Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Week 11/11/13 Update
This week should be great one for the Martin Middle school Project. This week we will get the cameras back from the kids along with their scavenger hunts so we can start our collage and analysis of what they found in the community. Also we are to meet with Geneva on Friday to discuss her experiences in martin middle school. I have continued to do research on community photojournalism project and look forward to getting the photos back and maybe mapping some things in that community.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Progress on Projects
This week, the Martin Middle School Project has really taken off, we are going on Thursday or Friday to the school to present the kids with the cameras and scavenger hunt for their community. We will go back in a few weeks to pick up the bags and form the collage for them. Then next week on Friday we will visit with a graduate student who went to Martin and get her insight which will add to our project. I think this week is the first big step for Martin and I'm so excited for it!
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Monday's Community Tour Reflection
1. After seeing all the neighborhoods, I feel like Holly Street will effect old residents the most by pushing property taxes up with new homes and ugly ones and pushing them out. This will have a long term effect on the community at hand and these poor people will have no where to go; the negative side to gentrification. However, the community of Mueller will last long because i feel that it attracts more new adults and young families and retired people because it is seen as an up and coming area of Austin, therefore those families will stay longer and more will move there. This will add to the community to the point where they probably will be able to have their own elementary and middle school and close off their Step ford borders.
2. I feel like this article on the gentrification in South Africa shows only the the positive side to gentrification but I think gentrification in that area of the world is better bc you can kinda only go up from where they are economically so its no surprise that crime has gone down while jobs have been created. Similarly in the US this occurs but it has negative effects more because these citizens have more to lose in the sense that the US is the best place to go and they can only go down from their rather than up like those of South Africa. South Africa is seeking to become more like America not in a positive way.
3. After reviewing the articles, I feel like we should be unlocking more at this school because we have the man power for it. There are so many students interested in social work and community projects, writing grants and helping. As an idea for helping Holly Street, since they are ambivalent to our efforts and don't want us in the community maybe we can focus on ourselves for a while; focus on rallying behind this cause. Do more research, poll citizens more, make them more open to us, maybe as an opening gesture, try to write a grant for this community or like the people in the last article get someone powerful behind it like the president of the university. This could be just what we need to show the community we really care, have their interest at heart and take this seriously.
2. I feel like this article on the gentrification in South Africa shows only the the positive side to gentrification but I think gentrification in that area of the world is better bc you can kinda only go up from where they are economically so its no surprise that crime has gone down while jobs have been created. Similarly in the US this occurs but it has negative effects more because these citizens have more to lose in the sense that the US is the best place to go and they can only go down from their rather than up like those of South Africa. South Africa is seeking to become more like America not in a positive way.
3. After reviewing the articles, I feel like we should be unlocking more at this school because we have the man power for it. There are so many students interested in social work and community projects, writing grants and helping. As an idea for helping Holly Street, since they are ambivalent to our efforts and don't want us in the community maybe we can focus on ourselves for a while; focus on rallying behind this cause. Do more research, poll citizens more, make them more open to us, maybe as an opening gesture, try to write a grant for this community or like the people in the last article get someone powerful behind it like the president of the university. This could be just what we need to show the community we really care, have their interest at heart and take this seriously.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Reading Response for week 10/21/13-10/28/13
The Empty Stairs: The Lost History of East Austin:
The most interesting thing for me in this article was how the city did not enfornce zoning oridanes in the 1960s and so the small bussiness owners took it upon themselves to build up bussniess. It just shows how people even when at a disadvantage can take contol of an opportunity and make the world a better place.
East Austin Neighborhood:
An interesting point in this article was how race relationals with police and city officals with minority committees is in a bad place and there are less healthy options for food when it comes to minority neighborhoods. I wonder if city officals make ordiances that disqualify healthy bussinesses from developing there to better serve the people of minority communitees.
What is Gentrification?
My favorite part of this article was how it presented postive aspects of gentrification instead of just focusing on the negative. I think gentrification is a double edged sword but it is putting people out of homes and pressuring bussiness owners which is bad for the economy.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Craft Activities Table Assesment
Craft Activities Table: Martin Middle School Project
I feel like for our project, we are still at the contact stage because we havent gotten a response from the new libarian or project manager. However we are trying to be postive and contact others such as the boy who Dr. Gilbert knows, and an ex Martin Middle school student who is a ut grad student. We are also trying to bend to the needs and possibilities of the community by changing our proj from oral history to photo journalism. I think this will be great and can't wait to start reserching this and incorporating it wuth the kids, families and community as a whole. I think it will bring them together bc pictures truly are so powerful. We also really need to focus on connecting with that community and how to go about doing that that works for both community and us.
I feel like for our project, we are still at the contact stage because we havent gotten a response from the new libarian or project manager. However we are trying to be postive and contact others such as the boy who Dr. Gilbert knows, and an ex Martin Middle school student who is a ut grad student. We are also trying to bend to the needs and possibilities of the community by changing our proj from oral history to photo journalism. I think this will be great and can't wait to start reserching this and incorporating it wuth the kids, families and community as a whole. I think it will bring them together bc pictures truly are so powerful. We also really need to focus on connecting with that community and how to go about doing that that works for both community and us.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Reflection Blog:
Colony Park is the project and is the community needing the most advocacy, where as Holly street there is more of a focus on history and togetherness. The martin middle school project, is focused on oral history where as Colony Park is a community who needs to work together to fight crime, keep up their neighborhood and build a strong sense of communitty. All of the residents in all communities including Marlo Heights need to have their voices heard though. Marlo Heights is the most extreme case of this though. Food deserts are affecting where residents go for food, the prices for somethwere cheap and the accessiblity to fresh produce and healthy food which effects the lifestyle of these communities and only detorates them more.
Colony Park is the project and is the community needing the most advocacy, where as Holly street there is more of a focus on history and togetherness. The martin middle school project, is focused on oral history where as Colony Park is a community who needs to work together to fight crime, keep up their neighborhood and build a strong sense of communitty. All of the residents in all communities including Marlo Heights need to have their voices heard though. Marlo Heights is the most extreme case of this though. Food deserts are affecting where residents go for food, the prices for somethwere cheap and the accessiblity to fresh produce and healthy food which effects the lifestyle of these communities and only detorates them more.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Colony Park
Colony Park Pre Reflection:
What struck me about the community was the fact that even though this community has suffered hardship and struggles they still manage to have neighborhood association meetings and have a sense of togetherness.
My neighbor hood does neighborhood watch, I know all my neighbors, there is a park, no houses are run down, everyone helps everyone out, my neighbors are like aunts and uncles to me. We all have stayed there for several years and plan to and its most likely the same kinds of people, older couples who have empty nests or almost do.
I think this project will make me appreciate what I have more and want to help with the restoration of this commmunity and to be more sympathetic to this community and their issues.
I think problems will be getting neighbors to cooperate with students, getting students to follow the marching orders of the community and achieving what all the neightbors want to achieve for their community.
What struck me about the community was the fact that even though this community has suffered hardship and struggles they still manage to have neighborhood association meetings and have a sense of togetherness.
My neighbor hood does neighborhood watch, I know all my neighbors, there is a park, no houses are run down, everyone helps everyone out, my neighbors are like aunts and uncles to me. We all have stayed there for several years and plan to and its most likely the same kinds of people, older couples who have empty nests or almost do.
I think this project will make me appreciate what I have more and want to help with the restoration of this commmunity and to be more sympathetic to this community and their issues.
I think problems will be getting neighbors to cooperate with students, getting students to follow the marching orders of the community and achieving what all the neightbors want to achieve for their community.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Book Assesment:
The story in the book that really resonated with me was the one where the lady had to go into the prison and taught the women to dance and related to them. I have always had a huge fear of prisons and like the had the dirty, disease ridden stereotype in my head that most people do about prisons and thought of it as a place ill never have to deal with. However I really liked that the women had to get on the prisoner's level in order to relate to them and thats something that if i am a criminal lawyer would have to do so I just thought that was interesting.
The story in the book that really resonated with me was the one where the lady had to go into the prison and taught the women to dance and related to them. I have always had a huge fear of prisons and like the had the dirty, disease ridden stereotype in my head that most people do about prisons and thought of it as a place ill never have to deal with. However I really liked that the women had to get on the prisoner's level in order to relate to them and thats something that if i am a criminal lawyer would have to do so I just thought that was interesting.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
My list!!
1. I don't ussually have to worry about getting searched at the airport or a sporting event.
2. I can get away with painting my nails black if I wanted to.
3. Im more approachable in say a dangerous street than someone of a different race
4. I dont have to worry about my weave falling out when playing sports.
5. There are more sunscreen based make ups to fit my skin tone.
6. Swimming or learning to swim is easier.
7. Spend less money on razors, typically whites hair isnt as thick
8. The idea of the little blak dress was really meant for white women
9. Sales clerks dont expect when youre buying over the counter drugs to have an ulterior motive
10. Being white is the majority at UT and most other universities.
11. There are more shades of white when it comes to dress shopping, cream, egg shell, etc
12. As a white person, we are seen as less likely to contract and have diseases like Sickle Cell.
13. As a white, we are ussually more likely to inherit a variety of eye colors, blue, green, hazel whereas other ethnicites ussually only have brown eyes
I cant think of anything else ....
1. I don't ussually have to worry about getting searched at the airport or a sporting event.
2. I can get away with painting my nails black if I wanted to.
3. Im more approachable in say a dangerous street than someone of a different race
4. I dont have to worry about my weave falling out when playing sports.
5. There are more sunscreen based make ups to fit my skin tone.
6. Swimming or learning to swim is easier.
7. Spend less money on razors, typically whites hair isnt as thick
8. The idea of the little blak dress was really meant for white women
9. Sales clerks dont expect when youre buying over the counter drugs to have an ulterior motive
10. Being white is the majority at UT and most other universities.
11. There are more shades of white when it comes to dress shopping, cream, egg shell, etc
12. As a white person, we are seen as less likely to contract and have diseases like Sickle Cell.
13. As a white, we are ussually more likely to inherit a variety of eye colors, blue, green, hazel whereas other ethnicites ussually only have brown eyes
I cant think of anything else ....
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Cultural Assesment:
Okay this was a really hard assignment for me because I am not really "culturally diverse" so bear with me.....
1. Mosquitoe spray- Im from Houston so humidity and mosquitoshave always been apart of my life and my family's life. The most important items in my first aid kit are mosquito spray, benadryl and calimine lotion. Culturally I live in constant fear of west nile virus.
2. Carmel Nips- My grandma is British, she grew up in Nottingham, England and therefore I am a quarter British and these little treats just signify to me culturally how tea hour and carmel treats are a part of my hertiage and afternoons with my grandma.
3. Cross Charm- My christianity is a huge contributing factor to my culture. My whole family is full of dedicated christians and church and bible study have always influenced the culture I was raised in.
4. A longhorn angel ornament- Ive always wanted to go to UT, and my family has been more than supportive of this idea and so to me this little angel just symbolizes my family and our culture surronding my family connected to this university.
5. Ron Paul's Revolution Book- My hertiage consists of Irish, British, Swedish and German descent therefore I check the cacuasian box on applications, and my family is very supportive of the Republican and Libertarian party and so to me this book is just the political peice of my culture.
Okay this was a really hard assignment for me because I am not really "culturally diverse" so bear with me.....
1. Mosquitoe spray- Im from Houston so humidity and mosquitoshave always been apart of my life and my family's life. The most important items in my first aid kit are mosquito spray, benadryl and calimine lotion. Culturally I live in constant fear of west nile virus.
2. Carmel Nips- My grandma is British, she grew up in Nottingham, England and therefore I am a quarter British and these little treats just signify to me culturally how tea hour and carmel treats are a part of my hertiage and afternoons with my grandma.
3. Cross Charm- My christianity is a huge contributing factor to my culture. My whole family is full of dedicated christians and church and bible study have always influenced the culture I was raised in.
4. A longhorn angel ornament- Ive always wanted to go to UT, and my family has been more than supportive of this idea and so to me this little angel just symbolizes my family and our culture surronding my family connected to this university.
5. Ron Paul's Revolution Book- My hertiage consists of Irish, British, Swedish and German descent therefore I check the cacuasian box on applications, and my family is very supportive of the Republican and Libertarian party and so to me this book is just the political peice of my culture.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Hi everyone! I hope everyone is having a great Thursday!! My name is Alexandra Taggart but Ali is fine. I am a junior and a Political Communication major. I love my major and this school and being involved in current events. I was interested in this course when I saw that it involved community planning, social work and an interest in welfare. I think its important for my major to immerse myself in the community and to keep up to date on current on events in our world and more importantly our community. I look forward to a fun productive semester and getting to know everyone.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)