It is 10 minutes to 1am in the morning. My traveling mind will not rest. I got something on my mind that will not shake me. I just received a phone call 3 hours ago from my little sister she's only 21 years old. I knew something was wrong the moment she said, "hi sis". She told me she lost her job, just been kicked out of her so called "friend's" apt. She is homeless, jobless, and a single mother of two beautiful baby girls. She tends to make really bad choices at times, like skipping work, out on the streets fighting and getting drunk and high. I look at her situation and I think and wonder would we have made better choices if we had caring parents who actually taught us the things that "good" parents teach their children? Or are do we blame ourselves for the choices we make. What about society, how does our society play a role in the decision we make? I understand that we must take responsibility for our actions, but I think our society plays an important role in the decisions we make as well. What do you think?
Finally, does anyone know of any good and safe women and children’s shelters in L.A?
WEll i don't know of any homes for her to go to, but i do know of the violence intervention center in lincoln heights. I'm volunteering there and i'm positive they'll find a way to help her out.tell her to go speak with them, the address is 1721 Griffin ave. la ca 90031. hopefully that helps
ReplyDeleteoh, wow - how great that you shared your story. whew!
ReplyDeleteI know there is a good and creative women's shelter downtown. I think it's called the Downtown Women's Center. http://www.dwcweb.org/index.html
They work to bring out the womens' creativity! I have a 7 min DVD of their work - I'll try to find it and bring it in if that interests you. Thank you for sharing the story.
there is a beautiful little book that costs under $10 called "True Love" by Thicht Nhat Hanh - he is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk. You might get a copy for yourself, if not for her. It's brief and simple.
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry! Hope this helps:
ReplyDeleteBeyond Shelter, 1200 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 600, Los Angeles, CA 90017, USA, telephone: (213) 252-0772, fax: (213) 480-0846
Battered Service Action Center Los Angeles CA 90012 Business #: 213-268-7568 Toll Free #: (800)548-2722
Free Spirit/Chicana Service Los Angeles CA 90012 Business #: 213-253-5959 Hotline/Crisis: 213-937-1312
Good Shepard Shelter P.O. Box 19487 Los Angeles CA Business #: 213-737-6111
Jenesse Center, Inc. P.O. Box 73837 Los Angeles CA 90003 Business #: 213-751-1145 Hotline/Crisis: 213-751-1145 Toll Free#: (800)479-7328
Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women Los Angeles CA 90028 Business #: 213-462-1281 Hotline/Crisis: 213-626-3393 Toll Free #: (310)392-8381
I'm not one to blame society. It goes against my belief in free will. Many people face adversities and there's some who are able to overcome it and there are those who chose a different path.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I don't blame your sister either. After all we are all humans and make mistakes.
I will say this, your sister is lucky to have you in her life because you truly care for her enough to share this story with us.
So as a person, and as a sister myself here's what i can offer you in advice.
* Be always there for her. More than nothing she needs family support, because if you can't count in your family, who can you turn to?
* You are in college, you should encourage your sister to return to education even if it is part time at night. Education is the biggest way to battle poverty. I'm happy to say my two older sisters have returned to school and i can't be any prouder of them.
* Your sister is young, i'm 21 myself. She needs a mentor. Somebody she can look up to and make her realize the sky is the limit as long as you fight hard.
* Maybe she should look into Temp jobs. Some pay well, and she will gain experience that will make her a more valuable employee.
I hope this helped. I wish her luck. She is young and has a much longer road ahead of her.
Life can be very hard at times and am sure that it will pass but not without some struggle. But my best advise to you is that if she is in the streets with the babies and you realize her postion; I feel that you need to make the great effort in taking her into your home regardless of how it will have a change in your life. The trouble that you put yourself through for those you truly Love, will multiple with happiness and gratitude in the future when things have settled.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful working philosophy, mr. pica!
ReplyDeleteI tend to blame many individuals for their current situations & actions, whether its financial, etc. But I also tend to relate their behavior to the society they were brought up in. I think society plays a tremendous role in the decision one makes. I was brought up by both my parents and they were marvelous! Yet my brother started doing drugs when he was 15 yrs. old and so did I. And Im not only talking about "weed". It was the act of being "cool" and "tough" embedded into my mind by my "friends" in school. I attended school in Granada Hills and in South L.A. and wow, what a major difference. The education, materials, teachers, staff were all better in GH. Even the student's attitudes! While in South L.A., the cool thing to do was smoke, smoke, smoke. Fuck school! My mentality also became that as my surroundings, and it didn't take that long! I dont know what happened, I thank it all to my parents that never gave up on me, but i did a 360 degree circle. Too bad most of my friends didn't. I continue to question myself why so many of my surrounding neighbors, don't even try? Many of my girlfriends from high school are like your sister. I don't blame them, their only human. But when will this cycle end? What can be done? What can I do?
ReplyDeleteI feel you Kat, I mean i feel that the only why to battle ignorance is with education. I have made it a point to dedicate my life to children. I am a tutor, i know its not a life saving position. But I can plant that seed and let kids who grow up like me in you know that there are more option then just the "hood." As for my sister, she is living in the pass. She wont let go of all the bad things that happen to her in the pass. So she response by drink to kill the thoughts, smoking to ease the mind, and fighting is a form of revange. This is her own remedy unfortunately this is why she is always in diffcult situations.
ReplyDeleteSo she's a bit stubborn. hmmm...The one thing I can suggest for you to do is not only encourage her to go back to school, but also take her out of here once in a while. Whether its the beach, childrens museums, libraries, etc. I say these places because it will let her kids see different places and its FREE. This made a huge impacr on me growing up. And i commend you on tutoring. And why do you say its not "life saving position"? I think it is. Some of these kids in the "hood" need this kind of mentoring since it is not provided at home. Beleive it or not, you are saving someone! Congrats! Best of luck to you and your sister! =)BTW, what are you planning to do after you graduate with your B.A.?
ReplyDelete