Blog Topic #13

The governor of Matagalpa, Nicaragua has been involved and has helped Sister Rebecca's projects. One event that the governor supported was the 5K run. Sister Rebecca does have interaction and contact with the governor, in fact she decided to have a 5k run to help  raise money and awareness in the community and she received help and support from the governor. Sister Rebecca told us that the run was held around the same time that NDNU had its NicaArgo 5k run. I am proud to have been  a part of that run. The governor supported this, we were told that the governor personally ensured that the streets were cleared to make way for the runners.This act just this shows that there is support for the disabled and leads to even more acceptance from the community. In this way the governor has authority to make an impact on Sister Rebecca's projects.

Blog Topic #12

In Nicaragua there is not a long history of rights for the disabled. Today there are legislations that exist in Nicaragua that outline and protect the rights and dignity of the disabled in Nicaragua. With these legislations being passed, there are now schools and other programs for the disabled. Because of the legislations passed the disabled have opportunities that were never made possible to ten before. There are schools for the blind, centers that teach sign language to the deaf as well as to their family so that they are finally able to communicate with the ones they love. Because of the legislations, Sister Rebecca's programs to help educate the disabled, and to help make them a working part of the community, would not exist and would not have the same support it has now. In this way, the program is protected and supported by the government. By creating awareness in the government, disabled people got to finally have a voice and are now given the opportunities they deserve.

Blog topic #11

Like any business, the restaurant and other projects set up by sister Rebecca are taxed. Sister Rebecca has found ways to raise funds for example, in order to keep the park that she created clean and get to get a little something from it as well they charge the rest of the communities who are not a part of the special program to go in the park. Sister Rebecca has also found a way to make the learning center even more of a success. Since the country has certain restrictions on what a school for special needs must have, Sister Rebecca has maintained it  a learning center. She does this so that they could offer more programs and therapies for the children who attend the learning center. Also, they would be highly taxed if they he'd the full title as a school and they would not afford to do many of the wonderful things that the learning center offers for not just the children, but their mothers as well.

Blog topic #10

The sisters rely on both money and services provided by a public entity. While working with sister Rebecca, I met a number of volunteers who were working at the learning center with the children. Sister Rebecca appreciated having them and us there to help her. She also appreciated the school supplies that we donated to the school. She informed us that the recycling center relies on donations and services. Industries and local businesses provide the recycling center with the material they use to create many beautiful things from brown bags of all sizes, to piñatas, envelopes, purses, blankets and even paintings. Without those services the recycling center would struggle to get all of the materials that they need. This service of the recycling is consistent, there is an understanding between the center and the businesses. The rest of the projects started by sister Rebecca are given support but it mostly runs because of the work that the moms of the special children work them and this is how they continue to support their families as well as new families that join her projects. Without this support many of the families would not be able to give their children the special care that they need and the support that keeps them going.

Call to Action Day

This year Call to Action Action Day was a very fun experience. This year I helped chaperone a field trip of the children in the after school program of Fair Oaks Elementary school to the Hiller Aviation Museum. This was special for me because I went on a field trip to the same museum when I was about the age of the children and I still remember to this day. I was happy to be able to relive the experience while also seeing the kids enjoy themselves while also learning. We divided the kids so that each NDNU student had their own group of students. I had  group of five girls who made the day very fun. I found that they were very smart and actually read about the history of aviation before going there so that could know what they would be seeing at the museum. I talked to the girls about college, and I also found that they were very interested in college and each one of them already had a university in mind. this was a great experience because I got to see what the children in my community were learning in school, what they knew already, and how dedicated they already were to attending college.

Blog topic #9 Judicial process

The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are familiar with the judicial process and the importance of it. In order for great social changes to occur, there must be legal changes done. They help make changes by using the judicial process. They have recourse  to the judicial processes as a way of resolving problems, for example sister Dorothy Stang used records to show that the people had rights to the land that they were living on. She helped fight against the big logging companies who exploited the resources of the region and destroyed the homes of many people who were located in villages within the Amazon. The sisters work hard to help those in need in any way that they possibly can. I have seen that in order to help them, they educate themselves in the issues of the region and on the process they need to help better the situation. By educating and familiarizing themselves with the judicial process and other method of helping, they can then show the people how to further help themselves in the future if they are ever faced with more issues.

Blog topic #8

When dealing with the local government, the sisters know how to go about it so that there is as little conflict as possible. Sister Rebecca, who is working with the disabled in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, poke to us about how she has been able to create everything she has worked on in Matagalpa. She told us how the government highly respects the Catholic religion, especially in Matagalpa. She told us how she was given the task to help the disabled after the archbishop of Nicaragua asked her to help. With her great skill and with the help of the mothers of the disabled children in the community, Sister Rebecca created a park, an education center, a nutrition center, a recycling center and even a restaurant to help the disabled in the region. She has gotten the support from the local government. The mayor of Matagalpa even helped sponsor the 5K run that Sister Rebecca planned to help raise money for the disabled and their families.  The local government of Matagalpa, Nicaragua has been for the most part supportive in helping further sister Rebecca's work, without support it would have been very difficult for the disabled in Matagalpa to have as many resources as they have now because of sister Rebecca.

Blog topic #7

The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur do get involved and caught up in conflict relating to the local relationships in Nicaragua. There are many issues in Nicaragua that deal with various topics and social issues that the sisters get involved in. One example is Sister Sandy who is working in Mulukuku, Nicaragua. Sister Sandy works to help women and children in the region. She created an earning learning center for small children in Mulukuku, and build a space where adults who live in the mountains and were never able to attend school, could go and learn how to read and write. She also has a maternity house where she takes in pregnant women from the regain who do not have the resources to care for themselves or their child while pregnant. She helps those women before and after they have had their child. Sister Sandy took us  to  a nearby women's shelter. The shelter takes in women who are being abused. She informed us about the struggle she has had with the community for having a relationship with the shelter. Since the shelter encourages women to leave an abusive relationship, the men in those situations have a problem with their wives leaving them. They blame the women in the shelter, and get upset at sister sandy for not intervening. This shows  how the sisters of Notre Dame de Namur tend to get involved in conflict relating to their local relationships.

Founders week event

For founders week, I attended a few events. The one event I would like to discuss is the talk given by Father Eddie Fernandez. He answered questions that a few students had prepared for him regarding the catholic religion. I found his response very engaging and interesting. I learned and connected through his responses that the sisters of Notre Dame work to uphold the key principles f catholic social teaching such as promotion of peace, or participation. The charism of the foundresses influence the career choices of a political science graduate from NDNU by instilling and teaching principles like justice for all, human dignity, respect for all, and the recognition of our rights and responsibilities.

My Community partner and legislative change

The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur have always supported the legislations that are best for the less fortunate. They offer support and do what they can especially when it has to do with and important issue. The sister work all over the world and fight for different causes all over the world. There are sisters in Africa who help educate children. Sisters in Nicaragua who provide support and education for the disabled. And one big example of how the sisters fight for legislative change is sister Dorothy Stang's work in the Brazil. She dedicated her time to helping the local people from the big lumber companies and did a lot to help influence legislation and to ensure the rights of the people. The Sisters are very much involved in legislative change and do their best to help change legislation for the betterment of the communities thats they are working in.

#4 Political participation

The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are activists who support those who are in need. They support them in as many ways as they can. If there is a political candidate who would help those in need then the sisters support them. If there is any unfair treatment, or someone wants to get into power who would abuse the power and is not the right choice to help the community then they will have a public stand against them. The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur hold a particular set of values, and encourage everyone to be involved in their countries leadership so that they may have a voice and a say as to what goes on in their community. The sisters hold on to their values and try to spread them, just as they are doing in Matagalpa, Nicaragua.

Blog #3 Citizen participation

Citizens of Matagalpa, Nicaragua have a very important role and relationship with my community partner. They will contribute in our understanding of how people in Nicaragua live and in what specific ways we may help the community, specifically the children of the town. My CP will interact very closely with the citizens and the people, by getting to know the people we put ourselves in their shoes and can come to the realization that helping at least one person in any way possible is a great thing. By having citizen participation and support, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur that are in Nicaragua can get the volunteers and attention needed to keep their efforts strong. The more interaction and participation they get, then the more they will be welcomed and supported by the community as a whole because the people will not see them as strangers coming into their town but as friends who have become essential to helping the less fortunate of their population. Citizen participation plays a very important role.

The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

           Dr. Martin Luther king Jr. was one of the greatest and most influential person in history. He led Marches and boycotts that helped shape the outcome of the civil rights movement. He worked hard to fight segregation in Birmingham, and helped pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by leading the famous March on Washington. He also worked hard to support voting rights for African Americans. Dr. King played a key role in the Selma to Montgomery March for for voting rights. The Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965 and resulted almost directly because of the Selma to Montgomery March. They walked 54 miles to the capital building in Montgomery. The March was not able to make it to Montgomery until the third attempt, the first time they tried to march on March 7, 1965 they were met by Alabama State troopers who were lined up across the famous Edmund Pettus Bridge. The demonstrators were violently attacked by the police and this day is known as Bloody Sunday because of this. They attempted once again March 9th but had to turn back and disperse due to a court order. The March was finally completed on March 25 1965. Dr. martin Luther King Jr. touched people with his words as well as his actions. Upon arriving to the capitol building Dr. King gave a speech known that will be known as "How Long, Not Long" and ensured all of the demonstrators that they were close to achieving the justice they deserve. Dr. King worked for the Civil Rights of African Americans, he felt the discrimination that should not be relived. There are still minorities today who suffer through discrimination and whose rights are not respected.

#1 Community Partner

The Community Partnership I have chosen to pursue is the Alternative Spring break to Nicaragua. This CP arose from the need for better education and care for rural and disabled children in nicaragua. The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur have been working for causes such as this and more all over the world. Because there has been objection to some of the Sisters activist actions, they have been somewhat constrained.  The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are accountable for all those people and beings who are voiceless, they are working to make a difference in the world and to combat the injustice that many are experiencing.