It Takes a Community

It has been awhile since I’ve updated my blog.  Writing is a labor of love for me; however, when the world seems to be spinning off its axis, my writing suffers.  To me, things are obvious… social justice is the number one challenge for the 21st century.  Dr. W.E.B DuBois made a profound statement over 100 years ago:

“Either America will destroy ignorance or ignorance will destroy the United States.”

The rhetoric that is espoused in popular media sometimes leads me to believe ignorance is winning; however, sometimes there is a bright spot.  A story occurs that demonstrates the “better nature” of society.  This month that “bright spot” is Samantha Garvey.  Her story is one of perseverance.  She has captured the hearts and minds of many with her story of "homeless to semi-finalist in the Intel $100k science prize." [i]  Although she wasn’t selected as a finalist for the Intel scholarship, she had the opportunity to be a guest on the Ellen DeGeneres Show where she was surprised with a $50,000 scholarship from AT&T along with additional gift cards from Whole Foods and JC Penny’s.[ii] The following week, young Ms. Garvey attended the State of the Union.  In addition, her family was given the opportunity to move to a new, rent subsidized home.  Many accolades are sure to follow this determined young woman as she desires to attend either Yale or Brown.
 
Samantha’s story is truly that of the “American Dream.”  The concept of “no matter the adversity keep pressing forward.”  In reading Samantha’s story I am reminded of a key component to the American Dream…no one can accomplish this dream alone.   First, prior to being in the spotlight, she had people encouraging her in her study on “the effects of predators on ribbed mussels.”[iii]  Second, if not for someone sharing the story of her academic success in light of her family’s struggles, she would not have been invited to the Ellen DeGeneres Show where she and her family received additional assistance.  Her story came to the attention of House Representative Steve Israel which led to her invitation to the State of the Union. Lastly, all of the publicity, made it possible for Samantha and her family to move to their new, affordable home.
 
Everything that occurred in Samantha Garvey’s life required two things, a determined individual and a community of support.  She has the tenacity, perseverance, and intellectual gifts; the community has the resources that allow her to hone her skills and pursue her goals.  What of the other brilliant, hardworking homeless youth that never have their talent’s publicly recognized?  The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth reported 939,903 homeless children and youth enrolled in public schools during the 2009-2010 school year.  This number does not include infants, toddlers, or pre-school age children; nor does it include children who are not enrolled in school or those who do not disclose their homeless condition.[iv]  How many of the over 900,000 identified homeless children and youth within the educational system simply need a chance?
 
Samantha Garvey is an inspiration.  Her story demonstrates what happens when hard work is married with community support.  What would happen if every local community supported every Samantha and Sam with affordable housing, money for college, gift cards for food and clothing?  What would the face of homelessness look like if every community demonstrated this type of care for all of their children?

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[i] Francis,E. (2012, January 12). Homeless teen could win $100,000 science prize and new future for family [Web log].  Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/01/homeless-teen-could-win-100000-science-prize-and-new-future-for-family/

[ii] (2012, January 19).  Samantha Garvey, Homeless NY Science Whiz Getting $50,000 Scholarship [Web log].  Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/19/homeless-ny-science-whiz-_0_n_1216381.html

[iii] Francis,E. (2012, January 12). Homeless teen could win $100,000 science prize and new future for family [Web log].  Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/01/homeless-teen-could-win-100000-science-prize-and-new-future-for-family/

[iv] National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (n.d.).  Facts about homeless education. Retrieved from http://www.naehcy.org/facts.html#howmany

The Rose

"I am an invisible man … I am a man of substance, flesh and bone, fiber and liquids – and I might even be said to possess a mind.  I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me…When they approach me they see only my surroundings, themselves, or figments of their imagination – indeed, everything and anything except me.”  Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man

When you read this quote what are your thoughts?  Imagine walking into a classroom and you have something to say, something important about whom you are, and your teacher doesn’t see you?  Not that he/she does not physically see you…he/she does not see your humanity.  What would you feel?  What would you think?  How would you react? Many children in the education system experience invisibility.   Educators click their tongue’s and say, “you know he/she is homeless, we can’t expect too much,” or “the school can only do so much, how can they expect us to teach them?”  These quotes are just a small sampling of what is said in many a teacher break room and staff meetings.  Teachers have abdicated their responsibility for teaching our children because they do not feel like they are “our children.” 

The Homelessness Research Institute projects an increase of approximately 74,000 people to the homeless count over the next 3 years.  This will bring the current number of over 1.5 million to over 1.65 million.  Homelessness no longer looks like poor, single, addicted men.  The face of homelessness is children.

 

I had the opportunity to hear a keynote speech by Dr. Jeff Duncan- Andrade.  He mentioned Tupac Shakur’s poem, The Rose that Grew from Concrete.  Dr. Duncan-Andrade posed a question.  Whose fault is it if the rose does not grow?  Children who experience homelessness are the proverbial “rose in the concrete.”  Whose fault is it if our children who are homeless do not learn?  How does the cycle of poverty and homeless end if the children are invisible?  How does the educational system respect the experiences of the child living in a homeless situation?  Do we bring them to school and act like the life outside of school does not exist?  How do we change a system that is inherently stacked?  My final question…why should we care about what happens to the rose that grows in concrete?

Reframing the Conversation

I am unashamedly a person of passion.  Fortunately my passion provides fuel for my purpose, which is to serve the marginalized and disenfranchised.  Not in a paternalistic/maternalistic, let me do it for you manner; but in a sincere effort to partner past an “us vs. them” mentality.  Paulo Freire stated it best, “Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral.”  Neutrality ensures that the powerful “wins.”  Those with power dictate the interaction.  Whether the bully on the playground, the teacher in the classroom, or the dominant group that establishes laws and regulations, the powerful have control.  I wasn’t aware of how much control until I began to examine my thoughts regarding issues of homeless and academic attainment. 

 

I consider myself a critical thinker.  It is something in which I have always taken pride; however, I too fall victim to surface thinking.  In examining issues of academic achievement and access to a “brighter future” I have touched on societal structures that may impact educational achievement and access; however, upon closer examination my thoughts were still on “how do we ‘fix’ the child” as if the problem is situated with the child.  In domestic violence counseling it is said that the father has a hard day at work so he comes home and hits the mother, who then hits the older sibling, who then hits the younger sibling, who then kicks the dog.  The same can be said of the educational setting.  Colleges blame the high schools, who blame the middle schools, who blame the elementary schools, who blame the parents, who blame the child.  In both of these scenarios the weakest member in the link gets the brunt of the consequences.  The dog gets kicked because it is accessible and usually does not fight back.  The child receives the consequences of low test scores, failing grades, being held back, and any number of negative consequences.  No one else in the chain receives a consequence for their part in failing the child.

I liken the educational setting to that of domestic violence because the outcome is essentially the same; the helpless member receives a consequence for what is happening within the system.  Situating the problem with the child addresses the only member in the chain that has no power.  It would be the equivalent of telling the dog in the domestic violence scenario “you should have known that the dad had a bad day at work and therefore dog you should have changed your behavior.”

If, as a society, we truly believe that all children are endowed with the ability to learn and achieve, what is occurring within the educational system that allows for some to achieve at high level and others not?  If we believe that children experiencing homelessness have the same academic potential as children who are sheltered, what is the system doing to uncover and release that potential?  Are the answers to the question, “why are children affected by homelessness not achieving?” more complex than simply providing food, shelter, and clothing?

Operating on the surface is where the easy quick-fix remedy resides.  The answer to children affected by homelessness is complex; however, there are answers.  Thoughts?

The Girl Factor

American Girl^©   
Gwen Thompson

While researching for this blog I found the following, “American Girl's Latest Doll is Homeless”.  In 2009 the “homeless doll” was available for one year as part of the American Girl – Girl of the Year collection.  The American Girl^©collection is famous for providing dolls that represent “every girl.”  The Girl of the Year introduces “a brand-new character with an inspirational story of what it means to be an American girl today” (cite).  My feelings were mixed when I discovered “Gwen Thompson”. On the one hand I was excited that young girls had the opportunity to gain empathy for the plight of children experiencing homelessness.  On the other, I was saddened and distressed by the fact that this doll represented "what it means to be an American girl today."  I could not find information on how much of the proceeds from “Gwen” went to homeless causes; nor, do I know much about “Gwen’s” story line.  What I did learn was the average cost of an American Girl^© doll is $100.   I find it ironic that "Gwen" was financially out of reach of all the girls it was designed to represent. 

The story of the doll prompted my thinking about girls and women who experience homelessness.  The statistics are astounding:

·         84% of homeless families are led by females under the age of 24 (cite)

·         66% were violently abused by a caretaker before the age of 18 (cite)

·         60% have not received a high school diploma (cite)

·         44% of homeless mothers were homeless as children (cite)

·         43% were sexually molested as children (cite)

Though bleak, the story has hope.  Women who complete high school earn about $100 more per week than those without a high school diploma.  Their weekly earnings double if they receive a bachelor’s degree (cite).  Assisting and encouraging young women to complete their high school diploma increases the likelihood of earning a life sustaining wage and decreases the chances of poverty  (cite).  Education does not address all of the risk factors mentioned above; however, it is a place to start when looking at changing the landscape of homelessness.  

Effecting change can start with changing the life of a girl.