Welcome!
Hello everyone! My name is Austin and I am currently a Junior at Kent State University in Ohio majoring in Sociology and Psychology. Living 150 miles away from home in Eastern Ohio is very different from my hometown near Pittsburgh, PA particularly because I am now supporting myself on my own. I'm a broke college kid trying to graduate in 4 years, class of 2014, and I would like to pursue my Masters in Social Work or Rehabilitation Counseling at an established institution in Chicago.
Recently I travelled to Chicago, IL for a Spring Break trip to volunteer my time and services to those who need it. This experience has really opened me up to a new way of thinking about current social issues, which resulted in the making of this blog. I spoke one-on-one to homeless victims and took their stories to heart. I also had the opportunity to work with Chinese Americans who are studying for their citizenship test by teaching them English at the CASL organization. This was very difficult not only for me (because of the language barrier) but also for those who I was helping. Their stories of struggle and inequality inspire me everyday, many of whom are 50+ years old and have left their families back in China to come to this "Land of the Free."
I also was able to help out at an organization called "Working Bikes" which is located in the Lower West Side of Chicago, IL. The members of this group restore bicycles and sell them at a very small cost to people who cannot afford transportation to work. The organization also makes large shipments overseas to the children of Uganda I believe. I took a picture inside the shop of a sign that said "4,000 bikes for $500" which is their price for large international shipments. My time at "Working Bikes" was excellent and I left feeling like I helped out for not only the citizens of Chicago, but also for the under privileged children overseas. This just goes to show how much one person can do.
Recently I travelled to Chicago, IL for a Spring Break trip to volunteer my time and services to those who need it. This experience has really opened me up to a new way of thinking about current social issues, which resulted in the making of this blog. I spoke one-on-one to homeless victims and took their stories to heart. I also had the opportunity to work with Chinese Americans who are studying for their citizenship test by teaching them English at the CASL organization. This was very difficult not only for me (because of the language barrier) but also for those who I was helping. Their stories of struggle and inequality inspire me everyday, many of whom are 50+ years old and have left their families back in China to come to this "Land of the Free."
I also was able to help out at an organization called "Working Bikes" which is located in the Lower West Side of Chicago, IL. The members of this group restore bicycles and sell them at a very small cost to people who cannot afford transportation to work. The organization also makes large shipments overseas to the children of Uganda I believe. I took a picture inside the shop of a sign that said "4,000 bikes for $500" which is their price for large international shipments. My time at "Working Bikes" was excellent and I left feeling like I helped out for not only the citizens of Chicago, but also for the under privileged children overseas. This just goes to show how much one person can do.