoods in Indianapolis. Grounded in the belief that members of a community are the best suited to lead within the community, Kheprw works to involve community members of all ages, interests, and backgrounds in conversations and programs touching on (but not limited to) race, education, the environment, entrepreneurship, art, and technology. 

There are many different styles of ballroom- Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Samba, Mambo, Cha-cha. Instead of focusing on one path to community work, Kheprw makes moves with urban gardening and youth programming, sparks conversation about gentrification and environmental degradation, and is working to provide a safe space for creatives of all kinds and an incubator to coach small businesses on the sidelines. Each style of dance requires conditioning- practice, coaching, and discipline. Each of Kheprw’s branches requires continuous research- discussion, collaboration, and commitment. Strong dancers are multi-faceted in the sense that they can dance more than one style, making them competitive; Strong organizations are multi-faceted in the sense that they have a team that offers a variety of programs, assisting the community in supporting itself. 

If a member of Kheprw is one half of a ballroom couple, then another organization, community member, or project makes up the other half. When you’ve got a really good relationship with your dance partner- you’re both comfortable with the style and approach, there’s clear communication, and there’s a sense of trust- dancing is smooth. When you’ve got a new dance partner, or you and your old one don’t agree on style or technique, dancing becomes a lot more strained. It doesn’t matter how prepared either partner was for the competition, if you’re not jiving together, it’s just not going to be your day.

As to be expected in community work, Kheprw has dance partners that don’t skip a beat and partners who seem to be dancing to a different song. Synchronized dance partners help to provide opportunities within the community or lay the foundation for long-term projects. Why bother dancing with a partner who has two left feet? The better question is why not? Members of Kheprw treat every experience as a learning opportunity. Even when a relationship is uncomfortable, even when there’s tension, both partners can learn from one another. Sometimes partners grow closer, other times the partnership just isn’t meant to be. But there is always value in the relationship, always a story to hear and a lesson to be learned. 

Dancing is an art. It takes time, creativity, and demands an appreciation for the culture. To do well, partners need to work hand in hand to support one another. In this way, dance emphasizes the interdependent relationship, making it emotional, fun, and challenging all at the same time.  

Community work is also an art. To do it well starts with seeing the community as something to be appreciated, as something to learn from and grow with. Kheprw emphasizes community work- meaningful relationships amongst people comes first. The work then emerges from that space. Just like dancing, working with people is inherently emotional, fun, and complex. But that’s exactly what makes the work, makes the dance, so important.