"I don't blame famous/rich people for not working w/ poor people"
directly.
Ever since I decided to be a youth/social worker, my income, happiness and creativity have gone down.
I'm not build for this long-term. I know some people may be, and I know I'm not one of them.
A friend made a comment that more celebs should work in the community, not just donate money or give face time.
I said: You can't solve a problem with the mentality that created it, and the poverty mindset is contagious. Even if you don't catch it, you'll spend all of your energy trying to fight it.
I love my people, but I'm ready to be loved back, and they just don't know how.
2. "I sympathize with you...and still judge rich folks." In response to Reply # 0
Unlike most social workers they have the resources to affect positive changes in the lives of poor people AND avoid the pitfalls you mentioned.
Keep your head up and do right by you. Remember there's not much to give or share when you're tapped out. Regroup and approach service work from another angle once you feel empowered again.
3. "I feel you. It takes a strong foundation/recharging center to do this" In response to Reply # 0
kind of work. Outreach can indeed be very daunting, because those in the poverty mindset are committed to their narrative.. often much more than those out of it are committed to theirs. I read a proverb once that said something along the lines of "When good and evil face off, the side that is more committed to it's stance will win." I never forgot that. I digress tho. It would probably be helpful to have a person or group of a "prosperity" mindset with whom you can spend time outside of your interaction with clients. If that's impossible, perhaps do some meditation and affirmation around prosperity and peace that will keep you centered. Ideally, both of these would be the practice. Be sure to look into the concept of both negative and positive affirmations, and keep in mind that it's all working for the greater benefit even when it feels like the complete opposite. I wish you the best.
I don't agree about rich people not helping but I totally get the frustration. At least rich people get to go back to being rich and famous after an afternoon.
I worked for a homeless shelter and ended up quitting after 3 years due to my supervisors refusal to give me the government name of a guy who raped a friend of mine.
my wife works in outreach teaching Ballet and she gets frustrated by parents who make it harder on everyone for know reason at all.
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
5. "I Struggle with this at my job" In response to Reply # 0
I help run a nonprofit in a poverty stricken area of Newark...been here for 4 years and its wearing on me. i feel like, are we really making the impact we think we are? that poverty mindset invades our workplace culture and i'm not sure how to get rid of it, other than trying to hire people that don't operate from that perspective.
but then how do you suss that out in interviews? especially when so many of our applicants come from the community we serve?
that's probably a good question for one of my professors
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79616 posts
Tue Sep-27-16 11:15 AM
15. "do you keep in contact with old friends who are still poor? " In response to Reply # 7
if so, how is their view of the world?
i think thats what she is speaking on...
I have a cousin who is 50 and constantly post "whoa is me" on FB. Anytime someone reaches out to help she fucks up the opportunity or waste their time with excuses on why she cant even meet someone 5% of the way.
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
21. "Hopelessness, self-sabotaging, no real interests or motivations..." In response to Reply # 7
...shortsightedness (everything is about the now), ALWAYS THE VICTIM (especially when they are the perpetrator), etc.
Harder to describe than to experience.
Easiest way that I can tell with young men is when I ask them what their dreams are, and they have none. Like the young brother I know that said he was gonna be an NBA player, but he didn't even play ball.
8. "Ehh... the people that you describe respect celebrity status & wealth" In response to Reply # 0
>directly. > >Ever since I decided to be a youth/social worker, my income, >happiness and creativity have gone down. > >I'm not build for this long-term. I know some people may be, >and I know I'm not one of them. > >A friend made a comment that more celebs should work in the >community, not just donate money or give face time. > >I said: You can't solve a problem with the mentality that >created it, and the poverty mindset is contagious. Even if you >don't catch it, you'll spend all of your energy trying to >fight it. > >I love my people, but I'm ready to be loved back, and they >just don't know how. > >/rant.
You can tell them something but they'd be more prone to take heed if Jay-Z said it. So I really don't get THAT part of your post. A rich/famous person is likely to have completely difference experience than you. But I relate to YOUR situation though.
9. "I feel you. I was in a similar situation years ago. I left w/ no regrets" In response to Reply # 0
Don't let anyone guilt you into doing what what drains you. Some people aren't built for that. You have to have it before you can give it. You help nobody being burnt out and unfulfilled. They're a lot of other ways to be of service.
is she saying poor people dont deserve to be in the presence of fame and wealth?
rich people will get frustrated and no longer donate?
ionno... that part is odd but i totally understand her frustration and how it can wear you down.
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
13. "How about putting it like this, the obstacles that keep poor people down" In response to Reply # 0
are so entrenched and ingrained that it is hard to connect if you not in that situation.
I don't know. I think alot about my own boys and I spend alot of time teaching them to be polite, respectful and empathetic and sweet to other people.
Then I see parents in the mall cursing out their kids who are like six year old. It goes through me...but then I think about well with the skill set I am teaching my kids, they wouldn't last 10 minutes in a tough situation (but thank god they aren't going to have to be in situation where they need that toughened up skill set). And what if that is preparing those poor kids for the environment that they will be in. Maybe they'd be eaten alive if they weren't toughened up or if they were raised the way I am trying to raise my kids. Then I start to think I sound like some liberal making excuses and having two sets of standards for my kids and poor people kids.
I can't calll it. Just trying to say that poverty affect people in deep ways that are hard to fix.
********** "Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79616 posts
Tue Sep-27-16 11:48 AM
18. "when I see a parent cursing a toddler out for not..." In response to Reply # 13
crossing the street fast enough I get so fucking angry.
stop taking your anger out on the youngin' cause he reminds you of your mistake.
Also see a lot of Black parents cursing their kids out. i don't even think about it preparing them for the hard road ahead...I just think bad parenting.
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
-DJ R-Tistic- Member since Nov 06th 2008 51986 posts
Tue Sep-27-16 11:38 AM
16. "I get where you're coming from, but can't agree re: celebs" In response to Reply # 0
With celebs, it's not as if they would really be spending enough time with them for it to actually drain them of their creativity...and if anything, may just make them more fortunate and gracious. No one expects them to spend 40 hours or even five hours a week working with the underprivileged...but even a few hours every month or so in addition to the money donated could make sense, and that's actually what a lot of them do.
It also gives those folks an example of what they can become, even if it's not by going the same route.
It should start where he's talking about people not wanting to deal with homeless people due to thinking their condition is contagious. Kinda weird that so many people in here are acting like it's such a strange idea. Anyway, you might enjoy that entire video as well.
Printer-friendly copy 
Email this topic to a friend
General Discussion
