Tuesday, March 26, 2013
March 26
Hello all! So today we began at 9am and went over to Glide Memorial Church and helped pack lunches for people! Just to give you all an understanding, the focus of the Glide program is:
Today we had what felt like an early morning and trekked over to GLIDE to pack and prepare meals for the homeless served by GLIDE, including a lot of LGBTQ homeless folks. We didn't get the chance to interact with people very much, but that will come tomorrow morning when we'll be serving breakfast to people who really need it. After GLIDE, we scarfed down lunch at the hostel and then got an opportunity to map our own adventures all around San Francisco.
We all started out in the Haight-Ashbury district, which had lots of shopping, but we all made it either o the Golden Gate Bridge or to the beach to enjoy the Pacific Ocean. I have really appreciated that while this trip has had little sight-seeing and most of our sight-seeing has accompanied service, we've gotten a chance to see and walk through quiet neighborhoods as well as local hubs, not the usually touristy junk that often accompanies a vacation. The ocean was beautiful and incredible to experience, especially for those of us less traveled or who had never been to the west coast.
After taco dinner at the hostel cooked by a (by now) well-oiled machine, we went to the Night Ministry and had a wonderful conversation with Lyle, an openly gay Lutheran pastor who is a Night Minister in San Francisco. I know many of us really appreciated his hopeful message and his clarity in a world that is so often dividing people of faith and queer people. I'm sure those of us who claim both identities could see him as a testament to the power of an intersecting identity at work. The Night Ministry provides services by walking the streets of several neighborhoods between 10pm and 4am, chatting with people who are interested, talking to anyone about faith, life, addiction, sexual orientation, or really anything that they need. They can also refer people to other resources and have outdoor worship services twice a week.
After our talk with Lyle, we returned to the hostel for reflection. We had a really good conversation about how we've been feeling so far and our thoughts about several issues surrounded being young people involved in this movement, and what that means for us. I personally felt challenged and inspired by many of the things brought up in my mind over this reflection and others as we're delving deeper into this work.
-Christina Daily
We all started out in the Haight-Ashbury district, which had lots of shopping, but we all made it either o the Golden Gate Bridge or to the beach to enjoy the Pacific Ocean. I have really appreciated that while this trip has had little sight-seeing and most of our sight-seeing has accompanied service, we've gotten a chance to see and walk through quiet neighborhoods as well as local hubs, not the usually touristy junk that often accompanies a vacation. The ocean was beautiful and incredible to experience, especially for those of us less traveled or who had never been to the west coast.
After taco dinner at the hostel cooked by a (by now) well-oiled machine, we went to the Night Ministry and had a wonderful conversation with Lyle, an openly gay Lutheran pastor who is a Night Minister in San Francisco. I know many of us really appreciated his hopeful message and his clarity in a world that is so often dividing people of faith and queer people. I'm sure those of us who claim both identities could see him as a testament to the power of an intersecting identity at work. The Night Ministry provides services by walking the streets of several neighborhoods between 10pm and 4am, chatting with people who are interested, talking to anyone about faith, life, addiction, sexual orientation, or really anything that they need. They can also refer people to other resources and have outdoor worship services twice a week.
After our talk with Lyle, we returned to the hostel for reflection. We had a really good conversation about how we've been feeling so far and our thoughts about several issues surrounded being young people involved in this movement, and what that means for us. I personally felt challenged and inspired by many of the things brought up in my mind over this reflection and others as we're delving deeper into this work.
-Christina Daily
Monday, March 25, 2013
Monday, monday...
Hello!
Today was not nearly as sunny as yesterday, so, good for those of us with sunburn, not so good for anyone who gets cold easily! It was very windy and cold for a lot of the day, especially later in the afternoon. Warmer than MN!!
We bussed and trekked to the Mission District today, a predominantly hispanic area. We saw the Women's Center, which had some amazing murals celebrating the wonders and general magical-ness of women! Some of us had some very tasty mexican food and took in the sights and smells of the Mission. It was probably my favorite place we have been to so far. We visited some very inclusive shops catering to all kinds, shapes and sizes of people. Comparatively, I much preferred the Mission to the Castro district, which felt much more exclusive and not as welcoming.
We started a march today from the Castro to City Hall to protest and rally against Prop 8 and DOMA, and that was really cool. A lot of us felt really great being a part of something so monumental and important. Although I think the walk did a number on everyone's feet and legs (we will ALL be feeling that tomorrow).
Today felt very positive for the most part, and several haircuts and facial piercings (no tattoos yet!) later, I think we're all learning things about ourselves, each other, and the places we inhabit, visit, and live.
Today was not nearly as sunny as yesterday, so, good for those of us with sunburn, not so good for anyone who gets cold easily! It was very windy and cold for a lot of the day, especially later in the afternoon. Warmer than MN!!
We bussed and trekked to the Mission District today, a predominantly hispanic area. We saw the Women's Center, which had some amazing murals celebrating the wonders and general magical-ness of women! Some of us had some very tasty mexican food and took in the sights and smells of the Mission. It was probably my favorite place we have been to so far. We visited some very inclusive shops catering to all kinds, shapes and sizes of people. Comparatively, I much preferred the Mission to the Castro district, which felt much more exclusive and not as welcoming.
We started a march today from the Castro to City Hall to protest and rally against Prop 8 and DOMA, and that was really cool. A lot of us felt really great being a part of something so monumental and important. Although I think the walk did a number on everyone's feet and legs (we will ALL be feeling that tomorrow).
Today felt very positive for the most part, and several haircuts and facial piercings (no tattoos yet!) later, I think we're all learning things about ourselves, each other, and the places we inhabit, visit, and live.
Hello!
Today was a very go go day. We started our day going to the mission district where we got the opportunity to walk around and explore. I decided to get a haircut! I cut almost all of my hair off..which was scary at first--but I love it.
Starting at four, the group started preparing for the march4equality. Doing the march was a very emotional and positive experience for me. Seeing all these people come together to stand up for equality was amazing. There was so much love. There were two particular women that really stood out to me during the march. They each were carrying a sign that had an arrow pointing to each other and each sign said 'I want to marry her'. This honestly brought tears to my eyes.
I'm really glad that I got the opportunity to partake in this march. It really pushed me outside of my comfort zone & challenged me--which is what I know I need to help me grow as a person. I'm excited to see what the rest of the week holds for us and what God has planned.
-Maris Olson
March for Equality
We had yet another incredibly busy day. We started off by walking around the Mission. We got to see the Women's center, which had some crazy amazing murals painted on the outside. Later we had a nice group reflection time in Dolores Park, and got some sun....I'm completely burnt. At 4:00 we headed down to the corner of Market and Castro to prepare for the March for Equality. After a few hours of making signs and recruiting people to participate, we finally started our march to City Hall. For about an hour and a half people with flags and signs were screaming for equal rights and marching on passionately, then we finally reached City Hall to end the night with some great speeches and a lot of love. It was honestly one of the best and most exhausting experiences of my life
--Dani Wasnick
--Dani Wasnick
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Sunday Activities
Today felt almost as hectic as yesterday, although for different reasons. We awoke in our hostel for the first time and met for reflection and discussion, in which we shared the things that were challenging us so far and responded to each other. Forming cohesive group bonds is something I think we're doing quite well so far this trip. I am hopeful that we have the ability as a group to resolve conflicts and help each other through challenges. After eating a delicious bagel breakfast with the rest of the hostel and reflecting, we headed to the Castro, the Original Gayborhood. This is where Harvey Milk's camera store and headquarters was located and where the San Francisco gay movement began. Walking among open queer couples of all walks of life and moving in between proudly displayed rainbow flags was heartening and affirming. We soon got to work, standing on street corner soapboxes and in parks handing out pamphlets for a march that we'll be helping to lead tomorrow. DOMA and Proposition 8 are going to be in the Supreme Court and we are trying to rally public opinion to hopefully influence that decision. More to come on that after the march tomorrow I'm sure.
Back at the hostel after a long afternoon outside, many of us are sunburnt, all of us having aching feet, and we were treated to an incredible woman named Zoe who used to work at Transgender San Francisco. She started off talking about basic trans* terminology, and then she got in depth into a discussion on the details of transition, trans* young people and the developments of recent years and shared her story of transition. It was really incredible to talk to someone so intelligent, articulate and really approachable who shared with us so much knowledge and depth. I felt personally really lucky to have been in the room with her and hope to correspond with her in the future.
We then enjoyed delicious stir fry with tofu cooked by the other San Francisco Catalyst trip and settled in for an evening of discussion, journaling, relaxing and for some, exploring the city.
-Christina Daily
Back at the hostel after a long afternoon outside, many of us are sunburnt, all of us having aching feet, and we were treated to an incredible woman named Zoe who used to work at Transgender San Francisco. She started off talking about basic trans* terminology, and then she got in depth into a discussion on the details of transition, trans* young people and the developments of recent years and shared her story of transition. It was really incredible to talk to someone so intelligent, articulate and really approachable who shared with us so much knowledge and depth. I felt personally really lucky to have been in the room with her and hope to correspond with her in the future.
We then enjoyed delicious stir fry with tofu cooked by the other San Francisco Catalyst trip and settled in for an evening of discussion, journaling, relaxing and for some, exploring the city.
-Christina Daily
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Hi Everyone!
We've landed in San Francisco safe and sound, after several flights delays and much exhaustion. After getting to our hostel, we relaxed(sort of...) by trekking to the grocery store and hauling twice our collective body weight in groceries back home, then cooking a whirlwind dinner: delicious spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread!
After a post-meal nap, I need another nap. But it's on to our first service work of the week, the midnight shift cleaning up after San Francisco LGBT Community Center's annual Soiree party fundraiser. We're all dressed up in our Saturday night best, ready to go out on the town.
Go Q-Catalyst! (yawn...)
Best Wishes to Chilly Relatives Back Home,
Gabby
We've landed in San Francisco safe and sound, after several flights delays and much exhaustion. After getting to our hostel, we relaxed(sort of...) by trekking to the grocery store and hauling twice our collective body weight in groceries back home, then cooking a whirlwind dinner: delicious spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread!
After a post-meal nap, I need another nap. But it's on to our first service work of the week, the midnight shift cleaning up after San Francisco LGBT Community Center's annual Soiree party fundraiser. We're all dressed up in our Saturday night best, ready to go out on the town.
Go Q-Catalyst! (yawn...)
Best Wishes to Chilly Relatives Back Home,
Gabby
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