Summer Break Class Blog Post 5

Reflect on the discussions and activities we've had in class for this semester an talk about some of the most meaningful quotes, moments, or speakers that changed your perspective.

Blog posts must be 200-400 words, proofread, and void of common grammatical errors.

Your blog posts are due at 5:00PM on Thursday, June 12th.

Please email albreaks@ku.edu if you have any questions!

Summer Breaks Class Blog Post 4

Talk about the Bystander Effect discussion in class and what you took out of it. Include the discussions your group had regarding this matter.

Blog posts must be 200-400 words, proofread, and void of common grammatical errors.

Your blog posts are due before the start of class next week.

Please email albreaks@ku.edu if you have any questions!

Summer Breaks Class Blog Post 3

Talk about what you learned in Dr. Blane Harding's talk, especially topics that pertain to multiculturalism, identity, privilege, social justice.

Blog posts must be 200-400 words, proofread, and void of common grammatical errors.

Your blog posts are due before the start of class next week.

Please email albreaks@ku.edu if you have any questions!

Summer Break Class Blog Post 2

Reflect on Dr. Kala Stroup's talk, the Ivan Illich article, and the introduction to social justice and privilege. What did you learn from these and how do you envision applying what you learned during your respective Alternative Breaks?

Blog posts must be 200-400 words, proofread, and void of common grammatical errors.

Because I posted this prompt late in the game, your blog posts for this specific one is due on Sunday, April 27th at 5:00pm. 

Please email albreaks@ku.edu if you have any questions!

Summer Class 2014 Blog Post 1

Talk and reflect about what you learned from the identity wheels activity and the Genderbread person 2.0 activity in class last Thursday.

Blog posts must be 200-400 words, proofread, and void of common grammatical errors.

Your blog posts are due before the start of class next week.

Please email albreaks@ku.edu if you have any questions!

Spring Break Class Blog Post 6

Reflect on the discussions and activities we've had in class for this semester an talk about some of the most meaningful quotes, moments, or speakers that changed your perspective.

Blog posts must be 200-400 words, proofread, and void of common grammatical errors.

Your blog posts are due at 5:00PM on Thursday, March 27th.

Please email albreaks@ku.edu if you have any questions!

Spring Class Blog Post 5

Talk about what you learned from the panels on Thursday's class and how you might apply what you learned on your upcoming Spring Alternative Break.

Blog posts must be 200-400 words, proofread, and void of common grammatical errors.

Your blog posts are due before the start of class next week.

Please email albreaks@ku.edu if you have any questions!

Spring Class Blog Post 4

Talk about the case studies that were discussed in class, what you learned from it and what your group thought about the article you were given. You may also share what you learned from other group's articles and what you think of the issues presented in those articles.

Blog posts must be 200-400 words, proofread, and void of common grammatical errors.

Your blog posts are due before the start of class next week.

Please email albreaks@ku.edu if you have any questions!

Spring Class Blog Post 3

What does social justice mean to you? Relate your response to the identity wheel and Genderbread Person v2.0 activity. You may also incorporate the video presented in class in your discussion.

Blog posts must be 200-400 words, proofread, and void of common grammatical errors.

Your blog posts are due before the start of class next week.

Please email albreaks@ku.edu if you have any questions!

Spring Class Blog Post 2

Write about what you learned from Blane Harding's talk and how it might or might not have changed your opinions on the topics he mentioned in his speech such as multiculturalism, diversity, and privilege.


Blog posts must be 200-400 words, proofread, and void of common grammatical errors.

Your blog posts are due before the start of class next week.

Please email albreaks@ku.edu if you have any questions!

Spring Class Blog Post 1

Write about your reaction to the Ivan Illich article and what perspective it gave you about volunteering. Please also include a reflection of Dr. Kala Stroup's talk about non-profits and volunteerism.


Blog posts must be 200-400 words, proofread, and void of common grammatical errors.

Your blog posts are due before the start of class next week.

Please email albreaks@ku.edu if you have any questions!

Dani - Habitat for Humanity - Blog 5

Sadly, today is my last blog post and last day of my Alternative Break. Continuing from yesterday, I worked to repair the elderly lady’s bathroom. I got to cut the grout holding the tile pieces together more, or most of it. Then, I was able to use my muscles and break the rest of the tile with a hammer. After that, I screwed in a few extra two-by-fours to be able to attach the drywall. Since it was the second day and we already knew what our assignments were, we were accomplishing a lot and making a lot of noise, especially inside the bathroom. I hope you can imagine all the noise we are making in this tiny little bathroom. I mean we’re cutting grout, tearing off trim, smashing tile, hammering nails, playing music, and screwing in wood and drywall. That’s a lot of noise, except when we stop. You can only hear one sound, other than the construction noises from outside.

“B, 13. 0, 64.”

The elderly lady was playing bingo, and I thought it was the cutest thing. Looking back on it now, it makes me realize everyone is the same. Now, I do not know what her background is, or what her life has been like up to today. However, I do know that when I reach her age, I will probably be playing bingo on the computer. That was one of the best parts of helping this elderly lady fix her home. It was the best because I was much younger than her and we probably have different life stories, yet we would still end up doing the same activity. It is similar to going on Alternative Breaks. In the beginning, we went to different cities, did different activities, and helped out different people. Yet, in the end, we all left a mark on where we spent our week of volunteering.

Dani - Habitat for Humanity - Blog 4

We went to a different house today. It was an elderly lady’s house that was already built, but we were there to do what Habitat for Humanity calls “critical repair”. When we got there, Chris, our site director, showed us the house. From the front, you could tell it was an older house, but besides the cracked driveway and untrimmed greenery, it seemed sustainable. Then, we walked to the east side of the house. On the lower half of the house, it was all brick like most of the houses in Oklahoma. On the upper half, it was blue painted wood. The wooden panels and the trim had been worn down greatly. Most of the bottoms of the panels were either off the house or starting to curve off. Next, Chris took us to the back of the house, where most of the trim and chimney wood were in the same condition as the sides of the house. While some of my group members were hesitant about using crowbars for the first time, others were eager to climb up on the ladders and to start prying old siding off the house. Because of my back pain and fear of falling off a high ladder, I could not do much. Still, I was to hammer down some nails to avoid people getting poked by them and occasionally pick up a few pieces off the ground. After lunch, Eric, our other site director, took Nicole and me inside to repair the bathroom. Once we cleared out the old vanity, mirror, and shower doors, Eric showed me how to use my new favorite tool, the Dremmel. Using it, I carved out the grout that held the tiles together and cut new drywall to be even with the old drywall. I spent the rest of the afternoon working on this project in the bathroom, and, despite my small amount of back pain, I was excited to continue it tomorrow.

Dani - Habitat for Humanity - Blog 3

Today, we continued to work on the house in Moore. Since we did not get materials until the late afternoon the day before, we were unable to start decking and roofing. Hence, that is what we did today. Because of my experience on our Mini Break back in November, I knew the basics of what we were doing and able to contribute more this time. We got divided off into three teams. One team worked on the roof that went above the front porch area on the outside of the house. Another worked on installing the soffit, which covers the roof that extends past the walls. The third team, the one I was one, worked on the fascia, which is the board that covers the edge of the roof. Once everyone got going, our work started to shine through. Unlike the day before, we were actually able to see our progress and see the change we were making on the house. After we got most of the fascia and soffit on the house, the guys started to get on the roof. Because I was afraid of heights, I remained on the ground to help lift materials up to the roof. To get them up, it required a lot of teamwork and communication. Once Megan and I got a system down on how to get the piece up, we started moving pretty quick.

That is until I sneezed.

Since this past week involved more physical labor than I have done in quite some time, and I do not believe I was lifting properly, I threw my back out after sneezing. Unfortunately, I could barely take a step without massive pain shooting up through my leg and to my back. Thankfully, after some rest later in the day, I felt better and optimistic about volunteering the next day.

Dani - Habitat for Humanity - Blog 2

Today was the first day of our volunteering at one of the tornado relief homes in Moore, Oklahoma. Once we got there, I noticed the neighborhood looked like the three stages Moore was going through. On the west side, there were newly constructed and completed houses while on the east, there were many houses under construction with a few still destroyed from the tornado. It was touching to see all the houses being rebuilt even though the tornado hit more than six months ago. Seeing the actual disaster came like one big gust of wind, and it hit me really hard why we were there. Although it was sad to see that they were still rebuilding six months after the tornado, it made me even more dedicated to help out these tornado victims by giving them something more than a home. I was helping them build a place to live, a place to make memories, a place to relax, and much more. When we started working, I was not doing a very good job. Let’s just say, I was not the strongest one in the group. I did not let that stop me though. I was determined to do other tasks, no matter the size, and that is how I became Nail Lady. We had to nail these metal plates into the top corners of the walls. To quicken the pace, and because I didn’t have the strength or the height, I decided to tear off the nails and hand them to my group members. That was my job for the morning. After lunch, we were waiting on the materials and did not have much to do. We were able to hammer in some nails that were sticking out of the boards. Then, we had to compile them together in a scrap pile to quicken clean up later. Despite all the more negative that happened, it was a good day, and I was excited to continue the reconstruction of the town the next day.

Dani - Habitat for Humanity - Blog 1

Since it was our day off, we decided to go visit the Oklahoma City National Museum and Memorial. In 1995, Timothy McVeigh parked his truck outside the Murrah Federal Building. At precisely 9:01 am, the bomb inside that truck exploded, destroying most of the Murrah Federal building and other buildings in the area. Besides the firefighters and policemen, many people in the community responded as well. When I was reading about all the stories, it was overwhelming for two reasons. First, it was shocking on how disastrous this event was, how recent it still is and how close it is to my home, Dallas. It was extremely surreal, too, since the place we were staying at got hit by the blast. The second reason was the amount of support and volunteering received from the community was insane. The Oklahoma policemen and firefighters received extra men from Arizona, California, Maryland, and many other places. Once they were safely out of the building, survivors helped by making lists of who came into the office that day, tearing off clothing to stop others from bleeding, or even going back into the building to help others out. Then, as emergency rooms quickly prepared for incoming wounded, medical staff rushed to the scene to help out before the injured could be transported. The list of support goes on and on. It was crazy how fast and how many people helped out. At first, seeing all this support and volunteering discouraged me. My work with Alternative Breaks would not amount anywhere close to what these people did 18 years ago. Then, I saw an editorial cartoon about volunteerism. The cartoon shows a line of people shaped into a heart, with the person at the point asking, “What can we do to help?” and arms open wide. That’s my attitude shifted. I recognized that without each individual person in that heart, it wouldn’t be complete. It shows that every volunteer is willing to do something, no matter the size of the task, making me excited for our volunteering to come.

Megan - Habitat for Humanity - Blog 5

Today we continued our work at the same house as yesterday, except we spent the majority of the

day building and installing rather than deconstructing. We measured, cut, placed, and secured

more siding on the house for much of the morning. After that, Eric gave me the task of scraping

old paint off of the trim around the garage and on the roof. I then helped one of the other

volunteers move the scrap piles into the dumpster and tidy up around the site before lunch. We

went to Johnnie’s Charcoal Broiler on our lunch break. I talked to the cashier while she was

taking our order, and she told me that she lived right in the middle of one of the neighborhoods

that was greatly affected by the tornados. She thanked us for our service and said it meant the

world to her and her community that there were people like us working so hard to rebuild from

the devastation left by the tornados. It was very moving to hear from someone who experienced

the tornados first hand. Her words made the work we have been doing for the past few days so

much more real and meaningful to me. Even though we only worked on a couple of homes for a

few days, I feel as though we have made a difference, and we have been part of a bigger relief

effort to restore the neighborhoods of Oklahoma City and Moore, which is pretty amazing if you

ask me. After lunch, we returned to the site and split up into different projects. I worked with

Nicole and Dani on one of the bathrooms inside to replace some of the drywall and fit new sheets

of linoleum tiles for the walls and shower. Once we were finished, it was time to clean up and

leave for the day. I can’t believe today was our last day of volunteering. I say again: it went by

so fast. Tonight, we went to the Oklahoma City Thunder game and watched Kevin Durant score

his record-high points in a game! The tickets were provided by the generous folks at Habitat for

Humanity, and it was a terrific way to end our time in Oklahoma City and our Alternative Break

experience.

Megan - Habitat for Humanity - Blog 4

The group woke up ready to start the day at our new site. After a quick stop at Starbucks, we

drove to the house we would be working on. We passed by some beautiful homes that appeared

to be unaffected by the tornados which struck Oklahoma last summer. However, we soon

transitioned into a neighborhood which appeared to be much more run down than the houses we

had just seen. Our group was surprised at how rapidly our surroundings changed from very

expensive homes to properties that had clearly not received some much needed attention. The

home we would be working on obviously required major maintenance. When we first arrived,

we met with Chris and Eric, who would serve as our guides for the day. Eric instructed those

who were not afraid of heights (myself included) to grab a crowbar and informed us that we

would be removing the old siding from the house. It seemed like a monstrous task that would

take the entire day or maybe longer, but once we had a clearer understanding of what we needed

to do, the job was done in no time. Eric explained to a couple of us that deconstruction was the

“dirty side” of Habitat for Humanity and required a little more improvisation than the

construction side, which we had worked on for the past two days. After our lunch break, we

began other miscellaneous projects while waiting for the new siding to arrive at the site. Once

the materials were delivered, we started to measure, place, and secure the new siding. I was very

impressed with how much we were able to accomplish in just a few hours at the house. We

cleaned up the site, loaded the tools back into the trucks, piled into our van, and drove back to

the church where we have been staying. I can’t believe that we only have one more day

volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and one more full day in Oklahoma City. I’ve had so

much fun with my group, and the time has gone by so fast!

Megan - Habitat for Humanity - Blog 3

Today we spent more time at the construction site where we worked yesterday, and I could

immediately tell that everyone in the group felt more comfortable in their roles and more

confident in their abilities than we had been the day before. We began the day by cutting,

placing, and securing the soffit lining around the house. It was a challenging task that required a

lot of communication among our group members and all of the other volunteers at the site as

well. Once all of the soffit had been installed, we began moving sheets of plywood to all sides of

the house and leaning them against the exterior walls. This plywood would be used for the roof

of the house and would need to be lifted by people on the ground and handed up to those placing

and nailing it down on the roof. We took a break for lunch, ate our fill of pizza, and got back to

work. The afternoon was spent hauling plywood up to those on the roof. My arms definitely felt

like noodles by the end of the work day, but I felt a sense of accomplishment as we left the site.

There was more of a visual progress to be seen today than yesterday so I felt that we really made

a difference at this site today. We found out that we will not be going back to that site, a fact that

saddened most of the group. I think we all hit our stride today, and now we will have to readjust

to a new site tomorrow. Nevertheless, I know we are up for the challenge that the projects

tomorrow will undoubtedly bring. It’s interesting to see how close our group has gotten in just a

few days. I’ve loved bonding with my group members not only at our Habitat for Humanity site

but also while playing ping pong in the game room, planning our next meal, or building a fort out

of foam mattresses. It has been an awesome trip so far, and I’m excited to see what the rest of

the week has in store for us.

Megan - Habitat for Humanity - Blog 2

The group woke up early this morning and piled into our van to travel to the Central Oklahoma

Habitat for Humanity headquarters. We were greeted by Rick, one of the directors of the

program, who explained the mission of Habitat for Humanity, the specific goals of the Oklahoma

City branch, and the projects we would be working on during our time in Oklahoma City. On

our way to the construction site, we passed directly through neighborhoods that were affected by

the devastating tornados last summer. I don’t think I have ever seen such destruction in person.

To see firsthand that the homes, schools, and workplaces of an entire community could be so

brutally destroyed was very powerful to witness. I think our group was able to gain some

perspective regarding the magnitude of this natural disaster. We arrived at the house we would

be working on, and we were greeted by Mitch, who would serve as the site’s leader for the day.

He began by giving all of us the task of securing the support beams for the roof by nailing them

into the metal plates at the end of each beam. What seemed like a simple task soon turned into a

near impossible feat. The difficulty of forcing the nails through the metal plates accompanied by

the group’s clear lack of hammering experience made for an interesting morning. After our

lunch break, we all broke off into groups of two or three to work on separate jobs. I worked with

Nicole on cutting and nailing up the tarp around a side of the house. Following that, we began to

remove nails from the two-by-fours that had been used as support beams. For the rest of the

afternoon, I teamed up with Nicole and Dani to clean up the construction site, which included

sweeping, discarding wood scraps, and putting tools back into the van. Today was really fun,

and I’m exciting to continue with our volunteer work over the coming days. I’m also really

looking forward to bonding more and more with my fellow group members throughout the rest

of the week.

Megan - Habitat for Humanity - Blog 1

Today we visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, located right down the

street from where we are staying. Before this visit, none of us had much knowledge of the

tragedy that occurred in the direct vicinity of the church where we are living for the rest of

week. We initially walked around the outdoor memorial and spoke to a park ranger who

provided us with the basic story of the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995. The memorial itself

was very moving, and I was eager to learn more through the museum’s exhibits. The displays in

the museum were extensive and impressive. There were many real remnants from the explosions

as well as reaction videos collected from survivors and first responders to the scene. Seeing the

aftermath of the horrible attack was very emotional, and I was surprised that I had not heard

more about this tragedy before visiting the memorial and museum. One of quotes that was most

memorable for me was from a video of a speech given by Bill Clinton on the 15th anniversary of

the bombing. The former President said, “Oklahoma City reminded us that how we respond to

what happens to us, determines who we are. It shows the world our identity.” This powerful

quote resonated with me on many levels, primarily how it relates to service and my impending

Alternative Break experience. Over the next few days, my group and I will be experiencing firsthand

how Habitat for Humanity has responded to the tornados that devastated South Oklahoma

City and the town of Moore, Oklahoma this past summer. According to former President

Clinton’s quote, we are going to be seeing the true identity of the community Oklahoma City and

its supporters. I know everyone is very anxious to begin volunteering tomorrow and learning

more about Habitat for Humanity and how they have contributed to the reconstruction of the

areas affected by the tornados.

Alex - ODYS - Blog 5

Today was our last day in the Department of Youth Services. Today was a shorter day, and we got to see some of the same guys one more time. We played basketball again. It’s a really easy way to get to know the guys and hang out without being really invasive. It’s more comfortable when its something they like to do, instead of having us invade their space. We have heard some really great stories. We also got to talk with some staff, although mine were not so willing to talk. Other than that we just hung out and shared stories. Its like we have become apart of their community, we are normal now, but the only thing is that we are leaving. The last hour we spent in the facility we were back with the people we started off with on the first day. They are two employees at the department of youth services and have come back to do some debriefing. We had a great conversation and we went over as a group how we thought the week went. You could tell that we really learned a lot and enjoyed it. We all learned so much, we couldn’t wait to talk through everything, and we did. Overall this experience has expanded my knowledge so much. Its hard to actually process everything at once. Its also hard to put it all down in words. Poverty and gangs, education and mental health, there were so many issues just in one place. There are also so many areas to tackle. If anything that I have been coming to this same conclusion, it is something that has really been on my mind. I have been thinking that its not about where you start, whether its in school at gang intervention programs, or at the correctional facilities themselves, you can start making an impact as long as you decide to start making a change. Its like what came first the chicken or the egg? Either way you could debate it for hours, but what matters is choosing the chicken or choosing the egg. Its choosing somewhere to start and taking those initial steps. It’s starting to create the wave, the ripple. If there is one valuable thing, which I learned way too much, but if one thing I will take away it will be to actually make a change. Its taking that initial leap of faith and being that drop in the ocean that creates a ripple that, no matter what size, creates a wave of some sort. That’s the best imagery I have right now. It’s been a long week, and my brain is still trying to recover. I have learned more in one week than some of my classes. It was an absolutely amazing trip, and if I could I would do it all over again.

Alex - ODYS - Blog 4

Today was a long day. We spent the morning in the facility getting to know staff and youth. We stayed on units and played a lot of Basketball in the gym. There was a pretty heated moment on my unit. There is a youth who they believe has some mental health needs and who is pretty unstable. They were being really caution around him. They also moved some youth around because of the way they were behaving and so they were predicting some pretty angry youth after school. When they came back the youth was very upset, but nothing happened. Well things did start happening, but it didn’t happen until we had left the unit. Today we got to talk to a lot of the youth who are in college. That was at Circleville, but what was really interesting was the afterschool program we went to. Once again we were hanging out with kids in middle school. We helped with homework and participated in some of their fun activities. I got to hangout with a youth who has some special needs. He was really great. When I was helping him I had one of those, “this is what I have to do with the rest of my life” moments. I know I want to work with kids and help kids out. It warms my heart when I get these interactions and when I can tell that I really helped them out. You could tell that he really appreciated my help. But that is just me, and it was a pretty special moment. It really reaffirms what I am doing. After the after school program we got to go to a county youth correctional facility. The guys here were really similar to the youth at the state facility. It’s just like being at a state facility only everything is in a building in downtown Ohio. Dr. Patti had a really funny and interesting relationship with these guys. She was their best friend and they had the whole room cracking up. There were about 15 youth in the room with us, and they were all hilarious. Dr. Patti can bring the best out of people. After we got to see the county facility we sat in the lobby with Dr. Patti for an hour and half. We had such an in depth conversation about poverty, not just in the city but also in the country. We were really engaged and listening to everything she had to say. It was a great reflection and we really got to thinking what can we do? That car ride home we all talked as a group and we want to plan something like Buckeye Reach at KU. We want to see if we can start making a difference the way Dr. Patti and her students have. It was a great bonding moment for the group. We can’t wait to start looking in Kansas for opportunities like this! It’s been another day of 12 hours volunteering. We are super busy, and its sad knowing that this is our last day at the facility, and in Ohio.

Alex - ODYS - Blog 3

Today was my first day at Circleville correctional facility. It was definitely a lot calmer than I thought it would be.  The facility was also a lot bigger than I thought. It was just about the same size as Scioto but planned out a more structured. The only thing was that Circleville has a lot more security measures. By that I mean it has a lot more barbed wire everywhere and fences. It’s a lot more controlled of a facility. Wherever there are poles they have greased them. It’s pretty intimidating. Today after getting a tour of the facility we got to break up into groups of two, I of course getting to be the group of 1. We were sent to different classes in the high schools; I got to sit in on a class about Sex Ed with a very interesting group of guys. It was interesting the way they used language. They were being pretty vulgar, and the teacher liked that I was the one telling them that the way they were speaking isn’t always the most polite. It was an interesting task and the teacher kept prompting me to answer things, I was really thrown head first into some pretty interesting and descriptive conversations. The guys were all really respectable though and its weird thinking that is where they live. They all seem so normal, just like kids I knew in high school. We had pretty limited contact with the guys today, other than playing in the gym with some of them; they were all pretty focused on basketball though. It was a pretty mild day. Tonight we got to go to an afterschool program at KIPP, a charter school in inner city Ohio. It’s in a rough spot of town. We got to hear some pretty interesting stories. The students we were with showed us different houses, which they could point to at the school, where drug dealers lived. They also showed us where a kid who went to school there got shot and was killed. It’s really shaken up the community. A retaliation gang had started up and it has all of the kids shaken up because they are actively recruiting and jumping kids after school. We heard some really heart breaking stories. One kid said that he was afraid of life, and another kid told us about how unsafe he feels. It was really difficult to sit in a room and listen to kids in 7th grade who have been through way more stuff than I have gone through. They speak with maturity and wisdom way beyond their years. It was jaw dropping and extremely eye opening. Tonight we got to meet Dr. Patti a director of social change at Ohio State University. She was a great speaker and she really gave us some background information on poverty. It was a factor that I really wasn’t thinking was the problem. I understood the behavior aspect and educational aspect of kids who ended up in the correctional facility. I can understand that if they fall behind in school and they need attention they can act out and end up in trouble. Things usually escalate from there, but I never really thought that poverty was the root of the problem. You really can’t understand something until you see it. Its like when it is staring right back at you it becomes so much more real. Dr. Patti had a great quote tonight that really rang in my ears, “You can’t be what you can’t see”. Dr. Patti is a really young scholar who grew up in these neighborhoods in section 8 housing and she can relate to the students at KIPP because at one point she was in their shoes. She is an amazing advocate for ending poverty. She was amazing that’s about all you can say, amazing. Tomorrow we have another afterschool program to go to as well as a long morning and mid-afternoon at Circleville. We learned so much tonight its hard to write it all down, but I fell like writing as much as I can and putting down as much as I see and hear is really helping me reflect and to think about my own life.

Alex - ODYS - Blog 2

It was 3 hours to Indian River, and it was 3 hours back. It was a long day, mostly spent in the car, but a good 5 hours plus some at Indian River Correctional Facility.  This facility was different from Scioto. Everything but the school was housed in the same building. It was a maze of locked doors, and it was extremely confusing. Today we got split up shadowing different job positions at the facility. I got to shadow an occupational therapist. It was interesting, but the state can’t make the guys go to therapy, they have to decide whether or not they wanted to go, even if they were in need of it. I also got to meet and talk with a Speech Therapist; it was cool to see that my major could actually be used at a correctional facility. Something unique to Indian River is the fact that it has a mental health unit. They are the only facility that takes on youth with mental disabilities. It was a fascinating experience, and it was different from the girls we saw yesterday. I got to meet some pretty normal guys, but you could tell that they had a disability. I met one young guy who had schizophrenia that was pretty drugged up. It was sad, he could not tell the different monopoly properties apart. The occupational therapist told me that his IQ was not matching how he was acting; she was going to look into his medications. It was nice seeing someone take an interest in the youth. She did not have to spend time on the mental health units, she could easily spend her time with any of the other units, but she has a passion for mental health, and it was nice seeing someone watch out for the youth. There is an obvious distinction in the staff that we met. There were those who were passionate about their jobs, and those who just see it as a job. I am anticipating a change once we go to Circleville Correctional Facility. The day was peaceful at Indian River, but we kept hearing how crazy it was going to be, and it wasn’t. Now all we keep hearing about is how Circleville is the worst of the worst. Most of the group is pretty apprehensive, if not just a bit nervous for what we have in store. Each place is nowhere near what we expect, and there really is no way of knowing until we actually get there. Thankfully all of our traveling from here on out will be 5 minutes down the road. It was an interesting day and I wish we could have spent more time at the facilities; we seem to make friends as we go. There are just some people you interact with that you will always remember.

Alex - Ohio Department of Youth Services - Blog 1

Today was my first day at the Ohio Department of Youth Services. It was absolutely amazing, and I can only imagine what the week could have in store. The staff we encountered felt like a giant family, who welcomed us with open and loving arms. The kids were just as great, although they have gone down a different path of life; they were just as excited to see us, as we were to see them. The best part about the youth we encountered that day, was the fact that they were open and completely honest with us. That day was spent at Scioto Youth Correctional Facility, one that is set to close in May. Scioto is the only facility to house girls, on the state level; they are all to be moved to private prisons, other programs, or the county facilities. We met one of the most quotable women to this date. Her name was Ms. Baker. She was the volunteer coordinator. Whatever came out of her mouth was either hilarious, or extremely deep and meaningful. One of her quotes echoed in my ears that day. It was in relation to the types of people trying to volunteer at the facility. She said, “ All sorts of ministries wanted to come in and preach but I just ask them, ‘What are you going to do to show them what the world can be like? What are you going to do to show them a different side of the world? You will have your time to testify, but they don’t need that. What are you gonna do to impact their lives?’”. It was just something in her voice that was so raw. Its not that she wasn’t a spiritual women, you could tell she would, but she saw that its not preaching that these girls needed, it was one on one interactions, attentions, friendships, and positive relationships. Ms. Baker also told us that 20 years ago she had no idea that children were locked up. She told us that her best friend growing up’s Dad was the juvenile judge and she had no idea he had the power to lock a kid up. The units where they house the kids are cold and concrete. They have thick heavy doors. Everything locks in the facility. It’s like a college campus with giant fences all around. We met one girl whose story was absolutely amazing. I don’t think I could do her justice by trying to retell it. She was a girl who grew up in and out of the system. She was a phenomenal artist, and her work was all over the facility. Its heart breaking to know that this facility that was her home, her family, was being shut down. It’s a bittersweet thing. You could tell that between the staff and youth it was a special place. It’s been a unique place and it was cool that we got to go and see it before it was shut down, and it was nice to interact with the girls at Scioto. We got to play volleyball with the majority of the girls left and lets just say, no rule, KU vs. Scioto. It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen and all of us spent more time laughing than actually playing. They became our friends, and we hadn’t even know them a day. They all ended up at the state correctional facility for whatever, but they were real and genuine people, they are just walking a different path of life. That’s about all I have for tonight, tomorrow a 3-hour drive to Indian River for a day of volunteering at a different facility. Hopefully it will be as great as today!

Courtney - ODYS - Blog 5

Today was our final day. For me, this was the day that everything we learned from this week came together. All of the observing and volunteering work that we had done finally made sense and I was able to apply it to my own life. Hearing the backgrounds and home lives of the majority of the boys made me look at my own life differently. Seeing and imagining how those boys had to grow up makes me appreciate even more that I had a family who loved me; a family that loved me enough to make me attend school, discipline me, and want to be a better person. But more importantly, I was able to see the advantages and privileges I have over some of these boys. I grew up in a white middle class family style setting, which is already a huge advantage over most of the boys’ home lives. My family had enough money to live in Lawrence, to buy adequate, healthy food, send me to summer camps and participate in school sports. I was never pressured to join a gang, nonetheless knew that feeling pressure to join a gang in fifth grade was even a possibility. All of my friends growing up only had a positive influence on me and encouraged me to be the person that I am today. At my high school it was the norm to graduate and attend college, attending a community college if you had to. But some of the boys we met dropped out of the seventh grade! It was the norm to NOT attend school and make money illegally instead of pursuing a career at the collegiate level. I received a whole new perspective on not only the way that some children have to grow up, but also on the way that I was so lucky to have grown up. This entire trip has inspired a few participants from our group to start what the Ohio State University calls “Buckeye Reach”. With this program, OSU students volunteer at the juvenile correctional facilities and in local elementary and middle schools regularly. My group wants to incorporate what we have learned in Ohio and bring it back to Kansas. I think every student at KU would benefit from this learning experience.

Courtney - ODYS - Blog 4

Today was our second day at the Circleville correctional facility. We started off our day by meeting with the Superintendent of the facility, a social worker, and the recreational administration programmer. Our group was able to eat lunch with the youth, which happened to be barbeque chicken wings. We spent majority of our afternoon in the gymnasium with one of the units. I was the only girl who participated in multiple games of knock out and five on five basketball. While playing with the youth, I usually forgot that they were in that facility for committing some serious crime. Circleville is where the most violent offenders in the state of Ohio are sent, but it wasn’t evident in everyday activities. After another panel with three of the youth at Circleville, we left the facility and went to a middle school in Columbus. This specific middle school was considered to have one of the lowest graduation rates in Columbus. We assisted the kids age 6-8th grade with their homework in classrooms as well as helped out during their after school programs like fencing. We then traveled to the Franklin Country Juvenile Detention Center for a different experience than we had in the correctional facilities. At the detention center, the boys are only there while their cases are being processed and don’t usually stay for more than a couple weeks or months. At this department, we attended a group session that one of our directors set up for us. There were about ten boys that meet once a week with whom we casually spoke. They asked us questions about Kansas, college, our backgrounds, goals, aspirations, and what we thought about our trip so far. I enjoyed this part of the day the most because I felt like it was the most eye opening for myself. While we all told about our backgrounds and how we got to KU, it was obvious that we all came from a privileged middle-class white background. The environments and families that the boys we were talking with were a good example about how much of a vicious cycle they are in. They are introduced to gangs at such young ages that they grow up not knowing any different. After hearing their home lives and education in school and common knowledge, their crimes seemed to almost make sense. One youth shared that he was convicted for kidnapping a woman, but he only did so because his mom was sick and they didn’t have money to pay for her medical bills. So he thought that if he kidnapped a woman, she could not only serve as a mother figure but also he could get some ransom from the police for her return. At the young age of 14, I thought what would I have done in his situation? He was desperate to save not only his mom, but the rest of his family, too.

Courtney - ODYS - Blog 3

Today was our first day at the Circleville correctional facility. This specific facility was maximum security with four close units and two medium units. A close unit is the maximum security with the least amount of privileges a youth can have, while medium security is one level below that, and minimum the least amount of security a youth can have. We received many warnings about Circleville the past few days, but I was presently surprised. We were told that we would be flashed, groped, and receive really inappropriate and rude comments from the youth, but I didn’t personally witness any of these actions. After we observed and shadowed multiple Unit Managers and school teachers, we drove up to Columbus for a gang intervention program that a couple Ohio State University students are currently running. We sat with fifth through eighth graders and talked about many issues related to gang affiliation, but they were unaware of that. We all shared what we are scared of, how we overcome that fear, the difference between fear and respect, as well as people we respect and why. While the kids were probably unaware of how that all relates to gang affiliation, it was perfectly clear to us when talking with these kids how high of a risk they are at for being forced to join a gang. The director of this gang intervention program spoke with us afterwards and explained that she wanted us to see the system and the cycle. Majority of the youth in correctional facilities come from terrible home lives and are at a much higher risk of committing crimes than other kids. They are scared into joining gangs at a young age and commit crimes for their members in order to maintain membership. Poverty, poor education, and lack of guidance or parenting increase the kids’ chances of being convicted. I liked that we not only got the opportunity to see the correctional facilities, but also then got the chance to see what the state of Ohio is doing to prevent their youth from entering those facilities. It was really sad to see the cycle and how the kids have to overcome so many obstacles and trials just to have what we consider a “normal” life.

Courtney - ODYS - Blog 2

Today was just as much a learning experience as the first day was. We went to an all boys’ correctional facility called Indian River. In the morning, we toured their campus because it was laid out differently than the facility we toured the day before at Scioto. This specific correctional facility was a two story single building that had all of the units where the boys’ rooms were, including the medical unit, gymnasium, cafeterias, and administration offices. Separate from the main building is the high school, which is also accredited like Scioto was. They had many programs like auto mechanics and wood shop that the boys can utilize. They build sheds for Habitat for Humanity as well as sell them to customers. I spent the majority of my day in one of the two mental health units the facility had. They are the only facility that houses mental health youth in the state. Each unit had 10-12 boys that needed special and more attention and watch. I had the opportunity to talk and socialize with two boys aged 18 and 19 that were in the “mentor program” at Indian River. These boys had to apply and interview for their positions, and were selected based on their previous behavior and trustworthiness. They are responsible for assisting in the mental health units. They both live in this unit, and serve as a mediator between staff and the youth. One boy was a high school graduate and attending college courses, while the other is on schedule to graduate in May of this year. To talk with them about how they have used and are using their time in juvenile correction facilities to better themselves and learn from their mistakes was inspiring. Both of the boys told me the crimes that landed them in the correction facility, but went on to explain why they were wrong and what they were working on to be better citizens when they leave. While I enjoyed talking with them about their personal lives and lives in prison, I had even more fun arguing and debating with them about all kinds of sports. I loved talking about Kansas basketball and Ohio State football with them because it was something that we both had in common, even though our current situations are so incredibly different. One of the boys was even given permission to allow me to leave with a small piece of notebook paper with the name of his rap song on YouTube. Not only did this show me how trusted those two boys in the mentor program are, but it also showed me how they have ambitions and passions just like any other 18 year old.

Courtney - Ohio Department of Youth Services - Blog 1

We started out at the Scioto Juvenile Correctional Facility that is scheduled to close in April. We spent our morning touring the facility and learning about the operations, procedures, and the youth that they house. This specific facility is the only facility that houses girls. When we visited, they only had 18 girls total, which is over 400 less than they usually do. The reasons behind the closing of the facility seemed to be financially based, as we learned throughout the day that they obviously have the most programs and opportunities available to their youth than any other facility. While most people thought the staff of Scioto was insane for allowing their youth to participate in wood shop using tools like saws and hammers, the youth were able to build “corn hole boards” and sell them for money. The facility also had an accredited high school where majority of the students were taking classes. They are able to receive a high school diploma or GED from Scioto. Four of the girls were also attending college, both online and at a local community college off campus. In the afternoon we received volunteer training and had the opportunity to talk with four of the girls. They told us what crime(s) they had committed, how long they had to serve, and a little bit of their background and home life. For me, this was the most eye opening part of the first day. I learned so much listening to the girls be 100% honest with complete strangers about their private lives. None of the girls were bad kids, they aren’t any different from us, and they just came from tough and difficult backgrounds and home lives. They stole to survive or so that their moms didn’t have to work so much and spend money on them. One of the girls shared that her home life was so awful and stressful that she found comfort in the youth detention service system. She enjoyed the structure of the days, receiving three meals per day, and in general being away from her family. I was able to identify with her because I lost my mom at a young age, as hers wasn’t around, and felt the pressure of being both a mom to my younger siblings and a normal teenager. While I escaped the pressures of my home life with friends or school, she found comfort in the detention system.

Madeline - TFA - Blog 5

Our last day at Manley has come to an end. I’d be lying if I said that in my four days there I altered the course of any students’ lives. I feel like today was the first day I was even able to really communicate with the students on a very real level. Sure I’ve interacted with many regarding the class material or my experience as a KU student, but today I was able to completely put my guard down—joking with the students and asking them about their own lives and experiences. As I mentioned earlier in the week, I realized that I’d been distancing myself from the students, failing to recognize any common ground we shared as young people. So, from a personal standpoint, I feel better. It’s nice to know that I’m capable of adapting to such a foreign situation. As far as the students are concerned, however, I am beyond frustrated. Not frustrated at them, but for them. How is it okay for our society to fail them in this way? How is it okay for a junior in high school to not understand how to add negative numbers? How is it okay for a student to skip almost half of their classes without any repercussions? I’m beginning to question whether or not poverty is the central issue at play regarding educational inequality. It seems to me that the government could make so many changes that could help these students achieve success in school. Attracting better quality teachers, providing necessary resources to classrooms, enforcing more strict attendance policies, getting rid of ridiculous and illogical achievement requirements for schools that desperately need government funding—there are so many things that need to be done that are in the hands of the government. When I think of my own public school experience, I feel guilty. I also wonder how I would have turned out had I not been handed so many opportunities just because of where I grew up. Having had this experience, I really feel more motivated than ever to seek out  solutions to some of these problems, regardless of our government’s inability to solve such critical shortcomings.

Madeline - TFA - Blog 4

Our last day at Manley has come to an end. I’d be lying if I said that in my four days there I altered the course of any students’ lives. I feel like today was the first day I was even able to really communicate with the students on a very real level. Sure I’ve interacted with many regarding the class material or my experience as a KU student, but today I was able to completely put my guard down—joking with the students and asking them about their own lives and experiences. As I mentioned earlier in the week, I realized that I’d been distancing myself from the students, failing to recognize any common ground we shared as young people. So, from a personal standpoint, I feel better. It’s nice to know that I’m capable of adapting to such a foreign situation. As far as the students are concerned, however, I am beyond frustrated. Not frustrated at them, but for them. How is it okay for our society to fail them in this way? How is it okay for a junior in high school to not understand how to add negative numbers? How is it okay for a student to skip almost half of their classes without any repercussions? I’m beginning to question whether or not poverty is the central issue at play regarding educational inequality. It seems to me that the government could make so many changes that could help these students achieve success in school. Attracting better quality teachers, providing necessary resources to classrooms, enforcing more strict attendance policies, getting rid of ridiculous and illogical achievement requirements for schools that desperately need government funding—there are so many things that need to be done that are in the hands of the government. When I think of my own public school experience, I feel guilty. I also wonder how I would have turned out had I not been handed so many opportunities just because of where I grew up. Having had this experience, I really feel more motivated than ever to seek out  solutions to some of these problems, regardless of our government’s inability to solve such critical shortcomings.

Abby - Epworth - Blog 5

Fridays in the classroom consist of a period of hard work in the morning and fun in the afternoon, providing an incentive for good behavior all week. We had a lecture in the morning about several different life lessons. We discussed Langston Hughes’ poems about dreams, Everything I needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten and many other inspirational pieces. Everyone was open to sharing his or her dreams and passions that were becoming possible due to the services at Epworth. It was amazing knowing that these students could-and wanted to-catch up to their peers academically, socially and behaviorally. After an intense morning, we watched Gridiron Gang and said my goodbyes. One member of the class was also moving to a less restricted dorm, so we were able to celebrate her achievements for a positive end to the week. This week definitely went by quickly, and I wish I could spend one more week with my wonderful classroom. I definitely felt that one week was not enough to make the difference that I wanted to make, but I formed some great relationships with the individuals in my class as well as my fellow alternative breaks members. After leaving I felt guilty knowing how beneficial it was to have another person to assist in the classroom, but I know that the students are under fantastic guidance. That afternoon we hung out at open rec time, where students in Epworth Dormitories can play sports and socialize. It was a fun and relaxed ending to our time at Epworth.  I learned many lessons this week about how to become a more resilient and adapting individual. I learned how to teach on an individual basis and how to make someone feel empowered as opposed to dumb when they are far behind their peers. I learned how to be a mentor and a friend at the same time. I was able to prove many of my assumptions about my students wrong and experienced a different culture and many levels of privilege. There is no way to express the value this week had to me, and I will miss my wonderful students at Epworth.

Abby - Epworth - Blog 4

I was hoping for a better day today and luckily it happened. When I arrived, the students were working independently and there were no major disruptions during the morning because each adult was responsible for only one or two students. After workbook time I led art therapy, which consisted of designing an illustrated book to be shared with the other students about each other’s likes, fears and goals. I hoped this would build upon the idea of different perspectives from yesterday. When planning out the activity I had to make several modifications to accommodate students who could barely read and write. Even before I arrived at Epworth I understood my privilege of having a positive, stable and encouraging home, but I never thought in modern America I would say I have the privilege of knowing basic reading and handwriting. By this point in the week, any stereotypes I had heard about inner city kids were gone. I spent my week working with amazing kids who were in gangs, foster homes and mental facilities and had behavioral issues develop due to their situation. But when they moved to Epworth’s intensive care dormitory they made amazing improvements because they could worry about more than their safety. That evening we visited YES, the youth emergency homeless shelter, which was the highlight of the break so far. I really enjoyed being around the other members of this Alternative Break while interacting with the guests at the shelter. I heard some inspirational stories about guests trying to complete a college degree while struggling with homelessness. The guests were positive and friendly despite their circumstance. This was a definite reminder of my own privileges, such as how getting a college degree is an expectation, not just a dream.  After such a great day, I really wish we had been able to visit more of the services that Epworth manages, but I’m glad we spent a majority of our time at the schools because I’ve had an incredible experience. The more I learn about Epworth, the more I support their model of many different services under an umbrella mission, because its made it a lot simpler for their clients to receive what they need and transition to independent living.

Abby - Epworth - Blog 3

Today was a rough day for my classroom. Since there are a few new students, the group dynamics have yet to be figured out and there were several arguments and disruptions today. We reviewed the class rules as a group and worked with the new students to figure out what grade level they were at in reading and math. One student taught me how to rap and we wrote lyrics about school subjects and appropriate behavior in the classroom, which really made my day. This was just one element of the cultures I experience at Epworth. Working with students of a very different culture turned out to be a lot easier than I had assumed. I also learned another way to engage the students in their learning and culture during art therapy. The therapist let everyone make inkblot images and interpret the pictures from different angles. She then related this to the perspectives different people hold on the same subject, and how these differences in perspectives often lead to fights. The lesson was phenomenal and had a positive influence on the student’s behavior the rest of the day. I also met a regular volunteer today who had a lot of praise for Epworth’s involvement in the community. He had been at Epworth over a year and was very positive about his experience despite the struggles he had trying to win over the student’s trust. The many events of the day left me exhausted, and I felt a lot of respect towards the teachers who had the energy to run the classroom. After school, our group spent several hours talking about the lessons we have learned so far this break. What seemed to stick out was that even though the students had severe behavior outburst, fights and mishaps they were always able to walk away from a situation and later return without holding a grudge, which we couldn’t say about ourselves. It was also clear that many students had behavioral problems, mostly ADHD and Autism that made them vulnerable to the disruptive behaviors that sent them to Epworth, which made it difficult for them to improve without support at their home. Although it was clear Epworth dramatically improved the behavior of the students, it seemed difficult to teach in a classroom where each student was at a different cognitive and academic level of ability. Despite the flaws of Epworth, we were very satisfied with the work we’d done so far.

Abby - Epworth - Blog 2

With more knowledge about what to expect today I had more confidence in the classroom and interacted much more with the student’s work. I especially connected with one girl who was a few years younger than me with a bold personality and dreams of becoming a lawyer. We spent a few hours going through workbooks about geography and zoology and I could tell she really appreciated someone teaching and talking to her since she was the youngest in the class and often left out. The other students were settling back into their school routine so I had more opportunities to tutor them, which was when I began to realize how far behind everyone was in their academic career; it seemed that everyone was on a third grade level. The older students were interested in joining the job corps, which is a program for adults to obtain a GED and employment experience, or the military, but will likely return to public high school in a few months. After tutoring, I spent some time grading papers and learning about the class rules, which seemed to be behaviorally, rather than academically, based. As a person who likes to keep busy, the relaxed pace of the class upset me initially but I discussed the subject with the teacher and learned how this was beneficial for students. Since most are behind and struggle with learning, the independent work creates less stress, which prevents arguments and other disruptive behaviors. I also learned many students don’t attend school for months or years before coming to a residential program at Epworth, so this classroom is meant to transition the students for a few months before they move to a less restricted dorm and attend a public or alternative high school. Today I experienced the goals of attending this class at Epworth and I learned that my role should be to encourage appropriate behaviors and set an example for these students about how to transition to a public school. I took time to consider Epworth with other nonprofits I have volunteered with in the past, and they stand out to me because of their organization of several services under one mission. I have always thought of nonprofits to be important because they serve the function of bridging needs to resources, and Epworth definitely fits that definition.

Abby - Epworth - Blog 1

At our first day at Epworth Child and Family services, we were all nervous and excited for the week to begin. We had assumed that we would be grading paperwork and doing small tasks at the various education programs that Epworth had, but at our orientation we learned that each member of our group would be assigned a classroom and given the responsibilities of a Teacher’s Assistant. I enjoy being around children, but have never taught, so I was nervous. But I was also optimistic because I knew I would be working hands-on with at-risk children, meaning I would have more opportunities to make a direct impact on someone’s life. My classroom assignment was at a secure residential building for teenagers who were transitioning from a variety of situations and are at risk of running away or hurting themselves or others. These youth attend school in the basement of their dormitory, independently reading and doing worksheets on subjects that interested them and learning social skills through interactions with volunteers and teachers. When I met my class they were in P.E. and playing basketball. As soon as I joined in, I felt like the new kid at school, trying to win over my peers. My goal was to be a role model and tutor but I kept my expectations low because I was the same age as many of the people I was there for.  Fortunately, they were accepting of me in the gym, but I soon learned that they were reluctant to ask for help in the classroom. Since today was their first day back from Winter Break, the students were a little restless and the class structure was very relaxed. I was shocked at how different this classroom was from my high school experience. Every student had an assigned spot, and genders were separated from each other. Since every student was at a different level academically, they worked independently for a few hours and then convened to play games such as puzzles, cards and scrabble that built on academic skills without pushing the limits of these students. I spent most of the day with a girl who was also experiencing her first day at the school, and we adjusted to this new setting by playing cards and making small talk. As I learned more of her story, I was surprised to know how easy she was to get along with, even though her life had taken a radically different path. I learned many students are ex gang members and have been to juvenile detention, yet they looked like normal high school students to me. The first day left me with a promising first impression. I realized many of these students have been left behind academically and socially and that they could use as much one on one time as possible, so I already felt confident about what I could accomplish. But I could tell that academics weren’t as of high value to these students as they are to me, which is going to be a large obstacle for me this week. When I discussed my day with the other members of the group we were all shocked at how different the curriculum and structure of the school day was in comparison to our experiences at school, and we were all pleasantly surprised with how sweet these kids were besides their behavioral outbursts. I was glad to hear that everyone felt like they were in the right place and enjoying their assignments.

James - Epworth - Blog 5

Today was my last day at Epworth.  The students were better behaved because of “Fun Friday.”  Those who were better behaved got to spend Friday afternoons watching movies, eating snacks, or playing games.  The morning lessons continued on as usual but the staff knew it was our last day of volunteering and wanted to make it special.  During p.e., Coach had us play dodge ball again.  To put his twist on the final day he brought in as many people as possible.  The students loved this and took every advantage to hit me as hard as I could.  After class coach said, “It’s funny how these students take every possibility to pummel each other in class.  But when we play a competitive game like dodge ball they are the best of friends and no fights break out.”  It sounds weird to say but it is true.  Multiple times I saw arguments and a few close calls during regular class but never when we were in p.e.  It seems as though a little guidance and a way to release their energy is a great deterrent from fighting.  Now I saw why the physical education building was named Physical Therapy.  During Fun Friday, the students were entertained with a movie which allowed me to talk with Pete and Ms. Johnson during the afternoon.  As a goodbye gift Pete and I drove into the city to pick up some food that he had been telling me to try before I left St. Louis.  It was a special moment for me because it showed that I had bonded with the teacher and the teaching assistant.  During this time we continued our talk on the students and I learned even more about their situations and how they had evolved in their time at Epworth.  At the end of the day the buses came and it was a moment I hadn’t been looking towards since the first day.  Some students left without while others made sure to come up to me and personally say goodbye.  The troublemaker of the class was sad that I was leaving and said that he wanted me to stay for a month.  It was an emotional goodbye and reaffirmed the thought that I knew all along: This was one of the best weeks of my life and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

James - Epworth - Blog 4

Today at the experience at Epworth felt normal for me.  The day went fast but it almost felt like a job or something that I had been doing for a while.  The outbursts, arguments, and their overall behavior didn’t surprise me anymore.  When I came to this realization early in the day I was a little surprised at how normal things had become so quickly.  I spent most of my day doing on-on-one help with the students in the class.  I had learned the differences in each student and my explanations reflected this.  All of the students were on a different level in one subject or another and it was much easier to teach the students once I figured this out.

After school we went to St. Louis for the first time.  Everyone native to the city told us to visit the Loop.  The Loop was located a few blocks from our evening volunteer location so we finally left the church for the night.  The location was very similar to Mass. Street however it held lots of information about famous residents of St. Louis that kept our attention for a while.  While the trip had been a great time so far it was nice to get out of the normal routine that we had already established.

Following the loop we went to our Thursday night volunteer opportunity at the YES house.  The house is a part of Epworth that lets teens who are homeless have a place to stay.  We played board games with some of the residents who were receptive to the idea.  Everyone seemed to have a good time but some of the conversations I overheard quickly made this the most depressing part of the trip.  There was one resident who refused to take part in any of the activities so I tried to figure out why.  I overheard his friends talking with him and I found out that he wanted to leave the YES house.  The problem was he had nowhere else to go except the streets.  It had been snowing off and on today and was miserably cold.  His friends tried to talk him out of it and tried to remind him of how horrible it had been living on the streets.  He rejected any input from his friends and said that he was leaving tonight.  He was still there when we left and I haven’t stopped thinking about this incident.  Like those at Epworth he is too young to have to be worrying about issues such as this, it’s heartbreaking.

James - Epworth - Blog 3

I wanted to use today’s blog post to talk about the six other people that I went to Epworth with.  At the beginning of each day we were split up effectively leaving us to our own devices until we met up at the administration building to leave.  During the ride home we would talk about our day; the good, the bad, the humorous, and the depressing.  It was our way to debrief after the sometime long days of being alone.  We became a support group.  During my times in the class the students would share some of their stories with me that usually left me feeling depressed.  I knew that the others in the Epworth group would listen to what I had to say and cheer me up if I needed it.  

After class on Wednesday everyone seemed exhausted.  Each day we tried to plan out our evenings by visiting some place in town or other events, but usually those plans would go out the window when half the group would be sleeping after school.  Wednesday was no different and we went back to the church and relaxed.  During this time it was normal for us to talk about a wide variety of subjects but today was different, we didn’t stop talking.  Everyone in the group talked for hours.  The conversations became deep and personal.  We discussed our lives, goals, and everything else that you normally only share with a good friend.  With each passing day we became better friends but this event which we named “The Breakfast Club” solidified this notion.  I felt a deep connection with the other people in the group.  When we got in the van on Sunday I barely knew the people who I would be spending the next week with.  By this point on Wednesday it felt like we had known each other for much longer.  The classes during last semester allowed us to get to know each other but it was nothing compared to the actual trip itself.

James - Epworth - Blog 2

Today was an emotionally taxing day.  I left the school feeling drained this afternoon.  During the day Pete had shared some of the reasons why kids end up at Epworth and most of it comes from family problems and it certainly showed in the way they acted.

I came close to a breaking point when a normally bad student asked for help on a worksheet.  While this trivial request makes it hard to imagine a deep emotional response from myself I can assure you it did.  This student normally refused to do any work, threatened kids, and argued constantly.  After worksheets were handed out I felt someone tapping on my shoulder and it was him.  His tough guy attitude was gone and he politely asked if I could help him.  On the surface it seemed like a simple request but in my head I had a mix of thoughts and emotions.  It is difficult to convey in writing how the question was asked.  The tough guy attitude had left paving the way for an air of innocence in his voice.  He was not asking for help so that I would do his homework for him.  He truly wanted help.  My mind raced with questions wondering if this was an experience that was rare at home.  I wondered if anyone had helped him before he came to Epworth.  Against everything that I have been taught at KU I answered the question for myself without any of the facts.  I guessed that no, he had not been receiving any help from an adult figure in his life until he came into the classroom of Pete and Ms. Johnson.  They are wonderful at their job and provide support to these students where others have failed.  It is a sad realization to come too.  I have never had to endure any experience in my life that each and every student in the class had to go through every day.

Throughout the day the students opened up to me and told me their situations.  Most, if not all were down right depressing.  Weeks ago during class we were told that we couldn’t change the world in one week.  I know this to be true but I still found it frustrating that there was little I could do.  Today was an important lesson for me, one that wasn’t easy.

James - Epworth - Blog 1

I was nervous during the volunteer orientation this morning.  I had never worked with children in a school setting and certainly never any kids with bad enough behavioral issues to warrant a special school.  Everyone was assigned to a different classroom so we were going in this alone.  I was assigned to the middle school class where the ages ranged from 12-15.  This is the same age group that my mom teaches and I have heard so many stories that my nerves were shot before I even entered the class.  

I was welcomed to the class by the teacher Pete, and his teaching assistant Ms. Johnson.  My job was to help the teacher in any way possible which was usually one-on-one teaching.  It took all of ten minutes for me to figure out how the class would behave.  Outbursts, curse words, and threats were a part of the daily lectures in teaching these extremely hyper kids.  I did my best to talk to each kid in the classroom as I was trying to figure out the best way to help them.  I was successful with some and couldn’t motivate others to do their work.  

During orientation we were told that some of the kids might latch on to you.  I figured it was possible to happen but I did not realize how quickly it could happen.  Throughout the day I realized that the same four students were always asking me to sit at their table and help them with their assignments.  At first I thought it was so I would help them and make their work go by faster so they could do other things.  But the way they listened to my instructions and tried to do their best showed me I was wrong.  

I left exhausted, not physically but mentally.  I’ve always had a decent amount of respect for teachers since a lot of my family members are in that profession.  Today’s experience at Epworth showed a glimpse of what they have to go through every day.

Nicole - Habitat for Humanity - Blog 3

The way our trip was structured was that we would go to the first site for our first two days, and then the next site for the following few days. I would say that the second day was more routine. Even though I was instructed to do a different job, I felt more comfortable in what I was doing and wasn’t afraid to ask for help. By the end of the day, I felt that I had a deeper relationship with the builders than I did initially. You’d be surprised at how fast you build a relationship with someone when you’re in such close quarters. And the same goes for my group members. We all acknowledged at the beginning of the trip that we couldn’t come from more different backgrounds if we tried. It was very meaningful that we all cared about and respected each other enough to put aside our differences, and bond on a level that we didn’t know we could. I’m very happy at the new friendships that I’ve built, but I digress. It was all in a day’s work, and I really do think that one day can make a difference. It was like we were on joking terms already, and I feel like we could not have met nicer “teachers” and or site leaders. The builders and contractors were laid back and easy on us, but they also recognized that we were there for a purpose. I think there was a great balance, and I was proud of my work once again.