I am really excited to be a part of this!
The Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility states, “I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work.” Students define for themselves what it means to be socially and environmentally responsible.
Students at over a hundred colleges and universities are using the pledge at some level. Graduates who voluntarily signed the pledge have turned down jobs with which they did not feel comfortable and have worked to make changes once on the job. For example, they have promoted recycling at their organization, removed racist language from a training manual, worked for gender parity in high school athletics, and helped to convince an employer to refuse a chemical weapons-related contract.
http://www.graduationpledge.org/new/
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Cap and Gown
Today after my social worlds of children class, I went to the grad finale to pick up my CAP AND GOWN!!! now it is real and I am so excited!
Dinner with Dad
I love that my dad works so close to the city, he is at Genesis right by SF state university, and he came and picked me up. We drove around a little bit and Dad took me to his favorite spots in the city (he lived there for a number of years in the early 80s which is where he met my mom). We went to the pet cemetery, Dad's favorite place in the city. It is right under the freeway that takes you to the GGbridge and there is a beautiful view over the mission style presidio houses to the bay. I love you Dad, but you have to be kinda twisted to have your fav spot be the pet cemetery... Then we drove to Fort Point, where I had never been before, which is right under the GGbridge. We had a great early dinner at Pris a Vis a great "global" restaurant in the Presidio by the Letterman Hospital. I asked Dad to show me where he lived in Presidio Heights around Colombus and Broderick. I would love to live in the area like right on Divisadero and Clay street...ahh I love the city!!!
Thanks Dad, you rock!
Thanks Dad, you rock!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Congrats Mariana!!
Mariana was my program coordinator in Nicaragua last summer for the internship program with the Foundation for Sustainable Development I did through USF. She just won a fullbright and I am soo happy for her!! Yay development work!
"Mariana Giusti-RodrÃguez has been awarded a Fulbright Grant for a research project on indigenous movements. She will be spending time in Peru and Bolivia researching whether it is possible for a social movement to reach power and remain united and efficient or whether it is better off and most successful remaining in the opposition".
Here is me and Mariana having fun in Nica!
"Mariana Giusti-RodrÃguez has been awarded a Fulbright Grant for a research project on indigenous movements. She will be spending time in Peru and Bolivia researching whether it is possible for a social movement to reach power and remain united and efficient or whether it is better off and most successful remaining in the opposition".
Here is me and Mariana having fun in Nica!
American Idol
I tell you it is soo hard to focus in a dorm room when it is soo warm! I take two hour naps when I am supposed to be writing about the Cultural Revolution and the devastating effects on Chinese society Mao had and watching American Idol and eating pizza from the cafeteria...but hey, I can only do it for one more months so I am milking the student life all I can! I have to give a shout out to Kris Allen by the by, he is hot...also look at Lena's blog she has a full update on all the contestants. Lena is a good friend of John and I...www.lenareem.blogspot.com.
Also, I feel bad in the dorms when all my neighbors can hear all the contestants on American Idol and are watching it through the walls even if they don't want to be...sorry Jordan, Vanessa, Emily, and Ashley!!
Also, I feel bad in the dorms when all my neighbors can hear all the contestants on American Idol and are watching it through the walls even if they don't want to be...sorry Jordan, Vanessa, Emily, and Ashley!!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Congrats Mary and Heff!
Mare, I am so happy for you and excited for your life with two beautiful girls!
It's a GIRL!!
We are thrilled to announce....
MaryMarjorie Sheehy Heffernan aka "Maisie"
Born Saturday April 18, 2009 at 10:30am
7 pounds 1 ounce - 19 inches
It's a GIRL!!
We are thrilled to announce....
MaryMarjorie Sheehy Heffernan aka "Maisie"
Born Saturday April 18, 2009 at 10:30am
7 pounds 1 ounce - 19 inches
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Pictures of Arkansas
From little kids and their momma goats to gross slobbery camels to group pics here is evidence that I was in Arkansas!
Heifer in arkansas
This is the program I did with my residents last weekend over Easter in Arkansas....it was awesome
Global Passport – 401 at Heifer Ranch
Four Night Program; 9th Grade – College Age
Global Passport participants, in a safe simulation, experience what it is like when someone in your community loses everything and they must rely on the generosity of their neighbors. Will the community come together and provide the needed relief?
After people’s immediate need for food, water and other necessities have been met, the need for relief work ends and development work begins. Heifer works to empower communities by supplying them with the means – including livestock, training and other resources – to strengthen their families, their communities and their hope for a sustainable future. All Global Passport “families” are challenged to improve their circumstances by adopting a variety of methods Heifer uses in the field, including adding livestock, improved animal management and finding a unique market to sell goods.
Throughout the program, participants must provide for their “family” by tending gardens and livestock, working in the village community, buying supplies from the international market and cooking cultural meals using appropriate technology. Each night the family will come together and sleep in representative housing, such as Tibetan yurt.
Global Passport – 401 at Heifer Ranch
Four Night Program; 9th Grade – College Age
Global Passport participants, in a safe simulation, experience what it is like when someone in your community loses everything and they must rely on the generosity of their neighbors. Will the community come together and provide the needed relief?
After people’s immediate need for food, water and other necessities have been met, the need for relief work ends and development work begins. Heifer works to empower communities by supplying them with the means – including livestock, training and other resources – to strengthen their families, their communities and their hope for a sustainable future. All Global Passport “families” are challenged to improve their circumstances by adopting a variety of methods Heifer uses in the field, including adding livestock, improved animal management and finding a unique market to sell goods.
Throughout the program, participants must provide for their “family” by tending gardens and livestock, working in the village community, buying supplies from the international market and cooking cultural meals using appropriate technology. Each night the family will come together and sleep in representative housing, such as Tibetan yurt.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Keet in Pari
I love my dear aunt kit, she is so spunky, colorful and full of life in the present. I have been receiving regular emails from her on her two week trip to Paris with my uncle tom (along with every other family member...good thing she has luxurious time to write to us). Well, I thought I would share some of her emails, because, she is just hilarious!
Dear Devon,
We visited La Musee D'ORsay which has a fantastic collection of Impressionistic paintings, and which is a converted train station. I loved the building and the light filtering through the ceiling. WE both got "museum back" , but it was worth it. We walked there from our hotel and stopped off at La Maison du Chocolat on the way. I bought a chocolate something (duh, what else) that was the only thing I could afford---4.5 Euros for one piece of candy!!! Most things were $25 to $75 and I couldn't bring myself to buy 4 ounces of chocolate for the same amount as a meal for 4.
Glad to hear you are getting ejercio. Feels good to get it, n'est ce pas? I have already walked my tail off today. Tom had business at the Hopital Chocon, and I took off to find the Jardins des Plantes. Got lost, of course, but I didn't care. I was walking from 10:00 to 1:30 pm and my dogs are so tired!! I LOVED the garden, and after a rest I am going to take Tom back there. Tom is snortling/snoring as I write this. He finished his meeting and is free until we leave on Wd. am. We just finished eating a peek neek in our little room---a tartine, which was an open-faced baguette with melted cheese and tomatoe on top, warmed up; a baguette sandwich with grilled chicken in it and we split a strawberry tart. Excellent, all.
I am going to cut and paste you what I wrote to your Dad about our adventures in the emergency room...
Also...yesterday afternoon we were resting up here after our boat trip on the Seine, and the phone rang. The receptionist said "The building, she is burning. You must to evacuate now." Just as she said that I smelled smoke and heard lots of clattering on the cement staircase near our room. WE grabbed our computers and wallets---no time to pack or anything---and ran downstairs. Other guests were collected out on the sidewalk in front of the hotel and a fire truck with the extension ladder leaning on the building was already set up. Pompiers (isn't that a great name for fireman?) were climbing up the extension ladder thing, running in and out of our building and the one next door, dragging a hose from the lobby around and looking generally serious. The police cordoned off the sidewalk and the street and we weren't allowed to go near the hotel. It was starting to get cold(It was around 6:00 in the evening), and Tom was just in a T-shirt (pants, too). I had grabbed my jacket and a scarf so I wrapped my scarf around his neck and that helped a bit. He looked really "in" too. All the men wear long scarves looped around their necks---very chic! Fortunately, we had planned to take our friend Louise and her family out to dinner, so we just walked to their house, hoping the hotel would still be standing when we got back. WE had a really delightful meal at the cafe right next door to her place. It was one of those long drawn out dinners with multiple courses and waiters in black suits. By the time we walked back to our hotel at 10:00 pm, everything was fine. The receptionist didn't mention anything on our return ("Fi-yure, what fi-yure?") and the only indication that we almost died in a raging inferno was a slight smell of smoke in the stairwell. I am a little freaked out at the kind of bad-lucky things that have happened to us on this trip, so I am avoiding elevators, and looking both ways twice when I cross the street.
I love to hear about what you're doing to school. What was the conference in Berkeley about? ...Those girls, especially ones in bikinis, don't know what a groovy RA they have and they should golly-gee-gosh show up for the floor meetings. I will check out your blog to see what else is up with you.
Take care and enjoy spring,
Love
Keet
I so long to be with you!! but I think I cannot complain since I was there for two weeks over winter break.
Dear Devon,
We visited La Musee D'ORsay which has a fantastic collection of Impressionistic paintings, and which is a converted train station. I loved the building and the light filtering through the ceiling. WE both got "museum back" , but it was worth it. We walked there from our hotel and stopped off at La Maison du Chocolat on the way. I bought a chocolate something (duh, what else) that was the only thing I could afford---4.5 Euros for one piece of candy!!! Most things were $25 to $75 and I couldn't bring myself to buy 4 ounces of chocolate for the same amount as a meal for 4.
Glad to hear you are getting ejercio. Feels good to get it, n'est ce pas? I have already walked my tail off today. Tom had business at the Hopital Chocon, and I took off to find the Jardins des Plantes. Got lost, of course, but I didn't care. I was walking from 10:00 to 1:30 pm and my dogs are so tired!! I LOVED the garden, and after a rest I am going to take Tom back there. Tom is snortling/snoring as I write this. He finished his meeting and is free until we leave on Wd. am. We just finished eating a peek neek in our little room---a tartine, which was an open-faced baguette with melted cheese and tomatoe on top, warmed up; a baguette sandwich with grilled chicken in it and we split a strawberry tart. Excellent, all.
I am going to cut and paste you what I wrote to your Dad about our adventures in the emergency room...
Also...yesterday afternoon we were resting up here after our boat trip on the Seine, and the phone rang. The receptionist said "The building, she is burning. You must to evacuate now." Just as she said that I smelled smoke and heard lots of clattering on the cement staircase near our room. WE grabbed our computers and wallets---no time to pack or anything---and ran downstairs. Other guests were collected out on the sidewalk in front of the hotel and a fire truck with the extension ladder leaning on the building was already set up. Pompiers (isn't that a great name for fireman?) were climbing up the extension ladder thing, running in and out of our building and the one next door, dragging a hose from the lobby around and looking generally serious. The police cordoned off the sidewalk and the street and we weren't allowed to go near the hotel. It was starting to get cold(It was around 6:00 in the evening), and Tom was just in a T-shirt (pants, too). I had grabbed my jacket and a scarf so I wrapped my scarf around his neck and that helped a bit. He looked really "in" too. All the men wear long scarves looped around their necks---very chic! Fortunately, we had planned to take our friend Louise and her family out to dinner, so we just walked to their house, hoping the hotel would still be standing when we got back. WE had a really delightful meal at the cafe right next door to her place. It was one of those long drawn out dinners with multiple courses and waiters in black suits. By the time we walked back to our hotel at 10:00 pm, everything was fine. The receptionist didn't mention anything on our return ("Fi-yure, what fi-yure?") and the only indication that we almost died in a raging inferno was a slight smell of smoke in the stairwell. I am a little freaked out at the kind of bad-lucky things that have happened to us on this trip, so I am avoiding elevators, and looking both ways twice when I cross the street.
I love to hear about what you're doing to school. What was the conference in Berkeley about? ...Those girls, especially ones in bikinis, don't know what a groovy RA they have and they should golly-gee-gosh show up for the floor meetings. I will check out your blog to see what else is up with you.
Take care and enjoy spring,
Love
Keet
I so long to be with you!! but I think I cannot complain since I was there for two weeks over winter break.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
My Heifer International Trip
Some women from my living-learning community floor and I are going to this four day program in Perryville, Arkansas this Thursday to Sunday the 9th to the 12th of April.
Here is the summary: Participants internalize complex issues surrounding hunger and poverty by experiencing the circumstances that many Heifer International's project partners face each day. Participants will leave with the awareness of their role as a global citizen and with ideas on how to create change.
The interactive educational simulation includes powerful and surprising situations that open the world beyond the participants own borders. Through experiencing conditions that arise daily for millions of people they become aware of the effects of poverty and hunger. They feel the discomfort and frustrations when faced with difficult life choices- how will I feed my family?
Throughout the program, they will work to provide for their "family" by tending gardens and livestock, working in the village community, buying supplies from the international market, and cooking cultural meals with appropriate technology. Each night the family will come together and sleep in representative housing, such as Mozambique, the Tibetan region of China, or the Mississippi Delta region of the US.
I AM REALLY EXCITED!! and my hall director in the building where we all live is going too!!
Here is the summary: Participants internalize complex issues surrounding hunger and poverty by experiencing the circumstances that many Heifer International's project partners face each day. Participants will leave with the awareness of their role as a global citizen and with ideas on how to create change.
The interactive educational simulation includes powerful and surprising situations that open the world beyond the participants own borders. Through experiencing conditions that arise daily for millions of people they become aware of the effects of poverty and hunger. They feel the discomfort and frustrations when faced with difficult life choices- how will I feed my family?
Throughout the program, they will work to provide for their "family" by tending gardens and livestock, working in the village community, buying supplies from the international market, and cooking cultural meals with appropriate technology. Each night the family will come together and sleep in representative housing, such as Mozambique, the Tibetan region of China, or the Mississippi Delta region of the US.
I AM REALLY EXCITED!! and my hall director in the building where we all live is going too!!
Devlopment, Poverty, and More Development
Saturday April 4th I went to this awesome one day retreat/conference focusing on sustaining ourselves for a lifetime of service at UC Berkley. Spronsored by the Shinnyo-en Foundation and the Cal Corps Public Service at the UC, the reateat was called "The Soul Food for the Student Activist."
The keynote address was by a strong woman named Shakti Butler, who both her and her husband, Rick Butler, make amazing documentaries. She touched on everything from what our passion to be involved with social justice is to reflection to environmental racism. She is truly inspiring.
Then, after some Brazilian dancing to build community, we went into our first of two workshops where I listened to a former Professor at Berkley named Michael Nagler, talk about the power of meditation and non-violence in our work (www.metta.org for meditation). For the second workshop, I attended a session called "if you are not with me, you are against me." This was interesting in connecting and disconnecting our positive passions with the ways our work sometimes plays out negatively.
At Berkley, it was great, everyone assumed I went to their school and when I told them I went to USF, they were surprised and interested and I got to represent the city in such a different and colorful place at Berkley. It will be weird not to be a student at USF anymore, though I am sure I will still try to find ways to stay a part of the community.
The keynote address was by a strong woman named Shakti Butler, who both her and her husband, Rick Butler, make amazing documentaries. She touched on everything from what our passion to be involved with social justice is to reflection to environmental racism. She is truly inspiring.
Then, after some Brazilian dancing to build community, we went into our first of two workshops where I listened to a former Professor at Berkley named Michael Nagler, talk about the power of meditation and non-violence in our work (www.metta.org for meditation). For the second workshop, I attended a session called "if you are not with me, you are against me." This was interesting in connecting and disconnecting our positive passions with the ways our work sometimes plays out negatively.
At Berkley, it was great, everyone assumed I went to their school and when I told them I went to USF, they were surprised and interested and I got to represent the city in such a different and colorful place at Berkley. It will be weird not to be a student at USF anymore, though I am sure I will still try to find ways to stay a part of the community.
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