Today on this Thursday afternoon, February 19th the exhibit that has been in construction in the Poynter Library of USF-StPete for nearly a week, finally opened. This exhibit features artistic books from world renowned artists. It just turns out that this is a two-part exhibit. The sister exhibit will be at the Dali Musuem which is conveniently located next door to the library. I plan on going there because not only is it a free tour for USF students showing their identification card, but it will give me an opportunity to learn more of the exhibit and the artists behind it.
This exhibit reminds me of a project done at my previous school, Marygrove College in Detroit, MI. The senior art students was commissioned as their senior seminar to creatively turn a book into art. I found that exhibit very moving. The visualkulture.cat exhibit here at USF-StPete sent "goose-shivers" down my spine as I saw works of art which compared to that one exhibit at Marygrove College. WOW.
**CORRECTION**
The exhibit opens at the Dali Museum Friday evening. I will not be able to make that, but I should be able to make the one on Saturday. I will be making an effort to see this exhibit just because my interest has been piqued.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Mt Zion Human Services visit
The visit to Mt Zion Human Services was not too much exciting, but it was informational. Upon arriving to the location, I was surprised to see many buildings comprised of the Children's Center. While I was younger, all I had was pre-school and kindergarten. I envy the children enrolled at MZHS for having the opportunity to congregate outside their school environment, and in some cases before their initial enrollment into school. The activities that the faculty provides is stimulating to their developing minds. The cozy corner that they have in place for the children to watch television is a good touch. I was in awe to see the children glued to the television as Spongebob Squarepants was on. I knew that the show was addictive, seeing all those little faces hypnotized just proved it solidly.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Homeless Count
The informational training session that was hosted by G. Baldwin as actually very in sighting. Of course, I knew about the homeless population because of the attention from the news that is given to them and the areas that they inhabit within the city, especially in the city of St. Petersburg. Coming from a metropolitan city like Detroit, MI, I am accustomed to seeing the homeless and those who are pressed on their luck. I was not prepared to see what I witnessed at Williams Park in downtown St. Petersburg. I have never seen such a concentration of homeless individuals in one outside place. It wad mind-boggling for me. I was taken aback for a moment.
Mr. Baldwin had the class re-elaborate on the actual meaning of being homeless. There were many different answers with none of them really being of the wrong choice. Homelessness was classified into three categories; 1) being without a residence, 2) lack of a permanent stable residence, and 3) living with family and/or friends until stabilized. When I thought of one who may be homeless, I think of a single individual who may have lost their job, lacked education, or just abused some sort of drug. During the presentation I learned that the fastest number of homelessness consists of families, due mainly to foreclosures of their homes. The children are hidden so that they are not at risk of being taken by the state authorities.
Upon enlightening the class of the Homeless Count done by Pinellas County on an annual basis, he introduced the class to G.W. Rolle. Mr. Rolle once was homeless himself by means of losing his place of residence and in-turn not being able to keep himself properly groomed for his job as a cook. Mr. Rolle works with the Faces of Homelessness Bureau so as to try to affect young adults by giving them a better understand of who the homeless actually are. Young adults would violently attack the homeless for just being homeless and on the streets. They will not take into consideration that that individual is someone's father, mother, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, or cousin. That person may even be a distant relative of theirs.
It was a shock to find out that within the county of Pinellas that there is 800,000 a night and 2.5 million a day of people who are considered homeless. Sadly, with numbers like that, there four to six more animal shelters than that of homeless shelters, Do we as a society care more about the well-being of our animals than that of man-kind? I am pretty sure that it would not cost a community too much to have a bit more facilities for the homeless to go to for assistance and shelter. The Faces of Homelessness Bureau is an agency trying to humanize homelessness and the 700 families within Pinellas County.
It is sad how we would separate ourselves from those less fortunate than ourselves. The city of Detroit itself was notorious to separating the wealthy from the middle-class, and the middle-class from the poverty stricken, and treating the homeless like cattle. During the years of the freeway, the I-96, I-94, I-75, Davison, Lodge, and Southfield expressways have been placed right through neighborhoods with many people being displaced. Few neighborhoods were saved, but it is hard to fight for a cause when federal, state, and municipal governments are working together. Interstate 96,75, and 94 separated the whites from the blacks and prohibited the residents from being able to sell their depreciated homes. The Lodge separated the middle-class blacks from the low-class blacks into neighborhoods known as Paradise Valley and Black Bottom.
This informational presentation opened my eyes on how I actually view the homeless and had me analyze more before I judge the individual of just why they are on the streets and pan-handling. One do not know the situation that occurred which caused a homeless person to be financially distraught. It can happen to any one of us at any given time.
http://www.pinellashomeless.org
Mr. Baldwin had the class re-elaborate on the actual meaning of being homeless. There were many different answers with none of them really being of the wrong choice. Homelessness was classified into three categories; 1) being without a residence, 2) lack of a permanent stable residence, and 3) living with family and/or friends until stabilized. When I thought of one who may be homeless, I think of a single individual who may have lost their job, lacked education, or just abused some sort of drug. During the presentation I learned that the fastest number of homelessness consists of families, due mainly to foreclosures of their homes. The children are hidden so that they are not at risk of being taken by the state authorities.
Upon enlightening the class of the Homeless Count done by Pinellas County on an annual basis, he introduced the class to G.W. Rolle. Mr. Rolle once was homeless himself by means of losing his place of residence and in-turn not being able to keep himself properly groomed for his job as a cook. Mr. Rolle works with the Faces of Homelessness Bureau so as to try to affect young adults by giving them a better understand of who the homeless actually are. Young adults would violently attack the homeless for just being homeless and on the streets. They will not take into consideration that that individual is someone's father, mother, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, or cousin. That person may even be a distant relative of theirs.
It was a shock to find out that within the county of Pinellas that there is 800,000 a night and 2.5 million a day of people who are considered homeless. Sadly, with numbers like that, there four to six more animal shelters than that of homeless shelters, Do we as a society care more about the well-being of our animals than that of man-kind? I am pretty sure that it would not cost a community too much to have a bit more facilities for the homeless to go to for assistance and shelter. The Faces of Homelessness Bureau is an agency trying to humanize homelessness and the 700 families within Pinellas County.
It is sad how we would separate ourselves from those less fortunate than ourselves. The city of Detroit itself was notorious to separating the wealthy from the middle-class, and the middle-class from the poverty stricken, and treating the homeless like cattle. During the years of the freeway, the I-96, I-94, I-75, Davison, Lodge, and Southfield expressways have been placed right through neighborhoods with many people being displaced. Few neighborhoods were saved, but it is hard to fight for a cause when federal, state, and municipal governments are working together. Interstate 96,75, and 94 separated the whites from the blacks and prohibited the residents from being able to sell their depreciated homes. The Lodge separated the middle-class blacks from the low-class blacks into neighborhoods known as Paradise Valley and Black Bottom.
This informational presentation opened my eyes on how I actually view the homeless and had me analyze more before I judge the individual of just why they are on the streets and pan-handling. One do not know the situation that occurred which caused a homeless person to be financially distraught. It can happen to any one of us at any given time.
http://www.pinellashomeless.org
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