It's been a long time since I posted on this blog. I thought I would bring you up-to-date on what I've been doing as a way of explaining why I post so infrequently.
Unemployment is probably the biggest reason for not posting. I was laid off from my job on July 1, 2009. It was a temporary position that was to end August 1, 2009. Money ran out and I was let go. I have been searching unsuccessfully for a job and it's becoming quite depressing.
I have continued to work on PhilaStories. My hope is that one day it will be a non-profit organization. The stories I collected from the retired firemen who worked at Engine 11 has led to an unexpected project. Working with friends and family and with the support of Scribe Video Center's Precious Places program we have created a short documentary about Engine 11. The film will be shown, with 9 other documentaries, on April 7, 2010 at the Philadelphia International House.
Using the social media platform Ning I started a site for PhilaStories. It's where I hope people will upload their Philadelphia stories. I've used Ning for two other projects: Philadelphia Model Neighborhoods and Philadelphia Ninth Ward Democratic Committee.
Philadelphia Model Neighborhoods was developed as a result of working with people in West Philadelphia who were attempting to have a model neighborhood developed in their neighborhood. Model Neighborhoods is a program developed by the Philadelphia Water Department to decrease storm/rain water runoff. I thought it would be a good idea for people to have a place where they could share information about their experience working with the Water Department. It would allow other communities to learn how to do the same in their neighborhood. Unfortunately I was let go before I had the opportunity to push this idea and try and motivate people to participate. The site now mainly serves as a resource for anyone interested in storm/rain water issues.
The Philadelphia Ninth Ward Democratic Committee site was my attempt to bring transparency to local ward politics. I was asked to fill-in as committee person and I accepted. I realized that I knew very little about the duties of a committee person. This site is an attempt to shed some light on those duties and to get people interested in politics at its most basic level. My hope is that people in the ninth ward will begin to use the site to discuss issues and push for action by their local politicians. I'll be on the ballot on May 18 so please vote for me. Shameless, aren't I?
Some people believe that the Ning platform is kind of corny. I see it as an easy way for people to start a social media site and immerse themselves in managing that site. It really does lower the bar to entry. It's free and very easy to use.
Right now blogging on PhilaPhile is not a priority for me. It's been difficult to justify spending my very limited funds on restaurants and other entertainment venues when I'm not earning any money. Not to mention finding the time to do it. I'm looking forward to having the resources and the time to explore the many fun places in the Philadelphia area.
You are very courageous to write about your experience with unemployment. For an able-bodied, able-minded adult who cares about their work, as you clearly do, it is a devastating and demoralizing experience (also a scary one). I only wish that more of us could overcome the shame that (at least I) feel when nobody values my time, my energy, and that which I produce, enough to pay me to do it
The crime in our society is that people like you and I experience the double blow that comes when nobody is willing to pay us for what we do so carefully and well, --and that when this results in our not being able to pay our bills, we are treated as irresponsible, even criminal types worthy of the debtors' prisons of the past.
I wish you the sweetest of vindications, in each and every soul-healing, economically satsfying sense of the word.
Posted by: saraw1 | 2010.07.12 at 02:25 AM