By Marisela Garcia
http://www.ted.com/talks/kiran_bir_sethi_teaches_kids_to_take_charge.html
This video is the perfect example of the PD process in action. There is an initiative in India dedicated to empowering children and motivating them not only to do well in school, but to be change agents in their communities. The campaign: getting infected by the “I Can” bug.
How did this all start? It started with a problem: Child labor. At the Riverside school in India, a class of fifth grade students was learning about child labor. The teach thought, what a better way to learn then by hands on experience on what it means to involved in child labor. The students were asked to roll sticks for eight hours, with only a couple of breaks at a time. It only took two hours of this to initiate change in the minds of these children. They then went out into their community and advocated for the abolishing of child labor. Having children take the streets of India was an effective method of acting your way into a new way of thinking. Their mindsets shifted from the teacher told me to this to I can do this.
This project then fled to other parts of India. In one city, every other month, the city closes down the biggest streets and makes it a play day for children, encouraging the “I can” initiative. The most important aspect of this project is putting the solution in the hands of the students. The challenge: one idea, one week, change a billion lives. Acting your way into a new way of thinking in practice.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Drawing Upon Humor for Change
By Marisela Garcia
http://www.ted.com/talks/liza_donnelly_drawing_upon_humor_for_change.html
“Change this thing one laugh at a time”. Lisa Donnelly describes her take on bringing about change in regards to women’s roles in society. Although the role of women in today’s society has evolved, there is still a lot of change to be made. There has been a lot of serious talk about changing people’s outlook on gender roles. However, Lisa flips the script (an element of the PD initiative). She argues that if you tie women plus humor equals change. As a cartoon artist, Lisa utilizes her work to initiate discussion concerning gender roles. Her purpose: to empower women as change agents through humor. As women we know what the traditions and can bring a different voice to the topic. This is an example of finding the solution within, another element of PD. The point of this video: as women we carry the roles and traditions from generation to generation. So if we can act our way into a new way of thinking, in this case through humor, we can create change. What is Lisa DOING? Interacting women and humor through cartoons to bring a different approached to changing gender roles.
http://www.ted.com/talks/liza_donnelly_drawing_upon_humor_for_change.html
“Change this thing one laugh at a time”. Lisa Donnelly describes her take on bringing about change in regards to women’s roles in society. Although the role of women in today’s society has evolved, there is still a lot of change to be made. There has been a lot of serious talk about changing people’s outlook on gender roles. However, Lisa flips the script (an element of the PD initiative). She argues that if you tie women plus humor equals change. As a cartoon artist, Lisa utilizes her work to initiate discussion concerning gender roles. Her purpose: to empower women as change agents through humor. As women we know what the traditions and can bring a different voice to the topic. This is an example of finding the solution within, another element of PD. The point of this video: as women we carry the roles and traditions from generation to generation. So if we can act our way into a new way of thinking, in this case through humor, we can create change. What is Lisa DOING? Interacting women and humor through cartoons to bring a different approached to changing gender roles.
A Life Lesson
by Marisela Garcia
http://www.ted.com/talks/mark_bezos_a_life_lesson_from_a_volunteer_firefighter.html
Mark Bezos, a volunteer firefighter, has a simple life lesson to such a complex issue. Many people often ask themselves, what can we do to make this world a better place? Mark’s response: act, don’t wait. If we’ve learned anything from Positive Deviance, it’s the power of acting your way into a new way of thinking. As previously mentioned, Mark is a volunteer firefighter and he shares a time when he was asked to do what he thought was an insignificant thing. He wasn’t asked to save anyone or to assist with putting out the fire, instead he was asked to go get a pair of shoes for the woman who was standing outside her home in shock and barefoot. A bit disappointed that he was asked to do such a minimal thing, he went about and got the shoes. It wasn’t until he saw the face on the woman that he realized; it’s the little things we do that make the difference for someone else. At the end of the video, Mark states, “save the shoes”. In other words, don’t be s spectator, DO something.
http://www.ted.com/talks/mark_bezos_a_life_lesson_from_a_volunteer_firefighter.html
Mark Bezos, a volunteer firefighter, has a simple life lesson to such a complex issue. Many people often ask themselves, what can we do to make this world a better place? Mark’s response: act, don’t wait. If we’ve learned anything from Positive Deviance, it’s the power of acting your way into a new way of thinking. As previously mentioned, Mark is a volunteer firefighter and he shares a time when he was asked to do what he thought was an insignificant thing. He wasn’t asked to save anyone or to assist with putting out the fire, instead he was asked to go get a pair of shoes for the woman who was standing outside her home in shock and barefoot. A bit disappointed that he was asked to do such a minimal thing, he went about and got the shoes. It wasn’t until he saw the face on the woman that he realized; it’s the little things we do that make the difference for someone else. At the end of the video, Mark states, “save the shoes”. In other words, don’t be s spectator, DO something.
Positively Deviant: Life Without Boundaries: The Attitudes of Differently Abled Students
By Davi Kallman and Milena Murta
Are there currently enrolled students with physical disabilities (level of mobility/ severe or non severe) that are registered with the Disabled Student Services Office (DSSO), that have suffered from a disability related illness during their tenure at the university (that requires at least a weeks worth of makeup work), that have household responsibilities, and suffer from financial burden, and despite all these obstacles are able to maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher and graduated from UTEP in four to ten years and are involved in extra curricular activities or advocacy groups?
Criteria
* Disability Related illness (causing them to miss at least a week of school)
* Be registered with the DSSO
* Have household responsibilities
* Financial burden
* Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher
* Graduate from UTEP in 4 to 10 years (being that many disabled students begin their education at Community College)
* Involved in extra curricular activities that take up time
Accessible to all: Behaviors and Motivators
* - involvement with extra-curricular activities
* - family support
* - University support (DSSO/SGA)
* - maintain an open conversation with professors (letting them know the real situation)
* - use all the resources the university offer (writing center, tutoring...)
* - self- motivation
* - have something that direct or indirectly pushes you to keep your GPA high (financial aid, for example)
* - hang around with the right people (have friends that makes you feel good and not let you down)- this includes friendships with ablebodied students
* - help other people with the same problem...you feel useful (having a purpose)
Obstacles
* Difficulty with Transportation (accessibility)
* Lack of Compassion from professors and students
* Lack of Ability to do tasks easily
* Time
* Credibility (medical documents)
Observations: Flipping the Scripts
* Most disabled students start their education at community college
* Disability related illnesses impedes them from going to college continuously
Are there currently enrolled students with physical disabilities (level of mobility/ severe or non severe) that are registered with the Disabled Student Services Office (DSSO), that have suffered from a disability related illness during their tenure at the university (that requires at least a weeks worth of makeup work), that have household responsibilities, and suffer from financial burden, and despite all these obstacles are able to maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher and graduated from UTEP in four to ten years and are involved in extra curricular activities or advocacy groups?
Criteria
* Disability Related illness (causing them to miss at least a week of school)
* Be registered with the DSSO
* Have household responsibilities
* Financial burden
* Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher
* Graduate from UTEP in 4 to 10 years (being that many disabled students begin their education at Community College)
* Involved in extra curricular activities that take up time
Accessible to all: Behaviors and Motivators
* - involvement with extra-curricular activities
* - family support
* - University support (DSSO/SGA)
* - maintain an open conversation with professors (letting them know the real situation)
* - use all the resources the university offer (writing center, tutoring...)
* - self- motivation
* - have something that direct or indirectly pushes you to keep your GPA high (financial aid, for example)
* - hang around with the right people (have friends that makes you feel good and not let you down)- this includes friendships with ablebodied students
* - help other people with the same problem...you feel useful (having a purpose)
Obstacles
* Difficulty with Transportation (accessibility)
* Lack of Compassion from professors and students
* Lack of Ability to do tasks easily
* Time
* Credibility (medical documents)
Observations: Flipping the Scripts
* Most disabled students start their education at community college
* Disability related illnesses impedes them from going to college continuously
Sunday, May 1, 2011
When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Lemonade
By Gabby Morales
To me personally, nothing is more inspirational than when children are the ones creating a change. The innocence that goes behind an idea, the fact that they never take no as an answer or even think about not fulfilling their dream is truly what we, adults, lack. We always wonder about failure or how we are going to fail at whatever we put our minds to. We always hesitate to make our dreams come true and always follow it up with “Well, I didn’t have enough of this or that.” Our motivation is easily broken and if we see that others have already accomplished our idea, then we take that as a blow to our creativity and suddenly what we aimed to do is no longer a driving force in our hearts. In our minds our ideas become unoriginal and not worth our time. I’m guilty of all these as I’m sure many of you are as well. What happened to the motivation we had as children? What happened to that drive we all had which made it possible for us to make our dreams come true? Alexandra “Alex” Scott is one of those children who never thought of the word “no.” Being diagnosed with cancer before her first birthday, it wasn’t until she was 4 years old that she decided that she would do something to help children who were in the same situation as her. Alex, along with her parents’ help, opened a lemonade stand and started collecting money so that doctors could find a cure. On her first day as a lemonade vendor she collected $2,000 and from then on every year after that people would see little Alex and her lemonade stand, trying to collect money for her cause.
This idea spread and people started their own lemonade stand in honor of Alex and all those children who have to battle cancer at such a young age. Sadly, little Alex was taken from this world at the age of 8, yet her life carries on in her organization, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), which as of 2004, when Alex passed away, raised $1 million for the cure.
Now, thanks to that beautiful and simple idea, the organization has raised over $35 million and $12 million of that money has come from lemonade stands alone. Alex is just one of the many children who have blessed the rest of us with their idea. She didn’t have incredible riches or resources that went above and beyond everyone else’s. It was Alex who decided to make lemonade after life handed her lemons.
This idea spread and people started their own lemonade stand in honor of Alex and all those children who have to battle cancer at such a young age. Sadly, little Alex was taken from this world at the age of 8, yet her life carries on in her organization, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), which as of 2004, when Alex passed away, raised $1 million for the cure.
Now, thanks to that beautiful and simple idea, the organization has raised over $35 million and $12 million of that money has come from lemonade stands alone. Alex is just one of the many children who have blessed the rest of us with their idea. She didn’t have incredible riches or resources that went above and beyond everyone else’s. It was Alex who decided to make lemonade after life handed her lemons.
Connor’s Coffee Can
By Gabby Morales
We all know what happened when Haiti struck. The news coverage was devastating and the horror of what had happened was becoming more and more horrifying by the minute. Those who saw what happened wanted to help any way they could and most did, but it wasn’t just adults. Children also helped. Connor Howard was one of those children who decided to help and to show the world that you don’t need to be an executive at some fancy firm in New York or a celebrity; you can be a child with a caring heart from Allen, TX.
After watching the news and seeing the horror the people of Haiti were going through, Connor decided to do something about it. It was the image of a man with tears running down his face while he held his dead daughter in his arms that could not leave Connor’s mind. This pint sized PD showed that will power goes far beyond age and size. Connor took it upon himself to get a hold of a coffee can and make his own paper sign for it. He decided to take it to school and ask people for donations. This is exactly what PD calls for. Connor decided to act instead of just letting it slide. What is most impressive is that he is still a child and children are usually thought of as just that, children, what do they know? The fact that Connor did not take no for an answer or even considered it, showed his determination was much greater than anything else. He wanted to help and he did. Connor was able to collect hundreds of dollars in order to give to The Salvation Army’s disaster relief efforts in Haiti. This child thought outside the box and acted his way into a new way of thinking and was able to create a difference that went to those who most needed it.
After watching the news and seeing the horror the people of Haiti were going through, Connor decided to do something about it. It was the image of a man with tears running down his face while he held his dead daughter in his arms that could not leave Connor’s mind. This pint sized PD showed that will power goes far beyond age and size. Connor took it upon himself to get a hold of a coffee can and make his own paper sign for it. He decided to take it to school and ask people for donations. This is exactly what PD calls for. Connor decided to act instead of just letting it slide. What is most impressive is that he is still a child and children are usually thought of as just that, children, what do they know? The fact that Connor did not take no for an answer or even considered it, showed his determination was much greater than anything else. He wanted to help and he did. Connor was able to collect hundreds of dollars in order to give to The Salvation Army’s disaster relief efforts in Haiti. This child thought outside the box and acted his way into a new way of thinking and was able to create a difference that went to those who most needed it.
Helping Both Species Find Love One Picture at A Time
By Gabby Morales
Ginger Monteleone is a photographer from Miami who has a very important story behind her work. She shoots high priced condos, fancy yachts for sale, and mansions in Miami, but her most important work came when she found a pit bull stray named Cali. When Ginger realized that she could not keep Cali, she took it upon herself to find her a home by doing something she had done as a professional, take pictures. These were no ordinary pictures that showed Cali in distress or a state of deep sadness. These were pictures that showed happiness, playfulness and unconditional love. Ginger decided to make it her mission to find Cali a good home and posted Cali’s pictures on Facebook. The rest seemed to happen by magic. Right after Ginger posted the pictures of Cali, a family contacted her and asked to take Cali in and give her a home. They had fallen in love with Cali with just one picture.
Now, this has happened to hundreds of dogs that are in need of a home and Ginger has offered her services to the Animal Rescue in order to get both dogs and humans alike that unconditional love that bonds both species together.
Ginger presents to us what it is to, again, think outside the box and create a simple change in order to help both animals and humans. She had the skills and she put them to good use in a situation where life is always at stake. She’s brought change to those who cannot speak for themselves and has been acting in a way which follows the PD approach in order to help not one, but two species. She made a decision to help breeds that have the most difficultly finding homes. Big dogs are usually not adopted and as a consequence are left behind. While Ginger’s focus is on larger dogs, that does not mean that small dogs don’t get their picture taken, but people usually tend to adopt smaller dogs than large ones. She has also worked to save pit bulls which are banned in Miami. With her photography skills they have been able to rescue 30 pit bulls dogs and people have adopted 19 of them.
Ginger’s influence has hit other photography groups like MRyan Hollowell Photography from Rossford, Ohio and DogStreet Pet Photography in Sarasota, Florida. This idea is spreading and is helping animals that only want a chance at a happy life. The same goes for people. This way of photographing these furry creatures has led to many happy endings.
Ideas spread and these PDs are making a difference in everyone’s lives because after all, what is life without love?
Ginger presents to us what it is to, again, think outside the box and create a simple change in order to help both animals and humans. She had the skills and she put them to good use in a situation where life is always at stake. She’s brought change to those who cannot speak for themselves and has been acting in a way which follows the PD approach in order to help not one, but two species. She made a decision to help breeds that have the most difficultly finding homes. Big dogs are usually not adopted and as a consequence are left behind. While Ginger’s focus is on larger dogs, that does not mean that small dogs don’t get their picture taken, but people usually tend to adopt smaller dogs than large ones. She has also worked to save pit bulls which are banned in Miami. With her photography skills they have been able to rescue 30 pit bulls dogs and people have adopted 19 of them.
Ginger’s influence has hit other photography groups like MRyan Hollowell Photography from Rossford, Ohio and DogStreet Pet Photography in Sarasota, Florida. This idea is spreading and is helping animals that only want a chance at a happy life. The same goes for people. This way of photographing these furry creatures has led to many happy endings.
Ideas spread and these PDs are making a difference in everyone’s lives because after all, what is life without love?
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