Unwrapping Christmas

This is one of my favorite times of year, lights, trees, hot cocoa with big marshmallows and fond memories of home, even arguing with my sister about who's turn it was to tear off the next link on the Christmas chain, counting us down to December 25th. This is a special time of year, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice and New Year's Day (other calendars place it on a different day) are celebrated and just as culturally valuable as Christmas.

Warning...if you want to skip my rant at least look at the video and awesome recommendations for being a socially conscious gift-giver.

The flowing is not intended to offend, diminish the celebrations or traditions of others, the point is look how out of control the celebration of Christmas has gotten--the bastardization of Christmas (for me a sacred holiday) by corporate America and the use of slave labor to crank out cheap plastic to be stuffed under trees. When I worked retail, I was also amazed and appalled by the level of attachment people have to tangible items. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a gift hater, but lets be reasonable about this, people scream and curse out store clerks when they don't get what they what, I've even had someone cry and beg before. I have been cussed out by an old lady that wanted a pre-lit, 9 foot artificial tree the week of christmas..."Yes ma'am I did check the extra super secret for VIP guests only storage in the stock room and we are all out...but I could pull one out of...ah, never-mind!"

Now, lets look at the toy industry, where do all the good little boys and girls get their trinkets? Many of them come from Chinese sweatshops. In Cowboys and Indians: Toys of Genocide, Icons of American Colonialism by Dr. Michael Yellow Bird (2004) he discusses the origin of the plastic cowboys and Indians and the cruelty of the conditions in the places they are produced.

"I turned over the bag, interested to read who manufactured them (Magic) and where they were made (China), since half the toys sold in the United States (about $20 billion worth in 2001) are made in China under brutal sweatshop conditions made possible by the avarice or, in economic terms, the “bottom line” of several different prominent American toy companies. As I gazed at the figures, I thought about all those young Chinese women forced to work in these American toy factories for seventeen cents an hour, sixteen hours a day, seven days a week, for months at a time; workers who spend all day in 104-degree room temperatures around machines that cause hearing loss and chemicals that make them sick and faint on the job; workers who agonizingly perform the same job operation three thousand times a day and work an overtime schedule that leaves them with as little as two or three hours of sleep per night' (Yellow Bird, 2004).

The video below looks at the real cost involved in the production of the cheap plastic and electronic gifts that our flying off the shelves this holiday season The video below looks at the real cost involved in the production of the cheap plastic and electronic gifts that our flying off the shelves this holiday season.

Not only are many of the gifts these season from the oppressive conditions of sweat shops, there is an incredible amount of money spent during the holidays on stuff. There are approximately 304,000,000 people in the US as projected by the US Census Bureau in 2008, over 230 million are adults, age 18 and over. If we are generous take 230 million and times that by the average amount Gallup had projected people to spend during the last holiday season, which is $639 (mean average), the math would come out to be almost 147 million dollars.

As a frame of reference, the federal budget for primary and secondary education in 2006 was 38 billion dollars. Though the math is a little crude, you get the gist--we spend between 4-5 times more on Christmas gifts than we do on k-12 education.

Okay, change of mood here...

Awesome Holiday Tips for the Socially Conscious &

Thrifty Gift-Giver

1. Buy local and fair trade items.

• In Humboldt, the Many Hands Gallery in Eureka and Natural Foods are places with awesome gifts with plenty under $20, some under $10.
• Humboldt Candles can be found in different shops locally; the products are made by community members with developmental disabilities. Their awesome soy candles start at 5 ducks...quack, quack.

2. Less is more, set limits with your loved ones. Some people might find setting a cap tacky, but I don't--its keeps things reasonable for the pocket book and can avoid any ackwardness around gift-giving time.

• Setting up a gift exchange and making it into a game is a way to cut cost and have fun with family and friends--what the season should really be about! One game I have played is "$&!% on your neighbor"(Sorry that is what it is called...First, draw numbers, start with one, they get to pick a present and open it, if number two likes it they can "steal it" or take another one (wrapped) off the table, it goes on from there.) Next year I'm hoping to set-up a Secret Santa thing for my mom's side of the family, much more polite than the other one!

3. Handmade gifts are often the most treasured.

• For a lot of people I bake cookies and breads, everyone seems to like it and it is a lot of fun for me. If you have health-nut friends, homemade granola is a good pick and its easy. (Free recipes are on the Recipezaar website, you can even make a profile and print out a grocery list.)
• I have just fell in love with an awesome website that has craft directions and pictures. They even have projects that are made of recycled materials. http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/
• This website has an sweet project, a reusable coffee sleeve: http://sisterlings.blogspot.com/2008/09/reusable-coffee-sleeve.html

4. Tap into what you are good at!

• For me, I have been a photographer for years and pictures are always cherished; sometimes I offer to take photos of friends (w/ partners and/or kids, even pets) for a gift.
• When I am super broke I make coupons. For my husband I give him back rub coupons and coupons for a batch of oven mac and cheese and snicker-doodles.

5. Go do something fun with family and friends.

• Who said we have to give gifts anyway? Doing something fun like going on a hike, inviting friends over to a special dinner or having a "chick flick" night can create precious memories that can extend upon the life of a tangible gift...now that's the Holiday spirit!

Happy Holidays to you and your families!

Websites I used:

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.htmlhttp://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=uspopulation&met=population&tdim=true&q=US+population

http://www.gallup.com/poll/113203/Americans-Christmas-Budget-Falls-200-Below-Last-Years.aspx

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Education/ednotes49.cfm

Check it out

Well, its finals week and the community practice course is coming to a close. I spent some time going through my old blogs, connecting them more to the course readings, mostly our textbooks, Rural Social Work: Building and Sustaining Community Assets by Scales & Streeter (2004) and Community practice: Theories and Skills for Social Workers by Hardcastle & Powers (2004). If you are a super ambitious and dedicated follower, all the additions are in purple for your reading ease.

Below are two youtube group projects that I participated in as part of the class. One of the videos is about the struggles and resiliency of foster youth (to include two personal narratives and statistics) and the other is on the benefits of community gardening. Due to difficulties with posting, I had to post two blogs. Sorry no popcorn. ( :
Enjoy!

Community Gardening

Women Vets Unite!

As a project for my internship (at Redwoods Veterans Center), I was one of the organizers for the "Honoring Women Veterans Day" event on November 6th. It was a great experience both organizing and attending the event; it ended up being bigger than I expected, about 90 folks were there, 2/3rd of those being women vets. There was a diverse group of women that attended, age wise it ranged from 22-90. Sisters of different ethnicities, social-economic groups, sexual orientations, type of military experiences and branches of service attended. It was a moving event for many including me. One of the women I have been around who has difficulty in crowds attended most of the event and I even witnessed her smile, which I had never seen her do before. That in of itself was quite a reward! It was an honor to have the presence of "pioneers;" women who served during WWII and Korea that helped us move toward integration. The event making the Saturday Times-Standard was truly icing on the cake.

I posted the article below. (Note: In the interview, I used the word "survivor" rather than "victim.")

Later, after reading a couple of comments on the article online I realized how some people do not understand the importance and reasoning behind such an event. I also have been thinking about why the event was so moving; there are many reasons. I saw women feeling truly acknowledged and appreciated, some for the first time. They felt like veterans that deserve as much honor and respect as any other veteran. I don't think this could have happened at an event for all veterans. At all veterans’ events I have attended in the past, very few women show up and some veterans clubs, until myself and another woman joined a few years ago, were all male and had been so for years. (Since, other women have joined local vets organizations.)

Even a female vet from WWII didn’t understand what all the hoop-la was about and why the only males present were guests of women vets or volunteers; she asked “what’s the big deal about women vets?” I talked to her about how this event was meant to address issues specific to female veterans and provide a place where women feel comfortable to identify as vets and identify with the challenges other women have faced, be proud of their service and celebrate their resiliency. The event also provided information about available services.

My husband, a Marine Corps vet that was my guest at the event, said he talked to this particular vet and discovered she didn’t know that she rated a Non-commissioned officer (NCO) sword when she became a corporal. I don’t know if you know any Marines, but this is a big deal, and if any branch is into tradition, it’s the Corps. (In fact, it can be almost annoying, trust me!) My husband was blown away that she didn’t know, my understanding of how important earning the sword is (even if you can’t afford one) spoke volumes, though she was a member of a group, she was not privy to what she had earned.

In my work and out in the community, I often notice that women vets do not talk about their service with others and if they do, they often discount their roles. Frequently they stay away from events for all veterans. Generally, this is different than how the majority of male veterans operate; connecting with other vets socially is common, primarily with other males. Additionally, they tend to openly acknowledge being veterans in public. Male veterans are more likely to receive services and benefits related to their service; this has been acknowledged by the VA and Vet Centers are being called on to do outreach specifically designed for women vets, though no funding for this endeavor has been provided. (Local veterans’ clubs, rotary clubs and a private donation funded the local event.)

To receive services you have to 1) identify yourself as a veteran worthy of services 2) go through steps to both seek and be approved for services and 3) be eligible based on governmentally set criteria. I find that women sometimes don't see themselves as someone who could get services, even if they are just as qualified as men. If they do seek services, VA facilities have a male-bias, though they are working to improve their services, there still is a long way to go. There is a lack of access of female care providers (to include the local clinic, there is no female provider to address gynecological issues) and some VA facilities do not welcome the presence of children with a veteran parent or caregiver. During a recent hearing of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, one of the advocates reported that a woman was turned away from a clinic and told not to come back until she had procured child care; it was also reported that many facilities do not have changing tables. http://veterans.senate.gov/hearings.cfm?action=release.display&release_id=96d956e4-9951-495c-a74f-89274ba92e3e Though this could affect fathers with children, it is mostly affecting females, as females are still primary caregivers. Not only is the VA still warming up to the idea of women's needs the other clients women come across affect their experience; in VA facilities, regulars in the VA system are still becoming accustomed to seeing women veterans receiving services. In my own experience, people oftentimes think I am waiting for my father or husband, maybe even a grandpa. VA facilities also need to be more sensitive to that fact that many women veterans have experienced sexual trauma at the hands of mostly male perpetrators.

Oppression manifests itself in many ways, is often perpetuated by institutions, and acts of oppression have both immediate and long-lasting effects. Military sexual trauma (MST) is a huge issue; cited by Debbe Hemmer, LPC at the event, one in five women report having experienced sexual trauma, which includes harassment, coercion into sexual activity and sexual assault. This is underreported because in my experience a lot of women think their experience “doesn’t count;” even for myself, I thought for a long time that this only included rape. (MST is also very underreported for men.) Severe harassment and other acts that create a hostile work environment do have significant impacts on those who live such an experience. Name-calling is common, all horrible words, so I decided not to list them here.

The leaving of military women’s accomplishments (like the missions women flew during WWII) out of or minimized in dominant history (that is a big one in of itself…another day), physical and sexualized violence, name-calling, and the male-biased services of the VA are all examples of oppression that women veterans have faced. In the process of oppression, the creation of "otherness" by the dominant group can be so pervasive that those being perpetrated against, actually began to believe the lies they are fed about themselves, and may also accept the blame, and be blind to the damage it has caused.

I believe that in an ideal world, we would not need to have specialized events, meetings and programs/services for particular groups, because the circumstances of an unjust world that create such needs would be no more. Women would be viewed as men are as just veterans, their faces, along side men’s, would make up the dominant definition of what veteran is. To some the image of a veteran is an old white man with a VFW hat on; many times my husband and I are told by people we meet, “you don’t look like veterans” we always ask, “what is a veteran supposed to look like?”

Though I wish the war would end and would have like for it to never have started in the first place, this war is allowing women to be seen in a different way. Already progress is being made, younger women are calling themselves veterans and the military is the most integrated then it has ever been. Outreaching women to rally them around the issues I have discussed as well as acknowledging and building on their strength, courage and resiliency is vital to continuing this uphill battle.

As I have talked about the marginalization of women in the military and its effect, there are parallels to other marginalized groups. In Dr. Yellowbird’s Community Practice course, he talks about how much various forms of oppression still continue, affecting Indigenous Peoples. Oppressive images, like sports mascots and toys like “cowboys and Indians” are oftentimes not seen as an issue, sometimes even by Indigenous People themselves. In Cowboys and Indians: Toys of Genocide, Icons of American Colonialism, Dr. Michael Yellowbird (2004) discusses oppressive depictions of Indigenous peoples, why they are such and what to do about it. Images such as big-nosed Indian sports team mascots and words like “redskins” and “squaw” quickly come to mind. Cowboys and Indians have, for me, come to symbolize America’s past and present infatuation with colonization and genocide (Yellowbird, 2004).

According to Adams (...) the reduction of indigenous culture that has become mainstream "...is one of the most powerful shackles subjugating Aboriginal People, " "...blocking the road to self-determination" (qtd. in Yellowbird, 2004). Over generations, invisibility is formed around what is oppressive and its source; oppression can then be internalized. Internalized oppression can manifest itself in a number of ways to include depression and substance abuse. It seems to me that the negative effects of internalized oppression are blamed on the already marginalized group by the dominant group; these negative effects can then be framed as innate behaviors of a particular group, reinforcing the dominant group’s idea of superiority.

While battling oppression is an uphill battle, it needs to be believed that it is a battle worth fighting and one that can be one. Below are some wise words offering advice on decolonization—liberation from oppression.

“Such oppression can be transformed into liberating practices...” which can happen through community organizing (Pyles, 2009). Dominelli (2002), discusses organizing for social change as it relates to groups facing oppression: “…by constructing alternative discourses around their identity attributes, oppressed groups have been able to tackle the internalization of oppressive relations amongst their own members who have accepted the “naming” of their traits as inferior by the dominant group…Self-affirming activities re-author dominant discourses by challenging the view that it is not possible for oppressed people to ameliorate their situation. Placing affirming role models in the public domain, developing individual self-confidence, promoting positive images of the group and endorsing self-directed programs of action for part of the repertoire for building confidence in who they are. Through this process, individuals who have previously been excluded and are unable to participate in the expressions of citizenship in public arenas have found their voice and capacity to act in accordance with their own interests” (Pyles, 2009, 142).

"...this can change if Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples intelligently resist American colonialism and begin the process of decolonizing cowboys and Indians, beginning by telling the truth about the racist intent of the cowboys and Indians phenomenon. We must also intelligently interrogate and reform the colonial structure of this nation and challenge the written false histories of the American colonizer. Indigenous Peoples must consciously refuse to be little red plastic toy Indians participating in the racist American myths and policies of white colonial supremacy. Whites must refuse to be little blue plastic toy cowboys blindly accepting their position of privilege in society and, instead, truthfully amend this nation’s history and practice of colonialism while seeking justice on behalf of those they have colonized here and abroad. Until this is done, cowboys and Indians will continue to be toys of genocide, icons of colonialism" (Yellowbird, 2004).

Work Cited: Progressive Community Organizing: A Critical Approach for a Globalizing World by Loretta Pyles, 2009; Howard Adams, A Tortured People: The Politics of Colonization (Penticton, BC: Theytus Books, 1995), 1.

Women veterans not forgotten

Allison White/The Times-Standard

Local women veterans of all ages were venerated Friday at the Honoring Women Veterans program at the Eureka Veterans Memorial Building.

About 90 people attended the event, including about 60 women veterans from ages 24 to 90. An all-female honor guard did a presentation of the colors and speakers addressed the crowd on issues specific to women veterans. The event is likely the first of its kind in Humboldt County and its hopefully not the last, said Amanda Stuart, MSW intern for the Redwood Veterans Center.

”Any woman veteran is always out there for another sister because women are still marginalized,” Stuart said.

Stuart served in the U.S. Navy from 2000 to 2004 and was on the U.S. George Washington when it responded to the Sept. 11 attacks. She said although she enjoyed her military experiences, there were times it was tough to be a woman.

”I felt like I had to prove myself every time I put on a uniform,” she said.

The Honoring Women Veterans program not only showed appreciation to former women in arms, but speakers at the event also discussed issues that affect women veterans, including sexual trauma, Stuart said. Many women veterans don't consider themselves victims of sexual trauma but can become agitated and upset later in life and not understand the cause.

About one in five women report being sexually harassed in the military.

The Redwood Veterans Center offers counseling for combat veterans and for the victims of military sexual trauma.

The event's main focus Friday was to show women veterans they aren't alone and are appreciated.

”It's to honor women and to let them know they're veterans,” she said.

A spokeswoman from the county Veterans Service Office, Rene Maveety, also spoke at the event, asking the attendees to come into her office for help in filing for benefits. The system is constantly changing and women veterans especially need to have courage to demand their benefits.

”Of course, you had courage when you joined the biggest men's club in the world,” Maveety said to the crowd Friday.

From the Redwood Veterans Center, Team Leader Mary Baker helped organize the event and she hopes to run the event next year if they can enlist the help of enough volunteers, she said.

”We've got a new generation of fighters coming up and we're working to make it easier for them,” Baker said.

Many women often do not talk about their military experiences and this is an outlet to assist them, Baker said.

Allison White can be reached at 441-0506 or awhite@times-standard.com.

Related Event on Humboldt State Campus...

The Women's Resource Center on campus is sponsoring an open discussion about PTSD Monday, November 16, 2009 at 5:30 in Siemens Hall 110. This supportive space will look at how people with PTSD can support one another and will be facilitated by Paula Arrow-Smith Jones from North Coast Rape Crisis Team.

A Look at Assertiveness

While reading Chapter 8 in Community Practice: Theories and skills for Social Workers (Second Edition) by Hardcastle and Powers, which discusses the importance of assertiveness in relation to community practice, I asked myself (I even wrote it in the margin) "Who sets the standard for assertiveness?" Though what is perceived as assertiveness can vary among genders and cultures, (probably even age groups) there still seems to be a dominant standard. While initially I reflected back to my experiences in traditionally male-dominated workplaces and how I had to make changes to the way I communicate in order to be listened to, taken seriously, followed and respected. I felt that survival in these places meant adopting the standard; now I find myself more drawn to this assertiveness in others. Not to say that the "dominant standard of assertiveness" is all bad; I think it is important to deconstruct the ideas and ask who's rule is this anyway?, it helps me look at the interplay between individuals, groups and systems, power distribution, etc. Tannen (1990) reminded me that men too are judged in relation to communication, while assertiveness training "judges women by men's standards, sensitivity training (therapy) judges men by women's standards" (Hardcastle & Powers, 2004 p.222).

The text (p.218) makes reference to the "women's movement" in relation to assertiveness training. With further reading (Talking Difference on Gender and Language), I realized that their are different schools of thought on assertiveness training among feminists. While "changing individual beliefs and behaviors can help deal with social oppression" can be facilitated by assertiveness training, it also allows for a focus on the individual's or group's way of communication and less emphasis on the affect of system on an individual or group within a social context (Crawford, 1995, p. 80-81).

In the field, for example, if organizing a group of women in a developing nation, one must work carefully in the context, while changing beliefs and behaviors can lead to social change, an organizer should not impose their understanding of how a strong, effective/successful women should behave. Taking time to get to know the community, its cultural context, working cautiously and being mindful of self are keys to good community organizing. Though assertiveness has its place, there must be balance and caution involved.

Community 4 CASA

I didn't know about CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for children until one of my undergrad classmates at Humboldt State talked about it in class. Since then I have met other CASA's, one of which works at a beauty shop that I go to. CASA's aren't necessarily social workers or social work students, they be anyone from the community that completes the training and is able to show "objectivity, competence and commitment." CASA's work with children who are involved in the court system typically due to abuse or neglect. They spend time with a child, becoming a "special friend." They also submit written reports to the court and collaborate with other volunteers and professionals in the child's life. (I also understand that a CASA could work with children from the same family.) http://www.humboldtcasa.org/

CASA is a great example of a strength-based program that draws on community assets and creates partnerships between community members, families and children. This program is related to wraparound services for children with mental health challenges in that ..."a unique set of community services and natural supports individualized for that child...," however, CASA's services are child-focused, the family is not as included as in true wraparound practice. Not only does CASA put human assets to good use in supporting our community's youth in the legal system (involving abuse or neglect), it also has as a socialization component that is needed. A study by Benson (1999) found that youth across geographic have a need for positive social experiences and interactions which includes relationship-building (qtd. in Scales & Streeter, 2004. 134).

Last weekend, I participated in the 7th Annual Kid Walk as a "solo superhero" and ended up bonding with another walker; we hung out for the rest of the event, forming a spontaneous team.

At the event, I also ran into a lot of people I knew, either for years or a new acquaintance. For example, the weekend before at the Stand-down, I met the local chapter of BACA's (Bikers Against Child Abuse) president, Frank, who is a Vietnam veteran, a Humboldt State alumni and a retired social worker from the child welfare arena. The pic shows Humboldt chapter members serving food at the event. http://www.bacausa.com

The experiences during this day reminded me what an awesome place Humboldt is, beyond the beauty of the redwoods, rivers and beaches. Though we may not have a lot of financial resources here, we do have a lot of assets--most specifically our human capital. We have numerous community events that allow for community involvement and great networking. Overall, I have found that Humboldt County has a volunteering spirit when it comes to the well-being of others, one of the reasons I love to live here!

Stand-down Success

What is a Stand-down? When I served in the Navy, we had "safety stand-downs" to address different issues from using proper equipment on the job to taking advantage of the local designated driver program (if one was available). Stand-down in nautical terms comes from turning duty over to another, going off-duty or the end of an evolution at sea (like a replenishment). Today's Stand-down events come from the R&R (rest and relaxation) given to some combat troops. "The original Stand Down for homeless veterans was modeled after the Stand Down concept used during the Vietnam War to provide a safe retreat for units returning from combat operations. At secure base camp areas, troops were able to take care of personal hygiene, get clean uniforms, enjoy warm meals, receive medical and dental care, mail and receive letters, and enjoy the camaraderie of friends in a safe environment. Stand Down afforded battle-weary soldiers the opportunity to renew their spirit, health and overall sense of well-being." http://www.nchv.org/standdown.cfm (The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) provides national leadership for the movement.) "The first Stand Down was organized in 1988 by a group of Vietnam Veterans in San Diego. Since then, Stand Downs have been used as an effective tool in reaching out to homeless Veterans, reaching more than 200,000 Veterans and their family members between 1994-2000." http://www1.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=6 Though the primary focus of Stand-downs are homeless veterans, I find that Stand-downs are open to meeting the needs of any veteran and their significant others. Also, Stand-downs allow an opportunity for veterans to contribute to the cause. Many veterans participate in the planning and development process as well as volunteering during the event. Services range from showers, benefits information to pet services. Vets have a place to stay during the event if they wish. Local agencies table and provide services creating a web of veteran-specific and general population and other criteria-based providers. The Stand-down in Humboldt County, the North Coast Stand-down, is similar to other events while meeting more region-specific needs; for example, every year there is a sweat lodge and this year I was able to spend time in the open art space. My understanding is that our local Stand-down's director for the first couple years was Kim Hall, who is now a graduate of Humboldt State University's social work graduate program. My views as a veteran, service provider & volunteer: Not only is this an accessible "one-stop shop" for the veteran, I think it also allows service providers a great networking opportunity, which can only benefit the community. It is important that such events be accessible and worth someone's while (lots of services available and the option the stay overnight). While people (veteran or non-veteran) experiencing homelessness, have similar issues across the board such as a lack of affordable housing, transportation is a much larger issue in rural communities. (Luckily shuttles were provided to this event.) "Nearly 80% of rural counties have no public bus service, compared to 2% of urban counties" (Scales & Streeter, 2004, p. 243). Lack of transportation can affect people's employment opportunities and access to health care, mental health and other support services. It has been important for me as a provider who is a veteran, to identify community "allies"--non-veterans who are concerned about veterans needs and their treatment in the community. They should be recognized! Though I recognize there may be more representation in some areas than others (such as an overrepresentation of people from lower income groups/working class) veterans are made up from a spectrum of people representing different ethnicities, cultures, beliefs, values, religion, spirituality, ages, genders, sexual orientation, socioeconomic groups, political views, etc. Understanding that Veterans are a unique group, a demographical group within the population comprised of other demographical groups sets the stage for more appropriate services/interventions. Stand-downs bring veterans together as they were during there service. I think it reminds the more priviledged veterans that their are still fellow veterans--brothers and sisters--in need. It also allows for veterans in need to know that they are not forgotten and there is help. Need more info? Some places to look... NCHV.org website & Homeless Veterans Program Office (VA) at 202-461-7401. article on local event:http://www.redwoodtimes.com/ci_13301412?source=most_viewed This year's t-shirt.