Post SCWK 432 Video

Evaluation of BSUs Break the Silence, Stop the Violence Week

Community Intervention Evaluation

I am going to evaluate our community interventions based on the following four components:  communication, the events themselves, outreach, and collaborations.  The evaluation will indicate what worked well for each of the components and what needs to be changed and possibly reevaluated.

In order to get valid, grassroots feedback, I will speak to three classmates about how the communication process worked for our intervention community and also reflect upon my own experience as well.  I will also research how many people attended the events to determine if the events grew a big enough crowd to warrant repeating in future years. I will accomplish this by analyzing feedback from SCWK-432 classes via Facebook post. In addition, I will determine the outcome of the outreach group.  This will be done by researching the feedback that was giving to the outreach team directly by the groups that the outreach team visited to see if they thought the students were more likely to attend since they were personally invited by the team.  Lastly, I would review what collaborations were made and with whom to identify if additional relationships needed to be worked on for future events. I will gain this information by asking at least three event attendees.

Communication was the major challenge that was reported during the planning process.  With over 50 people in three classes, two different professors, and various clubs and organizations involved, it took a few weeks to come up with a plan that everyone would be able to follow.  The plan consisted of several steps.  The first was to create four leaders in each class.  The leaders took on certain task and ensured that each group completed the goals established for the week or month.  Secondly, was to establish two representatives per class.  The representatives met with each other and the professors on an ongoing basis and shared each classes' goals, needs, and completed tasks. The information was then communicated back to each class in a once a week email to all students with updates about the events and the next steps that needed to be completed.  This method helped alleviate some of the missing details that some felt they were not receiving and kept the planning process organized. This method was created after a failed attempt to create a communication network using a Facebook page for the entire group.  The Facebook page failed because some participants do not have a Facebook page, nor wish to have one.  Therefore, individuals were being left out, and in order to have a successful planning process all must work together.  Another reason the Facebook page was not an appropriate means of communication is because there were too many posts being made and no one could keep up with what was going on. The process became confusing. Therefore, a method needed to be designed that would not leave any of the participants out of the communication circle. It was decided that since all students are required to check their student email daily that BSU email was the most efficient way to get the same information quickly to everyone. This system worked well.  

In evaluating responses posted on Facebook from students who attended each event, the consensus is that an overestimated amount of people attended each event. As a result the events were deemed successful in creating awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault.  Furthermore, due to the overwhelming participation from the BSU community and guests at each event, it is deemed that BSU should continue to promote Women's week through the Clothesline Project, the movie Telling Amy's Story, Vagina Monologues, and Take Back the Night March.

Outreach is an important part of event preparation because you need to ensure that there are enough participants to make an impact and create social change.  After speaking with the Outreach team, it was deemed that face-to-face contact really made a difference in the amount of students outside of the social work major that participated in the various events. In terms of Outreach we discussed the feedback of the individuals who visited professors and their classrooms to personally invite students to the weeklong events. It was assessed that students and faculty enjoyed the personal invitation and the fact that they were given the information about the events in person made them acknowledge that domestic violence and sexual assault are a social problem and that this problem does exist in the BSU community. It was also assessed that the face-to-face invitations made more of an impact on the students than the flyers did. Some student hadn't even seen the flyers as they scurried by the many that are posted everywhere on their way to class.  However, it was also deemed that the flyers are informative and work well as hand outs during Outreach activities.

There were approximately fifteen collaborations that were made with the SCWK-432 classes to promote and endorse BSUs Break the Silence, Stop the Violence events.  The collaborations included fundraising, sponsorship,  promotion,  donated services, education,  participation, etc.  It is deemed that the collaborations created for the week long events did make a positive impact on the success of each individual event.  However, it was indicated that the collaborations should  include further community members outside the direct BSU community to create further awareness of such an amazing week of life changing events.  It was also concluded that it would be nice to have more educational material available to participants at each event.

For future initiatives, I would first make sure everyone understands the concepts of each event that is taking place to ensure proper population is reached, then concentrate on communication evaluation to keep all students involved.  In addition, I think it is important to evaluate current collaborations to see if they are still a good fit for the events that are going to take place and to generate new leads for more collaborations. Lastly, utilize face-to-face outreach for a personal touch and to get individuals and groups involved. Look outside your comfort zone. You never know what you will find!

                                             My Learning Experience 

The results of a Strengths Assessment evaluation of myself indicate that I am an achiever, restorative, a developer, relator, and like harmony.  I have to say when I saw my results I was floored. I do believe I possess all of these attributes. Whether they are good attributes for macro social work or not, I don’t know.  What I do know is that this is who I am. However, one attribute that was not indicated in my Strengths Assessment results was that I am a leader.  But, after thinking carefully about this I realized that restorative and relator covers leadership qualities because being restorative gives strength to others and a relator tells stories and passes on knowledge. Therefore, a good and productive leader empowers (restorative) others to become leaders by bestowing them with resources (stories & knowlege) to help them become new leaders. So, I now understand that my leadership capabilities goes beyond setting a good example for others, it also includes empowering other to become great leaders by utilizing my knowledge and experience.

One of the most eye opening things I learned this semester is the difference between advocacy and badvocacy.  Even though this doesn't pertain directly to the task I completed for the week long events, I feel it is important to touch on it as it adds perspective to my activism philosophy of "if you're not advocating for yourself, then you don't know what you are advocating for so make sure you find out first".  Therefore, understanding the difference between the two advocacies has helped me refocus to what is important when advocating for myself and others. 

This is especially significant to understand while working with oppressed groups that may need you to advocate for them.  In order to provide proper advocacy you need to understand and acknowledge exactly what is needed or wanted. Good activist do research, talk with representative and individuals affected by the issue before advocating for change.

I know that I will remember this project for the rest of my life. Not for the work I did or the knowledge I gained, but for the awareness created by the impact of the Clothes Line Project.  The reactions of individuals and the look on their faces while reading the t-shirts and the look on one particular person's face as she handed me her freshly decorated t-shirt will forever be in my soul. 
Knowing that I was an amazing part of the impact bestowed upon the BSU Community the week of April 9 - 13th, 2012 against domestic violence and sexual assault will stay with me throughout my social work career and remind me of who I am and why I chose to become a social worker.  

In addition, the fact that so many different individuals came together from diverse backgrounds and with varying interests to create an amazing and caring community for social change of such a sensitive subject that has affected so many of us reminds me of the following quote from Gerstandt (2012), "it does not require us to like each other or agree with each other...it requires us to be committed to both caring for the container of commonality and the individual differences inside."  This quote reminds me that we as individuals are not the reason we worked so hard and with such passion to create social change.  We chose to work together regardless of our differences and with passion because of our common goal to end domestic violence and sexual assault. This is an example of the strength that a community can build.

Furthermore, after looking through all the pictures of the events, personally witnessing students decorating t-shirts for the Clothesline Project, and hearing about how individuals told their own story during the Take Back the Night event, I now understand what creates the type of grassroots awareness that makes a big enough impact on individuals and communities to create change on a larger scale.  I feel that the Break the Silence, Stop the Violence week at BSU will continue to make an impact on the community well after the week has past because of the collaborations with different campus organizations and the dedication of the students, staff, and community members who offered their own stories to create such an amazing force against domestic violence and sexual assault. This week has taught me that an individual can be strong, but together we can create a strengthened bond that will create social change.
 
In conclusion, involvement in such an amazing macro social work process such as Break the Silence, Stop the Violence week at BSU helped me to recognize who I am in the world and that I am someone important. I now understand that if I am passionate about something or want something changed, I now know that I CAN do it!   I now believe that I do have the power to create change especially after participating in the Legislative Education Advocacy Day (LEAD) in Boston and in SCWK 432.  I never realized how much of an impact that grassroots organizing can have on a community until Break the Silence, Stop the Violence week.  The reason I say grassroots is because I now know that campus wide sexual assault is more rampant than I thought, and that domestic violence has; unfortunately, affected many more of us than implied. Therefore, because so many of us have been affected by these atrocious acts of violence, a grassroots effort was made to produce a safe haven, create awareness about the social issue and set right the wrongs.  Even though it didn't start as a grassroots effort, but a class project, it grew into much more than just a class requirement. It grew into a passion!

 

To All Future SCWK 432 Students....

You are about to embark on an amazing adventure that will forever change how you feel about Macro social work  (in a positive manner of course).  My personal advice to you is that the first thing you need to do is understand that macro social work is a group effort.  Together you can make a difference. However,  one must not lose site to the fact that every little bit helps and if each person contributes their strengths to the efforts then the results will leave an amazing impression. Secondly, self-care.  I know this is probably hard for so many people to comprehend, but taking care of yourself comes first.  If you are not physically and mentally healthy you are not able to contribute your strengths to help create change. Lastly, but certainly not least, encourage each other and provide each other with support.  This is vitally important, especially when working with a topic that one may have a personal history, as you never know what may be a trigger for whom and at what time.  So use your social work skills and care for each other and don't forget to enjoy the events you worked so hard to plan!  In addition, I'd like to leave you with my top ten list of do and don'ts for a successful semester in SCWK 432.

1.    Keep up on class work. Do the readings and assignments on time to ensure you do not fall behind.

2.    Talk to each other!  Especially if you're feeling overwhelmed. Others probably feel the same way.  

3.    Start with the grassroots!  Here you will find what will work best for the stakeholders of the events you are planning.

4.    Understand that the weeklong events may seem overwhelming, but once they arrive they go by quickly. So enjoy them!

5.    Rely on each other!  Know that you are not alone in this process. This is a group effort and you do not have to do it all. Everyone has great things to contribute.

6.    Think outside the box!  Be creative. What other resources can you use?

7.    Learn from mistakes and from other's strengths.  What have others reported as part of their program evaluation for the particular events you are participating in?

8.    Face to face contact never fails!  Promote events by visiting classrooms and extending personal invitations to various club, organizations, and pertinent community leaders you'd like to see participate in or attend the events. Building relationships is an important part of a successful intervention.

9.    Most of all......Have fun! 

 

Work Cited

Gerstandt, J. (2012). Community requires courage. Retrieved from

            http://plato.bridgew.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2fwebapps%2f

            blackboard%2fexecute%2flauncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_12662_1%26url%3d

Aid-based vs. Community-based Approach (Week 8&9 Blog)

Not until this week did I think aid-based approaches were mostly ineffective.  I assumed that all the goods collected and donated to third world countries were because they did not have access to such resources and needed U.S aid.  However, after reviewing aid-based and community-rooted macro social work research, I have been uplifted from the ignorant world of "Badvocacy" (Texas in Africa Blog, 2009).

Aid-Based Approach

Young boy eating 1 of the 2.4 million Pop-Tarts
in which most of them found their way to the Black Market!

The current U.S aid-based approach supplies countries with goods such as shirts, shoes, and foods that are left overs or over produced items from U.S. companies and citizens.  An actual example described by Charles Kenny in his article Haiti Doesn't Need Your Old T-Shirt, indicates the U.S. dropped "2.4 million Pop-Tarts into Afghanistan in January 2002".  If the U.S. was going to give food away why wouldn't they give healthy food?  Think about it - 2.4 million Pop-Tarts! How is Pop-Tarts going to help the local farmers keep their crop growing?  How is Pop-Tarts going to help the poor buy food? How is Pop-Tarts going to give the body needed nutrients?  It's not! Dropping Pop-Tarts, the losing team's Super Bowl shirts, and other overproduced merchandise on third world countries, keeps the countries poor. The U.S. aid contributes to the loss of income to the local economy by giving consumers items that they would normally have to purchase.  It's not that the basic needs products are not available in third world countries, it is the fact that the people need to be able to afford to purchase the items.  The more tangible aid the U.S. provides, the poorer the countries will grow. The article Before You Give...Think!! 7 Steps for Critical Reflection published on a blog by Tumblr indicates that if proper aid is to be given to countries who WANT it, then the U.S. should aid in political and economical growth.  The U.S. could assist in creating jobs within the country, help build free educational institutions, and  provide support for other resources that a particular country needs and not give what the U.S. aid givers feel is needed which seems to only benefits their own self-worth.

Community-Based Approach

The Women, War and Peace movement videos utilize a totally different perspective and approach to change than the Kony 2012 aid approach.  The women of western Africa used a community-based approach. The community-based approach gets to the root of the issue and solves it, whereas, the aid approach seems to provide "left over" products as a way to gain tax deductions and leave a sense of self-worth like one did "something" to help the less privileged. I watched the video I Came To Testify with a beating heart. The brave women who had become the weapon of choice through torture and rape and were tired of being a weapon fought back.  They fought back and they fought back hard.  I was amazed to see how bold they were. The women utilized their cultural resources, their intelligence, and allies with each other.  This was the first time in African history that Muslims and Christians bonded together.  The women didn't let religion get in the way of their movement, nor did they let the fact that they were women stand in their way either.  The women realized that the only way to survive was to fight back and resist in order to find peace for themselves and their children.  The women understood that they had to rally together and get to the bottom of the issue and that is what they did. They knew the only way there would be peace in Africa was if a peace treaty was signed. Therefore, they rallied, chanted, and secured their stance until they were noticed.  The most crucial stance was when  cultural competence was used to gain respect from the lead men.  Threatening to protest naked and taking away the privilege of having sex with the women showed the men that the women meant business. The men then took the women more seriously as seeing a mother figure naked on purpose is against African culture (PBS). The women's actions are perfect examples of grassroots community organizing as the women got down to the problem and resolved it on the community level. If an aid-based approach was taken, the women may still be overtly oppressed, raped, and tortured and their refugee camp filled with overproduced shoes and New England Patriots Super Bowl XLVI champion shirts!

     Invisible Children and Kony 2012 
The idea of Invisible Children (IC) is great. However, the way they are going about it seems to give only one side of the story. A Uganda journalist blogger named Rosebell who responded to Kony 2012 on YouTube indicates that Kony 2012 tells Uganda's story from the perspective of the IC community and from the memory of one of Uganda's children. The story is not representative of the country, but only of a portion of the tragedy that still lingers from the LRA.  The story does not provide what resources and strengths that country boast, nor does it provide what has been solidified and rectified by the passed terror on the country.  The Kony 2012 is Badvocay.  Has any of the millions of YouTube followers or activist that are purchasing the Kony  items or Geo kits ask Uganda what they need?  Think about it!  As social workers, we follow the NASW Code of Ethics.  One of the Core Values of the Code of Ethics is EMPOWERING people...supporting them in THEIR goals (NASW, 1996).  How does anyone who views the Kony 2012 video or exploits the people of Uganda by spreading the "experiment video" narrated by Jason Russel, expect to empower the people of Uganda when no one has asked them what they need?  The Kony 2012 video does not give a voice to the "invisible children" of Uganda. It spreads the ideology of western civilization through one person's perspective.  How is that empowering the Ugandan people? 

What are your thoughts on this MSNBC interview with Jason Russell?

MSNBC "The Last Word" with Jason Russell by Lawrence O'Donnell

 

BADVOCACY or ADVOCACY

Millions of individuals' opinions about people and the world are shared on YouTube daily.

The videos influence the viewers worldview and perspective on social problems and policies.
Below is a video that I found during my YouTube search on badvoacy and advocacy for 3rd World Countries and Exploitation.
I would like to know if you feel this video is badvocay or advocacy!!

Click HERE to watch video
3rd World Aid vs. Exploitation of the 3rd World

Intervention Task Completed as of 3/12/12

Date	Time	Activity
1/31/12	45 minutes	Created two page list of resources and contacts for community promotion and involvement of events and emailed to Laura.
1/31/12	5 minutes	Emailed BSU University and Community Partnerships for advice and help.
2/2/12	5 min 6:47 am	Emailed 432 online class for their community contact info and additions to the community promotion list.
2/2/12	4:01pm	Email to Scott Davenport with contact info for community contacts
2/2/12	11:00 am	Email feedback to Dr. Boutwell on community promotions and feedback to Christi on contacts in the community.
2/2/12	8:30 pm	Updated promotion contact list
2/3/12	12:35	Sent FB Post about places to hang flyers
2/4/12	4:52	Updated Promotion list on FB
2/4/12	2pm	Communication with Madonna on task that  need to be completed for promoting.
2/7/12	5:29	Email to Madonna asking if she heard about any updates
2/7/12	6:23	Posted 5 promotion suggestions on blackboard
2/8/12	10:10	Recruiting of leader email sent to 4 people who I thought would make good leaders.
2/9/12 & 2/10/12	9:02	Sent email to set up Leadership time meetings and updated  Face book promotion doc.
2/9/12	10:06	Correspondence to and from Madonna to  clarify work that needs to be done and merge some docs.
2/10/12	7:43	Merged promotional docs from into word to prepare for  Thurs. Leaders meeting
2/11/12	3:24	Email to leadership group about combing the discussion board promotion ideas into one doc for 432 leadership meeting on Thrus.  2/16/12
2/13/12	1pm	Added promotion resources to list for leadership meeting
2/16	4:45-6:30	Leadership meeting with Dr. Boutwell
2/17/12	1:00	Outreach Email to OCES for DV week at BSU. Ask to distribute at Senior Bullying Prof. Development seminar
2/17/12	6pm	Sent east and west side locations for posting flyers to leadership group.
2/17/12	4pm	Secured permission to promote DV events at my intern OCES during senior bulling seminar.
2/19/12	1pm	Distributed SAVE the date flyer to personal contacts via email
2/20/12	11:30 am	Sent info email to leadership group re.:BSU outreach
2/21/12	11:30	Send Save the Date Flyer and VDay flyer to BSU outreach.
2/21/12	2pm	Email correspondence to Leadership committee and BSU outreach
2/21/12	4:30	Email to Outreach leaders
2/21/12	5:20	Organization of Task to Outreach leaders and Laura
2/22/12	10am	Emails to/from Laura and Diana regarding Sex Rape Kits
2/27/12	8:30	Email to Molly/Peer Education bout meeting Email to Madonna to give her update.
2/28/12	9:30	·         Met with Molly/Peer Educator and Laura B. to discuss Health Outreach and Peer Educators involvement in CLP ·         Send email to Diana/CLP organizer with meeting update ·         Sent update to Outreach team  regarding meeting
2/28/12	11am	Sent outreach email to Julie Manning at Catholic Charities to see if organization interested in awareness week.
2/28/12	11:24	·         Email to Diana/CLP re:  time and place of set-up for Molly ·         Emailed Molly about possible peer education doing Stahl postings!
2/28/11	5pm	Response correspondence to Molly regarding CLP questions she and Ann Doyle had.
3/1/12	8am	Outreach email to Old Colony Elder Services to see if interested in having a table during DV awareness week
3/1/12	9:33 am	Call to South Shore Women’s Resource Center. Spoke to Joan to see of Kathy Spears wants to do an info table.
3/8/12	1pm	Emailed Save the Date flyers to personal contacts and OCES (my sr. internship supervisor) to post
3/9/12	1pm	Send follow up email to Catholic Charities contact Julie Manning
3/12/12	4:45 pm	Contacted S. Davenport via email to find out if there is anything that I may do to help outreach
3/14/12	5:41	Emailed BSU University and Community Partnerships New updated flyers Emailed new updated flyers to OCES supervisor
3/14/12	5:55	FACEBOOK - Created Weeklong event page for BSU DV week
3/16/12	2pm	Distributed all event flyers to Protective Service Department at OCES and to MSW interns during group supervision
3/21/12	9:30 am	Distributed over 50 event flyers to OCES employees and other community workers during senior bullying professional development  at OCES and co-sponsored by Emmanuel House
3/27/12	10 am	FACEBOOK POST to BSU sites BSU Outreach;  BUS OUR. BSU Alumni, BSU SWAT (student weekend activities team), Phi Alpha BSU Commuters, BSU Parents, BSU Graduation BSU List (consist of FB users that have BSU as school)
3/27/12	10:48	Invite email sent :  BSU Program, CMA, Asian studies, social justice league, BSU University and Partnership Program, BSU Center for International engagement, External affairs, BSU community center, and a few more that I found
4/3/12	10:31	Sent edited copy of Laura's INVITAIONAL email to BSU groups, personal contacts, and interns.
4/3/12	Ongoing	Continuously talking to BSU and surrounding community that I come in contact with about the weeklong events and the collection of items for rape survival kits
4/3/12	Ongoing	Collected a huge bag of items from family and friends for the Rape Survival Kits to be donated.
4/3/12	10:34	Sent email to Ann and Molly to find out specifics about the Rape Kit Collection info so I can spread the word.
4/3/12	4:36	Posted updated event flyers and survival kit flyer to face book events page for 432
4/9/12	9:12	ClothesLine Project ECC  and reposting event invites