Esther's Writing 340 Retrospective

As finals come looming down on us and before I begin studying hardcore for my Psychology of Happiness final, I would like to address that I found the blogging experience to be memorable and helpful throughout my research for Assignment 4. I did have prior knowledge regarding the policy issue of food deserts in South Central Los Angeles but Assignment 4 allowed me to delve deeper into my area of study. I actually did a primary interview with my former professor and Community Health Council member, LaVonna Lewis, Phd as well as my copious amount of scholarly articles and policy briefs that I found through USC's vast library database. All in all, this advanced writing course with Professor Carroll-Adler made me view life in a more cosmopolitan perspective. Aside from the stress of the policy, planning and development world, I came to appreciate the meaning of arts and humanities. This course allowed me to be exposed to different genres in art ranging from cinema to cultural issues that impact our society. My blogging experience, collaborative learning workshops and the personal conferences allowed me to develop an appreciation for life as general as that sounds. Art can inspire people to change and to look at life from a positive perspective. Through the writing assignments and the viewing of "The Interrupters" also solidified my interest in helping others fulfill their aspirations for the future. My undergraduate major may be in Public Management at the Price School of Public Policy but I plan to become a future Occupational Therapist one day. I have always had an interest in the healthcare field but was too afraid to embark in a long journey of biological sciences. However, my experience in this arts and humanities course had narrowed my ruminating thoughts as I honed in my passion for the OT field through our interactive classroom activities. The interaction with my classmates and this course instilled a sense of individual empowerment that I do have a lot to offer in the present and in the future. My blog definitely helped me throughout my process of "self-discovery"and I plan to continue blogging for enjoyment.

Extra Credit Review: The Interrupters-A Must See

On a dreary and chilly night, my friend, Miesha Morse and I attended the University of Southern California’s Visions & Voices event of the screening of “The Interrupters”. Even though, we arrived at the Norris Cinema Theatre fairly early, majority of Frank Sinatra Hall was filled with students. USC’s own alumnus, critically acclaimed director, John Singleton came up to the podium and made a simple, direct introduction. At this point, I was anticipating the documentary to start and soon enough, the film started. 
“The Interrupters” was a film that was created by Steve James in 2011 and was shot over the course of one year in Englewood, Chicago. Englewood should not be confused with California’s Inglewood as this Chicago city is heavily stricken with violence and murder. However, the main focus of the film was the work of the CeaseFire team and their initiative to start a pay-it-forward campaign called the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention aka “CeaseFire”. 
The documentary focused on this Chicago Project. The main characters were the director of CeaseFire Illnois, Tio Hardiman and the violence interrupters, Ameena Matthews, Cobe Williams and Eddie Bocanegra. Majority of the people who were in the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention were former gang members or were former hustlers. One interesting fact that I learned was that Ameena Matthews was the daughter of the infamous Chicago gang leader and Black radical, Jeff Fort. Ameena Matthews was the main violence interrupter as she was deeply passionate about advocating to the youth about expressing their hatred or feelings in a non-violent manner. As Tio Hardiman stated, “she knew how to get in and out with the troubled youth”. Ameena was inspiring as she always spoke wisdom and persuaded the young individuals to not embark in violent actions.
CeaseFire is truly a pay-it-forward movement that can transform at-risk individuals such as Caprysha (Ameena’s focus individual throughout the documentary) to stop the escalation of violence within the urban community of Chicago. Throughout the film and in the discussion, the Violence Interrupters (Ameena, Eddie and Cobe) emphasized that violence is not the cure to solve one’s problems but the individual choice to stop living a life filled with violence is more rewarding, impactful and inspiring. All these three elements are what the members of CeaseFire instill within the individuals they embark throughout their violence prevention program as this project not only helps reduce crime in Chicago but also, transforms the urban youth to change for the better. 

Breathtaking. Inspiring. The power of the individual voice for collective action and empowerment. These were the feelings that I was left with after I watched the screening of "The Interrupters" on November 30, 2012.

Violence Interrupter: Cobe Williams at work for Violence Prevention

Curious for more? Go ahead and be an advocate for Violence Prevention. Visit this link: http://dornsife.usc.edu/events/site/96/900437/film-screening-the-interrupters/

Lewis' Insider Perspective on South LA's 'Food Deserts'

My former professor, LaVonna Lewis Phd in action!

"Food Flight: Food Inequity in South Central Los Angeles"

Not Psychology but Public Health as my 2nd Field!

Hello classmates! I hope your final study preparations are going well. Sorry for the delay in posting... So here is an update posting in my beloved but slightly forgotten blog. Amused enough? Alright, alright enough sarcastic jokes from me. Serious crunch time... starts... NOW.

While writing my research paper and reflecting back to the comments that my classmates had made, I realized that I was focusing my attention on a field that was not deeply related to my research topic of food deserts. Public health is the field that I am supposed to be advocating for! So, my fellow classmates, I am deeply regretful for misinforming you regarding my other field of research.

I finished writing my Assignment 4 about a week ago but I could have made my argument about why food deserts is a public policy and a public health problem in Los Angeles County. Many of my classmates, and most people in general, are not aware with the terminology of "food deserts". The presentation that I gave to my peers in my opinion was direct and opened a new way of thinking about social policy issues that occur in our world.

My personal interview with my former professor, LaVonna Lewis, Ph.D. was extremely informative in strengthening my arguments in proposing a grassroots, community-based approach to policy. Throughout the interview, Professor Lewis emphasized that public education must be implemented at the grassroots level when transforming an urban food environment. Education about healthy nutrition to community residents is necessary especially to younger generation as children are the ones that are at the highest risk for obesity and other health related diseases.

The lack of access to healthy food is believed to be a key factor in the obesity epidemic and the reason for current policy initiatives against “food deserts”.

As a Los Angeles native, I find it unbelievable that unhealthy food choices are ubiquitous in an urban, metropolitan city. It contradicts the promotion of current society's healthy food movement. While campaigns such as Michelle Obama's Let's Move! try to combat health issues associated with unhealthy eating habits, these campaigns seem ineffective without intervention from policy makers, the food retailing industry, grocery store developers, and the involvement of members of the community. Food deserts are a public health issue but this problem can be solved over time if there is a dynamic, grassroots approach and lots of support from all members of the community.