The National Runaway Switchboard came into our class and the lady was very informative with the things she discussed. This organization or program is open to teenagers who want or have thoughts about exiting their homes. The people that work there do not tell them what to do but inform them that there are other options than running away. Many of them also call them for advice or to vent. It is a Chicago based program that provides counseling and so much more to youth. It is government funded and only a small staff is given and the rest are volunteers.
I am really happy to hear that there is such an organization out there for young kids. There are many individuals that may need to hear someone else's advice besides their family and loved ones. This program I'm sure has help hundreds of thousands of kids not getting into trouble.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Food insecurity in Cook County
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pi?id=36940
Article: Hunger Study Shows Jump in Demand at Cook County Food Pantries
by: Monee Fields-White Feb 2, 2010
"A study showed 678,000 cook county residents visited food banks, soup kitchens and shelters in 2009." (White) Almost half of the people had to decide either if they were going to get fed or if their electric bill would be paid. Recession had hit really hard with working families. And many believe that this is not the worst. The need is still growing. There is a food pantry in cook county that says that there has been an 85% increase with their visitors this year. The county does a study every four years on emergency food assistance and found 1 in 8 families receive this help. This is a 46% increase over those four years.
The article is just as important as everything that we have covered in class and on our own. Whether it is food people are in need of or shelter, the point is that the jobs that people have are just not enough to do justice and maintain. And for the people that need jobs, there needs to be a way to help the people in more ways than what we have now so they can make it. Streetwise are kids that struggle and leave their homes at an early age and get themselves into more trouble because that's all they know is to get by on the streets. This movie correlates to this article because again like I said, they are both struggling to get by; some to eat, sleep, pay their bills, maintain a house over their head, and try to keep a job if they have one. Seccombe writes about the women on welfare and how they continue to not being able to make it and Ehrenreich writes a book on almost the same thing. "On not getting by" is a perfect quote to both these books since real people are portrayed in there and how they struggle. Like I mentioned earlier everything that we have covered is about being hungry and why society allows families to do so. I see more homeless people on the streets than ever before and in every neighborhood. This class showed the facts of life and really enhanced my view on hunger and homelessness.
Article: Hunger Study Shows Jump in Demand at Cook County Food Pantries
by: Monee Fields-White Feb 2, 2010
"A study showed 678,000 cook county residents visited food banks, soup kitchens and shelters in 2009." (White) Almost half of the people had to decide either if they were going to get fed or if their electric bill would be paid. Recession had hit really hard with working families. And many believe that this is not the worst. The need is still growing. There is a food pantry in cook county that says that there has been an 85% increase with their visitors this year. The county does a study every four years on emergency food assistance and found 1 in 8 families receive this help. This is a 46% increase over those four years.
The article is just as important as everything that we have covered in class and on our own. Whether it is food people are in need of or shelter, the point is that the jobs that people have are just not enough to do justice and maintain. And for the people that need jobs, there needs to be a way to help the people in more ways than what we have now so they can make it. Streetwise are kids that struggle and leave their homes at an early age and get themselves into more trouble because that's all they know is to get by on the streets. This movie correlates to this article because again like I said, they are both struggling to get by; some to eat, sleep, pay their bills, maintain a house over their head, and try to keep a job if they have one. Seccombe writes about the women on welfare and how they continue to not being able to make it and Ehrenreich writes a book on almost the same thing. "On not getting by" is a perfect quote to both these books since real people are portrayed in there and how they struggle. Like I mentioned earlier everything that we have covered is about being hungry and why society allows families to do so. I see more homeless people on the streets than ever before and in every neighborhood. This class showed the facts of life and really enhanced my view on hunger and homelessness.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Streetwise
I think Streetwise is a great video to see and understand the facts on street life. One of the concerns continuously showing throughout the movie was the kids family life. Every child on the street had some issue at home with their mom or dad or both. They were all very young, as young as 14 and have been using drugs and having unprotected sex. This one boy looked as though he was 10 and already knew how to get by on the streets and do it well. Some of the issues that the kids went through were their parents getting a divorce, their mothers boyfriend being abusive, their mother being an alcoholic, some were molested, and one had a mother that would cry to him and he could not deal with it. One of the boys father said that if he ever got caught with drugs for him to never come home and so he didn't. At 14 you really no nothing; not even discipline. And learning about safe sex does not even exist at that age. The documentary really emphasizes I think on how parenting your child determines how they are going to turn out. Maybe I am wrong and do not know until I have children but when there is a serious issue at home like fighting in front of your kid or molesting a child, kids act out in negative ways because they do not know how to cope with bad things happening to them. Some of them thin its their fault and are ashamed of themselves.
There was a girl that was constantly be screwed over by men that now she is a lesbian. Another girl said that her mother never loved her and she was adopted so no one really loves her. Thats why she became a prostitute. She wanted to make lots of money quick but also had men wanting her and made her feel special. Every story in this movie points out a major issue happening in ones life. As we all know when we become teenagers we start getting hormones and start acting out it different ways for attention. Some people do it in good ways and some do it like the people in this movie. I had a sister that acted out in the same way as the people in Streetwise but it was because we never had our father in our life and it really effected her in a way so she started using drugs, staying out late, drinking and doing other things that did not make my mother happy. But it was because she felt alone and needed the nurturing from someone but she felt as though she could only get that with her party friends because my mother was always working to make ends meet. These issues in the movie are the reality of many peoples lives and are very common. You almost have to keep both eyes on someone you know that is having issues like the people in the movie because they can act out in that way but if you see it coming, you can stop it.
There was a girl that was constantly be screwed over by men that now she is a lesbian. Another girl said that her mother never loved her and she was adopted so no one really loves her. Thats why she became a prostitute. She wanted to make lots of money quick but also had men wanting her and made her feel special. Every story in this movie points out a major issue happening in ones life. As we all know when we become teenagers we start getting hormones and start acting out it different ways for attention. Some people do it in good ways and some do it like the people in this movie. I had a sister that acted out in the same way as the people in Streetwise but it was because we never had our father in our life and it really effected her in a way so she started using drugs, staying out late, drinking and doing other things that did not make my mother happy. But it was because she felt alone and needed the nurturing from someone but she felt as though she could only get that with her party friends because my mother was always working to make ends meet. These issues in the movie are the reality of many peoples lives and are very common. You almost have to keep both eyes on someone you know that is having issues like the people in the movie because they can act out in that way but if you see it coming, you can stop it.
Ch 5
I agree with Seccombe that surviving on welfare touches all aspects of a persons life and not just the economic realm. In the beginning of the chapter, Seccombe discusses how she interviews Jana and that sometimes she does not make it on just food stamps. Unfortunately daily living for her is a continuous and depressing battle especially when you have kids. Janas says that its hard relying on food stamps and money but even though it is a small amount she is grateful to have it. She never goes out, never has alone time and the fathers are barely in the picture. Being on welfare is not just free money. It affects her emotionally, physically as well as mentally. It is not just her that feels that way. Millions of women turn to drugs and alcohol to use that as a coping strategy for their depression. If it wasn't for welfare, many people would be on the streets and some even dead. I think welfare can have a negative and positive effect on people. People that use it to their advantage like Stephanie make welfare a temporary thing. While some people even when they get a decent paying job could not live off of it. Stephanie is a great example in the book on how welfare touches her life. She tries to eat and stay healthy but ends up running out of money towards the end of the month. She uses welfare to help her get better health wise, and other ways. Being that she has very low income, she gets financial aid for school to help her get an education. Welfare helps her and strengthens her physically and emotionally.
On a negative look on how welfare touched aspects of persons life is dependency. Many individuals are happy that they do not have to work and can stay home with their children. Welfare can destroy someone without even knowing. The book does not discuss how welfare can ruin someone or make their situation worse. So I wanted to share that I know someone that relies on the system to get food and money even though she is in a middle class income from her boyfriend. She just does not put down on the application that she lives with her baby's father so she can get it. I think Karma will get her for doing what she is doing. It affects her life in a positive way because she is living a great life. She just abuses the system so then welfare becomes misused and is a negative effect on how it is used. The welfare effects people in many ways. I agree with Seccombe that welfare touches different areas of peoples lives but it also depends severely on the person and how much good or bad it helps the person in the long run.
On a negative look on how welfare touched aspects of persons life is dependency. Many individuals are happy that they do not have to work and can stay home with their children. Welfare can destroy someone without even knowing. The book does not discuss how welfare can ruin someone or make their situation worse. So I wanted to share that I know someone that relies on the system to get food and money even though she is in a middle class income from her boyfriend. She just does not put down on the application that she lives with her baby's father so she can get it. I think Karma will get her for doing what she is doing. It affects her life in a positive way because she is living a great life. She just abuses the system so then welfare becomes misused and is a negative effect on how it is used. The welfare effects people in many ways. I agree with Seccombe that welfare touches different areas of peoples lives but it also depends severely on the person and how much good or bad it helps the person in the long run.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Chapter 2
You wanted me to write on here to let you know that you allowed me to complete chapter 2 with this blog. I accidentally discussed chapter 4 twice that's why I did not receive a grade for this chapter. But here it is. Thanks
In this chapter, Secommbe argues the individual perspective. I would like to go into detail with this topic. Individualism is when people believe that other people create their own problems that can continue to be failure. Seccombe talks about how the welfare reform wants to increase ones motivation to become competitive for jobs. Only those jobs are minimum wage and cannot get one out of poverty. I feel that we do not have an equal opportunity to become who we want rich or poor. Some people may not view the world as it is but even though people that are poor are not surrounded by good, they know that there is good out there but they are three steps back and to join the people succeeding is much more worse. It's a choice. I know it is very difficult for a child that is brought up in a low-income household because they do not have the same chances of success than a child from an upper-income home. Schools in low-income areas do not have the same funding as do upper-middle class schools.
Going back to the underprivileged children; they are not receiving the same resources but some are lucky to find them. I agree that the low-income students are lacking better quality teachers which makes it harder for them to succeed in school. They are given uneven opportunities. Anyone can become poor at any time. Wheter you lose your job, don't complete school, your sick, drug abuse and more. I believe that we are born into a class, and we tend to stay within that class. The rich marry the rich, the poor marry the poor and the educated with the educated. The fact is that we are are brought into life and placed in some sort of class. We do not all have equal opportunities to become successful. Unfortunately, this all comes down to money, money and more money which is so powerful.
In this chapter, Secommbe argues the individual perspective. I would like to go into detail with this topic. Individualism is when people believe that other people create their own problems that can continue to be failure. Seccombe talks about how the welfare reform wants to increase ones motivation to become competitive for jobs. Only those jobs are minimum wage and cannot get one out of poverty. I feel that we do not have an equal opportunity to become who we want rich or poor. Some people may not view the world as it is but even though people that are poor are not surrounded by good, they know that there is good out there but they are three steps back and to join the people succeeding is much more worse. It's a choice. I know it is very difficult for a child that is brought up in a low-income household because they do not have the same chances of success than a child from an upper-income home. Schools in low-income areas do not have the same funding as do upper-middle class schools.
Going back to the underprivileged children; they are not receiving the same resources but some are lucky to find them. I agree that the low-income students are lacking better quality teachers which makes it harder for them to succeed in school. They are given uneven opportunities. Anyone can become poor at any time. Wheter you lose your job, don't complete school, your sick, drug abuse and more. I believe that we are born into a class, and we tend to stay within that class. The rich marry the rich, the poor marry the poor and the educated with the educated. The fact is that we are are brought into life and placed in some sort of class. We do not all have equal opportunities to become successful. Unfortunately, this all comes down to money, money and more money which is so powerful.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Ch 4
As I have stated before there are many ways to look at the welfare system. I think to some people being on the welfare system its the welfare's fault and some disagree. For many people that I know, they abuse the system and some how work but don't share it with the government and almost get double the money that they are used to. I agree that the welfare system has created a monster so to speak because "its the new thing to do". I say it in that manner because people know that they can take advantage of the system. There is a woman I know that has two kids works part-time,goes to school part time, gets child support and only sees her kids 4 days a week, while driving a Lexus but also getting $500 for food a month. She tells me, "why not take advantage of the system? I have two kids and I get a lot of money for food that I do not even use up. Its great." I feel as though too many people I know take advantage and I'm jealous that I have to work so hard to make ends meet and I feel having a kid is what makes it easier to get accepted. I do not think the system should be that easy.
I do not agree that the system does not have strict stipulations. What I mean by that is, if there was someone keeping a close eye on the people using it, I am sure half the people would be off of it. I mentioned this in the previous chapters but want to reiterate that just like probation and parole officers have a clientele, they moniter them to see how they are doing. If we had several strict welfare officers that checked on the welfare recipients, people would think its too much of a hassle.
Where I volunteered, people lived there for about a year, and then they were set free into the real world. But they had a lot of help to get resumes going, to take classes for them to be well rounded and other skills to help them succeed. I think if it was mandatory to do everything I just mentioned people would think its easier to not be on it than have to worry about completing the requirements. I strongly agree that the welfare system breeds depence on the system.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Action Project Group 1
We are in group one and Miguel, Marnie, Clarence and I all went to Grace House on Friday, March 19th. It was nice to have all of us being able to go and help there all together. Even though we were not with each other most of the time, it was nice to see familiar faces. I started off before I got there going to the store to pick up water for the employees as well as plastic goods for them to use. And even the day before I passed out fliers to people that lived close by Grace house to see if they would be interested in donating but also getting a meal. I got there early morning and was put right to work. I was ready to do anything and everything. It was their first fund raiser that day for the children of Haiti and what they wanted to do was make lunches and dinner for people that have purchased beforehand and that money would go to Haitian children. I started off meeting the people I was going to be working with and then started to cut about 20 pound cakes into 13 pieces and wrap them in wax paper so that they could be with the meals. Once I was done with that, I helped put everything on the table from spaghetti, chicken, fish, coleslaw, bread, silverware, salad to potato salad. We had an assembly line to get everything put together quickly to get sent out. Unfortunately it was really unorganized and took longer than anticipated. Once I started to assemble many meals, they needed me to deliver food since Marnie, Clarence and myself were the only people really who had a car. I went with a resident to three different places that took quite a long time. We had about 20 orders in my car and even though it was only three places, the buildings were huge and one place was way downtown. Once I got back, we had to clean up this huge mess, and reset up for dinner and by then I had to leave. Time flew by so fast I could not believe it. I had a great time, met a lot of people and heard their stories while working and helping them.
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