In line with Francesa’s blog post
about her reaction to the American Civic Association, I wanted to use my blog
post as an opportunity to open up discussion about both the classes thoughts
and reactions to our visit to the Southern Tier AIDs Program. My initial
thoughts when we first arrived was similar to our experience when we arrived to
the American Civic Associations, that this was a humble organization. I was
happy to notice that they had a similarly diverse group of staff members, some
of which made up the LGBTQ+ community that the Identity Youth Center seeks to
support. I continue to hold the conviction that the staff of a nonprofit should
reflect the community being aided as an important factor when it comes to
deciding which finalists to give donations to. In all honesty prior to our
visit I had the impression that STAP as a whole focused more heavily on the
prevention of the opioid epidemic as opposed to the emphasis on the Identity
Youth Center. Though that is not to say that the work they do through the
Identity Center is not just as important. However the opioid epidemic is
causing such a large issue in Broome county that we have received several
emails regarding the state of emergency. While STAP provides valuable resources
for the LGBTQ+ community this urgent need to end the opioid crisis created
somewhat of an internal conflict for me considering the presence of Truth Pharm
as one of our finalists. Does anyone else feel conflicted about STAP’s
priorities in regards to the programs they felt needs funding?
That being said, I do feel that STAP
had a wonderful and inviting facility including all the staff that work there.
The passion for their work really did shine through when they spoke about the
challenges they face in the community and their relations with the youth that
frequent the center. I don't know if I was the only one who noticed but at one
point the Identity Center's director Michelle began to tear up speaking about
the need for such an organization within the community; due to the ignorance
the LGBTQ+ face as well as the dwindling support of these kinds of nonprofits
in the southern tier. Along with that, the piece of art shown to us that
contained the glass of windows that were broken by homophobes within the
community encompassed some powerful moments during the visit. Did anyone else
find either of these moments emotional? These challenges considered, makes the
presence of such programs like the Identity Career Connect Program and their
Peer Youth Educator program all the more important in my eyes. These programs
are meant to build the confidence and independence of LGBTQ+ youth; this
preparation of life and professional skills are sorely needed when facing an
unaccepting community or family. The Peer Youth Educator program was not heavily
discussed in our visit however I managed to find a youtube video which I will
link that highlights the importance of the program and the experiences of past
Peer Educators.
All things considered, even though we have not
visited all the sites yet we must be critical in our evaluations of these
organizations to eventually reach a decision. Considering STAP wants to use the
programing grant for Identity Career Connect Program, I believe it would be put
to good use as the program will add an additional career building aspect to the
identity center that they are currently lacking. Their explicit listing of what
materials they intend on buying for the program also adds a layer of
transparency that I appreciated. However in terms of the staff explaining their
intentions of using the operating grant for their bike share program, I was
left feeling apprehensive in voting for them to receive that grant. In
conclusion I want to know, do you think my assessment of STAP’s priorities is
fair? Also as we continue to weigh the pro’s and con’s of each organization
what convictions and values guide your decision making?
This is the link to the video detailing their Peer Youth Educator Program
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8_-fVb6LgE
Hi Connor,
ReplyDeleteI am really glad you chose to write about this site visit. Personally, I felt conflicted after leaving the STAP site visit. I really appreciate the work that the identity center does and I realize the importance of it in the community. As noted by one of our classmates on the visit, everyone deserves a place to be themselves. I feel as though serenity is something that is overlooked by most and this space provides an opportunity for youth of the greater Binghamton area a chance to find that sense of peace. I found the glass work of art to be an extremely moving part of their message as an organization. The fact that they chose to pick themselves back up after experiencing such hostility shows the strength of their organization and the community of people they serve. I really admired that aspect of their organization.
However, there were a number of things that were unsettling with me throughout our time there. It may be wrong of me to compare, but I did not think they were as professional as the last site we visited. In all honesty, they seemed really unprepared for our class visit. My group was one of the first groups to arrive on scene and when we walked in they thought we were the only people touring the complex. When we told them that there were plenty more of us coming they seemed a little confused. They then proceeded to us ask us what we wanted them to do for our class. Personally, that just seemed a bit off for me. You would think that they would have something prepared to talk about or show off since we hold the power to provide them funding or not. Although it could have been a miscommunication, it just seemed like they did not take us as seriously as the previous organization. In the grand scheme of things, our site visit could have been completed within the first 20 minutes we were there. There were plenty of awkward silent moments between the staff and our class which at times made me uncomfortable. Given all the staff they had present, they were not as engaging as I hoped they would be. I feel like they relied too heavily on Professor Campbell and our class to stimulate the discussion. In addition, I felt as though some of the responses they gave us were rather vague, specifically their response to the operating grant. I really do feel like the only reason we went the whole time is because our class did all the work of asking questions.
All in all, I wish there had been more structure to this site visit. If STAP had been more prepared for our class I think they would have done a better job at convincing me to donate to their organization. I think their program offers great services but I think they could have done a better job highlighting them in their presentation to the class.
Hi Connor!
ReplyDeleteFirst, I will address something that Francesca touched upon in her comment. While I agree with the fact that the cite visit was not as professional as some of the other visits, I felt much more comfortable at the youth center. While I do not identify as LGBTQ+, the staff made it abundantly clear that anyone within the age constraints are welcome. In the car ride back, one of our peers mentioned that she fully intends on taking them up on an additional visit. The fact that they made most of us so comfortable is incredibly important to me - a pro if you will.
Despite the loving space, I too have some "cons" about our visit and donation to STAP. Our questions were answered in a jumbled fashion, as the staff was often unsure as to who should answer the questions at hand. Further, I agree with your statement about the bikes. When I asked the director to clarify this program, I did not exactly get the answer I was looking for. I wondered and continue to ponder as to how essential this program is. If they give out bus passes is it truly the best investment bikes? Like you mentioned, there is an opioid crisis present in the region. I was apprehensive in class as to why we should have both STAP and Truth Pharm as finalists, but I now understand that their core missions are not the same. In the cite visit I felt as if they neglected that aspect of their work, waiting until the end to do a "walk through" of where opioid and or sexual related issues take place. While it was still bright and colorful, I felt a deep lack of connection from their work with opioids to that of teens. Individuals are more vulnerable at a young age and I think it is pertinent to be open about those issues, not in the round about way in which that building was set up.
It is important to judge issues and places you care about critically, giving them the time and attention they deserve. While I think the Youth Center is a fantastic tool, I do not approve of the ways they are going about funding. Issues in the LGBTQ+ community like high suicide rates and the opioid epidemic take precedence in my mind. To conclude this comment I want to briefly touch upon my personal connection. In high school, my friend who I had known since primary school began acting differently. She lost weight dramatically, was out of school much more often, and was self-harming. After taking the time she needed, she came out as bisexual and gender fluid to a select group of people. But by this point, the extreme dieting had manifested into anorexia and her search to find herself lead to unhealthy chest binding tools and body modifications. Had there been a Youth Center, she would have had a safe space to figure out who she is, address her mental health, and personal relationships. Now, she dropped out of her first college due to a relapse, sought help, and is happy at her current school. Watching her journey to receive help was extremely troubling and I wish she had access to the dedicated staff at STAP.
Connor,
ReplyDeleteI also believe that the Identity Center is important for the community as it provides important resources and a welcoming community for LGBTQ teens. They clearly do important work and the Identity Center is one of the only places like it in the Binghamton area. But I have to agree with Francesca that the site visit was not as professional as some of the other site visits that we have done. It seemed to me like they didn't know that so many people would be coming (although that might not be their fault) and weren't completely prepared to present to our class. We had to initiate the conversation and explicitly ask about certain obvious aspects of the organization. For example, it took me a while to actually figure out what happens in the Identity Center and what services STAP provides while I feel like that should have been the first thing described. They also seemed confused about what an operational grant is and decided how they would spend an operational grant on the spot.
Even though I didn't love the presentation, I am unsure of how much weight the site visit should have in our final decision. Even if an organization has a poor presentation, does that take away anything from the services that they provide? I didn't love STAP's site visit but I still believe that they do great work that is invaluable to the community. Professionalism is important because it can be an indicator of the organization's competence and expertise and it gives credibility to the organization. However, I ultimately think we should mostly look at each organization's services and impact and be careful to not make our decisions solely based on the site visits.
-Adiel Felsen
Last summer I was fortunate enough to intern with the Museum of Moving Images and host an event to give those in the LGBTQ+ community a safe space to talk about their struggles within the community. I was foolish to believe that because it was New York City, a city with one of the largest LGBTQ populations in the world, the entire community had to be accepting. What I heard opened up a world of injustice and fear that I was hidden from as a child. I heard from people who were raised in religious families that were cut off because their families could not accept them for who they were. I heard from people who were bullied in school or had difficulty making friends. I heard from people who pretended to be who they weren’t in order to fit in and continued to be in denial to who they were for a very long time.
ReplyDeleteAlthough STAP provides this safe space in the Binghamton community, after reading your blog post, I started to feel conflicted about the organization as well. Having a safe space for youth in the LGBTQ+ community is extremely important as they had clearly explained; however, it was the urgent opioid crisis in the Binghamton area that made me choose STAP as a finalist, not its identity center. It was after I read the blog post by Thomas Houghton, that I realized why I felt so bad changing my mind about STAP being the grant receivers. The history of the United States has not been kind to the LGBTQ community, so I understand that it is our duty to right the wrongs of the past. As much as I understand the need for the identity center, I see a need in all of the finalists. The problem is that I thought STAP was targeting a different need. A need that is not necessarily more important, but one I feel more strongly about.
Hi Connor,
ReplyDeleteThank you for using your blog post to express your thoughts about STAP site visit. Thinking back to what my initial impressions of the Identity Center and what I learned from hearing their presentation has definitely helped shape my ideas about their mission, goals and about donating the class’ grants. First off, I don’t think STAP completely understood what we needed to hear at a site visit and how to fill out the application; there was a lot of confusion about what they would use the program and operating grants and if they could apply to both.
I really agree with your idea that, “the staff of a nonprofit should reflect the community being aided.” The American Civic Association and the Identity Youth Center did a really great job reflecting that they are a community serving a community. I thought it was comforting that the director encouraged us to keep our possibilities open because the community of nonprofits all compete for the same grants and are friendly and supportive for one another.
One of the first things I noticed at the Identity Center was the rainbow flag (which symbolizes the LGBTQ community) hung upside down outside; typically when a flag is flown upside down it signals distress and that distress is what the Identity Center tries to solve. If the Identity Center believes that their community is in distress, the need for a grant could be very high. Their services are very useful to those who need them but I don’t know if the volume of visitors can be comparable to the ACA or Meals on Wheels.
I’m commenting after we’ve visited four of the five organizations and taking the time to learn about these organizations is incredibly helpful in distinguishing between them.
- Isabel
Hey Connor,
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing the final results the class decided on, I believe it's fair to say your criticisms of STAP are fair, as much of the class seemed to have the same apprehensiveness towards the organization that you did. I think STAP and the Identity center might have faired better if not for them overlapping some areas of concern with TruthPharm.
I agree that STAP and the Identity Center provided most of the class with personal reasons for wanting to get involved with their openness fo their personal struggles such as the window being shattered. At the time the emotional sentiment of the organization could have had a lot of pull in some decisions. But the important reason it didn't, I believe, is because it was just one of the first site visits we were to go on. There would be more heartfelt visits coming our way, diminishing the appeal that the Identity Center had at first as we realized that every single one of these organizations struggles in some way and that these struggles would not be as large of factors as one might have predicted in the beginning.
I believe you brought up some really interesting topics and it was interesting to go back on your post after seeing the final results. It allowed for a great deal of reflection.
Hana Makota