CARY

In the MSSW program, we are required to intern 16-20 hours/week at an organization/institution that provides social services in the austin area, in addition to being a full-time student (12-15 hours of credit). I am a clinical student, which means I am focused on direct practice with individuals, groups, and families. 

We are placed based on our interests but do not get to choose or reject our first field placement, which is a nine month internship under a LMSW (someone with a licensed masters of social work). 

I was really nervous to find out my placement, as my interests vary greatly in the field. Mostly, I wanted to work within the child welfare system---that is any organization or institution that provides social services to children or families. 

I found out my field placement on Tuesday, and made my first contact/campus visit on Friday. For this school year, I will be working as a "Youth Advisor" for the Council on At-Risk Youth (or, CARY) at Dobie Middle School in North Austin.

CARY:

"..works exclusively with troubled and troublesome students placed in in-school suspension, detention or removed to behavioral alternative learning centers. Average age is 13; 70% are minorities; 85% are males; 90% are poor. Students involved in assault, bullying and insubordination are referred to CARY by school administrators and counselors."

In layman's terms, I will be working with 11-14 year old students (mostly males) who have been referred by school staff, and:

 "...have been removed from classrooms for one or more of the following: fighting, physical aggression towards students or adults and assault on students or adults. In addition, these students also often display rudeness and threaten or harass students or adults."

In individual and group sessions, we aim to teach curriculum (as well as give support and set goals within) in the following areas:

1. empathy
2. anger management
3. social skills

By the end of my term, I will have had to independently manage 4-7 cases (students). 

CARY's main mission is to:

"...move prevention and intervention programs into the public school system; and to shift public policies away from prison and jail construction toward prevention and early intervention for at-risk youth..."

If you are interested in learning more about violence prevention or social work in general, here are some helpful links:

CARY's website: http://councilonatriskyouth.org/

CDC's website on gang affiliation/violence-prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/youthviolence/gang_affiliation.html

UT-A SSW: http://www.utexas.edu/ssw/

Orientation

UT Austin School of Social Work

With about 120 other future peers, I recently attended the UT Austin School of Social Work's fall 2012 MSSW orientation. 

Honestly, for one of the first times in my life, I felt like I made the right decision about my career path. (This thought may shift as the work load takes hold of every ounce of free time I've ever taken for granted). The faculty and students are some of the most nurturing, communicative, and engaging individuals I've ever met in my life. 

I'm registered for five classes, which include:

Foundations of Social Justice

Human Behavior and the Social Environment

Social Work Practice

Field Practice

Dynamics of Organizations and Communities

In addition, I will be working 16-20 hours in the field, most likely two full days a week doing direct practice...but I won't find out where until Tuesday. I'm slightly nervous. Mostly, I hope it's nearby and that I have a good supervisor because I will be placed there for the duration of the school year.

Exciting things. Life changes. Potential destruction of my social life?

Erin

Potluck: 08/17

Was a total success! We had about 15+ people and a particularly delicious variety of food--including!: jalapeno corn bread, sliders, lentil salad, tabouleh, babaganoush, fresh guacamole, strawberry desserts, wine, lots of beer and great company.

It's quickly becoming a house tradition. :D

The full spread: all food groups represented (and plenty of leftovers).

Strawberry shortcake trifle and its friend, strawberry cheesecake.

All four of us! Matt, Meredith, Me & Mike

Potluck

Public Potlucks. Probably one of my favorite ways of social interacting.

Why? :

1. Cost

Instead of meeting friends at a bar, over splurging to make the $10 credit minimum, and drinking something 3 times the cost of it's retail value, you can use the food already in your fridge  (and supercook.com). You only have to make one dish, and yet eat like a king! If you splurge and bring alcohol, you will most likely share different types with potluck guests anyway. AND if you are hosting the event, you will most likely acquire a plethora of leftovers--drinks and food alike.

2. Real 

Because people aren't out in a "hip" loud place impressing others and it's earlier in the evening, people are most likely (more) sober and communicative. Or at least that's what I've observed. Plus, you can eventually take the party elsewhere if you prefer.

3. Motivation to Cook

I'm an awful cook. Not necc because I am actually bad at the process, but because I just never get the energy or motivation to do it. Potlucks are a weekly opp. to push through.

We are having our 3rd potluck tonight, and many more to come. Pictures too!

-E

Filming around

Sixpence None the Richer: free concert at Waterloo Records

Flyer

Austin State Hospital Cemetery

Guillotine

Austin State Hospital Cemetery

Austin State Hospital Cemetery

UT School of Social Work

Biking

Part of the reason I moved to this town is because of it's bike-ability. According to the bicycling.com, Austin is the 13th most bike-friendly city in the United States.

13. Austin, TX

Population: 790,390

Claims to Fame: The city installed 35 miles of bikeways in 2011; a new urban-trail plan emphasizes off-street paths, like the 6-mile Lance Armstrong Bikeway. The Austin Bike Zooanimals—including an 80-foot rattlesnake powered by six riders, tandem butterflies, and a bat tricycle—are an institution at parades.

Biggest Challenge: Though tireless bike advocates have a near-perfect record for projects they’ve championed, involvement from the thriving cycling community remains sporadic.

Sweet! Not only that, but the neighborhood I moved into has a walk score of 63. Although considering how many days I have gone so far without using my car, I would argue it is much higher. Just to give you an idea, my walk score in the suburb I grew up in was 12, or, completely car dependent. Where I lived in N. Atlanta: 11.

Walk Score is a number between 0 and 100 that measures the walkability of any address.

• People in walkable neighborhoods weigh 6-10 lbs less.

• Walkable places make you happier and healthier.

• Short commutes reduce stress and increase community involvement.

My goal is to not have to park my car on campus, ever. This means getting up earlier to catch a bus or ride my bike. It also means changing my outfit accordingly. Needless to say, it's going to be a major (healthy) challenge for me.

I got my bike on craigslist for $160 my first week in Austin:

my beauty.

But since that original pic, it now has a milk crate on the back and lights on the front and back for night time riding. I love it. A lot. I don't have a name for her yet, but she seems like a "Belle" or "Lucy" or "Roxy" or something.

Riding is not an easy task for me. 

• First, there's the incredible heat. Not as humid as it would be in STL, ATL or DC right now, but still hot. I just got back from a 10 minute ride in 103 degree heat today, and it has taken me more than twice that time to recover with AC and water. In Sept. I hope a lot of that intensity should pass.
• Then, there's the rules of the road. Not challenging in and of themselves, but new to me. For example, now that I have a crate on the back of my bike, the balance is a little off--so when I go to do a left turn signal with my left hand, it's hard to compose myself without teetering a little. And my speed is ...well, slow. So making left turns or riding over major intersections is particularly dangerous for me seeing as how I barely have enough momentum to beat the cars or streetlight.
• Strength. I don't even think I had muscles in my legs before this year. I've never really pushed myself hard enough to bike long distance (or haven't needed to/been able to) before, so my body strength, in general, was... lacking. But now these new foreign leg muscles are quickly making an appearance---and I can't complain one bit. My back feels better, too. My lung capacity, which is notoriously limited, will hopefully improve with every gasping ride. 

My map of bike-able places, most which I have have biked already.

The longest route being from home (yellow home shape) to the School of Social Work (yellow pushpin) at 3.3 miles. Not much for an experienced biker, but pretty hefty for me. Google maps mapped it at 16 minutes by bike. I mapped it at about 20, if you get all green lights (which I did). Not bad for a morning workout. And it's mostly downhill, shaded, and safe (bike lanes).

I'm hoping that when it cools down I will have enough morning drive (no pun intended) to get on my bike, even though a car ride would be half the time and half the effort (minus parking frustration). Bus actually takes more time (30 minutes total)! But is less of a workout.

Wish me biking luck!

Housemates sweet housemates

Because they really are. Well, at least the 2/3 of them that are here so far.

Meredith

...is a doll. She is an artist--painter, photographer, sketching, whatever. She's ballin' and has years of experience to show it. She just finished two years of teaching elementary art/music/dance/theater in Texarkana, Arkansas--like a boss. We have the same birth month and year. We both have taught art. We are extroverts! She happens to be so much taller than me.

In addition to styling basically the whole house, she is as generous as they come--always buying extra food, cooking delicious goodies like cookies and trifles! and banana bread mmm.

Mike

and that Monkey

... is a godsend! Not only did he trek me around on his motorbike THE FIRST DAY I MET HIM to look at some houses, but he's a master at tying furniture on my car, dancing, cooking delicious Mediterranean dishes, facilitating and preparing our first house party, and facilitating that a good time is had by all generally.

yep. that happened.

Best of all, communication is wonderful. We talk often and are all pretty close already. Things get cleaned, food gets replaced if borrowed, and we all are pretty responsible overall.

Me, Mike, Mededith

And Matt is on his way right now. I'm really excited to meet him!

<3

Thank You A Lot

I have a lot of items on my Austin Bucket List, but I didn't foresee this opportunity coming.

 I was on my favorite Austin website, and saw an ad for extras needed for a local feature film. I emailed them with interest and they sent me all the details. Mainly, they were filming a rock show at the Mohawk and needed an audience to wear hipster/grunge/trendy/rocknroll/hippie clothes. Done. I brought three dresses and they picked this one:

The movie is called Thank You A Lot and is about a music agent--and has all local actors and musicians-- as far as I can tell.

Day 4 (I was there on Day 6)

Cast Video

It was awesome! They pulled me almost immediately to drink empty beer bottles with another girl I met and "pantomime" talking. We kind of whispered so we could still have a conversation and look natural. It was really fun! We had to re do the scene about 8 times. I don't really know how much I am in the actual view of the camera.

Then, after another hour or so, all the extras (about 30 of us) got called in to watch a rock show. We saw a real local band, Hundred Visions, and they played one song, which we had to go crazy for---8 times. Luckily, for me, I was focused in on the drummer, Eric.

so cute.

Overall, I had an amazing time doing something I thought I'd never do (acting!). It was unpaid..but only four hours and still a blast.

Awesome.

North Loop

I live in the North Loop and our house is literally steps away from some of the coolest places in North Austin, starting with:

Epoch Coffee

200 steps from our front porch

A 24-hour coffee shop with records playing, fast wifi, and more people than you could ever imagine would be there past 1 in the morning. It's always packed and a wonderful place to go (if you can find a place to sit) and people watch, read, or catch up with a friend.

Blue Velvet Vintage

A vintage store (next to Epoch) with dresses that run at about 20-30 bucks. Not bad if it's something cute and shapely that will last. Not to mention earrings for $1! 

Breakaway Records

Famous in Austin

And now that my friend is selling me his record player for half price, I'll have all the more reason to make it rain here.

The Vegan Nom

beaut.

A vegan taco truck that fills me up for just $4. Avocados? Amazing blaring rock music. Sign. Me. Up.

The Austin State Hospital Cemetery

Very few gravestones because most of the bodies were not claimed

Particularly creepy, this is the graveyard for the Austin State Hospital, or, what used to be called the Texas State Lunatic Asylum. Hardly any gravestones line the grass, because they weren't claimed by their families. It's literally right smack in the middle of the hip new North Loop district. Spooky.

I Luv Video

These exist anymore??!!

I know right! I thought after Blockbuster crumbled and fell that video rental places simply didn't exist anymore--wrong. I luv video is one of largest independent movie stores in the nation. And they give out free beer on Tuesdays! I've already set up an account.

Coldtowne Theater

Punch drunk comedy

This place is crazy--they have shows--improv & stand-up running 7 days a week! A lot of the shows are BYOB, and some are even "pay what you can". So close to my house!

Honorable North Loop mentions: Goodwill, House Pizzeria, Biscuits & Groovy (they even do mix-tape exchanges), Flightpath coffee.

Home sweet home

My house in Austin is really all I've ever wanted in a place as a young adult--colorful, spacious, social, in a safe neighborhood, within walking distance from everything.

House

The living room is bright green and my wonderful housemate Meredith brought all her fancy art to hang on the walls.

natural light is lovely.

Also, our bathroom is AMAZING. It was basically all Meredith, too. After Mike & I picked up a candy red trash can and I got some bright lipstick red towels, she color coordinated the shower curtain (not to mention books/knick knacks) with it and it's just lovely. 

and woody allen.

And... my bedroom. I'd been imagining how to decorate my bedroom for months before I moved in. I wanted it to be DIY, colorful, and inspiring. Here's the result:

Thanks, goodwill!

Huge walk-in closet.

<3

And some more close-up DIY action:

DIY Craigslist nightstand. $20. Lamp, Goodwill, $5.

And what I've always dreamed of. Vanity, Craigslist, $20, Mirrors, Thrift, $10, Chair, Antique Store, $35.

DIY whiteboard $12 for a billion of them at Home Depot.

Our patio and back yard are still a work in progress. More on those later.

New

Welcome to my new blog!

As of July 2012, I have started my life here in Austin, and so far it's been unbelievable. I feel healthy, happy and more myself then I've ever felt before. This blog is meant to highlight my journey in Texas's capital---health, mind, spirit and career.

Enjoy!