6/13/08
the past few days have been intense. public allies class of 2008 has been giving our presentations of learning in the middle of tornadoesque weather. might i also add that they have been amazing.
presentations of learning are a way of showcasing the skills and experiences amassed during the program. some are very heartfelt and personal, others are rigid and professional. the rest fall somewhere in between.
our pol's fell on the first and second thursday and friday of june. we've gathered together in the awkward gray-bathed conference room and watched silently (or very near silently) as one by one, our allies emptied the contents of the past ten months. some laughed, some cried, one even danced. another, one of the fellows, gave out roses to the class and staff in praise.
i have to say that hearing people's pol's was refreshing for me. if i didn't feel any connection to the class before, i am certain i am very much a part of it after. i watched my peers deliver the words conceived on the first day of core in the field, and now i feel like i really know them.
i'm glad to have experienced this outpouring of development. though it wasn't always in the same way, everyone definitely grew. the presentations also forced people to analyze the last ten months critically, in a room full of people who were there too.
an additional part of the pol is that you present to a panel of folks made up of community leaders, nonprofit workers, and p.a. alum and staff. after each presentation, the panel is given 10 minutes of questioning.
i was anxious about this part of the process. i wrote my pol in a manner that allowed me to say what met the requirements without going off on a tirade about some of the experiences i had. (i understand that we're supposed to be creating a culture of honesty, but at this point, i think my honesty would have only been damaging to the relationships i've only begun to build.) of course, panel i had was keen --stacked with a national office staff, an alum, a trainer, and a community leader. they wanted to know why i hadn't discussed more personal issues.
luckily, or ironically, there was a tornado warning right at the end of my presentation, so i was given a moment to "come up for air." i had to answer carefully, and found myself lost in my own words as i expressed truths i hadn't be aware of knowing up until that point. it was strangely liberating and terrifying all at the same time.
i'm glad i got the chance to be part of this tribe. ten months ago, we were perfect strangers. now, we stand up for our beliefs, and we stand up for each other. we're also willing to challenge each other, and demand integrity. the questions asked by my peers and panelists were thoughtful, and the comments and criticisms were honest and insightful. they helped me to find myself even as i lost myself, and remind me that i am lucky to have known it at all.
i believe in the brotherhood of all men, but i don't believe in wasting brotherhood on anyone who doesn't want to practice it with me. brotherhood is a two-way street.
-malcolm x
Showing posts with label uwm continuing ed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label uwm continuing ed. Show all posts
Monday
Tuesday
preview to my presentation of learning
6/3/08
as the time draws closer for our presentations of learning, i am getting a little antsy. i finished the report and powerpoint weeks ago, and now i can only wait. here is a poor quality preview of my presentation of learning slideshow. when i uploaded it, the formatting changed a bit. the real thing will be much better, and you won't have to push the buttons on your own.
i will be discussing the 3 actions for ally preparedness on thursday, june 12th from 2:15 to 2:45 at the uwm school of continuing education, located at 161 w wisconsin avenue, suite 6000.
feel free to come and show your support as i complete one of the graduation requirements for public allies. if you'd like more information, you can email me at rosyricks@gmail.com
as the time draws closer for our presentations of learning, i am getting a little antsy. i finished the report and powerpoint weeks ago, and now i can only wait. here is a poor quality preview of my presentation of learning slideshow. when i uploaded it, the formatting changed a bit. the real thing will be much better, and you won't have to push the buttons on your own.
i will be discussing the 3 actions for ally preparedness on thursday, june 12th from 2:15 to 2:45 at the uwm school of continuing education, located at 161 w wisconsin avenue, suite 6000.
feel free to come and show your support as i complete one of the graduation requirements for public allies. if you'd like more information, you can email me at rosyricks@gmail.com
Monday
to the windy city
4/14/08
it's been a while since i've updated, or at least that's the way it seems. looking over some of my old posts, i felt like everything was negative, making the sum of my "experience" seem negative as well. i don't think that's a fair assessment of the public allies experience so far.
there have been ups and downs. many more, in fact, than i had anticipated. we've gone through bureaucratic changes with the partnership with uwm, as well as changes in training. we've had all-out fights, laughs, shared secrets and sorrows. looking back at particular moments, we've had the team-building exercises like opening retreat and mid-year. of all the things we've done so far, i'd say our service days have been my favorite. those are the times we're walking the walk.
of course, there have been bad times. i am not one to gloss over troubles, as i'm sure my program manager, james, can attest to. i feel like i have been in a perpetual state of complaining to him about one issue or another since our first 360. pay problems, court, daycare, working too hard. everything. in fact, of everyone i've come in contact with at public allies, i think james may actually know me and what i'm all about.
at friday training, james dropped a bomb on us. as of april 25th, he will no longer be our program manager. james is moving on to bigger and better things in the windy city; he says he's found his calling in a philanthropic position.
i must say, i missed out on most of the other things he said. i was really disappointed. as i listened, i had this realization that i really do enjoy working with james. his incredible ability to listen to complaints and successes without interjection or silly advice-giving, and remaining utterly professional has really been an anchor for me. i have never done well being "bossed," but somehow, james has done this amazing job of directing without being overbearing. he knows there are things i don't want to do, but he gets me to do them by acknowledging the fact that they're silly, but reminding me gently that they still need to be done.
of course, i can't forget to credit james for all his encouraging and support of our TSP. the team service project has been a sort of mess for our group. we're split into many small camps, and have had a really hard time since the beginning of the project. james has done a fantastic job of keeping us one step ahead of the chopping block. when we had the TSP review panel, we dominated. every question the panel asked, james had already demanded answers for. without overpowering our need to lead, james has been the consciousness and grounding element of ASSET.
something else james has been on top of is our PISD's. i know that some other allies say they are never sure if their program managers ever get around to them, but every week, i know james looks through our PISD's and makes mental notes about the thinly veiled impact our service time is having on our lives. there have been times when james offhandedly mentions the impact of something he saw in a document, and he does it in front of the whole team. i've seen those comments make someone beam.
until he announced his leaving, i had no idea the impact james has had on me. of course, you don't know what you've got... james has been one hell of an asset. i'm going to stop gushing about it, but i'm really sad to see james go. he jas done more for us and the program than i think he knows. in spite of my sadness, i do wish him well in all he does.
thank you for everything james.
"a boss creates fear, a leader confidence. a boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. a boss knows it all, a leader asks questions. a boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting."
-russell h. ewing
it's been a while since i've updated, or at least that's the way it seems. looking over some of my old posts, i felt like everything was negative, making the sum of my "experience" seem negative as well. i don't think that's a fair assessment of the public allies experience so far.
there have been ups and downs. many more, in fact, than i had anticipated. we've gone through bureaucratic changes with the partnership with uwm, as well as changes in training. we've had all-out fights, laughs, shared secrets and sorrows. looking back at particular moments, we've had the team-building exercises like opening retreat and mid-year. of all the things we've done so far, i'd say our service days have been my favorite. those are the times we're walking the walk.
of course, there have been bad times. i am not one to gloss over troubles, as i'm sure my program manager, james, can attest to. i feel like i have been in a perpetual state of complaining to him about one issue or another since our first 360. pay problems, court, daycare, working too hard. everything. in fact, of everyone i've come in contact with at public allies, i think james may actually know me and what i'm all about.
at friday training, james dropped a bomb on us. as of april 25th, he will no longer be our program manager. james is moving on to bigger and better things in the windy city; he says he's found his calling in a philanthropic position.
i must say, i missed out on most of the other things he said. i was really disappointed. as i listened, i had this realization that i really do enjoy working with james. his incredible ability to listen to complaints and successes without interjection or silly advice-giving, and remaining utterly professional has really been an anchor for me. i have never done well being "bossed," but somehow, james has done this amazing job of directing without being overbearing. he knows there are things i don't want to do, but he gets me to do them by acknowledging the fact that they're silly, but reminding me gently that they still need to be done.
of course, i can't forget to credit james for all his encouraging and support of our TSP. the team service project has been a sort of mess for our group. we're split into many small camps, and have had a really hard time since the beginning of the project. james has done a fantastic job of keeping us one step ahead of the chopping block. when we had the TSP review panel, we dominated. every question the panel asked, james had already demanded answers for. without overpowering our need to lead, james has been the consciousness and grounding element of ASSET.
something else james has been on top of is our PISD's. i know that some other allies say they are never sure if their program managers ever get around to them, but every week, i know james looks through our PISD's and makes mental notes about the thinly veiled impact our service time is having on our lives. there have been times when james offhandedly mentions the impact of something he saw in a document, and he does it in front of the whole team. i've seen those comments make someone beam.
until he announced his leaving, i had no idea the impact james has had on me. of course, you don't know what you've got... james has been one hell of an asset. i'm going to stop gushing about it, but i'm really sad to see james go. he jas done more for us and the program than i think he knows. in spite of my sadness, i do wish him well in all he does.
thank you for everything james.
"a boss creates fear, a leader confidence. a boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. a boss knows it all, a leader asks questions. a boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting."
-russell h. ewing
Wednesday
8/27/07
after yet another week of hearing nothing from the p.a. office, I gave them a call to make sure i wasn't missing anything important any time soon. as it turns out, i am missing a ton of info.
as it happens, there is a meeting tomorrow of which i wasn't informed*. u have already had to be on my p's and q's about this whole thing, lucky for me. i'd be utterly lost. i've only been contacted once since being told i was accepted into the program, and that was to go on another interview even though i've already received a placement.
all of this, along with school, another job, and family life is incredibly stressful; i'm trying to stay positive and motivated on all fronts. my college has an affiliation with the order of franciscans and all of the sisters wear a cross with the letter tau inside. the cross is the same as the red cross' cross; st. francis is my saint of choice.
there is a meeting tomorrow at esperanza unida that will fill me in on the thing that all the other allies probably know. i don't understand how i got so far out of the loop. i try to stay in contact; it feels like i'm really struggling to stay informed, but to no avail.
next week is a field training retreat at lake geneva (9/4-9/7), then it's back to work/school/life/etc. i'm looking forward to the retreat, i need a change of scenery and vacation from my life.
after the retreat,we'll start our daily work,9-5 "core training in the city." i'm not exactly sure what this is about, but i imagine we'll hear more about our placements and their expectations as well as solidifying as a class. monday the 17th is our first day at placements.
*i understand the p.a. office is getting ready for a relocation to the uwm continuing ed office in the grand avenue mall
after yet another week of hearing nothing from the p.a. office, I gave them a call to make sure i wasn't missing anything important any time soon. as it turns out, i am missing a ton of info.
as it happens, there is a meeting tomorrow of which i wasn't informed*. u have already had to be on my p's and q's about this whole thing, lucky for me. i'd be utterly lost. i've only been contacted once since being told i was accepted into the program, and that was to go on another interview even though i've already received a placement.
all of this, along with school, another job, and family life is incredibly stressful; i'm trying to stay positive and motivated on all fronts. my college has an affiliation with the order of franciscans and all of the sisters wear a cross with the letter tau inside. the cross is the same as the red cross' cross; st. francis is my saint of choice.
there is a meeting tomorrow at esperanza unida that will fill me in on the thing that all the other allies probably know. i don't understand how i got so far out of the loop. i try to stay in contact; it feels like i'm really struggling to stay informed, but to no avail.
next week is a field training retreat at lake geneva (9/4-9/7), then it's back to work/school/life/etc. i'm looking forward to the retreat, i need a change of scenery and vacation from my life.
after the retreat,we'll start our daily work,9-5 "core training in the city." i'm not exactly sure what this is about, but i imagine we'll hear more about our placements and their expectations as well as solidifying as a class. monday the 17th is our first day at placements.
*i understand the p.a. office is getting ready for a relocation to the uwm continuing ed office in the grand avenue mall
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