Category: Harry Davidson

Harry-Reflection-4/26/10

I think our workshop went very well overall.  I think the kids not only enjoyed it but found it educational as well.  I think the commercials and finding of the stereotypes in the media, and the discussion that entailed went very well.  I think the skits at the end of the workshop went well.  The kids in our workshop really seemed to know what they were doing with the skits and when i went around to help i noticed that it wasn’t really needed.  I enjoyed being the teacher.  The most challenging thing was when the conversation would lag and the kids would have nothing to say which at times was frustrating.  But i think we managed it well and we posed questions that the kids couldn’t help but have an opinion about.  I think if we were to do this workshop again we would have a little more to say, because when pauses in the conversation arose sometimes even we didn’t know what to say.  What i really left this project with is that sexism is a very serious term and thats the way that people think of it, so when you see sexist commercials that embrace stereotypes and boys that won’t let girls play basketball you don’t think sexism but in fact thats definitely what it is and it was our job to help the kids identify it.  I think the set-up group went well, we made many posters and we hung them all up as well as the psa’s.  I think that it would have been better if the kids maybe went out to get decorating supplies.  That would have made it easier and i think the building would have looked better with more  than just posters.  I think that the experience leading up to the teach-in was hard and stressful.  I think what should really be imparted to the eight graders next year is that what you really need to be is calm and cooperative thats how work gets done, they need to know that arguing gets them nowhere.  I also think that the activity after the teach-in should be chosen by the students.  I think that the teach-in was a good experience for us as well as the kids who participated i think its not only a great way to learn for them but a great way for us to understand our topic and our teachers and a much deeper level.

Harry-LESGC-4/10/10

The Lower Eastside Girls Club provides a place where girls and young women 8-23 can grow, learn, have fun, and develop confidence in themselves and their ability to make a difference in the world. By delivering strong arts, literacy, science, health and leadership programs we provide girls with the vision to plan – and the tools to build – their future. All Girls Club programs develop environmental, entrepreneurial and ethical leadership.  And i feel through our visits we have experienced this mission first hand.  We have seen the difference between the girls that are new and the veterans.  The clear difference in self esteem and attitude.  You can actually see this goal accomplished.  And through our teach-in soon to come i think we will not only convey the goal of the girls club but we will show it to them realized.

Harry-3.18.10-LESGC

Yesterday on our fourth visit we discussed the walkathon.  We have now raised 500 dollars! And that number is growing.  We are almost positive that we are going to reach our eventual goal of a 1000.  Our team really hasn’t been growing but the word is spreading around the school and we have written info about it on the board.  My parents are looking to donate and so are their friends.  Jenny and her associates are excited, we are too.  They described to us the parade like walkathon.  Hundreds of people dressing up and walking and dancing.  It is the most fun event they have and i found it very appealing I think using this information we will be able to recruit many more people.

Harry-3.11.10-LESGC

Yesterday we went to the Girls Club for our third visit.  When we arrived Jenny was not there.  So for the first five minutes Luna another employee, had us mingle with the girls while she waited for either the rest of the girls Jenny to get there.  When all of the girls were assembled Luna took us down stairs where we saw the girls go through a workshop, teaching them about their own psa project.  Although theirs was on video it had a similar message to ours.  Halfway through the workshop Jenny arrived and took us back up to the main floor where we discussed our psa’s and our visits to come.  Jenny then had a last minute discussion with us about our team for the walkathon that we are slowly bringing together.  We are also in the midst of finding donators and we have raised a few hundred so far but the goal is a thousand and we would really like to reach that goal.

Harry-3.1.10-LESGC

Today at the Lower East Side Girls Club we folded the rappers and then rapped candy bars.  These candy bars went to underprivileged schools that would then sell them in their community.  This would raise money for the school and spread the word about the Girls Club.  In all we rapped and packaged hundreds of candy bars.  Jenny our boss always had more bars to rapped.  Among those were a few “broken” candy bars that then became ours to dispose of.  Afterwards Jenny expressed her gratitude for all the work we had done their and she set up a time for next weeks appointment.  We are extremely excited for our next meeting where we will be working hand in hand with this wonderful organization.

Harry-2/4/10-L.E.S. Girls Club

Yesterday we had our first visit with the Lower East Side Girls Club, an organization has been empowering woman and girls for 14 years.  They supply all types of girls, some from bad living situations others not with an with an outlet, an free outlet. The woman in charge gave us an overview of their mission and then took as around the neighborhood, showing us the stores they own, the income of which is used to fund the Girls Club.  We met one of the girls of the past who is now an employee of the Bowery poetry club.  They suggested us getting involved with some of their events like their annual walkathon.  In the past this organization has had much success during these walkathons, and they have often had school groups participating.  Our group has thought of assembling an LREI group for the walkathon.  At the end of our visit we discussed our visits to come and we are to be put to work, at possibly the poetry club or really anything they need help with.  As  a group i think we are all anticipating our next visit.  I suggest visiting their website, http://www.girlsclub.org/.