Take off

Monday, May 21^st

Grandma tells me “take off. Go run.” Jessie, our tour guide, says “left is Korea, right is Russia. Left is hard. Right is harder.” I listen to both of the women who have guided me to China, and run towards Russia.

I am finally on the Great Wall of China! The reason people travel to China. One of the 7 World Wonders. The trip 11 days in China has been physically and emotionally draining, but I have had no chance to go get my daily exercise that I am used to. I take advantage of being one of the first people on the wall in the early morning and run as far as I can go, only stopping for photographs. I run until I reach a sign that says “no visitors”. Below the sign is the continuation of the wall which has not been renovated. It is falling apart still. So, I casually turn around and head back to the center.

The great wall was originally unified by the First Emperor Qin. Before that China was 7 different countries who had all built their own walls. Emperor Qin combined all these walls and almost every emperor after him as added on to the wall trying to keep out the Barbaric Minorities. The wall was originally built with sticky rice and dirt as cement and spans about 4,000 miles. The last dynasty in the 1700s was the last dynasty to build upon the wall and repair the wall. The piece of wall that I ran on today was reconstructed in the 1700s. It was steep the entire way up and required long legs to take strides on the stairs.  I stood where many historians, slave laborers, military men, present day international leaders and past day emperors had stood before me. 270 degrees of the view must look like it did over 2000 years ago, but that 90 degrees had changed into a commercialized world. Vendors, tourist stops, hotels, and even a subway sandwich stop covered that 90 degree view.

After the Great Wall, we went to a jade display show where I bought jade earrings. Jade in China is more valuable than diamonds. It is a stone that you buy and pass down to your children for a family heirloom. It protects you from evil spirits and it brings prosperity and longevity. This factory that had jade on display were the same factory that put the jade discs in the center of the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Olympic Medals. As much as I would have liked to purchase a 1,000 US dollar jade pendant, I settled for lower quality jade in $40 dollar earrings, my first real purchase in China.

China or SF?

May 12, 2012

China was myth.  A foreign land that manufactured many of the goods I use, who populate quite a bit of the earth, and have much political and economic control in the global market. Not a real, tangible place! Even flying over the country, about to land in Shanghai, I couldn’t believe it was real. I landed, saw the water, the foggy/smoggy air, and Chinese Characters and still assumed that I was not in China. It’s just too far! It’s just too foreign! I Must have just in landed in SFO. 

Yesterday (or was it two days ago?) I flew from Phoenix Sky Harbor airport to Burbank, where Grandma Jane picked me up for the night. We spent all night packing and looking over her old photo album of her trip to China in 1988. I slept for 3 hours and woke up to LAX. LAX to Vancouver (2.5 hours) and Vancouver to Shanghai (12.5 hours). With minimal amount of sleep and a day lost due to the international date line, we arrived in Shanghai and I was ready to explore!!! We are staying in the Shangri-La Hotel in Pudong area of Shanghai. Our hotel room oversees the Huongpu River and the oriental pearl.

We walked for 2 hours in the Bund, and I could have walked all day, but my body simply wouldn’t let me. I need sleep.  I am delirious. I still think China may be a myth. I am pretty sure I am just in San Francisco. Despite the 16 hours of air time it took for me to get here, yup, I am pretty sure I am in San Francisco. Maybe tomorrow I will learn better.

What a great evening. What a great good bye.

Today I helped organize the end of the year celebration for all the staff members who were involved with the after school programming with University Service Learning. We played volleyball, tug-a-war and corn hole. We ate food, drank beer, and enjoyed each others company.

Man, I will miss them so much. I love their energy. I love their potential. They showed so much love and respect for me and the work that I do, and I hope I reciprocated with love and appreciation I have of them. We all work so hard for one of another, not for the pay or the glory but for the team and service we provide for a community. This has set the standard for my next place of business and work.

Are You Kidding Me!?

Today is the last day operating after-school tutoring. After today, the kids carry on for the summer and the rest of their lives without me. And what do you guess happens to me? I am sick.

I am lying in bed right now dealing with the repercussions of bad sushi last night. I must lie here and let my body fight off my symptoms before 2pm when I need to get preparing for our end of the year party where at least 50 guests will arrive looking at decorations, children's accomplishments, bbq food, and wanting conversation with me. I want to be there. I need to be there. This is the last day for goodness sakes! And because of that, I will be there sick or not.

I know the staff could handle the operations just fine without me. I know they could improvise on the sections that I promised I would take responsibility for. I know that they will prepare the food, put up the decorations, and welcome the parents. But I want to be there. I need to say good bye.

Back Pack

Oh backpack. You know, I didn't want to buy you. You were too expensive and not at all cute. I would much rather get a fun purple bag with designs and pockets. But I needed you. I was on my way to Spain to travel  beyond the US for my first time and I needed you to be plain and full of utility, not pretty. 

But now, that I carry you on my back 5 years later, I have learned to love you. You are not just a back pack any more; you are my pillow on the bus, my dirty clothes bag at the gym, my blanket in the tent, and my friend on the lonely road. 

I am sorry when that mouse in Costa Rica chewed a to hole get to my trail mix. I am sorry when I kicked you across Heathrow airport because I had no hands to put you on. I am sorry when I stuffed you under my bed for 6 months because I forgot how useful you truly were. I am sorry that you smell like mildew because I left my wet clothes from Cancun in you. And most of all, I am sorry that it is time to put you to rest. 

I am leaving school you see, and dirty, holey, and smelly backpacks are not good for my new professional reputation. I need sleek and appropriate bags that say "Wow! She is well put together". So good bye back pack, memories will remain, but for now I need to let go.

I lost it

The complete team for University Service Learning, meets biweekly to discuss issues and upcoming deadlines. This past Friday was our very last meeting of the semester.  I have been very sentimental in leaving my internship that I have been at for 2 years. This Friday morning meeting was just another "last" for me to feel sad about.

At the end of the meeting, one of the individuals that I manage got up and started singing a Justin Bieber song with changed lyrics that revolve around me. Others joined her and danced in front of everyone giving me my very own flash mob. Then they delivered to me a scrap book with all the children that I work with. Each child had written me a note.

I lost it. I cried and cried and cried. It is so wonderful to be appreciated, and hard to leave a job that I love.

I was holding out

I was holding out. I didn't want to leave my job at ASU. I wanted to be promoted within forever until I replace President Michael Crow. I fought every step of the way. I love my job at ASU. I love the diversity the position offers me. I manage people and projects, I liaison between the community, I work with charitable, outstanding people, I provide leadership. But it was time.

I have been offered a position as Program Manager with Junior Achievement of Arizona. I will continue to manage people and projects, be a liaison in the community, work with kind, charitable, and outstanding people, and provide leadership just in a different arena. I bet, along the way, I will learn even more than my last position could offer me. I needed a new challenge, a new venue, a new set of colleagues. I only resisted because I was scared. But now that I have made my decision and closed all the doors of potential opportunity so that I can open the one door that does provide opportunity, I am ready.

Moving On

As I am nearing the end of my 2 year internship as a Management Intern with University Service Learning, I am becoming beyond sentimental.

I am so proud of the organization that I have helped grow, the relationships and friendships I have made with colleagues, the mentorships that were developed with young professionals completing their MPA, the success of having parents consistently provide wonderful feedback about the services that we offer, and the work that I have put in.

The children have learned from a little bird amongst the organization that I am leaving. Every day that I see them I am greeted with hugs and cries of "why are you leaving?" I can't help but drop a tear. I am so grateful that I have been given the opportunity to help a community, enhance education, be a role model, and meet such wonderful children.

Putting in Time

I am finding that although I assume to be well educated and have years of experience that have enabled me to develop my skills, I do not have the years of experience that demonstrate mastery of a skill. For example, I am a great manager but I will be a stronger manager if I just one more year of experience. I maintain a supplies budget, but do not see the program’s overall budget. I have enacted on my vision for the program, but have not considered taking steps towards a long term program vision. I develop policy for the organization I currently work on, but the policy that I develop allows small changes. Do I have enough experience to provide policy leadership at the top? According to most job applications, I do not. For me to reach my vision of providing leadership for a large non-profit organization, I need to put in my time and stick to my values. My values are closely tied to the non-profit sector because I so strongly wish to alleviate or at least minimize social ills that exist in our local and global community. I must remember this vision and not be side tracked to for-profit jobs that may offer a desirable salary, but put me in a job that I do not feel proud in.

Maybe Next Time

Yesterday I attended the Career Fair at the Downtown Campus.

I was diligent in my career fair experience and was not there to mosey. I knew who I wanted to see and what I wanted to say. I had only 4 employers that I was interested for various reasons.

I started with Devereux who was hiring a human resource specialist that I would excel at. I had already created my application online, but the online software did allow me to apply because it said my country code was invalid. Online applications are very impersonal and frustrating, I was happy to hand my information directly over to the Devereux representative ending with a hand shake.

Next I wanted to speak with an organization that I will keep nameless because I have negative things to say about. I saw their job posting on indeed.com and was very excited about the opportunity to apply for such a position. After meeting the organization in person, I have decided that this is not an opportunity I would want and would be a step backwards in my career. Even though the position title is attractive, I am not interested in baby sitting. I want to advocate for students, not be a day care provider. I am grateful for getting the opportunity to see the position in person.

I put my name in with American Red Cross who had no full-time positions open, but was only looking for non-paid volunteers. I was happy to put my name out there and hope that a position with such a large non-profit would eventually come my way.

Lastly, I stopped by with City of Phoenix of course! As a future MPA grad, I was curious what they had to say. They had great representation, but just no positions that were attractive to me at the time. Maybe next time.

Troule Shooting

In most interviews, including the position that I hold right now, there are situational questions where they ask if this was to happen, what is your plan of action. Well today I had one of those days.

With a load of grading that I slowly falling behind on, a experimental day of trading tutors so that they could each experience a different community center to better understand the program from a larger perspective, and a broken down bus that forces everyone to be at least 30 minutes late causing the kids that we are responsible to be left unattended, I almost lost my cool.

So in this situation, I was forced to realize that my grading would simply have to wait another day. The tutors in foreign territory at a new location, would need direction and explanation there fore a person of knowledge and leadership needs to reach them, but the people with that expertise is stuck at the carpool meeting point in a broken down bus. Scrambling we ran (yes physically ran) to our individual cars which are parked at least 15 minutes away from campus. Individuals who did not carpool and drove themselves were called and placed in charged of the tutors coming and kids that were soon to be dismissed from school. The scrambling car owners expecting to carpool, gathered their cars and drove to the carpool meeting spot to pick up the carpoolers.

Everyone arrived on site 25 minutes late and the kids were only with the inexperienced tutors for 10 minutes before the entire staff was on site and ready to work their like it was a normal day. Stay Calm and Carry On.

4 Year Vision

Considering that every step I take, leads me to my next step, I feel it is important to think wisely of what my next step should be. As I have been actively applying for jobs, I find that I am most interested in higher education community outreach or larger non-profits. I am most attracted to such organizations because I know I can do work that will benefit society (serving the other) but also have room to grow within an organization (serving the me). I want to be a program director where I can collaborate and implement my vision on how we can better reach people. I have noticed in jobs that I am applying for that I have many of the skill sets required, I just don’t have the years of experience. My youth grants me many privileges, but hinders me in years of experience. To get a program director position, I need to find a job where I can continue to develop my skills and gain more experience and expertise and then be promoted within. 

In an optimistic world, my 5 year plan is as follows:

Year 1: Land the job in higher education working with students and community. Learn the job.

Year 2: Perform the job to my best abilities and pick up new skill sets as well as build network around me.

Year 3: Rock the job! Blow people out of the water with my skills and connections by providing new visions for the organizations.

Year 4: Be promoted or move on to a more challenging job ensuring that I have left behind a sustainable organization with proper structure to succeed beyond my leadership.

(repeat years 1-4 again)

Hire Me

Thank you ASU career advising. I have used your services now 5 times and I have an appointment to see you tomorrow too. Every time I go, my "find-me-a-job" strategy is improved upon. Below is my improved upon cover letter for a specific job as an Educational Outreach Coordinator. 

With my experience of program development and management, community partnerships with Arizona schools, and my Master’s in Public Administration that I will complete this May, I am the perfect fit for the Educational Outreach Executive Coordinator.

Currently, I work for Arizona State University’s Service Learning program serving as a Site Manager for three after-school programs around the Phoenix Valley that I have designed, developed, and continually oversee. The program and curriculum was developed from the ground up under my leadership focusing on college readiness, life skills, and academic assistance based off the Arizona State educational standards all while providing while providing access and exposure to ASU. I serve as a liaison between the university, neighboring school districts, local community centers, and ASU students and faculty. I have successfully increased and maximized volunteer, student, and community partner involvement each semester through cultivating and managing strategic outreach initiatives that build mutually beneficial relationships that create public value.

I implement and administer qualitative and quantitative measures to determine the level of success in the tutoring and mentoring after-school programs.  These measures include entrance and exit surveys, community partner feedback, school affect scales for the children, and pre and post testing based on the Arizona State Standards.

My Master’s in Public Administration has primed me for understanding the public sector and interacting with many public figures from the state and local government. This professional development experience has provided me knowledge of personnel management, public budgeting, public policy, public media relations, social services, civic participation, organizational development, and program evaluation which enables me to be immediately effective as Educational Outreach Executive Coordinator.

Please review my resume to view my other positions that involves community organizing, program management, and communication skills.

Valuing social impact, I want a career that is meaningful and that provides growth for a community and organization. I look forward to the opportunity to provide community partnership and outreach as Educational Outreach Executive Coordinator.

Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you,

Chelsie Hancock

Course of Action

To deal with the issues that I expressed in my current entry, I wrote a strong email to my team members that I oversee. I would have liked to address the issues in person, but the Spring Break that is forth coming did not allow a day where we could all meet.

In this email, I expressed my disappointment, asked what went wrong, and requested a call to action to remedy the situation. The response from the team mates was overwhelming! They all responded with condolences, explanations, and how they individually and collectively will fix the situation. They all took responsibility and even thanked me for keeping them honest.

I am grateful that I have such a wonderful team that can and will mess up along the way but will continually prove their self worth and commitment to the community they serve.

Respect Paperwork

One thing that the MPA program has taught me is the respect and understanding for the bureaucratic process. Even though we have all witnessed an excessively inefficient government organization, I like to believe that most government organizations are inefficient by design. The bureaucratic process that may hinder speedy service, enhances and protects the democratic process. Ensuring that proper documents are in place to show that an agency is doing what they are set out to do, slows down efficiency, but provides assurance for citizens.

In my job, I have high expectations of the paperwork and filing that must be in place to prove that we are spending appropriately, providing services that we claim we are providing, and maintaining a paper trail of our accomplishments and failures to better make adjustments. Although, this is crystal clear in my head, I am struggling with have the team I manage understand the importance and fulfill their paperwork expectation. I have just found out that very little of our accomplishments are being documented in the structure that was provided. I am blogging to all of you today to stream my thoughts before I act on the situation. I am disappointed in the team for not fulfilling this expectation and I feel the issue is beyond coaching; disciplinary actions may be the appropriate response.

Disciplinary action is not my style. If I respect you and am competent at my job, you will therefore respect me and be competent at your job. I will direct you with advice and suggestions. I will share my experiences and expertise. I will fulfill your expectations of me, and I will apologize when I make mistakes. In this particular case, the team has simply not fulfilled their expectations, even though I have provided the appropriate structure, expressed its importance, and checked in biweekly to see if it was being accomplished.

I must be strategical in my next move... To be continued...

Every Step I Take

I place too much emphasis on every decision. Every decision will determine my future. I never had a direct career goal. I never said "When I grow up I will be a teacher, doctor, lawyer, etc.", but yet I feel like I had a direct purpose that I was not cognizant to yet.

Now that I am applying for jobs as a post- Master's degree holder, I find myself drawn to professions in higher education. Is this because decisions I have made along my path have forced me down this path? Or is this truly  a life calling that I should venture forth with? Or could I find a career in higher education and move on if it is no longer satisfying? Why does every decision I make have to be THE decision!?

Jobs available in higher education are right up my alley. I read the description and I jump for joy saying "YES! This is a job that  I will excel at!" I read job descriptions from private sector and I occasionally scoff my nose and question what their social purpose truly is. Jobs in government positions are interesting, but when I find the one qualification that I don't have, I immediately steer away and jump back into my comfort zone of higher education. But if I had interned with a for-profit organization or learned finance skills in a public organization, maybe I would be fearful of the higher ed jobs. Run away! You don't have those skills! So maybe, every decision I make does have lasting impact.

Flying High

I am so lucky to work under a supervisor that provides me with maximum amount of autonomy. Some people may need the structure, oversight, and direction from a boss, but I enjoy taking initiative for what needs to get done and determining how it will get done. 

Learning by example, I hope that the team I manage feel that I am offering a good amount of autonomy without leaving them alone to fail. There is such a high risk and to allow individuals to succeed on their own because a. they may fail or b. they feel alone and unsupported. It is important that I read my team members and know when they need specific direction or when they need to fly solo. The tutoring program is structured so smoothly, that I have found that the staff can not only fly solo they can soar high in the air. I know that some of them are fearful of heights and are constantly looking to me for approval. So usually when I come to check in on the operations, I find myself contributing as a subordinate and enjoying filling in where I am needed. They know that I can step in as boss any time and determine how the show will be ran, but I have never felt the need to so. I enjoy watching them soar!

So much to disagree on

One of my favorite parts of my job is teaching college aged students. I get a thrill standing in front of the class, conducting lectures, leading discussions, encouraging critical thinking. Just as I enjoy talking about issues with my friends, I enjoy researching a topic, providing opposite arguments and seeing what students have to say. I am a strong public speaker that can command a room and I must admit that all-eyes-on-me is attention that I thrive in.

I especially like leading discussions on controversial issues because I am curious what people have to say. When students respond with attitudes that are conflicting with mine, I enjoy carefully chosing my words to show that I understand their point and suggest considering the motives of why others may think differently. When people propose a situation that I do agree with, it's fun to play devil's advocate and see what the response is.

Healthcare, immigration, economics, education, discriminination, poverty, public officials, public policy. There is so much to disagree on! And although these issues do tear people apart, teaching lectures at ASU has encouraged my deliberation skills (not disagreeing skills), and thus brings me closer to others.

Blown Away

I am always blown away by the complete disrespect people can show towards their jobs. I have lived my life respectfully and cautiously doing my best to appease my roles and responsibilities, while others have a flagrant disregard for their expectations.

The team I manage are absolutely the most wonderful, organized and enthusiastic young women and men. They care about their jobs and strive to perform their best by providing new innovation into the expected duties. They each supervise a team of about 5-10 ASU tutors that provide the one-on-one tutoring for the children we serve. It always amazing the complete disrespect that my supervisory team occasionally receives from the tutors.

It is because the managing staff are viewed as as peers and not supervisors that have put in their time and earned their position. I wish each tutor could see how much work and dedication each supervisor puts in to this job. They work long hours knowing that overtime is not in their job description. They revamp the entire community center with colorful, artistic, and functional systems of education. They meet me at 8am or 7pm to discuss pressing issues. They trouble shoot when kids don't show up to tutoring or when the bus breaks down. And they put up with disrespect from tutors who do not honor their work hours, don't fulfill their planning duties, and ultimately let down a kid.

If anybody is looking to hire some young students, I have quite a good word to put in for my supervisory staff.

Thick Skin

I am a mandated reporter.  This means that at any time I suspect abuse, I must report it to Child Protective Services. I would rather report and be wrong, then to not report at all. Lately, I have had so many incidences of children being removed from their homes, and my thin skin can't handle it.

Due to confidentiality agreements, I will not go into details of the reported abuse. But one report really struck me. I am filling in the gaps of incidents that I don't know and therefor I am making some risky assumptions, but I believe that a first grader is no longer in custody of his mother because she can't afford him. I know that for a while they were homeless. The mother even cried with me (yes with me because I am a softy and dropped a tear with her) that she is so thankful that he has somewhere safe to be everyday after school. As much as this melts my heart, I am now devastated that she has lost her son temporarily.

I have parents come to me often with such devastating stories (father's in jail, mom just died, children living with distant uncle because mom was deported, kids are hungry). Sometimes its more than I can take.

Sometimes I want to write checks that I can't afford to families. But I don't. I recognize that an act of charity such as a hundred dollars may allow a family to eat for a week but providing their kids a safe place to be and promoting education will get them farther with that 100 dollars.

But wait! I don't want to sound like some white savior exerting my scholarly voyeurism amongst the poor people.  I have many children in the program who are excelling in school and wanting to be challenged. I have parents that are finishing up their nursing degree at ASU and love that there children have other college educated role models. I have single moms who tell me that with the money she saves from our free program allows her to enlist her kids into weekend soccer camps.

I need to develop thicker skin. I will be cognizant to troubledsome families and be alert to opportunities for these families. But for my own sanity, I need to recognize the good work that is being done.

Interests, Skills, and Values Free Write.

I met with a career advisor on Monday and she gave me quite a bit of homework. One of her assignments was to free write what my interests, skills, and values are when it comes to a future career. This assignment is meant to serve as a brainstorming organizer that will allow me to better interpret why a future job would be a good fit for me. Below is what I developed. 

Interests

I am interested in community outreach whether that be in the social, public or private sector. I want to work with people daily and connect with colleagues and clients on a human level all promoting the same cause. I am interested in community building while team building within an organization. I recognize that these are vague interests but I am not interested in pin pointing what I want and being disappointed if I weren’t to find it.  

Skills

I am a good manager and I enjoy managing. Right now I manage a 3 teams of midlevel managers who oversee 80 people. I provide leadership and direction while earning respect through competency. On the daily I motivate, collaborate, delegate, trouble shoot, discipline, and appreciate those that I manage. Not only can I manage people but I can manage organizations, community partners, operations, etc. I communicate well interpersonally and build rapport with those who I depend on and those who depend on me. I have command of the written language and can be informative and diplomatic in newsletters and emails. I am analytical when problems arise because problems needs solutions especially when hundreds of colleagues, community partners, children, children’s parents, and ASU students rely on such solutions.

Values

I value social impact. I want to know that I left a career full of meaningful work and a lending hand. I don’t intend to solve global issues such as poverty but I hope to alleviate local problems that may have a domino effect. I value growth within myself and an organization and I hope to find an organization that provides room for me to develop. I value activity. I like to keep busy and stay active whether in my job or my personal life.

Are You Proud Crow?

President Michael Crow of ASU has coined the term “New American University” to be an “egalitarian institution committed to academic excellence, access, and maximum societal impact (Crow, 2010, p.36). Many goals for institutions of higher education are to prepare students to become active citizens in their society. The effort of ASU to shift academic skills into involvement and impact in communities locally and globally is enhanced through service learning academic programs that are instated at ASU. Service learning is a teaching tool that links academics and real life problem solving. It can be used in any discipline to allow students to recognize the connection between their studies and community issues that affect them or others.

Each semester approximately 300 ASU students engage in a service learning course where they are responsible for committing to 100 hours of service, weekly reflections and readings, and weekly course discussions discussing social justice and public policy. As a teaching assistant for the USL classes and a manager of tutoring programs where USL students can choose to do their service, I personally believe (without bias of course) that ASU has one of the best service learning programs. After doing much research and comparison of service learning programs in American universities, it is clear that ASU holds higher expectations for their service learners and provides the correct techniques for using the service as a teaching method.

Many service learning programs do not focus intently on an academic curriculum for their service learners. They figure the learning will develop through life experience and minimal reflection. ASU’s service learning exclusively classifies service learning as a teaching tool to and all USL classes must include the crucial act of critical reflection, analysis of their service and how it relates to their studies, future careers, and social justice issues. In addition to their weekly obligations to their chosen service placement and course assignments, students are required to actively participate in a classroom seminar once a week. Due to the highly controversial nature of many of the social justice topics, the weekly classroom seminars are essential for a student’s growth and reflection. This hour and half offers a time for students to question the material, hear opposing arguments from different perspectives, and deliberate on how society should function.

As an undergrad I took a University Service Learning (USL) course that either put me on the path or reinforced my path to public service. I addressed my deep seated biases and reflected upon my privilege. Because of this, I think I am a more conscientious citizen and open minded adult which I imagine was what President Crow was looking for.   

Walmart... Good or Bad?

As a professional development and networking opportunity, I attended a workshop titled Corporate Citizenship presented by Boston College’s Center for Corporate Citizenship. Corporate Social Responsibility has always been a career option for me. I believe that I can do a lot of good building mutually beneficial partnerships between the private sector and social sector. 

But, I must honestly say that today I did not necessarily fit in with this crowd. Many of the topics discussed and presented countered what I have learned in my Master’s program. Now, with any form of education there may be an element of indoctrination as each educator attempts to encourage a certain curriculum and agenda, but I think I have developed an ideology that doesn’t quite fit with the corporate world. 

For example, we when requested to write a good company and a bad company on a post it to share with others, I immediately thought of Walmart as a bad company.  Their monopoly over any small businesses, their foreign product sourcing, the discrimination suits by their employees, and the ill-responsibly made products that hamper our environment. But, from a corporate stand point, they are a successful, money making company who gives charitable donations and sustains social programs while employing thousands. Well this is true. And like most arguments, neither side is incorrect. 

Secondly, a recurring theme of the work shop revolved around people’s lack of trust in Corporate America and what a disgrace it is. Well, healthy skepticism is good right! You would never blindly trust your government. In fact it is a required duty of citizenship to question to policies and practices, why shouldn’t we do the same for Corporations? I know why we shouldn’t do the same… it wastes resources and funds, and that wouldn’t be in best practice now would it. But if companies provided more transparency and welcomed critics, companies could grow bigger clientele because good practice for humankind is a good PR for Corporate America.  Buy-cotting versus boycotting is trending right now. 

I recognize that my analysis is limited and potentially uninformed at points. I am not a market researcher and I don’t know how much money a buy-cotting product would bring in compared to an efficiently, cheap product. And even though people want to be green and protect human rights, I also recognize that people are more likely to buy out of convenience and price than for social reasons.

I have just ranted and raided because I think it is important to question information that is handed to you. But with that being said, I think corporations do have a wonderful impact on society. Their highest contribution to us is creating employment and higher standards of living. Once they accomplish those necessaries and pay their investors, many corporations feel a moral (or capitol) obligation to help their community. And does motive matter? If they do good for good, or do good for branding, aren’t they still doing good? I am readjusting a portion of my earlier stated biases; just because organizations make money, does not make them the world’s evil. Give me a chance to hang out with the corporate world, I may succeed in doing the most good with the resources a corporation can provide, or I may be disgusted by those who are only driven my money.