Todays Meeting!

So today was cool - i enjoyed discussing our thoughts and getting some things out in the open. It was cool to hear other peoples opinions and how similar/different our previous thoughts were to them.  I know alicia took some notes, so she can supplement this when she gets a chance -but I wrote down a bunch of the things that stuck in my head upon leaving:

1. I'd be sick to have a house where we just had people hanging out and doing work, but after school other kids came and we helped them and taught them cool things about life and their schoolwork. Probably not the most likely solution, but with an awning and a sign -maybe?!
2. We could use Tamara's connection with the eager interfaith kids to perhaps form a collaboration? 
3. We could use current tutors from other places to help us and do some research FOR us!! This would open the possibility to actually compile a legit amount of research WHILE actually working toward implimenation
4. Jon really likes research and think tanks. 
5. Amanda - can you fill us in to what the results/accomplishments of your networking ind. study were from last semester? I feel like I dont know exactly what we know...(might be me) ---> we can use that list to contact current tutors and make them aware of our goals to see if we can get interest. Maybe even talk about us at their meetings?
6. We need to do a better job of explaining what it is exactly that we are looking to do, and what type of audience we want. Perhaps a better turnout next time?
7. I was legit sad about how many people never came. Ted Limpert send me a facebook message explaining why he couldnt come and how sad he was - i enjoy him - he does a lot with education and tutoring, and wants to know what were all about. yay cool people!
8. I love you guys!

a fusion of ideas.

So I don't actually have much time to write now-- but I wanted to get this out there. First of all this center sounds sooooo much like a Dave Eggars center- and I like it.

One day, a few months ago, Mollie had a huge purging of ideas to me. She was hoping that our tutoring center- could mimic one like 825 Valencia-- but from a more Rochester perspective. We should feature what Rochester has to offer such as art and music!! (and amateur sports teams :)) This would get passionate college students, as well as community members to volunteer.

Random thoughts: If we open an eggars- like center focused on creative writing and the arts we dont have to partner with specific schools at all. Rather, we could advertise our program to all of the schools. It would be ideal to have a stand alone- brick and mortar location for something like this so that we didnt have to be a part of something else.
We could definitely get some UR students interested in sustaining a program like this- in writing and art education!!!!

hmmm I have zero experience in art and even less than zero in writing- but the rest of you have things like this covered. I like the specifictity of this idea. Maybe it is possible to run ethics lessons like Mollie did- through writing and art. Also, maybe we can plan our tutoring "lessons" behind bigger topics- and have the take home points embedded in other idea. ( I know this is vague-- but i need to go to work :))

Look I am Blogging!!!

I met with Juliet today to talk about some new ideas I’ve been having about the direction our project could go in. I think that tutoring is a positive activity and has the ability to help students, but I think we could expand our ultimate goal.

One thing I feel very passionately about is increasing opportunities for students to express themselves using the arts. Most students who are not in enrichment programs do not get to take advantage of arts. Juliet and I talked about the perception of the arts as “intellectual” and the aversion that many people have to all things in this realm, which are seen as “Extras,” not as necessities for personal or academic growth. Poetry, writing (both creative and non-creative), and communication are all really important to me and are things that I know a lot about.

I’d like to propose that in addition to our tutoring component, that I could research and attempt to implement a component of our program that would get students involved in writing and speaking, esp. via poetry. All of our research is still very relevant, and everyone could continue to pursue the academic interests they have--mostly I would just be moving forward with the goal of creating a program that celebrates writing. If others are interested they can help in researching this...i.e. someone could maybe read a little bit about the benefits of enriching experiences (like creative writing clubs), we could see what's available at schools and in the community currently, and find students from UR to get involved and sustain it.

The idea does not have to be limited to this focus, but this is just one idea that I have. Another idea would be to create a program that acts as a hub--connecting students with the things that they are passionate about, but may not have the cultural or social capital to enact in their lives. Often students who come from families who are working several jobs, or don’t value intellectualism may not seek out opportunities for their students to be involved in things. These students are not challenged to be creative at school, or give the enriching opportunities that students labeled “smart” are. We don’t have to limit our program to “middle of the road” students, but I think that should be our target. It could be all ages. In this way, we would act as a hub to connect students to opportunities for art, music, and hobbies that they might be interested in.

I will begin researching what is out there, but I just wanted to present this idea to you all.

What do you think about this? Let’s meet and discuss.

April 7 Meeting Thoughts and New Direction

What brought us together? What impulses did we originally have that made us want to pursue an extra year? What are some of the lessons we have learned so far? How can we function more effectively in creating a lasting value? This value is NOT defined to our original focus--it can be whatever we think is feasible, meaningful and will provide value for the future. This is my first step in being open, honest, and committing myself to creating value for our community. Ideas of how to do that will follow! Feel free to comment.

So, what is it that brought us here? Here are some impulses that exist within us all.
-Connecting People/”Bridging Gaps”
-Connecting UR Students to Community
-Connecting Community (students, ppl in SW Rochester) to resources
such as those available at UR
-Changing perceptions of UR/community that exist on both ends, create opportunities
to break down racial, social, economic, and even physical barriers (i.e. footbridge, lol).

-Enriching Peoples’s Lives
-Creating value in the community
-improving the lives of students both on campus and in Rochester
-supplementing the work that others are doing to make Rochester a better place
-We all know through our experiences that UR students have something
to offer the community, and that we can gain from a better relationship with
people of City of Rochester.
-We know this enrichment has been prevented due to prejudice,
unfulfilled commitments, perceptions etc. (negative UR-Roch experiences)

-Passion for enriching lives through education/volunteering
-Some of us have direct affiliations with educational endeavours, but all of us
clearly thinking learning is important, and subscribe to the idea that knowledge is power
-We all believe that volunteering our time to something we are passionate about
can add value to individual lives and our own.
-We want to share our passion for making a difference with UR students and
create opportunities for them to make a difference, whether that’s through tutoring or some other type of service

Stuff we’re thinking right now
-In need of structure? We can create our own structure for how this group should work. Learn from mistakes in the past, find our own ways of being productive; holding each other accountable for goals set out.
-Lack of focus due to lack of defined goal, direction.
-Passion! We need to renew our passion and follow it wherever it leads--this will enable us to be focuses. Sometimes we’re feeling lackluster because we don’t know what this is all for. Some of us may have lost passion for the original idea and need to find what it is we truly want
-Communication: we need to document and share information with eachother, be honest about personal and group goals and have productive conversations that lead to either mental or actual action (conversations that move us forward, either realizing failures and moving on, creating new visions, or new and concrete plans

-Individual Goals: We need to be comfortable with our role in the group and take on the things we are most interesting--each of us can be experts in something and add value to the group’s vision.

-Realize that...
-We’re gaining real skills right now!
-We can create value
-We can find a new direction if necessary
-We have something to give.