Indochinese Housing Development Corporation - Essay Example

Field Diary Indochinese housing Development Corporation The Indochinese housing Development Corporation (IHDC) is a premise located at the Tenderloin District of San Francisco. It was created to cater for the rapid influx of Southeast Asians into the Tenderloin in the 1970s and to assist them in the challenges they faced as low-income refugees. The IHDC was created to transform the Tenderloin community into a vibrant and dignified people through the purchase, renovation and management of safe and affordable housing and programs that influences the participation, empowerment and independence of the people. It also strives at helping other disadvantaged people of the community who are striving to excel in America (Hinkle et al., 2009). The visitation on October 23 was aimed at promoting the tenant participation in the housing program and the afterschool program with their children. The first accomplishment of the IHDC was to renovate two buildings with a capacity of 177 units. It is committed to building communities within its buildings and in the Tenderloin through community-driven programs. Through the support of the private foundation, IHDC has broader its scope and offers a wide range of services to the broader service population. From the visit, it was noticed that IHDC has developed a strong history through the provision of a comprehensive services to youth and family. It was realized that the corporation has [been helping the residents to learn English, access food, and navigate through the educational, public health and criminal justice system. The Tenderloin Achievement Group aids in building the academic achievement levels within the community, employment skills, leadership, and academic achievement levels. It has analyzed the policies and the needed resources and put in place the required mechanisms in terms of community achievements (Hinkle, 2009). In July 2008, research was carried out on the after school programs in the community to assess the issues, gaps and needs in the community that would help in the shaping the activities orientations towards public needs and concern. According to the records that were accessed during a visit with colleagues, it was revealed that the activities of IHDC are both promising and challenging. They are promising in the sense that they bring hope to the community by helping them in solving both social and economic problems that beset them. It was noticeable that there has been a strong social relationship that has been created that enables the community to bond cohesively and participate in their activities. There is a creation of revenues among the communities that supports the parts, fields, and active reactions. It has developed a ray of programs that it offers to its community. It provides the public with both categories of activities such as a summer lunch, youth leadership project, and afterschool center and summer program, family literacy among others. The visit revealed that the corporation has developed different projects that cater for the teens and families all the year round (Hinkle, 2009). It has come up with programs such as the Tenderloin National Forest, Asian art museum where people can go and enjoy designed programs for school groups and families. The goal of the activities of the corporation of was realized to promote and increase the physical activity opportunities available to the youths in the low-income parameters. It has conducted a strategic policy analysis on the community-based programs that are relevant to the community. Thanksgiving in the park For over a period, the homeless San Franciscos community has been joined in sharing Thanksgiving meal in the Golden Gate Park. The year 2014 was no exception as more 300 citys homeless community joined in the sharing of sand witches, turkey and conversations with well-wishers in the community. In the event held in October, we were among the volunteers prepared food to serve the community through the help of our team leader Dr. Michel Mike. This was aimed at helping the homeless to connect with the community and provide an important learning experience for the rest of the society members. It was realized that the homeless persons are usually hopeful in the years event. When the society come together to share with the community during such events, it makes them achieve the respect as members of the society that is otherwise limited in their lives (Hinkle, 2009). From the experience it was realized that these people are more than just the nameless and faceless statistics as they may be considered by some quarters in the community, being with them on that day made them feel being part of the human community. The joy that was noticeable on their faces could only the wished to be long lasting in their lives. However as the reality donned in the evening, it was realized by the volunteering team that there was a need for frequent involvement with the community for better development. Halloween in Tenderloin This year is marking the 19th annual Halloween celebration, lots of activities have been parked for the museum. Having been able to secure a chance to celebrate with hundreds of children in the same place can be considered only as a matter of lack. A lot of activities have been lined up for the venue for different activities including the annual celebration itself. Having the opportunity to spend time with the children from less fortunate communities in the museum made everything worthwhile. The Halloween celebration in the Tenderloin gave an opportunity to the little children to feel part of a larger community by being able to enjoy what others members of the society could afford. The organization of the event was made possible through the public participation in raising funds for holding the event for the children in the community. On the children of San Francisco, neighborhood were able to take a visit in the Halloween museum where they came across different artifacts with their unique presentations that enabled them to learn and appreciate the day. They joined their fellows from different backgrounds in the Tenderloin play ground as they were sharing similar experiences through fun. They could be able to foster relationships among themselves and appreciate the potentials in each other in many different ways (Hinkle, 2009). An event that has been taking place for over 18 years helped in bringing joy and fun among the children and families of Tenderloin. Together with the community .organizations, funds were mobilized so that the children were able to celebrate with the available supplies such as pumpkins and prizes. Other organizations participated by bringing the children to the event on a particular day. The entire community organization participated in making the event successful with the local boys and girls helping in making the play sites safe. The San Francisco Police Department aided in the provision of security, drinks and hot dogs. The sociology class students were able to recruit 70 more volunteers who provided help in the running of the event. These included both the people from Tenderloin and the neighborhoods of San Francisco and business community. In the jumping game, the children were able to enjoy themselves as they were going around in turns. Through our collective action, we were able to gather various playing materials from the neighborhoods that made the children busy for the better part of the day (Hinkle, 2009). Organization and ensuring that each and every child got a chance to enjoy the jumping game took over the better part of our time. It was impressive to see the impacts Halloween interventions brought in the heart of the children through their expressed joy and happiness in their faces. Everyone who took part in the event was touched by the event and helped the teachers in planning for the event. College Night The Tenderloin college night student meeting at the playground in November 13 was aimed at enabling the Tenderloin youth to join the colleges of their choices. The meeting was to enable the University students give useful information to the college night students about our university. The agenda in this case, thanking everyone for attendance, brief self-history, and explaining the various arrangements necessary for one to join and stay in college. Tenderloin Youth College Project This involved making it clear that it was a 16th year in offering the project with the aim of enabling the Tenderloin youth to get into and stay in colleges of their choice. It was made clear to the students that the college has an international status. It was also marked with a presentation from a student of Tenderloin. Through the introductions, the students were able to learn on the different courses that existed and also on the various ways that could be applied. During the process, different questions were asked by the students, and appropriate answers provided for the students on admissions and financial aid. This was done by Jon and Luis the staffs members of the respective departments. Ashley got an opportunity to advice on how to deal with applications anxiety among the students. She explained on the importance of one to arrange and organize his/her time during the application process in order to avoid the application anxiety. The students were further talked to on life on campus by Samantha. She emphasized on leadership and clubs, dorms rules and regulations, experience in college and the challenge everyone faces in what one hopes to do after college and how the college education will help in the achievement of such dreams. This formed an interesting part of the conversation as most students were drawn into the reality of college life, its challenges, and advantages. The issue of the first generation where people work and go to school was talked about by Maru. Being in the experience herself, she was able to put across clearly the many challenges that one faces when in such a situation. She emphasized the importance of planning ones activities and so as to achieve the goal (Hinkle, 2009). On sports and core curriculum, Lindsay and Kaydi the two renown sports persons in the university were able to explain clearly to the students. They explained to the students the amount of energy and sacrifice it takes one to be a successful athlete and a college student. The conclusion part was done by me on the international student life I being one of them in the University. It was made clear to the students on the challenges and obstacles that one faces ranging from change of culture all the way to change in language in some cases. It was made clear to the students on the difficult one might face when not well organized when going for external studies. From this and much more experiences that were shared, the students were able to understand the need for college and university education in the current society. Work Cited Hinkle, Arnell (2009).CANFT Policy Brief, Expanding Opportunities for After School Physical Activity to Promote Health and Strengthen Communities. Read More