Community Service TO Veterans In Berks County

NeighborWorks America keeps low income individuals in affordable homes.

Affordable housing for those with lower incomes has become a major concern throughout the US. Most construction that one notices within cities is intended to create luxury accommodations, mostly for the small percentage of citizens and foreigners who are millionaires and billionaires. Within such cities as NYC luxury towers have been built, but remain virtually empty, as absentee owners buy these glitzy condominiums, just because. At the same time, those without may not even afford to keep a roof over their heads.

Into this gap between extremely wealthy and poor comes this organization, NEIGHBORWORKS AMERICA, whose objective is to connect lower income individuals with affordable housing. They do this by improving the lives of the individuals they serve, while supporting their communities.



Let's take a look at a project in Berks County, Pennsylvania. This project addressed the large number of military veterans living in the county, almost 30,000. Many were in the age range of 60 to 70 and lived on fixed incomes. That meant that those who owned homes had trouble maintaining them and could not make the key accessibility additions to their homes as they found it harder to maintain mobility. And then there were those without homes, too.

In 2015, the Neighborhood Housing Services brought various government agencies and NGOs together in a collaboration that led to the week-long "Operation Renovation: A Veteran's Affair". What amounted to an army of volunteers undertook repairs, renovations, and accessibility additions to veterans' homes. A total of 29 projects were completed, with an estimated value of $73,638 in labor and materials. Dale G. Derr, director of the Berks County VA said, "Operation Renovation was a game-changer for many veterans who are financially at risk, living in decrepit homes to avoid becoming homeless."

In addition, those involved with the project were concerned about the issue of PTSD among veterans and first responders, so they also supported Save a Warrior (SAW). As a result, additional contributions, amounting to $8,000, went to SAW.

This year was even more ambitious. Operation Renovation undertook 72 projects, double the number of last year's. There was no shortage of volunteers, either. Because Group Care, a Christian youth ministry, joined the effort, there was a total of 450 volunteers, divided into teams of six, with adult supervision provided for the adolescents.

A construction team works on an addition to a veteran's home.

Of course, a project of this size also provides key lessons. Among them are: COLLABORATION - the more people and organizations involved and working together, the more that can be accomplished. PERSERVERANCE - Keep on keeping on. Don't let a few people or one or two organizations dropping out stop the others from continuing on until completion. CHOOSING TEAMS WISELY - Make sure to include people who love to win on each team, but if they aren't available, at least add people who hate to lose.

One of the community-building activities in which NeighborWorks engages.

Thanks for information from this article by Kelley Coates on NeighborWorks America blog: http://www.neighborworks.org/Blog/How-to-honor-veterans-by-saving-homes; and the above link.

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Contemplative Pilgrimage Through Walking Water

Marks of the drought on the route of Phase II.

It started because of the years long drought in California, this walk, this invitation to activism, this uniting of voices, this education about the importance of water, while actually experiencing the waterways. Indeed, WALKING WATER has become a pilgrimage of sorts, meant to heal these waterways that have been fading as years of dryness accumulate.

Walking Water has been in existence and actively engaged in local water pilgrimage activities since 2015. But this group has also been aware and active in addressing global water issues as well, including following the treatment of the protesters and the defiant oil company, which insisted on tunneling under the Missouri River, despite the federal government withdrawal of permits, to complete the DAPL.



This year, Phase 2 of the walk took walkers from Owens Lake to the Cascades, from Sept. 23 to Oct. 14. This walk has never been a protest, but more of an exploration, being with the water, the lands around it, and the people who live there. First stop was Owens Lake, which has been dry since the 1920s, when the water was diverted into the LA aqueduct. The old lake bed has become a construction site for a mitigation project, in an area which now has the highest toxic air pollution in North America.

For three weeks, the 55 walkers walked for 207 miles over a period of three weeks. The trek went through the Owens Valley and the Eastern Sierra watershed, and then entered Kern County, and finally LA County. During that entire walk, the walkers only saw three open bodies of water: the Haiwee Reservoir, the Bouquet Reservoir, and Little Lake. Much of this walk was spent following the pipes that lead to the LA Aqueduct.

Sam DeBoskey, one of the walkers said, "I think I fell in love with the earth again. I think, through walking 207 miles, through slowing down, through laughing and crying with others, through praying, I refound the Friend, the eternal partner, the Lover (as Rumi would call it), and strengthened, deepened, expanded my relationship with the environment."

Another walker, Marie Winter, said, "What a deep way of prayer in action - the simplicity of walking, sleeping under the stars, sharing food and thoughts. What an opportunity to be in a group with so much diversity, so many ways to relate to water and life. And yet there was a common ground where we could find each other, exploring different points of view, experiences and expertise, and a huge variety of ways we define prayer, action, activism."

The night sky about 20 miles from Mojave.

Janka Striffler, was a walker and also worked on the kitchen team. She related, "You have to stay for a long time with your prayer and follow your heart. Keep the relationships going and invite the people to create circles. Keep learning about the history of the place and the people. Be aware what you look at. There is beauty everywhere as well. Do not block your grieving. Take your time to cry and then ask: What is yours to do?"

Prior to departing that day's base camp, a walker offers a water blessing.

Obviously, the journey was a profoundly moving experience for participants, moving across the natural landscape and seeing the changes that human beings have made to the natural setting. Indeed, those changes affect the location and amount of available water. Worth considering and pondering an individual choice of action.

Thanks for information from this article on Walking Water: http://walking-water.org/the-pilgrimage/the-pilgrimage-2016/; and the above link.

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Expertise Makes This Company A Leader

The benchmark report co-published by Jennifer Rock.

Did you know that one of the fastest-growing and largest CPA organizations is located in downtown Baltimore? Besides the usual auditing, accounting and tax services, this company also provides personal financial planning, litigation support, tech consulting, asset management, and business valuation. That's a wide variety of services that GROSS MENDELSOHN & ASSOCIATES offers.

So, let's meet one of the managers in this company, Jennifer Rock, CPA, CITP. She works in the Healthcare and Nonprofit Groups sector. Among her responsibilities is completing audits, compilations, and reviews for the organizations within her sector.

Recently she co-published the 2016 Benchmark Study for Skilled Nursing Facilities in Maryland. Along with a colleague, she presented the findings to attendees at Industry Benchmarks for Skilled Nursing Facilities in Maryland - How Does Your Facility Measure Up?, a seminar at the 2016 HFAM (Health Facilities Association of Maryland)/Lifespan annual conference.

Ms. Rock is passionate about her work and especially likes working with nonprofits because of her belief that providing them with her best high quality work helps these organizations accomplish their missions. She brings her background of five years of experience in accounting in private industry, along with ten years of public accounting experience into her work with nonprofits. In addition, she has served on the board of directors and finance committee for the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) in their Baltimore office.

One of the newer employees at Gross Mendelsohn, junior network and systems consultant, Jeffrey Chip Helferstay, with the Technology Solutions Group.

Not only does Ms. Rock work in the Baltimore area, but she has completed her education in this area, as well. She has a master's degree in forensic studies/accounting from Stevenson University. In addition, she received the Orsia F. Young Leadership Award, given to a graduating student from the university, for leadership in the university community, by acting as a change agent, promoting positive change and motivating others to participate, at the university level.

Some Gross Mendelsohn employees spending volunteer time at Paul's Place.

With such wonderful employees, who can motivate others, while also utilizing their expertise within a particular organizational sector, one isn't surprised that Gross Mendelsohn & Associates is a leader in CPA and other associated services.

Thanks for information from this article on Gross Mendelsohn: http://www.gma-cpa.com/people/jennifer-green-rock; and the above link.

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Challenging Views Of Mental Illness

Phil Borges and Kevin Tomlinson, filmmakers, with Marcel Wisler and Elisa Zwahlen at the Transgenerational Mental Health conference.

How do people from different cultures view mental illness? This is a question that a film project, called CRAZYWISE: A DOCUMENTARY FILM, has set out to explore. Exploring both Western concepts and indigenous cultural tradition, the film utilizes personal stories, interviews with mental health professionals, archival film footage, portrait photography, and animation, to discuss stigmatization, mental health treatment, and the journey to recovery.



While individuals may manifest what is called a "psychotic break" within western culture, indigenous cultures may think of this occurrence as a "gift" granting the person shamanic powers. Within these indigenous cultures, that often leads to a period of training, guided by an elder or mentor, to develop their healing or prophetic abilities. That is in contrast to the sick role that the Western world assigns to the same individual, a state requiring treatment and recovery/healing.

Besides focusing on a young man, who has ostensibly suffered a psychotic break, his rejection of the mentally ill label, along with the debilitating effects of the medications used to treat mental illness, the film follows psychiatrists and psychologists, who are exploring other alternatives, particularly ones that involve reducing stigma. For instance, the filmmakers check out a treatment program in Northern Finland, called Open Dialogue, and another, called Peer-To-Peer mentoring, which utilizes survivors of mental illness. These types of programs are characterized by reduction in stigma, effective mentorship, and the encouragement of healthy community/peer relationships.

The signature image that was being used to help raise funds to complete the film.

Perhaps the most telling feature of this documentary in progress is in challenging societal views and opening dialogue to include various types of assistance and treatments that don't involve a cocktail of medications. Perhaps by presenting a multi-faceted view of the lived experience of mental illness, more understanding can be promoted, while more community-based and accepting treatments can be developed that also lead to a better quality of life for all of us. That's the importance of taking views that are different from the norm.

Kevin and Phil at a Coffee Corner, discussing the film.

By the way, it's true that you haven't seen this film anywhere yet, since it hasn't been released. But look for it next year and be prepared to do some serious thinking about this topic and issue.

Thanks for information from this article on Charter For Compassion: http://www.charterforcompassion.org/crazywise-a-documentary-film; and the above link.

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Health Care For Those Who Can't Afford It

Dr Andrew Eads explains how early treatment of health conditions keeps costs down.

Even in 2016, even after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been in effect for four years, there are still people who are marginalized medically. The Phoenix area has been addressing this need through PHOENIX ALLIES FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH (PACH), primarily through their nonprofit, volunteer-run clinic.

Not only does this organization provide free health care services, it also combines holistic traditions with modern-day biomedicine. Services range from acupuncture to diet education, wellness primary care checks to filling prescriptions, from public advocacy to comprehensive casework.And it is all subsumed by the belief that their neighbors matter and deserve nothing less than the best.



PACH always seeks community input into the array of services it provides. Like any other health clinic, it strives to identify health care issues before they become so severe that a person needs hospitalization and is being treated for complications. The organization utilizes a sustainable model, while providing for the most community good, within an American health care system that is viewed as inadequate.

The clinic's volunteers include licensed healthcare professionals, as well as healthcare students under supervision by qualified healthcare professionals. Non-medical volunteers are given training in such areas as phlebotomy (blood drawing), medical assisting, and clinic management. Many of these trained volunteers even go on to further training in various health care professions and then return to this community able to provide these professional services.

PACH continues to develop its relationships with various sectors of the community, including schools, universities, various religious organizations, and community advocacy organizations. But without donations, community volunteers, and community involvement, this effort would be in vain, so they frequently promote those types of involvement that helps them continue to offer the very best to their surrounding community.

PACH has interpreters to help put those who speak languages other than English at ease.

Looking back into PACH's beginnings, the healthcare professional volunteers had often been involved in providing services during health fairs and assemblies. That's when they had noticed the many individuals who weren't able to obtain needed healthcare, especially those with treatable chronic illnesses. Amy McMullen explained, "It became our mission to create a primary care clinic in a medically underserved area of Phoenix and provide free ongoing and preventative care to this populations." Obviously, since that beginning, PACH has come a long way and continues to provide services to the marginalized individuals, whom they serve.

An announcement for a new self-pay clinic allied with PACH.

Thanks for information from this article on PACH: http://azpach.org/uncategorized/pach-clinic-the-cause/; this article on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/amy-mcmullen-phoenix-allies-for-community-health/; and the above link.

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Restorative Justice In Action

The four R's of restorative justice, held by conference attendees.

Restorative justice, a means by which those who commit an offense against a society or community make amends through repairing the damage, righting the wrong, assuming responsibility, and returning to the good graces of that same society or community. Out in Colorado an organization, LONGMONT COMMUNITY JUSTICE PARTNERSHIP, provides restorative justice services and also teaches those practices in the school system and the communities of Boulder County.

Just last month, Boulder Prep, an alternative charter school in Gunbarrel, faced an incident involving five students, who were involved in a Nazi-themed chat on Facebook. The conversation eventually encompassed advocating to kill African-Americans and Jews.

Headmaster Lili Adeli became concerned because of the type of atmosphere the conversation created for her students and the possibility that the words could easily turn into action. In the beginning, all five students were expelled. But then, an appeals and restorative justice process was established for those of the five students who wished to return to the school.



One of the students has completed this process and another is involved in the process. Two decided not to appeal and their expulsions stand, while the fifth is barred from returning by a restraining order.

The appeals process involved the restorative justice panel presenting the impact of the threats, while the student read a statement that she had prepared in advance regarding why she should be allowed to return and how she could make amends. The panel worked with the student on the plan, which included attending a Yom Kippur service with Jewish students.

Although there were complaints by the expelled students that they were only joking around, it was pointed out to them how threatening the words, along with images of guns, were, such concepts as "final solution" and "white power", along with soliciting other students to join "so they can complete their 'mission'". Ms. Adeli responded, "It's definitely not a joke. That's why we took such a swift and firm position."

Police reported that besides the five students at Boulder Prep, there were ten other students from area schools involved in what they called the "4th Reich's Official Group Chat." They said they found out about the group when they were investigating a student's suicide unrelated to the chat group.

Part of the process at Boulder Prep is that administration is being as open as possible with the students, including allowing them to view the posts, without student names attached. Teachers are educating the students about the seriousness of posts of this nature.

Longmont Community Justice Program has the tools for restorative justice programs.

Members of the community are also being brought in to educate students about the history of hate groups and the many positive things that people from various cultures have to offer their community. The school has also begun a film series on the history of oppression. As Ms. Adeli noted, "Our ultimate goal is for them to really make a difference in their community."

Boulder Prep Headmaster Lili Adeli used restorative justice process to handle a hate incident.

Thanks for information from this article by Amy Bounds on the Daily Camera: http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-schools/ci_30478998/boulder-prep-reverses-expulsion-1-4-students-involved; and the above link.

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Grown From Inspiration

A keyhole garden.

A woman of inspiration, Jo Fendrych, a physical education teacher from Mustang, Oklahoma. Obviously, the majority of what teachers in this area do is to get students moving and to teach them how to keep active beyond the classroom. But besides her teaching career, this woman of action also enjoys gardening.

Combining her career with her passion, Ms. Fendrych started A PLACE TO GROW, INC (APTG). The end result of her organization is building gardens for schools, low-income people, seniors, and people who have disabilities. She explained, "If students could experience the joy of planting and growing their own food, this knowledge could help improve their quality of life now and as they grow older. Although one school I worked at had a huge garden with irrigation and a greenhouse it took lots of money, manpower, and many months to establish and this is not feasible for most of the inner city schools. For a year I kept thinking what would be the best way to introduce gardening to schools."


Eventually, Jan was able to come up with a concept that made sense and didn't require a boatload of money. Simple construction was also a feature. To incorporate those features, she came up with the idea of making keyhole gardens. You need a container filled with soil, cardboard, phone books, leaves, and wood, then put the seeds planted on top. Then, you place a compost bucket in the middle of the garden, so that each time you water it, its nutrients are released into the growing area. She said, about this concept, "The gardens are designed to use 1/3 less water, easier to take care of because they are raised off the ground and incorporate recycling and composting."

Some children at an elementary school with their garden.

At its start in 2014, APTG had installed four gardens and there were plans to add another one at a local elementary school. Since this beginning, the organization has formed a partnership with the Oklahoma City School District, and is actively contacting low-income housing groups and senior centers for those interested in receiving a garden.

Another type of design for the keyhole garden.

Thanks for information from this article on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/jo-fendrych-a-place-to-grow-inc/; this article on APTG: http://aplacetogrow.co/aboutus.html; and the above link.

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