BLC DRIVE: POSTER!

Donate! Donate! Donate! Woohoo! 

Blog Entry #8

         We have one more release day; it's so sad... This means that senior project is ALMOST DONE! Woohoo! All that's left is writing the speech and presenting our projects to the board. Throughout this project, I have worked with many great people. The most valuable thing I have learned from this experience is listening to these people. Of course, I always try to listen; however, Maggie and Christian had some good stories and suggestions that enabled me to learn about immigrant education. This area is something that I had little experience in and is definitely a WIDE subject area. Writing my paper on the DREAM Act and conducting my project at the BLC helped me to understand the issue in the US much better. Through the DREAM Act, I looked at immigrant education through policy eyes. Through interviewing undocumented immigrants, reading books, and volunteering at the BLC, I learned the lives of these immigrants, documented or undocumented, and of their journey in education.
          A skill that I have learned from this project is to apply what they give you for project in school to real life. Volunteering at the center, I was given instructions and then told to do what I felt best with that generic outline. Of course, Maggie would give suggestions, but I was really on my own and using my own judgment to create systems  that I felt would benefit the students best. (I used this in organizing the library, the school supply boxes, and writing the manuals.) I became more and more comfortable in trusting myself and making suggestions along with Maggie and Christian as my logged hours increased, and I really feel like that is a valuable skill that I will take with me in every situation.
          Throughout this entire experience, I have learned to look at US policy and even everyday experiences through different eyes - through immigrant eyes, maybe even through an undocumented immigrant's eyes. It is hard. It breaks my heart, but mostly, it makes me what to do something about it and be a friend in a country that has some harsh racism still imminent. The experience that sparked my interest in immigrant education was working with my two, assigned children from Mexico over the summer. Hearing their stories and working through that experience, language, and learning barrier to tutor them and get them to trust me was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It was through this that I realized I could love easier and quicker and pour myself into something that I realized was bigger than me; I grew. This project has only cultivated that more. Now, I feel more knowledgeable of the issue and feel that I have a basis for where to target activism and volunteering.
           After all, we are all people of this one world, and we must be there for one another; what would this world be without our brothers and sisters by our sides - through everything?

Blog Entry #7

     As my project is coming to a close, I reflect on the different things I've learned from both my paper and my hands-on project. Considering that my paper was on policy, the DREAM Act, and my project was volunteering at a non-profit educaiton center, I received a wide range of information on immigrant education. My hands-on project taught me more about applying the education rather than enacting laws to allow undocumented immigrants post-secondary education.
     My time at the BLC was fantastic, and the drive is going pretty well! Originally, I planned on learning more about how to run a non-profit, but my experience focused more on getting things done and cleaned and organized, etc. I also planned on having the time to create manuals for the center during my 10 hours there, but I told Maggie that since we ran out of time I will just do it on my own time. Speaking of Maggie, our relationship is very easy-going and encouraging. Her personality works very well with mine, and in whichever project I was working on, we would both have suggestions and work together to make the best decision. She was awesome.
    This project has been a little challenging, personally. I really, really wanted to work with the students. However, there were roadblocks, but the BLC had things for me to do; they needed help in some areas and I was there to be there for them. I quickly accepted that I couldn't be with students, and now I hope that I helped the center enough so that it truly impacts the students while I'm not there! I think the drive will really help that.
    The final goal for the last week of completing my senior project is to organize and log all of the donated items so far. Also, I plan on finishing up the manuals for internet functions and writing an article about my experience for Maggie and the BLC newsletter. Overall, this project allowed me to help out in an area of this world that I am very concerned and passionate about. I plan on studying Spanish in college and possibly becoming a professor. During my studies and professorship, I would love to work with immigrant children and possibly start a non-profit for them.

Blog Entry #5

     For my presentation, I plan to tell my panel of judges about the issue of immigrant education. Within this, I can discuss the DREAM Act and then move into the immigrants, mostly hispanic, basically running the horse track at Churchill Downs. I will relay how the workers on the backside of Churchill move seasonally with the horses to different tracks and how it is difficult for them to have some sort of solid community. Then, I will move into how the Backside Learning Center tries to change that; it gives them a sense of community as well as education. Of course, I plan to tell the judges what I did at the center and what I gained from it.
     To document my project, I already took photos. I have also posted the BLC's promotional video on the blog. Also, my project has been posted on the Center's Facebook page.        
Also, I have saved the manuals as documents, and I can have these available on the judge's table. I plan on making a creative, aesthetically pleasing list of what items were donated during the drive, as well.
     During my presentation, I plan to hand out BLC pamphlets and Maggie's business card. That way, judges can contact and donate to the center on their own terms. I also plan to send a letter to my judges before the project telling them they can bring school supplies, books in Spanish, etc. to donate after my presentation. Also, I plan to show my pictures on the blog or on a poster.

photos ( + awesome video )

CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO ABOUT THE BLC!

HERE ARE THE PHOTOS THAT I TOOK CONCERNING MY EXPERIENCE AT THE BLC:

I signed this binder at the beginning and end of each visit!

Maggie! - at her lovely desk

These are the classroom supply boxes that I organized on the first day.

Here is the library (yet to be alphabetized and shifted around) - my biggest project!

Me alphabetizing the books by last name

By the end of the library organization, I had freed up more shelf space for the center to use.

Some of the Spanish literature the lending library offers

I had to take a picture with this one -- It's called Arthur's Birthday; I used to watch Arthur when I was little, and it was so cool to see the BLC had a children's book of Arthur in Spanish!

The oh-so-important dictionary/thesaurus/writing reference/encyclopedia shelves!

Christian inspecting my library labels - they were approved :)

The Art portion of the library shelves; all of the art in the center is made by the students, and it is all so AMAZING!

THE FINISHED PRODUCT! (minus the labels)

Christian and I with the twin spires on my last day (that sun was brutal lol)

Maggie and I with the spires on my last day.

Visit: The Backside Learning Center's Website to learn more and to donate!

Blog Entry #4

     In summary, I have completed all logged hours with Maggie at the Backside Learning Center. During the last 21 days, I have completed BLC orientation, organized supply baskets, organized and cleaned the library, and finished a Facebook manual. Through photos, I have documented my project (I will post them shortly!). Maggie and I discussed what items would be desired in the drive: 2 guitars, a nice Encyclopedia set, and, most importantly, books in Spanish for adults and school supplies. For my 5 hours (or more) without Maggie, I will be organizing the drive, conducting it, and finishing online manuals.

     If I had to make one NYE resolution for my senior project, it would be to really  try hard to get those 2 guitars donated and to get a significant number of books in Spanish for the students. I hope to give Maggie at least 5 books in Spanish and many notebooks and pencils at the end of the drive.

     This project is different from any school project I have done before as it is incredibly dynamic. For projects such as these, I usually do it on my own time (minus the 10 page paper). However, I usually research my topic and then conduct some sort of project, volunteering, etc., and then "present" it to friends to get involved. It is so AWESOME that I am getting school credit for something as fun as this -- I mean, I'm getting credit to ready myself for college through a research paper, mentorship, and speech; the coolest part is that I am getting credit to volunteer and help these people. How cool? :)

tomorrow is...

   

~~~~~

     

     Tomorrow is my (possibly) last day at the BLC working towards my senior project, and we plan on taking pictures for documentation and summarizing and tidying up any of the volunteer work I've done/will do at home. I will have logged a little over 10 hours with Maggie, and I plan to spend the 5 hours of "alone work" required accumulating donations of school supplies, books in Spanish, (hopefully) guitars, and (maybe) an Encyclopedia set, as well as typing out manuals for Facebook, surfing the web, e-mail, and word processor. (Even though I will not be able to make the manuals during my time with Maggie, we initially planned for me to do that mini-project, and I would like to follow through with that on my own time.)

     Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, I alphabetized organized alphabetized organized  alphabetized organized the BLC library. And finally.................IT'S COMPLETE! Well, almost... I have the sections all created, organized, and shifted to new homes on the many shelves, and yesterday (Wednesday) I typed out English/Spanish labels (in the BLC colors of blue and green) for those shelves and sections. If I can remember correctly, here are the categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Auto & Biographies, Books in Spanish, Children's Books, Children's Books in Spanish, Elementary Learning, GED, Spanish Learning, English Learning, Maps, Dictionaries, Thesaurus, Writing Reference, Encyclopedia, Equine Books, and Cookbooks. It's quite a nice library. However, I'd really like to get them some more books in Spanish, and so would Maggie, during the drive.

     I officially met Jennifer on Tuesday,  I believe. I remember her from when she talked to us at GSP. She seems really cool.

     It's been so great at the BLC, and I have come to look forward to stopping at Gate 5 to tell the nice security guard "Good morning! I'm going to the Backside Learning Center!" and his replying of a smile of recognition and wave. I have come to look forward to parking next to Christians red BMW - the thing that let me know on the first day that I had (finally) made it to the Center. I have come to look forward to walking through the BLC doors, and turning the corner around the hallway to say, "Hellooooo!" to Maggie and Christian at their desks. At the end of my working hours, which also includes fun conversation and unique music listening with the employees, I feel accomplished and like I have helped the center out, and in an indirect way, the students there. Tomorrow, I will put on my coat, hat, and purse that I place on the same table every morning, and wave goodbye and give thanks to Maggie and Christian the last time (this round). It has been really cool leaving around the same time that some of the horses in the backside are running the track, being walked, or being bathed. Churchill Downs is an amazing part of Kentucky and it's incredibly important that we support the workers that are the backbone to the entire industry, and that is what the Backside Learning Center is doing. What a great senior project! I feel and hope that it's true that I am contributing to the education the backside workers will receive in the Spring. 

THANK YOU, MAGGIE!!!!!!!

~~~~~

    

mi proyecto ha empezada

     My first four, logged hours with my mentor were last week on Wednesday and Thursday. After a fantastic Christmas, I was ready to start working at the BLC. Wednesday morning came, and I was ready to drive the 7 minute route from my sister's house to Churchill Downs and get to the center right at 9. However, directions got completely mixed up, and while on the phone with Christian (an employee of the center), we finally got me to the correct gate (Gate 5) and into the Learning Center's parking lot. 

     That first day, I received an orientation of sorts about the center and learned where everything was located, and then I organized their supply baskets. Thursday I started on their lending library's organization. I did not expect it to be such a big project (the library), but I think I will have to log a couple extra hours to get it done if I want to complete the other projects Maggie has for me (which I do!). 

     I go back to Churchill Downs on Tuesday - Wednesday (January).