Defense of the Hippie

As much as Lady Gaga can grate on my nervous, she certainly had something right - "Born This Way." Everyone is born a little different, or as we are told growing up, "you are special and no one is like you."

As I have adventured through life, I am fairly certain people assumed I am crazy or at the very least weird. I know I went through the awkward teenage years, especially when I tried to mix the comfy, hippie look with the classic clothes in my closet. For the most part, I hit the normal phases in life - moving to college, getting my first car, first job, etc.

But recently, I have been hitting some phases a little early or late, depending on how you want to look at it. I'm dealing with the second peak of my bizarre phobias, as I am dealing with the stress of a new job, while in the wake of completing a half marathon. And all this got me thinking.

Growing up is stressful; but what I've discovered is that it is much more stressful when one tries to conform to society and what other people want for them. I am a pretty happy person who loves life, but I love it even more when people don't tell me what to do, how to live my life or try to fix me.

This week, I was told I would be shunned by society if I kept my phobias up. Sorry, let me go dig around in my brain for the "phobia switch." If only I could get in the back corner.

Society has such a cookie cutter idea of what each person should be like. All blondes should be ditzy and stupid. If I wear glasses people will think I am smarter, but if I wear them all the time then I will be thought of as a nerd. The list goes on and on; but all the cookie cutter idea accomplishes is depriving creativity.

In fact creativity is thought of as weird, that is unless you make money being creative. What kind of society is that? You can only be creative if you dress certain way, think that way and act within the guidelines.

I encourage the promotion of self. I am the last one to promote self esteem; but I am certainly someone who can encourage searching for yourself. If you want to continue following the cookie cutter way, feel free to do so; but don't harp on those who express themselves differently. Who are you to judge?

As long as the job gets done on time, as long as the "weirdos" are still healthy and functioning - who cares are we get there. I know I don't.

Occupy: [Any space In Reality]

Crosses at the gates of Ft. Benning. 

Memorializing those who have 

passed at the hands of SOA graduates.

The passed two years I have adventured to the beautiful state of Georgia to voice my opinion and to let people know, that I will stand against the existence of the School of the Americas. In the last several months, other people among my generation have stood up and said, “We won’t support... We won’t stand for...”

The freedom of speech growth has quite frankly scared some of us off. Last year’s close encounter with the Columbus (Georgia) police for what most perceived as crossing the street will forever be ingrained in my head. Believing in human rights enough to know not to stand still and run a risk of arrest.

As this year’s Fort Benning protest grew closer and closer, a friend of mine and I decided not to adventure to the annual School of the Americas (SOA) protest. The SOA is a program that is run by the U.S. government and military which has been directly linked to the death of hundreds of individuals in Latin America, including Archbishop Oscar Romero, the 6 Jesuit martyrs in El Salvador and countless other men, women and children.

A part of me is sad, that I too have been silenced. With my to-do list overwhelming me, I find myself not reaching out to local churches to get the word out, to get the prayers flowing or to get the knowledge out about the SOA.

But why have I been silenced? Why is my friend who has attended the last three years, choosing this year to stay home and pray silently? The fear of federal lock-up for minimum six months? The fear of learning what the inside of the Columbus, Georgia jail really looks like? The fear of being confused as a threatening protester?

With the Occupy protests going on, many peaceful protesters are finding themselves in a place they never thought they would be - in the hands of a police officer forced along with zip ties around their wrists.

Protesters at the gates of Fort Benning, November 2010.

We had finally become a people comfortable saying “enough is enough.” We finally found the spirit that founded America, that brings countless individuals to these United States each year and this is how we are greeted - with arrests?

In no way did I expect open arms, listening ears and love; but I did expect to know what is truthful and honest. Most arrests are made because officers truly believe they are protecting the masses by arresting this individual; however I am saddened by the reality that fear is suppressing the people.

However, what does not help is that many organizations are jumping on the Occupy bandwagon and renaming their annual protest Occupy: [space where protest is held]. There are many issues with this marketing technique. Foremost, if a protest is linked in any way to the Occupy movement, the police force to protect and counter the protest will double if not triple. The environment around the protest will be completely different, resulting in more hostility than usual.

Secondly, Occupy Protests are asking for a change in the financial situation for Americans, in financial policies and in the way our government is involved in our daily lives. If a protest not focusing on these areas of American life, puts Occupy as part of their annual activities, they are participating in false advertising.

Most importantly, when organizations use the Occupy slogan as part of their protest they loose the real meaning in why they are fighting for change, where they want to see the changes and how they see a different future.

As this weekend continues, please pray for those who feel called to be the voice for the voiceless, who feel trapped by our developing nation and by those effected in the past, present and future by the graduates of the School of Americas.

For more information on the School of the Americas please check out, www.soawatch.org.

 

United Under Facebook

This past month, Facebook introduced its users to its whole new look - new friend lists, larger pictures on the News Feed page and the beginning of the Timeline concept.

As the new formatting began creeping into our lives, so did the upset Facebook patrons, wondering where to readjust their privacy settings, what "subscribing" means and stating their opinions on the larger pictures.

As we have all learned with any time of uproar or protest, get a few unhappy people started and few more will follow. But with outlets like Facebook a few hundred more will following. The complaints, confusion and frustrations piled onto my news feed like a line of Starbucks patrons from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. waiting for their coffee and not afraid to voice their opinion.

What I found most interesting among Facebook users is the unity to stand up and give their opinion, out in the open for all to read. I wonder if half of the vocal Facebook patrons are half as willing to share their opinions on politics, war and other controversial issues. And if so; is Facebook the match that starts the fire? Does take it Facebook and layout changes to unite our generation to voice its opinion. I certainly hope not.

Following the Facebook layout changes, several issues came to national limelight - which were completely unrelated to the change in the most popular social network. Would Americans had been as vocal about these issues if Facebook had not changed days before? Were we united with a previous national event - the changes in Facebook; really? I certainly hope not.

So what I am really asking is if our generation can only be united through Facebook; and if so, is it flame for change caused by some Facebook activity that leads to the Facebook users to make a stand against other issues in our society.

Do we only unite together because of a website like Facebook; is it that influencing? If so, Facebook should have a new change each week, so we begin our weeks with a Facebook rant and then begin to tell people how we feel about current, political and social issues, such as education, taxes and the economy.

We should be a generation who care about more than where our pictures are, where our friends can be "found" or what music someone is listening to; but instead work to change the issues we really care about - we all have something to be passionate about. So go find your passions and enjoy changing your life.

I'm not a runner

As I reflected over my last blog post, I was constantly reminded of something in the later added image. The image of an individual holding up a poster where the last line reads, "Live your dream and share your passion." What really resonated with me was "share your passion." So here it goes, I want to share with you my love of running.

I have never considered myself a runner. My high school physical education teacher spent several months asking me to consider joining the track team, I said "I'll think about" every time. I could tell he thought I had potential and I just did not have it in me to tell him "no."

Flash forward about four years later to my junior year of college, when I started interval running. I quickly learned it was the best way to figure out what was going on in my life. Running became my way of thinking, running outdoors gave me the room to think.

I've always considered myself a thinker. I over analyze everything, from what clothes I wear to how I send a text message. It's ridiculous, but running gives me the room to think and somehow the room to realize there is much more to life than thinking.

After years of not having new year's resolutions, I woke up at the beginning of January one morning and announced that I would like to run a half marathon this year. Well September has rolled around, it is still 90 degrees outside and I find the end of the year fast approaching without a half marathon completed.

But fear not, I have paid my registration fee for one in December and I'm still running. So how I am still running, loving it more than I have in a long time and ready for so much more?

So much of my training is figuring out where my limits are, how to expand them and to use the resources I have closest to me. I contacted a friend of mine who runs marathons to see how he trains, he directed me towards a website and from there I found the training program that fits me best. Texas summers came and I switched to treadmills and began training as if I was running a full marathon, in order to make for the difference between treadmill and outdoor running.

September 13 rolled around - my ultimatum date, start running outside no matter what. I got up about an hour earlier, ate my breakfast, tied my shoes and went out to pound some pavement for 3 miles. Okay, the pounding was not for all three miles, it was more of half a mile I pounded and the rest I sped  walked. Finishing right at my goal time, it appeared as though running on the treadmill had not hurt me as much as I thought it might.

Today, marks the beginning of my second week outside, there was a bit of rain as I began running, but before long, the sun was out and the trail of full of runners, bikers and strollers. Four miles down today and I'm ready for some more.

But there is more to running than just running. I am beginning to learn the value of cross training and stretching. I have always had trouble with the whole stretching routine, but seems to be getting better. During my Jesuit Volunteer year, I began practicing yoga about once a week and have a carried my practice back to Dallas. Beginning my Saturdays with yoga, is a wonderful way to have a relaxing weekend, but also to stretch in preparation for my long run.  

Yoga also helps me to learn to focus on my breathing and just how much pressure my body can handle. So much of one's yoga practice is listening to what your body needs to feel better, to challenge itself and to enjoy life. This is accomplished through deep breathing and by paying attention to your muscles and joints. I take this philosophy to my running and it makes for a much more enjoyable expierence.

Following my yoga class, I bike, either stationary or on the Katy Trail for about half an hour. So much of working towards any athletic goal is working all the muscles in your body so they are there to support the muscles that experience the brunt of the force.

I find because running provides me with thinking time, I prefer to run by myself - at least for now. However I make certain to remind myself, that without the presence of others I would not be able to do run nearly as well as I am. This lesson is a wonderful way to start out each day, remembering that even though we are each our own individual people it is within groups that we make the most change.

Badger Call for Change

There is a part of growing up that is sad; the part where you realize what you remember as once was, is no longer that way. As an alum, who will openly admit my fond memories of Spring Hill are probably sugar coated, I love Spring Hill with my whole heart and hold it dear to me. The memories that flood my mind are of wonderful people, who stood tall with pride, with hope and with respect for their friends, for themselves and for their fellow Badgers.

But where my respect is lost is when I walked down my dorm hallway to find chairs thrown everywhere, fire extinguishers extinguished and holes in walls. I know this is not some badger right of passage and therefore not all students are taking part in the fun. I am not asking for hall monitors to bring back flashbacks of Middle School or episodes of Even Stevens (for those of us whose schools was too small for hall monitors); but what flame I am trying to ignite is one of change.

I could go on for hours with Gandhi’s, “Be the change you want to see in the world,” or Martin Luther King quotes about how change must begin within before you can demand it from others; but that would be boring and less than helpful. What I am most tempted to do, is go into a “back when I was badger” story; but maybe that will help explain my frustrations.

I used to leave my door to my dorm wide open, not a problem in the world. I would walk around campus at 3 a.m. due to insomnia and be fine, no fear of attacks by visitors or by students. Honestly, it was some what normal to see sober students walking around at 3 a.m. enjoying all that is Spring Hill. There was a mentality that nothing could happen to you on campus and sleeping through the night was not abnormal because the music would stop playing, the fire alarm did not sound and students respected each other. But it appears as though that maybe changing.

I picked Spring Hill as my home of four years for many reasons; but I graduated loving it for many more reasons. I graduated from a small high school and loved knowing who my teachers were, I desperately wanted that same feel in college. Stumbling upon Spring Hill, I knew I found home after a weekend visit to the Hill. I love that feel, I knew everyone and everyone at least pretended to know me.

But Spring Hill is also a funny place because as a student, it is hard to fully appreciate it until the status of Alum is gained. During a student’s time at Spring Hill, their heart is usually torn in two, half loving the Hill and the other half frustrated by parking tickets, homework piles and mass e-mails; but there is a turning point. For some it is the moment of the looming real world, the walk down the Avenue of Oaks or the visit months after graduation when you begin to truly love Spring Hill.

The respect you once had for your fellow classmates and badgers finds its place again, you realize Spring Hill will always have a special place in your heart, you realize what it means to be Jesuit educated, to live with Service for Others and to fight for what is right.

I did a year in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) and so much of that year was focused on respect, service, social justice and belief; so I hope the ways I have grown and matured are not just because of JVC, but also because of Spring Hill.

I hope it does not take an other drastic event on campus to make Spring Hill students aware that  change can be created. Certainly there are times when it feels like no one is on your side, shoot I’ve been there; but I survived and I made change for the people behind me. There is something to Gahdi’s quote and to my new rule in life - Don’t complain if you aren’t willing to consider the other options or changes.

When St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order bid his Jesuits farewell before they left on their mission work, he told them, “Go, set the world on fire and in flame.” I tell you this, so you know there comes a time when change is necessary, that time maybe now and that change has to come from within yourself, it must be within reason and it must begin and take off.

Life is terribly complicated, but only because we insist on making it that way, so let’s simplify it - Do what you love and change what you do not. So if you are no longer happy with how things are at Spring Hill - stand up and do something about it. Don’t blame the administration; but instead recognize their jobs; make changes when you see something you do not think is right, whether that is messy common areas, a drink spilt in the hallway or something bigger. This is your campus and your life.

How bad is the summer drought?

This passed Fourth of July, Central Texans had to come to the harsh reality that Fireworks were not going to a part of this year's festivities. As the summer progressed, IH 35 started being covered in signs reminding drivers and residents to conserve on water. Rumor has it, this harsh reality is no where near ending.

To put things a little more in perspective, Hill Country Conservatory (HCC), based in Austin, Texas sent out a few interesting statistics on just how bad the drought has gotten. In a very creative way, HCC linked the statistics to donation suggestions - I give them props for this. Here is what HCC says:

We are asking for donations based on some of the recent records we have been breaking - every little bit counts!

$11 - Total amount of rain (in inches) in Central Texas since October 2010 (20 inches below average)

$27 - Number of Consecutive Days above 100 in July and August 2011

$63 - Total Number of Days in 2011 with Temperatures in excess of 100 degrees

$79 - Predicted Low Temperature on Tuesday (8/16)

$105 - Predicted High Temperature for Tuesday (8/16)

If you are interested in donating, click here. 

Placement Spotlight: Catholic Charities of Central Texas

Using the foundations of Catholic Social Teaching - love, service, advocacy, integrity and stewardship, Catholic Charities of Central Texas (CCCTX) works to help individuals and families through out Central Texas.

Serving a total of 25 counties stretching through Central Texas, CCCTX has three offices - one administrative in Austin and two satellite offices in Bryan and Waco. CCCTX has a variety of different services including the Gabriel Project Life Center, Immigration Legal Services, Marywood Children & Family Services and Access for Central Texas.

Gabriel Project Life Center allows pregnant women and children up to age one to receive assistance by helping mothers through every step of their pregnancy and through the beginning phases of their child's life. The mothers are able to attend classes, receive baby products and gain a since of community full of support.

Immigration Legal Services opens it doors to clients the first three Tuesdays of each month for clients trying to gain legal residency in the United States. Immigration Legal Services only takes family related cases, U-visas or V-visas. U-visas are for victims of a violent crime and U-visas are for spouses or children of Legal Permanent Residents (LPR).

Marywood Children & Families helps anyone interested in adoption or any pregnant mother who is wanting to give up her child for adoption.

Access for Central Texas (ACT) helps Austinites apply for state benefits such a Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF), Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid. This program frequently meets families at their need and outreach specialists travel to local schools, community centers and office. 

Joel & I at the beginning of our
JV year. 

While at CCCTX, this year's (2010 - 2011) Jesuit Volunteers (JVs) assisted in the coordination of the Angels of Hope Food Pantry. Designated for individuals and families from the 78702 and 78741 zip codes, this client-choice based food pantry served every Friday, excluding national or Catholic holidays. Several years ago, the pantry client attendance grew so much that CCCTX started offering Senior Days to clients on fixed income or above certain age. 

Additionally, the two JVs worked in the case management department. Towards August 2010, CCCTX offered clients the choice to go through their case management program. Both JVs had case management clients through this program, but the majority contact CCCTX because of extraordinary circumstances - such as disaster relief or an eviction notice.

Lauren and Robert, food

pantry volunteers. 

September 4 brought Tropical Storm Hermine, which brought flooding to Bell, Travis and Williamson counties. In response to the diaster, CCCTX worked with the Long Term Recovery Committee of the Williamson County VOAD to help families in need. Additionally, CCCTX set aside funding to assist individuals and families in Bell County. Many of the families effected by the storm, became case management clients through CCCTX and even more were able to benefit from the financial assistance that CCCTX was able to provide.

The third type of case management came through funding from the county. Best Single Source, an Austin collaboration of non-profits got together to aid individuals and families throughout Travis county, who through unplanned emergencies have found themselves short funds to pay bills; but with a little assistance and some case management could be back on their feet again.  A very similar program, which CCCTX was able to assist families and individuals through was Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing (HPRP). This program allowed CCCTX to help people with eviction notices or notification of discontinued utilities.

JVC: Austin (Texas) takes on South Dakota

Towards the beginning of our year as Jesuit Volunteers, Casa Dorothy Day (also known as the JVC: Austin community) came up with a plan to visit to another Jesuit Volunteer community in St Francis, South Dakota. The following are stories of our adventures and how we grew to truly appreciate living in Austin, Texas.

Friday, June 18

We left Austin around 6 p.m. and made our way to Dallas. Fortunately for us, Monroe is also from Dallas. So between the two homes we were able to stay in Dallas on Friday.

Saturday, June 19

4:45 a.m. - Wake-up alarms sound. I asked my community members to text me when all four of them were awake; I found this to be especially helpful in preventing my waiting in the lobby of my mother's residence.

5:45 a.m. - We hit the open road heading North on IH-35 towards Oklahoma.

The rest of the day was filled with beautiful views of Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and the excitement of finally reaching our destination. We stopped every once and a while for gas and even found a locally owned sub shop to pick-up lunch from somewhere in Kansas. But for the most part, our trip was filled with seeing the Midwest of the United States.

8:45 p.m. - We arrive to Saint Francis, South Dakota. Just over the South Dakota / Nebraska state line; St. Francis, South Dakota is part of the Lakota Reservation. Arriving in time for a home cooked meal and a beautiful sunset, we took the rest of the evening to catch up with our fellow Jesuit Volunteers and just relax after an 18 hour road trip.

Sunday, June 20

We began our day by attending the local church, found only one block from the JV house. Painted a bright shade of lavender the Jesuit church provides a wonderful since of community and source of spirituality for members of it's congregation. The attendance is small enough at this church, the priest felt the need to explain the presence of five new attendees. Following the service, we were welcomed to attend the celebration of a local deacon, who was celebrating 35 years of service.

The mid-afternoon brought our real adventures. Eight of us pilled into a St. Francis Mission van and headed off to Mt. Rushmore National Park. Driving through towns such as Wall, South Dakota we weaved our way through the state to see George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. While there we saw a video about the carving of the sculptures and the Black Hills. We also completed the hiking trail. This trail allowed us to see a different perspective of the presidents.

On the way back from Mount Rushmore, we stopped in Rapid City at Firehouse Brewery Co. for dinner and live music. During our drive back to St. Francis we saw the most beautiful lightening and thunderstorm. The lightening strikes the lit up the sky so you could see the land all around.

Monday, June 20 

We took this chance to sleep in and enjoy local life. We adventured to the Lakota Museum located a block away from the Jesuit Volunteer community home. We then traveled to Mission, South Dakota to a local art gallery and to the grocery store. Realizing that the store did not have everything we needed, we continued our shopping Valentine, Nebraska. Following our trip to Valentine, we went to the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge and were able to see buffalo within 20 feet of our car. At the end of the day, we came home and Casa Dorothy Day cooked enchiladas and just spent quality time together for the rest of the evening.

Tuesday, June 21
First Day of Summer

Two of the South Dakota Jesuit Volunteers (JVs) joined us as we adventured to the Badlands National Park. Because it was the first day of summer, we did not have to pay an entrance fee - which we double appreciated as JVs.

Once inside the park, we stopped by the Vistors Center and then drove to a parking lot that would allow us to divide into two different groups. Pamela, Maggie (a SD JV) and Rachel went the more adventurous route, while Monroe, Joel, Neil (a SD JV) and I adventured more towards the sauntering route.

Once back on the Reservation, we swung by the local radio station, where on the current JVs works. The KINI station serves as the main means of communication on the Lakota Reservation.

Wednesday, June 22 

5:30 a.m. - We left St. Francis, S.D. and headed back to Austin, Texas.
By 7:00 a.m. - Navigator, at the moment played by myself to Pamela's driver, had us going on an alternate route. The plus side, we didn't loose any time and we got to see an entirely differently parts of Nebraska and Kansas.
10:15 p.m. - Pulled over for going 5 miles over the speed limit. When the cop learned of where we began our trip that day, we allowed us to go with a
non-financial warning and he reminded us to be safe.
11:00 p.m. - Home Sweet Home, Back in hot Austin, Texas.

Lessons Learned:
-Just how awesome Mount Rushmore is and that it took to build it
- A bit about the Lakota Reservation
-How far apart everything is in South Dakota and really everywhere in the Mid-West
-How beautiful the United States is
-But most importantly, that we can survive over 50 hours in the car together and that we love each other even more after the trip.

Placement Spotlight: Casa Marinella

An emergency shelter for immigrants and people seeking asylum, the houses that make up Casa Marianella provide a home, a community and a hope for its residents. Its sister organization, Posada Esperanza is shelter for immigrant women and children. In many cases residents of both shelters have no where else to turn, they have no income and are struggling to make ends meet. 

Opening in January 1986, Casa Marinella was named after human rights lawyer Marinella Garcia Villas, who was murdered in El Salvador by death squads. Housing up to 30 residents per night, Casa works to help residents to form roots with the United States. Providing daily English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, case management and community meals. 

Casa also serves as a community center for current residents, past residents and community members in need of information. They assist with: 

• accepting and distributing donations of clothing and household goods
• acting as a liaison between employers and workers from Casa (to announce jobs, help with wage claims, etc.)
• helping political refugees seek asylum
• referring those in need to appropriate organizations in and around Austin (according to Casa Marinella Web site) 

Additionally, Posada Esperanza, is an emergency shelter for immigrant women and children located in East Austin, Posada helps moms and their children to get back onto their feet and receive the necessary care for themselves and their families. Providing a safe environment for its residents, Posada also provides education tutoring, resource assistance and guidance for its residents and families. Many of the families who are part of this community have suffered in ways unimaginable by most and yet Posada provides its residents with hope, care and support which these women in turn give to each other. 

The community displayed in these two emergency shelter programs is unsurpassed by the majority of other emergency shelter programs. An example of this atmosphere can be found in the monthly celebration, appropriately named Convivio which is held each month at Casa. Convivio, which means "with life," is a celebration for all those who are part of the Casa community. A mixture of current and passed residents, current and passed staff members, friends and family of staff or anyone who found themselves with an invitation can find themselves in for a treat. Last month's Convivio featured home cooked specialities, live Hispanic music and documentaries about Casa. 

Some of the documentaries about Casa are through a project out of the University of Texas Film School called East Side Stories. The project asks students to focus on different non-profits, companies or individuals that make East Austin what it is; several stories have been done on Casa. They can be found on the East Austin Stories Web site. 

A Day Without Shoes

When asked to make a list of items taken for granted, most people will list - a roof, a good meal and clothes. But once a year, individuals from across the United States take off their shoes and walk around bare footed for the day. Learning a vary valuable lesson - just what is means to go sans shoes.

UT Longhorns & Austinites

on the step of the UT Tower.

A Day Without Shoes, in a national event which is publicized and some what organized by TOMS. TOMS is a company who has truly adopted the one-for-one business approach. For each pair of TOMS shoes you purchase, a pair is donated to a child who otherwise would not be able to have shoes. Mostly serving third world countries, the company also donates shoes for shirts, sweat shirts and other items purchased. With this ideal in mind, the company started A Day without Shoes. Last year, I adventured around Spring Hill without shoes on my feet, even making it to Carpe Diem Coffee & Tea Company. My feet hurt a little during my adventures around the Hill and even more the next morning. The feeling of shoes wrapping around my feet the following day was unlike any other experience. However, nothing prepared me for this year.

Outside the Capitol.

I woke up early and took the bus into work, adventuring from my house in the chilly Texas air to arrive at the bus stop way to early - for fear that walking barefoot would delay me, so I left plenty of time to walk slowly to the bus. For fear of early morning arguing with the bus driver I placed my shoes on my feet, and got on the bus. I removed my shoes during bus number two and hid them away in my bag - never to be used again that day. My work day was fairly normal with not too many comments wondering where my shoes were. I worried a bit that my clients would find my actions demeaning to them or belittling of those who cannot affording shoes. But I was fortunate in that no one accosted or accused me of such actions. The real challenge came when Pamela and I left work.

Towards the end of March, I had found via the TOMS website an event going on at the University of Texas (UT), where students were walking from the Tower at UT to the Texas State Capitol where non-profits from around Austin and individuals from the ONE campaign would join us to raise awareness about a variety of issues around Austin, the United States and on the greater scale about issues around the planet. I sent an e-mail around our house inviting my housemates on this walk to me. And that’s part of how Pamela became interested. So she called me that day and suggested that we walk from my office to UT.

Pamela and I at Capitol Hill. 

An adventure that would normally be fairly simple was complicated by nothing being between me and the sidewalk, the road or anything laying in my path. I learned pretty quickly, that the quickest way to cross the street is by walking on the white stripe outlining the pedestrian crosswalk. My second lesson is that no matter the temperature, sometimes grass is the best place to walk and finally that the gutter portion of the street is a God send when the only other option is a gravel / concrete combination. The 4.2 miles that Pamela and I adventured quite simply made me so thankful for my feet, but also thankful for the shoes that so frequently encompass them.

A few hours without shoes can help anyone to realize the true importance of a shoe and it sole; but more importantly it can the human soul a world of good. So take off your shoes and challenge yourself to living life barefoot and to its fullest.

For more information, check out the TOMS website, the One Day Without Shoes website or my photoblog.

Placement Spotlight: Saint Louise House

Jesuit Volunteers (JVs) are usually individuals who want to make a difference in their community, to be a voice for those who are voiceless or even those who find themselves passionate about one particular issue in today’s society.

One of the Austin placements is Saint Louise House, an organization that helps women and children overcome the cycle of homelessness. Just recently developing from a transitional housing to a permanent support housing organization, Saint Louise House helps women and children break the cycle of homelessness and begin living again. Owning two apartment complexes in Austin, allows for the Saint Louise community to house over 40 families. For many of these women, they are just trying to turn their lives around and provide the best they can for their children.

Saint Louise House is rare in the extreme care and love the show their families. The organization has offices at both apartment buildings that are staffed full time, allowing their families to have someone to talk with about any problems they may encounter. Additionally, the mothers have available to them “deeply affordable housing, case management, counseling, employment services, life skills training and programs for children,” according to Saint Louise House. When the women first open the door to their own apartment, it comes fully furnished. For many of Saint Louise’s residents they are experiencing having their own home for the first time in quite a while.

The community created by the residents, staff and volunteers of Saint Louise House helps support these women and the changes they are taking on in their lives. The organization also provides classes to the women with childcare for their children. Providing a stable environment for these families is a beginning steps to beginning a new life.

For more information take a quick look at Saint Louise House or check out their Web site.

What We Do

JVC: South Members at Orientation

August 2010 - Pinehurst, Texas

Ever wondered what Jesuit Volunteers (JVs) do around the United States? Serving in over 20 states and over 34 cities, JVs work in a variety of areas from Case Management to working in homeless shelters to being Radio DJs. Speaking of Radio DJs, Mike O’Sullivan, a current Jesuit Volunteer serving is St. Francis, SD puts together a weekly radio show for the St. Francis Mission; where he and his three house mates live and work. 


In the particular episode we are highlighting, Mike took his show to the Jesuit Voluteer Corps: South retreat and asked JVs what they are doing. Listen to Mike’s show to learn a little bit about what we do.


Whether you are interested in joining JVC or if you just want to know where we work. Pop a squat a listen and never be afraid to ask us questions. For those of you pondering JVC for next year, the last round of apps are due March 10; so get to reflecting, writing and pondering what it means to be “ruined for life.”

"I'm No Superman"

“I’m No Superman” came across my Pandora station, the little album cover on the screen is of the Scrubs cast; but taking a moment to hear the lyrics after a specific Community Night at the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC): Austin house, I was reminded that indeed “I’m No Superman.”

I may want to fix all the problems in the world; homelessness, lack of education, hunger and so many more. But I have to remember, that I unfortunately can only lay the footsteps for change. I cannot expect change to happen overnight.

January’s JVC: South retreat was social justice focused. For many, it felt like the rehashing of college lectures, just in the beautiful West Texas area of Leakey, Texas. For others, it reminded us of why we are here, doing a year of service. For even more, it reminded us what we can do to lay the groundwork for change.

At one particular part of the retreat, we, as current Jesuit Volunteers (JVs) were broken up into groups based on our work placements. I was part of the “feeding the hungry” group as a result of of my working in the pantry at Catholic Charities. There were also groups that focused on AIDS, homelessness, teenage pregnancy and many others. During the course of the weekend, we were asked to provide solutions for the issues we represented. Some solutions were as simple as awareness. Others were more complicated like sex education in classrooms. Several individuals who work with AIDS patients found that the general population does not know enough about AIDS and that through knowledge less discrimination would happen.

Following our four days of retreat, we returned to our cities and returned to work with a rejuvenation and excitement for the rest of our JV year. The following Thursday, Joel organized a community night; little did we know, in many ways his activity was a continuation of our retreat.

Social problems web. 

He had each of us grab a sheet of a colored construction paper and write out issues that were important to us. I wrote about education, children’s care and metal health to name a few. Once we had written out these issues, we cut them out and laid them on our kitchen table. Those that were similar or identical we placed next to each other. Once all the issues were on the table, we linked them by orange strips of paper, creating a web. At this particular stage we connected the obvious problems - teenage pregnancy to lack of education, isolation to depression. Lastly, we filled in all the open spaces. It was at this point that we realized, that all of the problems we were focusing on were linked; social justice related, financial or social are all linked in ways that most would not notice.

The unofficial JVC motto is “ruined for life.” Originally, started by a very grumpy young man who felt his time with JVC literally ruined his view of the world, the motto grew to be joke; because once you have dedicated your life to social justice, simplicity and solidarity it’s hard to look forward and to not remember the homeless you have served, the young mother who could not make ends meet or the veteran who is looking at living on the streets. Unfortunately, no one has the power to change the whole, but if we each pick a place where we think change is needed, we then must be confident in knowing that the changes we make will effect the world as we know it now.

The Value of a Roof

We’ve all been there, the terribly long day where you feet hurt and all you want to do is go home, snuggle up and go to bed. Imagine not having a home at the end of a difficult day, but instead you shift into the backseat of your car and curl up and sleep for the night. Your seven-year-old child wakes you up at some point and tells you he’s cold. You curl up and go back to sleep. The last straw to the situation is when you turn on your car to see the low gaslight comes up for the second day in a row.

Unfortunately, homelessness is a major issue within the United States, but what is even more amazing is the variety of people that are homeless. It is not just the addiction stricken individual or people who choose to live on the streets, but so frequently its families who cannot make ends meet and even people who have served our country.

According to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), homelessness is defined by an individual or family who is residing in any of the following situations:

• Place not meant for human habitation (car, storage facility, abandoned building, campsites)
• Emergency shelter, transitional housing program or supportive housing
• House “doubled up” with family or friends
• Hotel or motel

With such a broad definition of homelessness, the issue becomes even more apparent. In the Austin and Travis County area, there are approximately 5,200 homeless individuals on any given night, according to HUD in 2007. Additionally there were over 600 homeless households with children in Austin in 2007; they represented over 40 percent of the overall homeless population. According to the Austin Independent School District, between 3,000 and 5,000 students are homeless.

Unfortunately, the average age of a homeless person in Austin is seven years old, according to Green Doors organization. Think of where you were in the second grade, for most of us our memories of home do not include living out of the family car. 84 percent of families experiencing are female-headed.

As the problem of homelessness is approached, the “why” question becomes particularly frequent. Two major causes of homelessness are poverty and lack of affordable housing, according to St. Louise House, a program that helps women and children to break the cycle of homelessness. In 2007, a single parent with one child needed to earn $17 an hour to make a living wage, resulting in $33, 819 each year, according to Community Action Network.

Next time you see a homeless individual, do not assume you know how they got there or why they are there, but instead throw a thought out there they may find a roof for the night and some food for hope. 

I am the voice for the voiceless...

Lilly, Emily and I at the 

Saturday Street Fair.

Less than three months ago, three of us (Emily, Lilly and I) adventured to Columbus / Ft. Benning, Georgia for the annual School of the Americas Protest and Vigil. The three of us drove into the Ft. Benning area knowing the Protest and Vigil from three different perspectives: for Emily this was her third year; for myself, my second year and for Lilly it was her first.

This year’s events were the first without the Ignation Family Teach-In For Justice happening consecutively. The Teach-In is a weekend of social justice focused events and lectures for the benefit of students at Jesuit colleges and high schools. This year, the Teach-In was in Washington, D.C. to allow students to the opportunity to meet with their Congress people and truly have a chance at voicing their opinions to people in high places. But in some ways, the decrease in numbers at Ft. Benning helped make a larger statement. The few that were able to travel to the events over the weekend were able to hold firm into their belief that the School of the Americas should be shut down and to their reasons as to why the program should no longer exist.

As I dragged myself into work on Monday morning, word worked its way around the office that I had in fact been in Georgia less than 36 hours before hand. “What’s in Georgia;?” was easily the most asked question I had that day. My answer of course was “the Schools of the Americas.” Which led directly into my explanation. School of the Americas, now known as Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, is a program who’s whose international headquarters are at in Ft. Benning, Georgia. Beginning as a program to bring Latin American soldiers and leaders to the United States to learn basic U.S. Military training and military techniques, the program has morphed into a program for people to take the knowledge and instead torture and kill thousands of innocent people at the hands of School Of Americas graduates.

Poster size design of the beeswax cloth.

This past November, hundreds made a stand and asked for the School of the Americas to be closed. Saturday, the entrance to Ft. Benning was lined with non-profit organizations and individuals, each with a case to represent asking you to listen, everything from protecting the Appalachian Trail and Coal Mines to Veterans for Peace. The street was covered with quiet individuals who just wanted to learn about the environment, a beeswax art cloth of the path of coal from mountaintop to human use and informational tables on United States policies of a variety of issues. The quiet Saturday afternoon put the three of us on edge when twenty plus individuals were arrested for taking the “protest outside permitted areas.” However, the protest was not taken outside the designated area in any way. If any individual stood still for more than a few seconds, they ran the risk of being considered actively protesting. After making a beeline for the car, the three of us took a quick breather and decided to go to the Columbus Convention and Trade Center to hear testimonials, to watch documentaries and to hear talks about a variety of situations around the world. During our time at the Center, we heard a talk about Roman Catholic Women Priests and the excommunication they face with their ordination; we watched a documentary on the foundation and growth of one of the largest Salvadorian gangs in Los Angeles, Cali. and heard about a variety of other social justice issues across the world. 

My cross in memory of 

Juan Carlos Garcia.

Sunday, we woke with anticipation of the vigil ceremony. Lilly had never been and did not know what to expect when she would see the gate entrance to the base covered in crosses, each with a name of an individual who died at the hands of a School of the Americas graduate. My cross bore the name of a gentleman whose mother worked with Emily when she spent her Mardi Gras 2010 break on a Service and Learning Trip in El Salvador. He died because he was the driver for a group of United Nations officials who were visiting El Salvador in attempts to help the country after its civil war.

Crosses in memory of 

those who have passed. 

Through the course of its 59 years in existence, the School of the Americas has trained “over 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. These graduates have consistently used their skills to wage a war against their own people. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders, and others who work for the rights of the poor. Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, “disappeared,” massacred, and forced into refugee by those trained at the School of” the Americas (School of the Americas Watch Web Site).

The weekend reminds us that El Salvadorian people live their life in fear, fear that something will happen to their family members and they will know, fear that they will be tortured, fear of life. The vigil reminded us that people exist around the world fearing, fearful of no water, no food of their government. The vigil reminded us to be the voice for the voiceless, to stand tall for those who are no longer with us and to be Presente for all who have been lost.