one,
kg
Friday, July 22, 2011
"we are called to play the Good Samaritan on life's roadside... but one day we must come to see that the whole Jericho road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed. True compasson is more than flinging coin to a beggar. It comes to see that a system that produces beggars needs to be repaved. We are called to be the Good Samaritan, but after you lift so many people out of the ditch, you start to ask, maybe the whole road to Jericho needs to be repaved." - MLK, Jr.
Talk to me. How do you live out your calling? What does it mean in this time to repave the road to Jericho? Waiting for comments. Don't leave me hanging.
one,
kg
one,
kg
Friday, July 15, 2011
New week. New reflection. New Art.
We talked about solidarity and our call to be with one another. The call to have the courage to live life with one another in Christ. This isn't about charity. Solidarity is a lifestyle. A particularly Christian lifestyle. One in which we choose to engage with each other in such a way that we challenge systems. Before we even got into all of that, the interns had an assignment from last week in which they used an art form to identify the influence a system has had on their identity.
I'm not sure any of you reading this are ready for this.... but here's a piece from Adonna. "It's Whatever: A Monologue"
It's whatever. I never really wanted to speak because I got used to these situations as normal. I got used to it being out of my control and having to swallow the pain down so when it happens now, I just shrug and say "it's whatever". But on the inside my heart says it's not whatever. I'm tired of diminishing whatever it is to maker others feel that it's all good when I really think "stop judging me! Look at me; know me."
Pastor wouldn't let me play again. I sacrificed my time, and went to rehearsal, played for rehearsal and got up for 8 'o clock service. but I guess he doesn't trust his chain of command because quickly it crumbled and I was outside of service, walking down my anger, then sitting in the back like an un-welcomed stranger saying it's whatever, telling myself to get over and breathe. Pastor was one of the first...but he wasn't the last to do it to me and I've said whatever consistently so now it comes out easily, so easy that I don't even think about it and it happens normally.
But it's whatever
I missed out again. For some reason I'm the wrong type of female because I don't really wear skirts, I want to wear jeans. And when I was younger my favorite pair was boy's pair that was like two sizes bigger than me and if we're talking about shoes, don't pass me heels, give me sneaks because I'm too calm, cool and collected to be prissy...but enter here the cute boy and I'm not girly enough. I'm chill enough to always get friended, be the homegirl but not the girl that got taken home and I mean I guess that was fine. When I was younger, I swallowed my pride and was the good friend because I was the type of girl that was the good friend, not the girlfriend when I wanted to be the girlfriend but it's whatever. I don't want to be a trophy piece anyway.
Whatever
Mommy asked me why I have to look like that. Why do I have to wear my hat like that and why are my school sweats and shorts like that. Nevermind the fact that my hair isn't done or that the string on my sweats popped so with my phone and keys in my pocket, they tend to sag, and I don't want anyone to see my crack or even my underwear so ummmmm shorts seemed reasonable fair. She gets mad because she thinks I'm looking/acting like a boy but yet I wear hoop earrings and can do that household crap. Yes I cook and clean. She gets mad and it makes me mad because I don't understand what the issue's about. If she didn't judge me on little ignorant ish, she wouldn't be foaming oat the mouth now...
What the hell ever
I always say it's whatever. Sad, hurt, mad maybe even after getting really excited, but most of the time unless I really really don't care, it matters to me. I say it's whatever so other people can't see what's bothering me but why shouldn't they know? They should know! It's not okay if your a misogynistic jerk. It's dumb if you date someone solely on their looks. What the hell do you think happens when you detach a barbie's head from it's body. You squeeze it and the air leaves. (AIRHEAD) or you put it on your finger and start finger puppeting, then you wonder why it doesn't work. (IDIOTS!) *smh* It's not ok that you decide how my clothes will affect the way you treat me. Not ok that the "this is for boys" "this is for girls" really influences your thinking. (THINKING IGNORANTLY MIGHT I ADD)
We should never be proud to spread hatred and ignorance no more than I should be cool shrugging my shoulders, saying "it's whatever" and sitting in silence. There are those that actually can't speak and we're supposed to be the voices for them...so it won't happen again, ever to me, to them, to you, I won't say it's whatever. Imma tell 'em why I'm mad in hopes that my reason for anger is enlightening. And if its is, you'll have to imagine me jumping up and down, excited (ON THE INSIDE).
Unintelligent billboard post-its and shallow consumerist sketches of what a man's figure outta look like taught me what a body should be when I was a little boy.
We talked about solidarity and our call to be with one another. The call to have the courage to live life with one another in Christ. This isn't about charity. Solidarity is a lifestyle. A particularly Christian lifestyle. One in which we choose to engage with each other in such a way that we challenge systems. Before we even got into all of that, the interns had an assignment from last week in which they used an art form to identify the influence a system has had on their identity.
I'm not sure any of you reading this are ready for this.... but here's a piece from Adonna. "It's Whatever: A Monologue"
It's whatever. I never really wanted to speak because I got used to these situations as normal. I got used to it being out of my control and having to swallow the pain down so when it happens now, I just shrug and say "it's whatever". But on the inside my heart says it's not whatever. I'm tired of diminishing whatever it is to maker others feel that it's all good when I really think "stop judging me! Look at me; know me."
Pastor wouldn't let me play again. I sacrificed my time, and went to rehearsal, played for rehearsal and got up for 8 'o clock service. but I guess he doesn't trust his chain of command because quickly it crumbled and I was outside of service, walking down my anger, then sitting in the back like an un-welcomed stranger saying it's whatever, telling myself to get over and breathe. Pastor was one of the first...but he wasn't the last to do it to me and I've said whatever consistently so now it comes out easily, so easy that I don't even think about it and it happens normally.
But it's whatever
I missed out again. For some reason I'm the wrong type of female because I don't really wear skirts, I want to wear jeans. And when I was younger my favorite pair was boy's pair that was like two sizes bigger than me and if we're talking about shoes, don't pass me heels, give me sneaks because I'm too calm, cool and collected to be prissy...but enter here the cute boy and I'm not girly enough. I'm chill enough to always get friended, be the homegirl but not the girl that got taken home and I mean I guess that was fine. When I was younger, I swallowed my pride and was the good friend because I was the type of girl that was the good friend, not the girlfriend when I wanted to be the girlfriend but it's whatever. I don't want to be a trophy piece anyway.
Whatever
Mommy asked me why I have to look like that. Why do I have to wear my hat like that and why are my school sweats and shorts like that. Nevermind the fact that my hair isn't done or that the string on my sweats popped so with my phone and keys in my pocket, they tend to sag, and I don't want anyone to see my crack or even my underwear so ummmmm shorts seemed reasonable fair. She gets mad because she thinks I'm looking/acting like a boy but yet I wear hoop earrings and can do that household crap. Yes I cook and clean. She gets mad and it makes me mad because I don't understand what the issue's about. If she didn't judge me on little ignorant ish, she wouldn't be foaming oat the mouth now...
What the hell ever
I always say it's whatever. Sad, hurt, mad maybe even after getting really excited, but most of the time unless I really really don't care, it matters to me. I say it's whatever so other people can't see what's bothering me but why shouldn't they know? They should know! It's not okay if your a misogynistic jerk. It's dumb if you date someone solely on their looks. What the hell do you think happens when you detach a barbie's head from it's body. You squeeze it and the air leaves. (AIRHEAD) or you put it on your finger and start finger puppeting, then you wonder why it doesn't work. (IDIOTS!) *smh* It's not ok that you decide how my clothes will affect the way you treat me. Not ok that the "this is for boys" "this is for girls" really influences your thinking. (THINKING IGNORANTLY MIGHT I ADD)
We should never be proud to spread hatred and ignorance no more than I should be cool shrugging my shoulders, saying "it's whatever" and sitting in silence. There are those that actually can't speak and we're supposed to be the voices for them...so it won't happen again, ever to me, to them, to you, I won't say it's whatever. Imma tell 'em why I'm mad in hopes that my reason for anger is enlightening. And if its is, you'll have to imagine me jumping up and down, excited (ON THE INSIDE).
"It's whatever"
(that's that piece)
________________________________
Here's piece from Maxx called "Skins"
Unintelligent billboard post-its and shallow consumerist sketches of what a man's figure outta look like taught me what a body should be when I was a little boy.
Between convincing weight loss commercials and edgy useful-tip magazines I learned what it meant to be sexy and between classmates comments and mirrored surfaces I learned what it meant to feel unattractive and unwanted, so ive realized that these days it's not hard to imagine a system that teaches kids how to hate themselves.
It's not hard to imagine why food won't settle in sad stomachs or why cuts find their cunning way across the wrists of our youth, it's not hard to imagine the unsettling truth that flashes it's smiling face on the cover of every magazine and movie title, that shows off it's hourglass, muscle-toned figure on every street corner and every tv show.
It's not hard to imagine why a boy can't even look at himself in a mirror at night, why a girl doesn't even have enough self-esteem to love herself, why we all look at the plate and slowly push it away in silent solitude, it's not hard to imagine how easy it is to feel completely and totally alone because when you start a war within yourself it's with you wherever you go.
Do you know how it feels to stop eating? To decide to lose everything they taught you to hate? It feels awesome.
Every second I can remember is filled to the brim with sick confidence and pride, and I'm tired of societies diseases putting smiles on our faces as our shrink-wrap skin wraps around our weak, worn out bones for that modeling job next weekend, or to get into that new dress, or to fit into the skin that everyone else expects you to wear but I'm tired of fitting into everyone elses ideal skins. It took me a while to make the decision, and I'm still figuring it out along the way, but I've decided to wear myself, for a change.
(that's that piece)
___________________________
Last, but not least.... I have to do it to you. Raisa is teaching the kids music and she blessed us with a beautiful video of the summer camp kids singing to their plants to help them grow. You can find the video on our youtube channel: www.youtube.com/justusthecrj
one,
kg
Identity|the stories that tell us who we are
I promised that we'd give you something to think about...
Here's a picture from Yhinan. A reflection on her identity.
Drink this in. Let it simmer. Let it marinate. It's some powerful stuff.
And here is a poem from Maxx Hillery. A reflection on his identity.
I am guitar strings plucked sensitively between calloused fingers,
I am audio waves crashing into expecting eardrums,
I am the disheveled, worn down doorway into a hardcore concert.
I am snowboards flying down mountain trails and I am hot cocoa with whipped cream at home.
I am swing set pirate ships traversing the seven seas and I am pushing the swings and pulling the strings behind motivation and perseverance, or at least until mom calls me back inside.
I am the quiet cabin by the lake during the day time, and i am the boy listening to loud voices from his bed at night.
I am fireflies chased down by the moonlight and I am fireworks shot into the sky after sunset. I am the sharp pen upon the page and I am the long sought after words written down without hesitation. I am everything I want to be to be where I am and I am everything I need to be to find my way to where I'm going.
I am writing, I am music.
Shazam.
that's that piece y'all.
one,
kg
Here's a picture from Yhinan. A reflection on her identity.
Drink this in. Let it simmer. Let it marinate. It's some powerful stuff.
And here is a poem from Maxx Hillery. A reflection on his identity.
I am guitar strings plucked sensitively between calloused fingers,
I am audio waves crashing into expecting eardrums,
I am the disheveled, worn down doorway into a hardcore concert.
I am snowboards flying down mountain trails and I am hot cocoa with whipped cream at home.
I am swing set pirate ships traversing the seven seas and I am pushing the swings and pulling the strings behind motivation and perseverance, or at least until mom calls me back inside.
I am the quiet cabin by the lake during the day time, and i am the boy listening to loud voices from his bed at night.
I am fireflies chased down by the moonlight and I am fireworks shot into the sky after sunset. I am the sharp pen upon the page and I am the long sought after words written down without hesitation. I am everything I want to be to be where I am and I am everything I need to be to find my way to where I'm going.
I am writing, I am music.
Shazam.
that's that piece y'all.
one,
kg
the Kauffman Experience
What's good people?
The CRJ has officially jumped off the Kauffman Summer Experience!! We have a total of 13 ENC students participating in two different internships.
Students will be moved together through the reflective process of seeing, analyzing, and acting as they work with an expanding group of partner organizations for the purpose of gaining real world experience while engaging justice related issues.
Bronx Internship: Six ENC students (shout outs to Raisa, Yhinan, Adonna, Maxx, Michaelin, and India) will intern in the Bronx in collaboration with the Bronx Bethany Community Corporation (BBCC) for a 6 week immersion program wherein interns explore connections between art, justice, and organizing while working with 6-12 year old campers in the BBCC’s Summer program. These students also have the opportunity to teach and engage participants in the BBCC Summer Academy while taking an intensive 6 week class on social justice.
CAP Internship: Seven students (shout outs to Raven, Shar, CJ, Mary, Christina, Matt, Danny) from ENC will intern as mentors for the College Achievement Program (CAP) at Eastern Nazarene College. This is also a paid internship. Mentors will work with groups of incoming freshman who are CAP participants while simultaneously exploring the issue of access to education.
All of the students survived the three day intensive training and are now off learning to live out their call to Christian responsibility and Justice.
We'll keep you posted with updates, videos, poetry, journal entries.... EVERYTHING you need to follow us and be with us through the summer.
We're learning to see with our hearts. We're learning to live justice.
one,
kg
The CRJ has officially jumped off the Kauffman Summer Experience!! We have a total of 13 ENC students participating in two different internships.
Students will be moved together through the reflective process of seeing, analyzing, and acting as they work with an expanding group of partner organizations for the purpose of gaining real world experience while engaging justice related issues.
Bronx Internship: Six ENC students (shout outs to Raisa, Yhinan, Adonna, Maxx, Michaelin, and India) will intern in the Bronx in collaboration with the Bronx Bethany Community Corporation (BBCC) for a 6 week immersion program wherein interns explore connections between art, justice, and organizing while working with 6-12 year old campers in the BBCC’s Summer program. These students also have the opportunity to teach and engage participants in the BBCC Summer Academy while taking an intensive 6 week class on social justice.
CAP Internship: Seven students (shout outs to Raven, Shar, CJ, Mary, Christina, Matt, Danny) from ENC will intern as mentors for the College Achievement Program (CAP) at Eastern Nazarene College. This is also a paid internship. Mentors will work with groups of incoming freshman who are CAP participants while simultaneously exploring the issue of access to education.
All of the students survived the three day intensive training and are now off learning to live out their call to Christian responsibility and Justice.
We'll keep you posted with updates, videos, poetry, journal entries.... EVERYTHING you need to follow us and be with us through the summer.
We're learning to see with our hearts. We're learning to live justice.
one,
kg
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