RI Coalition for the Homeless

Hey everyone,


My name is Jessica Knight and I am a volunteer with the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless. I am here to discuss the importance of homeless prevention and affordable housing issues in Rhode Island.


As you may have read, at the beginning of this winter we had 175 Rhode Islanders sleeping outdoors across the state. You may also be interested to know that:

• 53% of those who are homeless this year are homeless for the first time
• 40% of RI’s homeless are families
• 27% are children
• 12% are employed

The good news is we can do something to help these people find a safe affordable home!


We are asking for your support! You can make a difference by signing a letter to your local representative and your senator urging them to make affordable housing and homelessness prevention a key issue this legislative session.

Thank you!
Have a great day!


Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless
(401)721-5685      www.rihomeless.org  

Please follow this  LINK and take action. RI Coalition is only asking for 250 signitures. At the moment there are only 18. It takes literally 30 seconds. Lets work together to help end homelessnes.

Adolscents Pt 2

In this article Raby talks about adolscents "discovering themselves" which in my opinion is the exact opposite of what happens in this stage in life. For me I was trying find someone else. It was a popularity contest. Until the summer before the 12th grade I was in a program called Upward Bound I never thought it was a contest. My peers and I stayed on campus for 7 weeks taking classes. One night the counselors had a discussion group about "Popularity". Everyone in the group was talking about the dynamic of their own school and if the were insync with the norm or oppsed to it. I attended Hope High School. At my school I knew everyone and I talked to everyone. We all did. It was a community school we all did everything to together. Or so I thought. As I and my good friend KC was painting a pretty picture of our school a underslassmen steps up and tainted the picture. I will never forget his first sentence "you only think there is no popularity in Hope because you two and a vast majority of the school makes up the popular kids." I initially thought well if the majority of the school is popular then yea there is no popular kids its just a few kids who do not fit in because of their own issues. The underslassmen went on to saying that my group of friends and I was such a large group that consisted of atletes, the entire student government, and the entire academic top ten 10% of the class. Another point that my friend and I was trying to make was that we was different than traditional popularity groups. We all dressed different and we didn't bully. He said we had the teachers on our side because of our acheivements and good deeds. He went on to saying the only reason why we knew his name was because he was different and we felt that it was a public services to say hi to him and people like him.
Being 16 I was like okay and the big deal is? Then when the school year begun I took a step back and really look at what he said. And sad to say he was right. My friends and I basically own a hall wall and we named it the T. I stood at the top and looked down and the hallway was filled of only my friends. If someone did walk in the hallway to go to class they walked so fast. The bell rings and we still outside and the principal right to our side saying nothing. We were all just dressed different so I was right about that but we were all the best dressed. We didn't bully but we gave off a dominant energy.
Now when I was younger learning about how high school is where you learn the most yourself I was like yeah alright w.e. but know I see its so true. This discovering yourself theory is an interesting one. In high school everyone thrieved to be "different" and in those attempts we all became even more similar. You never discover yourself as who you want to be. You discover yourself in terms of how others view you to be.
We was glorified by the administration but secretly hated by our peers. Which kind of hurt my feelings because even though sexs, drugs and alchol was not an issue for us we still had our problems. Problems with suicide, rape, depression, and emotion distraught. The teachers paid more attention to people outside of group because we were the "good kids" that sat in at board meetings and every honor roll breakfast. We was never considered to have problems so instead of expressing them we bottled them. People assumed we was all ok because we fit the characteristics of teens they wanted. As a teen it feels like a battlefield where no side every wins.

Adolescents

I'm this video Katy Perry is singing to adolescents basically telling them to do what they want regardless if what socially "right" . In this video some of the discourses expressed in Raby's article. Such ass sexuality, body image, and violence.

Watch "Katy Perry - Firework (Official Music Video) [Full HD (1080p)]" on YouTube

Assignment 3: When will things change

"A Black Cinderella!  Give Me a Break." She wrote:  "Have you ever seen a black person, an Asian, a Hispanic in a cartoon!  Did they have a leading role or were they a servant?  What do you think this is doing to your child’s mind?" She  ended her piece:  "Women  who  aren’t  white begin to feel  left OUT  and  ugly  because  they  never get to play the princess. “Kenya’s piece bristled with anger at a society that rarely acknowledges the wit or beauty of women of her race.  And she wasn’t alone in her feelings.  Sabrina wrote, “I’m not taking my kids to see any Walt Disney movies until they have a black woman playing the leading role."

Ø  I hate this quote in sooooo many ways. I understand the point Sabrina is trying to make however the drastic levels she is taking to. It’s so dramatic and unnecessary.  I think it’s annoying to hear people speak out so harshly against issues like this because it only further promotes the issue at hand. Children are impressionable and they do pick up on messages that televisions and movies put out there but along with that they pick up in things said around them. This part unknowingly instilled an opinion against white. By not allowing her daughter to see Disney movies because they are white is just as bad as degrading black people. In situations like this I feel as though parents forget they are parents and wear the “I am black” hat. In situations like this I feel as though Sabrina should have a general positive conversation. People find it easier to bash races or place blame rather than taking a stand responsibly.

Ø  This is one of my biggest issues with BET. I love the fact that this channel was created. If done right BET (regardless of its name) could have been a channel that promoted integration along with black awareness. Awareness without integration does not stop the problem it only creates more reasons to remain more segregated. After a while screaming “I am here deal with it” has no effect. Okay, now that the word knows you are here what do you plan on doing with it? Are you going to continue to play the victim or are you going to say hey I understand the past of my race and limitations still present but what can I do positively to make sure it no longer happens? I feel as though this channel forgets that the number problem with slavery and segregation was the fact “colored” and “whites” were not treated equally. Only difference between now and then its black people are now contributing to it all.

In the last minute of Ciara's LIke A Boy it displays a dance where the formation is an "X". In the center of the "X" is the male version of Ciara. With her hands she controls the movements of each leg of the "X" sort of God like.

Hip-Hop sees no color

This article is very interesting. Save the Last Dance has been my favorite since the day it was released in theatre. It is obvious from the ethniticity of the cast that the movie was intended to show cultural differences however i never thought of in details as Ginner has in this article. I do believe that she overanalyzed the movie but she did make some very valid points. I have heard of the acronym SWCAMP in the past but would never had tied it into this movie. The fact that Ginner did further proves that this country is dominated by past ideologies and are cripple to move above and see a changing world. I am not aware of the author's sexual orientation, race, religion, etc. But from reading this article in my opinion she fully believes in meaning behind SWCAMP. It is easy to say that Sean Patrick Thomas' character, Derrick, identifies with the white race. Where in all actualilty Derrick symbolizes a shift into the direction that we want this country to go in. Why is that Derrick is considered to have "white" tendencies? Why is the abilitity to obtain an education and to speak properly considered white? Why is not just considered American? Just as easy as it was for the author to point out that the father of Chenille's son is a dead beat any viewer could have sid the same for Sara's dad. Sars's dad was absent in her life as well and if it was not for her mom's death there would still have been a lack of communication between the two.

In this article the authout chose to capitalize black and not capatalize whites. In the notes she says she capatilizes black because it is a political location. Im not clear on what that means. My more concern with the fact that she chose not to capitalize white to "disrupt the ralation of power". This right here for me is something thats I always thought about. The black community along with white supports has fought for equality for decades. However, in my own opinion I feel as though equality is far from being accomplish because instead of promoting unity and equaliy we have people (subconsciously and consciously) continously trying to give blacks an extra edge or push. By the author choosing not to capitalize white is an example of that. It further segrate the two. I understand yes black and white people are not on the same level but there comes a point where black people are treated as Americans and are held responsible for their actions and downfalls. I think of myself as West-Indian American. however, from just looking at me I am classed as African American and its sad for me to see things just handed to me because of my skin. No! I do not and will not except that. I was born and raised in AMerican like any other Caucasian American and will work my behind off and EARN everything I have and desire. It is my birth right to have every opportunity that a Caucasain have and I'll be dam if I blame anyone because I chose not to take advantage of it.

The message I received from this article is in order to do right by yourself you automatically conform to American norm of SCWAMP. American is a country that was original made to find a better life and be successful. Somewhere along the line Americans lost sight of this. Now that the country is moving back into that direction we have developed a new stereotype without dropping the old ones. This article suggests that Derrick is an expection to the rule instead of acknowledging that the rule is slowly dissipating. If it means I am a man and white because I am educated, success and live above the property line... Then tell me what is white tell me what is a male and how come Oprah and Ursula Burns do not fit does physically descriptions.

SCWAMP is an interesting theory. A theory that I believe is only made true if you allow it to. This country strieves on conformity and only you can choose to accept it.

Talking Points #1 on Croteau

The power in this country ultimately goes to those who have a hand in the media. The culture within this country is not as traditional as other countries. Therefore it is able to collectively assemble a culture based on any number of cultures and independent views. Through that those of power such as politicians, celebrities, etc. have the greatest impact on the way we act and think.

Media plays a big hand in American society. I believe that the affect that media has on the individual is a cultural conformity.  On page 163, the author states, “the media give us pictures of social interaction and social institutions that, by their sheer repetition on a daily basis, can play important roles in shaping broad social definitions. In essence, the accumulation of media images suggests what is “normal” and what is “deviant.” I totally agree with this statement. As an individual born and raised in America to traditional West Indian parents, I see the difference between the cultures, American are easily able to alter their lives to fit the “norm” usually broadcast through the media. For those who are able to take the media for what it is just “media” and not conform they are cast out for being “different”.

My favorite part of the article is Sociologist Stuart Hall’s analyst of the media. The media is definitely a form of hegemon. It always will be as long as we have a nation where its majority is easily persuaded. I like his definition of representation and reflection. This makes sense because no one can truly reflect society they can only reflect their own view on the world. This adds to Hall’s definition of the media. The contributors of the media can only “re-present” a selection of the world which is jaded by that person’s own opinion.