We went to various locations around NY to explore how communities in Suburban areas outside of NYC who are helping low-income families within the community. We started our trip in the morning in Downtown Yonkers where we visited this facility where we assisted adults who needed computer training. It was a very simple tasks from our perspectives, but we do not realize how simple tasks such as teaching someone how to register to put themselves on a online job seeking website can change someone’s life instantly. We gave these people opportunity to learn how to promote themselves via OneStop to potential employers who may hire them someday. Next in the agenda, we visited Greyston Bakery located by the Hudson River, where we went on a tour with the Marketing director of the bakery. He explained to us how Greyston Bakery is willing to provide the skills and opportunities to people who want the basic building blocks of employment. Specifically, to provide them with the job at the bakery and given chances to gain opportunities to grow with the company such as Greyston Bakery, or to use those skills and a professional mindset in order to move up in the work force in other companies after working with Greyston. After the tour of the bakery, we were given free brownies that were made in the factory, and it was absolutely delicious. Lastly, we had two speakers came to talk to us in the late afternoon who were from Picture the Homeless. They have discussed with us how the shelter system is very unfair to people looking for housing in NY state. Instead of helping people in need of housing, the system actually puts people’s hopes down to think they will ever get an opportunity to live on their own someday. We also discussed how they are a lot of vacant buildings throughout the 5 boroughs of NYC and that government officials and developers are not willing to give those properties up to people who actually need shelter. There were statistics in the pamphlets that were given out in the session with Picture the Homeless discussing how if those vacant buildings were able to be accessed to people who need shelter, homeless people will no longer be on the streets of NY if given that opportunity. However, due to restrictions to even consider that opportunity an actual reality, Picture the Homeless is fighting for the rights of homeless people throughout NY and take a stand to public officials and politicians that actions must be taken place in order to fix the shelter system altogether, and become a fair opportunity to all homeless people who need a decent place of living and also have opportunities again to live a normal life.
Alternative Spring Break 2012: Day 3
Mar 15th, 2012 by av40125n