New shores

One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time -- André Gide (via @PandoProjects)

I am facing approximately 4 days left in the office to complete my term as an AmeriCorps VISTA.  This week ends with a Clippers Game in place of the Quarterly Meeting with my VISTA compatriots across the state, and Friday starts my vacation. When I return next week, I will have two days left. 

I am not as good at reflecting as Molly Dull, who I would call a professional reflector, so the last few posts before June 17th will not include such golden nuggets as "AmeriCorps shines the light on poverty but doesn’t recreate it, and that is because poverty is far too complicated to simulate for just one year.  I think my understanding that my temporary void-of-a-bank-account was just that—short-lived—really allowed me to ask the more intimidating questions about poverty, like what I will do in my life to continue actively combating it once June 20 rolls around." See?  She's awesome.

These last couple weeks are a frustrating point in my service, mainly because of a lack of significant activities.  My organization/program cycles through VISTA terms constantly, and staggers terms. Therefore, my work is going to continue (hopefully) without a hitch when the next VISTA comes in, and will be ushered along by fellow VISTAS and staff who have been doing the work for a long time. I can't schedule meetings or start new projects. I don't have any major events or ends to tie up, I'm not panicking that people won't know what's going on after I leave, and I'm not using these last few weeks to set my legacy. I've worked extremely hard that past 12 months to propel the program forward and integrate my talents into the program functionality, building my legacy along the way.  Now I am left with 4(ish) days to write end of service reports, guides, send good-bye emails to my contacts and clean my desk.  (ut oh on that last task...I'm extremely bad at parting with pieces of paper).

My new shores look to be a new media consulting job in Washington DC.  I hope to never loose my "starving to serve" calling, and plan on continuing this sporadic record of service into the next chapter of my life.  Both my sister and I have become coincidentally involved in sex trafficking organizations here in Columbus, and I would love to continue advocacy/outreach to human trafficking victims in DC as my new form of service.  Hunger and poverty have a lot of very powerful voices out there, fighting for our fellow citizens basic needs.  Hunger is a bipartisan issue, and typically gets a lot of ground covered.  I'm not sure if the sex trafficking industry is as bad in DC as it is in Ohio, but I want to be a voice to the voiceless and advocate for a group of people who are often overlooked, or more likely looked down upon.  I've already found organizations like the Polaris Project based in DC, but am looking for other opportunities.

My "land" has been Ohio for my entire life, but I'm pumped to loose sight of it and try my hand in DC. For a while at least.

From CNN : 'Food Stamp President' debate

A "food stamp President"? Thoughts?  Do semantics actually play a role in our opinions and views on the program (ie the outdated welfare or food stamps vs. the current SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, aka food assistance).

Poverty Simulation, Illegal Activities

The first time I participated in a poverty simulation, I was Yomelda Yarrow.  The second time, I played a semi-boring role as a social services case worker. Third time's a charm though, as yesterday I staffed a poverty simulation in Hilliard and had the chance to play the "Illegal Activities" person.  I wasn't introduced in the beginning for concealment purposes and the participants were too focused on surviving the "month" to notice me in the first couple "weeks." (In a poverty simulations, a month is simulated in 4, 15 minute intervals of reporting to work, paying bills, getting childcare, and all the other activities and situations low-income families face). 

My materials included a (squirt) gun, wallet with cash, and a pile of sugar packets to represent drugs. The first week I wandered around finding houses (er, groups of chairs) that left their valuables out in the open. Ransacking homes of their stereos and microwaves was a great thrill, and soon my pockets were full of the cards representing these valuables.  I tried to kidnap a child (ie baby doll) from the school, but the Mom came just in time. Darn it!

Week 3 really started to pick up with shenanigans.  The school was closed to I sold drugs to kids wandering around the community.  This was especially funny, considering the participants were all teachers from the local district who took up the opportunity to buy sugar packets drugs with glee. Seeing my example, a couple of the "kids" starting robbing and selling drugs on their own too!

My buddy at the Quick Cash ran out of cash, so I went to help her out my robbing people at gunpoint.  My favorite, and most surprising, moment was when a stray kid actually refused to be robbed. She grabbed my blue plastic gun by the barrel, looked me in the eye, and told me this was her territory for selling drugs and robbing.  Naturally, I then robbed the bank as a last resort.

Takeaways:
I love the debriefing part of Poverty Simulations, as everyone gets to hear the struggles and accomplishments of each family and business.  Business owners confess to shortchanging clients and illegally evicting families from their homes.  Families units give their background situation and share their journey through the month. I loved hearing revelations from the teachers about how their experience in the simulation is already re-shaping their perspective on students.  Think of the teacher/student who grabbed my gun and took her own territory.  Things like that happen all the time when parents are busting their butts looking for work and taking care of keeping the family afloat.  The kids are free to roam and take matters of protecting themselves (or making money) into their own hands.

The teacher/participants also expressed connections of understanding between their short experience and the lives of their students.  After they spent an hour scrambling to pay bills and make difficult choices between paying for food or utilities (made even harder if they were robbed by yours truly, heh heh), the teachers commented on how the cost of school, including field trips and supply costs, could make a huge impact on a low income family.  Families also might not know where to turn for help, not considering informing the school of their struggles or not finding resources right under their nose, like Community Actions Agencies. 

I love doing Poverty Simulations, especially for groups of people who have limited experience with a life in poverty.  It's amazing how a short hour can shift mindsets and perspectives, helping neighbors relate and advocate for one another.

Youth for Technology Foundation introduces Circuit Crawler

A group of students in California decided that they could harness their experience at a quality, technology focused high school and leverage their privilege to make a global impact. The students developed a game to sell on the Android market called Circuit Crawler, with all the profits going straight to Youth for Technology.  It’s an inspiring parallel to see played out: 2 groups of youth are getting an invaluable education through technology; one as the developer and one as the consumer.  I won’t go as far to say unprecedented (and would love to see other examples of this happening across the world!), but I am thrilled about this collaboration. (In case you are wondering why I am so thrilled, I've been YTF's Communications Lead since last Fall. Such a great organization to work with!)

Youth for Technology Foundation is about people first. Where appropriate, they use technology as a tool to help disadvantaged youth bridge social and economic obstacles.  YTF works across Africa and the United States to “bridge the digital canyon.” This year, not only is YTF providing opportunities for youth around the world to access technology, it is providing a platform for invention and development in high school classrooms. 

So, here comes the plug: If not for anything but the support of education through technology, BUY THE GAME!  Only if you have an Android phone.  And only if you care about children.  And the world.  Don’t care about any of that? Don’t rock the ‘droid operating system?  You have an even better job: spread the word. It takes one minute, and I’ll even make it brainless:

Circuit Crawler Social Toolbox

Tweet:

Support @YouthforTech and check out Circuit Crawler on the Android Market! http://t.co/Fc09ITY

Facebook post:

Help Youth for Technology Foundation reach their goal of positively impacting over 300,000 youth across 10 developing world countries through YTF’s programs :: High school students in California developed a game for the Android Market called Circuit Crawler, giving all the proceeds to Youth for Technology Foundation. Check out Circuit Crawler on the Android Market! http://t.co/Fc09ITY

Life After AmeriCorps (Getting Things Done) Part 2

In Jeff Miller's session at our joint AmeriCorps conference, he helped put a positive flip on future planning for careers and interviewing with a sweet new mental model called Appreciate Inquiry.  I am going to steal this great summary from positivechange.org:

Appreciative Inquiry works because it treats people like people, and not like machines. People are social. We create our identities and our knowledge in relation to one another. We are curious. We like to tell stories and listen to stories. We pass on our values, beliefs and wisdom in stories. We like to learn and to use what we learn to be our best. And we delight in doing well in the eyes of those we care about and respect. Appreciative Inquiry enables leaders to create natural human organizations – knowledge rich, strength based, adaptable, learning organizations.

It takes into account a 4D cycle of processing and planning: 

http://tsf-wiki.best.eu.org/w/images/9/96/Ai-4D_cycle.jpg

Think about it this way: A plane flying from Portland to Tokya has to make around 500 adjustments before it reaches it's destination.  

We all have a destination and goals are good end points to focus on.  My problem, as a control freak, is being okay with not setting down a solid plan and being okay with changes in any play I set down.  Adjustments are going to happen and are sometimes desperately needed, while the end is always still ahead.

Life After AmeriCorps (Getting Things Done), Part 1

You thought you were going to learn about all the career options or a brainstorm of everything AmeriCorps members could do after their term of service here, didn't you?  Contrary to the title of the session and what we all attended for, this wasn't a "next steps" session.  It was a "where is your heart" session.

It actually makes sense, as AmeriCorps comes from all ages, all backgrounds, and all sorts of expertise. There is no path of least resistance for any human, so why did we think being in AmeriCorps made it any easier?  Unless the Peace Corps or moving up the ranks of National Service is your dream, AmeriCorps members typically branch off to countless opportunities. This session from Jeff  Miller led us in evaluating our year of service, talking about our most memorable and rewarding experiences as catalysts for interview question answers and direction on where to look next. (P.S. when I first typed this paragraph I mistakenly credited it to Jeff Bridges. This, folks, was incorrect).

Someone actually flat out asked him what he thought would be the best career move for her. He shot back at her with: what are your passions? This is so powerful to remember whether you are coming from AmeriCorps, any other service, or even out of college or career changing. It's not what your major is or what you studied, but what are you passionate about? What moves you? That's where you should search for jobs, and that's where you will succeed.

New Media: Personal (Getting Things Done conference)

I need to start this post out by giving credit where credit is due. Just head to http://nateriggs.com/ for a full picture of the talent and expertise he brings as a consultant on new media and organizational culture.

If you know anything about me other than my AmeriCorps service, you would know about my fanaticism with new media, and would probably imagine me promptly attending all Nate's sessions at the conference.  This included taking copious notes and blowing up my twitter feed with nuggets of knowledge (thanks for calling me out, @kt_2222).  Check out a couple of Nate's presentations here.

Here are a couple thoughts to summarize Nate's talk. If you want to learn more about my own experience with new media (not a focus here on my service blog so there isn't much content on this subject), contact me to grab  a cup of coffee and chat!

• Develop relationships before you meet. Don't think social media is the end all be all of communication. It's a channel, or a path to develop in-person relationships. If you use social media to meet people before you face to face meet them, you can skip the pleasantries and head straight to picking up a conversation that you started online.
• "Become a typist" I interpreted this as "get writing skills". When I was applying for jobs last Spring I did a few informational interviews. I always asked the professionals in my field (media/communications) what skills they would look for in hiring candidates. There was one answer across the board: writing. Whether it's 140 characters on Twitter or an op-ed for a local paper, writing skills are a top requirement.
• Get out there. If I was only trying to hone my new media expertise through my job, I wouldn't be getting very far. There are some instances when I can integrate my interests and experience into my position, but my job doesn't revolve around new media. That's why I identified with Nate's urging to get out there and diversify. I do little things like keep up personal new media sites, reading blogs and interacting with other professionals, and I do big things like volunteering as a Communications Lead for an international nonprofit.
• There is no try, do or do not. (Nate's twitter bio says he's a jedi master) You want to learn how to use new media? Use new media.

Volunteer / Paid Staff Relations (Getting Things Done)

This began as an interesting session at the Getting Things Done conference last week, considering we as VISTAs are volunteers and the presenter designed the material for paid staff as the audience. As permanent positions at organizations VISTAs are typically closer to the paid staff end of the spectrum, but sometimes VISTAs get the brunt of volunteer mis-treatment as we are part of the organization for one year and some staff may not see us as truly part of the organization. Either way, for both short term volunteers or a paid staff that manages volunteers, here are a couple facts/tips to help relations:

1. In order to retain volunteers don't "use" them; include/involved them.
2. Both the volunteer and supervisor should be involved in the position description.
3. Volunteers are not free.
4. A volunteer can be fired/terminated.
5. Volunteers tend to go outside the chain of command when they feel unprepared or unappreciated.
6. The reason an organization decides to involve volunteers is usually lack of funding.
7. In many countries the word volunteer mean "Women's work." (Think about semantics, is there a difference between volunteering and community service?)
8. Measuring the effectiveness of a volunteer program should include measuring the outcomes of the volunteers activities as well as that of the paid staff. (outcomes is key here, not simply output).
9. For success in working with a volunteer, consider their interests and skills.
10. Always thank a volunteer numerous times during service (this could even be things like having places to put coats or other accommodations).

I volunteer for an organization that from my understanding mainly functions with volunteers. They do a fantastic job in expressing their gratitude and making me feel like a crucial part of the operations, which leads to me spending more time and effort on my work for them.

Does anyone have other tips or things to keep in mind when using volunteers to help your organization function?

All tips above were developed by Sarah Ellison of Elliston Enterprises in Cincinnati.

Getting Things Done: Servant Leadership

Photoshop version of the my doodle during the session

My sophomore year at Miami University was a privileged year in which I lived in a wood closet built in the 1800's. This is true. The wood closet (now converted to a very small single dorm room) was located in one of the two oldest dorms West of the Allegheny mountains, collectively and affectionately known as "Stelliott."  The program that allowed my living circumstance is called Scholar Leader, which provided scholarships and an entrance into an unforgettable community of servant leaders. After living a year with fellow Miamians (and now close friends) acting out servant leadership, I came into the session titled "Servant Leadership: Leading with the Heart" with a slight advantage.

Our first task in the conference session was to "brain dump" words we associated with servant and leadership. Some of my fellow conference-goers listed words like slave and coerced for servant, and concepts like disconnected under the word leader. The presenter, Jeff Miller, helped re-shape the notions in the group. A servant doesn't mean subservient, and being a servant isn't simply a position but rather a choice. Also, there is a difference between a Leader (bestowed title) and a leader.

The final point was one that backed up the notion I had walking in to the session. Looking at the two lists of words under servant and leader, can you switch them?  Can words like sacrifice under servant also apply to a leader?  Are respect and empowerment both as applicable to a servant as a leader?  I believe they are interchangeable and one in the same. If I want to be a good leader, I will sacrifice and serve the people I am leading. 

Mahatma Ghandi's challenge to "be the change you want to see in the world" is so prevalent in my life it's almost cliche, but it is the cord that ties my service aspirations together. Another thought, this one from Frankel's "Man's Search for Meaning," contains a concept I could write an entire separate post on: attitude.  Pivotal to being a true servant leader is the attitude, the choice. If you are forced in, unwilling and unsatisfied, you cannot be a servant leader.

...everything can be taken away from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.

Getting Things Done Conference (series beginning)

In the next week or so I am writing a series of posts from the Getting Things Done conference, hosted by the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks and the New York City Coalition Against Hunger. I spent a week with AmeriCorps members from across the country (literally, people came in who were serving from Maine to California) learning and growing with each other. While fantastic conversations sparked over meals and in between sessions, the posts here will mainly cover the sessions I attended and what I learned from experts in leadership, new media, volunteer relations, and anti-hunger efforts.

Look for posts on:

• Servant Leadership
• New Media: Personal Branding
• New Media: Organizations
• Volunteer and paid staff relationships
• Sustainability
• Life after AmeriCorps (service reflections and passion)
• Media Relations for anti-poverty initiatives

Layers

Service—leading to lasting change—has a multitude of layers and approaches to success. I could go into a Shrek reference, but I will use the concept as a starting point. There's a lot more to service than one might think. It's one of those entities that leads to exponential exploration: the more you know, the more you realize you don't know. As one might expect, the past year of (indirect) service has helped me barely scrape the surface of what it means to serve, and evaluating ways to do so.

Participating in mission trips leads to great experiences, fantastic growth opportunities, and apparently in regards to my past trip to Jamaica, they could lead to meeting your future spouse (not in my case though, but congrats to Hilary and Stu!) These forays into the lives and cultures of a others for a snippet of time to learn, serve, and then head home are just the beginning. My time of indirect service, building capacity and sustainability for nonprofits, is a step further. I've done direct service in this job and in parts of many other opportunities. Next, I would love to springboard off everything I've learned as an observer and a participant and finally move onto policy. Grassroot movements to actual change. Bandaids to cures. I'm excited to see where life will take me after June 17th, and crossing my fingers that I'll peel back a couple more layers of ways to serve my neighbors.

Blogs Galore

I distinctly remember my days of early high school when I first heard the term "blog" I refused to have anything to do with this new silly feature I saw on Myspace because, and I quote, a blog sounded like a "gargantuan booger."  I had an active imagination.

My first official blog was created under the guise of a media class, called "Results of Discoveries."  It was supposed to be a general compilation of all the wonderful things I was discovering as a fresh faced 20 year old.  But an un-focused blog leads to an unfocused author, than that one eventually faded into the blogosphere.

My second I again created for a Women's Studies/English/Interactive Media Studies Class.  My fellow students were intense feminists (I qualify them as intense because I believe if you believe in the equality of women, everyone is a feminist.  These were the extreme outliers), black-booted and moody English students, a couple techie nerds, and a fascinating quintessential college professor.  We read things like Wurthering Heights and the Vindication of the Rights of Women and blogged our thoughts.  It was actually a fantastic class, but I can only stand exploring the character of Heathrow for so long. Dead blog #2.

Finally, in light of my work with kids in the mobile home park in Oxford and leading fundraisers like the 30 Hour Famine, I started a blog with a focus that I actually was passionate about.  Do you ever think you know a lot about a subject, only to look back later and declare with disgrace that you really knew nothing at all?  The blog I started was about the Cycle of Poverty.  It still has a lot of good information on it, but after spending almost nine months in AmeriCops I look back and see I was barely scratching the surface.

Since this current service blog has kept most of my attention, I actually completely forgot about the Cycle of Poverty blog (on WordPress, no less!) until I stumbled upon it once again from a GoogleAlert.  So with a request to withhold your judgment of a slightly un-educated attempt at a resourceful blog that hasn't been updated in almost a year, feel free to check it out:

 http://cycleofpoverty.wordpress.com/

She Has A Name

My service is not limited to my job.  As many of you know, I volunteer my media and communications abilities for a technology/advocacy organization focused on youth here in the States and in various African countries.  It has been such a joy  to use the skills I don’t get to cultivate often at my day job for another great organization on my free time.

Now, my church is launching an organization that is doing crazy things to combat human trafficking right in my backyard. I am hoping to get involved in a deeper level with these efforts, so I'm sure there will be more to come of this organization on this blog.

This is my church.  We meet in an old building close to Weinland Park.

Here is the information copied straight from the website, as I couldn’t do it justice on my own:

"She Has A Name" is derived from a real-life story from the streets during a street outreach event. There was a "john" (male paying for sex), a pimp, and a prostitute. The "john" said to the pimp, "What's her name?" The pimp said, "She doesn't have a name. She is whatever you want her to be."

We try to remember the girls' names when doing street outreach. If we see them again the following week, we'll say their name out loud to them. Their reactions say everything. It's as if they've ached their whole lives to hear their own name. It's as if they forgot their own name. This is why we do street outreach. Even if just for a moment, they believe what we do: that their life matters.

http://veritascolumbus.com/serve/shehasaname/

We decided that we wanted to help fight human trafficking worldwide and came up with an idea to start selling a t-shirt that would aid in awareness, as well as generate a profit that could be used in the fight. 100% of the profits from shirt sales go toward the fight against human trafficking. Since this is brand new, we are still exploring the best ways to use this money, but we will continually update the site with all of the activities. After an upcoming board meeting in early February, we hope to be able to share a clearer vision of how the funds will be used. Keep checking back, and always feel free to contact us. Thanks for joining us in the fight!

She Has A Name is thankful that Veritas Community Church has joined them in the efforts of fighting human trafficking by helping with funding and certain management aspects. Without the help of Veritas, things wouldn't be moving as quickly as they are. Thanks!

Contact info

E-mail: shehasaname@ymail.com
Phone: 614.423.9718

If you want to order a t-shirt (I did! They're pretty sweet), donate, or simply check out the website, visit She Has a Name on Veritas.

Encouragement

My trainees are always wonderful at the end of a long day of learning about the program, and many of them say something like "I have been to a lot of trainings in my career, and I actually enjoyed this one!"  I'm guessing I am more enjoyable because I am not an expert and I KNOW I am not an expert, rather I see myself as a helper of sorts.  I know a little bit more about a tool than most people, and I have resources and practice in presenting it.

Training and public speaking are both skills that play a huge role in my position, and I've discovered that I actually enjoy the challenge and differentiation that trainings bring.  It's always an exhausting day because I have to play so many different roles: educator, speaker, technical help (my last training I spent the better part of running around switching out short-term batteries and troubleshooting internet connections), but I would rather do this than have a cookie cutter position any day.  Most trainings are at different locations across Central Ohio, and there is always a different mix of people.  I get the most joy when the trainees are engaged, excited, and ready to actually use the tool to help their community.  Below is an email I received from a trainee in Clark County, it made my day. 

Encourage the people around you.  Even if you have to sit through a potentially boring training (not mine, of course. Mine are never boring.)  A little bit of positive feedback goes a long way.

Thank you for the lesson at (training location) and I am looking forward to helping others get help thru myself cause of this certification that I will receive after today. I hope that we can keep in touch in the future for I am growing with (two awesome organizations in Central Ohio he is working with). I would like to be able to have and acquire the knowledge and have information to help those less fortunate than I. I have learned a lot of things so far working with these groups on a lot of things. I wish I would have known when I needed help. Now, I am able to direct others in the direction for them to receive assistance. Again Sarah, Thank You Very Much for your time and knowledge that I have acquired today.  God Bless you in all you do and achive in you journeys.

Tax Clinic Set-up

Click to view a larger version

Don't make fun of me.  I made this in paint.  Currently taking donations of any program from the Adobe Suite.

P-16 Education Conference

Let me introduce you to the Ideacenter at Playhouse Square in Cleveland. They pipe NPR in while you are using the Ladies Room. How wonderful is this place?

I traveled there last week to attend a P-16 (think pre-k through college) Education Conference. It's a growing movement in the United States, creating collaboratives in communities to integrate business, non-profits, and other community entities to wrap around a student until they are solidly in the work force. It truly does take a village to raise a child. They need to see opportunities in the labor force, have mentors to create dreams and self worth, and understand the value of service.  

There aren't many successful P-16 collaborative around the state. At least they aren't very public about their efforts and there is no centralized database, so I can't find any in my region. There are a few successful efforts up in Northeast Ohio, so that is where Senator Brown hosted the conference.  Plus it's his district. Here he is, speaking to the group (really bad cell phone picture on left)

 Most of the conference was built off panels of stakeholders and policy makers, all taped and live streamed over the Internet.  I found it particularly funny they proudly proclaimed that since it was online, it was visible all over the state, and even all over the country!  Oh, the wonders of technology.  On the right is what the studio and one of the panels looked like.

There actually was a unique technology application that TurningPoint Technologies brought: clickers! (which you can see sitting on my folder on the left).  Conference participants responded to survey questions the organizers created and posted on screen in the front of the room.  They were simple requests for input, like what is the most valuable topic we would want cover or hear from the panelists.  We had 30 seconds to respond, then the results of the over 130 responses were displayed in a bar graph on the screen. It was pretty cool to shape the conference as we moved along and then have an outlet for immediate feedback, especially when one of the panels shifted their prepared remarks based on what the conference goers submitted as responses.

Someone from the U.S. Department of Education flew in from Washington DC to help give a picture of what the Department is currently working on and what direction they are heading.  His panel was also joined by members of the Ohio Department of Education.  Educators at the conference had a golden opportunity to bring up concerns and submit input straight to the policy makers.  It was encouraging to hear the US Dept of Ed representative affirming that their direction is exactly the direction of the P-16 mindset: collaboration with universities for high schools, getting kids in local businesses for experience, and providing resources and mentors for a community ans service based wrap around education, all beginning before they even start kindergarten and lasting until they have graduated post-secondary education and have entered the job force. 

This is all very helpful for my work, as I'm getting a feel for who is involved in the education field.  I had no idea before this job of all the extra entities: ESC, FCFC, community groups like P-16 and mandated initiatives like FCE coordinators. I want the buy-in from administrators but the action and passion from people like guidance counselors who will actually use my program. I thought this would be an easy job compared to my high pressure sales-oriented job from you-know-where a couple summers ago, considering my job now is "selling" a free service that benefits families and supports the community. I'm finding it's a lot harder that just telling people about the great program. I still have to sell it, and sell it to the right people. And keep selling it.

It was refreshing and a definite encouragement to get out of the office and participate in a conference where I could both learn and have a say in the P-16 movement in Ohio.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Have you ever failed at something, even with the best intentions?  My sister and I spent a Sunday afternoon in the Short North in early January shopping for our Dad's birthday. Upon coming up empty handed, concluded we would go home and strategize the best and most meaningful, wonderful gift for him.  We had over three weeks for goodness sakes!

Then two days ago, I sat up with a huge gasp of realization.  Three weeks had marched by and Dad's birthday passed announced and un-acknowledged by both myself and my sister.  "Oops" doesn't cover it, but I thought perhaps a blog post would!

This blog's title declares that I am "starving to serve," and my Dad is someone that helped cultivate that hunger.  

The heart for service didn't come from years of him preaching kindness or scripture or plugging inspiration.  It came from watching his interactions with strangers.  It's a testament on how to raise your children: show them.  Live it out.

My Dad was a pastor, so perhaps that added to the likelihood that people in need would show up on our doorstep.  They didn't show up often, but when they did they were attended to.  The man with the huge white beard that sat on our porch while Dad spoke with him to hear his story, the skinny lady walking across the country who shared a meal with us and slept on a church pew, the guy who was trying to make it to a better life and all he needed was a tank of gas and a meal. They didn't get handouts, they weren't subjected to paperwork or a program.  They were offered a listening ear, someone to help validate their journey and take care of their immediate needs before they could move up the ladder.

I want to find out where people came from, why they are where they are, where they are going, and help them get there.  Or help them figure out the next step, with the expectation that I can learn from them as much as they learn from me.  Goodness knows I haven't any idea what my next step is anyways...

Lastly, Dad taught me a phrase that his grandpa taught him that doesn't necessarily plan into my motivations, but it definitely helps me be successful.  This piece of family wisdom is three simple words: "Don't kid yourself."  This ties into a theme I uncovered at the Working Out of Homelessness Forum I went to (that I hope to write about soon).  Change cannot and will not be affected in individuals until they realize change needs to happen.  Every single homeless person on the panel I saw named "self worth" as a barrier to getting back on their feet.  If you are at the end of your rope, don't kid yourself into thinking it's not that bad, and on the other hand don't kid yourself into thinking there is no hope.  Face reality and take a step forward.

Happy Birthday to a great man and dad who has influenced my life for the better.  Rest assured, your special day is now solidly marked on my GoogleCalendar.

IRS Communications

And you thought the IRS was inaccessible and scary.  Well, perhaps that's just me.  Now that I am getting multiple emails from them every day, I am conquering the intimidation of a previously confusing process (filing taxes) and agency with KNOWLEDGE.  In this case at least, knowledge really does equal power.  Or at least confidence.  

This is an example of an email I got from the IRS today, check out what they are doing in the realm of media and mobile devices!  I know you will all be scrambling to follow them on Twitter, as I can testify that the entirety of their communication are just as enthralling.

I'm also encouraged that they developed an Android app as well (which I promptly downloaded).  iPhones are not the "end all be all" of smart phones, and I breathe a sigh of Apple-monopoly relief when companies simultaneously develop for both platforms.

IRS Launches the IRS2Go App for iPhone, Android; Taxpayers Can Check Refunds, Get Tax Information

Video: IRS2Go: English
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today unveiled IRS2Go, its first smartphone application that lets taxpayers check on their status of their tax refund and obtain helpful tax information.

"This new smart phone app reflects our commitment to modernizing the agency and engaging taxpayers where they want when they want it," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. "As technology evolves and younger taxpayers get their information in new ways, we will keep innovating to make it easy for all taxpayers to access helpful information." 

The IRS2Go phone app gives people a convenient way of checking on their federal refund. It also gives people a quick way of obtaining easy-to-understand tax tips. 

Apple users can download the free IRS2Go application by visiting the Apple App Store. Android users can visit the Android Marketplace to download the free IRS2Go app. 

"This phone app is a first step for us," Shulman said. "We will look for additional ways to expand and refine our use of smartphones and other new technologies to help meet the needs of taxpayers." 

The mobile app, among a handful in the federal government, offers a number of safe and secure ways to help taxpayers. Features of the first release of the IRS2Go app include:

1. Get Your Refund Status - Taxpayers can check the status of their federal refund through the new phone app with a few basic pieces of information. First, taxpayers enter a Social Security number, which is masked and encrypted for security purposes. Next, taxpayers pick the filing status they used on their tax return. Finally, taxpayers enter the amount of the refund they expect from their 2010 tax return. For people who e-file, the refund function of the phone app will work within about 72 hours after taxpayers receive an e-mail acknowledgement saying the IRS received their tax return. For people filing paper tax returns, longer processing times mean they will need to wait three to four weeks before they can check their refund status. About 70 percent of the 142 million individual tax returns were filed electronically last year.
2. Get Tax Updates - Phone app users enter their e-mail address to automatically get daily tax tips. Tax Tips are simple, straightforward tips and reminders to help with tax planning and preparation. Tax Tips are issued daily during the tax filing season and periodically during the rest of the year. The plain English updates cover topics such as free tax help, child tax credits, the Earned Income Tax Credit, education credits and other topics.
3. Follow the IRS - Taxpayers can sign up to follow the IRS Twitter news feed, @IRSnews. IRSnews provides the latest federal tax news and information for taxpayers. The IRSnews tweets provide easy-to-use information, including tax law changes and important IRS programs.  IRS2Go is the latest IRS effort to provide information to taxpayers beyond traditional channels. The IRS also uses tools such as YouTube and Twitter to share the latest information on tax changes, initiatives, products and services through social media channels. For more information on IRS2Go and other new media products, visit www.IRS.gov.

Related Item: IRS Goes Mobile With IRS2Go

Welcomed at Molina

Check this out!  I did a presentation to case workers at Molina so when their Medicaid clients call in with social needs other than medical assistance, they can direct them to a Benefit Bank site.  When I walked into their office, they had this lovely welcoming sign.  I feel so official!

What it's about

Looking at my first pay direct deposited paycheck of the new year brought a little surprise for my bank account.  Instead of a Christmas bonus, my stipend was cut 15 dollars.  Not much to many people, but it adds up by the time my service ends.  And this means that I now only have 35% of my paycheck left after all my bills.  It stinks, and it stinks that it happened without any warning.  But if I’ve learned anything so far in my 23 years of life, I’ve learned that bitterness imprisons life; love releases it.  Perhaps Mr. Harry Emerson Fosdick said that last poetic bit before I did, but I concur. 

My life is not about making money.  My life isn’t even about living for myself.  It’s about serving a God with a plan bigger than I can fathom and accepting the blessings I’ve been given, since I can fully acknowledge I’ve been given way more than I could do anything to deserve.

So what do I have? 

An AmeriCorps placement at a supportive and groundbreaking organization

A compassionate supervisor who I know always has my back and has been a great joy to work with

A car

A warm apartment and a trustworthy roomie friend

A past that has offered me lots of birthday and Christmas presents that included fleece blankets

Hot chocolate

A daily hot shower.  Two, if I want.

(can you tell it’s cold outside?)

An immediate and extended family that has proven time and again that we are in it together for the long haul, and shown amazing feats of forgiveness and love towards each other.

A boyfriend who has loved and supported me for over 6 years, from hours away

Oreos.  6 of which are in my stomach.

Perhaps I shouldn’t be watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition whilst I write my blog.  I may make Mom cry twice in one night after all this sappiness. 

Gratitude is the only proven way I’ve found to surmount those unexpected setbacks in life.  Things that, if you chose, could make you bitter and angry.   I implore you to turn to your gratitude list in a time of doubt, and I implore you also to start it now.



Update:  After numerous emails this pay adjustment was clarified as a tax issue, specifically dealing with the Making Work Pay credit.  Essentially this credit was applied throughout the year, allowing more money to come in my paycheck and less "estimated tax" withheld through the year to the federal gov't.  With the change I can no longer keep that money and it has to be taken out of my paycheck throughout the year, as normal wages typically work.  Perhaps I will be poor again next year, not owe tax, and get it back anyways!