Some thoughts on service and diversity

My wife is a native Philippine naturalized
American citizen.

I met and married her in the Philippines -
22 years ago.

I am bi-racial - black and white on
both parents sides of the family.

And I am working for a NP Latino / Chicano
support service.

I grew up in a predominantly black community
in Minnesota - "Selby - Dale" area - Twin
cities. It was more black than it is now.
It is now, thanx to an influx of Vietnamese
refugees in the mid to late 70's far more
Hmong.

Going to Highline Community College here,
I've been exposed to people of many different
countries and cultures - European, Indian,
Asian, Philippine, African, Caribbean, and
more.

For the record, I think it's a GREAT thing and
have said so on several occasions in the process
of my entry into service for Americorps and to
my current service NP - El Centro de la Raza.

And I am aware that no one knows exactly what it's
like to walk in my shoes anymore than I know what
it's like to walk in theirs.

But, thanks to my wife, I have some insight into
life in the Philippines and Filipino life here in
America - in the Pacific Northwest, and before
that, in Southern California.

A world I did not and would not have more than
the most cursory of understandings of, I have,
because of my experiences with my wife and
because she takes the time to act as translator,
interpreter for me.

Likewise, I can be translator / interpreter for
what my experiences are as someone who
is bi-racial, which in and of itself is not special.
So many of us are. I just happen to be bi-racial
of the two most polarized ethnicities in America -
black and white.

I am grateful that, at El Centro de la Raza, where
the dominant language is Spanish, they have
graciously extended a welcome to me - "su
casa es mi casa" - their house is my house.
With patience and persistence I am being allowed
a window into the experiences of Latino/a,
Chicano/a life / history in America in the Pacific
Northwest.

At the beginning of my service, at the PSO, I asked
of a panel of current Vistas, "Someone once said,
'Every man is my superior in that I may learn from
him'. In that vein, we go off to our respective NPs and
offer our services, but, what do you, have you learned,
taken away from your service from those you've
served?"

In my service, I am learning that hospitality is
cross-cultural. Each culture in its own way. In the
Philippines I was invited to parties simply because
they were having them. At El Centro de la Raza,
I've been to a mini Tejana concert by Los Texas
Maniacs. While I don't fully understand Spanish,
like any language, it has it's rhythms. It's musicality.
As I learned of Japanese over three years on Okinawa
island in the Marine Corps. As I have learned of
Tagalog, over 25 plus years with my wife and before
her on numerous trips to the Philippines. And Korean,
on training operations in South Korea.

I may not understand what's being said. But, smiles
are universal, as is sadness, despair, and hope, anger
and frustration, as well as empathy and compassion.

I hope to, at the end of my term, be able to report back,
that not only did I make a difference in increasing the
capacity and ability of my NP to do their job, I will also
be able to say I made some friends and shared a warm
and welcome window into a culture which up to this point
I had only experienced largely from the outside looking in.
I hope to be able to report back, what I have learned and
waht insights I have gained for what they're worth.

If I'm luck enough, I hope to continue my service with them
after Americorp. If not, I hope I'm lucky enough to find other
gainful employment either with Americorps or some other
service organization. I've got my eye on what Barbara
Ehrenreich of "Nickel and Dimed" and "Bait and Switch"
authorship has currently got going to attempt to address
employment issues of the disenfranchised:

http://www.barbaraehrenreich.com

But that's down the road. I have no idea if she has any openings
or use for me, but, as a fifty something, still very much in the job market
and at the lower end, she is addressing issues very much relevant
to where my life and circumstance, anc others, comparably, is now.

I'd like to be able to contribute something useful towards her
ends, if I could.

I'm certainly having a GREAT time where I am now.

Ours is a very easygoing, hardworking, collaborative crowd and
we all care very much about El Centro de la Raza. As I'm sure
many of you do about the NPs you are serving.

I am a child of the civil rights movement. I was alive when John
and Robert Kennedy were assassinated - and when Martin and
Malcolm were assassinated.

I'm not so sure I still believe in the civil rights model of the 60s.
But, I am absolutely optimistic that this current generation of
increasingly intermingled and intermarrying 20 and 30 and
40 somethings will usher in a new generation of tolerance and
understanding that I have been lucky enough to see in my lifetime,
but, will not live long enough to see the promises fulfilled.

I have every confidence that the end of this century will be nothing
like its beginning. It will be, I hope, so much better.

And I'd like to think that the kinds of people and work that's being
done through Americorps and NPs like El Centro de la Raza and
others addressing the needs of an increasingly multicultural community
are helping to bring about that difference.

But, what do I know?

Take care. Hope you're having fun.

:-)