3/25/10
2/9/10
Hey Mommy, No School Today!
Today finds the Fond du Lac area dealing with some lovely, yet problem causing snow. For the general population, we are concerned with getting from place to place. Contemplating if we should drive to the store or to work, and trying to gauge the risks.
There is a more specific population that I am considering today though. I have been getting visits from student's in a Women's Study course at UW Fond du Lac. They are approaching women's issues as service-learners; and are right now, in the process of finding local needs of this subset of the population.
As I brainstorm with them, an issue specific of this moment for us in Fond du Lac is school closings. There are a lot of women in the area that are dealing with their children being out of school or not being able to go to after school activities and after school clubhouses. It often falls on the women to take care of this issue, as they are either the sole provider for their child, or they aren't the "bread winner" in the family.
I'm actually dealing with this myself. My children (I have 3) have had their after school activities cancelled. I work until 5pm, work isn't cancelled. Their activities occupy the time frame of 3-5:30. Which on a normal day is just right. I am forced with a choice of leaving work early as they are too young to stay home alone, or... well... no other viable alternatives really exist.
This is the same scenario that occurs on a day that my children are sick. There is no one other than me that can take care of them. Daycare is not set up to accept children that may never arrive. School is not set up to deal with a sick child. Most workplaces frown on the worker that calls in sick because a parent is being a parent.
This is just a bit of food for thought. I don't have a great solution, but would like to know how issues like this impact you and people that you know. Perhaps if we brainstorm together we can come up with a solution.
There is a more specific population that I am considering today though. I have been getting visits from student's in a Women's Study course at UW Fond du Lac. They are approaching women's issues as service-learners; and are right now, in the process of finding local needs of this subset of the population.
As I brainstorm with them, an issue specific of this moment for us in Fond du Lac is school closings. There are a lot of women in the area that are dealing with their children being out of school or not being able to go to after school activities and after school clubhouses. It often falls on the women to take care of this issue, as they are either the sole provider for their child, or they aren't the "bread winner" in the family.
I'm actually dealing with this myself. My children (I have 3) have had their after school activities cancelled. I work until 5pm, work isn't cancelled. Their activities occupy the time frame of 3-5:30. Which on a normal day is just right. I am forced with a choice of leaving work early as they are too young to stay home alone, or... well... no other viable alternatives really exist.
This is the same scenario that occurs on a day that my children are sick. There is no one other than me that can take care of them. Daycare is not set up to accept children that may never arrive. School is not set up to deal with a sick child. Most workplaces frown on the worker that calls in sick because a parent is being a parent.
This is just a bit of food for thought. I don't have a great solution, but would like to know how issues like this impact you and people that you know. Perhaps if we brainstorm together we can come up with a solution.
1/26/10
Community Needs
What are the needs in the Fond du Lac community? The answer must certainly vary from one person to the next. I'm curious then what your view is. Yes, you the reader.
Do you see a need that is not being met? Is there an organization that needs a bit of help, because they find themselves too busy helping their target group and doesn't have the time to get those important side projects done?
It is my job to find those importnat set aside items for organizations. Those things that they put aside because they are too busy to research, start or finish.
Let me give you a couple of examples.
Organization A didn't have time to look into putting a website together. They also lacked know how to even begin finding out how to get a site up and running. They were spending their time with the kids that they were helping and kept putting that on the back burner as important but too much work.
Organization B was in need of activities to engage youth in learning activities.
The problem comes in when the community doesn't know who needs what. Not just the simple needs either. I am looking for all of the needs. If you know of any, let me know! It is my job which you dear tax payer pay me to do. Basically, making the connections, to get more done for more people. Together we can make a great impact. Now, who, what, where (I'll help with the how).
Do you see a need that is not being met? Is there an organization that needs a bit of help, because they find themselves too busy helping their target group and doesn't have the time to get those important side projects done?
It is my job to find those importnat set aside items for organizations. Those things that they put aside because they are too busy to research, start or finish.
Let me give you a couple of examples.
Organization A didn't have time to look into putting a website together. They also lacked know how to even begin finding out how to get a site up and running. They were spending their time with the kids that they were helping and kept putting that on the back burner as important but too much work.
A basic web design class worked with them to meet their need. The information that the organization needed to get out to the community was collected by the students and worked into the projects that were once just personal pages or made-up scenarios. Now, Org. A has a website that gives potential volunteers, community members and potential clients information. It would take another post to even skim the benefits of having a website.
Organization B was in need of activities to engage youth in learning activities.
Some college students came in and presented what they were learning in their college course to them. They used games, demonstrations and visuals. Many of the youth came away excited about what they had learned wanting to learn more on the topic. Some of the youth thought that it would be "really cool" to go to college and do the things that the college students were doing. The organization gained youth with a refreshed desire to learn, and some much needed time to plan activites while the college students were in charge.
The problem comes in when the community doesn't know who needs what. Not just the simple needs either. I am looking for all of the needs. If you know of any, let me know! It is my job which you dear tax payer pay me to do. Basically, making the connections, to get more done for more people. Together we can make a great impact. Now, who, what, where (I'll help with the how).
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