Week 1

     First week has been mostly orientation.  We have done some professional development training and some ice breaker activities.  We have read and discussed a few articles about using Asset-based community work vs Problem based.  Asset based community engagement is focused on the different strengths of the community and the individuals who live in it, rather than focusing on the problems.  The idea behind Asset-Based engagement, is not only to find these strengths and resources, but to encourage communities to use its resources to their fullest potential to build unity and ownership within the community.  Many times we focus on the problems, looking for outside help rather than recognizing the answers we have around us. When we focus on outside help, we fall into a spiral, seeing only the problems within our community, and begin to believe our community is helpless on its own.
      During the professional development piece there was an interesting activity.  It was a culture-shock-simulation called 'Ba-fa-ba'.  We split into two groups, each with its own distinct culture and one culture had to learn and use a fake language.  Then each group sent a few individuals to interact with the other.  After the activity we discussed any feelings or assumptions made about each culture.  Even knowing it was a game, the discussion got a little heated as each person reflected on their experience visiting the other group.
     Later in the week we visited our sites and supervisors and after a fluke with the bus schedule, Jason and I had our orientation at Albany United Methodist Society.  We along with two other Siena Summer Service Scholars will begin the planning for a summer youth camp, which will occur at AUMS in July.