Kincora1014’s Weblog

Yes, I know, this is supposed to be the space for my outline.  I have been thinking about this paper non-stop since I finished up my last lesson in Michigan a few days ago.  My fellow classmates seem to know what angle they are going with, how they intend to write their paper-the theme if you will.  I envy them.  Obviously we are supposed to be talking about service learning, and its usefulness (or, perhaps, lack thereof) in some capacity or another.  Yet, I worked with a wide range of individuals from all walks of life who are facing many different problems and are gifted in many different ways.  I met with those who had never used a computer before, which was facinating if not a little sad because I am only able to help so much…I met with skilled computer programmers seeking research skills…I helped college professors consider bringing in technology to the classroom, and teenagers who just wanted to know a safe way to use the internet to stay in touch with friends leaving for college.  I met with politically minded individuals, conspiracy theorists, the infinately trusting, business people, elderly and exhausted working parents.  I assisted those who have recently returned to society from prison, people who hate computers and those who spend their days hiding from the light of day and gaming.  I may not have had a steady interaction with these people, and indeed I am very limited in my abilities, but it was intense to say the least and the approach I intend to make, well, I have too much information right now to process and my outline will be just a little longer in making its appearance.

What I do know thus far is the importance of the librarian in the age of ‘web 2.0′ (though I am not a huge fan of flippantly used and marketable lingo).  There is a wealth of information readily available-much exclusively in digital format, ways to connect and communicate online, and globally there is this push to move forward, ever forward…but we are not considering the concequences or those who are being left behind.  The information untapped because it is inaccessable except to a select few and even then…do those few truely know how to use that information-or dare I suggest how to share it and offer it up to others?  Unfortunately, I have yet to experience a class where this sort of consideration is being made…well, except the obvious.  We may touch upon it, we may dance around the ‘teachable moment’ but in the end-I fear a new generation of librarians are emerging more ignorant than any before…reliant only upon what information can be obtain at a quick keystroke at the computer and too far above in their ivory towers to hear the questions asked by those who are in most need for the help of librarians.  

My service learning only supported what I already felt-there is far more than just a digital divide between people of economic classes, ethnicities, genders and politics…there is a divide in society, institutes of higher education and public service in general.

Perhaps I am being too harsh.  Give me time, I am sure I will relax.

It has been far too long since I posted on this site about my service learning.  Last week I returned home to Michigan to see my family, and what has essentially become a second family to me: my service learning group.  I will be posting a picture soon, I hope, if Margaret develops her roll of film in the near future (my primary contact in Michigan who has assisted in locating venues for our monthly meetings).  She has been very busy with her children and new job, but has made more then enough time to assist me with this project. 

In Michigan I have set up a semi-impromptu group of individuals (usually about 30 or so at a time, though this past week we had a record breaking 45-mobile in our meeting location going from one college computer lab “shhh, dont tell anyone” to a church basement to an elementary academy and back again) who are seeking assistance developing a series of diverse skills.  Some of these I have the ability to extensively assist, others I am limited in my own familarity but can offer a decent foundation, and there are even those which I do not have the slightest clue how to approach-but others who stop by have thus far been able to suppliment my instruction with their own experience and have suscessfully assisted those I cannot.

Many have come seeking the skills necessary to locate the ever decreasing employment opportunities in Michigan-or even those out of state.  Some need to acquaint themselves with newer versions of Windows, Office and how to utilize the internet for professional purposes.  I have taught numerous individuals how to write resumes and build power point presentations.  A few came in search of coding, web design and software advice-the specific realms of which I know little to nothing.

What has suprized me is the interest everyone appears to have in the use of the internet for politics across the board-men, women and even teenagers.  I expected to find those who are interested in Myspace and Facebook to keep in touch with friends and family, Youtube and Monster.com, and of course the infamous Wikipedia.  I even expected the questions about banking and shopping online-all of which I have tried my best to assist with as careful and cautious as I could….but the shock I face each time I meet with my group and find an ever evolving series of questions about using the internet for political interest and pursuit is more than I can express.   I was even invited to a couple presidential candidate MeetUp groups this past weekend, and one individual, Mike, even bestowed upon me a semi-hard to find political sign for my house and a bumper sticker for my car (Although I do not incorporate my political views in my service learning instruction, I do carry a purse which happens to have little buttons in support for my candidate of choice…Mike is very observant). 

This visit with my group ran from noon to an exhausting nine at night, and a few individuals came together and organized a mini-Thanksgiving dinner (there was nothing “mini” about it, I almost passed out after three sweet grandmotherly women urged me to eat about five pieces of various pies they had homemade the night before!  Delicious, certainly, and more than kind but I am still feeling sluggish!).   

The young and elderly coming together this past weekend to learn how to use computers, the internet, office programs and ultimately interacting and even teaching one another (there were too many people for me to assist alone, but I did observe most of the mini sessions that people were volunteering to do in my stead-even learned a thing or two)-sitting down to a home cooked meal organized without requirement or obligation by men, women and teenagers from areas as close as Port Huron, and as far away as Dearborn: a variety of ethnicities, ages, educational and economic backgrounds coming together for our last ‘official’ meeting but likely to meet again with or without my presence.  I was touched, really, and despite my cynicism about the future of my country, and certainly my homestate-I feel a little hope, and a little sleepy, still, from the turkey, potatoes, pie, casseroles, bread, cake, yams, cranberries, beans, oysters, rolls, corn…okay, you get the picture….and even more exhausted from all the questions asked that challenged me, often beyond my skills.

I will be posting again soon, I just needed to get my initial thoughts out there.

Monday night, a group of individuals I had been assisting back in Michigan contacted me via telephone (I gave one of the group my number and asked they be my central contact-I do not necessarily feel comfortable passing out my contact information, but the community college is still not available for assistance in this regard).  They had recieved form letters from their respective representatives about the recent budget agreements, and were angry and confused why they were recieving responses that did not address their concerns specifically, why everything was so impersonal.  I suggested they try calling the next morning to get the one-on-one interaction they desired, while I was looking up phone numbers on my computer.  Before I had the numbers on my screen, however, they informed me that they had all been trying (this was a group of 11 individuals) throughout the past two days but no phones were being answered, and their faxes were not going through either.

 I tried to calm their anger, though it was certainly not addressed to me, and I explained that after such a huge issue they were not the only ones likely to be in contact with their representatives and that they need to have some patience.   That being said, and with everyone off the phone, I wrote up some questions for a few of these government offices, including the office of Jennifer Granholm and called a contact I have who has a few of the lesser known government phone numbers.

Yesterday, I spent several hours on the phone waiting for my elected officials to become ‘available’ to speak with me.  Explaining I was leading a group of concerned individuals in my specific county who were feeling slighted, I was granted access to the Governor’s secretary’s page, or some similar employee.  I was only disconnected a few dozen times.  Nevertheless, perhaps it was best I was forwarded to this person, because what I was informed of is sickening, to say the least, and most likely not something a public relations person would share.

Apparently, for the past several weeks, the lines of communication were jammed as concerned citizens were calling, faxing, emailing, even visiting the offices to make their voices heard.  The page informed me that all fax machines not linked internally had been shut off days before the budget deadline and have not since been returned to normal recieving status, but should be within the next week or two.  Emails are being forwarded to an account to be sorted when time is available, and the governor is not accepting calls from the public at this time.  “May I leave a message?”  I inquired.  Our governor is not accepting those either, it seems.

A few of the smaller, local representatives are somewhat available-and I sent a quick list to my group contact of those who were.  It is important to note, though, those who are accepting calls, emails, faxes and the like are nearly exclusively those who opposed the tax increases.   I imagine there are many reasons why this is the case, but I am not going to make any public assumptions, nor to my group.  I will allow them to make what they will of it, and provide contact information where I can. 

I am rather at a loss what to say to these people, but they have been acting overly greatful that I was able to help them as much as I have thus far and they are asking when I can next organize a class.  I am not quite sure what to make of this situation-I feel as though I am helping people feel they can take an active role in politics, yet I also feel I am indirectly making them feel as though ultimately there is nothing that can be done.

One funny little thing I was reflecting back on, as I was talking to Meg-my group contact-is how excited these people were when I was teaching them about the computers…they really did not want to leave, and as the day wore on Meg went out and brought back pizza for everyone (a collection was taken up at the end, even though she insisted it was no problem, which I thought was sweet). 

There is some part of me enjoying this, I wonder if I should consider getting involved in some sort of advocacy group.

Since returning from Michigan, I have been rather sluggish to write in my blog.  Last weekend was overwhelming to say the least and I almost do not know where to begin.

Michigan is economically destroyed, in a way that I personally have a hard time imagining the people being able to recover from.  Manufacturing has gone overseas to cheaper labor, the many plants that used to produce everything from automobiles and tanks to cereal and potato chips litter the state as half-decomposed architectual skeletons.

Grand hotels and resorts are nearly abandoned as the cost of gas prevents tourism on the shores of Michigan’s Great Lakes, where the poorest families could enjoy an afternoon in a simple row boat-talking and fishing, while some of the country’s most elite sipped wine from their balconies overlooking.

In the state of Michigan, one in every 28 homes is in forclosure.  The newer bankruptcy laws put into effect under the Bush administration is preventing some of the most hard-hit individuals from even finding financial sanctuary in this medium.  Well educated individuals are at a loss for employment as buisnesses are exclusively hiring part time for professions truely designed for full time, and student loans bear no forgiving.  The hiring of Canadians has become commonplace where I live because they do not require medical coverage, or retirement plans.  Canada, though, has a law that only Canadian citizens can work there.

The state has created many social programs, perhaps at the worst time possible as those who are trying to make a living can ill afford additional taxes to assist in the welfare of others-as is the case with the ‘No Worker Left Behind’ program where displaced automotive and manufacturing employees are granted state money to attend school to pursue different fields for employment.  Property taxes are out of control, small buisnesses cannot afford to operate within the state, people are just loading up their cars and moving-adandoned houses are on the rise, and farms are either being divvied up for future subdivisions, or they are sitting empty while the banks reposess.

The governor has pushed, and been permitted to release thousands of criminals from the prison system, is currently fighting to reduce many felonies to misdemeanors while simultaniously cutting the police forces for the state.  Our border with Canada is ill protected and many dangerous foreign criminals have made their way to our cities.

The night that I arrived in Michigan, tensions were high-a respectable family man who worked at a local store and his young coworker were shot point blank by a pair of criminals in what has always been a safe bedroom community.  I know because my brother lives about a block away, and we used to live not much further.  The coldness of the footage shown on the news was shocking, to say the least, and with the economic difficulties facing Michigan, I fear crime will only get worse.  I can tell I am not the only one with these concerns.

The bigger news across the state, however, was the imminent government shut down.  The governor had decided we should raise income taxes, and place a tax on services and would not back down, even under the threat of a government shutdown as budget agreements had to be in place by midnight Oct 1st.  Strong-arming the senate, the governor refused to sign a 30 day extention on the senate talks and under this pressure the increases were just barely passed.  The people in the state of Michigan are beyond angry at this point, and faith in government is undeniably low.

I was supposed to teach a computer literacy ’self-improvement’ class that weekend at the community college.  However, under the threat of the school shutting down with the government-the plans changed dramatically.  Suddenly I had thirty-something people waiting for me to teach them how to use computers, but nowhere to work.

I cannot really explain where I took them to instruct in the use of computers, as I was only granted access because it is a private institute and I still happened to have a key-no, so far as I know I did not engage in any questionable activity, did I mention-so far as I know?  I knew many of these people are the unfortunate ones who have fallen through the cracks, who are working part time jobs but do not qualify for the ‘No Worker Left Behind’ program, people who cannot afford to attend college or in some cases, those who had years ago but have never dealt with online job searching.  Many came because they wanted to know how to communicate with the Michigan senate-their representatives who exclusively interact online, if at all, with their constituants.  I wonder how many people know that though Michigan has the worst housing market, we have some of the highest property taxes, but most ironic to me-we have the highest unemployment, and a high number of people below the poverty line yet we have the second highest payed representatives in the country, and I think the highest paid governor.

I was overwhelmed with the diverse needs and desires of the people who were looking to me for help and since we were not at the Community College, I had no one to assist and certainly could not call for help (in case I was doing something wrong by being there).

I led the group slowly through the basics, many already knew how to turn on a computer, how to load an internet page-where I was tied up was helping half the ‘class’ establish an email address, and the others I assisted in creating resume’s on Microsoft Word.   Thankfully I had some floppy disks to pass out, I had a feeling I may be assisting in the use of Word.

What I found most rewarding, but most exhausting, was locating local representatives online, and helping people compose emails.  I had not realized how out of reach the representatives had made themselves in the use of the internet.

I have been asked to come back, the nine hours I spent with them was apparently not enough, and they await my email.  I am contacting a local Catholic school to ask if I can use their computer lab some weekend in the future, as I dare not repeat last weekend’s tutoring site situation, and the local community college will not answer my emails asking to use their lab in the future.  Apparently some of my students sent some rather unhappy emails about being shut out of a college they pay taxes to support….

 Under the circumstances, since this cannot be a permanent and ongoing training system- I wonder if I should even consider this a possibility for my 20 hours of service learning.  Particularly since I cannot even provide the location for my last session.

Nevertheless, although it was a rewarding experience, I still do not feel I accomplished enough.

 I wonder if I should return that key after-all?

Government Employees vs Manufacturing  

I am headed back to Michigan, not necessarily for the reasons I would like, but for a week I will be home with my family. 

The community college in my area of the state is trying to up their efforts to help the unemployed as the automotive industry takes a turn for the worst and more people find themselves jobless.  The college has already given effort to assist the general public, not just students, find employment.  Unfortunatly, as they have found, many of these individuals are not familar with computers, much less are they able to perform job searches (as many companies turn to online jobsites for their postings) and they have not the manpower or tools available to be effective.

 My work with a local business college in Michigan has linked me up with the community college to assist in training these individuals.  This weekend we aim to begin our lessons, and I can only hope I can be of some use.  I will admit, I feel a little intimidated, I am not by any means a computer ‘guru’, and it seems as though I am being left in charge of this effort though I have no doubt I will be recieving plenty of assistance. 

I have always been the odd sort of person who enjoys strolling through old libraries, examining ancient texts and admiring dusty artifacts.  I have worked in three libraries, two museums and specifically decided on a thesis subject that would take me physically to Ireland to sort through heavily guarded collections and personal archives.  While wandering through Trinity College’s library, I looked longingly at the dusty shelves with their age worn books and actually wished I could remain there, living among a wealth of information and wisdom, remnants of a time long since passed.  Without intending to make this sound indecent, I am a physical sort of person when it comes to research and the Book of Kells left me breathless. I have two degrees, one in History and another in Anthropology (I dropped my minors: Literature, Sociology, Philosophy and Theology because I could ill afford to remain any longer).  Digital technology is not a commonly considered tool for any of these disciplines, much less for my original passion: Studio Art.  I have been wondering for the past month if I made a dramatic error in selecting Library Science.  I slid out of St Vincent College in the wake of Blackboard’s arrival, narrowly missing online-centric courses and research, only to make my way to Pitt two years later where traditional classes have made way for the virtual classroom-seriously, I havent a class that does not require hours upon hours online.  I thought coming here would permit me the ability to pursue higher education without having to rely on computer use as I would have had I stayed in Michigan and pursued distance learning.  Oh how naive I can be.  After all, should I expect to attend classes that foster my desire to remain in physical library collections when the future seems to rely so heavily on technology? I attend Latin rite mass, believe poetry should have a rigid rhyming scheme, I want to raise children and spoil them with my delicious cooking and even better baking, I believe in communities and helping your fellow man, and politicians should emulate everything we hold value in.  I am a dinosaur!  Perhaps this is why, when I wandered into the wrong classroom on my first day at Grad school (everyone’s worst nightmare, second only to showing up naked) Digital Citizenship as a course caught my attention and kept me anchored. I may be a dinosaur, but I know the basics of computer use-which is more than many can claim.  I have experience helping the underprivileged use computers, though only in a limited setting, and my social science background makes me hungry for more interaction.  I am excited, though a little intimidated by the idea of service learning for my class, but I know I have something to offer and this is a prime opportunity to do so.With how much is being transferred to the virtual world, it is a huge handicap to be computer illiterate, and honestly, I can see that most clearly in this road to the 2008 elections.  One of the greatest abilities we as Americans have is the ability to vote, and chose our leaders-leaders who represent our nation and its place in the world, leaders who aim to protect our rights and who will really have our best interest in mind-or are supposed to.  Poverty stricken individuals have, or are supposed to have the same amount of say in our country’s future as the wealthiest.  Yet as the internet becomes a key tool in controlling information, and also the free flow of information-those left only exposed to TV, Radio and printed media are vulnerable and more often than not will only be aware of those candidates who spend the most money on campaigning.  I personally feel that sometimes the brightest and best in our country are left behind in politics because they have not the money or influence to get people’s attention.  I see the internet as a way to level the playing field a bit, and those who are isolated from this larger, virtual community (the computer illiterate, the underprivileged)…well perhaps they are falling victim to ‘lesser of two evils’ far more than they should have to.  As we all are.  

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