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About Me
- MC Santana
- I am a positive person with a lot of energy. I like to meet different people and enjoy learning about other communities and places. I love to travel. I usually travel abroad once or twice a year.
In the past week I volunteered with Animal Safehouse and tabled at an Alumni Workshop for Social Workers. The workshop went from 8am-12pm and was held at the Alumni Center at UCF. Even though the majority of people did not come by our table a few were very interested. Once we explained our cause and service it was like watching a light go on for these individuals who were at least someone knowledgeable of the issues of domestic violence. Some admitted that even though they have worked with victims of domestic violence they had never thought to ask them about pets at home. These individuals were eager for the information and took all the literature that we had available.
ReplyDeleteOne aspect of the volunteering that is stressful is getting enough material for the events. Since Animal Safehouse is a small grassroots group it means that we are a small group with material scattered among us. It also means that we sometimes find out about these opportunities last minute and have to rush to get everything together. The good thing is that we are a group of highly motivated individuals and work together very well. Even though being an activist and volunteer can be stressful I wouldn't change my life for anything.
This past week did not contain any Service Learning hours for me, however, I did interview and meet Denise Diaz, head of the Central Florida Jobs With Justice coalition, face to face. We were able to discuss not only our personal beliefs, but also I got to learn just how involved I was going to be when I volunteered with CF JWJ. Denise told me about an upcoming rally that I could attend this Saturday, as well as when a few local union meetings take place, so I plan to try and attend these events. We also spoke about me working with JWJ to update the literature (pamphlets, blogs, etc) that they use in order to further educate people about just what it is that they stand for.
ReplyDeleteSo far, the most stressful part of volunteering for me has been trying to maintain contact with Denise, because she is kind of busy, being the only fulltime representative at CF JWJ. She is supposed to be e-mailing me soon and letting me know when I can start coming in to volunteer next week. I'm excited for this opportunity, and can't wait to start working with local unions/coalitions to fight for worker's rights.
During the past week, I tabled (along with Abigail) for Animal Safehouse at the Alumni Workshop for Social Workers. Though the crowd itself was not large at this event, the people that did stop by our table to speak to use seem genuinely interested, and had information of their own to share. The people that came to our table were unaware of the existence of Animal Safehouse and were impressed with what the organization does. Since I am new to working with Animal Safehouse, tabling at this event was a great experience. It allowed me to learn so much about the organization by sharing it with others, thus building my confidence in being able to accurately share information. It was also great to see people taking paperwork on fostering pets.
ReplyDeleteI also spent a little bit of time helping setup the final steps for the Animal Safehouse art show at Logan's Bistro. I helped place the display tags for the art, though it was a brief process, it was great to see the art and I hope to further promote the show for Animal Safehouse.
This week I didn't do much in the efforts of service learning. I went by my apartment's office Monday morning to ask if it was ok that I foster an animal for Animal Safehouse. My apartment gave the ok so I was quick to tell Abigail of my great news. When told about the fostering opportunity though I wasn't aware of the fact that the two cats that needed a foster home were mates. Now I'm playing the waiting game to see if I can foster at least one of the cats. Other service learning opportunities are hard to come by for me though because my unavailability on the weekends. I'm really hoping to foster a cat. I grew up fostering cats so this opportunity is an easy and rewarding task for me. If this fostering opportunity doesn't work out for me I'm hoping to find other tasks that I can do to help out such a great organization.
ReplyDeleteI also finally got in touch with VOX. They sent me information on two upcoming events that I could help them out with. Unfortunately though both of those events are being held during the weekends. I just wish that I had a job in or around Orlando so I could give more of my time to these causes. My current schedule is hindering my drive to do activist work within the community.
I'm sorry, Landon has moved to Scotland for work and the past two days were us preparing for his leave and then bringing him to the airport and it was only in bed thinking both nights that i remembered the post, so sunday! Here I am.
ReplyDeleteOver the past week, I contacted the Orlando Simple Living Institute, met with the president of the organization, Tia Meer, on the Econ Farm, and began writing a flier to advertise for a win tickets to see Jack Johnson video contest and compiling a list of locations in which the contest can be advertised.
Also, I will be attending the upcoming meetings and events and take over as the organization's blog reporter.
With a focus on food, I typed up my proposal of interest in working with organizations centered on local and organic foods:
I intend on imposing an analysis of my efforts to bring about social change within my community through work with sustainable food cooperatives. As it is a main staple of necessity for human life, and a main staple of marketing and power for capitalism, that information needs to and will be available to consumers.
Trickling down from such is many, including issues of labor rights, migrant workers and immigration rights, local economy, access to safe and nourishing food, and knowledge of self and therefore awareness of society, leading into the construction of gender.
I also spoke with a friend who volunteers weekly with the Orlando food co-op, Homegrown, and was interested to hear her reasons and motivations for such activism, as well as the frustration that is widely felt by activists. If the semester pans out so, I am interested in a study concerning such information.
At the same time, I am signing up for an online course about writing grants, and researching our master plan for baby tiny knights, maybe working on some like, logo or what just to have on the cover of our packet.
I will let you all know how it goes.
Sorry it took so long for me to post. I am doing my service learning hours with two different groups, The Feminist Agenda Radio (FAR) and Animal Safe house.
ReplyDeleteI was able to have a meeting with the new group for the radio show, at this meeting we discussed having more structure to the show, starting up new segments, the different show themes for the summer, training opportunities for the newer host, and new music.
Specifically for my service learning project I am putting in on a show about activism with activist from this class and hopefully help from Dr. Santana. The show will discuss a book about activism that the listeners should read, personal interviews from activist, discussions about the different type of activism causes or activities that the activist are involved in. The show will hopefully serve has a helpful tool to unpacking the term activism and will inspire other members of the community to get involved.
The first show for The Feminist Agenda Radio is this Wed. June 2 from 7-9pm on Knightcast.org. I encourage you all to watch and if you are not already a member for the face book group you should join that too!
I also went with Kevin F to hang up tags alongside art work at Logan’s Bistro for the Animal Safehouse silent art action. The art work looked amazing (I urge everyone to go look at it and make an offerJ)
Hello everyone. I registered late into the class, so my first meeting was today, already three weeks into the semester. That means I'm playing catch up with the Service Learning component. Hopefully things will be straightened out and by the end of the week I can start “doing activism”.
ReplyDeleteI decided VOX at UCF would be a suitable organization since I'm pro-choice, live on campus and don’t have a car to drive, and was pressed for time. I've been in contact with a member since the weekend, and we were planning to meet after class today to go over details. I talked to Dr. Santana about it and she mentioned that one of the other students (Abigail, I’m calling you out!!!) was the former VOX Vice President and could also help me get partnered if anything happened.
Well, something did happen. About 40 minutes after class, the person called to say they’d have to reschedule. I mentioned Abigail’s name and she decided that all three of us should try to meet tomorrow around 1:30PM-2:00PM near the UCF arena to discuss things. It’s funny how stuff work out that way. =)
Kersti, I am still missing your SL blog from last Thursday.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to include my Service Learning Proposal in the first post, so here it is. Since the VOX member and I haven't gotten to sit down and talk about specifics yet, the plan is still a bit broad:
ReplyDeleteMy Service Learning partner will be VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood at UCF, under the supervision of Cristina Calandruccio. As an advocate for health and reproductive rights, the organizations’ pro-choice views align with mine. Both men and women are in charge of their own bodies and have the right to make decisions pertaining to them.
The primary activity for the summer is recruitment and preparation for fall. UCF is the target community. Because I am a Computer Science major, they have recommended that I help out with their online resources. This includes, but is not limited to, their official webpage, myspsace, blog and facebook. In addition, there will be tabling opportunities at Freshmen Orientation ice cream socials and looking into new ways to fundraise and recruit members.
Kersti, I am still missing your post.
ReplyDeleteI did not do any service learning for this week. I had my interview with Rosalinda Torres, Assistant to the Director Shauntae Stubbs. I applied to the internship program with the Non-profit center! Here is the website for the center! http://www.newimageyouth.org/
ReplyDelete