We were talking on the drive home today and I realized something that would be great for myself and Carrie to do as a side project. I want to have a teen/pre-teen drop in center. There will be basic rules of respect, but otherwise anyone is allowed to come. Create a safe space for them where they can start to learn about themselves. For instance, there could be unofficial classes in self defense, meditation of various types, informal counseling - basically a lot of the introductory things covered in Jedi training. For those who find they want more, we can give them more. For those who find just a little direction useful, we can provide that. For those who simply need a safe place away from the chaos of home, we can provide that. We’d like to also allow those who need a safe place to stay overnight until a foster placement can be found. Too many kids are in bad situations at home that could really use a respite so they can focus on their education and such. We want to help with that.
When I think of this, it feels good. The thing is, I don’t have the skills necessarily to run a martial arts school. Besides, I wouldn’t want to focus on any one thing. We can run informal music classes. Take on a few kids as interns in the recording studio for those who show the dedication. For those who find a higher calling as a peaceful warrior or Jedi, I can help with that. For those who have active psychic abilities but no idea what to do with it, they can find guidance. For those young queers who are confused and don’t get support, we can provide it. And we will live by example, the best teacher of all.
But yes, I do realize I won’t be doing all of this, and we will need a good staff, but I’d love for this to be how I give back to the world. Helping teenagers get their stuff together impacts the rest of the world in so many different ways. When you combine that with Ash and I reinventing riot grrl music, recording other artists, and being a Jedi, a lot of good can be done in this lifetime. Lol, aren’t I the little multi-tasker?! In any case, I think this is something I can pull off and is something I would love to do. Now it is put out there in the universe as a conscious intention. I look forward to seeing it manifest.
26 June 2007 at 13:03
hmmm…
Way back when I was in Austin with my ex… while she was attending Austin Theological Seminary — I worked at a local print/copy shop… one near the UT campus (which later closed) and the other on ‘the strip’… underneath a bage; shop and the local scientology place.
Anyway… while at the shop, we had a group of teens come in to make their own yearbook. Turns out, these were unusually gifted sorts who were in a sort of ‘home schooled’ situation since they were even more advanced than the standard ‘advanced’ students from regular schools. Their place of study was only two or three blocks ‘North’ of the seminary… a moderate sized home converted into study rooms — though they oft times were sitting in a nearby open lot for the air and breezes during the spring/summer.
Why explain all this?
Instead of starting from scratch — wondered (1) if they were still there; and (2) perhaps you could talk to the established persons there and maybe volunteer a block of time to ‘teach’ Jedi basics if they are open to it.
Lol… if nothing else — bet they would take you on as an advanced Physics teacher and maybe your Sound/Music skills.
Never know…
26 June 2007 at 22:20
Volunteering is all well and good, but I’m not in the position to volunteer at this time. For one, all free time is spent in my own training and in the training of others online. Second, I need a job that pays right now, which also takes up a lot of time. I’m actually looking into a job helping at risk youth with Austin Youthworks. But volunteering…not feasible. This is instead a way to give back to the community once our business is solid enough to start investing in other projects.
1 July 2007 at 22:37
Perhaps volunteer was the incorrect wording. The teaching staff was paid for their time. It wasn’t a ‘free’ school environment…. their folks were paying out ’some bucks’ for them to be at this place.
Austin Youthworks sounds interesting. If it works out — hope you are able to aid while NOT taking on all the negative vibes and shouldering everyone else’s loads on top of your own.
1 July 2007 at 22:41
Gotcha! It’s stuff I’m keeping in the back of my mind right now. I’m not counting anything out.