Anything Is Possible Education Foundation

(Charlie is the president of the Anything Is Possible Education Foundation, a recognized non-profit organization founded by Charlie and several other Knox College students. A description of their work is in the blog entry below, but more information can also be found at http://aipef.org/. Stay tuned for more stories from AIPEF throughout the 2014-15 academic year.)

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My entire life I've had a passion for community service and helping others. Until college, though, this passion only manifested itself as discussion with friends or ideas without action. Fortunately, one quote changed my lack of action: It's not who you are underneath, but what you do that defines you.

I founded the Anything Is Possible Education Foundation (AIPEF) the summer after my first year in college. AIPEF is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free ACT tutoring and awards college scholarships to local students. Like all organizations, AIPEF has gone through the four famous phases of group development: forming, storming, norming and performing.

Forming. My best friend and I came up with the idea for AIPEF. We were playing basketball and discussing how we could set up a scholarship fund for local youths. We realized that we would have to provide a service in addition to the scholarship--no one would give us money just to give away elsewhere. Eventually, after much research into what kind of service was needed, we settled on free ACT tutoring. The next part of the forming stage was the most challenging. At the time of our basketball court discussion, I was interning with a lawyer. He had saved a binder from law school with instructions on how to form a nonprofit. The instructions (more than 200 pages) were quite detailed. First, I had to file AIPEF's articles of incorporation, making us a legal organization. The next step was to file for a federal Employment Identification Number-- this number is used for all of our tax filing. I then had to draft our Bylaws and Conflict of Interest Policy. The last step to forming a charity, IRS From 1023, is the hardest to climb. Form 1023 is essentially a 70 page application to IRS proving that you are a legitimate charity. Since AIPEF has no political ties and we don't compensate our employees, I wasn't too worried about the application. However, it takes time to fill out the entire form and even more time to hear back from the IRS.

Storming and Norming. The storming phase is when most groups fall apart. Thankfully, this didn't happen with AIPEF. Conflict in the storming phase arises when people with different working styles come together for a common purpose. We were able to avoid that by giving everyone a voice. Although this made decision-making a relatively slow process, everyone felt involved and we did some of our best work during this stage. We worked together to create a logo, design a website and raise some necessary funds. Thus, our storming and norming phases overlapped quite significantly. Looking back, the lack of any serious conflict during the storming phase was really essential to the success we saw in our first year.

Performing. These first three phases are the basement of our organizational building. Without them collapse is certain. Fortunately, we recognized this early and devoted substantial time to our "basement." In fact, AIPEF only recently entered the performing stage. However, our performance is how everyone outside of AIPEF judges us. They aren't able to see the thousands of hours that went into the forming, storming and norming phases. What they do see, therefore, is incredibly important. What makes AIPEF unique is the fact that we provide our tutoring service free of charge AND that the tutoring is on a one-on-one basis. All too often in ACT preparation, students find themselves stuck in an inflexible prep course in a classroom of fifteen to twenty other students (not to mention that the class probably cost more than $100). This is unfair to those who cannot afford such classes and ineffective for those in the classes. Our tutoring program is designed to fix both of these problems. One needs to keep in mind that donors don't give money to charities who worked really hard to be established. AIPEF's performance is what will continue to fund our mission for the years to come.

If you're trying to create a charity or run a charitable event, you need to ask yourself: what is my motivation for doing this? As I alluded to earlier, we've put thousands of hours into AIPEF (all these hours were unpaid, of course). What kept us going and still keeps us going is our passion. The thought we help students go to college is what motivates us. The thought that there is something wrong in the world and we are doing whatever we can to fix it justifies all of those hours.

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(One Step Note: More information about the four stages of organizational and small group development can be found at http://infed.org/mobi/bruce-w-tuckman-forming-storming-norming-and-performing-in-groups/)

Rememberance and Hope

Hello Good People!

Today is obviously a heartwrenching day for the American community. Today is the anniversery of so many lost lives. So much violence and pain. But today can also be remembered as a day of love. Because every single person who lost their lives were loved so, so much, and they loved so, so much. And the international community, from Iraq to France to Brazil, mourned with us then, as they do now. Around the world, people are loving every single day. This is a day not for remembering violence, but honoring resilience, sacrifice, and love.

And we, as a community, shall forge ahead. We are rebuilding all of America, just as we rebuild New York. But I challenge us to build a community that fosters love, humanity, and kindness. For violence only begets more violence.

~~~

I also wanted to announce today very cool news from the office (a kitchen table counts as an office, right?) of One Step. I am pleased to announce that I now have an Assistant Director of Social Media and Reporting, Casey! Casey will be working as a part-time reporter covering events and conducting interviews, as well as assisting with promoting and updating all of our social media outlets. Her dedication to both the fields of journalism and social justice is why she was handpicked for the position, and I am so excited to have her on board.  Wish her luck!

The Importance of Literacy (International Literacy Day)

Dear Bookworms,

There are many moments in my life that should have become a memory, but seemed to slip through the gaps of my consciousness. But there is one memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life. When I was probably about four and a half years old, I took a book off a shelf. It was one of those Bob Books, or early childhood books that say things like "The cat sat on the mat". And I remember the first time I gazed at those strange symbols on the page, only to see them transform into words. I couldn't breathe for a moment. It felt like I had been given the ability to perform magic. I somehow knew, even at four, that my life was never going to be the same again.

I have spent a lifetime devouring books. I have read books that have made me sob so hard that it's a wonder the sun shined again. I have read books that have made me laugh so hard that my stomach ached for the longest time. I have fallen in love a thousand times. I have had my heart broken more than I ever wanted. I have sailed across waters so clear and deep that it's like looking through a window at another world. I have scaled mountains so thick with snow that I've lost track of the mountain itself. I have solved murders that have baffled the top guns of Scotland Yard. I have defeated foes more fearsome than your worst nightmares. I have gotten married, had babies, chased dreams, and fallen down. I have died, but I have never stayed dead. I have forgotten myself completely, and have discovered myself whole-heartedly. I have belonged to people I will never know, but who I love more than I will ever understand.

This is the tremendous gift that literacy brings to a person. Books teach us so many things. They teach us about empathy, about seeing the world from the perspective of another entity, and they ask us to care about that entity's story. They teach us to dream, to imagine situations and landscapes and behaviors and words so alien to our familiar world. They teach us that we are not alone in the great, vast universe, that somebody knows the secret fears and hopes we keep locked away in our hearts. But most of all, when you read, you expand. You become more than you ever thought possible. When you read, you are given the tools, the spirit, the voice, and the love to be more, give more, and do more. You learn that you are somebody. 

In our world, millions of people are illiterate. Throughout history, keeping books from people was an insidious way to silence them and oppress them. Unfortunately, illiteracy and stunted reading are still used to take power away from people. Some might not believe me when I say that reading is a basic human right. I would say that reading is just as important as drinking water, eating food, or building a shelter. Reading tells us who we are as people, as a society, and as a world, but it also inspires us to think about who we can be. Reading saves and transforms people every single day. Reading is a gift that, once given, can NEVER be taken away. We must inspire those around us to read, because to read is to be human.

In honor of International Literacy Day, I am doing two things. First, I am donating to a literacy related organization called First Book. I'm giving to First Book (http://www.firstbook.org/) because I believe that a lifetime of reading begins with the first book to a young child. It gives them a lifetime of being strong, powerful changemakers. I think giving somebody a book is giving them a chance to live a life they will be proud of. It's one of the truest sign of love to me. 

The second thing I am going to do is to challenge all of you! Try to do one of the following today:

1) Read to somebody (a child, the elderly, a friend, an enemy, a parent, a teacher)

2) Make a monetary or book donation to your favorite literary causes or to a school

3) Read a book you have never read before

4) Read your favorite childhood book

5) Start writing your own book

6) Visit the library

7) Read outside

8) Leave a book with a note for someone else

9) Give a book recommendation to a friend

10) Buy a book

Happy International Literacy Day!

-Celinda, Founder of One Step

The Prison Justice Project

[Amanda is currently serving as president of the Prison Justice Project student organization at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The Prison Justice Project works to educate the public about the social justice issues surrounding incarceration through informational meetings and forums. They also run a mentoring program for youth with a history with the criminal justice system. More information is provided below, including contact information and the website]

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1) How did you get involved in the Prison Justice Project?

I first got involved through getting to know Rebecca Ginsburg, the Director of the Education Justice Project (EJP). EJP is a project at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign that coordinates a college-in-prison program at Danville Prison that demonstrates the positive impacts of higher education upon people who are incarcerated. While talking to Rebecca, I asked her how undergraduates could get involved with EJP and she said that we unfortunately can't help with programming at the prison but EJP does have a student organization known as the Education Justice Project RSO.

I then met with the President and Secretary (both graduate students) of the Education Justice Project RSO and they explained that they would like to hand the organization to an undergraduate student. I volunteered and was appointed President. 

Shortly after I was appointed,  I changed the name of the organization, redesigned its programming, and crafted new organizational missions and values. I believed that in order for the organization to flourish, it needed to have a more autonomous and focused identity. Today, it is known at the Prison Justice Project. 

2) What is one thing people should know about prison justice?

One thing people should know is that to advocate for prison justice is to advocate for the end of systemic oppression and negligence. 

I firmly believe that how a society punishes people is reflective of the values of the society. Right now, our society operates on punitive punishment and the privatization of discipline. As a result, no other country in the world incarcerates people at a higher rate than the US. This reason being is that punitive punishment is based upon the isolation of those who are deemed undeserving or deviant in our society and these two things are highly socially constructed. As a result, dominant ideologies and systems have created this social notion of criminality that serves to neglect and oppress marginalized communities (especially poor communities of color and transgender communities). The disparities in our penal system paint a very clear picture of this. 

In the end, our penal system doesn't simply punish. It perpetuates inequalities and casts away  "unwanted" members of society. A history of incarcerate follows an individual for the rest of their life. You can see this through examining public housing, TANF, and employment legislations regarding formerly incarcerated individuals. They are truly second-class citizens. Ultimately, the creation of this population of second-class citizen keeps criminalized populations under the thumb of dominant systems and institutions. 

3) What inspired you to become president? How is it going thus far?

In Spring 2013, I interviewed a man on his experience of being a formerly incarcerated African American man in our society for a final paper. Through talking to him, I came to understand the complex systems that operate the criminal justice system and the injustices that accompany re-entry in our society. I wanted to create the same learning experience that I was so fortunate to have and felt that a student organization would be a great place to start. 

It's been an incredibly gratifying, exhausting, and transformative experience. When I first began the organization, there were only three main Executive Board members and our board was constantly shifting. I was still getting to know the bureaucratic systems pertaining to student organizations and the University, trying to figure out what sustainable funding would look like for us, constantly re-delegating tasks, and networking with the University and community. It was a mess at times. But it's really when you're drowning that you figure out how to swim. We finally found our balancing point towards the end of Fall 2013 and really started to build momentum during Spring 2014. We were awarded best student program by two different University entities at the end of Spring 2014 and I think that was one of the most incredible experiences for us. For me, it was humbling and uplifting that people were watching and appreciating our work. This semester, this momentum has only been growing as we now have eight members on the Executive Board with clear responsibilities and systems of accountability. I still feel so fortunate everytime I sit down at a Executive Board meeting and look around and see how far we have come. 

4) Why should people do volunteer work/service?

Arguably, we all live and breathe privilege. If we don't carefully evaluate our own privilege and biases, we run the risk of perpetuating oppressive ideologies. I believe that if done correctly, volunteer work and service makes us aware of own privilege and the inequalities of our society. We choose to serve instead of save communities, we begin to see the world in a new light. We begin to see the importance of social justice. 

Additionally, I believe that education can and should be used to acknowledge and question dominant systems and institutions. It should not be used to create complacency. That's why it's so important for students (especially in higher education settings) to step out of the bubble of privilege and really engage with social justice issues in a meaningful way in the communities that surround them. And service allows that opportunity. 

5) What are the big goals/plans for PJP this year?

This year, we are launching C.U. Succeed, our mentoring program for youth who have been through the criminal justice system. Our mentoring program is strengths-based in that our mentors view mentees through a lens of strength and resilience instead of deficiency. The idea is that criminalized youth are cast as deviants in our society and we want to challenge that by providing high expectations for our mentees by telling them that they hold unfathomable potential and have shown immense strength thus far in their lives. 

We also have a really exciting line up for our monthly forums and bi-weekly lunch discussion series. A few things we will be covering will be food justice in prisons, the criminalization of Black girls, the incarceration of transgender communities, and issues faced by re-entering women of color. 

6) If people want more information, or want to get involved, who should they contact/how can they reach PJP?

If anyone would like to know more, they are more than welcome to contact me at ahwu2@illinois.edu. We have also have a general email address, which is prisonjusticeproject.rso@gmail.com. I encourage people to visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/pjprso and our website at prisonjusticeproject.weebly.com to keep up with us as well! 

From The President Files: Purpose with Liliana

[Liliana is the current president of Blessings in A Backpack-Galesburg Chapter. Blessings in a Backpack is a non-profit organization that works with communities to feed children--who qualify for free or reduced lunches--over the weekends during the school year. We will follow her journey throughout the year as a part of the President Files series. You can learn more about Blessings in a Backpack at: http://www.blessingsinabackpack.org/]

~~~

I woke up at 3 am this morning with a smile on my face. I naturally rise when I get excited. This morning, it was because I am looking forward to arriving back on the Knox College campus, to begin taking classes, and to be involved with the activities I am a part of; with one particularly in mind: Blessings in a Backpack. I decided to follow my eager feelings by brainstorming and daydreaming (night dreaming…?) about the year to come. I pulled out my Blessings in a Backpack folder and notebook and began reminiscing on the past year and looking forward to the group starting back up again this Fall. Just before I began to feel slightly uneasy between the past and the future of the group, I found the brightly colored notecards from an activity done with the group last year that re-grounded me.  

After a packing session, we had everyone answer the question, “Why do you do Blessings in a Backpack?” The notecards range in answers; however each card defined the purpose for the student to be in attendance of packing session that evening. The purpose: a word that comes to mind when I feel like small-scale community service cannot make big change.

Disregard the fact that poverty is a difficult and complicated situation to understand. That the food we’re providing is not the highest of quality. That we cannot feed every hungry child or adult in this county, state, country or world. What I choose to focus on is that there are 352 Galesburg Elementary School students receiving a bit of food for their weekend. There is much to be said about making a difference to one child. That is big.

I began reading the cards again, with an even deeper appreciation for the peers that surround me. There was some sort of push within each individual to pack bags of food for children. It doesn’t matter specifically why we were all gathered that day. But if our work can make one child smile, then we have accomplished the purpose of the group collectively. There are several reasons why I do Blessings in a Backpack. Being a part of a group with purpose is one of them.

-Liliana

Coming to a Volunteerism Blog Near You...

Hey Dreamers and Peace Keepers
It's been a busy day and a half for One Step! The biggest project I embarked on was a social media torrent, because I believe that social media, when combined with social justice and volunteerism, can galvanize hundreds of people in minutes, rather than years. If you haven't liked/followed One Step yet, go onto your Twitter and Facebook and Tumblr right now! You can find the links under Our Social Media page. I will of course post the newest blogs on all of those sites, but I also am using it to widen the net of connections, as well as introduce you to a ton of charitable and non-profit organizations. Just check out what One Step follows, and suddenly you'll see things from the World Wildlife Fund to Rock the Vote to City Year. Check out all those amazing organizations, or suggest ones you don't see!

I have also been reaching out to all the amazing people I know who are engaging in service, activism, and making a difference. So many people are excited to talk about their passions and events, which is good news for me, because if everyone thought this was a loser idea, I'd have to close up shop. Here are just a few things to look out for:

• Forming a Sexual Assault Prevention Group on a college campus
• Creating a non-profit as a college student
• Becoming a feminist activist and finding your voice
• Learning what it means to do social justice work
• Being a president of a non-profit organization

...and MANY MORE POSTS! Get excited, because the work that people are doing is going to blow your mind and inspire your heart. And if you have something to share, be it an organization you want to see promoted, an event you want people to attend, or a feeling about what it means to make a difference, let me know. Operators are standing by at volunteeronestep@gmail.com :]

-Celinda, Founder of One Step

Welcome Back!

I'm doing something I've never really done before. I'm resurrecting a blog. I've started all kinds of blogs in the past; my most successful ones were about college, but I have done personal ones along the way too. However, the reason that I want to work on this particular one is that I am dedicating my life to service, and this was a great idea that I didn't put energy in the first time. Maybe I wasn't mature enough, or ready to take this on. But I think this has the possibility of being much more.

I'm going to try different things. First of all, I want this to become a partnership. I will be reaching out to student leaders that I know, and I hope that they will reach out to people they know. I want to showcase different causes, different projects, and different philosophies. I want people to have a chance to show personal stories, triumphs, and heartbreaks. But most importantly, I want people to never forget that everyone matters, and that is the core of service and making a difference. We have a chance to transform what it means to be human. The collective work of hundreds of people will mean we will start to chip away at the problems that haunt our world.

Do you have a cause, or organization you want in the spotlight? Have a theory or thought? Want some coverage on a fundraiser? Email me at volunteeronestep@gmail.com, and we can start promoting, presenting, and posting all your cool/important/passion-filled work!

Stay Tuned!