Hey there good looking people of the Americorps world,

It's been awhile as I have been busier than ever. ZUMIX started construction on a firehouse that should be completed in the next 8 months or so. This means ZUMIX will be moving into a bigger and more state-of-the-art facility. Unfortunately, I will not be serving anymore by the time this transition takes place. While it saddens me that I will not be a part of the new ZUMIX, I also feel lucky to be a part of ZUMIX just the way it is now. Expansion can only mean kids getting less individual attention in group programs, more of a disconnect among the administration that does not work in the same "department" and an increasing sense of bureaucracy that is essential to maintain organization but unfortunately also creates more of a disconnect between staff and participants.

In lieu of this future move, I have been asked to take on a large new project involving a survey of ZUMIX participants pertaining to the type of communication they use most frequently. With this, we are hoping to rally kids for events with less stress and better turnout. Especially considering the larger space we are about to have, we don't want kids to not hear about events going on ZUMIX-related or not. There's no reason for them not to know! I have attached the survey and would love some feedback! My first experiment is with myspace which you can also feel free to give me feedback for. http://www.myspace.com/zumixrules

Part of my duties here are maintaining the youtube which I just updated with a performance from a guest artist named Mr. Napkins we had here last week. He is a comedian/hip hop artist and did a rhyme-writing workshop with everyone. SUPER FUN! Check it out!!

Hi Everyone,

Seems like I don't have enough hours in a day to do all I need to do lately. It has been extremely busy over here. I am currently working on tracking the work history and wage history of people after they return to the work force. Does anyone know of any freeware form filler case management software I can get a hold of?
I have been learning a lot about social security disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income(SSI) and how to help a disabled or misplaced worker back into the work force and still trying to keep their heads above water financially. It’s worse now than ever before with the job market being as bad as it is. I am currently developing my own data base for keeping track of consumers but its so time consuming so if any one out there can help me please let me know. I am always happy when I place someone in a job, and they like what they are doing, that is most rewarding.
I really am worried about employers that are not willing to hire the disabled; for fear that they may have to be involved with them. Since the last time I reported I have placed at least 3 people in jobs that they have so far stayed with. I see that there are a lot of good things going on all over so keep up the good work all

See you next month.

Donna

One of the main goals for HOME In.c at the moment is to create a community between the students in our different programs (our three partner schools and the TeenTV summer workshop). I feel that the best way to do this is to tap into existing social network rather than trying to create our own. We've tried having a Myspace page for TeenTV but it hasn't caught on. Currently I'm looking into developing a presence on Facebook...creating group pages for TeenTV and each media lab. I'd like to have each media lab have it's own group that is affiliated and shares membership with the main TeenTV group. Hopefully in this way students from different schools can network with one another.

I'm also developing some curriculum materials around blogging and citizen journalism. Working with a journalism class, the stories published in the school newspaper will also be published on the web via a blog, with some stories being developed into video pieces for the school TV show. Ideally the school's paper (The Brighton Banner) will have an online audience that will enage with one another and the authors discussing the articles and issues within the school and the community.

Comment from Dan MacNeil2 on February 20, 2009 - 5:59pm

The UTEC-Lowell.org people are often CTC VISTAs and they've had some success with myspace.

If there isn't a UTEC CTC VISTA at the moment, You might drop spouv@utec-lowell.org an email (and say I sent you)

All of us at Project HQ are ramping up for our recruiting round this Summer. We've already made some changes in our guidelines and priorities for organizations, and we'll be rolling out some improved process for potential VISTA members to sign-up. As part of the changes, we're going through a strategic planning and branding process. It's taking its sweet time, but part of that process is reapproaching the Mission, Vision, Values of our organization.

I wanted to post our initial draft of our Values. To help explain how we got to this point, we went through a consensus building activity---basically what we did at CTCnet, if you attended. All of us staff at HQ (Belinda, Jules and I) wrote down, each idea on a tacky note, what we value. Then we each stuck our notes on a wall. Then we went around and grouped two notes together, and then grouped those groups until we had 4 main groups. Then we tried to come up with a label for each group.

I want to explain the process since it produces some interesting results: at the beginning of the process, none of these end-values were exactly what we wrote down, but once we synthesized and synergized, this is what we got:

We Value:
Service: Working with one to benefit many for understanding and advancing a movement.

Ecologies: Mindful of cause and effect on a path to an improved state of being.

Space: Providing resources, opportunities, and context to spur new ideas and actions.

Networks: Amplifying the power of communications

We'd love to hear your feedback on these. Some of them are a little whah?!, but that's the sort of thing that comes out of the process---believe me, no one was remotely thinking "ecologies" coming into it.

Comment from Ben Sheldon on August 4, 2010 - 3:23pm

This is a test comment.

Well finishing up with the 100 second film festival is relieving, i found that all I wanted to do is just get it over with towards the end. I am currrently working with numerous non- profits and schools, setting up little feild production groups. I'd say in all we have got about five diff. groups of at least 4 students, and its working out great. On february 10th we have got an event called artbeat, which is a hip hop show, for teens i guesss, about every other tuesday of the month. Mira is also working on that, it is going to be at the 119.
But nonethe less working in these groups have been a good experience on myself and on ltc, lately ltc has been a little hectic and when theres a big group of kids it kinda gets everyone moving and talking.
Still trying to adjust with the whole vista thing, I get fr4ustrated sometimes but then i remember its only till July.
You should check out 100seconds.org. it's is a real dish.
Pretty soon the winterfest is coming, and let me tell you that it is freezing. but fun, just carry around a couple nips in your back pocket. not on the job of course, and you'll be all set. Talk to you soon.
T.E. Konieczny

I've been extremely busy at the Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC). I don't even know what my last field report consisted of but that was a while ago and many things have changed since.

First for an update on my energy efficiency program, since I finally finished making an invoice for Citizens Energy Corporation (our sponsoring partner). Our organization's responsibilities included taking in applications for those interested in the program, reviewing the applications to make sure they meet the requirements, running workshops teaching the Chinatown community about energy efficiency and then giving each household that participated 20 light bulbs. Overall, the program has raised over $22,000. The final count on applications was 1124.

There have been many, many bumps in the road. I'm sure Katrina knows how the Chinese ladies in the neighborhood act, it's overwhelming and sometimes they can be rude. I've had to deal with yelling old Chinese ladies that push and shove, they refuse to listen to me sometimes because I cannot speak Chinese, so they ignore me. It's been a battle man! There are also those couple of old ladies that I've had great conversations with, it's nice to get to know the community through the various workshops we have had.

We have run 60 workshops, I have two volunteers that are very dedicated to the program, they come in every workshop and present it to the participants. This program has helped learn and grow in so many ways. I didn't have much support when it came to running the program, so things got really crazy because I am so inexperienced in being strategic and managing a program. I am so glad to have been able to have the chance to work on something that has helped me grow so much professionally.

Second, the youth. They have been awesome we accepted a new bunch of youth this past January. We are in the process of putting them through their initial 10-week training. The old youth are now putting together a CD that they want to release at their event in April called Breaking the Barriers. We received a grant to put on the second annual Breaking the Barriers event, it's basically an open mic event that youth can participate in to get their voices out. The old youth are also still holding the radio show down every Saturday, and although walking tours have minimal during the winter it should pick up again this spring and summer when the weather gets better.

I was actually warned by the previous youth programs manager that the youth would eventually take over my life, and it's slowing becoming true. The youth are awesome, sometimes when I get really frustrated and wonder what I'm doing it just really takes one youth to make me realize that this is all worth it.

Third, social media. I have started to activate some social media accounts for ACDC. I've created many many social media sites for both A-VOYCE and ACDC already, but now I'm starting to indulge myself in it. I've been to a couple of seminars about social media and HOW to use it. We're starting to do many new and cool things here.

Lastly, LOVETA IN LOS ANGELES. Loveta was a riot in L.A. We were at the CTCNet conference in November. It was sort of a crappy conference but Loveta kept me entertained most of the time. I had fun.

Until next time,

Vimala

this is my first field report. i hate that i have not been involved our engaged this conversation for the last six months but i look forward to the opportunity to be engaged in this conversation for the continuation of my vista service. i look forward to reading about everyone's journey. there's a lot to catch up on related to my service. i'll give you the short and sweet version first to create some context for future reports.

what's familiar? who am i being?

open media project. i'm the project manager for the beta test implementation of the open media project tool set. the open media project is an iniative to create a tool set based on open source technologies that allow peg stations and ctcs work a nationwide, user-driven network.

colorado youth at risk. i'm a mentor with colorado youth at risk. colorado youth at risk is an intensive high school drop out prevention program. the program provides mentee with an interested adult and a sense of their place in the future.

vlogtv. i'm the co-host of live, call-in show on denver open media. vlogtv is all about viewers requesting their favorite online videos. there's only one rule, we don't show copy written material.

landmark education. i'm currently participating in a landmark seminar after completing the landmark forum. landmark education is training and development center that provides individuals access to effective action in everyday matters.

what's happening? what's challenges am i facing?

life as a vista. vista life is no longer glamorous. when i first became a vista, i loved gloating to people about my altruistic service asan americorps volunteer. those days are over. now, when i tell people i'm an americorps vista there's a part of me that wants to ask for spare change at the same time. my savings are exhausted. i'm operating without a budget.

personal integrity. my participation with landmark education has shown me that i have lacked personal integrity in the past. it has also shown me that i don't need to continue to carry that lack of integrity into the present and furture. i see that at every moment i have the opportunity to completed transform and become a personal of complete integrity. you'll be hearing about this a lot more, trust me.

understanding before being understood. my vista service has given me the opportunity to see that in order to interact effectively with others, i must first understand others. i still fight to be understood in a world i want to understand.

what's possible? what am i committed to?

i am committed to:

• continued sharing via field reports.
• creating the world i want to live in.
• enjoying life as a non-smoker.
• creating and maintaining a budget.

resources. what do i have to share?

i didn't being this report ready to provide resources. i am committed to sharing resources in future reports.

Comment from Denise Cheng on January 28, 2009 - 8:41pm

very honest and personal. i especially like your statement about "understanding before being understood." and cheers to smoke-free lungs! :)

Happy New Year Everybody!

I havent been writing anything in a long time but I have been very busy!! I find what I do and the people I collaborate with, especially the young people a very rewarding experience and with the excitement that President Obama is creating with emphasis on volunteering and community involvement, I am truly looking forward to great things happening this year!

I have been involved in exciting collaborative opportunities. All have been awesome, The Community Place: Youth/Adult Partnership -- youth and adults working together to develop and implement programs for youth in the community. The youth involved were involved in a program called Asset Mapping in which they were taught to use computer software and hand held palm tech equipment to collect data of the Northeast Area such as what interests and hobbys people in the neighborhood have that they would like to share with others? This information along with what businesses are in the area or other data was used in setting up a database that people in the community who are looking for volunteers can access.
My most passionate collaborative is with WXXI, PBS affiliate, who have a filmmakers program, Raising 100,000 Voices. This is the third year we have been a part of this program. Its empasis is on Digital Storytelling which was a plus for me. The youth are responsible for making a 3 minute film. When we first start with them, I said to myself, " Oh that will be a piece of cake". What a challenge this project was! I had had experiece in editing,etc. but we used new software, cameras, and the youth had to learn so many different aspects of film making. They have workshops for them to give assistance with the pre production,and so on. (We just had the Kick-off January 19th) We have 2 more workings to attend and then we turn in our films April 23rd. If you are intested in looking at films that were done by the youth including ours your can go to the website, wxxi.org and click on raising 100,000 voices. The website will give you more information on the program and we are under Teens Advocating Nonviolence at Parsells Avenue Community Church. There are alot of great films! In May, they do a really nice Oscar Night type of event to showcase the films so that people in the community as well as family members can get a chance to see the films also.

I have also been working on a program, The Urban Youth Arts and Film Academy which is a component of a program I developed called The Dream Makers Program. (if you would like more information on that program and the full curriculums please let me know). I am very excited about the workshops and trainings such as workshop on storytelling as an art form by a professional storyteller, Almita Whitis, who is known locally, nationally and internationally, Digial photography and others. The computer center is in the process of being renovated and with the help of the youth and adult volunteers, transformed into a state of the art technology center!

We have a good relationship with many agencies and organizations that I have not mentioned and we continue to support their efforts as they do ours. Well everyone nice talking to you and I will give you more updates soon!
See ya,
Doreen

Well since I summed up mu final words and thoughts in my last post, all I can say is that it's been a pleasure. Though tomorrow is my last official day, it's brought a bit of piece of mind to my former students and boss to know that I'll still visit from time to time and pitch in when I can. I truly believed in the work I was doing for The Media Aid Center and saw positive effects the lives in contact with our program. I know that no matter where I am or what organization I go on to represent, I'll always be a staff member of the Media Aid Center. So cheers, enjoy 09' , and stay focused current Vistas.