tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42522430148786109252012-01-21T09:23:08.552-08:00Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.comBlogger411100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-34549202249632072782009-07-07T15:18:00.000-07:002009-07-07T15:37:57.084-07:00

The Jam was the closing celebration for R2W. The participants organized the jam themselves. Jimmy Tsai and Martha Moung were the hosts. Local communities came to witness who the participants were and what they learned. Friends and families joined the jam and one of the participants families, Ronia Auelua, drove up from San Bernadino to support her. There was a lot of love in the room and the

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-49538293406846166892009-06-30T23:28:00.000-07:002009-07-07T15:11:38.645-07:00

by Lauren Q.Today, was about getting in touch with our food -- the industry, the workers that bring our food to us, and people who are working to improve the quality of the food we eat.Last night, we learned the truth about where our food comes from by watching the documentary Food, Inc. The film exposed how a few large companies, like Monsanto, control all of our food -- where it comes from,

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-19621155969284490732009-06-28T13:11:00.000-07:002009-07-14T17:42:28.722-07:00

Before we went to the Pride Parade in San Francisco we had two R2W alumni tell their social biographies of what it means to be queer. One who works with R2W and NRJ (Network on Religion and Justice for API LGBTs) talked about how her church neglected her because she was queer and what a struggle that was for her because she wasn’t accepted. Her faith and church are separate from each other

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-80062677344215060232009-06-26T22:03:00.000-07:002009-07-04T11:58:49.118-07:00

by Lauren Q.Today, we went on a Neighborhood Crawl in the East Oakland Cambodian community.Before we left, we watched a short documentary created by a Cambodian youth who grew up in East Oakland. Mainstream media coverage of East Oakland has created the image of dangerous streets with gangs hanging out in the streets, gambling, and daily shootings. The filmmaker explained that there isn't

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-53632381435358541772009-06-25T20:53:00.000-07:002009-07-04T10:03:20.499-07:00

by Lauren Q.We followed-up on the Neighborhood Crawl in Sunnydale with a Polynesian Perspectives panel talkshow-style. Tongans, Chamorros, and Samoans were represented on the panel.They had a new approach to Pacific Islander issues. Often, in the political realm, issues of the Pacific Islands are minimized with the rationalization that the islands are small and there are not many people living on

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-77661561055383324272009-06-25T20:12:00.000-07:002009-06-28T20:52:53.585-07:00

by Lauren Q. Today, we went on a Neighborhood Crawl in the Sunnydale Federal Housing Projects in San Francisco. Sunnydale is primarily an African American and Samoan neighborhood. Samoan community activists Gaynor and Ursula Siatonu of AIGA1 walked us through the neighborhood. They talked about asbestos and health issues in the Projects, told us not to be deceived by the new paint job, and shared

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-36100412832539331012009-06-23T17:14:00.000-07:002009-06-26T17:43:25.752-07:00

by Lauren Q.We started the day off with a Spiritual Discipline workshop on Non-Violent Communication, a practice passed down through the teachings of Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr. Segal, a trainer from the Bay Area Non-Violent Coalition, introduced us to a new way of looking at why people do things. According to the non-violent paradigm, why do people do what they do (including things we see

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-75340142092712718202009-06-22T15:50:00.000-07:002009-06-26T17:06:26.665-07:00

by Lauren Q.Monday, we went on a neighborhood crawl in San Francisco Chinatown. Our crawl leader was Rev. Norman Fong, a Chinatown native, pastor, and housing rights activist from Chinatown Community Development Corporation. Norman talked about the oppression and the perseverant community organizing that has taken place in the Chinatown over the last 50 years in the midst of racism and

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-58063256813167742852009-06-21T20:09:00.000-07:002009-06-26T17:07:36.673-07:00

by Lauren QuockToday, we watched Eyes on the Prize and went to City of Refuge United Church of Christ to connect the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s & 60s with today's LGBT movement.We started the day by grounding ourselves in history as people of color in the United States, as people of faith, and as leaders. We did this by watching a segment of Eyes on the Prize, a documentary about the

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-26837688470476483972009-06-20T21:38:00.000-07:002009-06-26T17:08:57.191-07:00

Five years ago I was a participant for R2W. Since then, I've developed a strength for myself I never thought I would reach. I can't say that I did it all on my own though. I've created relationships with people who have become family to me. I am a graduate of R2W and CLI, and now I'm on staff at PANA. I've realized that I am R2W, that it'll never leave me but it was time for me to leave R2W and

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-75355588026192201002009-05-27T00:12:00.000-07:002009-05-27T00:46:39.440-07:00

One of the major highlights on our LA trip was the CLI Banquet to honor four special people who represent LA to the fullest, Sophay Ferriera, Donovan Autajay, Victor Mckamie, and Kristina Tran. I have watched my fellow comrades grow in such an amazing way through R2W as well as CLI. With weeks leading up to the banquet, we were trying to brainstorm and see where we could hold this event.

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-26883907837529847562009-05-01T12:49:00.000-07:002009-05-01T13:38:08.846-07:00

April 22, 2009Los Angeles was exhausting as it was empowering. We felt like we needed to see and be with the people. It felt in many ways like it was a place where all the action was and I’m not talking about Hollywood. The action was everywhere, from downtown L.A. to Long Beach. We started Thursday evening splitting our own ways. Sina and I got to see our family and that was a good boost of

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-37552642466733850322009-02-13T17:50:00.000-08:002009-02-13T17:56:47.471-08:00

This past CLI retreat helped me put my faith into perspective. Talking about our spirituality and how it fits into our work or the way we interpret injustice was something that I was looking for going into the weekend. Although we were unable to go more in depth with our spiritual journeys to the point where we entered discussion on this topic, it was good for me to see my journey in front of my

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-7785923984569329912009-02-13T17:42:00.000-08:002009-02-13T17:50:23.648-08:00

CLI was amazing. I missed being in such a motivating and powerful space since the summer after R2W. It was cool that the location was Chinatown, it was very powerful. I felt empowered to be in such an amazing place in the heart of such a linked community. The food was also a big plus!!!For our first check-in I remember being with Michelle and how I loved being in her presence and hearing how her

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-67524577550525915792009-02-13T17:23:00.000-08:002009-02-13T17:41:57.658-08:00

The CLI program has helped me stay grounded whenever I feel like I am heading in different directions. I felt that the second CLI was a good boost to the start of the new year. I felt like I expressed a lot of the feelings and emotions that I never openly talk about. Its good to know that people are allowed to be yourself once and a while. Like many of the past exercises that I have done in

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-10774285133093748302009-01-15T14:55:00.000-08:002009-01-15T15:04:48.379-08:00

CLI is pretty cool. It’s short but also lets us know… to get straight to the point with the details to support it. Especially in those Critical Faith Sessions… It’s pretty hard. You really have to set your priorities of what you want to get done… I really appreciated the group plays because it gave us time to realize that there are so many things that can affect this one problem. Having different

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-72144521082499913132009-01-15T14:29:00.000-08:002009-01-15T14:42:47.355-08:00

I didn't really want to be at CLI when I got there. I was somewhat intimidated and doubtful. But I really feel this is like a challenge to your inner self. I've come to the conclusion that it's the hardest to be real with yourself. Trying to balance out social justice, overcome our daily struggles, and live up to present-day society all at the same time is no easy task. During CLI, I did a lot of

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-14427982688995776342009-01-15T14:15:00.000-08:002009-01-15T14:28:18.945-08:00

After R2W, I've never had any experience that came close to what happened there, and that's pretty sad. I was looking forward to getting to CLI as soon as Lauren asked me. I couldn't wait to get back to doing critical faith with Michael, Debbie and the rest of the folks. Really, there is no place else where I can find that type of group to discuss the things we discuss. And usually when I do get

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-75150631521074227562009-01-15T14:00:00.000-08:002009-01-15T14:14:03.423-08:00

It is about two weeks after my first CLI and want to say how refreshing it is to be around people that meant so much to me. Coming back to the bay area after R2W was almost a homecoming for me, because leaving R2W felt bittersweet. Looking back on CLI, I feel that I brought a lot of my "garbage" to CLI. A lot has happened since R2W, like my grandfather getting sick, my parents' jobs becoming

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-62271582304824671612009-01-15T13:25:00.000-08:002009-01-15T13:55:24.484-08:00

I began to write this before my fingers ever touched the keyboard, and before I could be held physically accountable, my mind had already betrayed this assignment. This is supposed to be an assessment of CLI. It isn’t. What I feel obligated to write here is not what I will; but in the end what I will, I do. However, I have a feeling that someone intelligent at PANA will draw the invisible lines

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-57603650113107935862009-01-15T13:01:00.000-08:002009-01-15T13:23:16.126-08:00

This past CLI (November 2008) was a mix of emotions for me. From social biographies, to a banquet celebrating the work and passion of CLI graduates, to young women activists, to sharing what we need from each other, I was left with many things to think about.After we spent a full day sharing and presenting snapshots of our social biographies, I realized—not for the first time—that I still needed

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-10094263868641994232009-01-15T12:45:00.000-08:002009-01-15T12:58:22.879-08:00

In being confused, upset, and impatient, I have been asking a lot of questions to myself that lead me to think more about my family, my life, and where it fits into the world. Meeting up with people in CLI challenged me to open my peripheral views and consider things that I can't always see. With each person I have been honored to hear speak, or to be next to, or to eat with, it felt like a

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-53316730317563000202008-10-30T18:24:00.000-07:002008-10-31T19:07:22.713-07:00

Background Info. on Pitzer College: Part of the 5 Claremont COlleges located in Claremont, CA. A small private residential liberal college with a student count of 1,200. Classes are quite small with a ratio of 13:1. Top Notch school with a rigid academic program as well as a good athletic department. A highly competitve school and has a 84% of all Medicine bound students getting into a Medical

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-71417103336789541952008-10-24T13:41:00.000-07:002008-10-24T16:52:02.217-07:00

Crystal ChenR2W participant ’04 & ‘08CLI Intern ‘08Crystal Chen is a freshman at University of Washington. Her intended major is Psychology and Finite. She is involved with Asia American Christian Fellowship and will be participating in their “Trick or Treating for Cans” for the Homeless Center.Hey Everyone! How’s it going? The first couple of weeks post R2W, I just couldn’t wait for next year

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-61360465254363529912008-08-21T12:54:00.000-07:002008-08-22T15:48:21.672-07:00

If I could choose you to be any part of my body, I'd choose you to be my SOUL and I know it might sound a bit confusing because to be a soul is to be untouchable and to be a body part is to be tangible. But baby you see our bond and our love is beyond reach and out of sight! & I could have easily chosen you to be my HEART but I want you to be able to explore my body and really love me for who I

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-70611150283383801032008-07-18T13:30:00.000-07:002008-07-24T10:21:52.061-07:00

Social biographies were a special turning point for me at R2W. When I first heard that we had to initially share our life-story, I was going through in my head what I should and should not say. I was afraid of the reactions that other people would make. However, the first day of social-biographies made me realize how close this group is going to be. When the first couple of people went up to

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-6027581853217568142008-06-30T21:13:00.000-07:002008-07-18T15:21:43.973-07:00

Today, we went on a crawl through San Francisco's Chinatown with pastor and activist Rev. Norman Fong of the Chinatown Community Development Center (CCDC). Like Gaynor, Ursula, and Bro of AIGA1, Norman grew up in the community in which he now works for justice for the people. He walked us through narrow (but cleaned up!) alleyways and an SRO(single room occupancy) building purchased and

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-57328612706639592582008-06-29T15:06:00.000-07:002008-07-18T15:24:51.786-07:00

Our 2nd sunday was filled with colorful decorations as we made our way to Pride Day festivities in San Francisco. As we walked towards Market street to watch the parade, people briskly passing us by with hand made costumes symbolizing their personality and uniqueness.For many of us, Pride was a new experience and something we were curious to be a part of. Vio Stanley a R2W participant said "Even

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-88939496488004630972008-06-26T12:45:00.000-07:002008-07-18T15:34:49.593-07:00

Our afternoon was spent in Richmond, Ca where we met up with Youth Together, a youth program that was created in response to racial conflicts in school communities. They research and study about their community, then inform and organize themselves to improve their community's living conditions.Some of the main problems they are facing are gentrification, Chevron Oil Refinery,lack of medical

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-78440643798437132282008-06-26T00:46:00.000-07:002008-07-23T17:33:22.457-07:00

This morning, we packed into the vans and drove out to San Francisco for our first community crawl - the Sunnydale Housing Projects. Gaynor, Ursula, Bro, and Tina of AIGA1 walked us down the hill and told stories of living through turf wars, daily random shootings, cops, and redevelopment.But if we had only focused on the violence, we would have missed the point. Gaynor, Ursula, Bro, and Tina

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-29855290762983995122008-06-25T23:35:00.000-07:002008-07-23T13:58:12.550-07:00

Today we had a guest speaker named Rev. Barbara Essex. She is the renowned writer of books including Bad Girls of the Bible, Bad Boys of the Bible, and Misbehavin' Monarchs. She talked about reading the Bible in context and introduced us to **big word voice** the Hermeneutics of Suspicion!!! This consists of the questions: Who's doing what for what purpose? Who's benefitting? Who's story is left

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-17124547293036464312008-06-24T23:19:00.000-07:002008-06-25T23:29:53.973-07:00

On the first day of R2W we were given a rock and told to write on it what we want to leave behind.FEARFear like a prisonFeel like a prisonerFree like a human beingRun like a fugitiveHide like an animalBreathe like I'm breathlessDie like I’m living largeLive with a deathwishSelfless or selfish bothNo health benefits soNo one benefitsAt least where I liveThat’s the realityLife’s a factSo for buyers

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-76079549188061009992008-06-24T00:08:00.000-07:002008-06-25T23:29:31.867-07:00

Day 3 = as most of you know we went on that hike… and I tell you it was a JOURNEY! Mind, body and strength. It was great going up as a group … it made me realize I’m not alone. We prayed to the east, west, north and south facing each direction as a whole...one mind and body. Well it’s great so far and I’m glad to have come… I know it’s worth the 2 weeks but I know it’ll feel like years. I say

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-28957660314975415002008-06-23T21:08:00.000-07:002008-06-25T23:29:02.959-07:00

Pilgrimage Tilden Park There are over 400 Native Americans burial sites in Berkeley. Today most of these burial sites are paved over and are the beautiful communities that we live in today. In honor of the memory of Native Americans we climbed the hills of Tilden Park. We went on this pilgrimage to recognize the parallels between our own histories and other peoples.Standing at the bottom of the

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-59991324787016799162008-06-22T21:57:00.000-07:002008-06-25T23:28:01.036-07:00

Day 2 of R2W was about telling our truths. We started out the day by reading a passage from Luke 4:18-19:"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed meto preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." We recognized the word "oppressed" from

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-86793436420579765942008-06-21T22:07:00.000-07:002008-06-25T23:14:46.125-07:00

Particpants arrived from all over the country today - Hawaii, Seattle, Minnesota, Long Beach, and right here in the Bay - to begin the first of 14 very intense, conscious, and faith-full days. A little nervous, anxious, and some shy, new participants flooded into the PANA house, awaiting... what? Critical Faith, especially your very first dose of it, is a little hard to capture in writing.

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-6149940337460223812008-06-20T23:54:00.000-07:002008-06-21T00:36:44.068-07:00

A reflection on the evening from Victor, R2W 2008 Residential Assistant:"I was somewhat uncertain about how things were going to turn out. Me and Danny spent 20 minutes debating about what problem posing actually was. Right at 6pm, we had an epiphany about what we were going to say about problem posing. We had that moment where we were like, 'Yes! We know it!' We had some technical difficulties,

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-38345528661779073642008-06-16T13:48:00.001-07:002008-06-20T10:03:26.463-07:00

Thank you to all who applied for this summer's R2W program. A special shout out to those who we will miss this summer. Please check out this website for pics and videos of R2W participants every day activity and community visits!

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-42400557400450885892008-06-16T13:48:00.000-07:002008-06-16T14:05:10.377-07:00

Performed by participants from the previous summer at the San Jose Heritage Day '08

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-38104417895499790222008-06-16T12:50:00.000-07:002008-06-16T13:49:56.456-07:00

Spoken word piece inspired by the documentary: "Invisible Children of Uganda"UGANDAPshhhhhhhhhh goes the t.v. as I close my eyes to give me time to think....now im thinking to myself...FUCK....why couldn't this be a dream...hating myself for talking myself into watching my worst dream come to life....kids screaming...kids feedin off of sex, crimes, guns and knives....kids livin not in the

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4252243014878610925.post-8707019552473246562008-06-16T09:18:00.000-07:002008-06-16T11:16:05.024-07:00

The tale ofBill Teddy FrascoeLake Stevens Washington, summer of 1998. The Frascoe fiasco swooped through the town and disappeared as quickly as it came. The word is authorities wanted to keep the news of what happened on the down low, as to not alert the public and scare away possible residents of buying their homes by the lake. And who can blame them? I wouldn't be caught dead swimming in those

Sinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260917879740796352noreply@blogger.com0