Community Involvement Archives

Cloudy With a Chance of Inspiration

May 6, 2019 No Comments

Two observations made while serving in a national program of service to reduce poverty. I am currently still within service.

Two thoughts keep popping up in my head throughout my time of service. Poverty is so encompassing to those of us within it that focusing on education, workforce, or college access can feel trivial at times. But any social condition of oppression is so massive of a problem mending it requires the daily grind of those who serve. It can be so challenging to hold on to that broader mission within some of the mundane, small impacts we have in our daily work. It can be easy to fall into old troupes of self-doubting your work on one hand or even wearing the social-justice warrior cape a bit too tight on the other. We have to keep at the daily grind and not doubt or over-estimate ourselves because the forces that put us in poverty will never cease. If it’s a constant drip of bad, I’ll try to be a steady stream of good. Grappling and accepting the daily grind has helped me hold onto the mission at hand while serving.

The other thought is we code urban and rural terms in many different ways, and we’re often made to question the other. However, poverty isolates individuals both urban and country. It’s almost like both areas tunnel to poverty from opposite ends yet still meet at the same point of isolation. In the country there is so little resources it’s a game of connection. With so little ‘noise’ and so much space, something has to be loud enough to hear. In the city there are usually so many resources it’s a game of connection, too. With so much ‘noise’ we might not be able to hear those who need us the most. One has to build up those connections loudly, the other has to break down silos quietly, but both are building relationships. Understanding those similarities between urban and rural and all the coded meanings within the two will continue to help me serve the people of Michigan.

The people we serve often live a life of one step forward and two steps back. To me, that is a daily grind like no other and one I have experienced. I realize more and more throughout service that I must help that one step be on the best possible foot. But I also have to hope that even if I can’t see the other foot, I’m helping it too. My daily grind means I’m there, I’m consistent, I don’t selfishly seek the big wins, and I always care. My daily grind also means to understand when I have to be loud, or when I need to hear the faintest of whispers. Poverty creates isolation in any community, and that feels like it’s always cloudy, but remember some of the most beautiful flowers grow in the shade.

Civic and local engagement

Public Charge and You

March 11, 2019 No Comments

Public charge is a term used in immigration law to refer to a person who is dependent on the government for support. When a person wants to enter the US or change their status to become a lawful citizen, they have to pass the public charge test or get a public charge waiver. A public charge test is done by looking at things like age, health, education and financial status. In October 2018, the federal government proposed changes to the public charge requirements that could negatively affect the immigrant population in Washtenaw County. Below is a look at current and proposed guidelines.

Current guidelines:

Cash assistance programs from state or local programs
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
General assistance or local cash assistance programs
Long-term institutional care programs

Proposed guidelines:

Additional state and local programs added, including health care, food, and housing programs
Low-income levels negatively affect public charge determinations
Applies to extending a nonimmigrant visa and changing the status of a nonimmigrant visa
Low English-speaking skills, physical or mental health conditions
negatively affect public charge decisions
If an immigrant is likely to become a public charge, they may be required to purchase a public charge bond for a minimum of $10,000. And they might also lose that money if they use government programs.

These changes are complex and could affect a lot of people, but there are a few important points to remember.

The changes are still only a proposal
The proposal will only apply to programs you use after the rules take effect
The changes do not apply to all immigrants
Your personal informations privacy is protected by law
There is still time

Proposed “Public Charge” Rule Change Forces Families to Make Impossible Choices

Civic and local engagement

Your Block, Your Neighborhood

March 11, 2019 No Comments

Being active in your neighborhood is called community engagement. In community engagement, there is a wide range of groups from block parties on up to big charitable organizations and government. For this piece, engagement is cooperating with our neighbors, city, or area to make things better.

Your block is a great place to start being a part of your neighborhood. You can start with something as easy as getting to know the people around you. Lots of people suggest merely hanging out on your front porch. Being outside and seen goes a long way. It can lead to other involvement activities likes scheduled playground days, dog park days, and maybe even lifelong family friends.

Welcoming new neighbors is a tried and true tradition. Welcoming a neighbor is as simple as saying hello and having a small conversation. You might even help them with local places, trash and recycling days, or when the mail arrives.

Another great activity that also introduces neighborhood-wide activities is celebrating National Good Neighbor Day on September 28. Throwing a small gathering or party does not have to expensive. The point is to keep the community close rather than throwing a large party.

Organizing neighborhood activities might seem like a big job, but it does not have to be big or time-consuming. Book clubs, HAM radio clubs, neighborhood sporting groups, or free little library groups are a couple of easy groups that come to mind. Little free libraries are homes or containers in a neighborhood that hold donated books for the community to use free of charge. Some communities erect containers that look like old newspaper vending machines.

A neighborhood watch program not only engages the community, but it also provides an extra level of security. Creating a watch group will take a bit of planning. Checking local government for rules is a good start. The National Crime Prevention Council offers a lot of information on starting your own watch group.

Neighborhood gardens are a time-tested way to engage your community. Many neighborhoods have areas or home lots that are unused and can be repurposed into gardens. Gardening keeps the neighborhood active and can provide needed food to neighbors who have low resources. It teaches self-empowerment to adults and children and also teaches how to be sustainable. Community engagement with your neighbors does not have to be complicated or expensive. Trying things like sitting on your front-porch or gardening can invite in people. Taking it up a level, holding book clubs or free libraries are a little more involved. If an organization is wanted, starting a community garden or neighborhood watch will bring real, touchable results to your neighborhood. It’s good to remember that neighborhoods need many different things and what you can offer is unlimited.

Civic and local engagement

Let’s go, let’s give, let’s volunteer

March 11, 2019 No Comments

Volunteering connects you to people in your community. It can be good for the mind and body. It gives a sense of fun and fulfillment. It can also help your job skills and career. You get the benefit of all those things and more while helping your community prosper.

When you volunteer you’ll be around other volunteers who come from many different backgrounds. Many people feel a need to give back. They need to have a sense of purpose. They want the activity. Some people crave the learning experience.

When you volunteer, you are helping make a difference in people’s lives. Charitable places and churches often cannot help their communities without volunteers. In times of emergency, a city might need more help than the government can give. Low-resourced and disadvantaged people might need more than just school and services. An African saying, “it takes a village to raise a child,” means we all can use and give support.

A great place to start volunteering is your local school. Children need a lot of attention and support. You can help out in after-school programs or out on the playground. You can help in youth sports leagues or in scout groups. You can even help with easier things like reading to children or monitoring field trips. A school bulletin board or community room is a great place to find who to call.

A hospital or local health clinic might also need the help of volunteers. Volunteers provide comfort, companionship, and support to patients, families, and visitors. Volunteers often do tasks like food service. They even help push patients in wheelchairs. Call or email your hospital’s community outreach or volunteer manager to get started.

Another wonderful way to volunteer is helping the homeless and hungry. Churches, food banks, and soup kitchens are always looking for volunteers to help. Many of those places cannot feed the hungry and house the homeless without volunteers. Finding churches and nonprofits to volunteer with is as easy as looking through the phone-book or a google search.

Giving your time and energy helps your community a lot. The saying, “it takes a village to raise a child,” helps us remember our communities need volunteers. Local volunteering can be done in many places like a school, hospital or church. Once you get started volunteering, you will be off on a journey you will remember forever.

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Cloudy With a Chance of Inspiration

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Public Charge and You

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Your Block, Your Neighborhood

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Let’s go, let’s give, let’s volunteer

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