E-Term 2021: Internships in Community and Social Change

One thing you learned (Note: This should be a concept or an idea, not a statement of fact.)

I had never thought about looking at problems in the world by categorizing them. The idea of the concept of a complex problem being different from other kinds of problems.

One thing you connected to your own experience. This could be a connection to your internship, to another activity, or even to something you’ve observed in the news.

Something I really connected with was the mention of the education system in America. My mom is a second grade teacher at a public school in the rural part of the school district. Something she always had a problem with was the attempt to make the one size fits all narrative. While I know she works hard to make a difference in her kids’ lives, sometimes I can’t help but wonder how much more of a difference she could make if the education system would recognize that some kids just learn differently and thats ok.

One question you have

Are there instances where we would need to go about an issue in the world as being defined as complex?

One thing learned: Learning what a complex problem is. I never thought of problem solving manners in the lens of a complex problem they requires social innovation. This topic provided a new perspective for how I look at issues.

One thing Connected to: One thing I connected to was the reference to our broken school system. We attempt to make our educational system a one-size fits all type of education and then treat those as ill who don’t succeed with the learning methods chosen. Instead of seeing the child as the problem we need to view the system as the problem. I connected to this because I always thought it was weird that the my school would label some students as “advanced” and others as not advanced when we were split up into classes, and I saw so many kids with adhd and always wondered if they truly had adhd or just weren’t interested in school.

One question: One question I have relates to institutional racism, what aspects of those issues are complex problems and what problems are complicated problems. Are there any simple problems with racism?

A concept I have grasped that I think definitely connects to what I hope to experience in my internship is the importance of relationships (page 12 E-book). Relationships are key for any kind of social justice movements in communities or life in general. We shouldn't have to see color or class or status or whatever kind of differences. We have to come together in our relationships as the one interconnected human family we are in order to make any kind of positive change.

How do we debunk barriers and myths that hinder relationships and make it quite impossible for minorities to be changemakers?

I connected to the story of the businesswoman who simply could not go on without standing against racism. It describes this as "To delay action further was to become apart of the system she saw as wrong". This resonated with me and reminded me of the quote by Desmond Tutu "If you are neutral in situations of injustice you have chosen the side of the oppressor". This is so very relevant to the events of 2020 and was the year that I found my voice to speak out and stand up instead of standing by. (Chpt. 1)

The idea of complexity science, while very necessary and seemingly effective is at the same time incredibly overwhelming. How do you know how to go about situations with a "complex" thought process, in a way that is going to be beneficial and effective?

• One thing you learned: Complexity and complicated are different in terms of problem solving. Something like shooting a rocket ship to space is complicated but raising a child or helping a community is complex. There is no certainty but only opportunity and intention. Pg. 9
• One thing you connected to your own experience: Beloved faces systematic forces that do not seek it direct harm, but rather is surrounded by surrounding beasts of blinded self interest. The complexity of this, is there is no direct or explicit aggressor, but rather a system that is built to sift away communities such as Beloved. 
• One question you have: I would like to know how my own organization has used opportunity in the past to open doors for their ministry

One thing I connect to my own experience: In chapter 2 it was mainly a discussion about a call to action and what impact you can make on others and the world. I believe that in my own life I am held accountable by myself and others to leave a positive impact on people and to be useful in some way. Not to just exist because you don't know where to start, but to have goals and bring change. (page 29 & 36)

One question I have: On page 29, the author discussed transformation and where to start and I thought this was interesting and piqued my own curiosity. How can we positively and effe tively change social transformation today? 

One thing I learned: On page 12, I learned that " Those willing to embrace complexity are offered some immunity from the sense of"being stuck" that afflicts so many, from the feeling that the system can't be changed, that we have to accept famine, disease or war as inevitable" (pg 12).

One thing I connected to my own experience: On page 7, the author pointed out that the world frequently compares work to technology. I often am guilty of expecting myself to work continuously, like a machine, but I must realize that I was made to rest, as well as work.

One question: On page 37, the author was discussing Jeff Brown's story in more depth. I wondered how we're supposed to react to a situation that we feel called to fix. He said that we shouldn't ignore the calling out of fear of being alone and I question how to conquer those fears in a big city like Birmingham.

From the first chapter, I learned that problems can be sorted into categories of simple, complicated, and complex (9). Furthermore, I learned that many people and businesses make the mistake of treating problems as complicated when they are actually complex. I had never considered that problems should be treated in different ways, but it made sense once reading it. 

I connected with the sentence on page 45 that read, “this is one of the paradoxes at the heart of successful social innovation: we are not free from the responsibility to act in accordance with our calling, yet we should not claim either full credit or full responsibility for the results of our actions” (45). I connected with this quote because I often contemplate my role in fighting the injustice faced by so many in our nation on a daily basis. I know that I want to contribute, but I sometimes get overwhelmed by the idea that my contribution will not be enough. It was freeing to read this quote because it reminded me that it is not a choice, but my duty to help fight these injustices. Yet, while I must not ignore this call for action, I must also realize that my actions are a contribution to the whole because it is not my actions alone that will make the difference. Furthermore, so many people have interacted with me in some way to get me to the point where I am, and even more people will continue to interact with me or act alongside me to produce results.

A question- would a corrupt system like the US prison system be considered a complex or complicated problem?  

I would like to know more about how to make impactful relationships in the work place. I am not sure exactly how to do this or who to choose to make relationships with. 

One thing I learned was that social innovators make things happen. They worry about overcoming regulatory and policy barriers that support the status quo. (pg. 48)

One thing that I was able to connect to my own experience was the story of Lundstrom. Ever since I was young, I was aware of my economic status, and started working at a young age to give back to my community.  Some people volunteer because they have to, but I always did it because I wanted to help the lower income communities around me. ( pg. 12) 

One question that I have is how are we able to become a social innovator in such a complex world? 

• I learned that calls come in different ways to different people. (Pg 36). And that this is essential to act upon it and even a necessity for the survival of oneself. I knew that people had a calling, but the way the book refers to it as “essential” is interesting to me because I've never thought of it as essential to act upon it in the same ways that the book talks about. Like how is one supposed to know that it is 

there calling and that they should act on it? 

•  I connected the words “things often get worse before they get better” on page 35 with a personal experience. This experience of mine had to do with being a child and seeing my parents go through a tough time financially. As, they never mentioned it to me directly, but I was able to see it. Now they are doing better, so I believe this statement to be true and can see why the book refers to it. 

• How does one build a relationship and maintain it, if they have never done it? Tips and tricks on how to do this in a manner that is professional

One thing you learned (Note: This should be a concept or an idea, not a statement of fact.)

I learned that if someone wants to make change, they need to understand the world does not operate like a machine, like we often say. I learned that the YouTube channel Paul cannot be described by each individual part. The most interesting thing about this concept to me was that relationships are integral to success. This is something I have always thought, but never really put a name to. It was extremely interesting to hear someone else describe it in a way that can be used productively and in a work environment. 

One thing you connected to your own experience. This could be a connection to your

internship, to another activity, or even to something you’ve observed in the news.

The section at the beginning of chapter 2, revolving around the rising with homicides in Boston was shockingly similar to what is happening today. It was hard to listen to the section of the book, I have the audiobook, because it parallel so closely with the way a lot of marginalized groups still have to live. 

One question you have

I want to learn more ways to use the idea of relationships in the workplace in a productive manner. The book did a great job of describing it, but I would like more tips to continue understanding this concept. 

One thing I learned: 

To bring about change, one must relinquish control and recognize that our world is complex and everchanging and that the future is uncertain. (pg. 12)

A connection to my own experience: 

Ch. 2 discussed how the feeling of being called to action is often so strong that it cannot simply be ignored. Personally, I feel called to have a career in the mental health field as I want to allow my personal experiences to benefit others. This is certainly a long-term sort of calling, one that I will continue to work towards my whole life. My ultimate goal is to make this calling a part of my legacy. (pg. 36)

One question I have: 

I still do not completely understand the concept of complexity science. (pg. 21)