A Plan

Chicago's Plans:

This month, the city announced a $30 million project* that targets 1,200 high school pupils identified as most at risk to become victims of gun violence, giving them full-time mentors and part-time jobs to keep them off the streets. Some money also will pay for more security guards and to provide safe passage for students forced to travel through areas with active street gangs.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/27/beating-death-of-derrien_n_301319.html

I, honestly, do not think this is enough. Perhaps, improving the quality of education and increasing resources on the Southside of Chicago is also needed. Students will have mentors & jobs but will return to the same environment everyday. A change in the environment is necessary.

*Interesting how the paper does not mention the name of the project

Sick

I have been sick this ENTIRE week which has really put a damper on my positive mood and drive. But it provided me with a lot of time for rest and relaxation even though I had plenty of papers I could have been writing. In my moments of sickness, it has become clear that I am where I need to be at this moment in time. I frequently ask myself if I'm in the right place with all of the obstacles that I've been facing, but there's no doubting after this week. I have plenty to do between work and school, something to look forward to in the Kanye West Concert & Nikke coming to visit me, and Thanksgiving shortly around the corner. All smiles tonight as I start a paper due Friday.

Friends

Whitney Fletcher came to visit me this weekend and we are having a grand time. My first house guest has been so wonderful. We've hung out with Destinee, Zetah, Donna-Lee, and Colleen. We checked out the University of Chicago's Law School and Northwestern to prepare Whitney for her move out here. We've had Giordano's Pizza. We've driven Lakeshore Drive countless times. We played Spelmanopoly for FOUR hours one night after I made enchiladas, Mexican style Rice-a-Roni and sweet corn. Can't wait for tomorrow. I'm making Sunday dinner:) Ta-ta for now.

Social Work

"The central proposition of social work practice...is to exploit the best in all of us; to work together to surmount adversity and trouble; to confront the appalling with all the tools available within us and around us; to wrestle distress and disillusionment to the ground with determination and grit; to grab the hands of others and march unwaveringly, even heroically, in the direction of hopes, dreams, and possibilities." --Dennis Saleeby

Sudhir Venkatesh

How does it feel to be black and poor?

Living life, losing life

Today one of my Spelman sisters lost her life. In the blink of an eye, she was gone. I've traveled on that same street. I've passed many fights and arguments. Yet and still, I'm still here. It is crazy to think that throughout my entire college experience, I never had to attend the funeral of one of my Spelman sisters, especially since people die everyday. I never had to mourn the death of one. Today, my Spelman sisters are mourning the death of Jasmine Lynn. Gun violence is attacking the Atlanta University Center. Gun violence has affected me three times over in one week--Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. When will the violence stop? What is the lesson? What can we do? How can we help? ...peace is the answer...

The Hood

"The history of Chicago's blacks and blacks in every other city, did not recapitulate the experiences of European immigrants. No immigrant group ever lived in neighborhoods as segregated as the black ghetto. With each decade, as they left the center of cities for new homes in the suburbs, European immigrants and their children lived in less segregated surroundings. By contrast, black segregation, higher from the start, continued to increase. European immigrants were allowed , even encouraged to move out of ethnic enclaves; blacks were prevented from leaving the ghetto" (Katz, 1996, p.182)

Let this marinate...