May 29

The Homelessness Series: Whose Story is Really Being Told?

In an appearance at the Washington, D.C., Politics and Prose bookstore, Ehrenreich informed an adoring audience that previous attempts she’d made to pitch books about poverty to magazine and book editors had most commonly met with failure. Poverty wasn’t interesting to their readers, the editors had told her. This book, she said, was different; it had been warmly received…what is it about this book on poverty that elicits so much interest?  – Nickel and Dimed, pg. 147 (Barbara Ehrenreich)

Much like the issue of homelessness itself, literature written about homelessness is often met with a sense of hesitancy. People often keep their distance. It is an issue that makes people uncomfortable. It is not something that people want to talk about, much less read about. Confronting the issue itself through works of literature, which detail the daily struggles of the homeless, as well as the societal structures largely responsible for the ongoing problem – cause an uneasy feeling with the public, who largely do not have to think about such issues on a daily basis.

However, there are several texts, which have been able to break through the barriers we’ve created for ourselves. Stories like The Soloist (a 2009 feature film starring Jamie Foxx), Same Kind of Different As Me (which also has a movie in the works), and Nickel and Dimed (A Notable Book of the Year, often read in high school and college English classes) are all texts regarding homelessness and poverty, which have gone on to become New York Times TheSoloistbestsellers. They have garnered widespread success, not just in the world of academia, but also with the general public.

What is it about these books, which breaks down such barriers? What causes them to resonate with readers, and allows them to stay on top of bestsellers lists year after year?

In a large part, it is due to the fact that such narratives are told through the perspective of a middle to upper class protagonist. It’s easy for us to identify with an affluent protagonist. We can peer over their shoulders, and act as an innocent bystander. We can allow ourselves to be swept away by the heart-warming stories and life-changing transformations from a safe distance – hidden behind the pages of the book, where we are far removed from any sense of personality responsibility or obligation.

New York Times bestsellers like Same Kind of Different As Me (written by Ron Hall and Denver Moore, with the help of Lynn Vincent) and The Soloist (written by journalist Steve Lopez) are both memoirs, which are told from the perspective of an affluent male protagonist about the development of their “unlikely friendship” with a troubled homeless man.

While Nickel and Dimed is not your typical memoir, it also provides a first-person perspective on the world of poverty, as seen through the eyes of an affluent protagonist, journalist Barbara Ehrenreich. In the work, Ehrenreich seeks to shed light on the current conditions of poverty in America by working undercover as an unskilled worker.

The power of such works of non-fiction, and in particular the genre of memoirs, lies in their ability to invite the reader into a different world. The texts become a temporary escape from the reader’s everyday life, a way to step into another person’s world, and see things from their perspective – even if it’s just Continue reading

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May 28

Born with the wrong parts: When genitalia doesn’t define gender

In nearly every picture from my childhood I am wearing ballet leotards or a tutu, mostly because I studied ballet as a child, but also because I identified with the ballerina. It was my “girl” thing, and the ballerina represented the woman I wanted to become. My brother always appears wearing a baseball cap or on a mini-bike, all very macho-like poses.

The most fundamental of questions, “Who am I,” usually occurs to all of us early, before we have formed an opinion about how we fit into the world around us, and who our adult selves will grow up to be. It is a philosophical question, for the most part, one that addresses our personality, our desires, how we fit into the world around us. For some, another question is also formed early, one most of us never give a second thought to: “What am I?” If I had been born someone who asks this question of myself, I might be looking at those photos from my youth and asking why it wasn’t me in the baseball cap, or on the mini-bike, and I might see the little girl in the ballet tutu and have no emotional connection to that person, because I have no connection to that identity.

I am told that this is how someone with gender dysphoria feels – everyday.

 Gender dysphoria, formally called gender identity disorder, is a condition that keeps a person from the most fundamental assumption, that I am a girl, or you are a boy.” Typically we know this to be true for ourselves because we see the evidence: my breasts, your penis, are there when we look in the mirror. For transgender children, and Trans before and afterby extension for their families, living with gender dysphoria can be painful and isolating. Confusion is often the norm for the children and their parents, and in the larger society it can lead to isolation, rejection, ridicule, and harassment. The issue goes well beyond that of a boy playing with dolls, or a girl playing with toy soldiers; it goes to the heart of how a person perceives himself or herself in contradiction to how their bodies were shaped when they were born, and how those shapes create assumptions about them. The population of people born with gender dysphoria are commonly called “Transgender”.

 You might be asking yourself “Why should I care about this?” The Williams Institute, a think tank branch of UCLA’s law school recently released figures that indicate roughly 700,000 people in the United States are born with gender dysphoria and these are only estimates, because the often bigoted reaction from those who do not understand transgender people, prevents many transgenders from publicly disclosing their gender dysphoria.

 If your genitalia didn’t match the gender you associate yourself to, would you feel disfigured? What would you do about it?

The statistics on suicide rates among people born with gender dysphoria are staggering. One study revealed 41% out of 6400 respondents reported attempts to kill themselves. This represents about 9% of the total estimated transgender population, or those we know about.

It is important to remember that gender dysphoria is not about sexual attraction, indeed, when the symptoms of gender dysphoria begin in childhood, as they always do, sexual attraction and sexual orientation are not developed yet. It is also useful to keep in mind that gender dysphoria is not considered a disorder, nor is it considered a psychological anomaly; yet because our society tends to stigmatize people who are different from ourselves – especially when the difference is sexual orientation or sexual identity – a transgender person is often misunderstood and treated as though they are an anomaly, leading to enormous levels of distress, self-doubt, and lower self-esteem. More dangerous and disturbing are the high incidences of violence and murder directed at transgender individuals who are often revictimized by some members of law enforcement, who treat the victim with scorn.

Recent media attention has brought gender dysphoria out of the shadows and into the spotlight. Chaz Bono is the most well known transgender person in the country, if not the world. For Chaz – born a girl named Chastity – the action of having a gender reassignment surgery began with many of the issues in childhood I have already described. Despite his famous parents and a life raised in comfort, Chaz describes a painful existence, beginning as early as 3 years old, and ultimately made a decision to reassign his gender through surgery to correct the physiological mistake of being born with the wrong genitalia.

Over the coming months I will write a series of posts that will explore the transition from childhood to adulthood for gender dysphoric members of our society; the choices they make for themselves and the choices society’s pressures force them into. It will talk about gender laws, gender discrimination, and sexual reassignment surgery.

The time has come to stop ignoring this population of men and women, who by accident of birth have been given body parts they do not identify with. We can help stop the isolation by opening up the discussion and ending the bigotry transgenders have been forced to live with for so long.

If you are gender dysphoric, if you know someone who is, or if you simply want to learn more about the issue, please join me in this online conversation. I welcome your comments below.

 

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May 20

Border Clashes Create Anger in Turkey

It’s been a while since I’ve written about the Arab Spring, mostly because it’s not really the “Arab Spring” anymore. Egypt, Syria, Libya, and others, have been struggling for two years now, and there is little hope that the conflict will be resolved any time soon, particularly in Syria.   The violence in Syria has been particularly striking, and has, according to some, destroyed any sense of hope and positive change surrounding the Arab Spring.  So for this post, I thought I would discuss how the violence in Syria has spilled over and affected other countries, particularly Turkey.

SyriaAs you can see, Turkey and Syria share a fairly long border: 511 miles, to be exact.  Therefore, It’s not terribly surprising that violence from Syria has had an impact on Turkey since the very beginning of the crisis.  In August of 2011 the Turkish government, believing that Assad’s regime would fall quickly, opened its doors to Syrian rebels and refugees.  The government denies arming the rebels, but the rebels suggest otherwise, stating that their Turkish brothers provided them with light weapons. Unfortunately for Turkey’s Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the man who opened Turkey’s borders and promoted interventionalist policies towards Syria, the conflict was not resolved quickly and the United States has refused to intervene, and so the situation within Turkey has deteriorated.   There have been numerous border skirmishes since late 2012, and many Turks blame Erdogan for the current mess.

The most recent attack took place on 12th May, when two car bombs went off in the small border town of Reyhanli, killing 43 people.  The Turkish government has suggested that a Syrian intelligence agency planned the attack in order to turn the Turkish people against Syrian refugees, a lot of whom call Reyhanli home.Syria2

If the Syrian government was behind this (which it denies, of course) then it seems their plan has worked.  Turkish protesters have had several clashes with the police in Reyhanli in the the week since the attack, with many blaming Erdogan’s policies for the devastating bombing.  The government should never have let refugees live in towns, especially ones so close to the border and border security is too lax, the protesters insist.  The demonstrators also said that Turkish support for the Syrian rebels was putting Turkey in the line of fire, and so Erdogan must reconsider his position on Syria.  Supporting the rebels, offering them firearms, speaking out against Assad’s regime: all of these actions have consequences, and clearly the Turkish people are suffering from them.

What can Erdogan do, though?  Backing the rebels is clearly a dangerous move–there’s no doubt about that–but what are the alternatives?   Continue reading

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May 07

The Politics of Pistachios

Sometimes, the strangest things can cause a rift, or continue to push apart, two countries.  It comes as no surprise that the United State and Iran are not ideologically on the same page.  The two nations have been at odds with one another over the development of nuclear energy, and over the years Iran has faced heavy sanctions from the United Nations.  For decades Iran and the US have battled one another over domestic and international policies, but now the two countries have a new issue at hand—pistachios.  The little green nut is at the center of international market dominance, with the United States, for the first time ever, coming on top.

Pistachios have long been known as a key commodity for Iranians, not just internationally, but culturally as well.  The nut is used in a variety of Persian dishes, and is as dear to Iranians as warm apple pie with ice cream is to Americans.  For years, Iran has been the leading producer of pistachios worldwide, and the nut serves as the leading non-oil export supporting the Iranian economy.  Unfortunately, the plethora of sanctions crippling Iran’s economy has now negatively impacted the nation’s pistachio exports.  With the sanctions in place, the domestic price of pistachios has jumped from $1.70 per kilogram to $48 per kilogram, and incited a boycott originating from Facebook.

Despite the fact that Facebook is illegal in Iran, the government has supported the boycott.  If locals refuse to purchase pistachios, more nuts will be available to sell internationally.  During a time when sanctions are all but decimating Iran’s economy, the Iranian government is looking for any ways to continue supporting the nation’s weak foreign revenues coffers.  Unfortunately for Iran, the export sanctions have provided the US with plenty of time to foster its own pistachio trade.  In 2012, California alone grew 600 million pounds of pistachios, and for the first time the US beat Iran in pistachio production.                                           Pistachio

Now that Iran has lost its title as top pistachio producer, the country is attempting to both support its pistachio exports and appease angry Iranians at home.  However, in a counter-productive move, the Iranian government has decided to put in effect a six month export ban on pistachios.  The government will allow only local consumers to purchase pistachios, and hopes to regulate the inflated price of the popular nuts.  Nevertheless, Mohsen Jalalpour, head of the Iran Pistachio Association, believes that the government is making a huge mistake with the ban.  According to statistics, Iran exports 70 percent of its pistachios, and losing foreign revenue will further cripple the economy.  With pistachios being the largest non-oil export item, the ramifications of the ban will be felt across the country.

Though it may seem trivial to focus on a nut as small as the pistachio, the international impacts behind the politics of pistachios can reach far and wide.  First, it is possible that the cost of pistachios may go up in Asian countries, the biggest buyers of Iranian pistachios, since the market will have less of the nuts to sell.  However, that may be the least harrying concern for the world to focus on.  Iran, like North Korea, has been locked under UN sanctions in regards to an alleged nuclear program.  The country’s main source of income, oil exportation, has been on the decline, and without foreign revenue Iran will be unable to maintain its oil wells.

The issue regarding nuclear programs is unquestionable, and the international community should definitely get involved in stemming potentially dangerous nuclear attacks.  Iran has repeatedly claimed that it does not intend to make weapons, but rather produce fuel for its country.  Whether or not Iran plans on making nuclear weapons is up in the air, but the matter cannot be dealt with stifling UN sanctions.  Crippling an entire nation, made up of women, children, and the elderly, is unthinkable.  The fact that the sanctions affect even pistachio production is rather telling of how restricting they have come to be.  Instead of isolating Iran, the international community needs to open up diplomatic talks with the country.  Rather than making Iran an outsider who hates the West, perhaps it is time to invite the nation to peacefully explain its story.

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May 01

The Homelessness Series: Andre’s Story

Social justice, good. Charity, bad.

At least that’s always been my philosophy. It’s simple. Straightforward. Easy to follow. Maybe that’s the problem.

This personal philosophy first developed sometime around my sophomore year in college. After participating in several break trips, and spending a lot of time reflecting on systemic social problems and injustices, I grew a distrust for all things charity-related, annoyed by our society’s infatuation with charity as an end-all be-all solution. It seemed too short-sided and unproductive, a waste both of our time and resources.

Therefore, when asked to explain my personal understanding on the differences between charity and social justice in a year of service application this spring, this is what I said:

 “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” Charity is about providing people who are starving with food, people who are experiencing homelessness with a shelter, and life-saving medications for those who can’t pay for them themselves. Charitable acts often make a world of difference in the lives of the individuals involved. The problem? Charity is often about creating temporary solutions to permanent problems. At the end of the day, the initial problem  – be it be poverty, homelessness, education inequality – still exists. Charity is about providing people with food for a day (the fish), yet with no means of providing for themselves the next day (they still need the fishing pole). The ultimate goal of social justice work is to create an environment where everyone is given the right to equal economic, political, and social opportunities. It’s about creating sustainable solutions to society’s social problems, in the hopes that eventually they will cease to exist in the first place.

You’d think by now, that I would have realized that this world isn’t as simple as black and white. You’d think by now, I would have realized that there’s a whole lot of gray in between. Yet, it’s taken me until now to realize that maybe, just maybe – social justice isn’t the only solution, and that charity might just have its benefits. It’s taken me until now to realize that maybe the two concepts aren’t exclusive, but rather interconnected strategies, which can be Welcome-to-Social-Justiceused co-dependently to solve some of our nation’s greatest social problems. I have Andre to thank for that.

Andre’s story starts when he was laid off from his job as a machine operator due to department downsizing back in 2003. Rather than dwelling on his misfortune, Andre decided to seize the moment and pursue his lifelong dream of becoming an emergency medical technician. Despite being out of school for decades, he successfully passed a preliminary test and was accepted into an EMT training program.

The problem? The school was in Philadelphia, a place where he had never been. Despite being far away from his friends, his family, and everything he had ever known, Andre took a leap of faith, and moved to the city even though he had no place to live, driven by his lifelong dream. However, with unemployment quickly running out, classes soon approaching, and with no job in sight (after having his applications repeatedly rejected at fast food restaurants like Burger King, with the simple explanation that he was “far too overqualified”), Andre decided to take to the streets. Destination: the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, a temporary home for many who no longer had a place to call home in Center City, Philadelphia.

For a good amount of time, Andre made it work. Stuck in survival mode, he successfully put himself through the rigorous EMT program, helping people move on the weekends for a little side cash. However, problems begin to arise in the last six weeks of classes. The last couple weeks were the most intense of the program – filled with tests, practicals, and countless hours in the emergency room, all responsibilities which required Andre to be fully functioning at all times. So close to his dream, yet so far away. Andre knew that there was no way Continue reading

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Apr 22

Myanmar in the Balance

Regular readers of this blog will know that Myanmar has long been one of my favorite topics.  I’ve written many times, often quite hopefully, about what the future may hold for this isolated country as it begins to open up Myanmar1economically and socially.  New president Thein Sein has made serious moves towards reforming the military-ruled country, and is in fact scheduled to receive a peace prize from the International Crisis Grop (ICG) tonight.  The decision to award the Pursuit of Peace prize to Thein Sein is, of course, highly controversial, with many arguing that the ICG has glossed over Thein Sein’s many imperfections and over-emphasizing his efforts at reform.  Still, Thein Sein receiving a peace prize is a monumental step forward for Myanmar, which is still known mainly for human rights abuses.

Things are not all rosy and bright for Myanmar, however.  I was dismayed this morning to read that Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Burmese authorities and members of the Arakanese group of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya Muslims.  A recent HRW report on the situation declares that over 125,000 Rohingya Muslims have been displaced by Burmese security forces and Buddhist monks in this humanitarian crisis.  The Myanmar2displaced have been denied access to humanitarian aid, according to HRW, and are unable to return home.

There is a history of animosity between the Rohingya Muslims and the Arakanese, and this is merely the latest round of destruction.  In June of 2012 sectarian violence broke out between the two groups, and in the aftermath of the fighting government officials destroyed mosques, conducted mass arrests, and denied aid to Muslims.   Then, in October of 2012, Arkanese mobs attacked Muslim residents while security forces looked on, displacing and killing many more Rohingya Muslims.  Thein Sein did conduct a highly publicized diplomatic tour of the displaced person camps, but little has been done to get humanitarian aid to the displaced Rohingya.

This report was quite conveniently timed, as the European Union is set to meet this week to discuss lowering sanctions against Myanmar.  Presidential spokesman Ye Htut has accused HRW of timing the report specifically to coincide with the EU meeting, and calling it “one-sided” and stating that the government will not pay attention to such a biased report.

So what do you think of all this?  Sectarian violence and human rights abuses are clearly still going on despite Myanmar3President Thein Sein’s attempts at reform, so what does that mean for Myanmar’s future?  Reducing sanctions against the country and allowing increased business investment and tourism from the west would certainly bring money into the impoverished country, which could potentially improve the circumstances and quell some of the violence.  On the other hand, money flowing in could cause an increase in violence if it creates further inequality.  What do you think the EU should do when they meet?  Agree to lower some of the sanctions in the hope that Thein Sein will be able to continue reforms and that the money will improve conditions, or continue to impose–or even increase–sanctions until the conflict is resolved?  Let me know in the comments!

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Apr 18

The Homelessness Series: Back on My Feet

Anne Mahlum is a runner. Always has been. And in the early mornings of spring 2007, you could often find her running the sidewalks of Philadelphia, before heading to work for the day. On her runs, she would pass apartment buildings, businesses, and even a homeless shelter, which was just a couple blocks away.

BOMFShe would run by the shelter often, and pass by without a second thought. However, that May everything changed. The men standing outside of the homeless shelter began waving to her during her daily runs. So she waved back. They began to say hi. So she said hi back. And then the thought dawned on her, “Why do I get to be the runner, and they get to be the homeless guys on the corner?” And that’s where Back on My Feet began.

Struck with inspiration, Anne decided to call the shelter and tell them of her desire to start a running club. Her unusual request was initially met with skepticism, and wary “don’t get your hopes up”. Yet despite the underwhelming response, just a week later, Anne received an email from the shelter with the names of nine men and their shoe sizes. Anne had found her runners.

The Sunday before their first run, Anne arrived at the shelter with some shoes, running clothes, and a Dedication Contract. Among the contract clauses? All participants were required to show up for the 6 a.m. runs three times a week, on time, with the utmost respect for themselves, and support for their teammates. Anne didn’t care about the homeless stereotypes. She expected pure excellence – one hundred percent dedication. And the men gave it to her. They were showing up for the runs every single day, on time, and with a positive attitude. They were there not because they had to be, but because they wanted to be. It was almost like these men had simply been on that corner, waiting all this time, for someone to come along and believe in them.

Running doesn’t discriminate… doesn’t matter if you’re white, black, rich, poor, homeless or not, it can make you discover all the things you like about yourself.” – CEO Anne Mahlum

Back on My Feet has now expanded to ten chapters nationwide, with locations ranging from Atlanta to Austin to Indianapolis, and with another slated to be opening in Los Angeles by the end of this year. The process itself is simple. First, a chapter partners with a local city facility, be it an emergency shelter, mission, or halfway house to enlist interested participants. During the initial Orientation Session, all participants sign a dedication contract, goal sheet, and evaluation survey. Running BoMF_dallasteams are then formed, combining both individuals who are experiencing homelessness (the residential members) and other community members (volunteers). The teams run together at least three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and if a residential member participates in at least 90% of runs their first month, they are allowed the opportunity to move onto the “Next Steps” phase of the program.

In the “Next Steps” phase, all residential members meet with a Back on My Feet staff member in order to access their current situation, and to determine the necessary steps to transition them into a more independent lifestyle. The goal is to provide members with the financial backing needed to eventually move them into a more permanent housing situation. Since its start, 46% of Back on My Feet’s residential Continue reading

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Apr 12

Stop the School to Prison Pipeline

Have you ever heard of the school to prison pipeline? It’s likely you haven’t. Because it’s not something that receives a lot of publicity outside of the areas it affects. But it should. Which is why I decided to write this article today. I want to shine some light on something I believe is a huge issue for today’s society.

Think about traditional discipline you see in schools: a scolding from a teacher, a trip to the principal’s office,prison2pipe detention, MAYBE a suspension if you’ve done something really bad. But that’s all it ever is. It’s always contained within the school. You certainly have no reason to fear police action unless you broken an actual law instead of simply a school rule. However, that’s not the case everywhere in the country.

Some schools take a much more extreme approach to discipline. They respond to things as little as dress code violations, profanity or disrespect with actual police action. In certain school districts, children are automatically arrested if the school refers the students to the police. No questioning the situation. No investigation by the police. AUTOMATIC arrest. As a result, children get records in the juvenile system. And often eventually end up in juvenile detention centers or jail. All for breaking school rules. This is what we refer to as the school to prison pipeline.

This is bad enough in itself; however, there are other issues creating this situation beyond extremism in sentencing. In many places, this has a very clear racial component as well. In Meridian, Mississippi for example, the Department of Justice conducted a study from 2006-2010 that resulted in some very troubling findings. The investigation demonstrated that black students were systematically treated more harshly than white students. In fact, 100% of the students referred to law enforcement or expelled were black even though they only make up 86% of the student population.

In response to these gross injustices, the Department of Justice issued a federal decree last month ordering the prisonpipelinegraphictown to dismantle this pipeline. It is unclear whether this decree will have the necessary strength and political force to end these practices. However, it is an important step in the right direction that the DOJ has come out forcefully against the practices happening in Meridian. We may have to wait to see how things will play out in Mississippi. But I’m encouraged that people are doing something. And I mean a lot of people. Because the DOJ is not alone in acting against the school district in Meridian. It is also being supported by Meridian residents, the NAACP and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

DOJ involvement means the federal government is taking action to change the racist practices in Meridian, Mississippi. Which is a huge breakthrough for the people working to end the pipeline. But this movement started small like any other. It started with one person standing up and saying “this isn’t right” and others standing with them in agreement. They knew that prison shouldn’t be associated with standard disciplinary practices in schools. That “zero tolerance” policies shouldn’t be considered legitimate school code. And that children should never have to fear police action for a simple dress code violation or for skipping class. They KNEW the school district needed to be stopped from manipulating the system to create this illegal and racist pipeline. Happily, Continue reading

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Apr 04

The Homelessness Series: What About the Kids?

According to a report conducted by the Coalition of the Homeless last month, a record high 50,000 people slept in New York City’s shelters this January. Fifty-thousand people. More people are now homeless in New York City than at any time since the Great Depression. Want to know an even scarier fact? Almost half of the individuals are children.

e88654ae7febd7faf2d990efc29da326Approximately 1.6 million children in the United States are now homeless, a 33% increase in the last couple years. It’s not just in New York City either. It’s in California, Nevada, Texas, and Florida too. It’s taking place across the entire country. Families with children are forced to live on the streets, in homeless shelters, and in other forms of temporary housing. They’re crammed into motels, cars, and are doubled up with other families – all simply trying to make ends meet.

Homeless families are currently one of the fastest growing segments of the homeless population in the United States, and in a large part, the economic recession is to blame. There have been budget cuts. Job losses. Foreclosures. Add in a profound lack of affordable housing, and you’ve got yourself quite the national recipe for disaster.

So what does that mean for the kids involved? How are they affected by their family’s homelessness?

  • Physical Health Risks: In general, children who are experiencing homelessness are much more susceptible to experiencing health problems (both acute and chronic) than those that are housed. They have an increased risk of having asthma, respiratory infections, ear infections, gastrointestinal infections… the list goes on and on. Poor nutrition is also a key contributing factor to many of the health problems associated with child homelessness, such as stunted growth and iron deficiencies (which often leads to anemia).
  • Emotional and Behavioral Health: Children who are experiencing homelessness are three times more likely to have emotional and behavioral problems than those who are housed, according to the National Center on Family Homelessness. They also have an increased risk of developing anxiety, depression, and/or aggressive behavior. However, wouldn’t anybody in their position? If your daily worries consisted not of whether or not you could go play at Johnny’s house today, but rather if you had a place to sleep that night, my guess is that anybody’s emotional and mental health would be at risk. Children who are experiencing homelessness have to worry about the possibility of being separated from their friends and family. They have to worry about what their peers will think of them in school that day. They often have to worry about their physical safety. The constant stress and anxiety weighs down on kids over time, and can often lead to long-term health consequences.
  • Education: Ever try to do homework using only the lights inside your car? Or with just a flashlight because your family is not able to afford both electricity and food that month? Both narratives are highlighted in the 60 Minutes clip “The Hard Times Generation” on the current state of homelessness in America. The truth of the matter is that children who are experiencing homelessness are twice as likely to have learning disabilities (speech delays, dyslexia, etc.) and four times as likely to show delayed development as those that are housed. They’re also more like to have lower test scores, have to repeat a grade in school, and/or drop out of high school that those that are housed. When survival is at the forefront of one’s existence (and mobility is a way of life), it’s only natural that Continue reading
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Apr 02

Parents, Children and the Social Media Talk

Social technologies have broken the barriers of space and time, enabling us to interact 24/7 with more people than before. Most people spend their time sending emails, chatting with friends, posting videos or pictures, to being informed of the latest events. Everything can be done through Facebook, and Twitter. New social networking sites social media parents 1pop up regularly, all accessible 24 hours a day via computer, tablet, smartphone, and internet-enabled devices.

Proponents of social media cheer on the benefits and possible advances to society. Online communities promote increased interaction with friends and family. It offers teachers, librarians and students valuable access to educational support and materials. It also facilitates social and political change; and disseminates useful information.

I do agree that social media has made great advances in society. But I also think it can have a negative effect on the brains and behavior of young people, if used irresponsibly. This was evident in the trial of two Steubenville, Ohio, high school athletes convicted of raping a 16 year old girl. The role of social media in this case was a double edged sword. Social media intensified the suffering of the victim because her assault was tweeted, posted, and videotaped. On the other hand, it provided a warehouse of evidence to the prosecution. Evidence in the trial included tweets, text messages, online photos and a Youtube video from the night of the assault, and the next day as participants and other teens rehashed the events.

The Steubenville case is one of many cases illustrating the dark side of social media. This case served as a wakeup call for me. As a mother I have to ask myself, what actions I am prepared to take to safeguard and educate Continue reading

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