Art Brings Change

This past summer, I was able to have an internship with the Memphis Teacher Residency Camp. Camp is held in the Binghampton neighborhood at the community elementary school. If you know anything about Memphis, you know that Binghampton does not have a record of being one of the most safe or economically prosperous neighborhoods around. In fact, 48% of the households have an income under $20,000 with 33% of the households with no wage or salary income. For a while, the schools in the neighborhood were a similar reflection of the community.

Done by campers of MTR Camp 2014

            So, it was our goal during the summer to hold an academic summer camp for students kindergarten through third grade that incorporated art and drama into the day as well. After a week of training, the other interns and I were ready for the students. I was trained as a team leader meaning I would have the same group of students all day, leading them from breakfast to math to reading to lunch, then dismissing them to their prospective elective. From there, I lead a class of students in art projects before going to the gym to play. 

            After the first couple days with the Blue Barracudas, my group’s name, I wondered how on earth I was going to make it five weeks. They were rambunctious. They were wild. They didn’t get along. They were your typical third grade students in a school building during the summer, so I understood from that perspective. Despite the difficulty some days, the part of each day I looked forward to most was when I got to lead art class. It was there that I watched a whole new side of students emerge.

            One project we did was to create tie-dye t-shirts using sharpies and rubbing alcohol. I had taught our students a certain technique by creating circles of color using dots of sharpies then dropping the rubbing alcohol in the center. From there, the color would spread out in circular shapes creating a tie-dye effect. After explaining the project and getting them started, I looked over at one student who was drawing a train on his shirt. That was not the dot technique that I had JUST taught them. After asking him what he was drawing, he gave an obvious answer, “ A train.” I decided to follow his lead with the train. I asked if he would like to drop the rubbing alcohol on it. We did. After the colors dispersed, I took his shirt off his desk and walked five feet away. I held up his shirt facing him and asked what he thought. He looked in awe and responded, “Beautiful.” 

            That first grade boy was right. It was beautiful. It was his art. His creatively. Something he valued and gave him confidence. Although he generally was a tougher student to keep on task in the classroom, in art class he was in his own world of drawing, painting, and creating. 

            I had many moments similar to this one throughout the summer, but there has been a continuation of stories since I left. This neighborhood has embraced art as something to be valued and something to bring hope and change. The neighborhood has the Carpenter Art Garden, an outdoor area in which community members can do art, display art, and come together over art. Next to the garden is the Purple House, a house utilized for art classes, yoga classes, and other programs. 

            Throughout the semester, the Art Garden and the Purple House have provided many opportunities for kids and parents to come make art, display it throughout the community, and even sell the artwork at local festivals. If you were to go through this neighborhood that has a reputation of being rough, poor, and dangerous, you would instead be filled with hope. Painted murals, plywood boards painted with encouraging sayings, and wooden hearts painted like the Grizz are seen on every street. 

            Art is changing this community. Through the children who have more opportunities for art both in school and out of school and through the parents and community members who participate or get to enjoy the art displayed. 

            If you are ever in Memphis, be sure to drive down Tillman Street, the center of Binghampton, and then go down Carpenter Street as well, and you’ll see the heart behind this beautiful community.

http://www.carpenterartgarden.com

Scruffy Little City: Leadership Knoxville Scholars

Fancy Coffee

I am in a leadership program called Leadership Knoxville Scholars. We are keeping blog posts this semester, so I will also be posting mine to my site. I guess I'm back Blogspot:

Not to anyone's surprise, I really like coffee. I'm a typical college student who drinks coffee at least once a day, uses my Starbucks app way too much, especially during exams, and always welcomes a trip to a coffee shop as a great way to catch up with friends. We not only go get coffee, but we also talk about it to and act like we are more knowledgable than we really are about coffee. Usually, I will grab a plain drip coffee from almost any coffee shop and maybe add some milk or cream. Every now and then I'll spice it up and get an Americano, which is all of espresso and water. So, again, nothing fancy. 

Today, walking into FLOW I decided I may go for something else. You know, it's a special occasion. It's not everyday I get to drink coffee for a class assignment. After talking with the extremely knowledgable man, who claimed to be a coffee nerd, behind the counter, I was swayed to try the Flat White (since Starbucks has made it a huge deal). He explained it is like a latte, but without the foam. Perfect. I don't like the foam. 

Sara LaHaie, my friend to accompany the coffee of course, and I waited for our coffee at a small table, moderately too far away from each other. Although not my favorite coffee shop as far as looks and relaxation, it was very neat and just different. When I finally received me coffee I was more than thrilled to see a design made in the foam on top. My first fancy coffee. I have seen them over and over on so many instagrams. And I shamelessly joined the fad. 

So here it is. Thanks to FLOW.

Not only does FLOW make fancy coffee, but they also specialize in mixing beer and coffee, a new trend apparently. Although I did not try this new beverage mixture, I am intrigued and also want to try their beer flavored syrups, which have been cooked down so much so the alcohol is removed making it available to anyone.

I admire the unique approach FLOW has taken to a coffee shop and am excited to see how Knoxville will respond to these new ideas. 

Go here to see the rest of my friends and fellow classmates here:

http://leadershipknoxvillescholars.blogspot.com/

2013 in Review

I have complied a good amount of pictures for my cliche review of the past year. However, I feel that this is the most effective way I can portray the joys and adventures I have had throughout 2013. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday! Balloon in a box and overalls!

Second place in coed Ultimate Frisbee!

Spring Break Trip to Isle of Palms, SC with awesome friends!

Easter in Atlanta with the family!

Graduation Season:

Cru Seniors at the senior banquet!

Allison and Dennis graduated!

Well. I got a perm!

Allison's best friend, Kasi, got married!

Experienced my first rodeo!

Spent a second summer serving at Blueprint Ministries in San Antonio!

Concordia Church at Ms. G's!

Ignite Summit: Team Manning

Experienced true car troubles getting stranded in
Middle of No Cellphone Service, Texas!

Got gunk stuck in my eye lashes at work and had to pull a lot out! :/

Interns 2013--such a blessing!

We met with cousin Sarah in Austin on our way home!

Spent a week experiencing Memphis Reed-style!

Ignite Serves: Team Fulmer

2 year Friendship Anniversary with my lovely college family!

2 sweet roommates and wonderful new neighbor and friend!

Finding murals with Reed in Memphis over Fall Break!

The incredible Bible study I lead with my two best friends!

Wedding in Texas with Reed and his friends!

Thanksgiving in Pigeon Forge/ Gatlinburg!

The 2014 Ignite Student Directors--so excited to serve alongside these 3!

We decorated our very own tree!

Christmas Season:

Christmas Day sibling run--this is monumental!

Andy is at YALE for grad school and Christen works there!

Everyone together! The cherry on top for the year!

The Importance of Sports and Recreation

Telling people I am an upper classman is still such a strange feeling. To be cliche, I really do feel like it was just yesterday that I was running around as a freshman, not knowing what the next few years would have in store for me.

Now it has come to the time in college when gen-ed requirements are done and we are taking classes that truly have application into our futures careers. Classes are not just to help us gain knowledge, but to train us for our jobs. That is crazy! Am I really old enough for that? Although I do feel like I just started, I feel so confident in my decision to major in Therapeutic Recreation. When I sit in my TR classes, my heart actually starts beating faster.

This semester, I am taking a class on Women and Sports through an international perspective. Although it is not directly TR, it is recreation and sports management and applies to the areas of TR I would love to pursue. My professor, Dr. Ashleigh Huffman, has a true passion for integrating women of various cultures through sports to bring about positive change in different countries and areas. Dr. Huffman is the assistant director of The Center for Sport, Peace, and Society, founded by Dr. Sarah Hillyer. 
This is the mission of the center: "The center uses sport, physical activity, and recreation to promote cultural understanding, to enhance student learning, to improve community welfare, and to foster social change. The result of the center is a civically engaged university and a more united and inclusive community. "

Through the center is the nonprofit organization Sport 4 Peace which works both internationally with 11 different countries and locally with immigrants and refugees. Their philosophy is to expose, equip, empower, and entrust students and community members to make a difference in the lives of others through sports. I could not think of a more incredible way to reach people of different cultures, languages, and backgrounds. 

My most recent area of interest is working with adaptive sports and special olympics. My goal for the next three years is to work the 2016 Olympics and Paralypmics in Rio. Not only would this be the ultimate way to experience people of all cultures and backgrounds coming together for sport, but also a way to see how people can overcome disabilities through the Paralympics to reach their dreams. Recently, I have watched many videos of various Paralmypic sports, my favorite sport so far is  Paralympic Sled Hockey. Each video and each individual inspires me as they are breaking stereotypes set by the word "disability." Not only are they participating, but they are excelling and competitively engaged in sport.

The International Paralympic Committee values courage, determination, inspiration, and equality in order to develop a more equitable society with equal opportunities for all individuals.
Isn't that what should bring people together? Equal opportunity to participate in activities (not just sports), to have fun, to accomplish goals, to grow as an individual along side others, and to build community should be the focus of not just the IPC, but for sports and recreation overall. 

So that's where my heart is now. Seeing how sport and recreation can truly provide opportunities for people to grow, learn, and develop in physical, social, spiritual, and mental wellness. 

Rio 2016, here I come.

God's Hand in Community

God's hand has been so evident in the ministry of Blueprint. So many things just continue to line up to keep Blueprint serving the city of San Antonio. I am so blessed to say that God has used me in His big plan that continues to unravel.

"Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart." 

-2 Corinthians 4:1

Let me start with camp last week. Andrew and I were given the opportunity to work on a very special house. The grandmother is in the process of trying to keep her grandchildren whose parents are in prison. In the meantime Child Protective Services have given a list of changes that need to be made to the house in order for the children to stay there. This house fell into the hands of Blueprint through a string of events that could only be orchestrated by God. Everything happened all at the right time. The deadlines for the work have been pushed back a few times, the most recent extension being for September. The groups this summer have already accomplished a lot of work on the house, but there is still a good bit left that remains on the list. Monday was a big day for both the family and DeeDee as they had to go to the court to meet with the judge to discuss pushing deadlines back. Thank God, the judge was so amazed by the work done that he told Blueprint to work at our own pace and the family didn't need to come back to court until December. What?! December!! That is HUGE. What a relief to the grandmother trying to adopt these sweet children. I am amazed at how God is working through Blueprint to help keep this family together. We found out this week that the family was the number 1 spot on the list of work houses on the CPS list.

Another blessing that came out of DeeDee's presence at court is that an officer approached her saying that similar cases are always coming up. Families that are trying to provide for the children, and in doing so put repairs to the house on the back burner. God is expanding Blueprint. My prayer is just that we are able to respond confidently to God's calling for our ministry. I am so excited to see the future of Blueprint!

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" 

-Jeremiah 29:11

In addition to this blessing of spreading our ministry to others, we have also begun connecting with other ministries in the area. Pastor Clayton has spoke at worship a few times. He serves through  Moment of Truth Ministries at God's House by reaching out to members of the community to develop relationships and develop people by equipping them with new skills and discipleship. Pastor Clayton not only gives a powerful testimony, but also preaches with such charisma and excitement that fills the room. When he speaks, you can feel God moving in his life, and through his life into ours. God is using him as such a strong vessel in the city of San Antonio to make the light of Christ more evident and God more known. I pray that Blueprint continues connecting with other ministries and organizations in the area so that we can create a larger body of Christ moving in the city. Each organizations brings specials skills and talents, but serve with one common purpose: to advance God's incredible presence and kingdom.

"Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples." 

-1 Chronicles 16:23-24

Not only is community on a wide scale important to create change and create movements, but personal community is so important as well. As I have humbly learned: I need others. I try so often to do things on my own or without asking for help. However, I have learned that it is okay to let people care for me and take care of me every now and then. Growth occurs best in vulnerable situations. I got to experience this last week when my car died in the middle of the hill country out of cell phone service range. To make a long story short, I had so many people reaching out and helping me. I was, and still am, so humbled by the servitude of those around me. I am so blessed to be living life with people who continually are looking to serve.

As our speaker says one of the nights in worship, we are built for service. God had wired us to pour of to others. As Mark 10:45 says "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life for the ransom of many." Just as Christ came to be a servant, we are also called to do the same in all realms of our life. By serving one another, I pray that community increases and that the city of San Antonio grows to become a place in which God dwells by his spirit.

Leadership is hard

The first three weeks of camp have flown by. Ms. Guerrero is my homeowner who I have been so blessed to serve and be served in return by. She is a beautiful woman of God who is fiery, funny, sharp, and loves to put in her "two cents," as she always tells me. Not only have I been able to work on her house with our groups, but also really get to know her and form an incredible relationship with her. 

Carter, when tired of being on a hot roof, spent time
playing cards with Ms. Guerrero. So cool to see middle school students
take initiative to love her in more ways than just roofing. 

All the students on my teams have made such sweet connections with her. I tell each group that they are going to fall in love with her. Sure enough, they do. 

Our first week, we were able to put a new roof on Ms. Guerrero's home. She had many leaks into her house, which in turn, ruined much of her dry wall. Needless to say, the dry wall is now our newest project. My first group was a challenge to motivate some days, which truly was hard on me. I took it personally. Which looking back, is silly. I should not be leading these students for my own personal gain, but for the gain of advancing Christ in this world. The last work day of the week, San Antonio received a downpour of rain, such a surprise. You would think all work and motivation would completely cease, but instead, the group decided to work until 6:00! We got back to the building by 6:15, just enough time to shower and get to dinner by 6:30. The rain before we fixed the roof would have been the worst of all scenarios. However, with a new roof and a dry house, the rain was the biggest blessing we could have asked for. 

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

The second week, my group consisted of 7th grade girls, and our project was sheet rock. Of course I was concerned. Sheet rock is heavy, the wood in the house is old and extremely hard to drill into, maybe I can find another project to do this week. All my doubts and concerns were thrown out the window. Those girls are some of the hardest, most eager workers I have ever lead. Not only did they work with diligence and perseverance, but they worked from their desire to serve. They actually bought a bed and bedding for Ms. Guerrero which we were so thrilled to assemble this week for her!

St. Lukes United Methodist Church

 The weekend between week two and three, I flew up to Knoxville on Wednesday after the workday to lead at Ignite Summit, a program for incoming freshmen to help them learn how to get plugged in on campus, ask questions, ease nerves, make new friends, learn about values, diversity, and traditions, and really just become more excited about being a UT Volunteer! So that was a jam packed three days! 

I flew in from Knoxville just in time on Sunday to start work team meetings. If you can imagine, I was exhausted. Thankfully, my group this week was from Concordia Lutheran, a local church that I had the pleasure of working with last summer. The leaders and interns I view as some of my family here in San Antonio. After another hard week of work, our group accomplished so much. The group did everything from mudding/taping, to sanding, cutting and screwing in dry wall, pulling up linoleum, assembling a bed, putting in a new light fixture. Really these girls and Jeff (my partner for the week) were jacks-of-all-trades by the end of the week! They learned so much and were ready to learn, which is always such a blessing.

Concordia Lutheran

Although the past few weeks have been incredible, they have been hard. Not that I every thought it would be easy or that I would ever feel equipped, but it is tiring to juggle everything going on at the building, with the homeowner, at the worksite and continue leading in such a way that I can inspire a shared vision and empower others to lead and serve others. The desire to inspire a vision is one of my biggest challenges. I tend to be a "big picture" thinker in that I look down the road to what I want to accomplish. Sometimes it causes me to be too realistic, but other times it drives me to accomplish my dreams and my goals. I pray that my "big picture" thinking is one that transcends to those I am around, whether that be the work teams, the other interns, the staff, etc., so that we can all come together to create something greater than ourselves in the name of Jesus.

Yesterday DeeDee told me "Leadership is hard." Although it is a really simple phrase, it speaks so much truth. Despite the many leadership classes I have taken, nothing can truly prepare me for the situations that arise working with so many different individuals. No one can teach me what to say back to a middle school boy who says "No don't help me" or "No I don't want to do that." The amount of responses for every situation is endless and how to go about it eloquently and with authority is something that comes from having confidence in your leadership and what you stand for. So as I continue this summer I have to remember the lessons that I learned from last summer: I personally will never be equipped, that is something that comes from God, and that through confidence in my values and where my motivation lies, I can lead and be a vessel through which Christ is moving.

BPM Family 2013

Here we are: the Blueprint Ministries Summer 2013 Summer Staff.

Already beyond blessed to get to share my summer with these incredible people. Only one week with them so far and we have already become such a sweet family. 

Last summer we had 5 interns and this summer we have 8! Shelby, Abbi, Macey, Taylor, and Jeff have been added to the team and we could not be any more excited to have them on board this summer! Unfortunately, we miss Reed and Karen, but we are so excited for them and what God has in store for them this summer. Reed went to work for SOS (the organization Blueprint was inspired by) and Karen has a real graphic design internship! So proud of them two! At the end of last summer I wasn't sure if God would call me back to Blueprint for round two this summer, but here I am, and I am beyond blessed to be a part of Blueprint growing and reaching more people in the San Antonio!

Week one, we have run through all procedures, camp rules, schedules, etc. going over the areas of construction we will be doing, preparing the supplies, meeting homeowners, and delivering supplies. However, away from work, we have grown together learning more about each other through getting out and playing at a river ranch and hanging out watching the Spurs and making cookies. I could not think of better way to spend the week preparing for the summer. 

Tomorrow we get our first group of campers from Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas! We have 120 campers, 10 houses (6 roofing, 4 interior), and lots of work in store for us! I can't wait to see how good God is and how He provides.