Monthly Archives: June 2020

An African Girl by Willet Debrah

Hi, my name is Willet Debrah, and I’ve been working alongside Water To Thrive this summer. My blog is based on a documentary on childhood marriage in Africa. This poem may be triggering to some people as it expresses  violence and/or assault. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to explore the challenges faced in African communities, which I am no stranger to, spending my childhood in Ghana. I hope to illuminate the reality of oppression that women often face being raised through this poem especially the lack of education for younger girls and childhood marriage:

 

An African Girl 

 

The first thing an African girl is taught 

Is not that she is beautiful,

Is not that she is capable,

Is not that she is brave,

Is not that she can be the best she could possibly be 

But rather, 

She is taught that she is not her own

She is taught to clean while the boys play,

She is taught to take care of a home, for no man will marry her if she can’t, 

She is taught to be a slave for her man 

So from the day she is born, she has been learning how to serve a man,

How to pleasure him,

How to give him a child,

Her beauty is measured by her bride price

30 cows

15 goats

10 bags of yams and cassavas 

5 chickens 

Objects that are incomparable to a human life

But this is her price

This is her childhood sold to a man three times her age

To a man old enough to be her father

To a man she once called uncle 

To a man who forces himself on her every night 

This is the tragic story of many African girls 

This is sometimes mistaken as culture 

This is unimaginable 

This is child abuse

This is not culture

This is slavery 

This is rape

This is a 15 year old girl who marries a 50 year old man

This was her childhood 

This was her only education

This is the source of her death

This is the story of thousands of African girls.

 

Civil Unrest and Digital Rights by Elizabeth Palmer

In the past four weeks,
● I’ve been unironically listening to “Earth” by Lil Dicky;
● I accidentally got a caffeine addiction because I found the perfect way to make a chai in the morning;
● I’ve considered dropping out and becoming a beekeeper enough times that it seems like it may actually be a good idea;
● I watched Queer Eye’s new season in one sitting and had an out-of-body experience;
● I got an “under his eye” face mask that I’m probably too excited about; and
● I’ve been working on getting my “Liz energy” back by reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle (it’s working).

 

I’m about halfway through my CAPS Fellowship at Internews in Washington, D.C. I’ve been working from my parents’ house in Kouts, IN, quarantining with a close group of friends, attending protests, and hanging out with my dogs and nephew.

 

My main role is to help the Global Tech arm within Internews think more strategically about how they’re telling their story, but I’ve also helped with content creation and copywriting. I’ll be moving to more writing assignments as the communication plan gets finished in the next few weeks.

 

I’ve thought more about anti-censorship, digital security and digital rights in the past month than I have in my entire time at Valpo. I’ve always avoided anything to do with STEM and never considered that a person can’t be a human rights activist without also fighting in the digital space. I started out way out of my element, but I think I’m starting to get the hang of things and have already come to appreciate how technology plays a role in activism.

 

It’s been especially helpful to be learning about digital rights and free press as a journalism student in a period of misinformation campaigns, elections and a global pandemic. I didn’t realize how valuable this work has been in application to other parts of my life.

 

My passion is communication. I am the “Media”, whether I like it or not. I’m Director of Marketing for TEDxValparaisoUniversity, Vice President Member Education for my sorority and the Opinions Editor for The Torch.

 

I’ve always known ethics play a huge role in my responsibilities, but they’ve been challenged way past what I could have learned in a classroom this year. With each new addition to my resume, I learn more and more about what information audiences can benefit from and what ends up just being harmful or white noise. Four weeks in, I can’t imagine being an activist going forward without also advocating for independent media and rights in the digital space.

Lost in Translation by Marie Dix

During my first few weeks working with the refugee case management team at Heartland Alliance, I would tell my curious friends and family (partly joking) that I call people I don’t know in languages I don’t speak to help connect them with services I know little about. Every day that assessment becomes a little less true, as with each encounter I get to know our families better and learn the ins and outs of services SSI and SNAP and WIC. Although I’ve become fluent in social service acronyms, I haven’t made much progress on my Swahili, Pashto, or Arabic, so I guess my original statement will always be a little true! I will forever be grateful for our skilled, generous, and endlessly patient interpreters. 

 

I have always been less comfortable on the phone than in person, and the first few calls I made, though well intentioned, were awkward and impersonal. I wasn’t prepared to deal with the layers that made remote, intercultural communication a challenge for a new intern. I kept thinking how much easier it would be to connect if I could look people in the eyes and I didn’t have to say things like “I’m sorry, could you repeat that? No, no your English is fine, it’s my phone connection!” 

 

Through no fault of interpreters, there was so much that was getting lost in translation.To most people I called, I was a disembodied voice on the end of a phone line, who interrogated them with a series of personal questions through a third party and then appeared again a day later with the news that some mysterious application or appointment had been made. I was getting lost, and not only in the usual “newbie” kind of way. Who I was- my personality, my tone of voice, the fact that I cared for this cause and wanted to get to know these people–wasn’t translating very well. 

 

The remedy for this frustration has been invitations to group zoom calls. My favorite days have been those where I get to meet and see participants in a more personal and less formal setting. There I can match a voice to a face and apartment walls, and even their little ones waving at the camera. My business calls are so much smoother and more genuine after I have talked with someone about their favorite foods and music during our weekly “creative corner” meetings, or seen them smile as their name was called at virtual English class graduation. I learn the most about them on Friday mornings at “cultural orientations” as I listen in on a small groups to hear their thoughts and questions on topics like racism in America or the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

This work gives me a tiny glimpse into the complicated and frustrating experience of being a refugee in 2020. I am hoping that my efforts will make life a little easier for some incredibly resilient people who have conquered, and continue to conquer, situations more painful and difficult than I can imagine. Many of them too feel lost in a new culture, or lost as the world they finally understood was turned upside down by a world pandemic. I want them to know that I believe in them, am amazed by them, and I want to see them succeed. Day by day, call by call, we are finding our way.

The Irony of Productivity Videos by Emily Friedman

The Valpo Career Center sends emails during the summer. Normally I give the email a quick glance then I send it to the trash, but I decided to read this one more carefully. On the page was a quote from Hassan Akmal stating, “Employers are not going to judge you if you are unemployed during a pandemic. However, they are going to focus on what you did during this time. What they want to see is that you are productive and taking your career development seriously.” Next to that quote was the “new #1 interview question” asking, “What have you been working on?”

 

What have I been working on?

 

This summer I am working at The Bridge Teen Center, a nonprofit organization in Orland Park, Illinois. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, The Bridge provides free, holistic youth programs that focus on a teen’s physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being. Activities are designed to fit one of the five “buckets:” Everyday Life, Community Connections, Educational Support, Mind/Body, and Expressive Arts. As someone that is passionate about youth development and was interested in summer programming, I knew that The Bridge Teen Center was the place for me.

 

Then COVID-19 happened.

 

CAPS fellows were informed that internships would be remote. Considering the people-oriented nature of my internship, I was given the choice: I could either stay at The Bridge or I could move to another organization. If I relocated, I was guaranteed a remote job that I could start right away. If I stayed, I would be able to work in-person, but this all depended on state protocols. This meant waiting at least a month to see where things were headed. To make up for lost time, my internship would continue into the Fall semester.

 

Given the circumstances, I felt grateful to have an internship at all. I chose to stay at The Bridge because their mission matched my interests and the opportunity was worth the wait. Every week CAPS fellows check in with each other to see how everyone is doing. For the first few weeks, I didn’t have much to contribute about my job, but I always enjoyed listening to other people’s experiences and having fruitful conversations about service and social justice.

 

Thinking back to the email from the Career Center, I asked myself how I planned to spend my time during this season of waiting. On one hand, I could dive into “hustle culture” and plan my days down to the minute to maximize productivity. One the other hand, it’s summer vacation! I can do whatever I want! And by “do whatever I want” I mean do nothing at all because I can. Both sides of the spectrum are extreme and they’re both forms of self-destruction. All work and no play creates burnout, but a hedonistic lifestyle is artificial fulfillment.

 

As a fan of the self-help genre, it is a guilty pleasure to scroll through health and wellness videos on YouTube. Titles such as “My 6:00 am Morning Routine” or “10 Tips to Make Your Day More Productive” clog my feed. In my mind, I’m thinking, “This twenty-minute video will unlock all the secrets to life. I will finally have the tools and the inspiration to become my best self!” Video after video, I realized that I was spending more time watching than actually doing something. Why was that?

 

Certainly, those videos can be a good source of entertainment, but at the time, I wasn’t sure if I had any goals outside of a work setting. Losing the structure that I have at school, on top of a pandemic, made me crave a sense of consistency and normalcy. I was turning to other people’s lifestyles to find inspiration for my own.

 

I brainstormed some goals for myself. They’re the kind of goals that people announce on New Year’s Eve but then slowly forget about them by the time February rolls around. That’s something that I’ve noticed with goal setting and why some goals feel more achievable than others. As someone that loves to check something off her to-do list, if there was something that I really wanted to accomplish, I would have done it by now or I would have already made time for it. Considering that I have nothing but time, I can’t really use the excuse “I don’t have time” to justify my inaction. What was holding me back?

 

I realized that I didn’t have a clear “Why” for my goals, nor did I really have a plan for how I wanted to achieve them. Take any goal and let’s call it X. Typically, I would say something like “X is good for you” but that isn’t motivating enough for me to go out and do it. Instead, it makes me feel bad whenever I don’t do X because I’m not doing something that’s good for me. I had to change my thinking. As for creating a plan, I had to experiment with what worked and what didn’t. I could watch all the productivity videos in the world, but I am the only one that can figure out what is going to work for me.

 

In the next blog post, I hope to write more about my time at The Bridge. Thus far, I’ve toured the facility and had a few trainings. As I’ve been writing this blog post, I got an email from my supervisor asking me to plan an activity for August. Coincidentally, the title of the program is called #SKILLS: Prioritize your Goals. I hope I can bring some wisdom to that event.

 

In peace,

Emily

 

 

 

How Much Does Water Cost? by Gabe Martinez

Water is a source of life. Our lives revolve around water. Without it we would be a desert. The way it quenches our thirst, cleanses our bodies, and nurtures our food, what would you pay for something that does that and even more? What do you currently pay for the water that is in your home, for a water bottle, or for some kind of filtration system? Who would’ve thought that clean water, a need, would actually cost money? Or does it cost more than that?

To the people of Lemanda Village, it has cost them their lives.

I am currently working on a project for Water to Thrive, a non-profit organization that focuses on building wells for villages in Africa. My project is to find a solution for the excess fluoride that is found in nearby water sources in Lemanda. The effects of excess fluoride can span from teeth discoloration, stiffening of the bones, and can hinder child development. Their water does not look, smell or taste any different than potable water so they continue to drink it. In reality, that is the only choice they have other than dehydrating themselves. The solution is using a specific filter that will remove the excess fluoride, but there are other obstacles that will not allow the solution to be long-term. Those obstacles are a lack of education and guidance, and funds for the solution. Not being able to visibly see that the water is toxic makes it difficult to convince the people that there is a problem and seeing no visible difference after the filter makes it even harder. Lack of guidance also makes it harder to show the people how the filters work and how they can check their water instead of relying on Western organizations to do it for them. A lack of funding takes away from being able to have filters to clean their water, at some point they would have to choose water over food or vice versa. To them clean water is costing them an immense amount of time, effort, and money. Once they have clean water, it’s not going to reverse the permanent effects that the fluoride has had on their people. When will they begin to reap the benefits of their work?

I started to think about how realistic it is to have clean water, not just in Africa, but also in the U.S. Does our government provide every person with clean water? We are considered a “developed” country, yet a good portion of the U.S. doesn’t have access to clean water for example Flint, Michigan. You’d imagine that the Flint situation should have been fixed by now, but it has been 5 years since it became news, and nothing has changed. How are these communities supposed to wash their hands during a pandemic without having clean water? If the people of these communities don’t have jobs during the pandemic, how are they supposed to pay for their filthy water, or overpriced bottled water? They will have to make a choice of whether they should pay for water or other necessities. Hmm, that sounds a lot like the situation in Lemanda. It’s interesting to notice that our water infrastructure mirrors the system of a developing country. Yet, we are so proud of how much we have grown as a country, but in reality, we haven’t. We have put bandages on deep wounds in hope that it goes away.

Instead of accepting that there’s a problem with access and cost of clean water, there are companies who are benefitting from there not being clean water. There are water bottle, filter, and cleaning companies that are profiting off a need.  The quality and access of water should not be privatized and used to make profit when we literally need clean water to survive. There’s so much more to unpack, but this will turn out to be more than just a blog.

I hope this has provoked some thought and encouraged you to look into our corrupt and unequal water system.

So how much does your water cost?

Embracing Discomfort by Lydia Knorp

My work at Heartland ALLiance has been inspiring, eye opening, and something that I look forward to each day. I came in the CAPS program struggling to pinpoint my calling. I knew that I had found my home in the field of Social Work; yet in a field so vast, I struggled to narrow down what branch of social work I wanted to work in. My weeks at Heartland thus far have been a comforting confirmation for me of the work that I passionately want to pursue. This experience has reminded me of the beauty I find when working with people different than me. However, my time at Heartland has also reminded me that helping people navigate injustices, no matter how much passion I have, will be and should be uncomfortable.
Our current times have been startling reminders of the disparities in our systems and the ways that the people who experience them are impacted. Heartland ALLiance has taken the hurt and injustices in this world, slid into the discomfort of it all, stood alongside and boldly defended the hurting. They have had no hesitation when it comes to discussing the problems in the world and acknowledging the trauma and hurt of those directly impacted by them.
As a social work student, I have spent many classes discussing the injustices that individuals experience in the world. The topics of racial disparities, systemic racism, and privilege are not new to my vocabulary. In these past few weeks, these topics have gone from being rarely and uncomfortably discussed to taking the headlines of the news and media. As passionate as I am about bringing greater awareness to the systemic racism and white privilege that are still alive today, I have found myself emotionally overwhelmed by the nature of our world. In simpler terms, I found myself in a place of discomfort.
Heartland ALLiance has celebrated the supreme court’s ruling of DACA and acknowledged the ways that the current immigration system fails to address the dignity of each individual. They acknowledged systemic racism and working and striving to dismantle it. They have said, “Enough with the racial and economic injustice that creates deep despair within Black communities. Enough with the inexcusable racist rhetoric and incitement to violence by our President. And enough with the systems of racism and oppression that have led to unacceptable over-policing, police brutality, and mass incarceration.” Heartland ALLiance has not remained quiet in the midst of complacency. They have taught me the importance of learning and growing through the discomfort.
            I still find myself frustrated and uncomfortable, yet I have learned the importance of leaning into these feelings. I have found the value in learning to embrace and delve into the discomfort. For if we come to be comfortable with injustices, we will never see change.

To learn more about Heartland ALLiance and their response to current events visit https://www.heartlandalliance.org

Unmuting the Silence by Kiera Pratt

June 1st marked the beginning of my internship at National Lutheran Communities and Services at The Village at Rockville location.  I am embarking on an 8 week journey and diving right into the intricacies and nuances of the senior living industry.  While having no experience within the field, many questions loom through my mind and I find myself overwhelmed with the thoughts and uncertainties I have in regards to the work I am being asked to complete.  Getting to know team members and discussing critical components and future plans of the organization through a computer screen with a grainy picture all while troubleshooting poor internet connection is a struggle I am sure many of us are facing today.  There is something to be said about the human interaction and social conversations that occur in the workplace compared to dialogue between two computers 1,500 miles away. 

 

“Make sure you put yourself on mute”, “Don’t ask an obvious question”, “Take all the information you can in” are common statements I make to myself in an effort, in my mind, will make me seem responsible and respectful.  However, through these efforts, I am choosing to be silent and making the choice to not ask questions and provide input.  I hover over the unmute microphone feature waiting for a moment of silence to jump in, but inevitably I accidentally cut someone else off and say “Oh, I’m sorry go ahead!” and eventually I am left with a multitude of questions and thoughts that I failed to ask and share.  I become frustrated with myself because I did not have the confidence to speak up, but the thing is I know my words have value.  However, I cannot help but to stop and think that while I know my voice has value, why is it that we as a society cannot value the voices of our Black community?  It is one thing to be silent, but it is of another magnitude to be silenced.  

 

In the recent social climate with the Black Lives Matter movement and addressing the systemic racism and social injustices that are so evident in today’s society, I learned that it has been my privilege to stay silent.  However, if I have learned anything through these past few months following this movement and conversation, it is that I have to use my voice.  Acknowledging my privilege and biases and the stereotypes that are so ingrained in our society’s being is one step in becoming aware of the inequalities that perpetuate the racism that exists today.  An internal dialogue is crucial when addressing various injustices because society created this issue and to be more specific, white people created this issue.  I have a privilege as a white woman that the Black community does not.  Being a white woman, I am not exposed to the slandering comments, presumptive stereotypes, and the belittling microaggressions, but it is vital that I use my voice and privilege to support the Black community and demand change. I understand that I will never understand what it means to be a Black person in today’s society.  

 

I have a privilege as a white woman to stay silent because my race is not at jeopardy of discrimination, but I believe it begins with acknowledging your privilege and using your voice effectively to eliminate the injustices and racism within the Black community and other communities of minorities.

 

Our voices are not necessarily meant to call out those who are being silent as the path they are choosing to take in creating change may look different from the way others are, but our voices are meant to amplify those who are being oppressed.  Having meaningful conversations with peers, friends, and families can create a dialogue that has intentional action supporting it.  

 

No longer will I toggle over the microphone feature in my own life in fear of speaking out instead I will use my voice effectively and productively to address my own thoughts, words, and actions, but also to have conversations with others to listen to various experiences and effect a lasting change that is integral to the progression of this country.

 

Now is the time to unmute ourselves all while listening and being empathetic to the voices that have been silenced for far too long.

What I Don’t Know For Sure: The Intricacies of Not Knowing By Drayce Adams

“What I Know For Sure” was a column in O, The Oprah Magazine, where Oprah Winfrey shared life lessons collected from her lifetime as a source of inspiration for others in an uncertain world. Admittedly, I hadn’t even heard of it until days ago, when it received a scalding critique from Imhotep, a director at Kheprw Institute where I am an intern. Kheprw is a nonprofit in Indianapolis that focuses on community empowerment through building capacity in community members. It operates by looking at the resources available and how they can be leveraged for community use. 

 

Like with most conversations, Imhotep and I discussed from the front porch, the heart of Kheprw’s operations. In the balmy Indianapolis evening, Imhotep said knowing anything for sure is complete crap. I objected, thinking of all the things I knew for certain. I knew my name was Drayce. I knew the pythagorean theorem equation. I knew that today was sunny, and that we sat on the porch because it shaded us from the heat. Before I could even dive into the plethora of knowledge I contained, he cut me off and reasserted a commonly-voiced statement: “You are 20 years old, you don’t know a thing!” Holding my frustration at bay, he explained that “knowing” is a feeling fabricated by oneself, and how one perceives the universe around them. This universe is constantly changing, and knowing something for certain violates that principle of change which is fundamental. 

 

That answer didn’t satisfy me, so I continued to mull over the things I knew. I thought about my journey to Kheprw through the CAPS Fellows program. Though a Biomedical Engineering major, I decided to step out of my engineering box and engage in something unfamiliar to me this summer. What brought me to Kheprw was a unique shared mentality amongst its members, one of equity and family. Then COVID-19 hit. My one opportunity to engage with this enriching environment was threatened, but I was determined to find a way to make it happen. Through Kheprw’s creativity, this opportunity arose, and here I found myself in Indianapolis, 200 miles from home with a stubborn man who tells me constantly that I know nothing.

 

I started to think critically about why Imhotep insists on beating that lesson into me. Starting with my background, I’m a white male, and have had the privilege of growing up in a comfortable suburb. I recognize this distances me both from the economic and racial issues that permeate Kheprw’s work, especially during a pandemic and in the wake of nationwide protests surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement. It’s as if I come from another planet. I can never fully grasp the complexity, barriers, and pain of racial discrimination that is encountered every day by people of color. This is because I live in a system that favors me, that has silently and vocally taught me that I have power, that I am smart, and that I can bring change. I learned very quickly here that this narrative is much different growing up with color, in fact it is the opposite. You learn that you start from the bottom of a ladder and that every day you have to be vigilant against a system designed to keep you from climbing up. I learned that success against this system is illusory: every movement against racism has only led to it continuing through another form. I continue to learn more everyday because the people here at Kheprw allow me to ask difficult questions. They even encourage me to ask the stupid questions where I lack the common knowledge that we are deprived of in the American education system. I’ve learned a lot, but it is as fractional as a drop in a swimming pool. I could learn every historical event, discuss institutionalized racism with every expert, and I would still know nothing about racism’s true nature, because I don’t live it. I just can’t experience it. How can I understand a lifetime of abuse when I can’t even stand an old man calling me a fool for 2 weeks?

 

So why does Imhotep tell me I know nothing? Simply because it’s true. This mentality is the only one that can bring me to understanding. If at any point I say “Okay, I get it. I came here to learn, now I know what racism is”, my learning would immediately end. In this context, knowing is the barrier to understanding.

 

Understanding, unlike knowledge, can change. Imhotep’s critique of Oprah’s “What I Know For Sure” was out of the sensibility that our understanding of the universe is very limited, just like my understanding of racism is limited. In this sense, claiming to know anything about this universe is as ridiculous as me asserting to completely know a facet of racism. Beyond that, in trying to deepen our understanding of life and anything in it, we have to first let go of the concept of knowing. For me, this is very difficult. As per an engineering mindset, I try to operate with logic and knowledge to engage problems. To me, the statement “My name is Drayce”, checks out as true; I know that as fact. But consider that names can change. ‘Imhotep’, meaning bringer of peace, was not his given name at birth. Instead the community collectively endowed this name. I don’t know what his original name was, but I suspect it doesn’t matter to him, considering that the current understanding is that he is Imhotep. This understanding may have changed over time, but it holds true as what is important.

 

Currently, discussions on racism are happening worldwide, which is amazing. Anticipating this blog post, I had at first sought to accumulate knowledge on the subject to share in this discussion, only to realize that isn’t how I can contribute. Instead, I can do a whole lot of listening. I can remind my fellow idiots that it’s okay to not know anything. By admitting this (which is still my challenge everyday) instead of denying it, you can begin to reflect and raise the questions that need to be talked about. To do this you have to put even your own beliefs under scrutiny because the “kool aid” (as Imhotep calls it) is everywhere. By asking these questions, you bring everyone to a greater understanding. That is how the fool contributes. With that said, there are a lot of things I don’t know for sure. I only hope the number of them continues to increase. Thank you for reading my CAPS blog post 🙂

Reflection and Change by Christy Craig

Leading up to the start of my fellowship on June 1st and in the weeks since then, our country has gone through some tremendously difficult times. From the COVID-19 pandemic to the loss of George Floyd and multiple other Black lives, we have been challenged as a society to reflect, speak up, and take action. While many aspects of these recent events have been painful and there’s clearly much work to be done, I feel blessed to be a CAPS fellow during this time. To work with a not-for-profit organization that prioritizes social justice and serving its communities. And to be part of an incredible group of CAPS fellows with whom I get to reflect with each week. Additionally, I’ve found that I’m really enjoying my work and that it’s already informing the type of courses I’d like to take when I start my master’s degree in public health this fall. Now I’m sure you’re wondering, what exactly is my fellowship? This summer, I’m working at one of the sites of National Lutheran Communities & Services called The Village at Rockville. The Village at Rockville is a CCRC, or continuing care retirement community, meaning that it offers multiple levels of care to its residents. These levels of care include independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing, among others.

As part of my objectives for this summer, I am exploring trends in the senior living industry such as the growing need for affordable housing and the increasing desire for independent living units and high-end services. As someone who is entirely new to the senior living industry, I’m loving learning about everything from terminology to Medicaid/Medicare to how to create a master plan. This fellowship has not come without challenges, however. For one, I did not expect that it would be so difficult to adjust to a typical 9a-5p schedule. In addition, there have been times where I feel silly on a call because I don’t know an acronym (apparently SNFs means skilled nursing facilities) or when I’ve found myself frustrated by the complexity of health insurance and healthcare regulations. Further, at times, I’ve found it challenging to communicate effectively. That being said, I know this fellowship is and will continue to be an excellent opportunity for growth. This is my first time doing remote work, but I’m positive it won’t be my last. Thus, learning how to schedule my day, communicate through video conferencing platforms, and collaborate from a distance is of utmost importance. In the coming weeks, I’ve challenged myself to reflect deeply on how I communicate- both during this fellowship and in my personal life. Do I really listen? Have I asked fellow employees how they prefer to communicate? Are there creative ways I can overcome communication barriers? So far, I’ve decided that it’s beneficial to be assertive and to ask any and all questions, even if it feels uncomfortable. For example, during a call this past week, I felt unclear about my role in creating a master plan. I vocalized this and asked my supervisor how I could be most helpful, suggesting a few different options. As a result, I walked away from the call having a much better idea of the focus of my research in the next week. While I anticipate that there will be more challenges, I welcome them and look forward to learning from them. As a final note, I’ve also had the chance to meet with a variety of team members at The Village, and I really look forward to working with them, my supervisor, and the other Valpo student at my site, Kiera Pratt.

 

Until next time,

Christy 

 

America’s Silent Heroes by Joey Hess III

A dark cloud of fear and uncertainty looms over our nation as our friends, family, and neighbors lose their income, their food security, and are forced to self-isolate in an attempt to avoid illness. We turn on the news and day after day the same message is echoed. An invisible, virulent, and deadly virus is circulating the country and while precautions are in place, people are still being affected in vast numbers. Instead of hearing about any of the good that is happening in the country, our attention seems to be directed towards the negative. So, how are we supposed to embrace the light when all we can see is darkness?

While the enemy we fight is invisible, we do not have to be. The truth is, our presence in our communities is needed now more than ever, and Lutheran Services in America (LSA) and their member organizations recognize that and are answering the call. As part of their mission to bring awareness to all the great work that their members have been doing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, LSA has been publishing daily stories highlighting the unsung Frontline Heroes who are selflessly serving their communities. These are our senior care nurses, social workers, physical therapists, case managers and so many more who, despite receiving little praise, are on the frontlines fighting to protect and serve our most vulnerable populations.

I have taken the time to read through all of the stories posted on the LSA blog and I am baffled by all of the amazing work these organizations are doing and the impact they are making across the country. What is even more shocking is how difficult it is to find a single story that highlights any of their great work in the mainstream media. Despite receiving little recognition, these organizations are sacrificing themselves for the greater good of the people they serve.

Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota is providing translation services at COVID-19 testing sites to remove the language barrier and ensure everyone has access to care. Luther Home of Mercia is streaming religious services for their residents as a way for them to grow and heal spiritually. Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota is providing daily dial-in support groups as a resource to fight social isolation. Lutheran Senior Life delivered over 10,000 meals to their community in the span of five weeks and Lutheran Social Services of Nevada expanded its DigiMart food pantry from 750 square feet to 3,058 square feet to help the growing number of people in their community who are facing food insecurity. These are just 5 out of the 50+ stories LSA has shared over the past few months and there are plenty more to come.

So I ask you to take the time to thank those working in senior services who are putting themselves and their families at risk in order to protect the older adult population. I ask you to share the stories of those serving our children, youth and family who are working tirelessly to ensure that every child they serve is safe, healthy, and is able to reach their full potential. Lastly, I ask that, if you are able to, donate some of your time, funds, or food to those providing shelter and nourishment for the people who are struggling to get through these troubling times.

At LSA, we plan to continue our effort to recognize these silent heroes and show appreciation for all the amazing work that they do. To be a part of a movement like the one being set forth by LSA is something that I do not take lightly. As long as I am with this organization I will continue to work towards their vision of improving and transforming the lives of the people and communities that their amazing members so selflessly serve.

There are two ways to spread light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.

 

In luce tua videmus lucem,

Joey Hess III

Weeks Full of Lessons by Ashley Winiewicz

I’m beginning the third week of my internship at BallotReady, yet I have still not perfected the art of a flawless Zoom call. “Can you hear me?” “Is my microphone on?” “Ah, thank you for letting me know.” Just a few examples of the common phrases I notice myself saying daily when hopping on and off of meetings. But hey, I’m learning and I’m learning more than how to navigate an internship remotely, I’m being educated on the mission of BallotReady and pursuit to educate voters on their ballot to have politicians that represent them and their community. The heart of BallotReady beats on the voter first mentality and knowing our actions matter in a larger system to make sure the voter is informed and have their voice be heard. Each day of my internship I have been enlightened in some way or another and I want to share the beginning of my journey learning as an intern with you. Whether it’s from onboarding sessions, daily check-in calls with my intern team, or the CAPS reflect-in meetings these past three weeks have been bursting with conversations, thoughts, and lessons.

Silence doesn’t mean I have nothing to say… I’m thinking. This first lesson is actually from the second CAPS reflect-in and I’m grateful to have heard these words as I have interpreted the awkward silence in meetings as no one wanting to talk. Especially, speaking on behalf of myself my silence was me not wanting to speak up but simply trying to think about the subject matter and articulate my thoughts to prepare myself to speak. I think we seem to forget the times when meetings were not over video, we had time to brainstorm with one another and sit in the silence until someone had a comment, question, or thought to share at the table. Compared to the fast-paced automatic responses we expect over Zoom meetings when truly sitting in that silence allowing one another to gather our thoughts is normal, it means we want to make our words intentional and impactful, making the conversation more robust rather than just speaking to simply fill the silence lingering over the call. So, I’m learning to enjoy the silence and realize it’s the sound of us thinking.

Cross that off your checklist! The BallotReady intern team read an article from The New Yorker, “The Checklist” written by Atual Gawande to exemplify the order and efficiency a checklist can bring to a daily routine. The article shared stories from intensive care units using checklists to save lives and if one step was missed the whole process would have been off and the outcomes could have been different. A checklist is needed to stay organized, keep track of your progress, and keep yourself accountable for what needs to get done. Furthermore, the checklist exemplifies the small pieces of the puzzle you need to do in order to complete it. BallotReady values excellence in the work we do and produce for our customers and if something as simple as keeping an effective checklist boosts productivity and work ethic, I will implement it in my daily routine.

Breaking the ice, virtual icebreakers are essential. Hi, my name is Ashley! I go to Valparaiso University and I can’t swim. First, I need to find a better fun fact. But listening to the introductions, daily questions, and games that may seem silly over Zoom are essential to form a sense of community and connection in a remote workspace. I look forward to getting to learn more about those I work with, the small side messages or video chats validate we are all working on these projects together, we all share similar passions and interests. We should be taking the time to acknowledge one another and converse while we work to continue building a community.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, I have so many more thoughts and ideas that fill my mind as I have started this internship. I’m beyond thankful to be working for BallotReady and to be connecting the dots of my future plans. Stay tuned for the next blog post… I’ll dive more into that.

Stay safe, happy, and healthy

Ashley