HEA 447 Social Experiences Blog

     I have been studying abroad in Wales, in the United Kingdom this semester. I live in a fairly small town and throughout the past few months have been noticing the resources and information posted around town, as well as within my class curriculum, appealing to high-priority need groups. I live less than five minutes from two community kitchens and have been fortunate to get to know multiple people locally who have lived experience with, or working history addressing homelessness. Additionally, there is a great reuse centre in town that hosts repair cafes for fixing up old or dysfunctional tools. The prominence of programs for those facing homelessness, as well as a policy focus on prevention and local cooperation led me to decide to dig deeper into the laws that governed housing authority and compare it with the United States.     Within the past 15 years, a flock of new acts and memos have been put forth that have fortified the protections for tenants, est...

  During my social experience, I volunteered at a nonprofit organization called 'Nourish Up.' This organization is dedicated to addressing the pressing need of hunger in our communities. They work relentlessly to establish that individuals and families in underserved areas never face the fear of going without food. Nourish Up stands out for its integrated approach to active hunger. They provide meals and strive to create a supportive environment for those in need. They believe in nourishing the body and the spirit and showing compassion toward those they serve. This commitment to fostering community and support ignited my passion for helping others. I was particularly drawn to the organization because of its compelling mission to uplift our neighbors. I resonate deeply with their vision of a community where no one feels shame or fear about accessing food. Their work goes beyond merely providing meals; it promotes dignity and respect for individuals facing food insecurity. Throu...

Azellette Williams 12/01/2024 447-02 SOCIAL EXPERIENCES   50, 30, 20 By: Azellette Williams   Money makes the world go round. A dime adds to the dollar. What you need and what you want makes 80, the last 20 goes to college. "$78.62.". That's how much it costs to live daily, allegedly, for me and my son. Anyone surviving off that truly?   I know none. My journey to the concrete jungle alone in my -reel life, is about $50.00 every two days. So that "$78.62", I got to split 3 ways.  See, "Gas, home, and food is how it goes. And that last 20 is food now, so college on hold.". Cause food is important, and education is too. But right now, in this instance food has to do.  It did for my mom, her mom, and hers too. So, my son, I am sorry, but it will have to do for you. But this isn't your future, it doesn't have to be. Your mom made some mistakes with the 50, 30, 20. No fault of her own. Family had no concept of money. Never had it. Not obtained.   A...

  My experience volunteering with the                                 American Red Cross. My first experience with the American Red Cross was in December 2014 when we lost everything in a house fire. As apart of my healing journey, I decided to give back and volunteer with the organization that had helped us so much. Little did I know it would be the most rewarding thing I've ever done (so far).  I've helped hundreds of people, I have attended numerous house fires and I've even been on deployment both local and virtual through hurricanes and tornados. I volunteered from 2015 to 2020. One of the most memorable deployments I had was when the tornados touched down in eastern Greensboro in 2018. I drove back and forth for well over a month working in disaster relief with people directly affected by the tornados that had hit eastern Greensboro. I promise you, nothing will give you perspec...

  During this class, students will engage in social experiences (some call these experiments), but we are not doing research, and this does not require IRB approval. Students will co-design social experiences as 20% of their grade. Students will design experiences during the first month of class. Examples might include volunteering at a local soup kitchen, working in a shelter, observing people and families who are struggling with health, income, and social status, and thinking about solutions. Other ideas could include creating a budget and living according to it based on the federal poverty level/guidelines and journaling about it later. Reviewing local policies and identifying gaps in current local policies, presenting recommendations to local leaders or policymakers. Post your reflections and ideas about this assignment here as a blog. This can happen before you begin the experience, during, or after.