Build on Their Strengths

Last night I watched a segment on “60 Minutes” with Scott Pelley about children who were homeless.  What he learned from and about these children not only applies to children who are homeless but also to children from low socioeconomic status.  Because we will be working with low SES children at Esperanza there are some things from the segment that would be wise for us to remember. 

 Q: What did you like about Destiny Corfee and Jacob Braverman [two of the children interviewed]?

 A: What I absolutely loved about them was neither was whining. They answered our questions about what it's like to be homeless, but each of them went out of their way to say things would get a lot better and we'll be fine. Destiny says, 'When we get back on our feet, we'll be able to help others.' Jacob says, 'You can get through anything as long as you have your family together.' Those are both ideas we put in the piece that said so much about the character of those kids.

Q: Will we see more stories from you about the Great Recession?

 A: Absolutely. The Great Recession has been an incredible story to cover, because so many Americans are hurting. We're told the recession ended in 2009. This is a jobless recovery we're in. Millions and millions of people are hurting. It grinds on and on and on. We're raising a generation of kids in hard times. These are formative years for these kids. They know this time as a time of hunger and homelessness. You talk to a lot of older Americans who grew up in the Great Depression who say that it made them better. I wonder if we're doing the same thing.

The Importance of Knowing

Yesterday I finished reading Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich.  Although it was published 2001 it still applies to today.  It is especially pertinent for us at Esperanza because we are targeting the low SES population. 

One of the things that makes Ehrenreich's book so powerful is because she chose to live for a period of time like the people she was researching.  In the Introduction she says, "...low-wage workers are no more homogeneous in personality or ability than people who write for a living, and no less likely to be funny or bright.  Anyone in the educated classes who thinks otherwise ought to broaden their circle of friends."  She goes on to say that those not having to live in this manner don't understand or know this population and for that reason they make inappropriate decisions and policies that are harmful. 

I have found in my reading of The Fiery Trial:  Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery that it took Lincoln actually meeting and interacting with Blacks who had experienced slavery did he make wiser decisions concerning the issue.

These two examples are a reminder that we need to find ways to know our Esperanza scholars and their families if we are going to make the most appropriate decisions and policies.