Grace Hurney
Civic Engagement
9 March 2009
Reflections: Day Two
The day started out rather splendidly when I woke up at…10:15! I rolled out of bed and looked at the schedule for the day. We were scheduled to go to the Frist Center for Visual Arts, a cool museum in the heart of downtown Nashville.
The exhibit was my favorite moment of the day- it was short, unexpectedly so (I thought there would be more than just a hallway exhibit), but still poignant. There were a series of photographs on the walls taken by participants of the Safe Haven Family Shelter. People of all ages ( two to sixty-five!) were enrolled in a two week photography workshop. The workshop was more than just camera work, however. Also included were lessons about “composition, visual storytelling”. Along with the surprisingly good pictures were poems or captions to the photograph. The pictures were vibrant; not just aesthetically vibrant, but you could see the life and energy radiating from these snapshots in time. I think the most rewarding thing I took away from this exhibit is that it broke down stereotypes about homelessness. The children in the photographs were happy and smiling, not dressed in rags and resembling Oliver Twist. The resilience and life featured prominently reminded me that homelessness doesn’t strike any one certain “type” of person, and that there is always hope to be found, no matter your circumstance.
There really weren’t any frustrating or negative moments to the day. We got to explore Nashville a bit more, so it wasn’t labor intensive or that community-service focused.
My random, fun moment of the day was just seeing downtown Nashville. It is a really interesting city in that so many things that normally wouldn’t “go together” co-exist peacefully within the city limits. Hippie stores next to a Confederate flag. Peace signs and cowboy boots. It kind of reminds of humanity in general. We are all extremely different, yet manage to co-exist; not always peacefully for everyone, but for the most part we live and respect one another.
Monday, March 9, 2009
JenniferParsons
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Today we all went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts.
The first hall was contributed to the Photographs of Safe Haven’s “Seeing Ourselves” presentation. It was set-up to inform us about what Safe Haven is. As I walked through the hallway of photography and read the captions to the side of each picture, I began to realize more and more of how blessed I am to have not had to face the hardships these people are facing each day.
“Children experiencing homelessness often mature faster than their peers who live in permanent housing,” states an excerpt by the photograph “Rodneka.” I believe this is a true statement because they are forced to grow up faster because they are introduced to the hardships of life at an earlier stage, one in which most children who are fortunate enough to have a stable home do not have to face until later years in their life. Maturity and understanding of the world is a necessity in taking care of oneself and living out in the real world, therefore homeless children are fast learners when it comes to these aspects of life.
As I walked through the hall and looked at the photographs and read the captions, I felt sorry for the people they were reflecting. After viewing the pictures, I stopped by the video that was playing about the Safe Haven and its contributions. As I watched the video and saw how big of a blessing Safe Haven has been to the many people who are homeless, I was very glad to see that there are still good people in the world willing to help those in need. The long I watched the video, the more tears began to form in my eyes as I listened to the families tell their stories. Many of them feeling as if they had hit rock bottom, Safe Haven lent them a helping hand as they got back on their feet to a better life. As the video was coming to an end, the story of the last family left me crying. It touched me in a way that homelessness has not touched me before.
Watching these videos and actually encountering homeless people has opened my eyes to a whole new perspective. I have a different point of view and it is as if I never really knew what it was. I am thankful to get the chance to have gone on this trip and for all the things I have been blessed with.
I believe that it was rewarding for me to watch the video about the Safe Haven because it gives me more hope that there are good people out there who are willing to help those in need. I find it uplifting to see that so many people are willing to help and that there are so many people out there still willing to try to make a better life for themselves and turn it all around.
I will admit, however, that I have been frustrated with the size of the bottled pop we received with our meal at the Frist Center. Paying $1.25 for a 12 oz. bottle of pop was outrageous! It was hardly enough to satisfy my thirst throughout my meal of half a sandwich and a salad.
Something funny happened today while we were at the Frist Center. While we were looking at the art work, the security guards came up to the girl with me and asked her if she could put her backpack strings on one side of her shoulder. When asking her to do so, he laughed, as did we, as he turned and walked away. After leaving that section of the Center, we walked downstairs to look at artifacts. After looking at one piece of work, another security guard came up and said the exact same thing.
Today we all went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts.
The first hall was contributed to the Photographs of Safe Haven’s “Seeing Ourselves” presentation. It was set-up to inform us about what Safe Haven is. As I walked through the hallway of photography and read the captions to the side of each picture, I began to realize more and more of how blessed I am to have not had to face the hardships these people are facing each day.
“Children experiencing homelessness often mature faster than their peers who live in permanent housing,” states an excerpt by the photograph “Rodneka.” I believe this is a true statement because they are forced to grow up faster because they are introduced to the hardships of life at an earlier stage, one in which most children who are fortunate enough to have a stable home do not have to face until later years in their life. Maturity and understanding of the world is a necessity in taking care of oneself and living out in the real world, therefore homeless children are fast learners when it comes to these aspects of life.
As I walked through the hall and looked at the photographs and read the captions, I felt sorry for the people they were reflecting. After viewing the pictures, I stopped by the video that was playing about the Safe Haven and its contributions. As I watched the video and saw how big of a blessing Safe Haven has been to the many people who are homeless, I was very glad to see that there are still good people in the world willing to help those in need. The long I watched the video, the more tears began to form in my eyes as I listened to the families tell their stories. Many of them feeling as if they had hit rock bottom, Safe Haven lent them a helping hand as they got back on their feet to a better life. As the video was coming to an end, the story of the last family left me crying. It touched me in a way that homelessness has not touched me before.
Watching these videos and actually encountering homeless people has opened my eyes to a whole new perspective. I have a different point of view and it is as if I never really knew what it was. I am thankful to get the chance to have gone on this trip and for all the things I have been blessed with.
I believe that it was rewarding for me to watch the video about the Safe Haven because it gives me more hope that there are good people out there who are willing to help those in need. I find it uplifting to see that so many people are willing to help and that there are so many people out there still willing to try to make a better life for themselves and turn it all around.
I will admit, however, that I have been frustrated with the size of the bottled pop we received with our meal at the Frist Center. Paying $1.25 for a 12 oz. bottle of pop was outrageous! It was hardly enough to satisfy my thirst throughout my meal of half a sandwich and a salad.
Something funny happened today while we were at the Frist Center. While we were looking at the art work, the security guards came up to the girl with me and asked her if she could put her backpack strings on one side of her shoulder. When asking her to do so, he laughed, as did we, as he turned and walked away. After leaving that section of the Center, we walked downstairs to look at artifacts. After looking at one piece of work, another security guard came up and said the exact same thing.
VanVu
Entry for March 7th, 2009
00:30 am, we arrived at our Motel- Baymont Inn & Suites, which was right at the opposite side of the Macy’s and Rivergate Malls. The motel’s outside looked exactly like a normal one in my country (Vietnam). It has 3 floors; each floor has 18 rooms and each room has 2 big beds. The facilities here are not too bad. It can be considered as the 2-star hotel in Vietnam (in the scale of 5). The first thing that we did was lying down on the absolutely comfortable beds and relaxing for a while before taking a hot shower. 3:30 in the morning, I was still awake and tried to finish the 12th episode of my favorite movie called “Full house”. I went to bed around 4:30 and woke up around 6:00. We separated into two teams. Team number one had Jesse Call as their leader and team number two had Alex. I was in team number two, which would work in the Nashville Rescue Mission today.
8:00, we were at Nashville Rescue Mission. All the guys working there were so nice with us. They greeted us as if we were the center’s real members: “Hello West Virginia!!! (…) Are you guys at Concord? (…) We really appreciate your willingness to donate your precious spring break time here to help the homeless people (…)”. Only a few minutes, the environment turned out that it was absolutely not the conversation between the “homeowner” and the “guesses”, but the warm and intimate environment between the perennial colleagues. Today we worked with a guy called Willy. He was extremely nice. We went down to the basement by a special kind of elevator, which could contain a large number of people. I have never seen that one before (but on the television).Our first job was breaking down all the cardboard boxes and put them in a big green cart. After that, we had to separate the shoes boxes and organized them according to their shoes sizes. I was so glad that we started to work together and get to know each other, at least was the others’ names. We talked and chatted with ease: “Hey! What’s your name? (…) Are you tired? (…) Let me help you! (…)”. The teamwork spirit was brought into play. I took out my shyness and started to get acquainted with the other teammates and knew how to take care as well as helping each other. In my opinion, it was the extremely easy way for me to keep pace with a lot of strange people in such a short time.
11:30, we stopped working and went upstairs to eat. The foods here were not as good as I thought. It was the first time that I ate something which was much more terrible than the foods in our schools’ cafeteria. I actually couldn’t eat anything but popcorn. I couldn’t even want to imagine how our dinner would look like since we were still going to have dinner here. The other people seemed having the same idea with me. With a almost-having-nothing stomach, we had to wear the nylon hats, gloves and aprons for serving in the kitchen. Our job was cleaning the table in the dining room after the guesses have done their meals. It was not actually a hard work. We were just so interested in wearing those things on and taking pictures. We definitely looked like the real waiters and waitresses.
After lunch, we came back to the basement and continued working until 3:00pm. The work only was folding the blankets and put them up on the pallets, let them ready to be moved and distributed to the homeless people. 4:00, we had a dinner and came back to the Baymont motel around 5:00. I had some Vietnamese friends in Nashville. We hanged out together, eating another dinner in a Vietnamese restaurant (because we couldn’t eat anything in the shelter at all), and driving around the Nashville downtown to enjoy the gorgeous night sights. The downtown was so crowed since 8 o’clock. We couldn’t find any spare parking lot. The bars were all filled up with thousands of people. After two round trips in the downtown and having no place to park our car, we ended up with coming back to our motel and playing cards. I did not go to bed until the clock jumped up to the number “4:00”. It was enough for a long and hard-working day!
00:30 am, we arrived at our Motel- Baymont Inn & Suites, which was right at the opposite side of the Macy’s and Rivergate Malls. The motel’s outside looked exactly like a normal one in my country (Vietnam). It has 3 floors; each floor has 18 rooms and each room has 2 big beds. The facilities here are not too bad. It can be considered as the 2-star hotel in Vietnam (in the scale of 5). The first thing that we did was lying down on the absolutely comfortable beds and relaxing for a while before taking a hot shower. 3:30 in the morning, I was still awake and tried to finish the 12th episode of my favorite movie called “Full house”. I went to bed around 4:30 and woke up around 6:00. We separated into two teams. Team number one had Jesse Call as their leader and team number two had Alex. I was in team number two, which would work in the Nashville Rescue Mission today.
8:00, we were at Nashville Rescue Mission. All the guys working there were so nice with us. They greeted us as if we were the center’s real members: “Hello West Virginia!!! (…) Are you guys at Concord? (…) We really appreciate your willingness to donate your precious spring break time here to help the homeless people (…)”. Only a few minutes, the environment turned out that it was absolutely not the conversation between the “homeowner” and the “guesses”, but the warm and intimate environment between the perennial colleagues. Today we worked with a guy called Willy. He was extremely nice. We went down to the basement by a special kind of elevator, which could contain a large number of people. I have never seen that one before (but on the television).Our first job was breaking down all the cardboard boxes and put them in a big green cart. After that, we had to separate the shoes boxes and organized them according to their shoes sizes. I was so glad that we started to work together and get to know each other, at least was the others’ names. We talked and chatted with ease: “Hey! What’s your name? (…) Are you tired? (…) Let me help you! (…)”. The teamwork spirit was brought into play. I took out my shyness and started to get acquainted with the other teammates and knew how to take care as well as helping each other. In my opinion, it was the extremely easy way for me to keep pace with a lot of strange people in such a short time.
11:30, we stopped working and went upstairs to eat. The foods here were not as good as I thought. It was the first time that I ate something which was much more terrible than the foods in our schools’ cafeteria. I actually couldn’t eat anything but popcorn. I couldn’t even want to imagine how our dinner would look like since we were still going to have dinner here. The other people seemed having the same idea with me. With a almost-having-nothing stomach, we had to wear the nylon hats, gloves and aprons for serving in the kitchen. Our job was cleaning the table in the dining room after the guesses have done their meals. It was not actually a hard work. We were just so interested in wearing those things on and taking pictures. We definitely looked like the real waiters and waitresses.
After lunch, we came back to the basement and continued working until 3:00pm. The work only was folding the blankets and put them up on the pallets, let them ready to be moved and distributed to the homeless people. 4:00, we had a dinner and came back to the Baymont motel around 5:00. I had some Vietnamese friends in Nashville. We hanged out together, eating another dinner in a Vietnamese restaurant (because we couldn’t eat anything in the shelter at all), and driving around the Nashville downtown to enjoy the gorgeous night sights. The downtown was so crowed since 8 o’clock. We couldn’t find any spare parking lot. The bars were all filled up with thousands of people. After two round trips in the downtown and having no place to park our car, we ended up with coming back to our motel and playing cards. I did not go to bed until the clock jumped up to the number “4:00”. It was enough for a long and hard-working day!
JenniferHellems
Jennifer Hellems
SOWK 350
Dr. Campbell
Journal Entry 2
Sunday March 9, 2009
Today we went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts then explored downtown Nashville. I really enjoyed this evening and really like Nashville. The Frist Center was really cool I enjoyed myself very much. Of course my favorite part was the hands on stuff upstairs that I’m sure was intended for the yonger kids. The main exhibit today was Seeing Ourselves Photographs of Safe Haven. This exhibit contained several pictures of some of the people that live or have lived in the Safe Haven Family Shelter.
Unlike most of the shelters you encounter where the families are split up, the Safe Haven Family Shelter is designed for families. Other shelters are strictly for men or women and children it isn’t very often that families are able to stay together under these circumstances.
I loved all the pictures of the kids from the exhibit and some were about parents, but my favorite one was the one titled ‘Ferris (age 12) Cracking the Human Genome.’ It was my favorite because it said “Ferris, an honor role student, is driven by ambitions and determinations. When presented with the challenge of creating and directing his photograph, Ferris knew he wanted to be seen as a scientist dissecting a model of the human genome.” This let me know that just because this child has had some unfortunate things happen in his life he is still hopeful and knows that one day things can change for him. Things can change for the better and he can do and be whatever he wants to be. I believe that kids need hope and need to always be looking up and I believe this picture shows that.
After I went through and looked at all the pictures from this exhibit I watched the video about Safe Haven Family Shelter and I at first wondered why we weren’t helping out there. It looked like a great place to go and help and interact with people. As I watched the video and seeing all the people that were helped by this place and comparing it to the places we were volunteering at I realized that we weren’t helping out in this particular place because the places we are stationed at need our help more than Safe Haven does. Safe Haven, I feel is ahead of these other places and doesn’t need our help as bad.
The end of the video made me tear up, it was about a woman who had four girls and one boy and she was able to go from being homeless to having her own place for her and her children. It touched me because as they went through looking at the house she was pointing out things that I take for granted everyday. I couldn’t help but think that she has such a long struggle throughout the rest of her life with five kids, but she has come so far.
Safe Haven seems like a wonderful place and seems to be doing great things in Nashville. I am so happy that there are places out there to help people who really need it.
SOWK 350
Dr. Campbell
Journal Entry 2
Sunday March 9, 2009
Today we went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts then explored downtown Nashville. I really enjoyed this evening and really like Nashville. The Frist Center was really cool I enjoyed myself very much. Of course my favorite part was the hands on stuff upstairs that I’m sure was intended for the yonger kids. The main exhibit today was Seeing Ourselves Photographs of Safe Haven. This exhibit contained several pictures of some of the people that live or have lived in the Safe Haven Family Shelter.
Unlike most of the shelters you encounter where the families are split up, the Safe Haven Family Shelter is designed for families. Other shelters are strictly for men or women and children it isn’t very often that families are able to stay together under these circumstances.
I loved all the pictures of the kids from the exhibit and some were about parents, but my favorite one was the one titled ‘Ferris (age 12) Cracking the Human Genome.’ It was my favorite because it said “Ferris, an honor role student, is driven by ambitions and determinations. When presented with the challenge of creating and directing his photograph, Ferris knew he wanted to be seen as a scientist dissecting a model of the human genome.” This let me know that just because this child has had some unfortunate things happen in his life he is still hopeful and knows that one day things can change for him. Things can change for the better and he can do and be whatever he wants to be. I believe that kids need hope and need to always be looking up and I believe this picture shows that.
After I went through and looked at all the pictures from this exhibit I watched the video about Safe Haven Family Shelter and I at first wondered why we weren’t helping out there. It looked like a great place to go and help and interact with people. As I watched the video and seeing all the people that were helped by this place and comparing it to the places we were volunteering at I realized that we weren’t helping out in this particular place because the places we are stationed at need our help more than Safe Haven does. Safe Haven, I feel is ahead of these other places and doesn’t need our help as bad.
The end of the video made me tear up, it was about a woman who had four girls and one boy and she was able to go from being homeless to having her own place for her and her children. It touched me because as they went through looking at the house she was pointing out things that I take for granted everyday. I couldn’t help but think that she has such a long struggle throughout the rest of her life with five kids, but she has come so far.
Safe Haven seems like a wonderful place and seems to be doing great things in Nashville. I am so happy that there are places out there to help people who really need it.
TiffanyMcMahan
Tiffany McMahan
Reflection
March 8, 2009
Today, we explored Nashville TN, and got to experience the Frist Center
for Visual Arts. The exhibits were very interesting especially those about Safe
Haven. The video talked about how many families were affected by
Homelessness and usually its about 4,000 people or 40% of families that are
affected. We also got to see and read many different exhibits and pictures of
home less children and families. There were some that were very inspiring and
some that very emotional. I appreciated being able to visit the center because it
gave me more of an insight into how homelessness affects families. I also
learned Nashville is always in need of volunteers for the shelters.
While we were in downtown Nashville, we seen many homeless people on the streets. This made me very sad to see because it is a hard issue for me to deal with and I have never had to experience homelessness, so it is very hard for me to understand. Some of them were very lonely and was talking to themselves. I think it gave all of us an idea of how they live and what they deal with everyday. Some of our other group members were talking about them and how they were very sad; some even said that they donated money to them.
I believe today was a very good experience for us because we somewhat got to see homeless first hand by seeing the homeless people on the streets. I would be willing to come back here in this area to do more work with the homeless shelters. Since I am a Business Education major, I feel that it is very important that future teachers are always willing to help those in need, and I am always willing to help.
Reflection
March 8, 2009
Today, we explored Nashville TN, and got to experience the Frist Center
for Visual Arts. The exhibits were very interesting especially those about Safe
Haven. The video talked about how many families were affected by
Homelessness and usually its about 4,000 people or 40% of families that are
affected. We also got to see and read many different exhibits and pictures of
home less children and families. There were some that were very inspiring and
some that very emotional. I appreciated being able to visit the center because it
gave me more of an insight into how homelessness affects families. I also
learned Nashville is always in need of volunteers for the shelters.
While we were in downtown Nashville, we seen many homeless people on the streets. This made me very sad to see because it is a hard issue for me to deal with and I have never had to experience homelessness, so it is very hard for me to understand. Some of them were very lonely and was talking to themselves. I think it gave all of us an idea of how they live and what they deal with everyday. Some of our other group members were talking about them and how they were very sad; some even said that they donated money to them.
I believe today was a very good experience for us because we somewhat got to see homeless first hand by seeing the homeless people on the streets. I would be willing to come back here in this area to do more work with the homeless shelters. Since I am a Business Education major, I feel that it is very important that future teachers are always willing to help those in need, and I am always willing to help.
BrianCaulkins
Brian Caulkins
Psychology 350
March 8, 2009
Reflection for Alternative Spring Break: Day #2
Today was the easy day. We were able to sleep in until noon, which was a relief. The day started out different because daylight savings happened today and I missed the awesome continental breakfast. We started our trip today to the Frist Museum. I did not know what type of museum this was going to be. When we rolled up to the actual museum I was amazed. This museum was huge and had a sculpture out front that was very interesting. We ate lunch in the café at the museum. After we ate all of us explored the museum. The first part that I went to was the “make your own art” section. They had a lot of stuff that made learning about art fun. The one I liked the most was the printing project. The first thing we had to do was drawing the object or design what we wanted to print. After that we traced it out on a piece of cardboard. Then it was time for the printing. They rolled paint on the cardboard and then put it through a press. It turned out very well and I was able to take my amazing masterpiece home.
The next place I visited in the museum was the safe haven section. This was the most interesting section to me. I can remember two that really struck interest to me. A boy named Benjamin wrote the first one I read. The caption with the picture is what interested me the most. It said,
“You think we are homeless,
Because you are blind and can not see,
That a home is where your family is
And we are your family”
This is was the type of judgment change that I had yesterday. In yesterdays reflection I talked about how I was amazed how wrong I was about homeless people. If you have people around you, you are not homeless. I had to read this exert a couple times to realize what it really meant. People without homes are without homes, not homes and family. It changed my perspective about homeless people and helped my studying and volunteer work with them more enjoyable.
The next exert I liked stated that children that are homeless have a hard time maturing to their fullest potential. Being homeless is a negative thing that is very hard on children. If they are dramatized early in their life, it will be hard for them to get over it when they are older and not homeless. These two exerts have sparked a new interest in this type of national dilemma for me. Instead of judging homeless people in a negative way, I start to think about the positive things they have and how I can improve those.
I am excited for tomorrow because we get to work at the Rescue Mission. I hope that I can improve somebody’s life by brightening his or her day.
Psychology 350
March 8, 2009
Reflection for Alternative Spring Break: Day #2
Today was the easy day. We were able to sleep in until noon, which was a relief. The day started out different because daylight savings happened today and I missed the awesome continental breakfast. We started our trip today to the Frist Museum. I did not know what type of museum this was going to be. When we rolled up to the actual museum I was amazed. This museum was huge and had a sculpture out front that was very interesting. We ate lunch in the café at the museum. After we ate all of us explored the museum. The first part that I went to was the “make your own art” section. They had a lot of stuff that made learning about art fun. The one I liked the most was the printing project. The first thing we had to do was drawing the object or design what we wanted to print. After that we traced it out on a piece of cardboard. Then it was time for the printing. They rolled paint on the cardboard and then put it through a press. It turned out very well and I was able to take my amazing masterpiece home.
The next place I visited in the museum was the safe haven section. This was the most interesting section to me. I can remember two that really struck interest to me. A boy named Benjamin wrote the first one I read. The caption with the picture is what interested me the most. It said,
“You think we are homeless,
Because you are blind and can not see,
That a home is where your family is
And we are your family”
This is was the type of judgment change that I had yesterday. In yesterdays reflection I talked about how I was amazed how wrong I was about homeless people. If you have people around you, you are not homeless. I had to read this exert a couple times to realize what it really meant. People without homes are without homes, not homes and family. It changed my perspective about homeless people and helped my studying and volunteer work with them more enjoyable.
The next exert I liked stated that children that are homeless have a hard time maturing to their fullest potential. Being homeless is a negative thing that is very hard on children. If they are dramatized early in their life, it will be hard for them to get over it when they are older and not homeless. These two exerts have sparked a new interest in this type of national dilemma for me. Instead of judging homeless people in a negative way, I start to think about the positive things they have and how I can improve those.
I am excited for tomorrow because we get to work at the Rescue Mission. I hope that I can improve somebody’s life by brightening his or her day.
TacyPyles
Tacy Pyles
Dr. Campbell
TN Alternative Spring Break
Journal Entry 2
08 March 2009
Today we visited the Frist Center for Visual Arts. After eating lunch there, we began our tour of the museum. The first exhibit was called “Seeing Ourselves,” and beautifully depicted the splendor of perseverant dreaming. When I heard we would be visiting the exhibit for those families who had been touched by the outreach of Safe Haven, I did not expect to walk away feeling uplifted. Safe Haven focuses on community development that keeps families together and teaches children self-esteem while allowing them to express themselves through art.
The art was surprisingly filled with happiness, dreams, passion and love. After taking a two-week course on self expression through writing and visual arts, the homeless of Safe Haven were given cameras to express through photography and poetry how they see themselves. The images that were compiled in the exhibit were composed of smiles, laughter, flowers and trees. The images demonstrated a belief that they have now become connected with their community in a special way.
I walked away from these images realizing that nothing separates me from the homeless. We have the same kind of hopes and dreams -we feel the same fears and have the same anxieties. Why does a dollar sign make the difference between a friend and an outcast? Why in a country that proudly proclaims that “all men are created equal” can we not make eye contact with the homeless man on the street?
This evening we passed many people from different backgrounds…the upper class who flitted from shop to shop and the homeless who carried everything they own in a few bags. Passing building after building, with shining windows stacked to the sky, fountains with picturesque statues atop and cathedrals with their stained glass windows, it makes me wonder why this is allowed to happen. Why are people allowed to be homeless when the city can afford so much extravagance? Why are some people allowed to live in mansions while others do not even have one room to claim as their own?
Dr. Campbell
TN Alternative Spring Break
Journal Entry 2
08 March 2009
Today we visited the Frist Center for Visual Arts. After eating lunch there, we began our tour of the museum. The first exhibit was called “Seeing Ourselves,” and beautifully depicted the splendor of perseverant dreaming. When I heard we would be visiting the exhibit for those families who had been touched by the outreach of Safe Haven, I did not expect to walk away feeling uplifted. Safe Haven focuses on community development that keeps families together and teaches children self-esteem while allowing them to express themselves through art.
The art was surprisingly filled with happiness, dreams, passion and love. After taking a two-week course on self expression through writing and visual arts, the homeless of Safe Haven were given cameras to express through photography and poetry how they see themselves. The images that were compiled in the exhibit were composed of smiles, laughter, flowers and trees. The images demonstrated a belief that they have now become connected with their community in a special way.
I walked away from these images realizing that nothing separates me from the homeless. We have the same kind of hopes and dreams -we feel the same fears and have the same anxieties. Why does a dollar sign make the difference between a friend and an outcast? Why in a country that proudly proclaims that “all men are created equal” can we not make eye contact with the homeless man on the street?
This evening we passed many people from different backgrounds…the upper class who flitted from shop to shop and the homeless who carried everything they own in a few bags. Passing building after building, with shining windows stacked to the sky, fountains with picturesque statues atop and cathedrals with their stained glass windows, it makes me wonder why this is allowed to happen. Why are people allowed to be homeless when the city can afford so much extravagance? Why are some people allowed to live in mansions while others do not even have one room to claim as their own?
KristinaChampe
Kristina Champe
Alternative Spring Break
Day 2
3-8-2009
Today we got to sleep in (which was great by the way). Then it was our day to go to the Frisk Center Museum. It was amazing. We went to see the exhibit “Seeing Ourselves in the pictures from Safe Haven”. There were some very, very exciting pictures there. I really enjoyed looking at them. The museum was a very awe-inspiring experience. It was like the pictures spoke to me when I was there. There was a picture there that I really enjoyed, of the kids with their feet in the water that looked like they were washing their sheets in a bucket, it said that even through their suffering experiences they can find joy and play through resilience. I really enjoyed going to this museum. It really showed me how the homeless see the world through their eyes and it was a great experience. This gave me a new way to look at the world also, and I really appreciated.
Later in the evening we went downtown and we saw some homeless people, and discussed how many saw and from being in the shelter we could tell who was homeless and everyone knew, and it was pretty sad. We didn’t what to do or say but we had a great day and the museum and downtown, and can’t wait to see what the rest of the week is going to bring.
Alternative Spring Break
Day 2
3-8-2009
Today we got to sleep in (which was great by the way). Then it was our day to go to the Frisk Center Museum. It was amazing. We went to see the exhibit “Seeing Ourselves in the pictures from Safe Haven”. There were some very, very exciting pictures there. I really enjoyed looking at them. The museum was a very awe-inspiring experience. It was like the pictures spoke to me when I was there. There was a picture there that I really enjoyed, of the kids with their feet in the water that looked like they were washing their sheets in a bucket, it said that even through their suffering experiences they can find joy and play through resilience. I really enjoyed going to this museum. It really showed me how the homeless see the world through their eyes and it was a great experience. This gave me a new way to look at the world also, and I really appreciated.
Later in the evening we went downtown and we saw some homeless people, and discussed how many saw and from being in the shelter we could tell who was homeless and everyone knew, and it was pretty sad. We didn’t what to do or say but we had a great day and the museum and downtown, and can’t wait to see what the rest of the week is going to bring.
VirginiaVerburg
Virginia Verburg
Reflections
Day Two 3/8/09
Today we went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts to see an art collection on display from Safe Haven. Safe Haven is an organization in Nashville that helps homeless families stay together and find jobs and housing. I watched a video about Safe Haven and different families stories of going into Safe Haven and their accomplishments. A few other girls were watching the video with me and became emotional during the last story about seeing a woman and her 5 daughters move into a house. The families generally spend months working to save up money and eliminate their debt so they can afford to rent or buy a home.
Another part of the Safe Haven display were pictures and poems that were taken and written by the children that stay there. I was really impressed to read about some of the children’s goals in life and how well they could write poetry. I wish we could have worked with Safe Haven because I feel like there is more of a need to work with women and children then there is with men. In the video it mentioned that somewhere around 40% of the homeless came from families.
While I respect the fact that not all of the men that are homeless have committed a crime or are addicts, most of them still are. To me I would feel more of a connection working with women and children because I can sympathize more with the fact that they are probably homeless because they have left an abusive relationship or something happened that was truly out of their control. I also like the idea that they do not split families up at Safe Haven. A lot of the commentary on the video was families stating how much closer they became at the shelter by spending months together. I believe it is important to worth with homeless men as well, however I hope at some point in my life I can work with women and children as well.
Reflections
Day Two 3/8/09
Today we went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts to see an art collection on display from Safe Haven. Safe Haven is an organization in Nashville that helps homeless families stay together and find jobs and housing. I watched a video about Safe Haven and different families stories of going into Safe Haven and their accomplishments. A few other girls were watching the video with me and became emotional during the last story about seeing a woman and her 5 daughters move into a house. The families generally spend months working to save up money and eliminate their debt so they can afford to rent or buy a home.
Another part of the Safe Haven display were pictures and poems that were taken and written by the children that stay there. I was really impressed to read about some of the children’s goals in life and how well they could write poetry. I wish we could have worked with Safe Haven because I feel like there is more of a need to work with women and children then there is with men. In the video it mentioned that somewhere around 40% of the homeless came from families.
While I respect the fact that not all of the men that are homeless have committed a crime or are addicts, most of them still are. To me I would feel more of a connection working with women and children because I can sympathize more with the fact that they are probably homeless because they have left an abusive relationship or something happened that was truly out of their control. I also like the idea that they do not split families up at Safe Haven. A lot of the commentary on the video was families stating how much closer they became at the shelter by spending months together. I believe it is important to worth with homeless men as well, however I hope at some point in my life I can work with women and children as well.
SamanthaThomas
Samantha Thomas
Reflection Day 2
2-8-09
Today, we visited the Frist Center. The collections at the art museum included art ranging from Medieval pieces of art to the exhibit we paid close attention to: “Seeing Ourselves: Photographs of Safe Haven.” The parents and children of some of the families at Safe Haven took the photos. The photographs reflected many things including self-photographs and pictures of families. The one picture that affected me the most was the very first shown in the exhibit. This little girl was simply playing with a bubble machine, like most little girls. However, beside the picture a similar quote was used: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.” It simply showed me and I hope the people around us that these people are not “just homeless,” they are people that have only fallen and need help getting back on their feet. Another part of the exhibit that really affected me was the video that Safe Haven Shelter and Blueskies Productions had put together in reference to what the shelter was about and how some of it operated. As I watched them explain how they wanted to keep their family’s together I was becoming a sympathetic for those who have to split up their families in order to simply survive from day to day. But near the end of the video, this one single family affected me the most. The last name escapes me, but the family consisted of a mother and her five children. When they saw their new home that was provided to them via the shelter, every single one of them began to tear, including several of the older children who completely understood the situation. When I heard soft sobs, my focus was drawn away from the flat screen television and to the faces of the girls standing around me. Every face was wet and every eye was red and swollen. My heart began to hurt as I felt complete and utter regret for not trying to help with this cause sooner.
Reflection Day 2
2-8-09
Today, we visited the Frist Center. The collections at the art museum included art ranging from Medieval pieces of art to the exhibit we paid close attention to: “Seeing Ourselves: Photographs of Safe Haven.” The parents and children of some of the families at Safe Haven took the photos. The photographs reflected many things including self-photographs and pictures of families. The one picture that affected me the most was the very first shown in the exhibit. This little girl was simply playing with a bubble machine, like most little girls. However, beside the picture a similar quote was used: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.” It simply showed me and I hope the people around us that these people are not “just homeless,” they are people that have only fallen and need help getting back on their feet. Another part of the exhibit that really affected me was the video that Safe Haven Shelter and Blueskies Productions had put together in reference to what the shelter was about and how some of it operated. As I watched them explain how they wanted to keep their family’s together I was becoming a sympathetic for those who have to split up their families in order to simply survive from day to day. But near the end of the video, this one single family affected me the most. The last name escapes me, but the family consisted of a mother and her five children. When they saw their new home that was provided to them via the shelter, every single one of them began to tear, including several of the older children who completely understood the situation. When I heard soft sobs, my focus was drawn away from the flat screen television and to the faces of the girls standing around me. Every face was wet and every eye was red and swollen. My heart began to hurt as I felt complete and utter regret for not trying to help with this cause sooner.
JessicaKirk
Kirk, Jessica
3-8-09
Alternative Spring Break in Nashville
Day Two
Today we went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in downtown Nashville to view a exhibit called Seeing Ourselves which is on homelessness. What made this exhibit really unique is that all of the pictures was taken by homeless people and not just a photographer who would take the photos of them in their moments of weakness and then go home to his home. All of these homeless people are participants in the Safe Haven Family Shelter.
Safe Haven really is a remarkable program that offers many homeless people and even families a warm, safe place, and a chance to get back on their feet. In a video that they was showing in the exhibit they showed this one family who had finally moved into their own place. The mother was a single mom with I think maybe 3 really young children, and as she was in tears over the fact that she was finally in a place where she wanted she wanted to be in her life for her and her children. As she cried I started to tear up, and when I looked around everyone else was either tearing up or crying as well. This was a very rewarding experience because we was able to see what homelessness is life but through the eyes and words of those who are actually experiencing it or experienced it.
The only negative experience I could really see in this exhibit is that you don't really get the one on one experience as you do with at the Campus for Human Development. But at the same time it still is really rewarding because the photos really are interesting. My favorite of the photos was one by a 7 year old girl named Hadassah.
The picture is of her I think and another child and Luka. Luka is a dog that is a member of the Safe Haven staff. Luka serves as a vital part of the experience for children because typically homeless people do not have pets, and every child should have at least one pet. Luka sat beside them in a protective and sheltering way that seemed very comforting to the children.
3-8-09
Alternative Spring Break in Nashville
Day Two
Today we went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in downtown Nashville to view a exhibit called Seeing Ourselves which is on homelessness. What made this exhibit really unique is that all of the pictures was taken by homeless people and not just a photographer who would take the photos of them in their moments of weakness and then go home to his home. All of these homeless people are participants in the Safe Haven Family Shelter.
Safe Haven really is a remarkable program that offers many homeless people and even families a warm, safe place, and a chance to get back on their feet. In a video that they was showing in the exhibit they showed this one family who had finally moved into their own place. The mother was a single mom with I think maybe 3 really young children, and as she was in tears over the fact that she was finally in a place where she wanted she wanted to be in her life for her and her children. As she cried I started to tear up, and when I looked around everyone else was either tearing up or crying as well. This was a very rewarding experience because we was able to see what homelessness is life but through the eyes and words of those who are actually experiencing it or experienced it.
The only negative experience I could really see in this exhibit is that you don't really get the one on one experience as you do with at the Campus for Human Development. But at the same time it still is really rewarding because the photos really are interesting. My favorite of the photos was one by a 7 year old girl named Hadassah.
The picture is of her I think and another child and Luka. Luka is a dog that is a member of the Safe Haven staff. Luka serves as a vital part of the experience for children because typically homeless people do not have pets, and every child should have at least one pet. Luka sat beside them in a protective and sheltering way that seemed very comforting to the children.
KiwaNadas
Today we went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts to see the exhibit on Safe Haven. The photographs in the exhibit focused mostly on one young man named Benjamin. The exhibit gave me a lot to think about homelessness then what I saw the day before and showed the same side to it. The exhibit was about hope and finding a way out of it. Which is what the Campus for Human Development was trying to help the people achieve.
TiffanyShaver
Tiffany Shaver
Dr. Campbell
3-8-09
Reflection Journal-Day Two
Today was the second day of the Alternative Spring Break and it was the day we all went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. The museum was amazing and my favorite part, excluding Safe Haven which I will talk about later on, was the paintings. The artwork was very abstract and it was as if some of them could look into your soul. My favorite was a painting by Alice Neel of a deformed man. The description of the painting said that it was supposed to represent the inner conflict with one’s self. The reason I found it to be so interesting because it shows that people are not perfect and we all would be deformed in some way to represent the struggles within.
Even though I thoroughly enjoyed the artwork displayed at the museum, my favorite was the hallway based on Safe Haven. Safe Haven is a homeless shelter dedicated for families. It is the only shelter in Nashville that allows for families to stay together. In addition to allowing the families to stay together, Safe Haven also pours in job training and counseling to help the families get back on their feet. The hallway dedicated to Safe Haven was called Seeing Ourselves. All along the hallway there were blown up pictures that represent life patterns that are experienced by people living in a variety of circumstances. My favorite picture was by Hadassah called Luka and Me. Luka is a dog and a member of the Safe Haven Community. His job is to provide love and friendship to the children. The picture was amazing and it reflected best on what Safe Haven is all about. However, my favorite quote on the pictures was by Ferris called Goals. The quote stated, “Hopes and dreams need not be stifled by labels and stereotypes associated with homelessness.” I feel in love with that quote because everyone has hopes and dreams, whether you are the richest person in the world or the poorest. We all drive to be something in this world and that will never change.
All in all, today was very good. I enjoyed the art museum, especially looking at Safe Haven. So far, the week has been amazing and I am looking forward to what it brings.
Dr. Campbell
3-8-09
Reflection Journal-Day Two
Today was the second day of the Alternative Spring Break and it was the day we all went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. The museum was amazing and my favorite part, excluding Safe Haven which I will talk about later on, was the paintings. The artwork was very abstract and it was as if some of them could look into your soul. My favorite was a painting by Alice Neel of a deformed man. The description of the painting said that it was supposed to represent the inner conflict with one’s self. The reason I found it to be so interesting because it shows that people are not perfect and we all would be deformed in some way to represent the struggles within.
Even though I thoroughly enjoyed the artwork displayed at the museum, my favorite was the hallway based on Safe Haven. Safe Haven is a homeless shelter dedicated for families. It is the only shelter in Nashville that allows for families to stay together. In addition to allowing the families to stay together, Safe Haven also pours in job training and counseling to help the families get back on their feet. The hallway dedicated to Safe Haven was called Seeing Ourselves. All along the hallway there were blown up pictures that represent life patterns that are experienced by people living in a variety of circumstances. My favorite picture was by Hadassah called Luka and Me. Luka is a dog and a member of the Safe Haven Community. His job is to provide love and friendship to the children. The picture was amazing and it reflected best on what Safe Haven is all about. However, my favorite quote on the pictures was by Ferris called Goals. The quote stated, “Hopes and dreams need not be stifled by labels and stereotypes associated with homelessness.” I feel in love with that quote because everyone has hopes and dreams, whether you are the richest person in the world or the poorest. We all drive to be something in this world and that will never change.
All in all, today was very good. I enjoyed the art museum, especially looking at Safe Haven. So far, the week has been amazing and I am looking forward to what it brings.
TreskaDunbar
Treska Dunbar
Journal/Reflection
March 8, 2009
Today was a thought provoking day. Among the many exhibits at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts was the photography taken by homeless individuals from the Safe Haven shelter. This exhibit allowed me to think about homelessness and to see a different kind of visual representation of the homeless individuals. One of the most interesting pieces of the exhibit was a self portrait of Benjamin. The photo is of a homeless teenager who decided to serve his country. Later on, in the exhibit you view another self portrait of Benjamin that shows him as a man in uniform saluting his country. As a social work major we are made aware of the government programs that are available or not so available to the homeless population. It was interesting to me that an individual who was homeless would desire to serve our country. In my mind, the homeless would feel ungrateful to our country and feel as though our country is failing to provide them with the services that they need to be productive members of society. I feel as though we as a society fail to provide the necessary social services and programs to help these less fortunate members of our society lead safe lives with at the very least a bed to sleep in and some food to eat.
Another picture in the exhibit was a photo of homeless children with a dog. Yesterday at the Camus for Human Development a staff member informed us that they have cats running around to give the participants a friend. This photo had a message saying that the Safe Haven has this dog on staff to provide unconditional love and friendship to the people who use their facility. As someone who loves her puppy, I can completely understand the unconditional love that an animal can provide. This reminded of another item that I take for granted.
Another photo that really stood out in my mind was the photo of a little boy and a basketball. This story had a message beside it that said “I had a dream…Magic Johnson was there…He autographed the ball...” This reminded me that homeless children are just like any other child. Little boys all look up to some hero and aspire to meet that person. This reminded me that the difference between me and the homeless is as simple as food, shelter, and material goods. They have similar desires and aspirations. All little kids want to grow up and change the world or be someone famous; some sleep in a homeless shelter or on the street at night and some read bedtime stories and have mom or dad tuck them tightly into their warm bed.
Tonight as I was spending some time touring the city of Nashville, a presumably homeless man approached my friend and me and asked us for some money. Since neither of us had cash, he asked us to buy him dinner at a little restaurant down the street. I have been asked for money multiple times and every time I have the same reaction. What are they going to do to me? Is it safe to communicate with them? This time was no different. I was uncomfortable and scared. I realize they are human just like me, but I still have this idea in my mind that it is unsafe to make extended contact and allow them to lead you somewhere. I didn’t trust him for a moment. We followed him to his chosen restaurant, bought him food, and returned to touring the town. I realized that just as we returned to our lives of touring Nashville he would again return to his life of trying to find the funds for his next meal and a place to rest his head tonight. This made me sad, and allowed me to realize that we all have routines and roles that we play in society and unfortunately his role is the homeless man who has to panhandle for some money to buy a sandwich and a coke. If I want a sandwich and a coke I seldom think twice about walking up to the counter ordering and paying and going on with my life.
Journal/Reflection
March 8, 2009
Today was a thought provoking day. Among the many exhibits at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts was the photography taken by homeless individuals from the Safe Haven shelter. This exhibit allowed me to think about homelessness and to see a different kind of visual representation of the homeless individuals. One of the most interesting pieces of the exhibit was a self portrait of Benjamin. The photo is of a homeless teenager who decided to serve his country. Later on, in the exhibit you view another self portrait of Benjamin that shows him as a man in uniform saluting his country. As a social work major we are made aware of the government programs that are available or not so available to the homeless population. It was interesting to me that an individual who was homeless would desire to serve our country. In my mind, the homeless would feel ungrateful to our country and feel as though our country is failing to provide them with the services that they need to be productive members of society. I feel as though we as a society fail to provide the necessary social services and programs to help these less fortunate members of our society lead safe lives with at the very least a bed to sleep in and some food to eat.
Another picture in the exhibit was a photo of homeless children with a dog. Yesterday at the Camus for Human Development a staff member informed us that they have cats running around to give the participants a friend. This photo had a message saying that the Safe Haven has this dog on staff to provide unconditional love and friendship to the people who use their facility. As someone who loves her puppy, I can completely understand the unconditional love that an animal can provide. This reminded of another item that I take for granted.
Another photo that really stood out in my mind was the photo of a little boy and a basketball. This story had a message beside it that said “I had a dream…Magic Johnson was there…He autographed the ball...” This reminded me that homeless children are just like any other child. Little boys all look up to some hero and aspire to meet that person. This reminded me that the difference between me and the homeless is as simple as food, shelter, and material goods. They have similar desires and aspirations. All little kids want to grow up and change the world or be someone famous; some sleep in a homeless shelter or on the street at night and some read bedtime stories and have mom or dad tuck them tightly into their warm bed.
Tonight as I was spending some time touring the city of Nashville, a presumably homeless man approached my friend and me and asked us for some money. Since neither of us had cash, he asked us to buy him dinner at a little restaurant down the street. I have been asked for money multiple times and every time I have the same reaction. What are they going to do to me? Is it safe to communicate with them? This time was no different. I was uncomfortable and scared. I realize they are human just like me, but I still have this idea in my mind that it is unsafe to make extended contact and allow them to lead you somewhere. I didn’t trust him for a moment. We followed him to his chosen restaurant, bought him food, and returned to touring the town. I realized that just as we returned to our lives of touring Nashville he would again return to his life of trying to find the funds for his next meal and a place to rest his head tonight. This made me sad, and allowed me to realize that we all have routines and roles that we play in society and unfortunately his role is the homeless man who has to panhandle for some money to buy a sandwich and a coke. If I want a sandwich and a coke I seldom think twice about walking up to the counter ordering and paying and going on with my life.
NicoleBartley
Nicole Bartley
March 8th 2009
REFLECTION
Reflection: Day 2
So today we went to the musem, The Frist Center. I don’t see how visiting this museum was helping anybody. We looked at a bunch of pretty pictures, and I guess we were left with trying to figure out the feelings behind the art. Again, I don’t see how this is helping anybody. I don’t see why they would have this ‘Safe Haven’ exhibit. Whats the purpose for it? To show off how great some people can take pictures? To show off how easy it is? Is it an advertisment? “So easy, a homless person can do it!” Added with a big fake smile at the end? I asked my roomates this, and they told me it was to see their point of view, and to give them the chance to do something yadda yadda yadda. My question, or thought, Why give them a camera? Why not give them training in a field that could make them money and get them back on their feet? Ok, pictures and art are a good way to express themselves, but how does expressing yourself make you money? How does that give you a home, and put food on the table?
The pictures had descriptions, the only one I felt worth reading was the picture of a 14-year-old named Benjamin. It was a picture of him in his Air Force JROTC uniform. He said he wanted to join the military. That’s a kid after my own heart right there. Wanting to do something productive with his life, and even better something involving the military, is what I like to see. It’s what I plan to do in the next 2 years as well.
So I was told that in these reflections we have to write a good story, and a bad story about the day. The picture of Benjamin can be the good story. My bad story, well, theres a lot of them. I suppose the whole day was bad. I guess my bad story can be how I don’t feel like we are doing anything here by going to museums. I’m pretty sure I signed up to help out, work at homeless shelters, and soup kitchens. It’s what I do back home at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. I don’t understand why it isnt the same here. Sure, it was a nice get-away I guess, but I came here to work. That’s what I want to be doing. That’s what we should have been doing.
March 8th 2009
REFLECTION
Reflection: Day 2
So today we went to the musem, The Frist Center. I don’t see how visiting this museum was helping anybody. We looked at a bunch of pretty pictures, and I guess we were left with trying to figure out the feelings behind the art. Again, I don’t see how this is helping anybody. I don’t see why they would have this ‘Safe Haven’ exhibit. Whats the purpose for it? To show off how great some people can take pictures? To show off how easy it is? Is it an advertisment? “So easy, a homless person can do it!” Added with a big fake smile at the end? I asked my roomates this, and they told me it was to see their point of view, and to give them the chance to do something yadda yadda yadda. My question, or thought, Why give them a camera? Why not give them training in a field that could make them money and get them back on their feet? Ok, pictures and art are a good way to express themselves, but how does expressing yourself make you money? How does that give you a home, and put food on the table?
The pictures had descriptions, the only one I felt worth reading was the picture of a 14-year-old named Benjamin. It was a picture of him in his Air Force JROTC uniform. He said he wanted to join the military. That’s a kid after my own heart right there. Wanting to do something productive with his life, and even better something involving the military, is what I like to see. It’s what I plan to do in the next 2 years as well.
So I was told that in these reflections we have to write a good story, and a bad story about the day. The picture of Benjamin can be the good story. My bad story, well, theres a lot of them. I suppose the whole day was bad. I guess my bad story can be how I don’t feel like we are doing anything here by going to museums. I’m pretty sure I signed up to help out, work at homeless shelters, and soup kitchens. It’s what I do back home at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. I don’t understand why it isnt the same here. Sure, it was a nice get-away I guess, but I came here to work. That’s what I want to be doing. That’s what we should have been doing.
AkeyaCarterBozman
Akeya Carter-Bozman
Day Two Reflection
Day two of our mission was not as intense as our first day in Nashville, today we relaxed at the Frist Center Museum in downtown Nashville. The Safe Haven homeless shelter had an exhibit showing life through their eyes, or through the lens of their camera. Surprisingly the faces were happy faces, which caused me to question everything I thought I knew about homelessness. Why is it that they have lost everything and are forced to live in the destitute, yet still find a way to smile through their circumstances?
The part of the exhibit that touched me the most was the video interviews of some of the families who lived in the shelter. One father as he was interviewed sang a joyful song about how good God had been to him, his wife, and two beautiful daughters, I cried to myself as a I listened to haw sincere he was. I complain everyday about the dorm I live in, the cafeteria food, and even the fact that I can’t shop as much as I would like. I felt selfish here I am so blessed and I can’t even the last time I thanked God for anything he has done for me. But a homeless man and his family are praising him for the “life” they live with so little. Wow! Today I began to question myself, why is it that we live in one of the freest, greatest, and richest nations in the free world, and have record numbers of homeless people. Why does life through the lens of the homeless seems happier than everyday live for milddle and upper class. Think about it, money drives our society, and we are always striving to live better and have more. Why? When people who have so little lives seem full of simplicity and more real than anything/
Day Two Reflection
Day two of our mission was not as intense as our first day in Nashville, today we relaxed at the Frist Center Museum in downtown Nashville. The Safe Haven homeless shelter had an exhibit showing life through their eyes, or through the lens of their camera. Surprisingly the faces were happy faces, which caused me to question everything I thought I knew about homelessness. Why is it that they have lost everything and are forced to live in the destitute, yet still find a way to smile through their circumstances?
The part of the exhibit that touched me the most was the video interviews of some of the families who lived in the shelter. One father as he was interviewed sang a joyful song about how good God had been to him, his wife, and two beautiful daughters, I cried to myself as a I listened to haw sincere he was. I complain everyday about the dorm I live in, the cafeteria food, and even the fact that I can’t shop as much as I would like. I felt selfish here I am so blessed and I can’t even the last time I thanked God for anything he has done for me. But a homeless man and his family are praising him for the “life” they live with so little. Wow! Today I began to question myself, why is it that we live in one of the freest, greatest, and richest nations in the free world, and have record numbers of homeless people. Why does life through the lens of the homeless seems happier than everyday live for milddle and upper class. Think about it, money drives our society, and we are always striving to live better and have more. Why? When people who have so little lives seem full of simplicity and more real than anything/
AnneEndres
Anne Endres
8 March 2009
PSY 350
ASB: Day Two Reflection
Dear Journal--
Today was a much more relaxed day work-wise and it was pretty nice. First of all, I got a lot more sleep, which is always a plus. It was wonderful receiving over eight hours of sleep, especially after only sleeping a few hours Friday night. Also, instead of working all day (like we did on Saturday), we spent our day more leisurely, officially beginning at 12:30PM when we had our group meeting and then traveled to Nashville’s Frist Museum for the Visual Arts. There, we dined and viewed exhibits. After dining in the café, we had about two hours to explore the museum. One of the current exhibits features Safe Haven Family Shelter in Nashville. This exhibit brought a more positive light to homelessness and I enjoyed that aspect. Safe Haven is the only homeless shelter in the greater Nashville area that provides job training AND interim housing. Just like Nashville’s Campus for Human Development, Safe Haven offers classes in composition and art; however, Safe Haven’s artsy classes focus more on photography and visual storytelling. The homeless people at Safe Haven took the pictures featured throughout the exhibit and attached short poems that painted pictures of their thoughts and feelings.
Although today was great in regards to relaxing after yesterday’s extremely full day, it was sad to still see homeless people on the streets of downtown Nashville tonight. At times I was tempted to give them a dollar or two, but at the same time I realized that they probably would not have put my donation to good use. Instead of using it for food or another necessity, they may have used it toward feeding their addictions, whether they be drug- or alcohol- related. It’s unfortunate, yes, but at the same time it’s heartbreaking to know that you can’t really help them despite your intentions.
On a lighter note, I’d definitely say the best part of my day was visiting with my Uncle Kevin and Aunt Linda. They live in Nashville and took Brian, my boyfriend, and I out to eat. We went to this taco restaurant across the street from Vanderbilt University and it was much tastier than our meals at the Nashville Rescue Mission (no offense!). After we finished our delicious tacos and cheese dip, my relatives took us around the streets of downtown Nashville and we got beignets at Wild Bill’s. Boy, were those pastries tasty! Aside from the tasty treats, it was really nice getting to visit with my relatives. Plus, I think they like Brian! Wahoo
8 March 2009
PSY 350
ASB: Day Two Reflection
Dear Journal--
Today was a much more relaxed day work-wise and it was pretty nice. First of all, I got a lot more sleep, which is always a plus. It was wonderful receiving over eight hours of sleep, especially after only sleeping a few hours Friday night. Also, instead of working all day (like we did on Saturday), we spent our day more leisurely, officially beginning at 12:30PM when we had our group meeting and then traveled to Nashville’s Frist Museum for the Visual Arts. There, we dined and viewed exhibits. After dining in the café, we had about two hours to explore the museum. One of the current exhibits features Safe Haven Family Shelter in Nashville. This exhibit brought a more positive light to homelessness and I enjoyed that aspect. Safe Haven is the only homeless shelter in the greater Nashville area that provides job training AND interim housing. Just like Nashville’s Campus for Human Development, Safe Haven offers classes in composition and art; however, Safe Haven’s artsy classes focus more on photography and visual storytelling. The homeless people at Safe Haven took the pictures featured throughout the exhibit and attached short poems that painted pictures of their thoughts and feelings.
Although today was great in regards to relaxing after yesterday’s extremely full day, it was sad to still see homeless people on the streets of downtown Nashville tonight. At times I was tempted to give them a dollar or two, but at the same time I realized that they probably would not have put my donation to good use. Instead of using it for food or another necessity, they may have used it toward feeding their addictions, whether they be drug- or alcohol- related. It’s unfortunate, yes, but at the same time it’s heartbreaking to know that you can’t really help them despite your intentions.
On a lighter note, I’d definitely say the best part of my day was visiting with my Uncle Kevin and Aunt Linda. They live in Nashville and took Brian, my boyfriend, and I out to eat. We went to this taco restaurant across the street from Vanderbilt University and it was much tastier than our meals at the Nashville Rescue Mission (no offense!). After we finished our delicious tacos and cheese dip, my relatives took us around the streets of downtown Nashville and we got beignets at Wild Bill’s. Boy, were those pastries tasty! Aside from the tasty treats, it was really nice getting to visit with my relatives. Plus, I think they like Brian! Wahoo
TiffanyShaver
Tiffany Shaver
Dr. Campbell
3-7-09
Reflection Journal-Day One
Today was the first day of the Alternative Spring Break. Our group, Alex’s group, went to the Nashville Rescue Mission. I didn’t really know what to expect going in, but I was keeping my hopes high.
We went in to the Rescue Mission down a long hallway. Our guy that was with us all day was Willy. Throughout the day, he talked to us about the Rescue Mission and what it was all about. Our first fact of information that we found out was that it was a Christian Rescue Mission, which I found to be really awesome. Another fact that we found out was that most of their staff working there has been through there program. They have many program to help with addictions, ranging from alcohol and drug use to gambling. So, many of those who work there are going through the program or have already graduated from the program.
The events of the day were of particular interest. Down in the basement of the Rescue Mission is a huge warehouse, filled with tons and tons of stuff, from shoes, to walkers, to mattresses, to a skeleton (which we found out isn’t real). Our first job was to sort through hundreds and hundreds of shoes and organize them. We cleared off shelves upon shelves of shoes, some that they are giving away and some they are keeping. That lasted around three hours until it was time for lunch, which is when the real fun began.
They let us eat first before we served the food. So we ate and then cleaned off tables and served food to those who are living there. After we ate, four of us stayed in the kitchen to finish serving food, while the rest went back downstairs. There was a rush of people to come in for food, then it was the handicapped people, and then another big rush. All of those people live at the Mission, and after them it was people who were actually homeless and were not staying at the mission. That was probably the hardest part of the day, and it was even harder when this particular guy came in. This guy was a black guy, but most of his face was pink where it had been burnt off. There were random patches of black on his face, but most was pink. That was so hard for me that I had to turn my head away and pretend like I was getting more popcorn to serve.
After lunch, around one, the rest of us headed back down to the warehouse. A few more hours of working, sorting through blankets and sheets (there were so many sheets!), and then Willy allowed us to go upstairs and rest before dinner. Talking to Willy was really interesting. You could tell that he was very passionate about what he does and that he genuinely loves to help people. He was very impressed with all of the work that we got done, as was everyone else.
All in all, it was a productive and meaningful day. I have a huge passion for helping people, particularly in situations like this, and I am excited to have this opportunity to do so. One of the things I noticed today, was that everyone was a community. It didn’t matter where they had been in life, only where they were going. Today I saw a lot of laughter and a lot of hugs. One hug scene that comes to mind was during dinner. One guy was chasing another guy around begging for a hug. They were both laughing and enjoying being in each other’s company. That’s what I loved most about today, was that they were there for each other and they loved each other. I know that this week will be one that I will never forget and I am excited to see what the coming week will bring.
Dr. Campbell
3-7-09
Reflection Journal-Day One
Today was the first day of the Alternative Spring Break. Our group, Alex’s group, went to the Nashville Rescue Mission. I didn’t really know what to expect going in, but I was keeping my hopes high.
We went in to the Rescue Mission down a long hallway. Our guy that was with us all day was Willy. Throughout the day, he talked to us about the Rescue Mission and what it was all about. Our first fact of information that we found out was that it was a Christian Rescue Mission, which I found to be really awesome. Another fact that we found out was that most of their staff working there has been through there program. They have many program to help with addictions, ranging from alcohol and drug use to gambling. So, many of those who work there are going through the program or have already graduated from the program.
The events of the day were of particular interest. Down in the basement of the Rescue Mission is a huge warehouse, filled with tons and tons of stuff, from shoes, to walkers, to mattresses, to a skeleton (which we found out isn’t real). Our first job was to sort through hundreds and hundreds of shoes and organize them. We cleared off shelves upon shelves of shoes, some that they are giving away and some they are keeping. That lasted around three hours until it was time for lunch, which is when the real fun began.
They let us eat first before we served the food. So we ate and then cleaned off tables and served food to those who are living there. After we ate, four of us stayed in the kitchen to finish serving food, while the rest went back downstairs. There was a rush of people to come in for food, then it was the handicapped people, and then another big rush. All of those people live at the Mission, and after them it was people who were actually homeless and were not staying at the mission. That was probably the hardest part of the day, and it was even harder when this particular guy came in. This guy was a black guy, but most of his face was pink where it had been burnt off. There were random patches of black on his face, but most was pink. That was so hard for me that I had to turn my head away and pretend like I was getting more popcorn to serve.
After lunch, around one, the rest of us headed back down to the warehouse. A few more hours of working, sorting through blankets and sheets (there were so many sheets!), and then Willy allowed us to go upstairs and rest before dinner. Talking to Willy was really interesting. You could tell that he was very passionate about what he does and that he genuinely loves to help people. He was very impressed with all of the work that we got done, as was everyone else.
All in all, it was a productive and meaningful day. I have a huge passion for helping people, particularly in situations like this, and I am excited to have this opportunity to do so. One of the things I noticed today, was that everyone was a community. It didn’t matter where they had been in life, only where they were going. Today I saw a lot of laughter and a lot of hugs. One hug scene that comes to mind was during dinner. One guy was chasing another guy around begging for a hug. They were both laughing and enjoying being in each other’s company. That’s what I loved most about today, was that they were there for each other and they loved each other. I know that this week will be one that I will never forget and I am excited to see what the coming week will bring.
BrittanyRothausen
Brittany Rothausen
Homeless Service Reflection 2
March 8, 2009 – Day 2
Today we went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts and saw an exhibit entitled “Seeing Ourselves: Photographs of Safe Haven.” It was made up of photographs of homeless families who directed their own photos. It was a relatively small exhibit, but still very powerful. Perhaps the most inspiring image was of a 14 year old boy named Benjamin, who, despite being homeless, still stays true to his dream of joining the military. One thing I noticed about the photos is that none of the people look sad and the icturs always have a happy tone. That theme goes along with something we noticed at the Campus for Human Development yesterday. When we were reflecting with our group, Akeya brought up the fact that she always say people smiling, something she wouldn’t have expected given their circumstances. I find that really motivational. Afterall, we’re all given challenges to overcome in our lives and we all go through hard times. Being sad and depressed doesn’t solve anything and I admire these people for making the most of their situations and not letting homelessness destroy their goals.
In the evening we went to downtown Nashville and walked around. We had a lot of fun, but it was also somewhat of a saddening experience because I saw a lot of homeless people. Before this experience, I kind of doubt I would have even noticed them or paid much attention. After spending time at the campus for human development yesterday, however, I have a different understanding of what they go through.
Homeless Service Reflection 2
March 8, 2009 – Day 2
Today we went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts and saw an exhibit entitled “Seeing Ourselves: Photographs of Safe Haven.” It was made up of photographs of homeless families who directed their own photos. It was a relatively small exhibit, but still very powerful. Perhaps the most inspiring image was of a 14 year old boy named Benjamin, who, despite being homeless, still stays true to his dream of joining the military. One thing I noticed about the photos is that none of the people look sad and the icturs always have a happy tone. That theme goes along with something we noticed at the Campus for Human Development yesterday. When we were reflecting with our group, Akeya brought up the fact that she always say people smiling, something she wouldn’t have expected given their circumstances. I find that really motivational. Afterall, we’re all given challenges to overcome in our lives and we all go through hard times. Being sad and depressed doesn’t solve anything and I admire these people for making the most of their situations and not letting homelessness destroy their goals.
In the evening we went to downtown Nashville and walked around. We had a lot of fun, but it was also somewhat of a saddening experience because I saw a lot of homeless people. Before this experience, I kind of doubt I would have even noticed them or paid much attention. After spending time at the campus for human development yesterday, however, I have a different understanding of what they go through.
MeganWebber
Megan Webber
ASB Reflections
March 8, 2009
Today we went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts to see an exhibit about Homelessness. The group interviewed was given cameras and could take pictures of anything they wanted to provide viewers a view of life in their world. The majority of pictures were those of children. Walking through the exhibit made me realize how carefree children are. Even though they were homeless, they looked so happy just to be playing and enjoying a beautiful sun-filled day. The picture that had the biggest impact on me was one of a little girl. Her mother was the photographer, and it seemed that they were enjoying a nice day in the park. The little red-headed girl was sitting in the grass playing with sunflowers. As she looked at the camera, she just seemed like it was just her and her mother, no one else mattered. She was beautiful, and when I think about the things I saw at the exhibit she is the child I remember instantly.
After the exhibit, our group decided to walk around downtown Nashville to enjoy the beautiful day. Just walking around downtown I saw two homeless men carrying all their belongings around with them. One of the men asked a guy in our group if he had a cigarette lighter, the group member let him keep it. Little things like that show me people still have generosity towards one another. Even though that wasn’t a big gesture, I’m sure it meant a lot to the homeless man on the street. One thing I really noticed around downtown Nashville was the signs saying not to hand out money to the homeless people. I know it doesn’t compare to giving them food, but if they spend money to buy alcohol and that helps them get through the day, then more power to them. I can’t even imagine what they go through and can’t begin to put myself in their shoes, so if a drink or two of alcohol helps get them through the day, go for it! All-in-all I wasn’t frustrated by anything today. I stayed in the group I am most comfortable with, and tried my hardest to stay away from the rude girls from yesterday.
ASB Reflections
March 8, 2009
Today we went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts to see an exhibit about Homelessness. The group interviewed was given cameras and could take pictures of anything they wanted to provide viewers a view of life in their world. The majority of pictures were those of children. Walking through the exhibit made me realize how carefree children are. Even though they were homeless, they looked so happy just to be playing and enjoying a beautiful sun-filled day. The picture that had the biggest impact on me was one of a little girl. Her mother was the photographer, and it seemed that they were enjoying a nice day in the park. The little red-headed girl was sitting in the grass playing with sunflowers. As she looked at the camera, she just seemed like it was just her and her mother, no one else mattered. She was beautiful, and when I think about the things I saw at the exhibit she is the child I remember instantly.
After the exhibit, our group decided to walk around downtown Nashville to enjoy the beautiful day. Just walking around downtown I saw two homeless men carrying all their belongings around with them. One of the men asked a guy in our group if he had a cigarette lighter, the group member let him keep it. Little things like that show me people still have generosity towards one another. Even though that wasn’t a big gesture, I’m sure it meant a lot to the homeless man on the street. One thing I really noticed around downtown Nashville was the signs saying not to hand out money to the homeless people. I know it doesn’t compare to giving them food, but if they spend money to buy alcohol and that helps them get through the day, then more power to them. I can’t even imagine what they go through and can’t begin to put myself in their shoes, so if a drink or two of alcohol helps get them through the day, go for it! All-in-all I wasn’t frustrated by anything today. I stayed in the group I am most comfortable with, and tried my hardest to stay away from the rude girls from yesterday.
NicoleDuvall
3-8-09
We had a late start today, which was nice. I enjoyed sleeping in, plus I was pretty zombified yesterday evening. When we left, we arrived at the Frist Art Museum in Nashville Tennessee for lunch. The food was really reasonable as well as good. I was very impressed.
Next, we went through the Safe Haven Homeless Shelter Exhibit which was very moving. It had pictures in color and black and white of people and children that were in the Safe Haven program and it also had little write ups underneath the pictures saying how the program has really helped them improve their lives and well being. I don’t like being upset, so I would say that my favorite picture was one of a cute little girl smiling great big in a pink outfit while sitting in the grass. Her mother took the picture of her. The reason I like this picture the best is because it actually was one of the few, if not the only happy photo that I saw in the exhibit.
We also watched a brief video that the Safe Haven Shelter had in the beginning exhibit. It was saying how families go there to get back on their feet and the programs they offer to help parents improve their parenting skills and help them get smart about finances. One lady who works for the program, was mentioning how it means so much to how to work with the children and do little crafts with them-like making bookmarks. I think it’s really nice that they are able to help the children of homeless families actually try to live a normal life, be happy, and just let them be kids and not worry about the problems that their families are facing. I hope that we get the opportunity to work with small children because they are so cute and innocent plus, no child should every have to live in poverty. Everyone should have the opportunity to have a happy childhood.
After walking through the homeless exhibit, we walked through a Medieval History Exhibit, which was kinda interesting, but not so much, because I’m not real good with history but the sculptures were pretty neat. It was still a neat opportunity.
After that, we walked through a “kiddy exhibit” which was awesome! If we weren’t on such a time constraint I would have actually participated in some of the activities they offered. They had texture design, some sort of scissor design thing, water color paintings, and a drawing people section. I thought that was really neat so that children could actually enjoy themselves, because little children are normally not that into art exhibits-more into hands on stuff. There was this one piece of art with a women and a black cat that was made entirely out of crayons-thousands of them! I thought that was so cool! All different colors too! I can’t imagine how long that took to make. The little write up on it even said that they crayons were especially cut to certain lengths for the picture. It looked like it actually “popped” out in your face when you looked at it.
Lastly, we went to the Paint in the Flesh Exhibit, which was really interesting! I think it is really hard to draw people so I thought it was really neat! I like this one picture that had a lot of people in it and everyone was different colors- I thought it represented individuality but the write up said something different. There were really so many but they were all really neat-a few were a little disturbing, but most had so much detail to the hands and face. There were a few portraits that clearly depicted people in great pain and sadness while others were just happy. I thought it was really neat but I spent most of my time in the history part.
At the end of the day we did some shopping and went to the Hard Rock Café. While we were walking around we did see quite a few homeless people laying on benches and walking around. We also saw quite a few people with cups sitting around on steps wanting some spare change. There was even one guy who actually walked up to his and asked us for some change but we said “sorry, we can’t.” I don’t want to be mean, but if you help one, you should help all and you just can’t. Also, you don’t know what they are going to do with the money unless you actually take them to go get food. It was said. I hate not being able to help people. Hopefully I’ll get the chance to help others at the Rescue Mission later on in the week. All in all, it was a good day!
We had a late start today, which was nice. I enjoyed sleeping in, plus I was pretty zombified yesterday evening. When we left, we arrived at the Frist Art Museum in Nashville Tennessee for lunch. The food was really reasonable as well as good. I was very impressed.
Next, we went through the Safe Haven Homeless Shelter Exhibit which was very moving. It had pictures in color and black and white of people and children that were in the Safe Haven program and it also had little write ups underneath the pictures saying how the program has really helped them improve their lives and well being. I don’t like being upset, so I would say that my favorite picture was one of a cute little girl smiling great big in a pink outfit while sitting in the grass. Her mother took the picture of her. The reason I like this picture the best is because it actually was one of the few, if not the only happy photo that I saw in the exhibit.
We also watched a brief video that the Safe Haven Shelter had in the beginning exhibit. It was saying how families go there to get back on their feet and the programs they offer to help parents improve their parenting skills and help them get smart about finances. One lady who works for the program, was mentioning how it means so much to how to work with the children and do little crafts with them-like making bookmarks. I think it’s really nice that they are able to help the children of homeless families actually try to live a normal life, be happy, and just let them be kids and not worry about the problems that their families are facing. I hope that we get the opportunity to work with small children because they are so cute and innocent plus, no child should every have to live in poverty. Everyone should have the opportunity to have a happy childhood.
After walking through the homeless exhibit, we walked through a Medieval History Exhibit, which was kinda interesting, but not so much, because I’m not real good with history but the sculptures were pretty neat. It was still a neat opportunity.
After that, we walked through a “kiddy exhibit” which was awesome! If we weren’t on such a time constraint I would have actually participated in some of the activities they offered. They had texture design, some sort of scissor design thing, water color paintings, and a drawing people section. I thought that was really neat so that children could actually enjoy themselves, because little children are normally not that into art exhibits-more into hands on stuff. There was this one piece of art with a women and a black cat that was made entirely out of crayons-thousands of them! I thought that was so cool! All different colors too! I can’t imagine how long that took to make. The little write up on it even said that they crayons were especially cut to certain lengths for the picture. It looked like it actually “popped” out in your face when you looked at it.
Lastly, we went to the Paint in the Flesh Exhibit, which was really interesting! I think it is really hard to draw people so I thought it was really neat! I like this one picture that had a lot of people in it and everyone was different colors- I thought it represented individuality but the write up said something different. There were really so many but they were all really neat-a few were a little disturbing, but most had so much detail to the hands and face. There were a few portraits that clearly depicted people in great pain and sadness while others were just happy. I thought it was really neat but I spent most of my time in the history part.
At the end of the day we did some shopping and went to the Hard Rock Café. While we were walking around we did see quite a few homeless people laying on benches and walking around. We also saw quite a few people with cups sitting around on steps wanting some spare change. There was even one guy who actually walked up to his and asked us for some change but we said “sorry, we can’t.” I don’t want to be mean, but if you help one, you should help all and you just can’t. Also, you don’t know what they are going to do with the money unless you actually take them to go get food. It was said. I hate not being able to help people. Hopefully I’ll get the chance to help others at the Rescue Mission later on in the week. All in all, it was a good day!
JenniferBowman
Jennifer Bowman
3-8-09
Nashville Trip Day 2
Today we went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts to see their exhibit called Seeing Ourselves which is about a place in Nashville called Safe Haven. The exhibit was really interesting and I learned a lot about Safe Haven through a video that they had playing. Safe Haven is a place for families to live together when they have no other place to go and need help getting back on their feet. This place works hard to keep families together and gives them help with financial and career work. Safe Haven is a great organization because when you hit rock bottom the last thing that you need is to be torn apart from your family.
There were also photographs at the exhibit that were taken by the people of Safe Haven who were given cameras to help them take pictures that reflected their feelings about their life now and what they wish to be in the future. My favorite picture was one called “Luka and Me.” It is a picture of some kids with a dog and it explains that the dog is a member of the staff and his job is to provide unconditional love and friendship to the children at Safe Haven. This is really important to me because I am a huge dog lover and I understand the love that someone can feel just by having a dog by their side. I am glad that the people at Safe Haven also find this important.
Another thing that I learned from this video and exhibit is that not all homeless people start out homeless or do not have jobs. Some of them have homes and big families and they just cannot make enough money to keep the house and end up losing it. I have always had a bad idea in my head that homeless people do not work. I now know that some of them work hard and do their best but certain jobs just do not pay enough money to take care of a large family with children. It really bothered me to see children without homes because I am an elementary education major so I have a huge heart for children.
3-8-09
Nashville Trip Day 2
Today we went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts to see their exhibit called Seeing Ourselves which is about a place in Nashville called Safe Haven. The exhibit was really interesting and I learned a lot about Safe Haven through a video that they had playing. Safe Haven is a place for families to live together when they have no other place to go and need help getting back on their feet. This place works hard to keep families together and gives them help with financial and career work. Safe Haven is a great organization because when you hit rock bottom the last thing that you need is to be torn apart from your family.
There were also photographs at the exhibit that were taken by the people of Safe Haven who were given cameras to help them take pictures that reflected their feelings about their life now and what they wish to be in the future. My favorite picture was one called “Luka and Me.” It is a picture of some kids with a dog and it explains that the dog is a member of the staff and his job is to provide unconditional love and friendship to the children at Safe Haven. This is really important to me because I am a huge dog lover and I understand the love that someone can feel just by having a dog by their side. I am glad that the people at Safe Haven also find this important.
Another thing that I learned from this video and exhibit is that not all homeless people start out homeless or do not have jobs. Some of them have homes and big families and they just cannot make enough money to keep the house and end up losing it. I have always had a bad idea in my head that homeless people do not work. I now know that some of them work hard and do their best but certain jobs just do not pay enough money to take care of a large family with children. It really bothered me to see children without homes because I am an elementary education major so I have a huge heart for children.
ChristineFernandes
Reflection
Sunday 8th 2009
Today we woke up at 11pm after a very long and tiresome day before. We were scheduled for a trip to the Frist Museum, to view the paint in flesh gallery. We had breakfast at the museum and walked through the hall were pictures of homeless children from Safe Haven were posted a lot of these pictures drew the viewer to see the absolute hope that children carry in them regardless of their situation. All the children portrayed expressed the hope for a brighter future and the determination they have to succeed. The touching story of each child helps us to see how homeless families are affected. They said that homeless children are emotionally affected for the rest of their lives. Keeping the homeless problem in check will help to ensure the future of children who deserve the best. The flesh in painting gallery was intriguing and showed us how receptive the artists are to issues politically and socially. It was a very eye opening experience where we learned to switch off and view the world through another persons eyes there was one central painting that seem to be the centerpiece of the show, It was a very large picture of two obese women with bruises and cuts, in the caption of this painting the artist tells us how the artist who worked with a number of plastic surgeons attempted to display women who not of traditional beautiful standards were depicted with plastic surgery cuts and bruises in tying to look beautiful. Soon after we drove down town for dinner here we spent most of the evening walking down the street taking in the sites of the city and shopping at various novelty shops, I noted that there were quite a number of homeless people lying on benches or playing music for money. All in all it was a relaxing and enlightening day and we enjoyed our trip to the city
Sunday 8th 2009
Today we woke up at 11pm after a very long and tiresome day before. We were scheduled for a trip to the Frist Museum, to view the paint in flesh gallery. We had breakfast at the museum and walked through the hall were pictures of homeless children from Safe Haven were posted a lot of these pictures drew the viewer to see the absolute hope that children carry in them regardless of their situation. All the children portrayed expressed the hope for a brighter future and the determination they have to succeed. The touching story of each child helps us to see how homeless families are affected. They said that homeless children are emotionally affected for the rest of their lives. Keeping the homeless problem in check will help to ensure the future of children who deserve the best. The flesh in painting gallery was intriguing and showed us how receptive the artists are to issues politically and socially. It was a very eye opening experience where we learned to switch off and view the world through another persons eyes there was one central painting that seem to be the centerpiece of the show, It was a very large picture of two obese women with bruises and cuts, in the caption of this painting the artist tells us how the artist who worked with a number of plastic surgeons attempted to display women who not of traditional beautiful standards were depicted with plastic surgery cuts and bruises in tying to look beautiful. Soon after we drove down town for dinner here we spent most of the evening walking down the street taking in the sites of the city and shopping at various novelty shops, I noted that there were quite a number of homeless people lying on benches or playing music for money. All in all it was a relaxing and enlightening day and we enjoyed our trip to the city
SezinCeliktas
Today we went to Frist Center for the Visual Arts. We had lunch at the museum and we went inside as groups. It was nice reading everything about the pictures. The most interesting was the one about Istanbul because that is the city that I live. They had interesting pictures and they were so cool.
After we left the museum we had time to do whatever we want. So we went to downtown and some people went to shopping, some of them just sat at a cafe and got something to drink. And for diner almost everbody went to Hard Rock Cafe. Because that was where everybody wanted to go and see. So we had dinner at Hard Rock Cafe. It was pretty nice.
We had like an hour left til the time we meet. We went to the Ice Cream Store and hung out there for awhile then went to the vans and came back to our hostels.
I had a good time. It was fun.
After we left the museum we had time to do whatever we want. So we went to downtown and some people went to shopping, some of them just sat at a cafe and got something to drink. And for diner almost everbody went to Hard Rock Cafe. Because that was where everybody wanted to go and see. So we had dinner at Hard Rock Cafe. It was pretty nice.
We had like an hour left til the time we meet. We went to the Ice Cream Store and hung out there for awhile then went to the vans and came back to our hostels.
I had a good time. It was fun.
KaylaGreen
Kayla Green
To start my journal today I would like to start out by saying that the exhibit at the Frist center was not even close to what I thought it would be. I expected the exhibit to be a huge mural made up of the many pictures taken by or of the people involved that were homeless somehow depicting their struggle, their hope, and their success. I was shocked to find once I arrived simply an entire hallway filled with nice inspirational pictures with words or quotes put up there by the people, and one tv that played a video telling about Safe Haven. The pictures were very creative and showed different perspectives depending on the person who wielded the camera. One happy moment from today was when I first arrived at the museum I really enjoy art and I love that it that it’s an amazingly universal way of self expression. Every program that we have had contact with so far has expressed how important that they think art is in the helping people throughout the community. The movie that we watched showed the children at Safe Haven doing art projects at the time they were making bookmarks with their names on them. The sad thing I witnessed today wasn’t when we were at the museum but when we where walking through down town Nashville tonight and saw men sitting on street corners jingling cups asking for money. Sadly it’s something we can observe in every city and it’s something that people working for places like safe haven and the Center for Human Development are trying to help stop. The truth of the matter and my cenacle thought for the day is that I am very happy that they are helping people who actually want help and are able to get it, but I know that no matter what they can only help those who want to help themselves so that means that the problem of homelessness will never go away. I learned that I have a very irritating cold and my other story is that when Jesse was taking us to walmart so that I could grab medicine he left the gas station and completely ran over a median to get to the other side of the street. I’m leaving my journal at that very scary of hilarious memory.
To start my journal today I would like to start out by saying that the exhibit at the Frist center was not even close to what I thought it would be. I expected the exhibit to be a huge mural made up of the many pictures taken by or of the people involved that were homeless somehow depicting their struggle, their hope, and their success. I was shocked to find once I arrived simply an entire hallway filled with nice inspirational pictures with words or quotes put up there by the people, and one tv that played a video telling about Safe Haven. The pictures were very creative and showed different perspectives depending on the person who wielded the camera. One happy moment from today was when I first arrived at the museum I really enjoy art and I love that it that it’s an amazingly universal way of self expression. Every program that we have had contact with so far has expressed how important that they think art is in the helping people throughout the community. The movie that we watched showed the children at Safe Haven doing art projects at the time they were making bookmarks with their names on them. The sad thing I witnessed today wasn’t when we were at the museum but when we where walking through down town Nashville tonight and saw men sitting on street corners jingling cups asking for money. Sadly it’s something we can observe in every city and it’s something that people working for places like safe haven and the Center for Human Development are trying to help stop. The truth of the matter and my cenacle thought for the day is that I am very happy that they are helping people who actually want help and are able to get it, but I know that no matter what they can only help those who want to help themselves so that means that the problem of homelessness will never go away. I learned that I have a very irritating cold and my other story is that when Jesse was taking us to walmart so that I could grab medicine he left the gas station and completely ran over a median to get to the other side of the street. I’m leaving my journal at that very scary of hilarious memory.
JenniferHellems
Jennifer Hellems
SOWK 350
Dr. Campbell
Journal Entry 1
Saturday, March 8, 2009
Today I worked with the Nashville Campus for Human Development. It was my first time ever participating in something such as this. I was really excited to come on this trip; I thought I would accomplish great things and meet a lot of new people.
When we first pulled up to the Campus I was instantly scared. I am not a racist person, but being a 21 year old girl raised with a caring father such as mine who led me to believe that large groups of men were scary; I instantly got a little nervous. We pulled up to a parking lot full of middle-aged black men. I honestly never went anywhere by myself. I of course was polite and courteous to all and they in turn were very respectful and polite.
The most rewarding thing was honestly just being there knowing I made a difference. We accomplished several big tasks today and when the day was done I felt great! As we were working the men were so kind and they would hold doors open for us or help us carry things. They never once seemed bothered by us when we would have to walk in front of the television or if they needed to move out of the way. They would talk to us and ask us how we were doing. I never once heard one of them complain about their arrangement or anything that was being done. I complain of so many things and constantly talk about things I want and I feel awful because these people have so little, but yet are so grateful for what they do have.
The only time I really was frustrated was when Brian and I were working on putting the cubbies that we moved from a storage shed to a cubby room inside the main building back together. It was such a pain and we worked hard on those. We had to completely put one back together and nail the backing to all of them. We had to move these huge boxes around a tiny room and try to hammer in nails that would keep bending and we would have to start over. I think we both were a little frustrated, but it was good in the end.
The one significant thing that happened while we were there other than me and Brian having a difficult time rolling the cubbies in was that one of the campus men had to be taken away in and ambulance. He was in a great deal of pain so the ambulance had to be called to come get him and take him to the hospital. I personally am not sure what was wrong or exactly what happened, but I do know that the people he was around cared enough to have something done. It was really sad to see that, but I of course pray that he is okay.
SOWK 350
Dr. Campbell
Journal Entry 1
Saturday, March 8, 2009
Today I worked with the Nashville Campus for Human Development. It was my first time ever participating in something such as this. I was really excited to come on this trip; I thought I would accomplish great things and meet a lot of new people.
When we first pulled up to the Campus I was instantly scared. I am not a racist person, but being a 21 year old girl raised with a caring father such as mine who led me to believe that large groups of men were scary; I instantly got a little nervous. We pulled up to a parking lot full of middle-aged black men. I honestly never went anywhere by myself. I of course was polite and courteous to all and they in turn were very respectful and polite.
The most rewarding thing was honestly just being there knowing I made a difference. We accomplished several big tasks today and when the day was done I felt great! As we were working the men were so kind and they would hold doors open for us or help us carry things. They never once seemed bothered by us when we would have to walk in front of the television or if they needed to move out of the way. They would talk to us and ask us how we were doing. I never once heard one of them complain about their arrangement or anything that was being done. I complain of so many things and constantly talk about things I want and I feel awful because these people have so little, but yet are so grateful for what they do have.
The only time I really was frustrated was when Brian and I were working on putting the cubbies that we moved from a storage shed to a cubby room inside the main building back together. It was such a pain and we worked hard on those. We had to completely put one back together and nail the backing to all of them. We had to move these huge boxes around a tiny room and try to hammer in nails that would keep bending and we would have to start over. I think we both were a little frustrated, but it was good in the end.
The one significant thing that happened while we were there other than me and Brian having a difficult time rolling the cubbies in was that one of the campus men had to be taken away in and ambulance. He was in a great deal of pain so the ambulance had to be called to come get him and take him to the hospital. I personally am not sure what was wrong or exactly what happened, but I do know that the people he was around cared enough to have something done. It was really sad to see that, but I of course pray that he is okay.
StephenReed
Today we went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. It was a very interesting place, making me think towards more important things. As we entered the center I seen what I thought was an art piece, though it was not it was a homeless guy standing inside the center. As we went down the hall their different pictures on each side of the hall. About half way down the exhibit there was a tv talking about a few family’s the center had helped. As we neared the end of the exhibit there was a picture of a little girl setting in some sunflowers. It just made me think of all the people that are homeless but some never think of the kids that are homeless. It just sad that the little ones must suffer just like the rest of us. She just looked so helpless making it show how helpless the homeless are deep down. The flowers making it seem like a happy picture seem happy, though you see that helpless little girl setting in the grass with no one around but the outdoors. We seen other exhibit’s they were really neat too, though there was nothing like the safe haven exhibit. We then moved to down town Nashville which some wouldn’t think there would be an abundance of homeless on the streets but as soon as we started walking the streets of Nashville there were homeless setting on the benches. It was sad the amount of homeless that go to the shelters but that there are still so many sleeping on the streets or not sleeping but moving about the streets during the night. Today was another eye opening day even though we have already been to the shelter but it was another thing to actually see them out on the streets. Its nothing like the people on the streets at home there are so many out there needing a home but no where to put them.
EricThomas
Eric Thomas
March 7, 2009
Bonner Reflection
Sally Campbell
Bonner Reflection 3-7-09
Although today we didn’t get too involved in the helping people, I did see homelessness in Nashville. As we walked into the Art/ Frist Building I noticed a guy was in there that had a suitcase and all of his belongings. Everywhere we went today you could see a homeless person somewhere whether they were in a small town park, alley way, or just walking down the street. Homelessness in America is much more of a problem than what is spoken to the public. Seeing all these people that are homeless make we want to help people more and makes me even more grateful for what I have. After I leave from this trip, I would like to continue to help people more often and do more trips like this because it’s something that we that are fortunate should not have to do; however, we should want to do it. One thing that is one of the most disturbing things to see is kids that’s are my age and younger living on the streets that didn’t have a home, didn’t graduate from high school, and most likely would never have a life and no-one that would give them a chance. Also another thing that I saw was the disabled person that was homeless that could walk or they were hurt in the line of duty in war. There was a this man that I saw in a wheel chair and basically he was on his own and didn’t have anything. I really don’t know how he could lived from day to day in a wheel chair in the freezing cold at nights without dying, getting attacked, or just wanting to kill himself because the situation that he is in. I hope that tomorrow though is a good day and that we get to help many other people that are in need and that through helping others we will feel better and more accomplished.
March 7, 2009
Bonner Reflection
Sally Campbell
Bonner Reflection 3-7-09
Although today we didn’t get too involved in the helping people, I did see homelessness in Nashville. As we walked into the Art/ Frist Building I noticed a guy was in there that had a suitcase and all of his belongings. Everywhere we went today you could see a homeless person somewhere whether they were in a small town park, alley way, or just walking down the street. Homelessness in America is much more of a problem than what is spoken to the public. Seeing all these people that are homeless make we want to help people more and makes me even more grateful for what I have. After I leave from this trip, I would like to continue to help people more often and do more trips like this because it’s something that we that are fortunate should not have to do; however, we should want to do it. One thing that is one of the most disturbing things to see is kids that’s are my age and younger living on the streets that didn’t have a home, didn’t graduate from high school, and most likely would never have a life and no-one that would give them a chance. Also another thing that I saw was the disabled person that was homeless that could walk or they were hurt in the line of duty in war. There was a this man that I saw in a wheel chair and basically he was on his own and didn’t have anything. I really don’t know how he could lived from day to day in a wheel chair in the freezing cold at nights without dying, getting attacked, or just wanting to kill himself because the situation that he is in. I hope that tomorrow though is a good day and that we get to help many other people that are in need and that through helping others we will feel better and more accomplished.
VanessaAustin
Today we went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. At the center, we saw an exhibit about the Safe Haven Family Shelter in Nashville. A local photographer and the the outreach educators wanted to teach the families through cultural enrichment and photography. The exhibit shows some of the photos that the participants took and tells a little background story and a quote. It was interesting to see something from the homeless families perspective.
All of the pictures had something positive about them. With the people being homeless you would have expected that the photos would be sad and depressing. However, they weren’t. The people in the photos, or taking the photos, showed an inspirational and hopeful side of themselves. They told us how they still had hope and knew that one day things would be better. Some people decided to show the importance of family in their lives. For most of them, family is all they have, and they protect it. For most of the children, they showed their goals and ambitions. They took pictures of their interests and career goals in life. One of the kids showed his interest in science while others took pictures of basketball. The kids also took pictures of things that inspired them. One of the pictures was of the workers at the Safe Haven. To the children, the people are real inspiration and motivators for them. Another picture was of the dog that stays at the shelter. It keeps the kids company and is a companion to them.
It made me smile to see that these people were so positive about their circumstances. Even though they didn’t have a house or place to stay to call their own, they were still strong and happy with themselves and their family. My family has not had a place to stay before and one lady let us stay with her for a little while. We weren’t depressed about it or felt sorry for ourselves but we made the best of it. These people are doing the same thing. No matter what happens to them, they are happy.
All of the pictures had something positive about them. With the people being homeless you would have expected that the photos would be sad and depressing. However, they weren’t. The people in the photos, or taking the photos, showed an inspirational and hopeful side of themselves. They told us how they still had hope and knew that one day things would be better. Some people decided to show the importance of family in their lives. For most of them, family is all they have, and they protect it. For most of the children, they showed their goals and ambitions. They took pictures of their interests and career goals in life. One of the kids showed his interest in science while others took pictures of basketball. The kids also took pictures of things that inspired them. One of the pictures was of the workers at the Safe Haven. To the children, the people are real inspiration and motivators for them. Another picture was of the dog that stays at the shelter. It keeps the kids company and is a companion to them.
It made me smile to see that these people were so positive about their circumstances. Even though they didn’t have a house or place to stay to call their own, they were still strong and happy with themselves and their family. My family has not had a place to stay before and one lady let us stay with her for a little while. We weren’t depressed about it or felt sorry for ourselves but we made the best of it. These people are doing the same thing. No matter what happens to them, they are happy.
NicoleBartley
Nicole Bartley
March 7th 2009
Reflection
The First Day: Review and Reflection
I’d like to first start off this reflection by stating that I’m not entirly sure HOW we are suppose to write this, or WHAT we are suppose to reflect about. Do we write about how the day went? What we did? Who we met? Or do we write about our thoughts throughout the day, and how we felt? I don’t fully understand the assignment, but I think I can ‘reflect’ on my thoughts of the day.
I was in the group that went to “The Campus for Human Development.” When talking with my peers, I found out their first reaction when we got there was fear. I find this is far from my general thoughts and feelings which were of anger. When I got out of the car, I looked around and saw over 40+ men, walking around. These were the men they called “participants.” The men who are homeless, jobless and had no money. This wasn’t what angered me though. What upset me is what they were doing: smoking.
Throughout the day I primed and painted 4 bathrooms. From 0930 hours (9:30 am) until 1600 hours (4 pm), I was crammed into small rooms with another person, breathing in paint fumes and barely taking any breaks. Now don’t get me wrong, I am in no way complaining about the work. I enjoy hard work. What I can’t seem to grasp is how so many capable persons were sitting around, and none willing to help. This was basically their home, so why weren’t they doing such work to help it? Yes, I understand some are on hard times. I also know some are ‘sick,’ but not all of them are. Yes, there were some gentlemen that were willing to help. But I’m just curious as to why most men didn’t offer assistance. Or if they ever offer assistance.
Today left me mad and frustrated. Frustrated, because I have so many questions. So many questions I know would be left unanswered. Or any answer I get would just be excuses, and I don’t want excuses, maybe I don’t have the patience for it, I’m not sure. I’m also mad because I can’t understand these people. I’m not trying to come off mean, that is not my intention at all. Though it just gets me so angry. Why am I helping these people? People, who have no drive to help themselves? And again, I wonder about the cigarettes. How is it they can’t buy food and such, but they can afford to smoke? Where are their priorities? Also, where are they getting the money?
March 7th 2009
Reflection
The First Day: Review and Reflection
I’d like to first start off this reflection by stating that I’m not entirly sure HOW we are suppose to write this, or WHAT we are suppose to reflect about. Do we write about how the day went? What we did? Who we met? Or do we write about our thoughts throughout the day, and how we felt? I don’t fully understand the assignment, but I think I can ‘reflect’ on my thoughts of the day.
I was in the group that went to “The Campus for Human Development.” When talking with my peers, I found out their first reaction when we got there was fear. I find this is far from my general thoughts and feelings which were of anger. When I got out of the car, I looked around and saw over 40+ men, walking around. These were the men they called “participants.” The men who are homeless, jobless and had no money. This wasn’t what angered me though. What upset me is what they were doing: smoking.
Throughout the day I primed and painted 4 bathrooms. From 0930 hours (9:30 am) until 1600 hours (4 pm), I was crammed into small rooms with another person, breathing in paint fumes and barely taking any breaks. Now don’t get me wrong, I am in no way complaining about the work. I enjoy hard work. What I can’t seem to grasp is how so many capable persons were sitting around, and none willing to help. This was basically their home, so why weren’t they doing such work to help it? Yes, I understand some are on hard times. I also know some are ‘sick,’ but not all of them are. Yes, there were some gentlemen that were willing to help. But I’m just curious as to why most men didn’t offer assistance. Or if they ever offer assistance.
Today left me mad and frustrated. Frustrated, because I have so many questions. So many questions I know would be left unanswered. Or any answer I get would just be excuses, and I don’t want excuses, maybe I don’t have the patience for it, I’m not sure. I’m also mad because I can’t understand these people. I’m not trying to come off mean, that is not my intention at all. Though it just gets me so angry. Why am I helping these people? People, who have no drive to help themselves? And again, I wonder about the cigarettes. How is it they can’t buy food and such, but they can afford to smoke? Where are their priorities? Also, where are they getting the money?
GraceHurney
Grace Hurney
Civic Engagement
8 March 2009
Reflections: Day One
The started out early. Very, very early. But in all honesty, it wasn’t that bad- I didn’t have to wear flip flops in the shower, so life was good. My team, Team Jesse (I think its Team One), was assigned to work at the Campus for Human Development for the day. When we arrived at the Campus, there seemed to be a lot of trepidation in the air; no one really knew what to expect. I personally arrived with my middle class white girl mindset- homeless people are to be given money, but to be watchful of. We discussed in the bus whether or not we should leave our cameras and phones and cash in the vehicle. I will openly admit that I was a bit fearful of what the day would bring- I would later discover my fears were entirely unfounded, but for the time being I was close minded and afraid. We met with Wendy, the (assumed) director of the Campus. She gave us a tour of the facility, explaining the programs they offered, the reward system for attending classes, and introduced us to their Odyssey program. The Odyssey program is a two year program for chronically homeless men (men who have been homeless for over a year or three times in four years) who wish to “begin their journey back home” . The men go through different phases of the program, each step gradually bringing them closer to living their lives as they would wish, sober and stable. I volunteered to work painting the bathrooms in one of the wings of the center.
My “good moment” of the day was when we were painting, one of the participants, whom I later inferred was a veteran staying in the Campus, came up to us and started chatting with us. He asked what we were doing, what we were working with, etc.- fairly normal questions for a group of college girls holding paintbrushes in a homeless shelter. The man looked at our bucket of primer and frowned a bit. He then proceeded to warn us that the primer we were using was very strong and might make us feel faint. He left, and we began to paint the walls. He came back fifteen minutes later (he had a walker, so it was difficult for him to navigate the narrow hallway strewn with painting supplies), asking us if we were feeling alright. We said it was all okay, and he reminded us to step out and get some fresh air every fifteen to twenty minutes or so. For the rest of the day, this man would check on us and even stood with Nicole Bartley when she was on the ladder painting to ensure she didn’t get dizzy and fall. His compassion and concern for us, complete strangers, was humbling and wonderful at the same time.
The frustrating moment of the day was the fact that we weren’t really adequately switched out of our jobs. I took breaks from the paint fumes, but I ended up fairly sick by the afternoon. I just wished we could have cycled people out to keep everyone from getting sick. Inhaling that much paint fumes is certainly not safe…
The random moment of the day was probably going to the Nashville Rescue Mission for the first time. I can’t say I’ve lived an insular life; I’ve done my fair share of volunteer work since I was young, but I have never worked or been in a “soup kitchen”. Walking through the crowd of people at dinner time, we were yelled at and antagonized for skipping line. I do admit a group of college kids, predominately white and well dressed, doesn’t look the best. I feel a bit guilty eating food that is meant for people that can’t afford to eat dinner. I can certainly afford to buy lunch and dinner on my own for a week if that means one more person could get the chance to eat.
Civic Engagement
8 March 2009
Reflections: Day One
The started out early. Very, very early. But in all honesty, it wasn’t that bad- I didn’t have to wear flip flops in the shower, so life was good. My team, Team Jesse (I think its Team One), was assigned to work at the Campus for Human Development for the day. When we arrived at the Campus, there seemed to be a lot of trepidation in the air; no one really knew what to expect. I personally arrived with my middle class white girl mindset- homeless people are to be given money, but to be watchful of. We discussed in the bus whether or not we should leave our cameras and phones and cash in the vehicle. I will openly admit that I was a bit fearful of what the day would bring- I would later discover my fears were entirely unfounded, but for the time being I was close minded and afraid. We met with Wendy, the (assumed) director of the Campus. She gave us a tour of the facility, explaining the programs they offered, the reward system for attending classes, and introduced us to their Odyssey program. The Odyssey program is a two year program for chronically homeless men (men who have been homeless for over a year or three times in four years) who wish to “begin their journey back home” . The men go through different phases of the program, each step gradually bringing them closer to living their lives as they would wish, sober and stable. I volunteered to work painting the bathrooms in one of the wings of the center.
My “good moment” of the day was when we were painting, one of the participants, whom I later inferred was a veteran staying in the Campus, came up to us and started chatting with us. He asked what we were doing, what we were working with, etc.- fairly normal questions for a group of college girls holding paintbrushes in a homeless shelter. The man looked at our bucket of primer and frowned a bit. He then proceeded to warn us that the primer we were using was very strong and might make us feel faint. He left, and we began to paint the walls. He came back fifteen minutes later (he had a walker, so it was difficult for him to navigate the narrow hallway strewn with painting supplies), asking us if we were feeling alright. We said it was all okay, and he reminded us to step out and get some fresh air every fifteen to twenty minutes or so. For the rest of the day, this man would check on us and even stood with Nicole Bartley when she was on the ladder painting to ensure she didn’t get dizzy and fall. His compassion and concern for us, complete strangers, was humbling and wonderful at the same time.
The frustrating moment of the day was the fact that we weren’t really adequately switched out of our jobs. I took breaks from the paint fumes, but I ended up fairly sick by the afternoon. I just wished we could have cycled people out to keep everyone from getting sick. Inhaling that much paint fumes is certainly not safe…
The random moment of the day was probably going to the Nashville Rescue Mission for the first time. I can’t say I’ve lived an insular life; I’ve done my fair share of volunteer work since I was young, but I have never worked or been in a “soup kitchen”. Walking through the crowd of people at dinner time, we were yelled at and antagonized for skipping line. I do admit a group of college kids, predominately white and well dressed, doesn’t look the best. I feel a bit guilty eating food that is meant for people that can’t afford to eat dinner. I can certainly afford to buy lunch and dinner on my own for a week if that means one more person could get the chance to eat.
JenniferParsons
Jennifer Parsons
Journal Entries
Alternative Spring Break trip to Nashville
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Today was our first day of activities. I was a part of team 1. We volunteered our services to the Campus for Human Develop. It was a building that provided living space and utilities for people facing homelessness in Nashville, Tennessee.
We passed the street and had to turn around. Upon arriving to the site, I was filled with a little nervousness, curiosity and was somewhat scared at the same time. These unexpected feelings made me think twice about how accepting and understanding I am. I realized that I was very unaware of the extremities and was not fully aware of the real life situations I was about to encounter.
Stepping out of our van, more than one of us turned “pale faced” with a bit of scared, said another girl on the trip. I believe it; I felt it on my won expressions without even realizing until after the fact. I thought about my stereotypical judgments in regards of the homeless people and realized that just because they are homeless does not mean they are not human, just like me and you. Then I realized it was time to step back into reality and help them as I had come to do.
We were given a tour of the Campus. There was a variety of uses for the rooms. It is a very organized setting where the Participants are very willing to do as they are expected to do. They appear as if they really want to make a better life for themselves and I respect that. My favorite room of the building was the art room. It was interesting and showed a lot of talent. I also like that art work of the Participants were displayed throughout the building showing their creativity and making the place more personable.
There were rooms for socializing, learning and sleeping. Certain programs were created to help the Participants get back into the world and start a better life. So far there has been a good percent of success. For example, the Odessey. It is a program organized to help people who have had addiction problems and cannot seem to make a better lifestyle for them selves but are willing to give it another try. They have certain steps they have to go through with reasonable amounts of time to gradually put them out on their own.
After the tour, we were broken up into groups. I was on the painting crew while others were trimming the hedges and cleaning out the storage. I volunteered to paint because I like creativity. However, I do not like that we were cooped up in a very confined area without much ventilation for as long as we were. The fumes were so strong we had to take breaks approximately every ten minutes to keep from passing out. I will admit, I still have a headache from it. I think that they should have asked the others if anyone would have been willing to help us out or switch positions because it cannot be good to be so enclosed with so many fumes. I also wish I would have known what we were doing ahead of time, as I am sure others do as well. I wore my “bad” clothes so I did not mind getting them a little messed up. However, not everyone dressed accordingly.
So far, I find it to be rewarding in the simple fact that I was given the opportunity to come out here and help people who really need it. Not only do they get the benefits of our work produced but I get a new and life-altering experience. As this is my first time encountering homelessness in person and also working with them, I believe this is a trip I will never forget.
Although there are good times have already come out of this trip, work can be frustrating too. I think that what frustrated me the most today was the fact that no one was willing to offer help us paint because we were inside or because they did not want to get dirty. I understand that not everyone wants to get dirty, but we are here to help others, not worry about our appearance, etc. It is not a bad thing to step outside of your own box and help others when needed. I know the crew working outside had been laboring all day and when I had spare time in painting (break due to ambulance), I helped scrub the boxes they were working on and that helped save some time. It is good to help others, after all, isn’t that what we are here for? So I think that it would be great to help each other out more when the time is needed.
Something sad that happened today was that a man at the Campus had to be taken out in an ambulance. He was having very bad pains and they needed to take him to the doctor. After he is released from the hospital, he will have no home to go back to or someone to take care of him. To me, that is sad because if you think about it, what happens when we get sick? – A loved one takes care of us…
Journal Entries
Alternative Spring Break trip to Nashville
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Today was our first day of activities. I was a part of team 1. We volunteered our services to the Campus for Human Develop. It was a building that provided living space and utilities for people facing homelessness in Nashville, Tennessee.
We passed the street and had to turn around. Upon arriving to the site, I was filled with a little nervousness, curiosity and was somewhat scared at the same time. These unexpected feelings made me think twice about how accepting and understanding I am. I realized that I was very unaware of the extremities and was not fully aware of the real life situations I was about to encounter.
Stepping out of our van, more than one of us turned “pale faced” with a bit of scared, said another girl on the trip. I believe it; I felt it on my won expressions without even realizing until after the fact. I thought about my stereotypical judgments in regards of the homeless people and realized that just because they are homeless does not mean they are not human, just like me and you. Then I realized it was time to step back into reality and help them as I had come to do.
We were given a tour of the Campus. There was a variety of uses for the rooms. It is a very organized setting where the Participants are very willing to do as they are expected to do. They appear as if they really want to make a better life for themselves and I respect that. My favorite room of the building was the art room. It was interesting and showed a lot of talent. I also like that art work of the Participants were displayed throughout the building showing their creativity and making the place more personable.
There were rooms for socializing, learning and sleeping. Certain programs were created to help the Participants get back into the world and start a better life. So far there has been a good percent of success. For example, the Odessey. It is a program organized to help people who have had addiction problems and cannot seem to make a better lifestyle for them selves but are willing to give it another try. They have certain steps they have to go through with reasonable amounts of time to gradually put them out on their own.
After the tour, we were broken up into groups. I was on the painting crew while others were trimming the hedges and cleaning out the storage. I volunteered to paint because I like creativity. However, I do not like that we were cooped up in a very confined area without much ventilation for as long as we were. The fumes were so strong we had to take breaks approximately every ten minutes to keep from passing out. I will admit, I still have a headache from it. I think that they should have asked the others if anyone would have been willing to help us out or switch positions because it cannot be good to be so enclosed with so many fumes. I also wish I would have known what we were doing ahead of time, as I am sure others do as well. I wore my “bad” clothes so I did not mind getting them a little messed up. However, not everyone dressed accordingly.
So far, I find it to be rewarding in the simple fact that I was given the opportunity to come out here and help people who really need it. Not only do they get the benefits of our work produced but I get a new and life-altering experience. As this is my first time encountering homelessness in person and also working with them, I believe this is a trip I will never forget.
Although there are good times have already come out of this trip, work can be frustrating too. I think that what frustrated me the most today was the fact that no one was willing to offer help us paint because we were inside or because they did not want to get dirty. I understand that not everyone wants to get dirty, but we are here to help others, not worry about our appearance, etc. It is not a bad thing to step outside of your own box and help others when needed. I know the crew working outside had been laboring all day and when I had spare time in painting (break due to ambulance), I helped scrub the boxes they were working on and that helped save some time. It is good to help others, after all, isn’t that what we are here for? So I think that it would be great to help each other out more when the time is needed.
Something sad that happened today was that a man at the Campus had to be taken out in an ambulance. He was having very bad pains and they needed to take him to the doctor. After he is released from the hospital, he will have no home to go back to or someone to take care of him. To me, that is sad because if you think about it, what happens when we get sick? – A loved one takes care of us…
SamanthaThomas
Samantha Thomas
Reflection 1
2-8-09
Although today is the day after the trip to the Nashville Rescue Mission, I am still feeling the effects of the time I spent there. When I walked in I was a little hesitant because there were around 10-11 dingy dressed men standing outside the front doors. I didn’t know what to think. Many thoughts were racing through my mind. “Should I take my money?” “Would these guys try to steal my things? I mean afterall they are homeless and probably need a decent hoody or a couple dollars.” I know these questions seem a little self-centered, or perhaps a little unsympathetic, but the point of this is to be honest. When we walked into the shelter, we were directed to the top floor where we were checked into the facility and introduced to Willy, our comedic guide. He then ushered us downstairs to the basement of the mission where we were instructed to condense some of the mountains and mountains of donated goods so that they could make room for the women’s ward to sleep since they were remodeling their building. We looked out at the piles of stuff and simply stopped breathing, we didn’t know where to start. Some people began packing thousands of shoes onto palates as some of us began stacking just around 50 mattresses and started folding and piling stacks of hundreds of blankets on palates. Coming off of 2 hours of sleep, it was hard to hold my head up and not crash. Still every single one of us kept working and eventually cleared two very large portions of the warehouse. I found the unpacking and repacking a little redundant, so I volunteered to be one of the five girls to go upstairs and begin serving the members of the program that is ran through the shelter. As I watched many of the faces of the homeless men, I saw histories, lives, and sometimes pain. And although it broke my heart that I couldn’t do more, I always placed my two pieces of bread on the tray and slid them a plate of food so they could have a decent meal that day. I felt great about the few hours I could help. When I thought about it, the few hours we each put in was multiplied by 30-something when we all worked together. It also doesn’t hurt to mention that many of the people who work there daily were great to speak with and laugh or joke around with. I love having new friends like Willy, Clay, Len, Tony, and Chris. J
Reflection 1
2-8-09
Although today is the day after the trip to the Nashville Rescue Mission, I am still feeling the effects of the time I spent there. When I walked in I was a little hesitant because there were around 10-11 dingy dressed men standing outside the front doors. I didn’t know what to think. Many thoughts were racing through my mind. “Should I take my money?” “Would these guys try to steal my things? I mean afterall they are homeless and probably need a decent hoody or a couple dollars.” I know these questions seem a little self-centered, or perhaps a little unsympathetic, but the point of this is to be honest. When we walked into the shelter, we were directed to the top floor where we were checked into the facility and introduced to Willy, our comedic guide. He then ushered us downstairs to the basement of the mission where we were instructed to condense some of the mountains and mountains of donated goods so that they could make room for the women’s ward to sleep since they were remodeling their building. We looked out at the piles of stuff and simply stopped breathing, we didn’t know where to start. Some people began packing thousands of shoes onto palates as some of us began stacking just around 50 mattresses and started folding and piling stacks of hundreds of blankets on palates. Coming off of 2 hours of sleep, it was hard to hold my head up and not crash. Still every single one of us kept working and eventually cleared two very large portions of the warehouse. I found the unpacking and repacking a little redundant, so I volunteered to be one of the five girls to go upstairs and begin serving the members of the program that is ran through the shelter. As I watched many of the faces of the homeless men, I saw histories, lives, and sometimes pain. And although it broke my heart that I couldn’t do more, I always placed my two pieces of bread on the tray and slid them a plate of food so they could have a decent meal that day. I felt great about the few hours I could help. When I thought about it, the few hours we each put in was multiplied by 30-something when we all worked together. It also doesn’t hurt to mention that many of the people who work there daily were great to speak with and laugh or joke around with. I love having new friends like Willy, Clay, Len, Tony, and Chris. J
KiwaNadas
On our first day here, we went to the Campus for Human Development. It is a homeless shelter that helps drug addicts and chronically homeless people get back on their feet and become functioning members of society.
Most of the people we met were nice and helpful. I was stationed in the bathrooms most of the day helping to paint and while I was back there,several people walked by, some giving us pointers and helping us out even. As we were there, I noticed several different types of people. Some were handicaped while others just seemed lost and abandoned.
It was interesting to see how they acted wıth each other and our group of workers. While, as I said, some were helpful, others were kinda rude. As we walked to lunch at the other shelter, about to eat the same food that they are served, someone yelled out “Hey what are we having for lunch? Fillet minion? Or steak?” Considering we were just working to help make their lives easier, I was a little miffed by his response.
In all though, it was a rewarding day and allowed met o escape my personal beliefs and see the true nature of being homeless.
Most of the people we met were nice and helpful. I was stationed in the bathrooms most of the day helping to paint and while I was back there,several people walked by, some giving us pointers and helping us out even. As we were there, I noticed several different types of people. Some were handicaped while others just seemed lost and abandoned.
It was interesting to see how they acted wıth each other and our group of workers. While, as I said, some were helpful, others were kinda rude. As we walked to lunch at the other shelter, about to eat the same food that they are served, someone yelled out “Hey what are we having for lunch? Fillet minion? Or steak?” Considering we were just working to help make their lives easier, I was a little miffed by his response.
In all though, it was a rewarding day and allowed met o escape my personal beliefs and see the true nature of being homeless.
KiwaNadas
On our first day here, we went to the Campus for Human Development. It is a homeless shelter that helps drug addicts and chronically homeless people get back on their feet and become functioning members of society.
Most of the people we met were nice and helpful. I was stationed in the bathrooms most of the day helping to paint and while I was back there,several people walked by, some giving us pointers and helping us out even. As we were there, I noticed several different types of people. Some were handicaped while others just seemed lost and abandoned.
It was interesting to see how they acted wıth each other and our group of workers. While, as I said, some were helpful, others were kinda rude. As we walked to lunch at the other shelter, about to eat the same food that they are served, someone yelled out “Hey what are we having for lunch? Fillet minion? Or steak?” Considering we were just working to help make their lives easier, I was a little miffed by his response.
In all though, it was a rewarding day and allowed met o escape my personal beliefs and see the true nature of being homeless.
Most of the people we met were nice and helpful. I was stationed in the bathrooms most of the day helping to paint and while I was back there,several people walked by, some giving us pointers and helping us out even. As we were there, I noticed several different types of people. Some were handicaped while others just seemed lost and abandoned.
It was interesting to see how they acted wıth each other and our group of workers. While, as I said, some were helpful, others were kinda rude. As we walked to lunch at the other shelter, about to eat the same food that they are served, someone yelled out “Hey what are we having for lunch? Fillet minion? Or steak?” Considering we were just working to help make their lives easier, I was a little miffed by his response.
In all though, it was a rewarding day and allowed met o escape my personal beliefs and see the true nature of being homeless.
ChristineFernandes
Our first day for the Alternate Spring Break began March 7th 2009. We were split into two teams I was in the team headed by Jesse, we were taken to the Campus for human development. On our way there we were slightly misdirected and ended up in the wrong alley. Although this would not seem unusual, having taken a turn into a homeless alley , all of us experienced a sudden panic not knowing where we were and suddenly surrounded by the strange places. When we finally got to the campus we all experienced a sort of culture shock having suddenly been immersed in a place that is so very different and non compatible with the lives we lead,. Looking around us we saw homeless individuals scattered all over the campus some talking in oblivion others talking at us and also starring at us. This made us very uncomfortable however what we failed to realize was it was our group that was attracting attention as we looked petrified. Our perspective on the homeless situation and the various scenarios made us stereotypical in view of the homeless and afraid. We realized that we needed to let go of our predispositions and attempt to blend in. The site coordinator Wendy took us into the campus and told us about the history of the campus and the aim. All the rules f the campus in my opinion boiled down to respect for one another, between volunteers, as well as individuals. Being able to see the homeless as people with problems instead of a categorized group of displaced people helped us see where volunteers like Wendy derive their motivation and hope to help the homeless. I noticed that many of the people that stayed on the campus treated the place like home and the people around them like friends in a community. The campus seeks to teach and strongly urges their guest to get involved and try to turn their lies around. The art work portrayed on the walls showed the depth that these individuals carried and their outlook on life we were shocked to know that some of the residents of this campus were actually degree holders and doctorates. This showed us that no one was above poverty, sickness and deprivation. Our first task was to cut down the shrubbery over the barbed fence, initially looking at the overgrowth our group thought it would be impossible to clean up, but undertaking the tasks and allotting different roles the job got done almost effortlessly, other jobs on the site were paining of bathrooms and cleaning out of a shed that had been partially burnt. Taking down and building the cubbyholes for storage was one of the jobs as well. At around 12noon we headed over to the Nashville Rescue Mission for lunch we had he opportunity to eat the food that people in shelters eat. I found that the food was well above my expectations and the portions given to us were filling. Our new task was to help sort out bags that had been donated to the Campus containg food and various toiletries. Here again we saw a good example of teamwork where in all of us got together opening cleaning out and storing the bags that were received. Carrying in and painting of the cubby holes was next. I found that when the people residing at the campus saw us struggling to carry a heavy plank they stepped forward and insisted on carrying it for us this act touched me sincerely as I saw the dedication they had for their home and appreciation they expressed for our efforts. While we were working a number of residents went out of their way to thank us and show us how much they valued our help. Our last trip to the Nashville Rescue Mission for dinner we met volunteers who help there on a regular basis I must admit a lot of us including me were tiered fussy. But seeing these volunteers with genuine warmth in their smiles and joy in the singing lifted our sprits and reminded us that works of charity are not about us but who we help. On the way out we were adiosed with smiles and questions on when we would return to se them. This was all in all an eye opening and very satisfying day
SezinCeliktas
My first day was better than what I expected. We went to Campus for Human Development and one lady explained everything to us like what they do, what they are all about. And she showed us what to do. Some of us painted bathrooms, some of us cleaned the basement. I was the one who was cleaning and painting the bathroom and we painted 3 bathrooms all day long. Some of them gave us ideas about how to paint the bathrooms.
People were pretty nice to us. Especially when we went to eat lunch, they seemed pretty happy that they were sharing their food with us. They all tried to talk to us and asked us questions.
When I was there I felt kind of bad because they do not have homes to live and it is sad. But the shelter was helping them get back on their feet. It was sad seeing them like that but it is good to know that they are taking care of.
I felt better after I left because it is nice doing some stuff for people who need help.
People were pretty nice to us. Especially when we went to eat lunch, they seemed pretty happy that they were sharing their food with us. They all tried to talk to us and asked us questions.
When I was there I felt kind of bad because they do not have homes to live and it is sad. But the shelter was helping them get back on their feet. It was sad seeing them like that but it is good to know that they are taking care of.
I felt better after I left because it is nice doing some stuff for people who need help.
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