It’s been a rocky ride out to Montana.
The actual move went pretty smoothly, except for a couple of crazy storms over Wyoming and an unreal amount of driving (Austin, TX to Bozeman, MT; Bozeman, MT to Tacoma, WA; and Tacoma, WA to Bozeman, MT = about 3,000 miles in a week). The original position didn’t work out, so that was stressful, but I think I dealt with it pretty maturely and I’ve recieved a new Americorps VISTA position creating a life skills cooperative here in town. It’s a little daunting to start, but I’m really excited and really believe in what we’re doing.
We’re trying to combine the existing resources in town (instead of duplicating programs and creating unnecessary competition) to make an easy-access life skills program, so people can get back on their feet. My short time in non-profits has already shown me one of the biggest obstacles to them actually accomplishing things for communities: inability to kill that capitalist urge. You get a diversity of programs all meant to do the same thing, because everyone wants a piece of every pie: clients that are homeless, families, youth, disabled, veterans. Trends point to more cooperation and less wasted community resources, but it’s definitely an uphill battle. That capitalist urge is so inherent in our American communities that it’s hard for us to get rid of it–even when we need to.
Still, to those who complain about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), I’ve gotten the privilege to see it in action, and that money is not being wasted. It’s granting more Americorps opportunities, mostly to young new graduates who can’t get a job. Instead of sitting at their parents house for a year, they’re out on their own helping to solve some of the problems that plague our country right now. It’s also going to really worthy, amazing programs that are saving a lot of people hit hardest by the recession (like service industry workers and young families) by giving them emergency rent money so they don’t get evicted, feeding them through food banks, helping them get back on their feet. It’s downright inspiring.
Anyone who can support themselves (and I’m not talking about every American’s “right” to more TVs and cars than they actually need) should be glad to give up a small percentage of their income to continue to fund these programs. The “get mine” mentality of Americans has turned from selfishness into pure piggishness…health, shelter, and education are rights, not privileges, and should be treated as such by any affluent, civilized society.
