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Archives for March 2018

by Rachel Simon

AARP Speakers Bureau – Suba Saty

(Mar. 28, 2018) Catherine Read speaks with Suba Saty, facilitator for the AARP Speakers Bureau in Northern Virginia. The Speaker’s Bureau is a wonderful benefit for AARP members, as the discussion topics are wide and varied, and provide a rich resource of information. Saty is in charge of finding speakers and matching them with organizations and programs in the community.

Presentation topics include everything from understanding Social Security and Medicare, to the 5 Pillars of Brain Health, to Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft. The AARP website offers a full listing of upcoming talks, along with locations and registration information. AARP has recently forged a partnership with the Osher Lifelong Learning Center (OLLI), which is a part of George Mason University. Other speaking engagements take place at community centers throughout Northern Virginia, as well as in churches, synagogues and mosques. Anyone can request a speaker, but Saty notes that due to high demand they normally schedule engagements about 3-4 months out in the future. Speakers are also available to participate on panels for local conferences.

Suba Saty AARPThe Bureau is always looking for qualified volunteer speakers. If you have a specific expertise and are interested in getting involved, you can apply online to be vetted through the state office of AARP in Richmond. Once the application process is complete, the local Fairfax Bureau can be in touch to talk about how you can lend your specialized knowledge to local members.

In addition to the speaker series, AARP also has other local programming available to members. The driver safety course is given throughout the year, and can result in a small discount on car insurance premiums. AARP also offers year-round Tax Aid advice free of charge, and a Voter Engagement Program.

Several times throughout the year AARP will sponsor academies at local community centers, where there will be an entire day of programming featuring multiple topics. In June there will be a mini-academy at Walter Reed Community Center in Arlington and on September 8th the OLLI institute will host an all day seminar. Please visit the website for more details and registration information.  You can also signup to get newsletters and email updates.  You can also find AARP Virginia on Facebook and Twitter (@AARPVa)

Filed Under: Blogging, TV Shows, Your Need to Know Tagged With: AARP, AARP Driver Safety Course, AARP Speakers Bureau, AARP Tax Advisors, AARP Virginia, American Association Retired Persons, OLLI, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Reston Community Center, Suba Saty, Walter Reed Community Center

by Catherine Read

Non Obvious 2018 – Rohit Bhargava

(March 2018) A trend is a unique curated observation of the accelerating present.

The future belongs to those who can learn to use their powers of observation to see the connections between industries, ideas, and behaviors and curate them into a deeper understanding of the world around us.

Preparing for the future starts with filtering out the noise and getting better at understanding today . . . as it alway has.

Rohit Bhargava – Trend Curator, Storyteller, Innovater – has been writing about Non Obvious Trends for a decade. They were first published on his blog, then as a visual presentation on Slideshare, followed by an e-book through Amazon, and eventually as a published book starting in 2011.

I have no idea how this was not on my radar before now. I picked up this book at the popup bookstore operated by Book People at the SXSWEdu in Austin, TX, earlier this month. This is precisely why it’s important to have a well curated selection of books to browse. Books are put before us through excellent curation that we would otherwise miss.

Bhargava sets about collecting ideas throughout the year, marking the hardcopy pages with the salient idea that caught his attention, then he sets them aside in a folder. These are articles from magazines, websites and other resources. He makes it a point to pick up magazines that are wildly disparate in their themes and target audiences – like model train enthusiasts.

Curiosity is key here. And having a wide range of interests is also important. We tend to gravitate to the things we enjoy, or impact our business and career, or validate our existing beliefs. Being open to a broad mix of topics helps to elevate trends away from the the specific subject to the behaviors that might be associated across that broad spectrum.

I like the way this book is put together. Having never read any of his previous Non Obvious books, it was all quite fresh to me in how he explained his process. He talked about his team and how they went about sorting, grouping and naming emerging trends. And his final trends all have well crafted names – another factor that he sees as very important to helping people understand the trend and what it means. At the back of the book, there is a section where he goes back and lists all of his Non Obvious Trends going back to 2011 and rates how well he predicted their impact. That is very interesting.

Some of Non Obvious Trends have been brought forward from earlier years as the concept have evolved, taken shape and grown in their impact. Some of the more interesting ones out of the 15 he identifies for this year are:

Ungendered
Brand Stand
Manipulated Outrage
Data Pollution
Approachable Luxury

Each of the 15 trends have their own section where he talks about how he came to identify the trend and wonderful examples of where they can be seen – using varied examples across multiple industries. I was fascinated by Approachable Luxury and some of the examples he used there. I had no idea they are producing quality diamonds in labs now.

I highly recommend this book. It’s a very interesting and engaging read. I am of a most curious mindset and I enjoy reading the works of writers who are as well.

Filed Under: Entrepreneurship, Good Books Tagged With: Approachable Luxury, Brand Stand, Curation, Curiosity, Data Pollution, ideas, Manipulated Outrage, Non Obvious 2018, Rohit Bhargava, Trend Prediction, Trends, Ungendered

by Catherine Read

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute – The OLLI Players

(March 21, 2018) Catherine Read talks with Sandy Lisiewski, a member of The OLLI Players, and Michelle Blandburg, Treasurer of the OLLI Board of Directors and also a member of this local theatrical troupe. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is affiliated with both The Osher Foundation and George Mason University. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute was founded for the purpose of offering mature adult learners ongoing educational experiences along with social activities and special events.

Sandy Sandy Lisiewski OLLI PlayersLisiewski joined a Readers’ Theater class at OLLI in 1998. It was a way for those interested in acting to participate in productions without costumes, sets or memorizing lines. That evolved into performing skits which they performed at local events. In 2005, Kathie West, a retired drama teacher, joined the Readers’ Theater and started a Drama Club at OLLI. The OLLI Players Theater was established shortly thereafter. One of their members is also a producer at the local Fairfax Public Access (FPA) studio and created the opportunity to produce radio and television productions in addition to their live performances. They branched out into interactive Murder Mystery productions. After the first production, a class was offered every semester that allows those who want to participate in a Murder Mystery to create the characters, write the plot and participate in the production.

In 2015, OLLI PlayersKathie West started the OLLI Players Workshop Class. The first performances were at the OLLI campus. They decided to do community outreach to see if there were organizations interested in having them perform at their own locations. Out of the 75 organizations they contacted, a substantial number welcomed their free performances, and so they took their show on the road in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties. The players range in age from about 60 to 89 and there are 15 to 20 players in the troupe at any given time. Doing traditional plays are a challenge because the venues are dramatically different from one location to the next. So they have developed themed productions that are more of a variety show or vaudeville format to allow for different players’ availability and the constraints of the performance space. They have done a program around “Memories” and also “Lyrics from the Heart” as well as holiday themed shows. One of their favorite annual fundraising projects is a calendar featuring the OLLI Players in costumes around a particular theme.

Michelle Michelle Blandburg OLLI PlayersBlandburg discovered OLLI through seeing it on a bumpersticker before she was even fully retired. She started taking classes around her part-time work schedule, and one of those classes was Readers’ Theater. She joined The OLLI Players, was asked to be on the OLLI Board of Directors (where she is currently Treasurer) and then began teaching the Readers’ Theater Class. There are 121 OLLIs affiliated with universities and colleges around the country supported by The Osher Foundation, at least one in every state and in DC. There is an introductory rate to try out the program for one semester. The annual membership fee for one full year provides unlimited classes (there are over 600 classes offered) and a GMU Student ID that offers eligibility for a number of discounts at the bookstore and in other places. Many instructors are academics (active and retired), and a wide range of other area professionals that are experts in their fields. If you want a class that is not provided, you can propose a class to the program committee and even teach it yourself.

There is a course catalogue published four times a year, the schedule of classes is also online, and there is an online registration. Classes are taught at the main OLLI campus at Tallwood off Roberts Road in Fairfax, as well as in Loudoun County, Reston and at locations scattered around Northern Virginia, some in spaces provided by faith communities. Classes include things like dance, yoga and Tai Chi. In addition to the classes, there are also many clubs – for Bridge, Current Events, Arts & Crafts, Poetry and more. There are also special events like wine tastings, chocolate tastings and ice cream socials. The Special Events Committee is open to new suggestions. This is a volunteer driven organization, and the people in the OLLI community are what makes it go.

For more information visit: http://OLLI.GMU.EDU or email: [email protected] The main office is located at 4210 Roberts Rd in Fairfax, VA.

To book The OLLI Players at your location, email: [email protected]

Filed Under: Blogging, TV Shows, Virginia, Your Need to Know Tagged With: George Mason University, OLLI Players, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Performances, Readers Theater, Seniors, Theater

by Rachel Simon

Rebuilding Together – Patti Klein

(Mar. 14, 2018) Catherine Read interviews Patti Klein, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together of Arlington, Fairfax and Falls Church. Rebuilding Together is a national non-profit organization that brings volunteers and communities together to improve the homes and lives of low-income homeowners. They mobilize volunteer teams, who visit low-income homeowners to make much needed repairs. Over 80% of their clientele are seniors who are aging in place, and who are on a fixed income. They also work with those who are in vulnerable positions, weather its due to an illness, divorce or loss of a job.

Rebuilding Together was originally known as the Christmas in April program, initiated over 40 years ago. The organization has been re-branded, and now does work year around to help low income homeowners keep up with the demands of their properties. As previously noted, Klein finds most of the people who need their help are seniors who are aging in place. They work closely with Physical and Occupational Therapists who are able to make referrals to the organization when a homeowner is released from the hospital, and might need accommodations in order to return home safely. Klein notes that they also get referrals from both Arlington and Fairfax Counties when homeowners apply for property tax waivers. Additionally, Rebuilding Together appears in the Golden Gazette, a Fairfax County publication geared towards seniors. Klein wants people to know more about their organization, and encourages anyone to make a referral, call the office, or apply online to see if they qualify for services.

Rebuilding Together is a needs-based organization. Applicants must fall at or below 80% of the median income, which in Fairfax County is $52,000 for one person. Once an applicant is approved, Rebuilding Together will send a team out to survey the house and come up with a comprehensive list of improvements that need to be made. Many of the jobs wind up being relatively small, like grab bars, comfort height toilets, or fixing uneven flooring. Once a comprehensive list is made, then they find a sponsor for the project and work with volunteers to get the job done.

Funding for the organization comes from a variety of sources, including corporate and faith-based partners, individual donors and support from both Fairfax and Arlington Counties. Last year Klein notes that they completed 73 projects. These include many homes where aging in place improvements were made, as well as work at homeless shelters, group homes for the developmentally disabled and even a community garden. The average cost of materials for an individual project is around $450.

There are many ways to get involved as a volunteer for Rebuilding Together. Individuals or groups can apply online to be volunteers. Children over the age of 14 are encouraged to get involved, but would need to sign a waiver and be supervised by an adult if under the age of 18. These are ideal projects for scout groups or youth groups who are looking to take on a meaningful project. Each volunteer can be signed up for an email list, so they get a schedule of upcoming jobs, and are able to fill in on an as-needed basis when they are available. Klein notes that they are flexible and willing to work with anyone, even if they only have a little bit of time to give.

With only three full-time and two part-time employees to manage projects on approximately 100 homes, and organize 1200 volunteers on an annual basis, Klein notes that that they do as much as they can with the resources they are given. She encourages everyone to visit their website and to financially support the organization. April 28th marks National Rebuilding Day, their big spring project day when they will rehabilitate up to 30 local homes and will need 15-50 people on each project. Klein encourages all who are interested to reach out and consider getting involved.

Filed Under: Blogging, TV Shows, Virginia, Your Need to Know Tagged With: Aging in Place, Christmas in April, low income housing, low income housing support, occupational therapist referral aging in place, Patti Klein, physical therapist referral for aging in place, Rebuilding Together, seniors aging in place

by Rachel Simon

Fairfax for All Coalition – Inside Scoop

 

(Mar. 12, 2018) Catherine Read speaks with community activists who are part of the Fairfax for All Coalition. These representatives are from local civic advocacy organizations that focus on supporting the immigrant community in Northern Virginia.   Catherine speaks with Sookyung Oh of NAKASEC, Allie Boldt of Demos and Michelle LaRue of CASA Virginia. They all share important information about the work that they are doing every day to make our communities strong and safe for all residents.

In the first segment, Catherine interviews Sookyung Oh, the DC Area Director of NAKASEC (National Korean American Service Education Consortium). NAKASEC began its work in Virginia five years ago, and current programs are centered on immigrant rights, civic engagement, and parent and youth organizing. NAKASEC VA’s work is focused on the most vulnerable community members, including low-income, recent immigrants, limited English proficient, undocumented, youth, women, and seniors. It is a nonprofit aimed at building an inclusive community by creating economic opportunities for all, breaking down barriers and bringing people together.

Sookyung Oh NAKASECNAKASEC took on two big legislative priorities this year. The first was advocating in Richmond at the General Assembly for a Driver’s Privilege Card for all, including undocumented immigrants. This would extend driving privileges to anyone who has been tested, trained and insured. Unfortunately this bill got killed in committee and never made it to the floor for a vote. Their second legislative goal was to extend in-state tuition to all eligible students who graduated from a Virginia high school. Currently DACA recipients are eligible for in-state tuition, but only after a full year after being granted DACA status. This bill would have loosened the strict requirements and opened up the doors for many more students to pursue a college degree at an affordable price. This initiative was also killed before getting to the floor for a vote. NAKASEC will continue to advocate for these benefits in the coming years.

In the second segment Catherine speaks with Michelle La Rue from CASA Virginia and Allie Boldt of Demos. CASA is an immigrant rights organization that aims to organize, advocate for and expand opportunities for Latino and immigrant populations in our local communities. Demos is a non-partisan, national public policy organization working for an America where everyone has an equal say in our democracy and an equal chance in our economy.

Allie Boldt DemosBoldt spoke about the fact that being an undocumented immigrant is not a crime, it is a civil offense similar to not paying taxes. Civil immigration enforcement is separate from the criminal law system. Demos focuses on pressing Fairfax County to end all unnecessary and unconstitutional collaboration with ICE. Boldt would like to see the end of the over-criminalizing of the immigrant community. She was pleased to see that Sheriff Stacey Kinkaid has agreed to stop honoring ICE requests to detain someone past their scheduled release date, and would like to see the Juvenile Detention Centers follow suit.

LaRue shared that CASA is intent on protecting confidential and sensitive information about community members. They aim for local officials to guard this data, instead of freely sharing information with ICE officials. This includes personal contact information and immigration/citizen status. She would also like to limit ICE agent’s access to county facilities like jails, schools and other public facilities. Another goal is to end the practice of arresting immigrants and bringing them into custody on misdemeanor charges, when other citizens would simply be released.

Michelle La Rue CASAThe cumulative effects of the practices that CASA and Demos are aiming to eliminate actually have the result of making our communities less safe. Both organizations claim that the current policies of Virginia law enforcement’s unconstitutional collaboration with ICE breed mistrust and fear that endangers the safety, health and well-being of the entire community. Extensive research shows that, compared to counties that cooperate with ICE, counties that refuse to honor detainers have statistically lower crime rates, stronger economies and put less strain on social and mental health assistance programs.  This is because there is greater trust and cooperation between the police and the communities when people do not fear being deported.

In addition to NAKASEC, Demos and CASA, the Fairfax for All Coalition is comprised of La Collectiva, DMV Sanctuary Congregation Network, and ACLU People Power. They are working together to move the needle on regulations at individual agencies and departments like the Sheriff’s Office and Police Department, as well as through countywide ordinance. The Fairfax for All Coalition has provided Fairfax officials with the resources to update their regulations and pass an ordinance. Both Boldt and LaRue note that if these issues are important to you, than you should not hesitate in making your voice heard. Reach out to your Supervisor and share your stories, experiences and opinions. The next opportunity to speak publicly about this will be on April 3rd at the Public Safety meeting held by Sheriff Kinkaid. Check the CASA website and facebook page for more information as the date approaches.

Filed Under: Inside Scoop, Political, TV Shows, Virginia Tagged With: Allie Boldt, CASA, CASA Virginia, DACA, Demos, Driver's Privilege Card, Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax For All Coalition, FCPS, ICE, immigrant, Michelle La Rue, NAKASEC, NAKASEC VA, National Korean American Service Education Consortium, northern virginia, Sheriff Stacey Kinkaid, Sookyung Oh

by Catherine Read

Educated: A Memoir – Tara Westover

(March 2018) “I am not the child my father raised. But he is the father who raised her.”

A gripping memoir. From the opening passage to the final sentence, I was pulling for Tara Westover to make it.

Raised in a Mormon family in Idaho that eschewed modern medicine, public education and was deeply fearful of the government, Tara did herself and the world a great favor by keeping journals from a very early age. The word that kept flashing in my brain throughout this book was “gaslighting.” She was constantly being made to feel that SHE WAS THE CRAZY ONE by her family – her parents, her siblings and the larger Mormon community.

Despite never having attended school at all (nor having the “homeschooling” her parents claimed to provide), she managed to enroll in Brigham Young University based on her high ACT score at the age of 17. From that point, she was fortunate to connect with people who recognized her ability and wanted to help her to realize her potential. Those professors and mentors kept opening doors that she walked through to claim her future.

At the same time, she kept striving to remain a member of her nuclear family.

I never knew what would happen next. It is an emotional rollercoaster. Keeping a journal turned out to be central to this memoir. All of us have faulty memories. It’s hard to be accurate in hindsight when intervening events color our memories of the past. Having a contemporary account of what happened in the immediate aftermath of traumatic events provided a more reliable witness to her life.

Perhaps I’m just particularly drawn to memoirs of strong women these days. Tara’s internal struggles to reconcile her life with her desire to stay connected to her family reminded me of Emily Nunn’s memoir The Comfort Food Diaries which addressed similar issues. (Both authors changed the names of their immediate family members to protect their privacy.) Where does our commitment to our family begin, and end, when it impacts our ability to live a full and healthy life?

I would highly recommend this book. It is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit in the most difficult circumstances. Our history does not dictate our future. Our origination story is not the only story. We can write a narrative for ourselves that accepts that where we have come from is only part of who we are. Our “self” is in our heads. We do have choices. And self preservation is the choice we have to make first.

Filed Under: Education, Good Books, Women Tagged With: BYU, Cambridge, education, Harvard, herbalism, Idaho, Memoir, Mormon, Tara Westover

by Rachel Simon

2018 Russian Elections with Dr. Klara Bilgin

(Mar. 7, 2018) Catherine Read interviews Dr. Klara Bilgin, Dean of Public and International Affairs at Virginia International University, about the upcoming Russian elections to be held on March 18, 2018. Although Vladimir Putin is widely expected to win the elections, there is much that can be learned about Russian electoral system which provides insights into what is happening in the country.

On December 6th Vladimir Putin announced that he would seek reelection for his second consecutive term, and his fourth term overall. Putin served his first two consecutive terms from 2000-2008, after which he was barred from running again. During Dmitry Medvedev’s administration the constitution was changed to a 6-year term. Putin ran again in 2012, and his 6-year term is now ending. Should he be elected again, which is widely expected, he would be 72 years old at the end of this next term. It is not expected that he will attempt to change the constitution and try to run for another term, more likely he will look at grooming his successor.

Dr. Bilgin shared that the office of the presidency in Russia is quite strong. The Russian President can institute decrees and legislative initiatives without oversight of the legislative branch. Even if there was stronger oversight, the Duma (lower house of parliament) is held by United Russia, the party that is closest to Putin. The party holds 350 of the 400 seats in that body, with only 50 comprising the opposition. This allows Putin to have complete control over the Executive and Legislative process. The Russian Judiciary is made up of 19 Justices, all appointed by the President; so neither does that branch serve as a check on the Executive.

Although Putin is expected to win this election, it is interesting to look at his opponents in this race. Ksenia Sobchak, a TV anchor, opposition activist and journalist announced in October of 2017 that she would run for President. Sobchak is the first female candidate in 14 years, and the youngest candidate to run since 2004. Dr. Bilgin heard her speak recently here in Washington, DC and was very impressed with her knowledge of the issues. Her ideas were quite liberal in the Russian context and even touched on some feminist themes. Sobchak admits she is not seriously running for office, but is using this platform as a “dry run” for the Russian Parliamentary elections in 2021. She also represents a young challenger from deep inside the current regime, as her father was a mentor to Vladimir Putin.

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a 41-year-old lawyer whose protests and corruptions exposes of the sometimes gilded lives of government officials have irked the Kremlin, has been barred from the contest over what he says is a trumped up suspended prison sentence. Unable to challenge the 65 year old Putin at the ballot box, and kept off state TV, he has devised a different strategy: A long-term political siege of a man most Russians consider invincible. He has energized young voters in the cities, and has called for a boycott of the election. His goal is to reduce the votes by 10% to show that his cause has force and power behind it.   Navalny also plans to deploy tens of thousands of observers on Election Day to chronicle the event and to hopefully discourage fraud.

In taking a global look at the Russian electorate, Dr. Bilgin shared that it is important to understand the mindset of the Russian voters, who are conservative by nature. After living through the tumultuous times of the 1990’s under Boris Yeltzin, they find a sense of comfort in what they know. Today the economy is somewhat stable, with inflation at around 7% and growth in the 1.7-1.8% range. The older Russian voters, especially, have no desire to return to the instability that marked the recent past. Therefore, they are likely to reward Putin for keeping the country stable as opposed to taking a chance on someone new and unknown.

Filed Under: Blogging, TV Shows, Your Need to Know Tagged With: 2018 Russian Elections, Alexei Navalny, Dr. Klara Bilgin, Ksenia Sobchak, Russian President, Virginia International University, Vladimir Putin

by Catherine Read

Literacy Council of Northern Virginia – Inside Scoop

(March 5, 2018) Catherine Read interviews Roopal Mehta Saran, Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Northern Virgnia (LCVN), about the numerous programs and services being offered in the Northern Virginia area. They are joined by Amy Tristan, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, in the last segment where they discuss the numerous ways individuals, organizations and companies can engage with LCNV.

The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia is 55 years old, and Roopal Saran has been at the helm of the organization for the last six months. There are over 36 million American adults that don’t have literacy, writing or math skills above a 3rd grade level. Some those adult learners are native English speakers and some are native speakers of many other languages. The Northern Virginia area is multiculturally very rich with over 100 languages being spoken in classrooms and homes around our region. Adults learning English as a second language may or may not have literacy skills in their native language. LCNV’s Beginning-level English classes teach the foundational skills adult English Language Learners (ELLs) need to learn to speak, understand, read and write English.

Classes are taught in multiple locations – in places such as the James Lee Community Center where LCNV has offices, in schools such as Crestwood Elementary, and spaces provided by collaborating non-profits such as Connections for Hope in Herndon, VA. The idea is to take the classes to meet the people where they are and where it’s easy to get there using public transportation. There will be new classes starting out in the Centreville area in early 2018.

LCNV Roopal Saran Literacy Councilis also collaborating with local companies in workforce development training through increased literacy that is both industry and company specific. Destination Workforce® training for B.F. Saul Hospitality Group’s Doubletree by Hilton at Tyson’s Corner focused on their housekeeping and banquet employees. The program provided instruction on language and cultural tools to provide better staff interactions with customers through the B.F. Saul “Know Your Hotel” framework. LCNV has also partnered with Goodwin House in Bailey’s Crossroads and with other local business to craft specific literacy programs that are job specific. The Destination Workforce® program is also working with the City of Alexandria to help newly arrived refugees with basic English literacy in preparations to more quickly prepare for entry level job opportunities.

Amy Tristan LCNVAmy Tristan spoke about the hundreds of literacy volunteers that make their programs possible. Many have been with LCNV for over a decade and they are always looking for new volunteers who are interested in taking the training to be classroom instructors, to offer small group tutoring and also conversation classes. There are programs to meet that time and location preferences of a variety of volunteers and they welcome companies who encourage their employees to engage in community volunteerism. LCNV also welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with other organizations and non-profits who serve clients with basic literacy needs.

The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia was named Parade Magazine’s 2017 Outstanding Charity in Virginia: “Last year, 1,551 students from more than 90 countries (including the U.S.) participated in LCNV Programs.”

Like all non-profits, LCNV relies on individual donations and corporate partnerships. More information can be found at the LCNV website: www.lcnv.org or by calling them at 703-237-0866. They can also be found on Facebook and on Twitter @LCNV

Filed Under: Inside Scoop, TV Shows, Virginia, Women Tagged With: Amy Tristan, Catherine Read, Connections for Hope, Destination Workforce, Hilton McLean, LCNV, Literacy, Literacy Council Northern Virginia, northern virginia, Roopal Mehta Saran, Virginia

by Catherine Read

Mustard Seed – Laila Ibrahim

(March 2018) We don’t get to pick how big our good gets to be, but each of us picks if we gonna do some good right where we are.”– Mattie Freedman

One of my favorite passages from this remarkable book.

Mustard Seed is a sequel to Ibrahim’s Yellow Crocus, and as historical fiction goes, it’s outstanding. The narrative of both books unfolds in Virginia. And the author captures so vividly the lives of slaves both before the Civil War and the injustices done to them afterward.

While attending a session at the SXSW Education conference today on Black Education in America, the very wise Dr. Howard Fuller of Marquette University made this observation: “There is a difference between being liberated and being free.” It sent a shiver up my spine for how it perfectly captured the story of Mustard Seed.

In the 1850s, Mattie escapes Fair Oaks Plantation with her daughter Jordon to join her husband Emanuel and their son Samuel who earlier escaped to the free state of Ohio. Returning to Virginia in 1868 to extricate her newly “freed” cousin Sarah from the plantation, Mattie and her family experience some of the most egregious oppressions of Reconstruction. Slavery did not end with the Emancipation Proclamation. Slavery transformed into mass incarceration. As evident in Virginia today as it is in many other parts of the United States.

There were moments in this book that made me want to scream out loud. It truly touched a raw nerve after a floor speech by Del. Nick Freitas (R-Culpeper) on Friday, March 2nd, that threw the House of Delegates into chaos. In his remarks are the historic echoes of enraged white men – as if it was transferred genetically from one generation in Virginia to the next.

Today, I watched on YouTube as three African American Delegates stood on the floor of that same House chamber and addressed Delegate Freitas’s remarks. Delegates Luke Torian, Delores Quinn and Lamont Bagby pushed back. As they should. Because the story of what happened in Richmond in the past few days is not so different from the story this book tells. Racism, oppression and injustice is woven in the fabric of Virginia’s culture.

“We realize that we live in a ugly political moment. So while we were offended, we were not surprised,” Bagby said. “It should embarrass every member of this body that we have allowed such rhetoric to enter these chambers. Bringing up a very painful past to make a political point is disgusting and poisonous.”

Our history does not have to define our future. However, ignorance of our history most assuredly allows past wrongs to go unacknowledged and ignorance to be perpetuated by future generations. Historical fiction has a place in education when it is based on thorough research and grounded in factual and verifiable accounts. You feel what the characters are going through, not just absorbing a recounting of events.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who can read and everyone who considers themselves a Virginian.

Filed Under: Good Books, Political, Virginia, Women Tagged With: Dr. Howard Fuller, Freitas, historical fiction, Laila Ibrahim, mustard seed, racism, Reconstruction, Richmond, Slavery, Virginia

by William Zuhl

Restorative Justice – Inside Scoop

(Feb 26, 2018) On this episode of Inside Scoop, Catherine Read talks to Restorative Justice experts Vickie Shoap, Bill Casey and Dave Deal about what Restorative Justice (RJ) is and how it is being applied in Fairfax County Public Schools and by the Northern Virginia Mediation Services. Vickie Shoap is a Restorative Justice specialist working for FCPS, on their Restorative Justice Initiative which deals with the school system’s disciplinary process. Bill Casey and Dave Deal are co-directors of the Northern Virginia Mediation Service Restorative Justice Program, and work with the county on the Alternative Accountability Program, which provides an alternative to criminal charges for first time offenders.

Vickie Shoap FCPS RJRestorative Justice is a philosophy of dealing with misdeamors and minor crimes by examining the situation through a different lens. Where traditional justice does an investigation then punishes the responsible party exactly according to the law. Restorative Justice examines individual harm, who and how were they harmed, then bringing them together with the one who did the harming. In school, they use it for all forms of conflict, using it to prevent the escalation of situations. They also use it to respond, letting those who were harmed talk about what they experienced and what exactly it meant to them. It brings offenders face-to-face with the realities of what they did. It creates a conversation which can be very difficult to have, especially for children. All of that is with the ultimate goal of repairing the harm and making the situation right and prevent the situation from occurring again.

Restorative Justice is an old method of seeking to address wrongs which was suppressed under zero-tolerance policies. The traditional method was, when an offense had occurred, to gather the community and discuss how to repair the harm and restore relationships. They built upon a notion that everyone is connected, ultimately, it’s about developing empathy.

In modern society its hoped that by applying Restorative Justice techniques that there can be a reduction in recidivism and a reduction in punishments which don’t actually achieve their goals. For example, it has been suggested that out-of-school suspensions fail to serve anyone’s needs, the student who is suspended simply gets free days, while they fall behind their school work and does nothing to solve the underlying issues. That idea has gained enough traction that the Virginia State Legislature is looking at addressing an excessive number of suspensions.

Traditional punitive methods create a stigma around the offender, preventing them from properly integration back into the community even if they have done their time and learned from their offenses. Restorative Justice focuses on the victim as well as the offender, then those who were affected by the fallout. The needs and harm done to the victim is addressed, which traditional methods frequently ignore in favor is just punishing the offender. Restorative Justice is about making the offender acknowledge their offense and contribute in some manner to repairing the harm done by their actions. Generally, students will still be in the same class together, so it is important to work out their differences and resolve the issues before things escalate.

Applying Restorative Justice to various situations turns punishment into an educational process, especially for students. In Fairfax County, the school system has been applying Restorative Justice to their correctional process in aid of developing social skills and empathy. They feel that traditional out-of-school suspensions teach students that simply staying at home is better than facing situations where they come into contact with those they may have harmed and further that the traditional suspension is based upon the idea of isolation, something which modern technology makes a near impossibility and does nothing to solve potential ongoing conflicts or prevent escalation. Data has shown that repeated suspensions in middle school triples the probability those students will be involved in the juvenile justice system. By having face-to-face conversations with those they wronged, students are taught exactly what their actions have caused and about resiliency, social responsibility and empathy. Discipline is supposed to be educational, to teach students how they can be better, rehabilitation, not necessarily about the punishment itself.

Zero tolerance policies came to the fore in the 1980s initially relating to the drug issues in society, but over time became too rigid. Juvenile offenders and school offenses became lumped in to the need for punishment and created a situation where offenders became isolated from the community. They also made no allowances for children acting as children sometimes do, turning relatively minor learnable situations into larger situations. The policies were about punishing offenders but did nothing to address restoring the damage done. It became so harsh that offenders failed to learn while those harmed did not have their needs met.

FCPS has been working on a Restorative Justice policy for almost ten years. Initially the program was piloted using the services of the Northern Virginia Mediation Service (NVMS) in Westfield High School. In the 2010-2011 school year FCPS committed itself to a system-wide implementation of Restorative Justice policies in every school, elementary, middle and high school. Over 200 schools implemented the system with the aid of seven full-time restorative justice experts, including Vickie Shoap.

FCPS has been applying Restorative Justice techniques to more than just their disciplinary process. Teachers have been trained in using the techniques to encourage students to talk with one another, share information and create a community, preventing incidents before they can happen in the first place. By getting students used to Restorative Justice Practices they also allow the process to move more smoothly when an incident does occur, as students are familiar with the concepts behind restorative justice, or even allow teachers to resolve incidents without escalating matters higher up.

Dave Deal NVMSBy cooperating with each other FCPS and NVMS have, with the aid of the Fairfax police, the county juvenile court and the county Neighborhood and Community Services office, expanded Restorative Justice programs for police referral. Over time law enforcement officials have become more excited at being able to refer offenders to the program and out of juvenile court, allowing minors to avoid tarnishing their records, provided they participate in good faith. Initiating a Restorative Justice case is far simpler than going through the criminal system. Generally two 30 minute meetings are needed, each party involved, the victim and the offender, individually, followed by a longer group session involving everyone, including the police, victim and perpetuator, which answers three questions, what happened, who was impacted and how, and what should happen. The victim starts with laying out what they think should be done. At the end of the process there is a written agreement, reached between the offenders and the victims, where the perpetrator agrees to restitution ranging from apologies, to payment, to community service as well as agreeing to not reoffend. After the meeting is over the Restorative Justice Mediators keep a copy of the agreement and make sure that the perpetrator has followed through on what they agreed to. If the perpetrator fails to do what they agreed to then the case is sent to juvenile court. Restorative Justice is an entirely voluntary process one which a student or parent can chose to forgo, but data has shown that restorative justice tends to lead to better outcomes, even though it can not be applied to every situation.

For example, when dealing with a shoplifting case the Restorative Justice program will bring the offenders together with the store owners and answer the three questions, what happened, who was affected and how to resolve the situation. The offender is told exactly what happens when they steal, even as little as one item, the whole process of checking inventory, loss of money having to employ security and other knock on effects. Then they ask, what are you going to do next time? They create a hypothetical situation where the offender is encouraged to think about what they will do if a similar situation occurs again, what if a someone encourages them to shoplift again, or other encouragement. Creating a plan, where rather than having to make a decision on the spot, the person knows ahead of time exactly what they would do in a given situation. They also create a space where the parents of the perpetrator can discuss what their experiences are, how hearing that their child had broken the laws and the morals they had attempted to teach made them feel.

The Restorative Justice system is not available to every offender. The perpetrator only qualifies if they have no other criminal record, only first offenders. Offenses which lead to the restorative process commonly include thief, damage, trespassing and vandalism, but never capital offenses. The process only applies where there was a victim and an offender who has recognized that they have done something wrong.

According to data collection since Restorative Justice becoming official police policy in June of 2017 the recidivism rate of offenders who go through the Alternative Accountability Program (AAP) is approximately 4-5 percent in comparison to the court system’s 40+ percent. NVMS maintains a database of what cases have been through the system and hope to use the information to improve outcomes even further. The FCPS Restorative Justice Initiative’s own data shows a far lower rate of repeat suspensions for students who go through the program, as well as a rising rate of students themselves asking for conflict resolution services.

Every case is different, and the reactions of parents, victims and perpetrators vary greatly, but sharing viewpoints allows every side of the story come out and provide paths to a better outcome.

For more information on the FCPS Restorative Justice Initiative visit https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-wellness/restorative-justice. For more information on NVMS and their Restorative Justice Program and the Alternative Accountabiliy Program visit http://nvms.us/restorative-justice/.

Filed Under: Education, Inside Scoop, TV Shows, Virginia Tagged With: Catherine Read, education, Fairfax County, Fairfax County Schools, northern virginia, Restorative Justice

Catherine S. Read
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