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PLEASE BE SURE AND HAVE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME WITH YOUR POST AND WITH YOUR COMMENTS. THANKS.

A goat indicating the natural world, an indigenous person, a religious person, an explorer, a disadvantaged illiterate woman and man from an island seeking a better life, together form the Founders Monument in central San Antonio. These sculptures invite us to remember that our area with water and abundant creation attracted people for over 10,000 years, then Europeans in 1691, and then in 1718, the first city establishment in what is now the state of Texas.  A graduate of Incarnate Word, a person who studied art developing creativity and Native American Studies developing deep roots, was a main influence behind this monument. We are invited to live in respect of creation, of various cultures, and of various spiritualities.  We are invited to come together in cooperation for the common good rather than dominating over nature and over each other locally and globally.  Read more of the monument

https://www.bexar.org/3272/The-Founders-Monument

As we share on the six “Pathways of Public Service and Civic Engagement” we remember that our students have come from more than half of the countries in the world. We are called to be “engaged and enlightened citizens” in terms of “Global Citizenship Education” https://en.unesco.org/themes/gced. Then we need to inspire students with values and give them good questions to be local and national citizens.  We help mentor them in our city now and we prepare them to live in Alabama or Algeria, in the Ukraine or the United Kingdom.

Please post on which of the six pathways have been more significant for you? What pathways might you want to explore more?   PLEASE BE SURE AND HAVE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME WITH YOUR POST AND WITH YOUR COMMENTS. THANKS.

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My top pathways were Community Organizing and Activism and Philanthropy (a mix of front-and-center with behind-the-scenes). I was surprised at the Community Organizing /Activism because I prefer to be working behind the scenes to make changes. But, when I think about the issue that I most concerned about, I realize that too many have stayed behind the scenes and not enough is being done. Pre-teen & teenage parenthood is a social issue and crisis affecting women of all ages, healthcare, economic stability and advancement, mental health, and so much more. Our society has turned a blind eye to this issue. A child of 11 or 12 years old having a baby is not a cultural choice; that child has been exploited and abused and is highly likely to have more children before the age of 16, drop out of school, live in poverty, be trapped in abusive relationships and on and on. This is not an issue isolated to one group; the economic impact on the community as a whole is immense. See this stunning static in the report attached: "According to the report, teen pregnancy in San Antonio cost taxpayers at least $45.2 million due to the cost health care for mothers and children, as well as the potential economic effects of poverty, poor health, and lack of education on a community." Looking forward to great discussions this afternoon. - cp

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My top pathways were Community Organizing and Activism and Philanthropy (a mix of front-and-center with behind-the-scenes). I was surprised at the Community Organizing /Activism because I prefer to be working behind the scenes to make changes. But, when I think about the issue that I most concerned about, I realize that too many have stayed behind the scenes and not enough is being done. Pre-teen & teenage parenthood is a social issue and crisis affecting women of all ages, healthcare, economic stability and advancement, mental health, and so much more. Our society has turned a blind eye to this issue. A child of 11 or 12 years old having a baby is not a cultural choice; that child has been exploited and abused and is highly likely to have more children before the age of 16, drop out of school, live in poverty, be trapped in abusive relationships and on and on. This is not an issue isolated to one group; the economic impact on the community as a whole is immense. See this stunning static in the report attached: "According to the report, teen pregnancy in San Antonio cost taxpayers at least $45.2 million due to the cost health care for mothers and children, as well as the potential economic effects of poverty, poor health, and lack of education on a community." Looking forward to great discussions this afternoon. - cp

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While teen pregnancy rates in Bexar County continue to decline, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District on Tuesday released provisional data showing that pregnancy rates among teen mothers who already have a child remain stubbornly high.

Females age 10 to 19 gave birth to 2,044 babies in Bexar County in 2016, a decline of 53 percent since 2006, according to the report. Overall, teen pregnancy rates in Bexar County have declined for the eighth year in a row.

"The data reveals that we are making good progress," said Colleen Bridger, director of the Metro Health. "We aren't where we need to be, but we continue to make good progress."

However, the rate of births among 15- to 19-year-old Bexar County teens was 30.2 per 1,000 teen births, nearly 50 percent higher than the national rate of 20.3 per 1,000. In particular, repeat teen births - births to teens who already had at least one child - accounted for 20 percent of all births to teens in 2016.

Reducing repeat teen births has been a "significant challenge," Bridger said. Metro Health has formed partnerships with Project Worth, a program to promote the health and well-being of Bexar County children and teens, and the San Antonio Teen Pregnancy Collaborative to identify recommendations to address the problem.

Mario Martinez, Project Worth's program manager, told the Rivard Report that last year the group conducted a root-cause analysis to determine what programs are lacking and how they could be improved.

Related: ACA Changes Could Put Contraceptives Out of Reach for Some Texas Women

"The study showed that mental health is important," Martinez said. "And offering no-cost contraceptives are key to any effective strategy in preventing teen pregnancy."

Martinez said that through a partnership with Communities in Schools, mental health counselors will work to target pregnant teens and teen mothers, a first for the program, which provides free mental health services to students throughout San Antonio.

"Reducing the teen pregnancy rate is about improving poverty in our community. It is about improving the educational attainment for young people," Martinez said. "This is about their prospects for the future, and really helping to grow the economy."

In 2016, there were 15 zip codes in Bexar County in which the teen birth rate was two to four times the teen birth rate nationwide. In 78203, the zip code with the highest average in the county, the rate was at least 81.2 percent above the national average.

According to the report, teen pregnancy in San Antonio cost taxpayers at least $45.2 million due to the cost health care for mothers and children, as well as the potential economic effects of poverty, poor health, and lack of education on a community.

In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared teen pregnancy a " winnable battle." That means that with enough resources devoted to preventing teen pregnancy, Bridger said, communities can make improvements to impact people throughout their lifetime.

"When you have a baby at [age] 16, it impacts your ability to achieve your goals," Bridger said. "I agree with the CDC that this is a winnable battle, but it has to be addressed day in and day out."

Related: Nurse-Family Partnership Fosters Healthy Futures

Reiana Fernandez, a 19-year-old youth ambassador for Project Worth, works to educate the community on the importance of reducing teen pregnancy rates. She told the Rivard Report that throughout her high school years she witnessed peers who became pregnant and had children, and then struggled to successfully navigate their way through school, economic hardships, and parenting, all at the same time.

She sees her role as both an educator and "someone people can look up to," to talk to about their struggles with parenting and their thoughts about the future. But ultimately, Fernandez wants to support people by educating them about pregnancy prevention and what having a baby would mean for their future.

"As a teen, you haven't even gotten a chance to really live your life yet," Fernandez said. "When you mature more and have the experience of what life is, then you can have a baby. There is always time for a child."

Disclosure: Communities in Schools is a Rivard Report business member. For a full list of supporters, click here.

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Repeat Teen Pregnancy Rates Remain High in Bexar County

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While teen pregnancy rates in Bexar County continue to decline, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District on Tuesday released provisional data showing that pregnancy rates among teen mothers who already have a child remain stubbornly high. Females age 10 to 19 gave birth to 2,044 babies in Bexar County in 2016, a decline of 53 percent since 2006, according to the report.

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Those closest to me know that I strive to be as pragmatic as possible. Some might say this is due to my lack of patience. They may be right. Because of these traits of mine I tend to choose a Direct Service pathway. It seems like the most practical approach. I want to be able to see, immediately, how my work is making a difference; be it a smile on a kids face when I volunteer with underprivileged kids, or painting a school in a foreign land. At the end of a days work I can see how I made a difference.
A song that always has stuck with me is a Christian song named "if we are the body" because it reminds me of ways in which we can directly help others. I hope you enjoy it!

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Casting Crowns - If We Are The Body ((Acoustic) [Audio])

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Mine was the Social Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibility.  This one is probably where the most impact can be made.  In the world today, we have seen that governments are not acting as leaders in matters that impact the world.  Leadership is coming from businesses.  They are filling the void that has been created by world governments not being willing to do address the problems the world is facing.
Melinda

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In answering the survey, I focused as much as possible on what I remember about myself as I entered college.  Seeing the ideas discussed categorically and illustrated with tangible examples was far more useful to my reimagined younger self (and even to my older self now) that the results themselves.  This exercise helped me realize I had an instinctive desire to be useful to society in ways that were outside the typical capitalist model and that doing so might bring some fulfillment and sense of purpose I had at that point not imagined.   I found that answering the questions provided a good milieu for me to think about what I like and don't like doing, which are important ideas for someone starting college to be engaging with.

The survey results themselves were somewhat confusing, as the two ranked highest for me (Community Activism / Governance) were two I thought I had indicated no experience with and little interest in.  This may well reflect the fact that 17 year old me really had no idea what college and life in general were about.  Again, the results I think would be, in my case, a long second to simply engaging with the ideas.

- DrD, in collaboration with time-warped 1990 Julian.

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Not only will these six pathways be helpful for giving students a framework for exploring different ways they can serve their community, but I also found it to be very helpful to reflect upon all of the different avenues I can take to serve and give back. I tend to be more naturally oriented toward Community Engaged Learning and Research and Direct Service, but I found myself answering that so many of the other pathways are “very important” for impactful change during the survey. I appreciate that the survey pushed you to think about how much impact you could directly have if you focused your efforts in the specific pathways, because I found myself considering how I could get more involved and have influence in some of the pathways that I might not have considered or natural gravitated towards as much.

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I think this is a great way to educate students to the many ways they can participate in society. So many times they only consider direct service. My top two are Direct Service and Community Organizing and Activism. I never thought of some of what I do as Community Organizing and Activism, although, by their definition, I can see how this plays out. In educating students and other professional colleagues, this hopefully makes a difference.

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Not only will these six pathways be helpful for giving students a framework for exploring different ways they can serve their community, but I also found it to be very helpful to reflect upon all of the different avenues I can take to serve and give back. I tend to be more naturally oriented toward Community Engaged Learning and Research and Direct Service, but I found myself answering that so many of the other pathways are “very important” for impactful change during the survey. I appreciate that the survey pushed you to think about how much impact you could directly have if you focused your efforts in the specific pathways, because I found myself considering how I could get more involved and have influence in some of the pathways that I might not have considered or natural gravitated towards as much.

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Reflection on Pathways reading, video, and survey

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Reflection on Pathways reading, video, and survey

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I tried to imagine myself as an adolescent when I took the survey. The survey provided several concrete examples of what these different pathways look like in action.This would be useful for adolescents who desire to "make a difference in the world" but are not sure where to start or what those actions might look like.
I found the results of the survey confusing and believe they could benefit from additional guidance re: interpretation. ~Stefanie

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I think this survey will be really helpful to students in that it not only provides concrete examples of how they put service into practice, but also helps them to reflect upon the past experiences they have. It can be easy for anyone (especially a young person) to dismiss these idea of public service as something you'd like to do, but that just isn't for you. Do I really have the time to put into this? Do I have the skills/knowledge to make a change? In filling out this survey, students are given examples of things they can do to help them land on some intentional objectives they can put into practice. For me, I have the most interest in Direct Service and Community Organizing, but have the most experience in Philanthropy. It was helpful to reflect upon my past experiences while also contemplating future opportunity (with specific objectives/examples!) for service.

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The pathway I was most familiar when I was growing up was direct service. When I was a kid, I was in Girl Scouts and figuring out service was easy. Then I moved to Waco for college and was really confused on what to do, how to get started, and that extra piece of anxiety of calling organizations to volunteer. I finally joined Circle K International--a service organization and it became much easier, because there were group events, but also because I was more familiar with organizations and what to do.
I took the survey, but it did not appear to be consistent with what I would say; maybe that is the point. What I have the most experience with and what I think I can do to have the most impact are Direct Service and Community Engaged learning and research. Because I was unsure what to do and was nervous to get started in service in Waco, I design the service learning project in my child development course to encourage students to get involved. Most are very nervous to start out, but once they get their feet wet they usually enjoy service activities. Some even have done internships at local organizations after volunteering for this project.
Community organization and activism showed higher on the survey than I would have guessed. I am very passionate about political, DEI, and community issues, which is a change from 15 years ago (or even 10 years ago). I do try to provide good solid research and share coverage of issues on facebook, but I have become to doubt that it actually has an effect on that platform. I do have a better opportunity to address DEI  in courses that I teach, so that is where I put my energy. I try to encourage students to think critically about issues rather than agreeing with me. It is a hard balance though.

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While I felt that all the pathways would have a positive impact on social issues, I felt that my experiences tended to support Community Engaged Learning and Research and Direct Service.  When I reflect on the examples in the other pathways and why my experiences were limited to only two areas, I realized that my experiences directly reflected my personal comfort level.  Many of my related experiences were with individuals or groups that I had personal connections with and thus a strong desire to help improve the situtation or contribute to positive changes.  I definitely shy away from activites where I have to reach out to those that I do not know well (i.e. visit elected official, plan crowd funding campaign, create a petition,etc.).

I was suprised by my "top pathways" which included Community Organizing and Activism and Policy and Governance and wonder which part of the survey contributed to this outcome.  These are the two categories that I have the least experience in.  While my younger self could have imagined playing a role in policy and governance, my current self feels much more excited about activities in other pathways.

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This reflection activity really would vary between how I think now and what I thought like as a traditional college student. I think this may spark some students to think about civic engagement in different ways than they would have traditionally thought of it. I am not sure as a young college student I was as aware of the world as my students seem to be now. I know I didn't really care about the same things then as I do now. I think this exercise might make me feel more apt to try and commit to activities.

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Direct Service and a lesson learned from Sr. Dot:  Sandy McMakin

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Direct Service and a lesson learned from Sr. Dot:  Sandy McMakin

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My top pathways are Direct Service and Corporate Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibility. If I had completed this several years ago, it would have focused even more on Direct Service because that was what I am comfortable with--service I can "see and feel" the direct impact. However, many years ago, Sr. Dot walked in my office and told me she had nominated me to be on the Board of Womens Global Connection. I thanked her and said I was honored, but it was not really my strength--that I tended to serve more in local, direct, service programs. Of course, Sr. Dot didn't accept that answer. She promptly responded that was a good reason for me to be on the Board--to not only expand where I might serve and help--but also expand my limited thinking. Well--if Sr. Dot said I needed to do it, then of course, I accepted. It was humbling experience and I learned much from the women on the Board as well as the many women (and men) who were involved in the WGC projects. This was my "eye opening" to better understanding the need and impact of other pathways to service.

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I hadn't really thought about different paths to service. However, I can see that the kind of service I'm drawn to do is typically Direct Service. I like to see the result from my effort. And as Al Rubio says, my impatience makes me want to see the result right now. I also feel the most connected to the service and result as visually, you can see the progress made if it is a work effort, or hosting an event for children, or feeding someone who is hungry. I'm more likely to attend a painting party than organize a rally or collect signatures. On the other hand, I know that there are people and organizations working daily, not occasionally as I do, that can address an issue better--and they need my money. As an adult (not my teenage self), I also believe that philanthropy is an important support for many organizations including my current employer. I am definitely going to do more thinking about these pathways.

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Although I do believe all pathways can make an impact, direct service has been the more significant pathway for me. This is not surprising to me since I am a shy person and I picture many of the other pathways needing someone a bit more vocal than what I believe I can be. I also realized that I seem to have a subconscious belief that I am not really helping if I am not breaking my back and doing something physical.
Due to the pandemic, and general lack of time as I rebuilt my life here in San Antonio, I had started exploring philanthropy a little. I feel this reflection may help me get past the feeling and guilt that I haven't been doing anything to help the community, but I do hope to get back to doing some direct service activities.

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Direct Service and Community Engaged Learning and Research 

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Direct Service and Community Engaged Learning and Research 

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I took the survey from my current perspective since growing up in Italy, community service was not present in my life. I was never aware of any drive for goods (we donated used clothes to Caritas, for example, which has containers stationed everywhere), volunteering (unless it was taking on a leadership role with an established organization like the Italian equivalent of the Scouts), or certainly not getting involved in politics and business.
As expected, therefore, direct service and community engaged learning and research have been most prominent for me, mostly because that is what I had the opportunity to do at UIW, and those opportunities are the easiest to participate in or access. I found it interesting that the survey identified Community Organizing and Policy and Governance as my top pathways by description, because I am interested in them but I also find them to be daunting. learning about these pathways, however, has made me think of how to make these options more visible and how to integrate them in different classes or even in the same class, where there is a clear goal or theme, such as refugees or sustainability.

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Ric Peigler----I guess we are all activists in one way or another, even if not in the traditional sense of activist.

Having attended two large public universities for my undergraduate and graduate degrees, I am realizing that there was never much taught to me about civic engagement, in contrast to the climate and focus on civic engagement that we enjoy at UIW.   As a young person I did not worry about this, figuring someday I could make contributions for the public good when I had more time, more money, and more influence.  In retrospect this was regrettable and is now embarrassing.

The two pathways that interest me the most are Philanthropy and Direct Service.  I have spent thousands of dollars of my own money to support students by buying many books for them and providing travel abroad opportunities.  I think this will be one of my main satisfactions as I contemplate my legacy near the end of life.  I have never been an activist in the way it is commonly defined, whether for social justice, politics, etc.  But I am an activist in my classroom by finding countless ways to alert students to current issues pertaining to social justice and injustice.  I am not generally an organizer, but I work quietly and sometimes anonymously making things better for people I know and people I do not know.  An example of the latter is when I have made significant donations to food banks during the "off season" when fewer people think to donate.  I earned a 5-gallon pin for 40 blood donations and continued making donations for years after that.  There are several more similar examples, but I am actually not comfortable sharing any of these examples of my private civic engagement with this group, but in preparing this brief essay I am recalling examples to remind myself that I have in fact been contributing to the public good for many years.  So, I guess we are all activists in our own ways.

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By PATRICIA SIMPSON

This month's observation of the month is an observation of a moth. Say that 10 times fast! iNaturalist extraordinaire klyle161 was lucky enough to spot a magnificent Ceanothus Silk Moth (Hyalophora euryalus) which can be seen at bit.ly/3bAB5fG

While this species is not particularly rare in San Diego County and despite its large size (roughly the palm of your hand), it is not often seen. One of the reasons for this is the short life span of the adult moth - one to two weeks. Why so short? The adults of the Saturniinae subfamily (Giant Silkworm Moths) emerge from their cocoons without any mouth parts. Without the distraction of having to find food, the sole purpose of these night critters is procreation.

The male, adorned with two large antennae, is equipped to detect the female's pheromones (chemical scents). He will fly around until he finds a mate.

In contrast, after emergence the female will stay put and wait for a male to find her. After all, she needs to save her energy for her post mating job - laying eggs. She first has to fly around and pick particular host plant species suitable for the "kids" which includes (you guessed it) ceanothus. If she lays her eggs on the wrong plant, the caterpillars will not survive.

Even though she will lay more than 100 eggs, she will fly to many different host plants and only deposit a few eggs on each one. The caterpillars are voracious so they can't all be on a single plant. With mating and egg laying duties completed, the adults reach the end of their lives.

From the eggs will hatch tiny caterpillars. They will not be small for long. They will feed on the leaves of the host plant and in a matter of a few months will grow to roughly 4 inches. Just imagine fat sausage-like green fingers with yellow and black spikes!

When it is time to pupate, they will crawl to a different plant, build a cocoon and pupate inside of it. The reason for leaving their feeding ground is simple: avoid predators who would surely hunt them down after seeing the decimated leaves and frass (insect poop), all sure signs of a tasty grub nearby.

In the cold of winter, the pupa will enter diapause (resting phase) until temperatures warm up and are suitable for the adult to emerge and spread its large wings. And the cycle starts all over again. But wait, which came first: the egg or the moth?

To see the 80 observations of Ceanothus Silk Moth in San Diego County since 2015 in iNaturalist and see photos of the different life stages, visit bit.ly/2JmMio6
- Patricia Simpson is a trail guide at Mission Trails Regional Park.

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iNatualist observation: Ceanothus Silk Moth

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By PATRICIA SIMPSON This month's observation of the month is an observation of a moth. Say that 10 times fast! iNaturalist extraordinaire klyle161 was lucky enough to spot a magnificent Ceanothus Silk Moth (Hyalophora euryalus) which can be seen at bit.ly/3bAB5fG While this species is not particularly rare in San Diego County and despite its large size (roughly the palm of your hand), it is not often seen.

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COMMUNITY ORGANIZING & ACTIVISM and POLICY & GOVERNANCE -were my service survey results. Answering the questions stirred up memories about some of my experiences during my 42-year medical practice career. Here are a few random snippets:  * I set up practice next to a private hospital that didn’t have an emergency room nor usually accepted Medicaid or indigent patients. * I knew that I had to work from within the system to get changes made- a strategy I learned during my college and medical training experience. * From the beginning of my practice, I made every effort possible to make friends with the doctors, the nurses and the hospital staff. I volunteered and served on any committee available and most importantly, worked diligently be the best practicing physician in the hospital. * I got to know the hospital administrator and earned a favorable respect for my efforts. The result was that the hospital admissions of my Medicaid and indigent patients became a new normal routine. * Through my efforts we also got the dietary department to offer ethnic food options.  * Before & after work shifts, I taught medical Spanish lessons for the L&D nurses, then the nursery nurses and then the anesthesiologists.  * There were no brown faces among the hospital employees and the nurses when I started my practice in Austin. Now the hospital is a very diversified employer that for several consecutive years has been rated as one of the top hospitals in the US according to multiple medical care-rating services. And they provide healthcare for Medicaid and indigent patients! * For the past few years, I taught as a clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M University (Round Rock) and the University of Texas at Austin medical schools. I modeled and taught these philosophical goals and methods to my medical students. * I retired from practice on June 23, 2021.  * I started my part-time SIGS facilitator position at UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine on July 26, 2021. * I continue teaching the same philosophy to the next generation of doctors. * I have  sponsored students running for student organization officer positions, I am mentoring several students (mainly future OB/GYNs) and I have committed to (extracurricular and after-hour) teaching of Medical Spanish to the medical students- at student request. * It is gratifying to be able to continue my work- to train the next generation of doctors to make healthcare better for ALL.         -Felix Hull, MD

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Civic Engagement growing in our  "City of Compassion."  Join the Compassionate Institute this summer

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Civic Engagement growing in our  "City of Compassion."  Join the Compassionate Institute this summer

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3rd Annual SA  Compassion Institute 2022, June 2022 – May 2023, The initial educational component, Compassionate Integrity Training (CIT)*, is virtual and weekly for 10 weeks: Tues, May 31 – Aug 2, 2022, With 3 choices of time:

Morning: 9:00-11:00 AM  |   Afternoon: 1:30-3:30 PM  |  Evening:  6:30-8:30 PM

Maximum registration per time slot is 50 participants. CIT will be led by certified facilitators.

https://www.compassionateintegrity.org/

The integrative experiential component, Compassion In Action (CIA)* is a monthly 1-hour cohort gathering during the 22/23 academic year: August 2022 – May 2023

Virtual, with dates and times discerned by each cohort; also led by trained facilitators.

*The Institute includes both components above:  initial education & integrative experience. CIT + CIA = SA Compassion Institute. See more and register: http://sacompassion.net/2022-compassion-institute/
Join your many UIW colleagues studying CIT. From the beginning UIW has been involved. https://sites.google.com/view/stories-truth-transformation/

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As a dietitian, I have been involved mostly in direct service to the community. When I was working in a rural hospital, I partnered with the local agriculture extension agent to conduct nutrition education classes. I also helped with walk-a-thons and hosting charity events. Philanthropy was also at the top of my results and I have a deep appreciation for the costs to run community programs related to the health and well being of citizens. Without grants and funding, many programs would not exist. I plan on contemplating the other pathways and learning more about how I am affected by these issues and how I can share this knowledge with my students. - Heather Frazier

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It was enlightining for me to think about the far reaching areas of service and all the "personalities" that I have engaged with in my many years of life.  Everyone has different attributes in what gives them their talents and strengths, unique attributes that can help grow thier communities into something better. It is a matter of finding the natural and comfortable fit into an area of service.  As a college student, my service involved helping children with mathematics and music through mentorship programs.  I was lucky--I found a fit. Although I was not tagged in my top two with Community Engaged Learning and Research, this is  where I am comfortable.  Although I feel that the activism and philanthropy components of service are critical (one of my top picked best service areas dealt with activism and organization) to building better and enlightned communities, my strengths belong in the direct service to my community.
Finding the right personailty and service area fit early in a person's life, at the latest college aged, and insuring comfort in their service work will help young adults, could offer more that the immediate impact of the outcomes of their service.  It can potentially give a person a sense of value and grow confidence--self worth.
Amanda Rakowitz

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Ana Vallor As I was answering the survey as my college self, I could not help but notice how far I have come to find my voice.  As a first generation hispanic student growing up in South Texas, one thing that I was always taught is not to make waves and do as you are told by your parents, teachers and those in authority and never question their instruction.  One thing that was not taught to a young hispanic girl was how to be politically active.  As I made my journey through college and graduate school, one thing that I found that was always lacking in Texas schools was the lack of activitism that would equal those Latinos attending schools in California, Chicago etc.  There is a lethargy in STEM and Health Professions majors by which Science activism or civics is not prioritized or even thought of that much until much later in life. That is what I would like to work on with myself and our students.  I would like to see how we can make our voices heard  "in the room where it happens" to borrow a phrase from Hamilton- or rather, have the room where it happens be of our choosing!

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Civic Engagement growing in our  "City of Compassion."  Join the Compassionate Institute this summer

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Civic Engagement growing in our  "City of Compassion."  Join the Compassionate Institute this summer

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3rd Annual SA  Compassion Institute 2022, June 2022 – May 2023, The initial educational component, Compassionate Integrity Training (CIT)*, is virtual and weekly for 10 weeks: Tues, May 31 – Aug 2, 2022, With 3 choices of time:

Morning: 9:00-11:00 AM  |   Afternoon: 1:30-3:30 PM  |  Evening:  6:30-8:30 PM

Maximum registration per time slot is 50 participants. CIT will be led by certified facilitators.

https://www.compassionateintegrity.org/

The integrative experiential component, Compassion In Action (CIA)* is a monthly 1-hour cohort gathering during the 22/23 academic year: August 2022 – May 2023

Virtual, with dates and times discerned by each cohort; also led by trained facilitators.

*The Institute includes both components above:  initial education & integrative experience. CIT + CIA = SA Compassion Institute. See more and register: http://sacompassion.net/2022-compassion-institute/
Join your many UIW colleagues studying CIT. From the beginning UIW has been involved. https://sites.google.com/view/stories-truth-transformation/

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Civic Engagement growing in our  "City of Compassion."  Join the Compassionate Institute this summer

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Civic Engagement growing in our  "City of Compassion."  Join the Compassionate Institute this summer

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3rd Annual SA  Compassion Institute 2022, June 2022 – May 2023, The initial educational component, Compassionate Integrity Training (CIT)*, is virtual and weekly for 10 weeks: Tues, May 31 – Aug 2, 2022, With 3 choices of time:

Morning: 9:00-11:00 AM  |   Afternoon: 1:30-3:30 PM  |  Evening:  6:30-8:30 PM

Maximum registration per time slot is 50 participants. CIT will be led by certified facilitators.

https://www.compassionateintegrity.org/

The integrative experiential component, Compassion In Action (CIA)* is a monthly 1-hour cohort gathering during the 22/23 academic year: August 2022 – May 2023

Virtual, with dates and times discerned by each cohort; also led by trained facilitators.

*The Institute includes both components above:  initial education & integrative experience. CIT + CIA = SA Compassion Institute. See more and register: http://sacompassion.net/2022-compassion-institute/
Join your many UIW colleagues studying CIT. From the beginning UIW has been involved. https://sites.google.com/view/stories-truth-transformation/

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Community Organizing and Activism: Roxanna Nelson

I wanted to try to be as true to this as possible. But, I found it difficult because how I serve the community and my students didn't seem to directly align with any pathway.

After taking the assessment, I discovered that my top pathways were Community Organization and Activism and Policy/Governance. I never really saw myself as active in either of these ways. I always thought of myself as more of a direct service person (going on mission trips with my church, outreach as a college student to first-generation college students, etc.). But, this gave me pause... am I better at mobilizing and organizing others? Am I persuasive in the political process? I must be better at those than I thought.

Upon reflection, I realize that it's my ability to talk to others, my willingness to engage with and listen to them that is the most important in making sustainable change.

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I was surprised by my both of my top pathways - "Policy and Governance" AND "Community Organizing". Before taking the survey, I would have assumed that "Community engaged learning and research" AND "Social entrepreneurship and CSR" would have been my top two pathways. However, this difference may have been that I was thinking about when I was in college when completing the survey vs. now. In college, community organizing and serving in various roles was something that interested me due to the lack personal funds and knowledge I had in college. However, I would argue that my pathways have changed over time due to a career path I would have never imagined. Teaching accounting students about ethical reasoning skills and CSR is something I am very passionate about, as the accounting profession needs future CPAs with a moral compass and concern for CSR.

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My top two pathways by description were Community Organizing and Activism, and Policy and Governance which was slightly different from my top two pathways by activity which were Policy and Governance, and Philanthropy. I liked the way the survey was organized and displayed, giving a few examples of each to help narrow your options down. Sometimes it can be overwhelming and intimidating when thinking about the many issues our world is facing and all of the different ways we can volunteer and contribute. Figuring out where your strengths and passions lie, and using your efforts towards that can lead to a greater impact. When you're passionate about something, it doesn't feel like work so you dedicate more time and effort towards. This has given me many things to think about.

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1. Community-Engaged Learning and Research: Connecting coursework and academic research to community-identified concerns to enrich knowledge and inform action on social issues.

2. Direct Service: Working to address the immediate needs of individuals or a community, often involving contact with the people or places being served.

For me, pathway 1 and 2 align to the coursework the most. Students in Communication Arts are intelligent and creative. Students learn how the skills can help them professionally and also seem to view their coursework as an interest. This allows me to design lessons that encourage service. At the same time, students enjoy the work because it aligns to their interests and allows them to be a positive change agent.

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Two years ago I joined the Young Men's Service League with my son. It is an organization where Mothers and Sons do volunteer work at non-profit organizations. It has been an eye opening experience being exposed to so many organizations that can be helpful to our college students both as a resource and an opportunity for service learning. After completing the Pathways Survey, I was surprised to see the role I can play in helping community organizations by facilitating trainings and getting more involved with the community (Community Organizing and Activism). I am also more interested in direct service to my institution and the community. Although I was surprised to see how my strengths can help organizations I was even more surprised to see Policy and Governance as a top Pathway. I would be more interested in Direct Service and Community Organizing. These Pathways will be really helpful for students to engage in service learning opportunities in the community.