Well, I've known for about four days now, and I am still in shock. But in a good way, since I couldn't imagine anyplace else I'd rather be.
This is officially my last week as an unemployed woman, since next week I begin my new direction in my life as a full-time Grants Manager! Well, I have always wanted to write for a living, and I can't think of anything that suits me more than writing for such a good cause.
The best thing? I already know (and like!) everyone there, thanks to my two years of volunteering. I can't wait till the big black tie gala in September--it's going to be my first time at one of their events as an employee and not a volunteer.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Back in town
I'm back in Urbana now. Not for school or work, but rather just visiting. I've run into so many people I know, and it's been a total hugfest so far. Went to the Women's Resources Center to say hi to my friends Rachael and Pat, then out for dinner with DoMonique, and catching up with Serena and Miranda and Quinn (so far). I'll probably be going out later tonight and let the memories flow.
It feels so weird, almost surreal, in fact. I do feel like I left a good deal of my heart here, since I spent four whole years of my life here. But I'm not a student. I can help my sister move into her dorm, but I know I'm not living there myself (or working in the dorm, since I was a librarian for two years). I can talk to Pat (the dean) about what's going on in the Women's Center, but I'm going to be at another university with an older women's center. I can go and visit my advocates at RCS (whoops, they're now called RACES, sorry), but I'm not affiliated with them anymore. (I'm back at LaCASA this summer, so they closed my RACES file.) I do feel connected with my friends (I think I had probably one of the best experiences around regarding that), but I feel really odd being down in Urbana and not being a student there anymore.
The worst part? I started getting nostalgic!!! Isn't that the first sign of being an old fogey? I am SO not a fogey! But I guess that nostalgia means that it MUST have been a good experience for me. Which it so was!
It feels so weird, almost surreal, in fact. I do feel like I left a good deal of my heart here, since I spent four whole years of my life here. But I'm not a student. I can help my sister move into her dorm, but I know I'm not living there myself (or working in the dorm, since I was a librarian for two years). I can talk to Pat (the dean) about what's going on in the Women's Center, but I'm going to be at another university with an older women's center. I can go and visit my advocates at RCS (whoops, they're now called RACES, sorry), but I'm not affiliated with them anymore. (I'm back at LaCASA this summer, so they closed my RACES file.) I do feel connected with my friends (I think I had probably one of the best experiences around regarding that), but I feel really odd being down in Urbana and not being a student there anymore.
The worst part? I started getting nostalgic!!! Isn't that the first sign of being an old fogey? I am SO not a fogey! But I guess that nostalgia means that it MUST have been a good experience for me. Which it so was!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
The Unkindest Cut
Okay, if my advocacy posts are boring you, then please skip this one. However, if they don't, keep reading and take note (please).
You might remember the previous post a few months ago, "La Vie En Teal," in which I discussed budget cuts affecting many of the social service programs in Illinois. Well, last summer, Governor Blagojevich was considering a bill cutting funding for the social services, which would have affected things like counseling centers, speech therapy, nursing homes, halfway houses, drug rehabilitation services, hospitals, and many other health and human services. Things like the domestic violence shelters and crisis centers were also on this metaphorical chopping block, as these cuts could send several of them out of business. Thankfully, the cuts didn't go through, and most of these programs stayed in existence.
Well, flash-forward to a year later, and Governor Quinn has been presented with a budget from the state Senate. This bill is lovingly termed the "Doomsday budget" by my friends at ICASA, and its official name is Senate Bill/SB 1197. The Governor cannot make tax/spending decisions but has the power to veto them. This budget includes some heavy cuts for these same social services--at LEAST 50%. If you don't think 50% is a lot, consider that will be closing many of the free clinics and services in lower-income areas. A small crisis center like RCS in Champaign would have to close its doors permanently. A free clinic or government-sponsored program (like therapy for a returning Iraq War veteran) would be gone as well. And for a person living in a lower-income area, they might not even get the medical treatment they need if they happen to get sick. Although programs like advocacy are my own personal link to this problem, I am also worried about all the other social services. Cutting them will only cost the state more than it will save.
I know the budget problem is a pretty deep-rooted one, and I'm not an economist or anything. But I do think that there has to be a better way for the state to save money than to cut programs it so desperately needs. Many of my conservative readers (yes, this flaming-liberal revel has conservative readers; you know who you are!) might lambast me for saying this, but even raising taxes just a little would be more helpful. IL is a big state, so even a small tax raise would help. Or cutting back on programs that aren't needed.
But for you readers, if you haven't already done so, please call Governor Quinn's office at 217-782-0244 and tell him to veto Senate Bill 1197. You will most likely reach a voicemail, so if you don't like talking on the phones, you don't have to have some long involved conversation (I already called; it's pretty quick and painless). Or send a message by clicking here: http://www.illinois.gov/GOV/contactthegovernor.cfm. We think the decision will be made on July 1, but I am really hoping that the cuts don't go through. Right now, it feels like that fabled sword of Damocles, dangling over our heads and completely nerve-wracking.
This isn't just for me. It's for everyone who has ever or will ever need those services. If you want to know more, contact me, and I will give you any and all information you need to know about it.
You might remember the previous post a few months ago, "La Vie En Teal," in which I discussed budget cuts affecting many of the social service programs in Illinois. Well, last summer, Governor Blagojevich was considering a bill cutting funding for the social services, which would have affected things like counseling centers, speech therapy, nursing homes, halfway houses, drug rehabilitation services, hospitals, and many other health and human services. Things like the domestic violence shelters and crisis centers were also on this metaphorical chopping block, as these cuts could send several of them out of business. Thankfully, the cuts didn't go through, and most of these programs stayed in existence.
Well, flash-forward to a year later, and Governor Quinn has been presented with a budget from the state Senate. This bill is lovingly termed the "Doomsday budget" by my friends at ICASA, and its official name is Senate Bill/SB 1197. The Governor cannot make tax/spending decisions but has the power to veto them. This budget includes some heavy cuts for these same social services--at LEAST 50%. If you don't think 50% is a lot, consider that will be closing many of the free clinics and services in lower-income areas. A small crisis center like RCS in Champaign would have to close its doors permanently. A free clinic or government-sponsored program (like therapy for a returning Iraq War veteran) would be gone as well. And for a person living in a lower-income area, they might not even get the medical treatment they need if they happen to get sick. Although programs like advocacy are my own personal link to this problem, I am also worried about all the other social services. Cutting them will only cost the state more than it will save.
I know the budget problem is a pretty deep-rooted one, and I'm not an economist or anything. But I do think that there has to be a better way for the state to save money than to cut programs it so desperately needs. Many of my conservative readers (yes, this flaming-liberal revel has conservative readers; you know who you are!) might lambast me for saying this, but even raising taxes just a little would be more helpful. IL is a big state, so even a small tax raise would help. Or cutting back on programs that aren't needed.
But for you readers, if you haven't already done so, please call Governor Quinn's office at 217-782-0244 and tell him to veto Senate Bill 1197. You will most likely reach a voicemail, so if you don't like talking on the phones, you don't have to have some long involved conversation (I already called; it's pretty quick and painless). Or send a message by clicking here: http://www.illinois.gov/GOV/contactthegovernor.cfm. We think the decision will be made on July 1, but I am really hoping that the cuts don't go through. Right now, it feels like that fabled sword of Damocles, dangling over our heads and completely nerve-wracking.
This isn't just for me. It's for everyone who has ever or will ever need those services. If you want to know more, contact me, and I will give you any and all information you need to know about it.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
I love this!
For all of my feminists and advocates and prevention educators, check this out! I swear it is not affiliated with La Casa (since I can't seem to keep quiet about that place) or RCS:
http://www.survivormuralproject.com/index.html
It's like a cross between the Clothesline Project and the Post Secret project that the Women's Resources Center at the U of I created. And did I mention it is a traveling exhibition? Definitely worth checking out. Check back later, when they get more submissions, for the full effect.
http://www.survivormuralproject.com/index.html
It's like a cross between the Clothesline Project and the Post Secret project that the Women's Resources Center at the U of I created. And did I mention it is a traveling exhibition? Definitely worth checking out. Check back later, when they get more submissions, for the full effect.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The bad moon arose
Well, this revel is not revelling now.
One of the prevention educators just emailed me on this, and I know she's usually informed and all up in arms on things like this. They upheld Proposition 8 in California! WHY?? This is not at all how it was supposed to go! That damn thing was supposed to go the way of the Briggs initiative and other ordinances designed to curtail human rights and NOT get passed by a landslide. Sooo many people opposed it too! If all those demonstrations against it were any indicator of the mass opposition to it, keeping the thing in place would only be opposing the majority will of the people. But what happens? They uphold the damn Prop 8 (in a dispiriting vote of 6 to 1), but say that the marriages performed before it was passed are valid. That is such cold comfort, even for a hetero ally. Cold comfort is no comfort at all. This isn't about special interests, it's about basic human rights (see my post, "Holy matrimony!"). And we have seen a breach in that, thanks to that awful Prop 8!
One of the prevention educators just emailed me on this, and I know she's usually informed and all up in arms on things like this. They upheld Proposition 8 in California! WHY?? This is not at all how it was supposed to go! That damn thing was supposed to go the way of the Briggs initiative and other ordinances designed to curtail human rights and NOT get passed by a landslide. Sooo many people opposed it too! If all those demonstrations against it were any indicator of the mass opposition to it, keeping the thing in place would only be opposing the majority will of the people. But what happens? They uphold the damn Prop 8 (in a dispiriting vote of 6 to 1), but say that the marriages performed before it was passed are valid. That is such cold comfort, even for a hetero ally. Cold comfort is no comfort at all. This isn't about special interests, it's about basic human rights (see my post, "Holy matrimony!"). And we have seen a breach in that, thanks to that awful Prop 8!
Bad moon rising
Ever wonder why people can be so ridiculous, going into something they know isn't good for them? Or staying with something that they know isn't good for them? Particularly otherwise sensible individuals? Well, I can't claim to know the answers, nor do I actually know them. I just foresee a ton of disasters on the way....I do not claim to be in any way exempt from these folks. I know there are some things that I will probably regret sooner or later, even though I am a total control freak who needs everything just so. I see a bad moon rising, I see trouble on the way...
But for now, I need to narrow down my list of 20 potential thesis topics to one (aiiieee) and figure out what days I can resume advocating at La Casa. All advocates and prevention educators are needed on deck at La Casa so we can host the fundraiser. We've got a really high-profile speaker (female football player Katie Hnida) and are going to be inviting lots of folks from women's sports teams and girls' organizations. So they need all hands on deck! At least that's something I can do and have control over.
But for now, I need to narrow down my list of 20 potential thesis topics to one (aiiieee) and figure out what days I can resume advocating at La Casa. All advocates and prevention educators are needed on deck at La Casa so we can host the fundraiser. We've got a really high-profile speaker (female football player Katie Hnida) and are going to be inviting lots of folks from women's sports teams and girls' organizations. So they need all hands on deck! At least that's something I can do and have control over.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
I went down to the crossroads...
It feels weird, so weird right now.
I guess I feel like I'm in between, not in college anymore and with four months before graduate school begins. I am looking forward to grad school. Even if I have to commute for a little bit, I'll still be in the academic setting with tons to do, which I love and miss right now. I'm not bored, but it's really hard to acclimate to being at home.
Yesterday, I woke up at 8 (early, I know), and my first thought was, "Okay, time for history class!" Then I went to go review my Fem Maj notes, taking care not to wake my roommate...and then it hit me. I no longer have a roommate, I no longer am at school, and I have no class or extracurriculars to go to. And I am no longer on my cluster's board or work in the res hall library or work with RCS.
What's a revel to do?
I think I'll finish unpacking and then email Joe or Wendy at LaCASA to see if they can use me. They'll be happy to see me again, even if I am no longer an intern like I was last summer. The fundraiser is coming up in June, so they probably need all advocates on deck. And I am seeing the Nine Inch Nails next week, which is sure to be extremely entertaining. Looks like a decent, albeit long, summer before the next phase of my education. One school, two departments, two degrees, three years. I think I can handle it.
I guess I feel like I'm in between, not in college anymore and with four months before graduate school begins. I am looking forward to grad school. Even if I have to commute for a little bit, I'll still be in the academic setting with tons to do, which I love and miss right now. I'm not bored, but it's really hard to acclimate to being at home.
Yesterday, I woke up at 8 (early, I know), and my first thought was, "Okay, time for history class!" Then I went to go review my Fem Maj notes, taking care not to wake my roommate...and then it hit me. I no longer have a roommate, I no longer am at school, and I have no class or extracurriculars to go to. And I am no longer on my cluster's board or work in the res hall library or work with RCS.
What's a revel to do?
I think I'll finish unpacking and then email Joe or Wendy at LaCASA to see if they can use me. They'll be happy to see me again, even if I am no longer an intern like I was last summer. The fundraiser is coming up in June, so they probably need all advocates on deck. And I am seeing the Nine Inch Nails next week, which is sure to be extremely entertaining. Looks like a decent, albeit long, summer before the next phase of my education. One school, two departments, two degrees, three years. I think I can handle it.
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