Mental Health Advocacy in Athens: An Interactive Map

View Mental Health Advocacy in Southeastern Ohio in a larger map

I wanted to share this map because mental health advocacy is a social justice issue that I believe is not reported often enough. There is not a taboo on mental illness like there was 20 years ago, but attitudes that degrade the mentally ill, or even view the mentally ill as not necessarily dangerous, but "different" still remain. 

Because Athens historically housed a large mentally ill population at what is now called The Ridges, and mental illness is generally first seen between the ages of 18-24, this city has a larger mentally ill population than most of its size. Mental health advocacy is therefore an essential issue in this city. For those interested, all of the locations on my map include links. Call or visit websites to find out how to get involved, or how to help yourself or someone you know who may benefit from any of the services offered at these locations. 

Is Violence Ever 'Okay' In Activism?

This week's episode of This American Life, #381: Turncoat, told the story of Brandon Darby, an activist/anarchist-turned-FBI informant. 

It got me thinking a lot about the rights and wrongs of activism, specifically when violence is used as a means to express an opinion or make a point. 

In this case, Darby's story relates to the potential use of violence at the Republican National Convention in August 2008, and how he took steps to prevent it. He did so as an informant for the FBI, and two activists from Texas, David McKay and Brad Crowder, were consequently sentenced to 4 and 2 years in jail, respectively. Many activists were very upset with Darby's decision, saying he was whoring out to the government. Others thought he provoked McKay and Crowder, then ratted them out. 

I will elaborate on Darby's story as I continue to think about this post, but I wanted to investigate more on historical uses of violence in activism, and when the use of violence is good (or if it ever can be) versus when it's bad.  More to come on this, but until then, click here to see Darby's letter.

"Town And Gown" A Term To Separate Communities: Looking At 'The Big Picture' Of The Palmer Fest Riots

Driving into Athens, the sense of community immediately grabs newcomers and residents alike; it's palpable. Turning onto Court St. from Richland Ave., downtown Athens offers the familiarity of the Burrito Buggy on the right and Casa Cantina on the left, dispersed with students and small business owners or vendors. The little old lady behind the counter of the Lollipop candy shop on Union greets her customers with a smile. Then on E. State St. turning onto May St. small houses with inviting gardens beckon the Dow-Lake bound on their drive up the winding roads. Eyes peek out behind wide-brimmed sun hats and wave to passers-by. 

While this picture seems like an accurate description of a harmonious community (it is), there is more to the story. 

The term "town and gown" is sometimes used to describe a place like Athens: a town where both permanent residents and college students live in the same community. It's intent, or rather it's effect, however, is to create two separate communities: the "townies" and the students. Besides being degrading and stereotypical, Coordinator of Off-Campus Living Stephan Oechsle says this distinction has implications that can destroy the picture-perfect harmony described above. 

"It implies an adversarial relationship," said Oechsle. "I think that's a shame because it really is one symbiotic community." 

For example, says Oechsle, the University depends on the local community's labor for its staff, and the students provide the community with an active and flexible population that brings a variety of backgrounds and interests to the community. 

"It's not just a college out in the woods," he said. 

According to Oechsle, Off-Campus Living, along with local law enforcement and the University, have been making strides toward developing a more "cooperative spirit" upon which making the term "town and gown" completely outdated depends. But Off Campus Living can only do so much - it's up to the residents and students to seize this opportunity and rid Athens of the perception that students and permanent residents are opposing forces. 

"It takes people making an investment to get to know people on the other side," said Oechsle. 

Oechsle says one effect of the perception the term "town and gown" creates "has been the way permanent residents' fears of student renters have manifested themselves." 

For example, says Oechsle, the "effects of the legislative choices the city has made has been the creation of student ghettos." That is, pushing the student body into densely packed, almost exclusively student-rented housing and appartment complexes like Palmer St., Palmer Place, and Stewart St. 

"Instead of that making them happy, it creates more problems," said Oechsle. "One of which is that they have less investment in their surroundings. All they ever see is other students." 

The recent Palmer St. riots, for example, surely provided some evidence of such lack of investment on the part of the students; the fears of permanent residents that might have lain relatively dormant in recent years were realized that night. 

(Photo credit to Sam Saccone, from The Post online) 

It is important that Athens look at the big picture: the Palmer Fest riot as it is now being called was not merely the result of a random, drunken party that got out of hand: it was the result of years of decisions built on fearful assumptions that defined certain groups as problems. That is not to say that legislative decisions were based on unfounded fears: surely those fears were based on some foundation. However, it is the responsibility of both parties to rid the term "town and gown" from their vocabulary and their thinking; Athens can become that harmonious community if permanent residents and students alike do some independent research instead of relying on reputations. 

How to do this? 

1. Walk to a neighbor's house and say "Hello." 

2. Attend Neighborhood Association Meetings and City Council Meetings. Getting involved and sharing opinions is an essential part of communication among neighbors. Attending such meetings expresses an interest in the opinions of others and a willingness to make communities more harmonious.

3. Know your rights and responsibilities as community members. Become a positive influence on your neighborhood, and those who share it with you. 

Grassroots International : Activism on a Large Scale

This is a website pertaining to social justice issues that provides coverage on an international scale. The site provides in-depth coverage of issues that are not widely discussed in the mainstream media, and offers an alternative source of news for the purpose of creating "a just and sustainable world [and] advancing social change." The primary focus of this organization is on food, water and land. It advocates for people living in countries that have been in many ways taken advantage of or forgotten by the foreign policies of powerful countries such as the United States. 

People working for the organization collect data, build movements, develop reports, and work to promote human rights, rethink aid, develop sustainable livelihoods, develop educational resources and greater access to education, write grants and build partnerships with other aid organizations around the world. 

What most drew me into the site was the slideshow of images in the upper right corner better illustrating the people most in need of Grassroots International's support and advocacy. It personalizes the page and gives the organization legitimacy. 

Another key aspect of this page was a clear option to "donate now." The option to donate is obviously a key component to any non-profit organization, and I think it was a wise decision to make the option very visible and user-friendly for those who visit the site and wish to contribute to the cause financially.  In the same sense, an option to "join now" by entering an email address is clearly one of the first things the viewer sees upon entering the site. I think these things definitely encourage involvement on the part of people who want to help out, if even just getting the word out or helping fund a local educational event. 

Last but not least, the substance of the site included blog posts and online stories about current events and international social injustices. The stories and posts are "short features" that tell the story of an in-depth issue in a concise manner. The site also includes Op-Eds and Q & As, which I thought were both helpful and a good alternative to online stories and blog posts. These things can approach an issue from different or specific angles that a blog post or online story might not be able to reach, and I think that ability is important especially when reporting on complex issues that have many sides, and affect many people who need to tell their stories in different ways. 

Click here for a review of Grassroots International by the Better Business Bureau. 

How To Promote Social Justice in Athens

If you want to promote social justice but don't know how to contribute, start by figuring out what you're most interested in. There is most likely a student group, organization, or business in Athens you can join that will help you make a difference and explore opportunities to be engaged in the community in the ways you feel are most important to you. Below is a list i've compiled of some of the student groups, organizations and businesses that have caught my eye so far. I've introduced them via "about" sections on their various websites. There are definitely more - feel free to add any. 

InterActivist Magazine: click here for their facebook page and here for their myspace page

Politically progressive student-run magazine committed to reporting on social justice and grassroots organizing.

United Campus Ministry: click here :)

Promoting spiritual growth via inclusive, creative methods & community service.

Empower: click here :)

Sells African jewelry & art to send African orphans to school.

Donkey Coffee: click here :)

Sells free trade coffee & helps social justice groups in Athens through public awareness, serving & financial giving.

Ohio University Women's Center: click here :)

Serving & advocating women of Athens.

My Sister's Place: click here :)

Providing safe shelter for women who are victims of domestic violence. 

Big Brothers/Big Sisters: click here :)

Helping disadvantaged children in Athens county by providing productive and healthy atmospheres & role models. 

 

Islamic Center of Athens: A Look Inside

I took an Islam class last quarter with Dr. Loren Lybarger, and in each class, there was considerable effort made on his part to get his students to see Muslims as people just like them. I came into the class already open-minded about people who are different from me, and that's one of the main reasons I took the class: to learn about "other" people. What I found, though, is that there really is no "other." 

Yes, our customs and rituals may be different. But the way I see it, our beliefs may in fact be the same. There are certain beliefs that I think are innate to all of humanity, and these beliefs form the core of all religions. Humanity believes in compassion, love, understanding, justice. These things should bring us together if we share them, not tear us apart. 

The reason I included a slideshow of the Muslims of Athens praying, was for the purpose of humanizing their rituals that are too often seen as foreign. The first and most important step in debunking the myth of the "other" is education. I urge everyone to educate themselves on people they may identify as "different." Once steps are taken to learn about another culture or religion, I believe more similarities rather than differences will be found. 

This was my second time attending their Friday prayers, and I have never felt more welcome. Being inside the prayer hall, I saw people just like myself. After prayers, everyone gathered around plates of fruit, talking about their week at work, their kids, their upcoming vacations. They were most eager to talk to me, though. What questions did I have for them about their religion? Would I like to come back? Would I please help myself to more fruit?   

My virtual tour isn't enough. Everyone should take advantage of the opportunity to attend a prayer, or even just to visit the Center and talk to a member of the Muslim Students Association. Visit this link for more information about the MSA, including prayer times and events calendars. 

Where did Up in Arms go?

This is a sidebar story I wrote to supplement my story on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, included in the March 2008 issue of the InterActivist, an entirely student-run, politically progressive magazine in Athens. 

In it, I interview Kat Primeau, who performed as Rachel Corrie in the play "My Name is Rachel Corrie" as part of her thesis. Primeau was also one of the founding members of Up in Arms, a politically progressive student theater group. Since her graduation, however, the group has been inactive. I hope someone will step up and take Primeau's place, in order to continue the group. 

Up In Arms to Remember Life, Honor Death of Activist Rachel Corrie

Danny Yahini, an Israeli-born American Jew and local contractor who recently spoke with The InterActivist about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, characterized groups working to defend Palestinian human rights as “wonderful.” Among the examples Yahini gave were the Israeli human rights group Bezelem, which literally means “in the image of [God],” Peace Now, a group of self-described “Israeli pacifists for Palestinian self-determination within the 1969 borders,” and the International Solidarity Movement, a Palestinian-led organization made up of Palestinians, Israelis and other activists from around the world.

In the course of their work, some of these groups’ members have suffered the same fate as many Palestinians subjected to foreign military occupation. Twenty-three-year-old American college student Rachel Corrie was one of those.

On March 16,2003, Corrie was killed by Israeli forces while working with the ISM. She was standing between a bulldozer and the house of a Palestinian family she knew, attempting to save the house from being demolished by the Israeli military. The bulldozer ran her over. 

To commemorate the 5^th anniversary of her death, the OU student group Up In Arms will present “My Name is Rachel Corrie,” a play based on the events leading up to Corrie’s death as told through Corrie’s own journal entries and emails. Created by Katherine Viner and Alan Rickman, the play was first staged in 2005 and has since won the Theatregoers Choice Awards for Best Director and Best New Play, as well as Best Solo Performance for actress Megan Dodds.

“[Corrie’s] argument wasn’t some competing ‘us versus them’ narrative,” said Up In Arms President Kat Primeau. “It was ‘all of us are in this together.’ She was a humanist.”

Hahne Theater in Kantner Hall on College St. will host the play.

Up In Arms first staged excerpts of the play in Athens last year. Primeau wanted to show it in its entirety this year because “it’s important that we keep having this dialogue.”

“It’s really inspirational for activists of all kinds,” said Primeau. “Not because [Corrie] is a martyr, but because she led a fulfilling life and acted on what she believed in.”

I searched Up in Arms' myspace and found the last login was March of last year. where has it gone? Kat Primeau graduated - but someone should continue with the group!

For a link to another story about the event, if it peaks interest, click here.

Dandelion Salad Tastes Good To Me.

http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/

This blog is something along the lines of a blog I'd be proud to call my own. It's graphically creative and the content is well-researched and often politically progressive. But above all, the writing is concise and to the point, creative and witty. The writers usually keep themselves out of their posts, bringing credibility to the table. 

One of the things I most admire about the blog is that it questions people and institutions most who are politically progressive might settle for. For example, one of the posts calls obama on his claim that the us does not torture. I admire this blog's ability to question whoever is in power, whether the writer supported that person or not. I want my blog to do the same, at a more local level. 

For instance, one of my goals for this blog might be to look at current news stories - perhaps in the post or the athens news - that I feel have been underreported or misrepresented. Maybe there is a side to that story I feel is being left out. If so, I want to elaborate on that missing piece and offer that point of view to an audience interested in hearing more than just the facts. My goal is to create a following of people who are interested in just why an event happened, not when and where and who was there. 

I tried to do that in my first two posts about the take back the night march. I hope my readers appreciated that I tried to bring a different point of view to their vision of that march and rally.

I would love to eventually import my blog to wordpress and include tabs like "books" "websites" "old blogs" etc., as this one does. I might also be able to get more creative with my web design if I had more freedom and knowledge to make that freedom work well for the message I want to send out into the world.