Cool Things My Friends Do: Perform research to improve the lives of children.

Cool Friend: Steph Brunner
Cool Thing(s): Spanish Individual Growth and Development Indicators Project and Family Academy

I have known Steph Brunner since 7th grade. She was one of those friends I could always talk to about anything. Like many of my friends from middle school, she was actively involved both in and out of school, and fully invested herself in anything she took on. Two of the teachers she mentions in this interview have instilled in both of us (and many of our peers) a knack for travel and learning about the world around us, from soul and language to culture and geography.

Steph finished her undergraduate degree at Penn State in 2012, and immediately went on to grad school at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She hopes to obtain her MA in 2013 and PhD in 2017, both in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in School Psychology. The PhD program is 4 years of coursework (first two years correspond to the master's) and a 1-year internship.

I told Steph I was interested in her research because it involves working with Spanish-speaking children in the United States. I have now spent a year at my first job, where I speak Spanish to both children and adults every day. I realize how challenging English can be for them, just as any foreign language is challenging for most of us.

Floccadelphia: Tell me about the research that you're doing while in grad school.

Steph: The research job that pays my tuition is called the Spanish Individual Growth and Development Indicators (S-IGDI) project. Our research team is working to develop an assessment that measures the early literacy skills of Spanish-English bilingual preschool students. There's a really strong need for an assessment like this, as the Latino population continues to grow and Latino children are the most likely of any ethnic group to lack proficiency in reading on state testing throughout their whole academic career. Also, research has shown that L1 skills (for these kids, L1 is Spanish) transfer to support L2 learning (in this case, L2 is English). If a child is struggling to develop good L1 skills, that obviously makes it even harder for them to develop proficiency in L2. When our assessment is finished in 2016, preschool teachers will be able to use it in conjunction with early literacy assessments in English to track preschoolers' progress in BOTH languages. If the assessment results show that a child is not making enough progress throughout the preschool year, then the teacher can provide intervention services to help that child improve his/her skills in both languages. Basically, the goal is to catch the children who are struggling to develop good early literacy skills early in life and intervene so they are more likely to be on track to become good readers once they get to kindergarten.

Floccadelphia: Where did you develop your interests for Spanish, psychology, and working with children?

Steph: My interested in Spanish originated with Sra. [Loraine] Kovary! She made me love Spanish language and culture so much that I actually entered freshman year as a World Languages Ed major, thinking that I wanted to become a Spanish teachers just like her! OF course, I ended up switching my major to psych, but kept up with my Spanish by getting a minor and by studying abroad.

I've known that I wanted to work with kids since about 2nd grade. When cleaning out my closet last summer before moving to Minnesota, I found lots of old diaries that I kept as a kid. Some of the entries (as a 7 year old) talked about how, when I grew up, I wanted to help kids get smart and love learning. I'm pretty nerdy.

My interest in psych started when I took AP Psychology senior year with Mrs. [Kathy] Hagee It's easy to identify with what psychology is all about because studying it gives you research-based answers for a lot of things that you already believe are true just because you're human. My interest in school psych specifically came about from talking with my mom. She's a speech pathologist for the Wilson School District and interacts a lot with school psychologists. She thought it would be a good fit for me, so I checked it out and talked to some professors and here I am!

Floccadelphia: Is there anything else that you're working on?

Steph: I also do research for a parent education program called Family Academy. This program is for parents in North Minneapolis (where one of the largest achievement gaps in the whole nation exists) and teachers them skills that will help support their children's development. Our belief is that that parents are children's first teachers, and if they can be a source of warmth and support and education early in children's lives, their children are more likely to be ready for kindergarten and to succeed academically, grow up to be contributing members of society, etc. Kids in North Minneapolis, like in many other poor urban areas, are especially at risk for school failure, delinquency, violence, etc. Family Academy is just one way that we are trying to improve lives of kids in the area. Unfortunately, recruiting parents to participate in Family Academy has been really hard, so I've been doing some research about the best ways to motivate families to attend the program. The jury's still out on this one (my research isn't done until the end of the fall), but this is important to consider because if we can't get parents to come t the program, how can we expect North Minneapolis kids to reap the benefits?

Cool Things My Friends Do: Heal with Horses

Cool Friend: Stef Brok
Cool Thing: Equine Assisted Therapy

How do you begin to summarize the story of a friend you’ve known for over 10 years? Especially when that friend started off as your 8^th grade English teacher? Little did I know that when I walked into Stef Brok’s classroom in West Lawn, Pennsylvania that I would be walking out of it with a life mentor. As my friends and I paged through Mrs. Brok’s interactive stories of a Midsummer Night’s Dream, Treasure Island, and Twelve Angry Men, we learned her story as well. In her own words, her résumé lists “bartender, waitress, dental assistant, doctor's receptionist/assistant, carny, hospitality for musical groups, pro-wrestler, racetracker, warehouse worker, ... oh yeah, and teacher, too." Many of us knew her outside of the classroom as the self-proclaimed "tweaker" of our musicals. She was always there as an extra set of eyes to make us the best and brightest we could ever be both on stage and off.

This past spring, Stef retired from 37 years of teaching in the Baltimore City School District and Wilson School District. But of course, she is simply just onto the next adventure. She continues her worldly experience with Herd by a Horse, a non-profit organization in Pennsylvania that offers equine assisted therapy to multiple clienteles.

There is a great deal more to the company that can be found here at www.herdbyahorse.com, but in a nutshell, David Rosenker and his intimate team offer a diverse range of therapy sessions, team building activities, and general assistance by placing individuals or groups in a space with horses. Horses are extremely intuitive creatures, and are used as models or tools through which the individuals can express feelings about themselves or others in their lives. Sometimes the horses are metaphors for obstacles in their lives, sometimes role models for how to better communicate. Each individual may vary.

Here is a bit from Stef about her role in the organization.

Floccadelphia: Where does your attachment to horses stem from?

Stef: When I was young I had to do whatever my big brother Glenn would do.  Isn't that the job of a little sister?  We didn't have a whole lot of money so my dad and mom would rent the "Pepsi Ponies" to come to our house for birthday parties and the kids would get pony rides.    That did it for Glenn.  At the age of 3 or 4, he was hooked.  He went on to showing his own and others' horses, then the race track where he galloped the thoroughbreds (he was a bit too big to be a jockey), then became an agent, then a trainer.  So... anyway, I followed Glenn:  riding, showing, racetracking, etc.    And I just love the animal.  The energy, the intuition, the wholeness that they give.  Horses are my sanity, my therapy, one part of my life that defines me.  They help me to be me.

  Now what I do is trail ride with friends.  We ride all around Berks County and sometimes camp our way around Virginia, New York, Maryland...

    There is a wonderful article in the Oprah Magazine, I think it's the August issue  p. 104.  I don't know the title as I was just give a copy of the article sans title page, but it explains this concept pretty well.

F: Can you give a bit of insight into Equine Therapy?

S: I didn't research where it began, as far as I'm concerned, it began when man developed a relationship with the horse.  And believe me, there are ALL types of relationships.  Perhaps people started paying attention to Monty Roberts, the original horse whisperer.  Perhaps people realized the therapeutic value of the horse when working with troubled kids/adults or handicapped kids/adults. But there are many different types of horse therapy being used at this time.   The certification I'm getting is with the EAGALA program [Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association].

F: How did you get involved?

S: I got involved when I was tacking up my horse over at Blue Marsh getting ready for a ride.  An acquaintance I had known from being on the SAP team in the 1980's, David Rosenker, had just returned from a trail ride and mentioned he had recently been certified in this EAGALA program.  Having no filter, I immediately stated I would just love to do something like that.   Then we went our separate ways and I figured I wouldn't see or hear from him again.  However, a few months later he called and asked if I'd be interested in working with him as his equine specialist.    This sounded like a great adventure to me, so here I am.

F: Are you volunteering? Full time paid? Contracted?

S: I actually get paid for this.  Not great amounts, but the insight into this world is remarkable and well worth the time and effort.  For instance, on Saturday we are taking 3 of my horses up to Hamlin, PA where there is a "home" for young men ages 18 - 26.  It is a 20-bed facility for those who are not yet ready to deal with society after they are released from places like Caron Foundation.  Perhaps they are still not quite ready to be on their own after dealing with drug and alcohol issues, etc.  We will do two 2-hour sessions with these kids.  

F: Without compromising privacy of the patients, what is some of the most remarkable work you have seen done with these horses in terms of therapy?

S: Incredible, unbelievable stuff.  For instance, we were working with a group of 5 women who had experienced trauma in their lives (rape, abuse, etc.).  One woman was assigned the task of building what represented an obstacle to her recovery.  Using all the 'props' we had strewn around the arena, build what represented her greatest obstacle to getting beyond her fears, etc.  She took EVERYTHING we had: barrels, scarves, poles, traffic cones, umbrellas, toy beanie babies, balls, bags, EVERYTHING and created a huge wall.  Around this wall she placed the lassos/ropes, as if to hold it all together.  Sharp objects jutting out…it was nasty and could not be penetrated.  Impossible to get through.  Upon questioning, this represented her mother.   As she was explaining all this to us and describing what and why, Frankie, the one horse she had previously bonded with, went over to check it out and got his foot caught in the lariat that was surrounding this mass and holding it all together.  He shied away and in doing so, pulled the entire monstrosity to pieces, showing this woman that it CAN be broken down. So many metaphors in this situation.  It was astounding.   And this was just one instance.  Stuff like this happens a lot. I feel these incredible animals have so much to offer to us, and they do so willingly.  People should be more like them.  I think the world would be a much better place.

I have had the pleasure of riding Frankie, one of Stef’s horses. He is so named because he has bright blue eyes like Frank Sinatra, who is also a bit of a hero of mine. To see Stef and her husband Phil interact with these animals is incredible. This astounding aspect of her life something that I will always admire, but yet barely scratches the surface of the incredible woman she is. In our middle school years, she helped mold us into the individuals we are today by praising our achievements and supporting our endeavors will beyond her classroom.

I sit writing this overlooking the sea and the southern coast of France on the cruise ship I have learned to call home. I got this job through my extracurricular activities, many of which were obtained because of her recommendations at a young age. I am blessed and extremely fortunate to have such a job, but I can only hope that my life will have some shrivel of comparison to Stef’s. She is not just a teacher. She is a student of the world.

Cool Things My Friends Do: Design Homes For Migrants And Win A Prize For It!

Cool Friend: Jen Shin

Cool Project: Way Home

I was an architecture major for my first year of college. I was in love with the design aspect and history behind it rather than the actual creation of it, though I would not realize this until the end of that school year. In that time, I made many friends I still speak to today. We were a class of about 20 at Drexel University, and shared the studio space with 20 or so sophomores a year above us. One of those a year ahead was Jen Shin.

Jen was always friendly, but I didn’t really get to know her until after I had left the architecture program to pursue a communications degree at Temple University. She became roommates with one of my best friends in the program, and Jen and I got closer every time I visited their apartment. I remember one night in particular when she taught me how to make sushi rolls, we downed margaritas, and chatted the night away. No iPhones, no Facebook, no TV.  Simple, communal, fun and thoughtful. Jen is the same way. I say all this because in order to fully understand an artwork, one must understand the hand that crafts it.

This past June, Jen received Drexel University’s Michael Pearson Memorial Award

for her work on her Senior Thesis, Way Home: A Compound for [North] Korean Pilgrims in Seoul. The project, which can be viewed HERE in detail, embodies everything that I have come to know about Jen. It offers a welcoming atmosphere for those in need. It is as its title says: a place for North Korean migrants to live and commune as they transition into their new homeland of South Korea.

The Korean War (1950-1953) resulted in the development of two different countries along what was called the 38^th Parallel, a military border between them. Even now, 60 years later, families in both countries are still hearing the echoes of the war. Today, many in North Korea leave the country for reasons such as hunger and political disagreement. These people, called defectors, come to South Korea and are brought into an arguably rigorous immigration process. There are many differences between living in North and South Korea, the main one being that North Korea has more communal living because of its government. As Jen explains in her thesis, many are not used to freedom and privacy that the Republic of South Korea offers. Some are uncomfortable with it, and prefer to visit one another’s dwellings extremely often once in South Korea. Jen’s project offers a mixture of both countries’ cultures, as well as a more smooth transition into the defectors’ new nation.

Jen’s concept for this balance is brilliant yet simple. Way Home is a series of structures that intertwine with one another, and have moving walls and doors that allow for both privacy and community.  There are of course homes, but there are also gardens, paths, galleries, and other areas that make it a mixture between a humble apartment complex and upscale dormitory. The same year I was studying architecture, I lived in Myers Hall at Drexel. Our dorm was three stories tall, with a courtyard in the center and two wings. The first floor was all arts students. Doors were open all day and night, music was played while paintings were created and while hot dogs were grilled outside. It was a community more than individual dorm rooms. That is what I imagine Way Home to be, if were I to walk into it.

Jen states that “the buildings in Way Home are merely ingredients, guests that pull up to the table, to partake in a shared plate. This nowness, this presentness, is exactly what makes this thing tick.”

The location and construction of the project additionally make it a balance between city and nature. Located in the outskirts of Seoul, it lies in a valley between two hills. The structures are made of wood with green roofs, making it almost blend in to the scenery, not to hide it from the world, but more to encompass its natural beauty. This blending is symbolic to the blurred line between architecture and art.

“I view art and architecture as one continuum,” Jen says. “I believe that as artists, it is our job and privilege to create work that contributes to the collective human project.”

Though Jen’s design is visually brilliant, its functionality to me is far more important. It is a place for people to live. And truly live, not just sleep and eat. That human aspect is exactly what I have learned from Jen as an artist and friend.

“I would indeed love to see this project become a reality in South Korea, and am currently working on creating a more complete booklet of Way Home to send to various organizations and groups. I'd like my work and career to focus on creating architecture and design that enables its users to enjoy a fully present existence while sustaining a spirit of genuine discovery within its process.”

- Jen Shin

Cool Things My Friends Do: Build a school in Cambodia

Happy Summer! I am getting back into the swing of things with blogging, and am re-booting “Cool Things My Friends Do” with a friend I met while working in the Youth Activities Department for Disney Cruise Line.

Cool Friend #4: Misha Patel

Cool Thing #4: “Ohana Village School Project”

When Misha and I met, I was fascinated by her love for travel. She was raised in the UK, backpacked the world, lives in Hawaii, and in July will move to Cambodia where she will build her own school for children ages three to twelve. 

FLOCCADELPHIA: Why this school? Why Cambodia?

MISHA: Since I was young I have always wanted to volunteer in an orphanage in Cambodia. I ended up Googling different orphanages and found New Futures Organization, which runs orphanages and works with village schools. I volunteered there for about a month for my first trip. I also volunteered at a village school called Little Po, which was built by a young man who just wanted to make a difference. Little Po became my project and I ended up going every day, teaching these children who have almost nothing but are so happy with what they do have. I saw what a difference a school can make to a community. It’s now two years later, and I have decided to build my own school.

The process of finding a school was an overall fun experience. I interviewed three villages and spoke to the village head and the local people to find out which place would benefit the most. The village I decided on is called Broo Hoot, and the school is in Takeo. It was exactly what I was looking for!

FLOCCADELPHIA: What is the process for constructing it? Are you transforming an already existing building?

MISHA: I am actually building a school from scratch. I have an architect who has kindly volunteered their time to come up with a design for me and I will hire local people and volunteers to actually build the structure.

FLOCCADELPHIA: What subjects will they be taught?

MISHA: This will be a school where they are taught English. Knowing English opens up a lot of doors for people in Cambodia so these children will benefit a lot. They will learn to speak English but they will be speaking Khemear (The Cambodian Language) for the translations.

FLOCCADELPHIA: How are you getting your teachers?

MISHA: When I arrive in Cambodia in July I will be interviewing prospective teachers from the village. I will hire 2 teachers who I think would be best suited for the job.

FLOCCADELPHIA: How can people help your cause?

MISHA: Donating is always a good way to help! A company has already sponsored me $5000 so I only need to raise $2000 more viahttps://www.ammado.com/community/139463/snapshot

The total amount will be enough for the building materials, labor, teachers, textbooks etc. On average it costs about $5 a child for their textbooks and papers and pens for a year, so not much at all.

Another way is actually coming out to teach or help build! Follow my page for all the latest updates on how the school is going! https://www.facebook.com/OhanaSchoolProject

Cool Things My Friends Do: Create a home for music.

When I was a senior at Temple University last year (*cries*), I had the pleasure of taking photos at AEPi for the Temple News. The popular frat house on campus had a very unique basement that had been converted into a music venue. I remember it having awesome lighting, couches everywhere, tables, free refreshments (so much Street King...I still have some), and a stage. But the best part about the event was having the guy who ran the whole show come right up to us, shake our hands, and give us a warm welcome.

FRIEND #3: Dave Silver
COOL THING #3: Broad Street Music

Dave is currently a senior marketing major at Temple University, and had the brilliant idea of utilizing the basement in a creative way. Don't get me wrong, I love a good kegger at ']['U, but this was the sickest thing I'd seen. The basement became the Broad Street Music Lounge, and became home to free shows for up-and-coming and undiscovered Philly artists.

The best part about Dave, who is now Director of Operations, is that he's in this thing for the right reason: creating a home for musicians

FLOCCADELPHIA: What has been the most rewarding part of this?
DAVE: The experience of starting something from scratch and watching my dreams come alive...Being able to witness first-hand from managing my best friends' music careers that finding opportunities to perform in front of a live audience is a monumental challenge, I figured I could use my resources available to me in order to create new opportunities for those in need.

Like many 20th century young professionals, Dave realizes that dreams can be attained by networking and sharing creativity with others, especially those who have "the same dreams and goals."

Though it began in the basement of AEPi, Dave is graduating in May and is currently looking at ways to launch Broad Street Music into the Philly music scene. He is at the point now where talent have contacted him directly. Many artists have stuck with the company since its beginning.

What I admire most about Dave, beyond his determined creativity and good use of resources, is that he is passionate about bringing joy to others through music.

The long-term goal for Broad Street Music is for it to become a talent agency and music events company, eventually working its way to becoming a record label. While this is no easy feat, the fact that Dave has his sights set so high (and has come this far) is proof that it will get done.

He explains that "It is meant to be a company that is all about believing in a dream, finding the hidden opportunities, and networking your way to success."

Be sure to check out Broad Street Music's first event of 2013 next weekend!

Contact:
BroadStMusic@gmail.com
facebook.com/BroadStreetMusicLounge
Twitter: @broadstlounge
Instagram: @broadstmusic