Creative Placemaking... How We Can Use Arts for Creating Community.

After reading the article "Creative Place making" I found it inspiring and very informative. I especially enjoyed the description:   

     "Creative place making refers to an economic development strategy that involves deploying artistic endeavors to activate both public and private spaces. It can be as simple as a sculpture that makes a public park a more inviting place to visit, a cultural festival that draws new visitors to a neighborhood, or a small black box theater performing works by local playwrights. The strategy delivers fully on its promise in urban neighborhoods where these cultural experiences are both accessible and plentiful. Creative place making’s ability to generate change begins with the direct benefits that come from simply bringing people out to visit down towns and main streets. While harder to quantify, the social relationships forged from the highly collaborative process of building and sustaining these cultural initiatives also have real value. Creative place making narrowly targets a section of a neighborhood or downtown, but success can produce economic benefits that extend throughout entire  regions" ( http://www.ahanewbedford.org/creativeplacemaking.pdf).

After reading this I could envision our project, gathering together at Congress Square to have these dialogue sessions with the public, but also though "what it we invited the homeless population to come and be our guests at the art-walk?" What if we allowed for a space for them to come and sit, share their stories of homelessness, gentrification, and what a home means to them? 

If creative place making " …fosters connections among people and across cultures. The relationships built among diverse groups of people create safer, more open places that create more opportunity and foster a sense that everyone is welcome." (http://www.artplaceamerica.org/articles/principles-of-creative-placemaking/), then why not have these authentic conversations take place in our community? I m am really excited to see the end product of this semesters work. The dialogues from the interviews as well as the art piece!


When I was reading the "Principles of Creative Place making" from 'ArtPlace America', I could imagine us working on this project at Dr. G's home, or even at Congress Square together as a group but also bringing in the community with food and conversation about housing and homelessness. 

 http://www.artplaceamerica.org/articles/principles-of-creative-placemaking/

 We as social workers and as  artists have the opportunity to "develop arts-based initiatives that fully engage and empower a community’s capacity to self-express their distinct cultural identity through place. [To be] artists equipped with nimble entrepreneurial skills who are guided by a spirit of authentic collaboration can be significant change agents in their communities, [and if we can ] "established [and become] emerging creative practitioners, [we] will benefit from identifying cross-sector collaboration that expands the role of artistic life into civic life." (Placemaking and Social Equity: Expanding the Framework of Creative Placemaking: http://www.artivate.org/?p=661).

As social workers and artists in this project, we have this amazing opportunity to create this sense of belonging, understanding, and acceptance of all community members. 
I was really inspired by the Salt District website and started thinking how else we can use the arts to foster change, acceptance and social justice... I have asked at the teen center for the teens to help take part in the homeless youth count I am currently working on at Preble Street, I invited them to be at the table for a meeting surrounding the strategies of data collection, asked the youth to pilot test the survey and provide feedback, but also to create the flyers and posters in which we will be hanging all over the state. Because there is an art group already at the Teen Center, I thought that we could use this time for the posters.

 I asked youth to think of what it means to be homeless, and what they though would have made it easier for them to approach supports. Additionally, I asked them to notice the feelings inside them when they think of their experience of homelessness and to create an artistic display of those feelings with no words. Then I asked them to notice the feelings inside of what it feels like to think of being housed in their own home and what that would mean to them, and then to create a artistic presentation of those feelings and emotions without any words. At the end of the art group meeting we talked about their creations. 

This was such an amazing experience to be a part of! The next step is to use these drawings as way to advertise the youth count, something that is in the works but defiantly hurdles to overcome! 

I will have to get the pictures of the poster that were created, I did not have access to my phone at that time, but will take pictures and share them here later! 


Observations: Watching youth talk and create their posters. 
Having the sense that the youth could express their feelings and emotions in an artistic way while having these discussions about their experiences and their hopes and dreams. Truly amazing! 

 

 Resources:
 http://www.artplaceamerica.org/articles/principles-of-creative-placemaking/
 http://www.ahanewbedford.org/creativeplacemaking.pdf
 Placemaking and Social Equity: Expanding the Framework of Creative Placemaking: http://www.artivate.org/?p=661
 http://www.saltdistrict.com/category/creative-placemaking/

Foster Care... When Foster Youth Have No Where To Go...And so Many Have Dreams of Better....

According to Maine DHHS "there are 1,990 children in foster care. Of those, 502 are seeking adoption. If you think about it, 500 kids out there wondering if they’ll ever have a family of their own is about as sad as it gets." (http://www.wgme.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/dhhs-need-families-take-foster-kids-26610.shtml#.VRxlCeEZuip).
                                           
As some may know, I grew up and aged out of the foster care system here in Maine, and it makes me sad to read some of the comments made on the Portland press and WGME's article about the needs of foster parents. The truth is that yes we do need more foster parents and good foster parents. It is incredibly difficult to be a foster parent just as it is incredibly difficult to be a foster child.

"There are more than 1,300 households in Maine currently licensed as foster homes. Becoming a foster home begins without having to make a full commitment. The first step is attending an informational session hosted by the DHHS Office of Child and Family Services. Moving forward in the process involves an application process, three positive references, a criminal background check, a fire safety inspection of the home in question, and a DHHS home study to identify strengths and needs of an applicant’s home." (http://stateandcapitol.bangordailynews.com/2015/03/30/dhhs-more-than-500-parent-less-maine-kids-looking-for-forever).

SO here is the unwritten part... DHHS has to also ensure that these home meet certain standards, as well as the investigate to making sure the home is a "good fit and safe" for youth. I have a friend that has been trying to become a foster parent for some time now, and because there is one night a month that she would have to rely on a sitter, DHHS will not allow he to become a foster parent. The other ugly truth is that foster families become attached to children and it is incredibly hard for them to send them back to their biological families, were they worry that the child can be removed again. It is a possibility, but the child has a right to be placed back with their biological families, and for most that is where they would rather be. Other struggles are that for many foster parents out there, it is a pay check that they want, not to make a difference in the lives of a child/children. So why do we have so many licensed foster homes with no youth? For some families they must become licensed in order to take in a family member also known as 'kinship care', for these families they must go through the background checks, house inspections, and application to become a 'foster parent' for a family member then when that family member ages out or is reunited with their family (and some run away, enter into the juvenile justice system or are homeless) these homes are not utilized because the family was only applying for the family member to be in their care, not unknown children. For many youth in the foster care systems, there is no open placements for them because they are seen as "troubled" or "unruly" children, so in other words they push the boundaries of their foster parents, and then are placed into group homes, correction facilities, New Beginnings, or are staying at the homeless shelters because no foster placement want to take children with "problems."

But the story can change....

I was recently told that I am part of 1% of Maine's youth in foster care that have gone on to achieve a Master degree.... a number that is too low. We need to support our youth academically and mentally. When I was in elementary school and high school, I was passed in my courses barely, never given the support I really needed to go on to college, because "I was just a youth in care who would not go on to college." My teachers praised me for my athletic abilities and I was well liked because I stayed quiet. When I started hanging out with the "wrong crowd" it was expected... I was a foster kid. When my grades dropped no one took the time to help me. But I went on to pass enough to be accepted into USM, and it took me the last 13 years to finally graduate with my BSW and now will be completing my MSW in the next month! I am passionate and have found the right professors that care about my success. I had the support of the Youth Leadership Advisory Team (YLAT) growing up, and stayed connected to a few key supports that I had once I accepted that I was a youth in care and that I could be more than a statistic-- I could become something great! I am passionate to work with youth in foster care and to help make their lives better, to be a key support in their life as I had those key supports in my life!

For many youth they want better, choose better, and are determined to not become a statistic.....  they go on to college, have careers, families, and make a difference for the lives of other youth in foster care.   I am not alone in my quest to become better.... there are some amazing former youth in care doing great things...

 

 For the last two years I have been working on trying to build the Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA) Maine Chapter, signing up youth in care at the age of 18 and trying to reach any Maine youth who have aged out of the foster care system to come together to work on building police, support and a family for those in the foster care system. It has been a difficult feat, with Maine being so rural, and DHHS not having identifying information of former youth in foster care if is difficult, but with the help of some key partners, we are still working on it! Please check out the FCAA site to see all the great things that youth in care are doing, what they have done, and please remember not to judge a youth in care, to support their dreams and hopes. If you or anyone you know is thinking of becoming a foster parent you should not let the stories or comments made on news articles scare you and do your own research and talk to current youth in foster care who can tell you all you want and need to know about raising a youth in foster care! 

  

  

Update:
So I decided to write to the editor about this article..
http://www.pressherald.com/2015/04/09/letter-to-the-editor-youth-in-foster-care-can-survive-thrive/


Resources:
Maine.gov/fostercare
http://icwa.narf.org/news/1800?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IcwaInfo+%28ICWA+INFO%29
http://www.wgme.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/dhhs-need-families-take-foster-kids-26610.shtml#.VRxlCeEZuip
http://stateandcapitol.bangordailynews.com/2015/03/30/dhhs-more-than-500-parent-less-maine-kids-looking-for-forever-homes/
http://www.fostercarealumni.org/
http://www.ylat.org/

Down Right Angry!!!

After reports in the news this past few weeks, I felt that this weeks post should focus on the injustices that we are seeing in the news. I am passionate and down right angry with these reports, as an employee of Preble Street and someone who has worked closely with the homeless population I feel disappointed in this state in which I live. I am embarrassed to have the administration that we do, and disappointed in DHHS, as system that should be working to help and serve those in need, not to criminalize and marginalize these individuals more.

It is preposterous to think that people would actually think that someone would choose to sleep in a homeless shelter! That sleeping in a homeless shelter is an option to save money... As the news over the last few weeks has aided in the demonizing of those who are homeless, it fails to look at the truth of the problem, that we need to be doing more for those who are mentally ill.

"The state has a huge responsibility to serve those people, and yet the state has chosen to pay attention to, and call out the shelter, really the only place that's open, available and accessible to these people to keep them safe," Mark Swann said in response to the States accusations that those seeking General Assistance and vouchers actually have money in the bank. Mark Swann is the executive director of Preble Street, his response to these reports of the top "stayers" at the shelters have large bank accounts that "the state has failed to live up to its responsibility to serve people with serious mental illness. Nobody is staying in shelters or languishing on the streets or in shelters for years and years sometimes, to save money." No one chooses to sleep on mats on the floor, 6 inches apart from strangers, clutching all your belongings, scared that your belongings will disappear if you let them go, and all too often items disappear when clients do fall asleep.

The truth is that those who stay the longest in emergency shelters, such as Oxford Street,  typically have a severe mental illness that prevents them from caring for themselves, and they "are not able-bodied people who are gaming the welfare system" that these reports are making them out to be.  Often, the residents have disability checks going into bank accounts that they don’t know about, don’t have legal access to or are controlled by someone else. When I was doing case management at Preble Street, I had a client who had his disability check directly deposited into his bank account, but due to homelessness and mental illness he lost his identification, birth certificates, and social security card. He also could not remember what bank his check was deposited into. Because he had no identification to prove who he was we had to struggle to get him identification starting with a Birth Certificate, then state ID, and his Social Security card. Once we got that we could then work with the SS office to find where his check was going and to access his checks and bank accounts. This took 9 months to complete, and was immensely frustrating for both the client and myself.  This is not the only story, this story is a success story that took little time to resolve the issue compared to other stories I have heard.

http://news.mpbn.net/post/homeless-money-bank-advocates-weigh-audit-fracas

  I recently started working with Jon Bradley, director of Preble Street, on a project, in our first meeting he had come from this press conference the day before and shared with me a story of a client we both knew very well. Jon recalls trying to get this client into the Logan Place when it first opened. This individual was chronically homeless and chronically mentally ill.  This individual was paranoid of the government and would not access his accounts in fear that the government would harm him. Therefore the money he received sat in his account for years without being used. The man stayed at the OSS feeling safer than than if he accessed his money and got an apartment. Jon recalls trying to help this man for many years, accepting that he was too mentally ill to get him int his own apartment or to agree to have his money managed by payee. Jon and the Preble Street staff did the best they could, and finally this year, this man is now housed in Logan Place. These are just two cases of the clients in which we serve having mental health issues that prevent them from accessing services and having stable housing.

http://bangordailynews.com/2015/03/06/opinion/we-should-be-angry-about-homelessness-not-who-paid-for-shelter-stays/#disqus_thread

The state is oversimplifying the complex nature of homelessness, and that untreated mental illness and substance abuse are often the root causes of chronic homelessness. If you walk into the shelters at night you would find it crowded, people sleeping in chairs, and on mats on the floor just inches apart. These facts of the state in which people are seeking emergency shelter is proof that that state is failing our homeless and mentally ill population.

The recent change in the states philosophy of reimbursement to shelters from General Assistance money, was due to the large number of homeless individuals served by the shelters, now the state administration seeks to reimburse by determining eligibility of those individuals, rather than seeking to look at the entire problem of homelessness and mental health, but by criminalizing those who are homeless and mentally ill. The state reimburses the city $24 per night for people staying at the Oxford Street Homeless Shelter, which has space for 154 adults, many nights there are two to three hundred individuals who stay at the shelters, many are forced to sleep in chairs or in overflow areas in services buildings such as GA, and the Resource Center.  Swan and Bradley are among those who gathered in response to these recent headlines.  They said there is no way to force those clients to pay for services with their own money because their mental illness renders them incapable of comprehending their situation, and the shelters won't turn them away.

Years in a Homeless Shelter, Despite Thousands in the Bank: One Man's Story.  

Brandon - not his real name - died last August of liver disease at age 52. He had recently moved into his own apartment in a subsidized housing project. Before that, his primary residence was Portland's Oxford Street Shelter. He lived there, on and off, for more than a decade. - See more at: http://www.preblestreet.org/in-the-news/Years-in-a-Homeless-Shelter-Despite-Thousands-in-the-Bank-One-Mans-Story/893#sthash.lYqJ9sBM.dpuf

http://news.mpbn.net/post/years-homeless-shelter-despite-thousands-bank-one-mans-story

"I've laid next to a man who thought he was Hitler's grandson," he said. "I've laid next to another person who thought the government was spying on him and was after him. These are the worlds people are living in."

The truth is that the chronically homeless are frequent users of emergency services, crisis response and public safety systems (including jails), which tax government resources more than a night in a shelter. And, although they make up a small percentage of the overall homeless population, they account for 50 percent of shelter use.

I am outraged of these accusations that the homeless are holding onto their assets and choosing to  sleep on the cheap mats at the homeless shelter. This is ridiculous does not make sense! Maybe the Governor and DHHS officials need to go to the shelter themselves for a week, see the people at the shelter lined up, sometimes for hours, in the cold, rain, and heat, just to get a spot to sleep on a mat, six inches from others, and state officials say this is a choice, who would choose this? This is not about money, as LePage administration claims, but it is about those who are in poverty, and those who are mentally ill. Maine is criminalizing their weakest members, when they should be helping them regardless of their status, and illnesses.


“A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." - Mahatma Gandhi.


Resources:
http://news.mpbn.net/post/homeless-money-bank-advocates-weigh-audit-fracas
http://www.pressherald.com/2015/02/24/ga-autis-story-here/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSUZrxT1ifY
http://news.mpbn.net/post/years-homeless-shelter-despite-thousands-bank-one-mans-story
http://bangordailynews.com/2015/03/06/opinion/we-should-be-angry-about-homelessness-not-who-paid-for-shelter-stays/#disqus_thread

GENTRIFICATION OF PORTLAND AND MUNJOY HILL....

For my interview I decided to talk with my in-laws. Two people who grew up in Portland, lived in many apartments in Portland and on Munjoy hill, which is now one of the most desirable places to live in Portland Maine.

When I asked "What’s one thing you’ve learned about - gentrification/homelessness/home/community/people - from your experience(s), my in laws shared stories of their struggles growing up in Portland, how they lived in the poor parts of Portland. They shred that they never really had to worry about their kids being out on the streets playing because everyone new one another and would call if the kids were seen misbehaving. They shared that they rented an apartment for next to nothing by standards back then, today they said you pay more for you oil than you do the rent back in the days. They commented that they never really saw homeless people on the streets, maybe a handful, but not nearly to the extent that you do now in Portland. They commented that when they were just married living in Portland that they once took in a friend who was facing homelessness, helped him until he could get back on his feet- "today you don't see much of the same generosity, its more about what can I get out of this, and how soon can you pay me back?"  

They shared that disgusted to see the changes that are taking place in Maine, and in Portland. "Every town is facing gentrification, its not just Portland or Munjoy hill, but here as well." When they lived on Munjoy hill it was not the desirable place to live, the working poor lived there and places were run down, needed fixing, but you could easily find an affordable apartment, today they are few and far between. 

 They shared that even small one bedrooms are over a thousand dollars these days in Portland, efficiency apartments as well, you don't have parking or any grass in your yard. 

We drove down their old road in Portland as we talked about the changes that were taking place. Their old apartment was still there, and didn't look much different than when they lived in it over 20 years ago, just some new paint. We looked the apartment up in Zillow... 

21 May St, Portland, ME 04102

6 beds 2 baths 2,447 sqft

Zestimate^®: $362,049

Rent Zestimate^®: $2,114/mo

Est. Refi Payment

$1,341/mo

This 2447 square foot single family home has 6 bedrooms and 2.0 bathrooms. It is located at 21 May St Portland, Maine. 2 unit home with lot size 3,620 sqft. Built in 1875. 2 stories, room count:10.

Their first thoughts were that they wondered what this would mean for all those who can not afford the housing rates. For them, they had to move out of Portland and since been forced further and further away making access to services and commute difficult. My father in law, a Vietnam War Veteran says that he remembers going down to the pier with my husband and fishing off the docks, remembers taking the kids sledding over by the hospital and many other fun adventures that you can no longer do because the land is now all private, or have since had a building put on it. 

As we drove through Portland they shared more and more stories about their past growing up in Portland and having children. My husband who was in the car with me shared his own stories and memories of growing up in Portland- things he did that we could/would never dream of letting our own children do. He recalls leaving the house at the break of dawn and not returning until lunch time, riding his bike all over town with his friends, he recalls being about 7 years old doing this. He commented that there is no way we could feel comfortable letting out children do that, in Portland or many other towns in Maine now, there's too many people who may harm them or take them- something my mother in law says she never needed to worry about.

The information kept coming as we drove around Portland, driving up on Munjoy hill they shared more stories of sledding in the winter down the road. Neighbors were all friendly and would watch out for your children and how everyone knew one another. Something that is much different today! 

We drove through areas that my in laws said was all old stores, buildings that have since been torn down and in place are apartment buildings, new places that look "fancy, nothing like what you saw when we lived here."

It was so great to just sit back and hear the three of them talking about old times, and how much Portland has changed. After I asked that first question they just took it from there, they shared stories, reminisced in the past, and sad to see how those who can not afford the now "luxury" apartments that stand where the working class once lived, they worried about how families like ours can afford to live these days, and worried more for the future of this state, for us and our kids. 


I decided to look for other evidence of gentrification for this post, as I was searching I was amazed to find video of store owners, tenants talk about "the crime that was once known on Munjoy hill, how you don't see that now, that it is a nice neighborhood and somewhere you want to live." I thought more about the people who are being pushed out, raising prices of apartments and homes, families who once lived on Munjoy hill because to the work on the docks and water that the area brought. I thought about the homeless who are being arrested, push around, and left with nothing as the rich move in and buy the land, apartments and increase the cost of living in Portland. I though about the homeless who used to camp out in the wooded areas that have since lost all covering from trees and exposed and fined for camping out. I think about how there is little land available to purchase and the cost in hundreds of thousands of dollars, that organizations that want to buy land to help the poor/homeless are unable to do so. 
My interview with my in laws took much longer than the 15 minutes, but I had to only ask that one question. I want to know more. I wanted to know about their personal experiences and struggles, about what it was like to live in Portland during that time, and their own struggles over the years and the choices they have made along the way. I didn't go there this time. I just sat there and enjoyed seeing them interact the way that they did, talking about the old times, laughing and smiling about experiences they had and times they spent together having fun in Portland. I saw a joy in them that I had not seen for a while, a connection between the three of them that has been missing for so long. I did not want to rob them of that moment, by talking more about struggles and unpleasant memories.

I found this great video from Down East Maine, the writer says exactly what is happening in Portland, and does not sugar coat it at all! She talks about growing up in Portland and the changes that have and are taking place, and what we are to expect for the future!

 

 

 

 

Wealth Inequality in America

 The other fact that I was thinking about was the wealth inequality of America- and remembered a video I saw last week at the Maine Equal Justice Partners Training in Augusta. I though it would be important to share here as we talk about inequality of people, and how the wealthy are able to come in and purchase land, remodel apartments and houses in Portland, as the working poor, middle class are pushed out and unable to compete with the wealthy to purchase homes and land in Portland.

Weekly Observations: 
1. As a friend of mine were sitting at a local restaurant I over heard a women from the table next to us talking about buying property in Portland, renovating it, and renting it out for more than the mortgage as a income property.  
2. As part of my project for my policy class I am looking at policies that are in place for homeless youth in foster care. I came across a housing voucher that is available to youth in foster care and emailed Jon from Preble Street to ask how many youth are using this voucher. The response was shocking- none, (yes there is more back story) but no youth in foster care are using this voucher....

 
   References: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHY9qxzCkQg
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/21-May-St-Portland-ME-04102/121781805_zpid/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxOphY5MQyg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAxfEbYRkA8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPKKQnijnsM