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