Although it has been a week and a half since I went there, I am still thinking a lot about my trip to El Museo del Bario. When I went with Lindsey, Tom, and Ding we saw a installation about the "Disappeared" in Latin America. This word describes the phenonmenon whereby people disappear without a trace and are never found or heard from again. It is believed that some of these people are the victims of dictatorial regimes and military occupations.
The art expressions depicted images of people who had disappeared, as well as visual representations of loss. Strangely, the work that most moved me was the story behind the 350 photographs of that many graffiti images of bikes. Each stenciled bike that was pictured represents a person who was disappeared-- as described in the installation write-up, often the first indication that a friend or loved-one had been disappeared was the presence of his or her bike, abandoned at the time of disappearance. This struck me because of the very physical nature of the absence. I do not know any of the people whose lives were commemorated, but I can viscerally imagine how I would feel to see the bike of someone I love and realize that they are never returning.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
current projects at Cooperative Extension
One of the things I've been working on at CCE is a listing of "Free Meals." Each of the eleven farmers' markets that Cornell Cooperative Extension FMNP (Farmers' Market Nutrition Program) team goes to is in a low income area. There are many soup kitchens and food pantries that exist in these communities, but the residents may be unaware of them. My role has been to locate food pantries and soup kitchens near to where the markets are (walking distance) by using a very interesting mapping system on Google maps. The Coalition Against Hunger's website has a link to a flagged map of these locations. I also called all of these places to make sure I have the most current information, as well as times they are open.
Another component of this project is information from the Free Summer Meals for Kids Program. Every summer the New York State Department of Education puts out a list in June detailing the locations that kids can receive free meals throughout the summer. Most of these are at schools or community centers. Also by using Google maps, I was able to find out which locations are close to the market sites. I then created lists that will be posted at each market that describe where free food is available. This is a concept that my supervisor came up with last year. This year there will be a sign on the table at each market. It is our hope that people who are hungry will be more connected to accessing food.
As I was working on this project I met a number of challenges. The first was technical. I am not an apt computer user and navigating my way through online research took time. Next, I had to swallow some of my shyness when calling so many people about the listing of pantries. Recognizing that people who do service work often are very pressed for time, I felt disconcerted at the prospect of interrupting so many people. I had to keep reminding myself that what I was researching is really what they work for--for people to have better knowledge about the help that is available. And lastly a thought that kept coming to my mind was the very nature of telling people where food is available. Shouldn't it be available everywhere! Shouldn't people have the basic right not to have to go hungry? Is that type of research condescending? Should not I have spent my time battling politicians or fighting for more socialist practices--where people could have the means to have more equitable distribution of resources. But I had to start somewhere. Even if I do question the monetary spending of the politicians or insist that every person receive a living wage--these processes will take time. Right now, what I can do is to possibly let one person know that he can go down to the local church food pantry and get some food if he so desires.
Another component of this project is information from the Free Summer Meals for Kids Program. Every summer the New York State Department of Education puts out a list in June detailing the locations that kids can receive free meals throughout the summer. Most of these are at schools or community centers. Also by using Google maps, I was able to find out which locations are close to the market sites. I then created lists that will be posted at each market that describe where free food is available. This is a concept that my supervisor came up with last year. This year there will be a sign on the table at each market. It is our hope that people who are hungry will be more connected to accessing food.
As I was working on this project I met a number of challenges. The first was technical. I am not an apt computer user and navigating my way through online research took time. Next, I had to swallow some of my shyness when calling so many people about the listing of pantries. Recognizing that people who do service work often are very pressed for time, I felt disconcerted at the prospect of interrupting so many people. I had to keep reminding myself that what I was researching is really what they work for--for people to have better knowledge about the help that is available. And lastly a thought that kept coming to my mind was the very nature of telling people where food is available. Shouldn't it be available everywhere! Shouldn't people have the basic right not to have to go hungry? Is that type of research condescending? Should not I have spent my time battling politicians or fighting for more socialist practices--where people could have the means to have more equitable distribution of resources. But I had to start somewhere. Even if I do question the monetary spending of the politicians or insist that every person receive a living wage--these processes will take time. Right now, what I can do is to possibly let one person know that he can go down to the local church food pantry and get some food if he so desires.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Intimate tour of Greenwich Village and the Meat Market
Tonight I got a cursory tour of the Meat Market, as given by two friends who live in the West Village. Steve (a journalist at a Queens newspaper) indicated that if one were to awake at, say, 4 am any day during the week it would be possible to hear the grinding from the meat processing plants that characterize the area. But, and this blew my mind, it is one of the hottest, most celebrity attended areas in all of Manhattan. My other friend/tour guide Steff (the buff Brooklyn Botanical Gardens kids group leader) informed me that one morning on her trip to the corner store she stood in line behind Jake Gyllenhall. Apparently Mandy Moore and Britney Spears both frequent the night clubs in the area. Now, I am not one for getting “stars in my eyes,” (especially for the likes of these two teeny pop divas), but I was tickled to know that I was walking in a mega-trendy area. (And, for the record, Donnie Darko is one of my absolute favorite movies).
The streets are cobbled and lined by old brick factory buildings. There is the absurd and fascinating dichotomy of death smeared, shuttered warehouses and the latest, chic-est restaurants and designer boutiques. My overall impression…this area seems to be like the fiefdoms of old where the moneyed royalty took pleasure from walking among the commoners. In front of the Olympia garage, two milk crates supported the bearers of grease-stained hands. These mechanics seemed out of place in their own livelihood, amidst the gossamer-thread clothed mid evening diners.
The streets are cobbled and lined by old brick factory buildings. There is the absurd and fascinating dichotomy of death smeared, shuttered warehouses and the latest, chic-est restaurants and designer boutiques. My overall impression…this area seems to be like the fiefdoms of old where the moneyed royalty took pleasure from walking among the commoners. In front of the Olympia garage, two milk crates supported the bearers of grease-stained hands. These mechanics seemed out of place in their own livelihood, amidst the gossamer-thread clothed mid evening diners.
Tuesday morning in the Bronx
Yesterday I again traveled up to the Bronx to photograph a Nutrition and Health Workshop group. They were graduating from their eight week program and receiving certificates and sharing smiles. Some of the women also shared stories of how the classes have helped them in their daily lives. Many of the stories were similar—they related how the classes have helped them to make “healthier food choices” and had opened their eyes to safety concerns. The most profound thing about the stories was hearing how much confidence and pride came from learning ways to help them. This is the same kind of empowerment that I hope to create when I teach or relay nutrition messages.
Coming back downtown from the Bronx, I made some observations while on the subway. (I find the subway a superb place to think and observe, mainly because one is in an enclosed, microenvironment with other humans who are doing the very same thing, I think). There were six girls, 13 or 14 years old, on their way to Coney Island by the looks of the towels in hand and bathing suit strings visible beneath t-shirts. Although young, each of them was somewhat overweight. This was in stark contrast to the very thin people I’ve grown accustomed to seeing around Manhattan.
I pondered the influence of history and tradition as it weaves through our nation’s food consumption. I speculated that perhaps the girls being overweight was a function of fresh foods not being available where they and their parents shop. Also, there is the factor that their parents cook foods that they have cooked for generations, and many of these eating patterns may not be entirely health supportive. As I am learning, it is not enough to simply tell people “eat more fruits and vegetables.” They need access, as well as strategies, that fit into varying cultures, in order to do this. Exercise and physical activity are also so important. Kids need positive messages, and access to space, so they are encouraged to exercise. It is important to bring these messages to adults too! If parents see the value of living healthier lives, this can translate into their interactions with their children.
Coming back downtown from the Bronx, I made some observations while on the subway. (I find the subway a superb place to think and observe, mainly because one is in an enclosed, microenvironment with other humans who are doing the very same thing, I think). There were six girls, 13 or 14 years old, on their way to Coney Island by the looks of the towels in hand and bathing suit strings visible beneath t-shirts. Although young, each of them was somewhat overweight. This was in stark contrast to the very thin people I’ve grown accustomed to seeing around Manhattan.
I pondered the influence of history and tradition as it weaves through our nation’s food consumption. I speculated that perhaps the girls being overweight was a function of fresh foods not being available where they and their parents shop. Also, there is the factor that their parents cook foods that they have cooked for generations, and many of these eating patterns may not be entirely health supportive. As I am learning, it is not enough to simply tell people “eat more fruits and vegetables.” They need access, as well as strategies, that fit into varying cultures, in order to do this. Exercise and physical activity are also so important. Kids need positive messages, and access to space, so they are encouraged to exercise. It is important to bring these messages to adults too! If parents see the value of living healthier lives, this can translate into their interactions with their children.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
community service
Well, the most challenging thing has been that this is not my community. Challenging in the way of being thrown right into the multitude of discussions and projects, initiatives, groups, subcommitees-- all dealing with the many issues of such a large community. In Ithaca "community" means well, just Ithaca. Here in NYC it seems to mean very broad and very specific things. In the same conversation mention could be made of one particular neighborhood (ie Park Slope) and the entirety of NYC. This is a big community!
What does this mean for my role? I'm at once responsible for understanding the diversity that exists between different areas of the city, while at the same time keeping in mind that NY policy people and organizational figures talk about the entire city.
In response to this, I find that I must become increasingly sensitive to the fact that there are many factors (besides even just those visible on the surface) to residents' lives. (ok, yes we talked this out quite a bit in our class, but lo and behold I finally am immersed in it).
I can only truly serve the community when I observe and internalize first. I traveled up to the Bronx yesterday to photograph the women who were taking a nutrition education class. I found that they opened up and became comfortable enought to just tell me about their lives because I was interested and asked questions without asserting a strong presence. Granted one of the women there seemed to be able to start a conversation with just about anyone, but still, I enjoyed putting aside my own biases and simply observing and becoming part of their world for a bit. Kind of like turning into the human sponge.
But giving back, putting forth, is much more than this. It is observing, internalizing, as well as reflecting and using all of this to approach people in a humane, thoughtful, and well organized way. My supervisor, Linda, gave me a book on going beyond "telling" to teaching. This involves asking open-ended questions and drawing out from others what they are good at and their strengths. This the way I will go about community service--from a perspective that I don't know everything about the population I'm working with...in fact I might not even know much. But if I listen and teach from a place of belief in everyone's innate ability to want to learn, I can serve and give back what I know with compassion
What does this mean for my role? I'm at once responsible for understanding the diversity that exists between different areas of the city, while at the same time keeping in mind that NY policy people and organizational figures talk about the entire city.
In response to this, I find that I must become increasingly sensitive to the fact that there are many factors (besides even just those visible on the surface) to residents' lives. (ok, yes we talked this out quite a bit in our class, but lo and behold I finally am immersed in it).
I can only truly serve the community when I observe and internalize first. I traveled up to the Bronx yesterday to photograph the women who were taking a nutrition education class. I found that they opened up and became comfortable enought to just tell me about their lives because I was interested and asked questions without asserting a strong presence. Granted one of the women there seemed to be able to start a conversation with just about anyone, but still, I enjoyed putting aside my own biases and simply observing and becoming part of their world for a bit. Kind of like turning into the human sponge.
But giving back, putting forth, is much more than this. It is observing, internalizing, as well as reflecting and using all of this to approach people in a humane, thoughtful, and well organized way. My supervisor, Linda, gave me a book on going beyond "telling" to teaching. This involves asking open-ended questions and drawing out from others what they are good at and their strengths. This the way I will go about community service--from a perspective that I don't know everything about the population I'm working with...in fact I might not even know much. But if I listen and teach from a place of belief in everyone's innate ability to want to learn, I can serve and give back what I know with compassion
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
first day on the job
today was the first day at Cornell Cooperative Extension. I'm working in the nutrition education department. My tasks will begin with helping to organize and plan for the education initiatives that happen later in the summer. We will be going to farmers' markets in low income areas and giving food demonstrations. Sharing simple tips and actually preparing food to be sampled will help to broaden peoples' awareness of food use.
Today I had the amazing fortune to have my first internship day coincide with a major meeting of food availability minds. Representatives from non-profits all over the city (approximately 30 people were there!) are in the beginnings of forming a coalition, calling themselves Food Systems Networking, NYC. These are people who are making it their mission to improve the availability of nutritious, local foods. Represented were groups that organize the green markets, groups that collect food that would otherwise be discarded from farms and restaurants, food production groups, healthy schools groups that provide free school breakfasts, as well as even a group that does activist theater about food issues. This meeting, although pretty overwhelming, was an amazing introduction to the breadth and depth of organizations working on issues of food acquisition.
It was also very encouraging to meet people who have made it their work to ensure that they can feed as many other people as possible. Policy is a big focus of their work, and it was also interesting to hear one man mention the fact that this kind of meeting also has a slightly "talking head" component--as they are run by people who are mainly not the actual folks growing the food. I guess I have the hope that meetings like this have the power to really affect the politicians.
Something I find myself wondering about is whether the deep roots of the problems are addressed in these initiatives, however. I am very excited about Cooperative Extension's mission to get messages about healthful food out to as many people as possible...lingering in my mind, though, are still questions pertaining to my concept that there are just not enough dollars to go around to the people that need them. WIC is an amazing program--it allows people who may not otherwise be able to, to buy good food, but it seems like there's always a struggle to try to get more money from the government to fund this program. So many price standards seem to be rooted in antiquated food costs and poverty levels---why has the government not come into the present with realizing that more money needs to be available to purchase these needed healthful foods?
I am looking forward to exploring my perceptions regarding policy and long standing institutions. What makes me so excited about being in NYC doing this work is the sheer magnitude that everything carries. Not just a small group (in Ithaca there might be 10 people working on a project) comes together, but in NYC there's really a confluence of so much intellect because there are so many people and this creates a pool and network of motivation that can make problem solving very dynamic. Ok, also I acknowledge that bigger is not always better, but right now the magnitude is inspiring.
Today I had the amazing fortune to have my first internship day coincide with a major meeting of food availability minds. Representatives from non-profits all over the city (approximately 30 people were there!) are in the beginnings of forming a coalition, calling themselves Food Systems Networking, NYC. These are people who are making it their mission to improve the availability of nutritious, local foods. Represented were groups that organize the green markets, groups that collect food that would otherwise be discarded from farms and restaurants, food production groups, healthy schools groups that provide free school breakfasts, as well as even a group that does activist theater about food issues. This meeting, although pretty overwhelming, was an amazing introduction to the breadth and depth of organizations working on issues of food acquisition.
It was also very encouraging to meet people who have made it their work to ensure that they can feed as many other people as possible. Policy is a big focus of their work, and it was also interesting to hear one man mention the fact that this kind of meeting also has a slightly "talking head" component--as they are run by people who are mainly not the actual folks growing the food. I guess I have the hope that meetings like this have the power to really affect the politicians.
Something I find myself wondering about is whether the deep roots of the problems are addressed in these initiatives, however. I am very excited about Cooperative Extension's mission to get messages about healthful food out to as many people as possible...lingering in my mind, though, are still questions pertaining to my concept that there are just not enough dollars to go around to the people that need them. WIC is an amazing program--it allows people who may not otherwise be able to, to buy good food, but it seems like there's always a struggle to try to get more money from the government to fund this program. So many price standards seem to be rooted in antiquated food costs and poverty levels---why has the government not come into the present with realizing that more money needs to be available to purchase these needed healthful foods?
I am looking forward to exploring my perceptions regarding policy and long standing institutions. What makes me so excited about being in NYC doing this work is the sheer magnitude that everything carries. Not just a small group (in Ithaca there might be 10 people working on a project) comes together, but in NYC there's really a confluence of so much intellect because there are so many people and this creates a pool and network of motivation that can make problem solving very dynamic. Ok, also I acknowledge that bigger is not always better, but right now the magnitude is inspiring.
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