As a small group project, I think that I would like to set
up a booth at AIDS Walk Austin (Sunday October 21st). We could sell
and promote Trashy Bags as well as educate people on the organization. This would be such a great opportunity
to spread the word on Trashy Bags and raise some funds for other potential
events. Maybe if we all came up with a small event for Trashy Bags, we could
each be a leader on the small event and then work collaboratively on a large
event (something like World AIDS Day). I was heavily involved in LifeWalk 2011
(the Dallas version of AIDS Walk Austin). I also lead the entire event planning
for World AIDS Day 2011 at the University of North Texas in collaboration with
AIDS Arms, Inc. of Dallas. So, World AIDS Day is no stranger to me.
As far as an individual project goes, I have been racking my
brain trying to figure out something that I could do. I only moved to Austin at
the end of May and I haven’t had the chance to do some serious social
networking with many organizations. I did projects like this throughout my
entire undergraduate career, and I don’t want to duplicate an experience. I am
going to try and talk to Nancy Ellis of Caritas and see how my position in the
organization could open up any doors for me.
My goal this semester is to expand my social network in
Austin and get comfortable in my new environment. I feel frustrated because I
don’t have that strong network here like I did in Dallas. I am a relatively
sociable person and all the projects I have considered so far involve getting
engaged with people and initiating discussion. I love setting up booths and
doing educational activities! I hope that we have a few activities that involve
doing a lot of one-on-one talking and educating.
We should make a list of group assets in class one day… just
to discuss our personal strengths and confronting some weaknesses. I think that
would help us not only utilize those strengths but become more aware of areas that
need growth.
Christy,
ReplyDeleteI love your idea about educating others on campus to be aware of this issue and the plight that Trashy Bags is taking. We can totally collaborate and see if when would be the appropriate time to do this (booth setup and awareness.)
I understand and can feel your frustration about not knowing anyone here and basically starting off from scratch. I went through that last year and continually do when I am in an area I don't. Although, I don't think you have any learning to do from you-- you have countless years of this under your belt; I should be the one taking the pointers.
I will take this into consideration whenever I propose my individual project to the class/wiki later on this week and also keep this in the back of my head when we set out to doing the group project. There hasn't been much movement in the wiki towards it. I will try and figure that out as well.
But other than that, I look forward to working with you and the others and hopefully we can get this ball rolling towards a very successful outcome!
Your idea on setting up the booth and educating the community about Trashy Bag is wonderful. I was thinking of approaching my church to see, if we set up a booth, when they have trade fairs. I will find out if it is possible.
ReplyDeleteBeing new is always a challenge but also a wonderful opportunity because you are learning from other people. You will soon have a strong network! Keep up the good work, you are already building it through Caritas. Let me know if I can help, we could still do the photo project?
Christy,
ReplyDeleteI really love your idea. We can definitely contact Face AIDS and other organizations to see if there will be a collaboration this year with different organizations which advocate on the HIV and AIDS. We can also form a partnership with the ONE Campaign, which is a grassroots organization that advocates for global poverty and infectious disease particularly in Africa. There is a local ONE Austin chapter. I have done work with the ONE Campaign in both the UT and Austin community. ONE Austin loves to form partnerships and hosts events. I am very good friends with the ONE Congressional District Leader/President (which happens to be my mentor as well). If I talk to her about this opportunity and fundraiser she would love that idea. The great thing about ONE Austin is that they love partnerships and not only do they concentrate on global poverty, HIV & AIDS, but also a wide range of issues from maternal health to economic growth to environment issues. ONE Austin has a motto by which they focus on being acting local thinking global.