Last night I presented to the Student Historic Preservation Association at Ursuline College.
I am a graduate student at Ursuline, and I am also representing the Ohio History Service Corps AmeriCorps program. At times, it is lots of hats to wear, but comes along with the career and life path that I am on. Not to mention, I like excessive accessories.
Topics that I covered were not only SHPA's role for the students, but also the students ability to join the Ohio History Service Corps as volunteer members of the Preservation Corps.
I hope that I inspired my fellow students to participate in both SHPA and OHSC AmeriCorps' Preservation Corps.
Providing potential volunteers with pertinent information is really difficult.
I was wondering if any of you readers have suggestions?
How do you present a large project to a group, without overwhelming them with too many details, but suggest enough that they are interested and well informed?
Tomorrow I am presenting to the Honor Society at Tri-C West Campus.
Thanks to my fellow SHPA member's trial run last night, I do feel like I will be better able to be concise and direct about what I want them to do. It is difficult to suggest to people that they should do something without being over persistent. Hopefully, I am building this project in a way that makes people want to join in.
After all, this project is for the city of Cleveland, and it will only really work if new people become involved and old-hands at preservation to develop and pass on this knowledge.
Also, if you can donate, or know an area business that would like to donate: gift cards, discount coupons, small items for volunteer gift raffles... it would be great of you to pass on this contact information to me or pass mine along to them.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Twinkies Continued...
Old South Branch Library
Here is a proper link to the image that inspired my blog post-- Twinkies!
And Below is the Image.
Here is a proper link to the image that inspired my blog post-- Twinkies!
And Below is the Image.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Ned said, "Don't give up!"
The Cleveland Landmarks Commission are a board of professionals ( lawyers, historians, planners, architects) who genuinely and wholeheartedly support the moral virtue of preservation. But, what comes with the territory is a little bit of jadedness. Not necessarily at any one direction, but most directly at the wonky foundation of inter-departmental City politics.
Now, preservation has shown itself as both an economic and community development tool. It sustains the existing built environment, and encourages its community to utilize this building stock before simply tearing down and starting fresh.
With the current buzzword being green, it is to wonder why preservationists are still repeating the same banter about preservation being necessary and a benefit to the community. While new architecture clambers at LEEDS and is gaining funding through sustainable initiatives, preservation is shaking its head saying, "this is what we have been doing for fifty-some-odd-years"! Somewhere along the lines, there was a break down of communication between preservationists and their community.
Ned said, "Don't give up on preservation!" He said this after the Commission learned about amended ordinances that, if left as is, could give the precedence for back-stepping preservation's legal grounds.
Ned is cool. Ned has that wisdom that most of us seek as we go through our lives. Most people sidestep talking about issues. Ned always seems to be direct about what is going on, while offering a little bit of encouragement that gives that guidance we need to continue.
Now, preservation has shown itself as both an economic and community development tool. It sustains the existing built environment, and encourages its community to utilize this building stock before simply tearing down and starting fresh.
With the current buzzword being green, it is to wonder why preservationists are still repeating the same banter about preservation being necessary and a benefit to the community. While new architecture clambers at LEEDS and is gaining funding through sustainable initiatives, preservation is shaking its head saying, "this is what we have been doing for fifty-some-odd-years"! Somewhere along the lines, there was a break down of communication between preservationists and their community.
Ned said, "Don't give up on preservation!" He said this after the Commission learned about amended ordinances that, if left as is, could give the precedence for back-stepping preservation's legal grounds.
Ned is cool. Ned has that wisdom that most of us seek as we go through our lives. Most people sidestep talking about issues. Ned always seems to be direct about what is going on, while offering a little bit of encouragement that gives that guidance we need to continue.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Justice Talking
You want a powerful tool to help your co-workers reflect on numerous topics related to civic duty and humanitarian obligations? Maybe you are part of an organization that has a hard time communicating? Maybe you are a boss who sees a need to give your staff a place and time to reflect? Maybe you are part of a staff that sees a need to bring your management into the conversation?
Justice Talking is a conversational tool that can provide your group a comfortable environment for open discussion.
This Monday and Tuesday I attend Justice Talking Training sponsored by the Ohio Humanities Council. It was inspirational.
During training it was difficult to understand the true power of Justice Talking, but now after a day of reflection... I see the greatness it enables.
One reason I like blogging and conversation over the Internet is text. I have a frank way of speaking, without interruptions, without a need to hesitate, and with only minimal guidelines. All of the social discomfort that I can sometimes experience in a group washes away.
Justice Talking provides a format for us to talk with the same feeling of openness and comfort as the Internet has allowed socially awkward folks like myself.
Yes, I know, no one ever believes me when I tell them that I have social phobia. People always say how I am outgoing and friendly. Well, being outgoing is difficult even for me. I still wonder what others think of me, and feel that tension when I am fearful of speaking.
Justice Talking uses literature, picked by topic and theme, as a guide for verbal reflection. It is kind of like art therapy, how a counselor can use a clients artwork as a place to start conversation and personal insight.
Except, thoughtful and neutral literature is used as this starting place.
A group member is the appointed "chief", or as Justice Talk-speak calls it-- a facilitator.
The facilitator creates a meaningful beginning and ending for the conversation. An icebreaker to get the conversation flowing, and an ending spot for thoughtful reflections after the group disperses.
They also draft open-ended questions to keep the conversation going, if the members run low on thoughts or discussion points. The facilitator isn't the dictator, they keep quiet, and allow the group to lead.
There shouldn't be an agenda just a starting point.
It was great to have the opportunity to train with an awesome group. They gave me so much over the two days. It was also wonderful to have the challenge to co-facilitate a reading.
I am more than happy to offer what I learned to anyone interested.
Below is a link that can provide you with some resources:
http://www.civicreflection.org/
Justice Talking is a conversational tool that can provide your group a comfortable environment for open discussion.
This Monday and Tuesday I attend Justice Talking Training sponsored by the Ohio Humanities Council. It was inspirational.
During training it was difficult to understand the true power of Justice Talking, but now after a day of reflection... I see the greatness it enables.
One reason I like blogging and conversation over the Internet is text. I have a frank way of speaking, without interruptions, without a need to hesitate, and with only minimal guidelines. All of the social discomfort that I can sometimes experience in a group washes away.
Justice Talking provides a format for us to talk with the same feeling of openness and comfort as the Internet has allowed socially awkward folks like myself.
Yes, I know, no one ever believes me when I tell them that I have social phobia. People always say how I am outgoing and friendly. Well, being outgoing is difficult even for me. I still wonder what others think of me, and feel that tension when I am fearful of speaking.
Justice Talking uses literature, picked by topic and theme, as a guide for verbal reflection. It is kind of like art therapy, how a counselor can use a clients artwork as a place to start conversation and personal insight.
Except, thoughtful and neutral literature is used as this starting place.
A group member is the appointed "chief", or as Justice Talk-speak calls it-- a facilitator.
The facilitator creates a meaningful beginning and ending for the conversation. An icebreaker to get the conversation flowing, and an ending spot for thoughtful reflections after the group disperses.
They also draft open-ended questions to keep the conversation going, if the members run low on thoughts or discussion points. The facilitator isn't the dictator, they keep quiet, and allow the group to lead.
There shouldn't be an agenda just a starting point.
It was great to have the opportunity to train with an awesome group. They gave me so much over the two days. It was also wonderful to have the challenge to co-facilitate a reading.
I am more than happy to offer what I learned to anyone interested.
Below is a link that can provide you with some resources:
http://www.civicreflection.org/
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Twinkies!
It is interesting how things in Cleveland always lead towards Twinkies.
Today I found a circa 1890's postcard that stated "the south side library: clark and w.20th".
This was of interest to me, because I am researching Scranton Road in Cleveland, and the Public Library that stands on the corner of Scranton and Clark, which wasn't built until 1911.
So, the research begun.
Turns out the building was located on the former W.20th Place, now Twinkie Lane. I can't confirm that the building was a library, but I can confirm that it was flour storage in 1912 for the Star Baking Company.
Star Baking transferred hands and eventually made Twinkies.
Voila, welcome to Cleveland.
Sadly, the flour building is gone, but the remnants of an 1920-ish commercial building remains.
Today I found a circa 1890's postcard that stated "the south side library: clark and w.20th".
This was of interest to me, because I am researching Scranton Road in Cleveland, and the Public Library that stands on the corner of Scranton and Clark, which wasn't built until 1911.
So, the research begun.
Turns out the building was located on the former W.20th Place, now Twinkie Lane. I can't confirm that the building was a library, but I can confirm that it was flour storage in 1912 for the Star Baking Company.
Star Baking transferred hands and eventually made Twinkies.
Voila, welcome to Cleveland.
Sadly, the flour building is gone, but the remnants of an 1920-ish commercial building remains.
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