Somewhere in the middle

While reading Rural Social Work: Building and Sustaining Community Assets (Scales & Streeter), it reminded me of what I love about the rural area I'm from originally--Southeast Missouri, aka the "boot-heel." (FYI: I don't usually give a more exact location because many times I get the response, "Isn't Missouri somewhere in the Middle?") I am proud of being from the "show-me" state and have enjoyed remembering my community's strengths, opposed to what I didn't like. I never had a glimpse at formal social work until I was an adult, but I feel as if I have been surrounded by social work my entire life.

Though there was a lack of formal services, typical of many rural areas, us country folk (a little bit of boot-heel vernacular for you) are very resourceful, we found ways to meet needs. Social interactions are typically rich in rural communities and SE Missouri is no exception. The concept of "neighboring" (yes, a verb!) was core to the community and served many purposes. To me, neighboring ranges from doing chores (for free), sharing garden produce, or offering other support during trying times.

While I was deployed, even though my mom had moved into a small town from the farm my parents used to own, neighboring continued. My mom displayed two blue stars for her deployed daughter (me) and son-in-law and yellow ribbons around the trees. As time went on, others followed suit, I was stationed far away, I believe that was support for my mom more than anything.

Informal resources (family, friends, neighbors, etc.) mentioned in my experiences above are not the only service-based resources; Netting, Kettner & McMurtry (1993), identify two other types: mediating and formal (qtd. in Hardcastle & Powers, 2004). In my experience, informal support is the first line of support and the most comfortable, getting informal support does not hold the stigma that formal services do. Additionally, sometimes as a coping mechanism, there can be a level of distrust of outsiders, whether they are a formal service-provider or not.

"Rural people rely on others--friends, relatives, clergy, the beautician, or even the mail carrier--much more extensively for information than they rely on formal resources such as agencies" (Scales & Streeter, 2004).

Bogedas (grocery stores) in some communties can be an important informal resource that outsiders might overlook. Melvin Delgado (1996) lists what services bodegas provide:credit, banking, news/information, peer counseling, assistance with paperwork, referrals to services and cultural connectedness to home of origin (qtd. in Hardcastle & Powers, 2004).

Another type of service-based resource is mutual support. Its delivery method is "mediating;" it refers to the "...caring for others by virtue of their membership in the community" (HardCastle & Powers, 2004). Examples of mutual support include advocacy and support groups, faith-based organizations, and labor unions (HardCastle & Powers, 2004). In my experience mutual support is likely to be more easily received than strictly formal resources. Where I grew up there was a culture of civic participation that fueled mutual support.

For class, I watched Salt of the Earth (1954), which was written by people on Hollywood's blacklist. This movie, based on a Mexican-American miners' strike in New Mexico, shows the importance of informal and mutual support in a community, especially in making change. This clip below highlights the importance of all community members, especially of those traditionally left out of decision-making. Enjoy!

Fun Fact, Just in case you ever end up on jeopardy. ( ;

Missouri's nickname is in part derived from a quote by Congressman William Vandiver, who declared in 1889, “I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats. Frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me.” I also find Missouri's nickname to show how much action and sincerity is valued.

Supporting the troops doesn't mean supporting the war.

The Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. is a non-partisan, non-political organization. We do not support any political candidate, nor do we endorse any religious organization. The military represents all aspects of America as does our organization.

http://www.bluestarmothers.org

MIA: The Truth

After reading for today’s lecture (a piece on patriotism), I recalled a discovery I made during the 2007 Diversity Conference at Humboldt State University. One of the workshops I attended focused on the use of music in social and political activism; one of the songs we looked at was This Land is My Land, made famous by Woody Guthrie--someone I consider to be a true American patriot. I know others did or do not, I believe patriotism to be based on one's perspective. (I've said for a while that one person's patriot could be another's terrorist.)

Growing up in the southern Midwest, I learned a song that was considered to be very patriotic in elementary school; you might know it—This Land is My Land, made famous by Woody Guthrie. While the original recording of the song by a different artist painted America as a land where are all equally blessed, Woody Guthrie added two stanzas, which are widely unknown that challenged the idea of the United States being a utopia of equality. (All the lyrics are posted below, the stanzas added by Woody are in bold.)

During my reflection, I was thinking that this is only a very small example of how messages of truth are deleted or altered; unfortunately history has been distorted in many ways. I see it my responsibility to educate myself, to pull away the mask of myth.

This Land Is Your Land

This land is your land

This land is my land


From California to the New York island; 


From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters,

This land was made for you and Me.

As I was walking that ribbon of highway, 


I saw above me that endless skyway: 


I saw below me that golden valley: 


This land was made for you and me.

I've roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps 


To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts; 


And all around me a voice was sounding: 


This land was made for you and me.

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,


And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,


As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting: 


This land was made for you and me.

As I went walking I saw a sign there


And on the sign it said "No Trespassing." 


But on the other side it didn't say nothing, 


That side was made for you and me.

In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people, 


By the relief office I seen my people; 


As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking

Is this land made for you and me?

Nobody living can ever stop me, 


As I go walking that freedom highway; 


Nobody living can ever make me turn back 


This land was made for you and me.

-Woody Guthrie

A great Woody Guthrie quote:

A folk song is what's wrong and how to fix it or it could be

who's hungry and where their mouth is or

who's out of work and where the job is or

who's broke and where the money is or

who's carrying a gun and where the peace is.

– WG

http://www.woodyguthrie.org/index.htm

In reflecting on Woody's messages, who is a patriotic in my book, got me thinking about the power differentials that exist, it is tragic who some people can have so much while others have so little. Though social workers spend most of their time working directly with the most vulnerable and oppressed people, it is important to identify people in power and power structures within community as a part of community organizing. While power and corruption are often bed fellows, there are times when getting buy-in from people and organizations with power can be appropriate and greatly influential in making successful change. Oftentimes (if not always) power is hand-in-hand with resources, crucial to any change. According to Hardcastle & Powers (2004), the "purpose is not to prove who is on top but to involve as many influential people as possible..." in community organizing. Hardcastle & Powers discusses creative ways to find where power lies within communities; They suggest making a note of family names at well-kept cemeteries, asking the chamber of commerce about long-run family businesses and talking to a local historian (2004). Not only will these activities inform on power within the community, it will also give an opportunity to meet people and get a feel for the community.

All Ears

Due to my internship at a counseling center, long days as a graduate student (yikes!) and emphasis on focusing ("tracking") the speaker in my community work class, I've been reflecting on the importance of being a good listener. I believe that listening well can increase understanding, improve learning, help prevent misunderstandings and make the speaker feel respected. In the social work field, listening well is crucial so that workers have the best possible understanding of a client's situation, which in turn impacts intervention. Additionally, clients should feel heard and validated. Good listening is a major part of rapport-building as well.

Though I don't consider myself a bad listener, I admit I have room for improvement. Of course it is much easier to listen when a topic is interesting, especially something we are passionate about and are in agreement with the speaker. During school in particular, sometimes when I am disagreement with a speaker, I find myself internally responding (think Bridget Jones internal monologue; if you don't know what I'm talking about, I recommend renting it right away...I digress). I have been focusing on delaying my response so that I may listen better and be open-minded. According to The Importance of Good Listening:

The first flinch against something new is the automatic reflex of self-protection, and this needs to be carefully overcome if we are to expand our horizons in a healthy way. http://socyberty.com/advice/the-importance-of-good-listening/

For making both personal and professional improvements, such as refining my listening skills, I refer to my tool box. A new addition to my tool box, something called a "mind map;" is a note-taking technique that could be used during a lecture. The image below shows how to do a mind map http://www.mindmaps.moonfruit.com/#/try-mind-mapping/4532486456. I'm eager to give this a try. I realize there are many ways on doing, however, if you try this out, please let me know how it works for you.

Implementation of new tools such as the mind map and the forming of new habits takes personal awareness and practice. I believe this would be worthwhile, improving my listening in the classroom will only translate to other parts of my life, being a better social worker, spouse, friend, etc.

Social workers, especially as community organizers take listening to another level when they complete community assessment, essentially listening to the community's needs.

According to Hardcastle & Powers (2004), assessment should be the first step before developing strategies and implementing interventions in community practice; it can clarify what change or changes are needed, if available resources are adequate to support change, the level of resistance present and what steps should be taken to create change.

Community needs assessments also look at assets in the community; asset-building is a way of community organization, which fits well with the strengths based perspective (taught at Humboldt State University by the Social Work Department) that focuses on strengths rather than deficits. Community assets range from informal and formal resources already present as well as individual talents and skills of community members. Physical and economic resources, mutual support, organizations and service-providers are all community assets (Scales & Streeter, 2004). To break-down the steps of assessing community needs, I have posted part of the Community Needs Assessment Guide from the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation below.

Steps to Assessing Community Needs

1. Present Purpose of Needs Assessment

2. Know how to use the needs assessment

What do we want to know and why?

How will we use information?

What information already exists and what do we need to gather?

Who should be involved in the gathering of data? Why?

3. Determine what types of data to look for/collect

Statistics

Personal interviews

4. Design a survey instrument

What is an appropriate method for this population?

Is this instrument feasible in terms of cost and time?

Will this provide accurate and useful information?

Will instrument result in information that can be easily analyzed?

5. Gather data

Interviews

Government data/statistics

- e.g.: census data, public health findings

Current events

Surveys

- large, widespread surveying or small, focused groups

Small group discussions

Community Forums

Participant Observation

6. Analyzing Data

Is data reliable?

Does it reflect a general need?

Identify and eliminate errors that have been made when collecting data.

What are the major themes/obvious needs?

7. Communicating the results of the needs assessment

Other than getting clarifying needs and gathering information on what assets are already available assessment draw community awareness around issues and helps to keeps the process community-directed to eliminate personal bias and assumptions. (I must note that personal awareness is important to being a good/ effective social worker in all arenas.) However, through social work history their are examples of people that had good intentions in helping others that didn't end up being helpful in a respectful and appropriate way; the point is that good intentions alone isn't enough for good social work. Even if one as a social worker belongs to a group they are organizing with, though their is personal insight, it is important to never assume. I think my dad has a saying for that one....I'll leave it at that!

Not All Wounds Are Visible

After hearing a veteran talk about a flashback experience, I was about how it can be like a time machine, though I'm sure flashbacks vary in length and detail, it really can feel as if the trauma is happening again. Living through traumatic experiences and the aftermath in my own life, I understand PTSD. Though I'm an OIF vet I was not in direct combat. I hope to dedicate my life to helping those that have. Within the last few years, I have been honored to serve men and women veterans and hear their stories. (I worked at the Redwoods Vet Center as a work-study previously and starting hearing veterans experiences then.)

I just watched a video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWgUF9KgNmc.

I think it does a good job explaining the difficulties adjusting to everyday life for a returning combat troop. It also brings up the issue of stigma that keeps people from seeking help. In cumulative response to the stories I have heard and the video I wrote the poem below.

A conflicted soul

living in two worlds,

fit to survive

setup to kill

A "job well done"

some may say,

while returning home

without a parade.

Returning home

a stranger

to family,

friends,

MYSELF.

Returning home

unsure of my place,

longing for

understanding,

PEACE.

Erase the pain,

the pictures,

the sounds

SOUNDS

fill up my head

tear my soul.

Longing for

quiet,

sleep,

an end.