anelso78

[anelso78]

Preparing For the Event

Empathizing, Researching

To prepare for this event, I spent a lot of time researching what plants can be regrown through propagation, and best practices for regrowing commonly eaten foods. This uses the principle of "start with what's already known" because while I may not be involved in groundbreaking agricultural research, I'm still researching and organizing information so it is easily digestible for someone that's brand new to gardening.

I recognize that a lot of people may be anxious about starting a garden, especially if they haven't grown up around a garden. In organizing this event, I wanted to be sure to get everyone on equal footing--I wanted to provide a jar for growing green onions, and provide pepper seedlings and green onion sprouts. I wanted to build confidence and start people off with a simple project. This could be the first step in overcoming barriers in mind.

It is an immense privilege to be a part of an organization like Changemaker at ASU, because it gives me a much clearer pathway to get involved with my ecosystem and make a direct impact. Prior to taking this course, I did not recognize the actual magnitude of the organization's power to bring people into one place to learn and to spread information.

[anelso78]

Hosting An Event Addressing Food Insecurity

Organizing, Advocating, Listening

Through opportunities in my student organization, I was able to host an event that educated the student community on how to propagate certain foods in their bedrooms! In doing this, I could send them off with an edible plant of their own and resources to get more food on campus.

In organizing this event, I also employed skills used in Schwalbe's listening chapter. I asked questions to some of my friends and classmates as to what resources would help them most, and many listed resources that were either already available on campus, or possible for organizations to pull together. Mainly, I was able to direct them towards resources the student government provides (hygiene products, professional resources) and things other organizations are able to provide (clothing closet, free food.)

While the plant and free food at the event was the initial draw, I also provided information regarding the campus' brand new community garden that provides students a sustainable source of fresh food. I also created a brochure telling our students how they can garden with limited space. The Changemaker Space (the location I hosted the event in) also has many resources available to students of all classes, including a community closet and information for when our university's food pantry comes to our campus. Using Schwalbe's text, I was able to organize, using the tips given.

The tips from the text I used were: Strategize and plan, meet face to face, pick winnable battles, and be-self reflective. This event was successful, as I could see a lot of my peers were interested in home gardening, but I feel like I could have done more to reach out and get more people involved. This is something touched upon when Schwalbe discusses advocating, which is that often changes are those which we cannot make on our own. We must seek help and collaborate with others with similar goals in mind.

Through this, I engaged with another principle from the Advocating chapter--learning from mistakes. In the future, I think I'll do a more in-depth learning event, and maybe collaborate directly with members of the gardening committee or even the Earth club.

[anelso78]

SOC 352 Making A Difference

Introduction

During my time in this course, I think I've pinpointed an issue I've, admittedly, had a blind spot in. Income inequality amongst college students, especially those in my community.

It is much easier to spot the most obvious signs of income inequality, but there are much more subtle signs of struggle that often go unseen if you're not looking for them. As many students enter higher education as young adults, some freshly eighteen, they often face challenges due to lack of support. For many, this is their first time without a guaranteed free meal at school, and some students may not have access to a car or personal vehicle.

With this project, I want to engage with Schwalbe's mindfulness tools to reflect on my contribution to the wellbeing of my peers, as well as work towards making a difference through the programs I am associated with.