Tag: service

Walk the Talk

Posted on November 6, 2012 by

I’d been getting the emails for several weeks.  Each time I opened and read the plea for volunteers to come to Nevada, to work on the campaign, I felt a twinge of guilt.  It was so easy to ignore them, delete and they were gone.  It didn’t take much.  But they kept coming.  And I kept considering, and deleting.

Until I got a phone call from a friend that changed everything.  I couldn’t resist-she had it all set up, I was free, and it wouldn’t take much for me to step up and walk the talk.  I considered, and instead of deleting, I accepted.

I’ve never worked much on a political campaign. I’ve made some phone calls, sported bumper stickers on our cars, made our monetary donations, worked phone banks and made sure I was educated on the issues.  Politics is commonplace in our family conversations, but actually participating face-to-face with other like-minded people is new territory.  I felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness as I packed the car and drove through the dark to Reno.

I woke up the next morning twittering with excitement.  Breakfast couldn’t go fast enough; the family couldn’t get ready as quickly as I wanted.  I couldn’t wait to see what it was all about, especially with my children by my side.   As the rally began, chants of “Si Se Puede” rang out above the thunderous clapping of the Unite HERE group of volunteers.  The energy built to a crescendo, then the details of why we were there and what we needed to accomplish began.  There was a palpable sense of purpose in the air; a definite sense of duty to take action and teach my children firsthand what a presidential election is all about.

Armed with our ‘universe’ of names and addresses and a few hundred door hangers, we headed out to the streets of Reno to knock on doors and urge people to get out to vote.  Our nervousness edged away, replaced by a sense of duty and service.  As my son and I walked together we talked about his opinions on the election, and who he would vote for, and why.  With each step, each contact, and each door hanger left, we came closer to our goal of taking action and walking the talk.

Our lunch break provided another opportunity to open up our world.  Eating side by side with union workers from all over California allowed us a peek into a community we know little about.  To learn these workers had spent the last two months away from their families in order to work on the campaign humbled me.  To hear my son conversing in Spanish with Rosa, a Disneyland banquet server, made me swell with pride.

Our day was long, yet satisfying.  Overall, we made nearly 125 contacts as we methodically walked our territory.  Together, we moved through gated communities, apartment complexes, and converted motels to spread our message of democracy.  We met people of all political persuasions.  We  felt the importance of each and every vote, and heard the power of the people when united for a common cause.

But most importantly, I sensed the lessons my children were absorbing through the sights, sounds, and people they met along the way.  I felt no more guilt.  I could no longer ignore it – I needed to take action.  To walk my talk.  To show my children what true citizenship really is.  It didn’t take much.  Consider it.  Get out and vote.  Show your children what you believe.


What have you been wanting to do? What would you need in order to take action?

Jennifer Wolfe

Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.

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Turning Ideas Into Realities

Posted on July 16, 2012 by

Have you ever had an idea that you wondered if you could make it work?

Did you lose sleep at night running it over and over in your mind, searching out the pros and cons, the rights and wrongs, the hows and whys?

Did you share it with your friends, ask for advice on Facebook, or search out an expert?

Did you try jumping in all at once, or take baby steps to test it out?

We teach our children to be adventurous, to raise their hand and share their thoughts, and to try new foods.  We expect them to do things we never did ourselves, to speak for us when we cannot find our own voice, and to teach us how to use the newest technology that we do not understand.

For many of us, change is scary.  We like the known over the unknown.  Taking a chance means risking making a mistake, failing, or facing ridicule.  Taking a chance means we might need to show our weaknesses. Taking a chance is also how we learn our life lessons.

I like to think that the older I get, the wiser I become.  I let loose my inhibitions and step into situations that would have paralyzed me ten years ago.  Sometimes it’s more of a physical challenge: I cast out on open water, soar through the air, or push myself to exhaustion.

Other times the mental task seems just as daunting:   applying for a new program, sharing my thoughts, or taking on the terrifying task of parenting teenagers.

Bonbon BreakThis week, two of my writer friends are taking on their own new challenge by bringing their idea into reality.  Val and Kathy have created a website, Bonbon Break, designed to provide a space to share their thoughts, wisdom, humor and ideas with like-minded women, and I am honored to be one of the contributing writers in their first edition with my parenthood post on teaching social responsibility.

If you’re looking for a little inspiration, some interesting thoughts, and a great example of making your ideas come true, visit Bonbon Break!  You’ll be happy you did.

Jennifer Wolfe

Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.

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Friday Photo: Learning Through Community Service

Posted on April 27, 2012 by

How do our kids learn about the world? Do they read the newspaper? Listen to the radio? Travel outside their hometown?

 I’m raising my children in the same university town where I grew up. It’s very safe, educated, liberal and has excellent schools. We take advantage of the healthy environment, youth activities, and culture that comes with living in a college town.

But I remember when I graduated from high school here and moved to the ‘city’ back in the 80s, I felt that I had broken through a glass bubble. My eyes were opened in a way that I’m sure is common to most college freshmen, but I quickly realized that there was a HUGE world that I had simply never been exposed to.

One of the dangers of raising kids in a community like mine is an unconscious, and sometimes conscious, sense of entitlement. That is terrifying to me. While my husband and I are both well educated, we chose professions of service, not salary. We try to teach our children about the value of our Earth, the value of a dollar, and the value of a human being as our highest values.

Last weekend, after the campus Picnic Day celebration, we packed up garbage bags, water and layered on sunscreen and headed to our local arboretum to clean up after the crowds. As we walked along the creek we were pleasantly surprised that the grounds were nearly litter free.

To my surprise and delight, my son urged us to move a new location where we could actually find garbage.

We weren’t disappointed with our next stop-Community Park offered a huge selection. Despite the heat, we hunted for debris big and small.

When we’d filled our bags and added a broken down chair, we declared ourselves done. As we hopped on our bikes and headed home, my son chattered with delight the entire way about what we’d done. Not only did he return with an beat up, ratty old ball as a souvenir, but he also learned that even a kid can serve his world through small acts in his community.

I think that’s a step in the right direction towards bursting the bubble, don’t you?

Jennifer Wolfe

Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.

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The Ride of a Lifetime

Posted on March 6, 2012 by

We loaded into the back of the small, dilapidated whiteToyota pickup truck.  No safety restraints were in sight, unless the roll bars along the top counted.  Eight children aged 6 to 14 years couldn’t believe their good fortune.  Eight adults searched each other’s faces for solidarity.  This went against all our instincts, but so did waking up in a Nicaraguan compound with an armed guard standing at the door.
It seemed like a good idea at the time.  Although native English speakers, my kids had only ever attended school in Spanish.  They had no choice about it – from kindergarten on, they attended a public Spanish Immersion elementary school and quickly became fluent.
At first, the road started out dusty but flat.  As we pulled out from behind the large black iron gates, I knew I was embarking on something that would take me far, far out of my comfort zone.  Dressed in shorts, t-shirt, sturdy shoes, bandanas, and hats to protect us from the blazing sun, I wondered how hard could it be? I had plenty of fresh water and granola bars in my backpack.  Two bottles of hand sanitizer – one in my pocket and a backup in my pack – would prevent any illness.  Our daily doses of malaria medication and enough industrial strength DEET bug spray to kill all the bugs in Nicaragua would keep us from insect driven disease.

 

As the pickup truck left town, I relaxed a bit.  Beaming smiles of bliss radiated from each child – there was no fear on their faces.  Moving slowly down the dirt road we waved as we passed children and parents beginning their days in their humble, dirt-floored homes.  Cement walls created a shelter for them, and chickens and skinny dogs sauntered in and out.  Wisps of smoke rose from the outdoor fire pits.  Broad, white grins mixed with confused countenances met our white-skinned faces and shouts of greeting – not many ‘chelles’ in this part of the world.

The tiny truck wound its way down the road, the homes spreading further and further apart.  A caballero and his companion greet our driver as he slows to a halt, carefully avoiding the emaciated cows on the road.  Relationships are key to survival in this part of the world.  The adults grab their cameras and snap away, most never having seen a real cowboy at work before.  The kids smile broadly in disbelief.

Sparse, green grassland dotted with the occasional tree line both sides of the road. Every few miles family home vegetable gardens interrupted the rocky outcroppings.  Undeterred, the farmers work around them.
Slowing to a halt, we notice a wrinkled old man on the side of the road.  Victor, our driver, calls out a greeting and waves him closer.  The man approaches the back of the truck, and I realize he intends to squeeze in with us.  As he throws one arm over the side and carefully enters the pickup bed, his two-foot long machete enters with him.  Our young American sons’ eyes widen in disbelief at the weapon within arm’s reach.  The old American parents’ eyes widen in momentary panic.
Continuing up the road, local Nicaraguans looking for a ride repeatedly greet us.  No one turned away; we realize the amazing opportunity to meet them up close and personal as we squish back to back and side to side in the shrinking truck.
The truck takes a sharp left turn and wheels begin to spin.  Victor, unphased, eases it into low gear and we begin to climb a hill.  The flat road has disappeared, replaced by small rocks at first, then enormous boulders.  The adults begin to bark safety directions and plan for the eventual rollover.  The truck lurches to the right, and I yelp in terror.  The boys fist pump in jubilation, and we find ourselves right side up.

After an eternity, we make one last turn and the tiny pickup groans and lurches to a halt.  As I wait for my brain to stop spinning and my heartbeat to ease, a sound like thunder reaches my ears.  Children, teens and adults begin to crowd around, pulling on the doors and grinning widely.   The entire community is cheering and screaming as if Justin Bieber has just walked on stage, when in reality it is just us, 16 Americans about to continue the ride of a lifetime in Nicaragua.

Jennifer Wolfe

Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.

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Education Issues Vol. 2

Posted on February 26, 2012 by

Are you a parent? A teacher?  
A concerned American?
Are you interested in what’s going on with our education system?  

Super power!
via Pinterest
Please read my articles on Yahoo!News and let me know what your thoughts are about:


California’s education budget crisis


Community Service in the Classroom


Global Education and my teaching grant


School Shooting in Washington state and protecting our children

Jennifer Wolfe

Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.

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