Campus Engagement 2

Campus Engagement 2
Event: Taking Up Space: Middle school Girls Response to (Cyber) Bullying
4/16/12

                I attended the middle school girls response to bullying presentation not only because I needed campus engagement, but also because in my personal life I work with and mentor middle school girls and felt this to be extremely important. The purpose of the research the YWLP is doing is to research the relationship between anti-bullying instruction effects in a local mentoring group. They also aim to find out what factors impact how middle school girls define the problem of harassment and bullying. There were several shocking statements made in this presentation. One particular off putting but too true statement was that discriminatory language among friends is generally accepted in middle schools. I am pretty sure that this statement is true multi-generationally as I have experienced it myself. As a nanny to four kids, two of which are middle school aged, I am very concerned with this type of talk and discourage the use of that language across the board. The presentation also stated that nationally, teachers, parents, and administrators aren’t sure who is responsible for taking action on the issue of cyber bullying. My answer to that would be: All of them are responsible. Every single person in a child’s life should be personally responsible for their wellbeing and happiness to an extent. If there is something teachers can do in the classroom to address bullying, it should be addressed. If there is something an administrator can do to punish the act of cyber bullying, it should be done. Every parent should be mindful and watchful over the activity that their child does on the internet. Talk to the kids, know the signs of a child victimized. Another interesting point Dr. Santana rose was that girls who put themselves in leadership positions are more confident and less apt to fall victim to bullying. All I could think of is how I was in student counsel all through middle school and high school. It gave me confidence and a sense of purpose. It also gave me control to address issues and be close to teachers, advisors, and administrators. I always felt protected and I think it is largely due to that. I will be interested to see the final results of the research done on how girls define their rights, how they act prior to and post mentoring or instruction, and finally how the strategies taught had an impact on how the issue is handled. The fact is that girls and boys ARE being (cyber) bullied. Conversely, girls and boys ARE (cyber) bullying others. I feel personally that not enough is being done to prevent, counsel, and protect kids when it comes to bullying and it needs to be acknowledged and solved.

Word Count:451

Activism Log

                  This week was the countdown to d-day and the day itself. Last week I took up all my collections from my hygiene supply drives at my churches. I had several donations of supplies themselves and several monetary donations. I went to the dollar store and purchased 70 dollars’ worth of lotion, shampoo, conditioner, hair clips, and things of the like. I met with Dr. Santana on Wednesday to give her the supplies and plan for Saturday’s Women to Women Conference event in Apopka. We decided that rather than plan a specific duty for me for that day, that we would have me as a floater and I would work where I felt most needed. After arriving at the Community center I was told that we were expected to have 68 children in need of childcare from infants to 12 years of age. We found out that generally people my age are terrified of infants, but I found that my particular skills as a nanny and a childcare professional would best be served with the infants. Mrs. Tina and I cared for five infants ages 5months to 1 ½ years old all day, a job I was thrilled and comfortable with but challenged by a language barrier, even though the children were extremely young. The teamwork shown by the other volunteers and myself helped our event run almost seamlessly. Every person lent a hand when there was need. This event was not about us, it was about serving the female farmworkers and gaining perspective and awareness of the need that is very near to where we call home.

                I had so much fun at this event, I will probably volunteer next year again even as a graduate. From an activist perspective, I would like to hold more events like this to lend any aid to these women possible. This week in class we discussed the environmental issues involving women. The women who our event served are those working out in the environment with the produce who are exposed to the toxins and pesticides used on the crops producing the food we eat. They are the ones who are directly affected health wise by these environmental issues. “The people most affected by poor physical environments in the United States are people from communities of color. Many women of color and poor white women are in hundreds of local organizations campaigning for healthy living and working conditions in their communities which are disproportionately affected by pollution from incinerators, toxic dumps, fertilizers, pesticides, and hazardous working conditions in industry and agriculture.” (Lorber) The book refers to this common trend as “environmental racism” a term which I feel is extremely accurate. These women are undereducated, underpaid, and most of the time don’t have access to  healthcare to treat the illnesses they develop from these toxins. The issue of environmental justice is extremely present in Apopka, Florida, my backyard which means it is definitely present globally and should be addressed.

Word Count:494

References
Lorber, J. The Social Construction of Gender. 5th. 1991.

Campus Engagement 1

Campus Engagement- 4/12/12
Global perspectives
Event: Author Sarah Lacy
Topic: Brilliant, Crazy, Cocky: How the Top 1% of Entrepreneurs Profit from Global Chaos

               I attended the campus engagement event on global perspectives. The speaker of the portion I went for was author Sarah Lacey. She spoke on her book Brilliant, Crazy, Cocky: How the Top 1% of Entrepreneurs Profit from Global Chaos. I enjoyed this event. Sarah Lacey was a very engaging speaker who is clearly passionate about her work and research on business from a global perspective. A story she spoke of which stuck with me was the story of an African boy named Jean who lived in a remote village whose father owned a successful sugar trade business. He due to unrest and genocide in his country, Jean and his four siblings were orphaned at a young age. Jean’s two older brothers spent all of their parent’s fortune quickly on alcohol to deal with their grief, leaving Jean and his younger sister to fend for themselves. Jean was only 14 but he was very observant and a quick learner. He found a way to enter the free market and capitalize on buying and selling key items that the people in his village desperately wanted and needed. By the age of 16, he was profiting well from his business and found other ways to provide goods/ services to solve people’s problems either through goods, ideas and business. He was able to send his younger sister to the top academies in the UK and became so well to do that he would never have to want for anything for the rest of his life. Entrepreneurs are born, not made. This story was inspiring in a different way than just the warm and fuzzy stories some other speakers gave because it was a story of the unexpected underdog who counted for nothing. Jean was orphaned, poor, left raising his family and he made it to the top on creativity determination and ideas; not schooling or status, but hard work and dedication and a fierce drive for something better out of life. This speaker made me step back and consider my many “first world problems” and put me in check. If someone is successful with all odds counting against, there is no excuse for giving up when things get a bit sticky and complicated given all the resources I have access to. Sarah Lacey made it a point to say that some of the most successful entrepreneurs are those who are inspired by something…a book, a parent, a teacher, an event, most are undereducated but determined almost to the point of complete tunnel vision to make their ideas into something real that will benefit people. I agree with her, whether you are an entrepreneur or not, people should find what inspires them and let it be the driving force, pushing you to your goals and ambitions in life.

word count:465