Monday, October 31, 2011

Camera Shy

I've lost my camera and I don't know where it is.  I found it to be missing more than a week ago and I am quite distraught.  The only camera I have now is my first camera from 2007.  It has 7.2 megapixels!!  Most people have that many on their PHONES!

I don't care about the camera so much, but the memories I lost.  There were pictures of me and my mama and daddy at Lake Genev, WI that I will never get to share now.  

The only good I can see coming out of this is that I will be forced to buy a new camera.  Last time I under-spent and I was underwhelmed by the capabilities of the camera.  Next time I will upgrade.

NO PICS OF COURSE!!!

Monday, October 24, 2011

These are the Days of My Life

I found this idea on Pinterest.  Here is my own version of the Days of the Week "To Do" Calendar.

Make Music Monday:  Thankfully, I'm already in choir on Mondays, but this could also mean practicing the Piano or learning a new song.

Take Time Tuesday:  Take time out to do whatever it is that I want to do! 

Weird, Wacky Wednesday:  Do something I wouldn't normally do, or something that I am hesitant to do.  This could be to eat something strange, wearing something bold or going to a new place.

Thesaurus Thursday:  Learn a new word and spend all day trying to use it.  Give myself 5 "points" for every time I use it.  Try to score more points than the previous week.

Fun-in-the-Sun Friday:  Go outside!  Go for a walk or a run (preferably with a friend).  This is particularly FUN at lunchtime when the sun is at its highest point.  Take pictures!

Sinful Saturday:  Do something naughty and exciting.  Drink a little too much or spend all day just being naked, or eat something I spend the rest of the week avoiding.  Ya know, indulge.

Study-Session Sunday:  Read a book, get some work done on outside projects, or get that Grad School App in!


 There we go!  I've already started (on accident, of course). 

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Reminiscing About a Week to Remember

Me on garbage-pickin' day.
Tonight, I was inspired to make my blog look like something.  I finally took the time to figure out how to make a banner!

The photo in my new banner was taken during my Alternative Spring Break trip to Mullens, West Virginia in 2010.  ASB is a week-long service trip focusing on an issue area- ours being environment and rural poverty.  It is AMAZING to be part of a group of 45 college students who willingly give up their Spring Break to participate in a substance-free (no alcohol even if you are 21) trip where you work for free, sleep on a disaster blanket on the cement floor and shower in freezing cold water (or not at all).  These kids are special, I'm tellin' ya.
 
Female warriors and their haul.

Team 3 after a tough day of street sweeping!
 On this particular days, we spent all day clearing brush near an old church and in an overgrown cemetery.  By the end of the day, it was raining and all of us were wet, stinky and covered in mud.  Our team had grown so much by this 4th full day of service together, that we had quit our grumbling and focused on what needed to be done and how we could make it happen.  Some of my team members are still good friends I hope to stay close with throughout my life (in fact, I saw one just this past weekend!).  Its rare that you get a chance to spend a week with that many people who just want to make the world a better place.  I wanted to honor that experience and how it helped shape me as a person and the work that I do in the world and in my community.


Monday, October 17, 2011

Punctuality

Sometimes it is important to be on time.  Sometimes it's not.

Relax.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Restore Me

Tonight, I have returned from my final day at Restorative Circle Facilitation Learning Event with Dominic Barter. 

Unfortunately, I still have not found a succinct way to explain Restorative Justice in my own words.  I think the reason for this is that the definition keeps changing the more I learn about it.  Is it a philosophy?  Is it a movement?  Is it a set of principles?  Is it just a set of guidelines?

I suppose I can start with the thing I know about Restorative Justice for sure.  Restorative Justice is a form of conflict resolution which does not seek to punish the "actor" or the "wrongdoer,"  but instead to repair the harm caused by the action and restore the relationship that has been damaged as a result of the action.

In Macon County, I work with the Teen Court- a diversion program for youth, which uses a peer jury model that employs restorative principals to hold youth offenders accountable for their actions and repair the harm done to the community.   The panel of high school-age youth hear cases of juveniles (usually 17 and under) who have committed a crime which is punishable by law.  Our court hears many cases which involve underage possession of alcohol and possession of cannabis and/or drug paraphernalia, as well as retail theft, battery, aggravated battery, domestic battery, mob action, etc.  The jurors listen to the youth's story in an attempt to understand the cause of the actions and to prevent further actions in the future.  The jury decides on a set of "sanctions," such as community service, an apology letter to someone harmed by the action, an essay, etc. 

I am also part of Community Restorative Boards for the Adult Redeploy Program in Macon County.  Adult Redeploy is an intense probation program for non-violent offenders who would otherwise be sent to the Department of Corrections.  This programs seeks to address destructive behaviors through the use of an evidence-based program (Moral Reconation Therapy) and case management.  Community Restorative Boards (CRBs) are another part of Redeploy which a select group of clients are chosen to participate in.  CRBs are small (usually 3-4 people) groups of community members who have been trained in Restorative Justice who support the offender in repairing the harm done to the community and to relationships in their own lives.  Similar to Teen Court, there is an action plan for the offender to complete in order to successfully complete the CRB program.

Soooo... That is how I know about Restorative Justice.  Through these programs, I am connected to Illinois Balanced and Restorative Justice (IBARJ), the state-wide project to enhance the capacity of local organizations to create, sustain and improve restorative justice programs.  Through the IBARJ listserv, I was invited to participate a free "learning experience" with Dominic Barter.

I didn't know what the heck it was, but for some reason in sparked my interest.  I didn't know what to expect, but MAN was it an "experience!"  I walked in late after missing the first day of the event due to work conflicts.  The atmosphere was SO laid back.  In fact, at times, it was so laid back that I was uncomfortable with the comfort level of others.  This community is one which is very open and many people were familiar with each other from other events together.  Every once in a while someone would spontaneously break in to a yoga pose in the back of the room.  Massages were taking place all across the room.  People were crying.  I was squirming.

But I relaxed....eventually.

After accepting this level of comfort (but not necessarily sharing it), I started to admire the level of emotional openness this group of people have.  All day, people were sharing intimate thoughts and details of their personal lives in front of small and large groups of people.  Many had a wonderful emotional intelligence that I truly admire.  Dominic, and many others who spoke and shared their thoughts, ideas and experiences, put emotions in to words in a way that I could barely comprehend.  I have rarely allowed myself to really explore my emotions in this way before. 

The most significant idea I brought back with me is the importance of mutual understanding.  In the circles we practiced this weekend, the main purpose was to truly hear the other person.  Dominic said something along the lines of "Expression is not communication."  You may express yourself, but to communicate, someone must not only listen, but understand what you are expressing.

More to come.  I am still processing what I have learned. 

No pictures.  I wanted to have something to share, but I didn't feel right taking pictures of such an intimate gathering.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Kiddies

Last week was an insanely busy week.  So busy that I barely got any crafting done!! The favorite part of my week was definitely going to the Old King's Orchard After School Program.

I work with the Kindergarten through 4th Grade group.  In particular, I work with the youngest of those kids- Kindergarten and 1st Grade. The youngest kids can be the sweetest of all, but can also be the biggest hand-full.

I've started to get a little following of 6-year-old boys.  My favorite of which is Chris- the sweetest, most polite little thing that I've ever met.  He never jumps on me like the other boys.  He always asks for piggy back rides (instead of jumping on my back and grabbing my shirt) and he is respectful when I say no.  On the way home from the park on Wednesday, Chris asked if he could have a piggy back ride back to the Community Center.  I told him that I couldn't give any more piggy back rides.  So he just asked "Could I hold your hand, then?"   WHAT A LITTLE SWEETIE!  He held my hand all the way back and didn't let go until I told him to go play.

Would it be wrong to steal him and take him home with me?!?!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Experience

I've been an AmeriCorps VISTA member for more than eight months now.  I am working as the Coordinator for the Macon County Juvenile Justice Council (and other duties as assigned, of course).  I work closely with the Macon County States Attorney.

Recently, we have been talking about sustainability for the Juvenile Justice Council and have been tossing around the idea of funding my position as an actual JOB, rather than an AmeriCorps position.  The States Attorney must like me because he is very interested in making this happen before my year of service is up so that I can stay on as an actual employee.  Not only does he want to build this position for me, but he also wants the position to be something that I am interested in doing.

What a great compliment!!

My AmeriCorps experience has been a wonderful opportunity for me to make connections, get experience and learn how to get things done (for my community and for myself, it seems).  I believe that I made the right choice jumping in to this position right out of school.  My father wanted me to hold out for something that had better pay (which I would like, too!), but I realized that with my lack of professional experience in such a sluggish economy, that I would not quickly find a meaningful position.

Not only have I been able to develop in my official volunteer position, but in my after-work volunteer positions, as well.  Volunteering at the after-school program has given me experience with children to help me understand the difficulties that teachers face without having to be in a formal classroom.

Recently I have volunteered with Habitat for Humanity.  The Decatur branch of Habitat for Humanity has not had an executive director for ten years.  The new director has been on board since August and and is trying to re-vamp the way Habitat is run here in Decatur.  I will be assisting her by writing their Fundraising Plan.  This works perfectly for all parties- I will get some really interesting experience and the director will be getting free work.