SouthCoastToday.com: Stang students camp in 'Cardboard Tent City' for homelessness
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Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Lesley Delivers with White 4
Hey Everyone, it’s Lyndsey again! I led Lesley Delivers the other night as a part of Lesley’s Hunger and Homelessness week. We had a perfect mix of people who had come on sandwich runs before and people who hadn’t. It was amazing to see the amount of people that did come because the weather was less than kind and rained the whole time. We did see some people, but not many – which gives me hope that they had found somewhere warm and dry to sleep. We did however see a man sitting next to a strung up tarp and we gave him some sandwiches. As we began to leave we saw him walk over to the tarp and give all of the food to the people underneath it, leaving none for himself. We went back and made sure that he had some for himself before we left. This action made us think about how we are family and friends before we are anything else, including hungry. It is not just the people on the runs who are trying to provide a small bit of comfort and hope, but the people who are sitting with each other in their time of need.
Lesley Delivers with SSJ Part 2
This blog was written by Merrie Rothstein, President of the Community Service Club, about the same experience as the previous post, but from a different point of view.
Lesley Delivers and Students for Social Justice (SSJ) teamed up on Wednesday night to bring peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, juice boxes, snacks, and hand sanitizer to individuals in Harvard Square. It was a quiet night for both Lesley and Harvard Square. We had four Lesley students prepare and deliver meals. Two of the individuals that joined us was experiencing Lesley Delivers for the first time, it’s great to have more students joining in on the experience! There weren’t many individuals around Harvard Square, we were able to hand out a few bagged meals but, also found ourselves leaving bags in areas where people might stop by later in the night. After we de-briefed on the night’s events and discussed our service in connection to social justice issues, I went with another student volunteer to CVS and we noticed on our way in that one of the bags that we had left was already taken. On our way out of CVS to go back to Lesley, we noticed one or two other bags had already been taken. It was a great feeling to see that they had been taken; it was great to see that a few more people would have a sandwich to eat that night! Recently, while we do our sandwich runs, people have been telling us we should come earlier. This week our sandwich runs were earlier than our regular time, and when we went later individuals were in the area to receive the sandwiches we made.
Lesley Delivers and Students for Social Justice (SSJ) teamed up on Wednesday night to bring peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, juice boxes, snacks, and hand sanitizer to individuals in Harvard Square. It was a quiet night for both Lesley and Harvard Square. We had four Lesley students prepare and deliver meals. Two of the individuals that joined us was experiencing Lesley Delivers for the first time, it’s great to have more students joining in on the experience! There weren’t many individuals around Harvard Square, we were able to hand out a few bagged meals but, also found ourselves leaving bags in areas where people might stop by later in the night. After we de-briefed on the night’s events and discussed our service in connection to social justice issues, I went with another student volunteer to CVS and we noticed on our way in that one of the bags that we had left was already taken. On our way out of CVS to go back to Lesley, we noticed one or two other bags had already been taken. It was a great feeling to see that they had been taken; it was great to see that a few more people would have a sandwich to eat that night! Recently, while we do our sandwich runs, people have been telling us we should come earlier. This week our sandwich runs were earlier than our regular time, and when we went later individuals were in the area to receive the sandwiches we made.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Lesley Delivers with Students for Social Justice
This blog was written by Lesley University Senior Sandy Ho, President of Students For Social Justice.
The other night Students for Social Justice had the opportunity to host a Lesley Delivers event. The goal was not only to reach out to the homeless population in Harvard Square, but in doing so to connect with our friends engaged in direct service with social justice. From the social justice perspective I am engaged in classes that teach me about social policies, and have had several internships that deal with political activity on both a national and international scale. Admittedly, I went into the experience with very little experience and knowledge of direct service; simply stated, this notion of directly impacting one individual's life or several individuals' lives was new to me.
The night before however, I had attended a presentation by Dr. Jesse Gaeta - a doctor who provides healthcare for homeless individuals. In her presentation she not only gave an incredibly eye-opening and humbling talk on how she provides health care services, but was able to put it into a context of what is going on in the policy world. Her discussion with us stressed that housing and health care are human rights. And though our communities and federal government has resources, her approach with her patients is not one of doctor and patient - but one that puts the individual on center stage. "How did this person come to be in the state s/he is in?" And from there she frames her support, she guides the individual, she provides the services - this is in sharp contrast to what I view my relationship with my own physicians which many times is framed in a "doctor's orders" context. That evening I asked Dr. Gaeta how she navigates the perspective of direct service with large-scale political change, and whether or not it was difficult (as she made it seem so seamless and natural). I would soon be able to find out for myself...
That night more than ever before, I felt at the cross roads of civic engagement. Up until that point I had largely thought of social justice action as those that implement structural change on a greater societal level, and direct service as a temporary band-aid on the problem. Political lobbying on Capitol Hill during my Washington Semester in D.C. vs. handing out sandwiches in Harvard Square to the homeless: The differences between the two forms of activity are obvious, but are there any similarities? Was it possible for me to connect the two 'spheres of service' ? I would soon learn that not only are there more similarities than I had thought, but the two together are critical if we are to be successful in our fight against homelessness.
I looked aroung the group of students who were out with me that night. The wide diversity in backgrounds and interests represented reflects not only a personal choice, but in doing so highlights the fact that both volunteerism and social justice provides an opportunity for diverse people to engage in a personal choice together. The second similarity I noticed was that the divide between Students for Social Justice members and Lesley Delivers was non-existant, we were all together to be involved in a purposeful and change-oriented activity.
As an intern at Be the Change Inc., a major convener of the recently passed Serve America Act - I have come to appreciate the critical need and perspective of direct impact. When legislation is presented to the Senate, our Senators utilize the stories of direct impact, effect, and positive change on real people to persuade their fellow colleagues for or against a certain political-change. As I wrapped up the group's reflection that night, we were able to see how volunteers effect political agenda-setting and policy-making, but as I said good-night to the individuals who I had gotten to know better that night I also realized that the direct volunteerism we were involved in changes the relationships between people of different parts of society.
The other night Students for Social Justice had the opportunity to host a Lesley Delivers event. The goal was not only to reach out to the homeless population in Harvard Square, but in doing so to connect with our friends engaged in direct service with social justice. From the social justice perspective I am engaged in classes that teach me about social policies, and have had several internships that deal with political activity on both a national and international scale. Admittedly, I went into the experience with very little experience and knowledge of direct service; simply stated, this notion of directly impacting one individual's life or several individuals' lives was new to me.
The night before however, I had attended a presentation by Dr. Jesse Gaeta - a doctor who provides healthcare for homeless individuals. In her presentation she not only gave an incredibly eye-opening and humbling talk on how she provides health care services, but was able to put it into a context of what is going on in the policy world. Her discussion with us stressed that housing and health care are human rights. And though our communities and federal government has resources, her approach with her patients is not one of doctor and patient - but one that puts the individual on center stage. "How did this person come to be in the state s/he is in?" And from there she frames her support, she guides the individual, she provides the services - this is in sharp contrast to what I view my relationship with my own physicians which many times is framed in a "doctor's orders" context. That evening I asked Dr. Gaeta how she navigates the perspective of direct service with large-scale political change, and whether or not it was difficult (as she made it seem so seamless and natural). I would soon be able to find out for myself...
That night more than ever before, I felt at the cross roads of civic engagement. Up until that point I had largely thought of social justice action as those that implement structural change on a greater societal level, and direct service as a temporary band-aid on the problem. Political lobbying on Capitol Hill during my Washington Semester in D.C. vs. handing out sandwiches in Harvard Square to the homeless: The differences between the two forms of activity are obvious, but are there any similarities? Was it possible for me to connect the two 'spheres of service' ? I would soon learn that not only are there more similarities than I had thought, but the two together are critical if we are to be successful in our fight against homelessness.
I looked aroung the group of students who were out with me that night. The wide diversity in backgrounds and interests represented reflects not only a personal choice, but in doing so highlights the fact that both volunteerism and social justice provides an opportunity for diverse people to engage in a personal choice together. The second similarity I noticed was that the divide between Students for Social Justice members and Lesley Delivers was non-existant, we were all together to be involved in a purposeful and change-oriented activity.
As an intern at Be the Change Inc., a major convener of the recently passed Serve America Act - I have come to appreciate the critical need and perspective of direct impact. When legislation is presented to the Senate, our Senators utilize the stories of direct impact, effect, and positive change on real people to persuade their fellow colleagues for or against a certain political-change. As I wrapped up the group's reflection that night, we were able to see how volunteers effect political agenda-setting and policy-making, but as I said good-night to the individuals who I had gotten to know better that night I also realized that the direct volunteerism we were involved in changes the relationships between people of different parts of society.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Lesley Delivers with Class of 2011
Hi! I'm Sarah DiGiaimo and I led the Lesley Delivers last night. It was also the first day of Hunger and Homelessness Week and the kick-off to a nightly sandwich run. Last night's run was sponsored by the Class of 2011 and seven people from the class came to help. Everyone on the run last night was there for their first time. It was great to see new faces joining Lesley Delivers and more people who care about helping out the homeless in our community. We made 20 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and had a variety of snacks and candy to add to the bags. Unfortunately it was a very cold night, but we saw two different groups of people in Harvard Square and they seemed to be staying together, hopefully to keep warm. They were very grateful for the sandwiches and immediately started eating them. It was great to know that our sandwiches were going to those who needed them. Hopefully now that it is Spring, it will start to get warmer and make for more comfortable nights for those who have no shelter.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Reunion
Several weeks ago I ran into the couple from one of our first sandwich runs- the ones who were kicked out of the shelter for two weeks. We found each other on the T and had a wonderful reunion as the woman told me all about her new apartment that they had only been living in for a short time. I was so excited and happy for them that life had perhaps become a smidgen better. We exchanged tears and goodbyes and wished each other luck. She said that she had never forgotten about the students who had helped her get through her first night on the street.
Today I ran into the couple again. They now have a steady home, are 7 months pregnant (which means they were pregnant on the street), and have not forgotten us. She called me her "guardian angel" as I met members of her family who knew all about our group, shook my hand, and thanked me. It was an incredible experience.
I don't know how many people have been positively affected by Lesley Delivers, but I do know it has touched one life profoundly: mine.
Today I ran into the couple again. They now have a steady home, are 7 months pregnant (which means they were pregnant on the street), and have not forgotten us. She called me her "guardian angel" as I met members of her family who knew all about our group, shook my hand, and thanked me. It was an incredible experience.
I don't know how many people have been positively affected by Lesley Delivers, but I do know it has touched one life profoundly: mine.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Blog for 2/25
Tonight I worked with Sam and Reed House to venture out on this cold, windy night. We had 4 participants, all excited to meet our friends in Harvard Square. We went out earlier than usual. As a result, we did not see as many people as usual. We wondered if this was a positive thing or a negative one...
If people aren't out, are they somewhere safe?
If people aren't out, are they somewhere safe?
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Blog for 2/17/2009
We are a little behind in blogging! So I will attempt to catch up on this lazy Boston Sunday, covered with snow.
For the Sandwich Run on 2/17/2009, Lyndsey Carpenter co-led the event along with myself. The run of the night was not an "open" event as usual, but was directed towards all participants of Lesley's Alternative Spring Break to Asheville, North Carolina. These individuals will choose to spend their Spring Break helping in the Asheville community with Habitat for Humanity. Other groups will travel to Spartanburg, South Carolina to work with Habitat for Humanity and also Camden, New Jersey to participate in several projects focused around social justice.
Nine people from the Asheville group were able to come out on this night, making 20 bag dinners total and even adding candy bars in to spread some Valentine's Day spirit- for those who wanted it.
During the debrief, I asked (as I always do): "How can you tell if someone is homeless? Is there a way to tell?" (After all this time and all of these sandwich runs, I still don't know the answer and perhaps never will.) One person suggested that the energy someone gives off could be an indicator. She expanded on this and stated that sometimes people who are homeless do not want to connect with others. This is an interesting thought and it further shows that every person we meet throughout our lives is different; homeless, not homeless, hungry, or not hungry.
For the Sandwich Run on 2/17/2009, Lyndsey Carpenter co-led the event along with myself. The run of the night was not an "open" event as usual, but was directed towards all participants of Lesley's Alternative Spring Break to Asheville, North Carolina. These individuals will choose to spend their Spring Break helping in the Asheville community with Habitat for Humanity. Other groups will travel to Spartanburg, South Carolina to work with Habitat for Humanity and also Camden, New Jersey to participate in several projects focused around social justice.
Nine people from the Asheville group were able to come out on this night, making 20 bag dinners total and even adding candy bars in to spread some Valentine's Day spirit- for those who wanted it.
During the debrief, I asked (as I always do): "How can you tell if someone is homeless? Is there a way to tell?" (After all this time and all of these sandwich runs, I still don't know the answer and perhaps never will.) One person suggested that the energy someone gives off could be an indicator. She expanded on this and stated that sometimes people who are homeless do not want to connect with others. This is an interesting thought and it further shows that every person we meet throughout our lives is different; homeless, not homeless, hungry, or not hungry.
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