BSU's Social Work 432 class was extremely interesting, especially since my 432 class was the first class to try this Week of Interventions and Awareness out. The preparation for that week was interesting in many different aspects. The week's turnout was exceptional and more than what I had expected, I feel as though it was a wonderful turn out for a first try event.
Like the required article said, "COMMUNITY DEMANDS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MUTUAL COMMITMENT" - Mother Theresa
What Worked Well:
When thinking of a specific thing that worked well with putting that week together, I must say, would be participation and communication. Participation and communication went hand and hand with the week of events, because without communication there would have not been a way for students in the three different classes (that made this possible) to know when and where their participation was needed. Also communication was key in getting people informed of the week to come and get them involved. With participation there was a lot required from all members of the classes because there was a lot to be done and no specific way to follow what needed to be done; since this year was the first year three different classes came together to have a week of intervention and awareness.
How to Build on What Worked:
Within the first few classes of this semester and working on the for coming week of events the main confusion and topic that was stressed on was communication. How the classes would communicate between each other, how the two groups within a class would communicate to each other (outside of class time) and how the groups/classes would communicate to those who are not from within in out classes and groups. Everyone at first was a go for Facebook with communication amongst the classmates and different classes. But the issue that was shortly noted was that not everyone had Facebook nor wanted to create one. But a solution that I believed worked really well was that there would be weekly or even bi-weekly emails of what is going on for the upcoming days, weeks, and/or months. This worked really well and I would definitely recommend this for the upcoming classes or even group of people required to work on an assignment together that requires out of class time. I would recommend sending emails to the classmate by having one designated person who will send the email for the group, to cut back on the amount of emails being sent, but the reason I would highly recommend this is because when in a college or university every student is given an email so everyone has one, but who chooses to check them is up to their own discretion. But if everyone in the group knows OK every Wednesday there will be an email sent out for what is going on and what is needed for the next couple of weeks than everyone will be on the same page and know to check their email on Wednesday for that class event. Main thing is to make sure to stay consistent and go by your word.
Also rely on the community to inform you of what are some big social issues, for our class it was a bit easier since my classes description was Violence Against Women, we did not have to go far to look for a topic to look into, but when starting from scratch look into the community and see what everyone is finding to be an issue. Because if you can pull out and point out a certain problem/issue that a lot of other members in that community is struggling with than you can find a lot of people to participate in what you are trying to create. Especially since this is a known issue and topic in the community you can rest assure that if you address the issue in a manner a lot of people can relate to then a lot of people would like to attend this event for more information and maybe to make their story and situation known so they can help make a change. Best people to look to how to possibly do this type of work is to look for assistance from those who have tried and succeeded in what you are also trying to replicate.
Somethings that should be mentioned at the beginning of the semester that the class would be assessed on is the output, not so much the outcome, but the output and needs. To be more in a chronological order for the needs to be figured out first and then the desired output. The needs should be figured out first to determine if there really is an issue that needs to be focused on, then to evaluate what activities would be useful to the people who are being focused on. The activities would be the output, for example, what types of services do you plan to put in place, or what type of information do you plan on giving out/telling these people so they can be assisted. And the way to evaluate and grade this would be to see if they actually did what they said they were going to try to do. The turn out of the intervention should not really be focused on but that what needed to be done was done in order to help the people, and that people did show up.
Learning:
From this event I have learned that I have not always been a person to go out and do, that I've always waited for something big to get done then I get involved. I've never really been the type to really like Macro Practice because of that exact reason of not wanting to work and look at the bigger picture. And from this assignment I have learned even more so that Macro Practice is really hard and intense, filled with a lot of communication and organization, which I tend to lack that sometimes, and a wonderful example being this semester. Macro Practice really involves a lot of communication between people you know and those who don't that can help your cause or to make a difference. Although Macro Practice is not my forte I have learned that I do need to do my part and stand by and do what I say I am going to do to assist in the project. For this event I decided I would create posters for promotion and I made sure that even if I had other things to do that I got my part done and asked for where to put them (the high traffic areas) so that they would be seen. I know in five years or so when I am working for a agency and I have to help put together a intervention or program for a group of people a "community" of people I will think back to this class, this week that was possible and gain courage and know that it is possible as long as you ask those higher up for assistance, donations, and involvement.
I've learned from both the assigned article on joegerstandt.com and chrisguillebeau.com a lot about how different people view community, whether it be in the public and/or web. What I mainly got from both of the articles/blogs is that no questions asked a community must involved more than two people, they must be a group of people, but that these people do not have to come together solely based on Joe Gerstand, "it does not require us to like each other or agree with each other", but Chris Guillebeau mentions that "a community is a group of people united through a common struggle with the same stories". These two are very different but then again there are many different views on any single subject always.
From the week of interventions I learned that violence against women happen more often than expected or one would probably expect. When doing my own research and seeing those that were on posters for "Walk A Mile in Her Heels" I learned that violence against women is so common that its every 1 in 4, every 1 in 5 women experience at some point in their time violence against them. I have always known about violence against women but never knew it happened that often because it's such a taboo topic.
Advice:
Hey there new 432 student. Just a heads up DO NOT be frightened by the work, it is doable. My first reaction I wanted to freak out, leave the class, drop it and switch to another. Hung in there and stuck it out and now I am pleased that I chose to do so. You will to.
1. Communicate- communicate with your group, whoever it maybe if one person doesn't know another will, do not stay confused because you do not want to "bother" or "be of inconvenience"
2. Get Involved, Make errors- there is no better time than now to just get involved, try and say anything you think may help. This may be your first time doing this, but pretty sure there are others in the class who are feeling the same way. And there's no better time to make mistakes and learn from them then now when the errors will not create a loss.
3. Do Your Part- if you say you will do something then go through with it because your group is dependent on you and that you will have your part done.
4. Ask for Assistance- from whoever classmates, teachers, adults, adviser, and/or anyone who you know has some experience with what you are doing and can lead you in a right direction of what to do or where to go.
5. RESEARCH- make sure to look that what you are going to do really needs attention that there aren't greater issues, make sure that the purpose behind your research won't just benefit one person but instead a group.
6. You CAN make a Difference- although you may be doing only a part of the work what you do does help and every help makes a difference. Every individual makes a difference.
7. Keep up with work- make sure you do not fall behind with what your suppose to do
8. Schedule/Organize- make sure you make time for the scheduled events, there are internships, classes, work, etc. that you have to work around so choose a time you know that you will definitely be able to make it to.
9. Reach Out- Speak to those who you know have power and ability to get donations or more participants.
10. Speak your mind, tell your group and class of what will work for you, if you do not have a Facebook tell them you don't there has to be another way for them to reach you with information.
Good Luck and Best Wishes.
- Kellyann
References:
http://www.joegerstandt.com/2012/03/community-requires-courage/
http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/what-makes-a-community/
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