Automatic Assumptions?

So there I was, sitting on a curb waiting for the police. A minivan had just turned in front of me on a busy two-lane road at 5:30 on a Friday afternoon, totaling my beloved 18 year old car with 360,000 miles on it. I’m sitting there in my mechanic’s t-shirt and work shorts, boots and slightly grease-stained hands.

The two state troopers that finally arrived spent all their time talking with the minivan driver who had paid more attention to spying an open space in the parking lot in front of her kid’s swim club than the road in front of her. Finally one of the troopers sauntered over to me and, I guess to make “guy talk,” asked, “So, did you just slide into her?” Continue reading




Light rail and affordable housing as a step in poverty reduction in the Triangle.

 

Image from transportation.tsu.edu

Triangle Transit just announced that the Orange Durham section of a 30 mile light rail transit system connecting Wake, Durham, and Orange County will be built first.  It certainly is exciting news. It also presents a great opportunity to help reduce poverty.

Transportation is a key element in helping people move across the community. Enabling an individual to easily and efficiently get from home to work creates an opportunity to improve a household’s income. Linking services along transportation corridors, also makes those services accessible to those who need the help. However, all of this requires planning.

Furthermore, it is important to preserve affordable housing close to transportation hubs in the community. Affordable housing enables lower income families to readily access the transportation. Senior citizens and others who are dependent on others for transportation will be able to go to the grocery store, shop and socialize if we locate affordable housing around these transportation hubs. It is tempting for a community to let higher property values drive low wealth households from a transportation hub, but the benefits enabling them to stay close to this valuable resource are far greater. 

I hope that planners in Durham and Orange County begin the process of discussing how to preserve affordable housing close to the transportation hubs created by this new light rail system.




Not Without My Dog…

Think about losing your job and having your lights turned off.  Now think about being locked out of your home by the mortgage company.  Then the repo guy comes for your car.  No cell phone.  No computer. Not even a change of clothes.  You sit on a street until you are run out of the neighborhood because now you’re a vagrant – no longer wanted. 

You walk and walk until dark falls.  You hover under a bridge for shelter from the rain and find a beat up cardboard box you crawl into for the night.  Everything is gone. E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.  Days turn into weeks.  You beg on the corner for loose change while people drive by yelling, “Get a job!”  You have nothing.

Then one day she comes loping down the street.  She’s dirty, thirsty, and has a wary look in her eye.  She draws near and you offer this four-legged visitor some water, keeping your distance.  She laps the water quickly, looks up and for the briefest of moments, she wags her tail.  You extend your hand.  She slowly crawls to you.  And now you have someone else to focus on.  Someone who is as beat up as  you.  Someone homeless like you.  Someone without anything in the world – except now she has you and you have her.

You bond.  She follows you.  You share your food from the dumpster.  She sleeps next to you at night, keeping you warm.  Where you go, she patiently follows.  You talk to her, tell her it will get better…someday. She becomes your world.

Then someday it does get better.  You hear about an open shelter.  You head that way hoping to be first in line. You reach the building and there, in bold letters, is a sign that says, “No Pets”.  You look at your companion. You turn and walk away to find a new bridge and a new box. Continue reading

Jennifer R. Bosk is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at United Way of the Greater Triangle. Jennifer believes people read her blog posts because she is a pop culture diva, a survivor and thriver of single Mother/Grandmother-hood and the biggest cheerleader for education as a solution to most problems. These areas/topics of passion allow Jennifer to share her thoughts from her heart.




Pinwheels for Prevention!

 Colorful playfully spiraling pinwheels make me happy! To me, they are a perfect symbol of childhood and spring – nurtured growth and change. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and Pinwheels of Prevention have sprung up in gardens around the community, state and nation to raise awareness about this issue. 

“The pinwheel represents Prevent Child Abuse America’s efforts to change the way our nation thinks about prevention, focusing on community activities and public policies that prioritize prevention right from the start to make sure child abuse and neglect never occur.” Continue reading




Top 10 Things to Know About 2-1-1

 1)      Do you know about 2-1-1? United Way’s 2-1-1 is a single source for information about community services and for referrals to health and human service programs.

 2)      Call us – anytime!  Staff is standing by in our call center 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. We’re ready to guide you to the help you need.

3)      Chances are you know someone who called 2-1-1 last year.  Statewide there were 58,965 calls and 14,310 of those came from right here in the Triangle.

4)      There’s an app for that!  Yes the 2-1-1 app for iphones is available at http://itunes.apple.com/app/united-ways-2-1-1-north-carolina/id465332122?mt=8 .

5)      You can call 2-1-1 from your landline or your cell phone! 

6)      If you ever have trouble getting through when dialing 2-1-1, you can dial the toll free number: 1-888-892-1162.

7)      Speak another language?  Bilingual caseworkers are on hand to take your call.

8)      Want to know what’s available from 2-1-1 online?  Check it out at NC211.org!

 9)      Whether you just need help once or you seek continuing assistance, you’ll find exactly what you need by calling        2-1-1.

10)   If you’ve donated to United Way of the Greater Triangle then you’ve helped keep 2-1-1 up and running to serve the needs of those who are your neighbors, coworkers, church friends and business acquaintances. 

And for that we say THANK YOU!!!!

Jennifer R. Bosk is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at United Way of the Greater Triangle. Jennifer believes people read her blog posts because she is a pop culture diva, a survivor and thriver of single Mother/Grandmother-hood and the biggest cheerleader for education as a solution to most problems. These areas/topics of passion allow Jennifer to share her thoughts from her heart.