My group and I are currently working on an exciting project for a family in the Holly Street community. They have resided in this community for over 70 years and have an established presence in this area, so we decided to dedicate a booklet to them. We are designing this booklet to be a source of feeling of home and history for the family to have for years to come.
Inside the booklet will contain a history of the Holly Street community, a family tree, a map of the community, a map of the homes they resided in, and much more. We are thrilled to continue on with this project and honoring this family.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Gentrification Continued
As a class, we were able to explore the city of Austin and see different areas where gentrification was present. The most prominent area to me was the area in which I am studying in this class, the Holly Street community. In this community there is a wide range of property values, as different builders are attempting to invade and redesign the area.
This leads to an important point about developers: Are they necessary and just in working with community as it is? In the Holly Street community, it seems as though developers are working against the original inhabitants of this area and are working towards essentially kicking them out of their home. I feel as though the developers should be working with property owners to mirror the community as it is, so that property owners can remain in their homes.
This community is one in which takes much pride in itself and we are beginning to apart that pride. Developers need to make the community affordable and not just work towards re-development and forcing people who have lived in the Holly Street community for many years to relocate. We need to take action and be the voice for the residents of this area, for we want to preserve their sense of home.
This leads to an important point about developers: Are they necessary and just in working with community as it is? In the Holly Street community, it seems as though developers are working against the original inhabitants of this area and are working towards essentially kicking them out of their home. I feel as though the developers should be working with property owners to mirror the community as it is, so that property owners can remain in their homes.
This community is one in which takes much pride in itself and we are beginning to apart that pride. Developers need to make the community affordable and not just work towards re-development and forcing people who have lived in the Holly Street community for many years to relocate. We need to take action and be the voice for the residents of this area, for we want to preserve their sense of home.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Gentrification
Gentrification is an important topic when observing the effects of modern growth on a community. While gentrification is primarily seen from a positive aspect, it is imperative to be mindful of the injustices that this process also entails. For example, in the city of Austin, there is much gentrification happening the Holly Street area, for which my group and I have focused our efforts this semester.
This part of town is is being re-vamped by developers who are coming in and taking over the property. Holly Street is now being considered as prime real estate, and those individuals and families that have lived here many years are being forced to relocate because they can no longer afford to live in their homes. I feel as though we need to work with the community and be advocates for the Holly Street residences to help them preserve much of what they call home.
This part of town is is being re-vamped by developers who are coming in and taking over the property. Holly Street is now being considered as prime real estate, and those individuals and families that have lived here many years are being forced to relocate because they can no longer afford to live in their homes. I feel as though we need to work with the community and be advocates for the Holly Street residences to help them preserve much of what they call home.
Monday, November 4, 2013
CRAFT
CRAFT stands for the five territories of the community-based arts process:
C= Contact
- In the Holly Street efforts, it is important for my group to maintain a solid relationship with the family we are working with in order to create the best project possible. We have to cultivate trust, have mutual understanding, and be committed to working one another and the relationships we build.
R= Research
- This is a huge component of our project, for the foundation of our project will be focused on the information and data we gather. My group plans to interview the family and learn the history of the family in relation to Holly Street.
A= Action
- Our next step will be to take action on the research we collect. Our goal is to produce a work to benefit the family and the community within which they reside. Preservation of history is a key component in the documentation of our project.
F= Feedback
- The goal is to spread the concept of this new work, for Holly Street is experiencing much gentrification. We need to advocate for those who live in this community who want to be able to remain there.
T= Teaching
- I am learning many life skills throughout this class and I feel as though I have a better understanding of how communities operate on a global perspective. It is important for us to pass along our skills to others to continue to make an impact.
C= Contact
- In the Holly Street efforts, it is important for my group to maintain a solid relationship with the family we are working with in order to create the best project possible. We have to cultivate trust, have mutual understanding, and be committed to working one another and the relationships we build.
R= Research
- This is a huge component of our project, for the foundation of our project will be focused on the information and data we gather. My group plans to interview the family and learn the history of the family in relation to Holly Street.
A= Action
- Our next step will be to take action on the research we collect. Our goal is to produce a work to benefit the family and the community within which they reside. Preservation of history is a key component in the documentation of our project.
F= Feedback
- The goal is to spread the concept of this new work, for Holly Street is experiencing much gentrification. We need to advocate for those who live in this community who want to be able to remain there.
T= Teaching
- I am learning many life skills throughout this class and I feel as though I have a better understanding of how communities operate on a global perspective. It is important for us to pass along our skills to others to continue to make an impact.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Group Project Planning
This week we are finalizing our group project outlines, and I am excited to be focusing my part of the course on the Holly Street Project. We will be working with the Robledo and Torress families to create an oral history project of their experiences living in the community for an expansive amount of time. Our plan is to familiarize ourselves with oral history projects, interviewing the families, and then creating a final presentation of the materials.
Other projects fellow students are working on involve Marlo Heights and Mart, Texas. Holly Street and Marlo Heights are similar in the sense of the projects we are working on. They are communities involving a certain amount of gentrification, and are attempting work around this. Mart, Texas is a relatively poor community and students are working on beautifying the area. All three of these projects are exciting and innovative and I am looking forward to getting started.
Other projects fellow students are working on involve Marlo Heights and Mart, Texas. Holly Street and Marlo Heights are similar in the sense of the projects we are working on. They are communities involving a certain amount of gentrification, and are attempting work around this. Mart, Texas is a relatively poor community and students are working on beautifying the area. All three of these projects are exciting and innovative and I am looking forward to getting started.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
San Antonio
In our assigned book, Beginner's Guide to Community-Based Arts, I was able to connect with the story based upon action. This section of the book's focus is on the city, San Antonio, TX, and here new works of art are produced to positively impact a community. The city contains a long history, and it is important to the community to preserve the culture of the area.
The citizens of San Antonio, that are highlighted in the story, use craft and art to tell a story. These works are passed on from generation to generation, and they provide a sense togetherness and cultural preservation. San Antonio is proud of their heritage and use new works to beautify and conserve the origins of the city.
I moved to San Antonio when I was an eighth grader, and I was at first uncomfortable with the new artwork, types of homes, and overall culture of the city, for I grew up in a suburb of Houston, SugarLand, Texas. San Antonio has a sense of pride in its heritage, and I did not feel as though I would be accepted into this community and feel welcome. Despite my concern, I was able to learn about the history and the art that adorned the city, and I came to accept the culture as a sense of home. I am proud to come from a city that embraces their culture and openly shares it with others, for a community is established.
The citizens of San Antonio, that are highlighted in the story, use craft and art to tell a story. These works are passed on from generation to generation, and they provide a sense togetherness and cultural preservation. San Antonio is proud of their heritage and use new works to beautify and conserve the origins of the city.
I moved to San Antonio when I was an eighth grader, and I was at first uncomfortable with the new artwork, types of homes, and overall culture of the city, for I grew up in a suburb of Houston, SugarLand, Texas. San Antonio has a sense of pride in its heritage, and I did not feel as though I would be accepted into this community and feel welcome. Despite my concern, I was able to learn about the history and the art that adorned the city, and I came to accept the culture as a sense of home. I am proud to come from a city that embraces their culture and openly shares it with others, for a community is established.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Who am I?
This question is one in which one presents great diversity and complexity. As we explore who we are, the process of describing who we are is difficult to put into words. Just offhand I would describe myself as female, twenty one years old, college student, etc. But as I explored more deeply, I realized that there are many other attributes that encompass my identity. Further exploring my sense of self, I am a daughter, a sister, White, Christian, heterosexual, and much more. There is the concept of multiple identities that includes the past, present, and future, all of which have influenced who I am today and who I continue to become.
There is the concept of the dominant group, which is described as male, White, heterosexual, and Christian. Therefore, I meet three of the four dominant attributes. Referencing myself as one in the dominant group is somewhat uncomfortable to admit and respond upon. My privilege is something that has not gone unnoticed, but this concept is inherently natural to me. I was fortunate to grow up in a middle class family where these dominant characteristics are the dominant forces within the community.
Until I became I college student, I really never understood the differences in identities and dominant groups versus subordinate groups. Growing up, I never saw myself as dominant or privileged, for my community seemed to be all on the same level. I have since been able to explore and change this opinion as I begin to deeply explore who I am and who others are. When understanding and connecting with others, I feel that it is important for one to be aware of the various identities that shape a being. When attempting to make an impact for someone or a community or society at large, being able to connect with them is vital.
There is the concept of the dominant group, which is described as male, White, heterosexual, and Christian. Therefore, I meet three of the four dominant attributes. Referencing myself as one in the dominant group is somewhat uncomfortable to admit and respond upon. My privilege is something that has not gone unnoticed, but this concept is inherently natural to me. I was fortunate to grow up in a middle class family where these dominant characteristics are the dominant forces within the community.
Until I became I college student, I really never understood the differences in identities and dominant groups versus subordinate groups. Growing up, I never saw myself as dominant or privileged, for my community seemed to be all on the same level. I have since been able to explore and change this opinion as I begin to deeply explore who I am and who others are. When understanding and connecting with others, I feel that it is important for one to be aware of the various identities that shape a being. When attempting to make an impact for someone or a community or society at large, being able to connect with them is vital.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Cultural Assessment
When our professor assigned us the project of finding five items that represented our culture and displayed our cultural identity, I felt as though it was a daunting task. I had no idea where to begin, but when I was able to brainstorm and reflect, I came up with many ideas. There are many elements that are represented in our cultural identity, such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, age, religion, social class, nationality, etc. I chose the top 5 topics that I felt had a particular impact in shaping the collective me and my social identity.
1. Barbie- Race/Ethnicity. I grew up with Barbie being perceived as the ideal for what I wanted to be when I grew up, for she was my favorite toy and I wanted to look just like her. While I grew out of this idea, the image of what I am "supposed to" or "should" look like is still engrained within me and is continually influenced by the media. Barbie portrays the ideal.
2. A picture of me and my boyfriend Travis- Sexual Orientation. I have grown up as a heterosexual, white female throughout my life, and it has not changed over time. Travis is a large part of my life, for he is whom I rely on day to day.
3. Perfume- Gender. My grandfather used to say to me "you should always smell like a lady," while that is a controversial statement, I feel that there are specific scents that represent femininity. My scent, Alien, portrays my feminine nature.
4. Cross- Religion. God is a huge part of my life, and is something I have grown up building a support around. I seek guidance, comfort, joy, and wisdom through my religion, and it very much effects how I act and perceive my environment on a daily basis.
5. Zeta pin- Social Status/Identity. All throughout college, I have been a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. While this provides many stereotypical references, there is also a sense of community and belonging paired with this organization. I have made numerous friendships and enjoyed my college years on this sorority's behalf.
1. Barbie- Race/Ethnicity. I grew up with Barbie being perceived as the ideal for what I wanted to be when I grew up, for she was my favorite toy and I wanted to look just like her. While I grew out of this idea, the image of what I am "supposed to" or "should" look like is still engrained within me and is continually influenced by the media. Barbie portrays the ideal.
2. A picture of me and my boyfriend Travis- Sexual Orientation. I have grown up as a heterosexual, white female throughout my life, and it has not changed over time. Travis is a large part of my life, for he is whom I rely on day to day.
3. Perfume- Gender. My grandfather used to say to me "you should always smell like a lady," while that is a controversial statement, I feel that there are specific scents that represent femininity. My scent, Alien, portrays my feminine nature.
4. Cross- Religion. God is a huge part of my life, and is something I have grown up building a support around. I seek guidance, comfort, joy, and wisdom through my religion, and it very much effects how I act and perceive my environment on a daily basis.
5. Zeta pin- Social Status/Identity. All throughout college, I have been a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. While this provides many stereotypical references, there is also a sense of community and belonging paired with this organization. I have made numerous friendships and enjoyed my college years on this sorority's behalf.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Hey guys!
Hello!
I am Alex Metcalfe and I am from San Antonio, Texas currently residing in Austin, Texas. I am a Senior in the Social Work major and love the field I am studying. I look forward to working with and meeting everyone in the class, for I feel that all of our collaborative passions will be a great insight and learning experience for me. I have a specific passion towards working with children and adolescents, but I am still ready to explore other options. I hope all is well and I cannot wait to get started!
I am Alex Metcalfe and I am from San Antonio, Texas currently residing in Austin, Texas. I am a Senior in the Social Work major and love the field I am studying. I look forward to working with and meeting everyone in the class, for I feel that all of our collaborative passions will be a great insight and learning experience for me. I have a specific passion towards working with children and adolescents, but I am still ready to explore other options. I hope all is well and I cannot wait to get started!
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