28.7.11
18.7.11
15.7.11
Jubilee Veggie Garden, July Newsletter
Volunteer Spotlight: Ann Dawson, Kayle Hammer, and Lauren Zimmermann
Jubilee's Veggie Garden Volunteers
Veggie Garden 3As we finally begin our summer here in Seattle, Jubilee's residents and volunteers are busy planting, weeding and harvesting fresh vegetables for residents to eat. When asked what drew her to Jubilee, new veggie garden volunteer Kayle Hammer said, "I wanted to give back to my community and be involved with an inspiring organization. Volunteering has allowed me to meet some wonderful new people and remind me how a little kindness can go a long way." For volunteer Ann Dawson, gardening is a hobby, an outlet and her passion. She says, “For me gardening is a miracle - a tiny seed becomes something to eat! I really get a kick out of foraging in my garden for something good to eat and hope some of the residents will enjoy it too. Perhaps they will learn to cook new things with such wonderful ingredients.”
Chard2 2Created in 2009 and maintained completely by volunteers and residents, the veggie garden was dreamt up by volunteer Lauren Zimmermann. On extremely limited budgets, most residents cannot afford fresh produce. Lauren designed and helped to install a garden that offers an abundance of home grown vegetables, fruits, and herbs so that residents can enjoy healthy foods they otherwise wouldn't be able to afford. What’s in the ground this summer? Strawberries, blueberries, artichokes, rainbow chard, onions, radishes, tomatoes, and much more! “Gardening is such a simple action that allows people to look at a necessity in their lives,” Lauren says. “Most people have pride in the place they live, they enjoy being outdoors on a nice day, they enjoy saving money on essentials, and they enjoy quality food - all these things are delivered to the residents of Jubilee via a simple 20' by 50' vegetable garden. When a resident asks me about the garden, asks me about how to grow, how to help, or just shares something they noticed, they are sharing an insight into their process of developing themselves while healing at Jubilee.”
“August is the big show,” Lauren says. There will be ripe tomatoes, zucchini galore, beans, peas, greens, more beets, and possibly some small carrots. Residents and volunteers will see and taste all their hard work paid off when munching on fresh greens and juicy berries!
Interested in getting involved in Jubilee's veggie garden? Contact Angie at (206) 957-5512 or angie@jwcenter.org.
13.7.11
Guest House by Rumi
Rumi - Guest House
This being human is a guest house
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
old article from U-WI Bridge
Program partners international and American students to enhance learning
April 11, 2007
by Ariane Strombom
UW–Madison is home to more than 3,000 international students from more than 100 countries. As new international students arrive on campus each year, many are confronted with language barriers, culture shock, loneliness and academic difficulties, among other worries.
A program facilitated by the International Student Services (ISS) office works to connect these international students with American students to bridge the gap between cultures and to increase learning on campus.
The Building Relationships in Diverse Global Environments (BRIDGE) program, which began in 2001, partners international students who are new to UW–Madison with currently enrolled American students to participate in one-on-one and group activities throughout the semester.
“The goals of the BRIDGE program are to expose international students to U.S. culture and the UW–Madison community; to expose American students to the world and to the experiences of international students; and to play a part in internationalizing our campus,” says May Lee Moua-Vue, the ISS adviser and BRIDGE program coordinator.
Currently, 100 participants are involved in the program, divided into 50 pairs. To create a community atmosphere, the participants are separated into smaller “teams” of 20 people. Each team is responsible for planning one programwide event for the semester, such as potlucks, pizza parties or holiday celebrations.
“We match U.S. students with international students according to their interests and hobbies,” says Moua-Vue, which allows the BRIDGE program to effectively partner participants to the extent that some students have become good friends with their partners and continue to meet with them once the semester has ended.
Another component of BRIDGE is the field trips around Wisconsin that the students are invited to attend. Past trips have included visits to the Milwaukee Art Museum, Devil’s Lake, the Miller brewery and a pumpkin farm. This facet allows students, both international and American, to experience true Midwestern culture and form connections with the other participants.
Lauren Zimmermann, a senior and former American student participant in the BRIDGE program, applied to join BRIDGE after studying abroad in the Netherlands and experiencing a similar program first-hand.
“When I came back and heard about the BRIDGE program I thought it would be great to continue meeting people of new cultures instead of having my international experience stop the minute I stepped back on U.S. soil,” she says.
For American students who have not traveled often and for international students who are coming to the United States for the first time, cultural orientations and leadership workshops help the participants adapt to different backgrounds, traditions and ethnicities they may encounter throughout their experience.
“BRIDGE constantly reminds me of the times I was out of my comfort zone in Europe and instead of people thinking I was strange, they helped me get to where I needed to go. I wanted to extend that hospitality to the students studying here, too,” says Zimmermann.
BRIDGE partners must commit to meeting seven times or more throughout the semester. The participants are also required to keep a short journal about their experiences and activities with their partner. Administrators of the program use the journals to check the progress of the students throughout the semester. Also, because the program is partially funded through the Knapp grant, the journals are another way to provide sponsors a glimpse into the workings of the program. Unfortunately, the continuation of the BRIDGE program’s grant funding past spring 2009 is contingent on securing additional financial resources.
April 11, 2007
by Ariane Strombom
UW–Madison is home to more than 3,000 international students from more than 100 countries. As new international students arrive on campus each year, many are confronted with language barriers, culture shock, loneliness and academic difficulties, among other worries.
A program facilitated by the International Student Services (ISS) office works to connect these international students with American students to bridge the gap between cultures and to increase learning on campus.
The Building Relationships in Diverse Global Environments (BRIDGE) program, which began in 2001, partners international students who are new to UW–Madison with currently enrolled American students to participate in one-on-one and group activities throughout the semester.
“The goals of the BRIDGE program are to expose international students to U.S. culture and the UW–Madison community; to expose American students to the world and to the experiences of international students; and to play a part in internationalizing our campus,” says May Lee Moua-Vue, the ISS adviser and BRIDGE program coordinator.
Currently, 100 participants are involved in the program, divided into 50 pairs. To create a community atmosphere, the participants are separated into smaller “teams” of 20 people. Each team is responsible for planning one programwide event for the semester, such as potlucks, pizza parties or holiday celebrations.
“We match U.S. students with international students according to their interests and hobbies,” says Moua-Vue, which allows the BRIDGE program to effectively partner participants to the extent that some students have become good friends with their partners and continue to meet with them once the semester has ended.
Another component of BRIDGE is the field trips around Wisconsin that the students are invited to attend. Past trips have included visits to the Milwaukee Art Museum, Devil’s Lake, the Miller brewery and a pumpkin farm. This facet allows students, both international and American, to experience true Midwestern culture and form connections with the other participants.
Lauren Zimmermann, a senior and former American student participant in the BRIDGE program, applied to join BRIDGE after studying abroad in the Netherlands and experiencing a similar program first-hand.
“When I came back and heard about the BRIDGE program I thought it would be great to continue meeting people of new cultures instead of having my international experience stop the minute I stepped back on U.S. soil,” she says.
For American students who have not traveled often and for international students who are coming to the United States for the first time, cultural orientations and leadership workshops help the participants adapt to different backgrounds, traditions and ethnicities they may encounter throughout their experience.
“BRIDGE constantly reminds me of the times I was out of my comfort zone in Europe and instead of people thinking I was strange, they helped me get to where I needed to go. I wanted to extend that hospitality to the students studying here, too,” says Zimmermann.
BRIDGE partners must commit to meeting seven times or more throughout the semester. The participants are also required to keep a short journal about their experiences and activities with their partner. Administrators of the program use the journals to check the progress of the students throughout the semester. Also, because the program is partially funded through the Knapp grant, the journals are another way to provide sponsors a glimpse into the workings of the program. Unfortunately, the continuation of the BRIDGE program’s grant funding past spring 2009 is contingent on securing additional financial resources.
12.7.11
Metro area crime is down
The suburbs may no longer be safe? Or, the city is safer than the suburbanites commonly think.
http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2011/0526_metropolitan_crime_kneebone_raphael.aspx
http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2011/0526_metropolitan_crime_kneebone_raphael.aspx
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