Gina Stiens and Adam Renner Rouge Forum Louisville, KY March, 2008

1. A DECADE OF WORK IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH: SOCIAL SERVICE OR SOCIAL CHANGE? (OR, WHAT DOES MOVEMENT TOWARD SOCIAL JUSTICE LOOK LIKE?) Gina Stiens and Adam Renner Rouge Forum Louisville, KY March, 2008

2. Contact Lenses (Audre Lorde) “I see much better now And my eyes hurt”

3. Overview: “Conviction that change is possible” (Freire) • Concepts to keep in mind when generating service partnerships (understanding/interrogating power) • Social service vs. social change (Kivel) • Short range vs. long range goals (Gil) • The buffer zone (Kivel) • History of our trips • Partners • Projects/Process • Applying concepts to our work: getting ahead vs. getting together • Feedback

4. Transcending ‘normal’ • Challenging status quo, emergent reflection, critical consciousness • Short range vs. Long range goals (Gil) • Short range = necessary, reduce intensity of injustice • Long range = social transformation • Social service vs. Social change • Social service = get ahead • Social change = get together • Caution: buffer zone • Take care… • Keep hope alive • Social control

5. Our work at the intersection of compassion and justice • A couple of thoughts on our service learning process • Service learning for caring solidarity • Overcoming boundaries • Reciprocity--dialogue, trust • Long term • Dynamic of ‘server’ / ‘served’ • Charity vs. development vs. social justice (Farmer)

6. History • 1998-1999-high school students • 2000-2001-committed friends; scripts • 2002-service learning with TMC; dissertation • 2003-learning conference • 2004-CCSA • 2005-2007-strengthening relationships • 2008-(PT)

7. Partners • Blossom Gardens • Since 1998 • Bringing food, medicine, toiletries • Help with construction projects • $ • West Haven • Since 1998 • Bringing food, medicine, toiletries • Outfitted local men’s football team • $ • Partnering with our DPT program, 2008 • Ambassadors for Christ School • 1999-2004 • books, school supplies • rebuilt roof • taught lessons in school • $

8. Partners • Mrs. Kaye (and Barrett Hall Basic School) • Since 1999 • Books, school supplies, stove, desks, • Taught lessons in school • Served on school board • Down payment on her land • Sponsored and hosted graduation ceremonies 2004-2006 • Putting her through Sam Sharpe Teacher’s College and providing monthly stipend to family • Other $ • Other • Have brought more than 70 different people to the island to work with these partners since 1998 • Thomas More now sponsors a parallel trip every year • New partnership with DPT and doctor/hospital in Colorado (for work at West Haven) • Full scholarship secured at BU for Jamaican student • Helped move student’s family to the US

9. Getting ahead vs. Getting together • Social service/Short-range • upcoming 10 day trips, meeting immediate needs in the children’s homes, planning lessons for a school, Mrs. Kaye and the Fenton’s? Who has gotten ahead? • Social change/Long-range • continuing this trip year after year—it’s evolution (people, purposes), linking it to others’ work (TMC, PT Dept., Colorado,…), ongoing discussion from last year’s group, Mrs. Kaye and the Fentons? Who have we gotten together?

10. Litany for survival (Audre Lorde) “So it is better to speak Remembering We were never meant to survive”

11. Feedback “If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But, if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”