Internalizing JFK: Social Workers Obligation to Humanity Touch The World Social Worker

Internalizing JFK: Social Workers Obligation to Humanity
Touch The World Social Worker Scholarship Contest
By: Paul D Goree 2011 Phoenix, AZ ASU



November 29, 1962, John F. Kennedy avowed to the American public "...I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit." (From the National Guard Armory in Washington, D.C., November 29, 1962) When I think of how I want to touch the world with my social work education and experience, the words of Mr. Kennedy echo through my heart, as an obligation to be upheld. How I have in the past and how I intend to continue my, “contribution to the human spirit?" Is the plight of my total existence?


My journey has been a long winding epic, of voluminous parables, of which I proud to have established what I intend to be my reparation to society: Humanitarian endeavors. My journey started in 1992. I was 22 years old, attending Seattle Central Community College. I was majoring Social Welfare, with intention to complete my Associate Degree and certificate of CDP (Chemical Dependency Professional). I had glorious plans on revolutionizing substance abuse and assisting in a victorious triumph in the "War on Drugs". These days, those earlier ambitions seem humorously perspicacious. Although I was eager and zealous, my true passion and concern for others, was inevitable and a future in social welfare, would be my destiny. As life has its winding ways, I had to put my academic endeavors aside and obtain employment. Luckily, I secured contract positions with various agencies, whereby my passion for social work, would not idle.

The most enjoyable years, were 1997-1999. I was a contract administrative assistant to a human resource benefit director. My administrator and I were responsible for retirees and surviving spouse benefits. Our job duties would have been conventional; as in providing retirees the opportunity to change their health care plans during open enrollment or assisting surviving spouse with their benefit options. However, the company for which I was contracted had announced their intended closure in the coming years, meaning a major cut in the steel industry of Cleveland, Ohio. The trickling effects this announcement had the community was devastating, seeming that steel had been the blood line of that economy for nearly a century.


Four hours a day, my administrator and I handled countless panic phone calls from retirees and surviving spouses, who had become alarmed by the news of the closure. Some days the heart grief of our clients was unbearable. I was assisting the retirees and surviving spouse who had overcome the Industrial Revolution, World War 1 and 2 and had cemented American work ethic into the soul of our canvases’. These were the generations I admired and to be assisting them was an honor. During many of those panic phone calls, I found myself naturally doing, what social workers do best: listening, assessing, informing and referring. The most benefiting thing I provided my clients, especially surviving spouses, was information regarding other health care options they had available to them. Many of the surviving spouses were spouses of veterans and were eligible for Veteran surviving spouse benefits and or Medicare widow benefits, yet were not aware of these options.

I cannot explain the delight of the many clients who called back to thank me and my administrator for referring them to Veteran Services and or Social Security. The removal of worrying about medical care was one less distress upon them, of which they could have some comforted reassurance. Today as I think back upon those clients, I am even more impressed with legislation which has resulted in more options such as Medicare Part D. These types of events are evidence to me that social welfare is where my soul code resides. (James Hillman)

The next 10 years after those contract positions, my life, consisted of a continuous "peak and valley" rollercoaster ride. During the midst that time period (2006), I found myself assisting my co-workers with what soon would be the collapse of our economy and the recession/depression of 2008. Again my natural passion for social welfare prevail my own circumstances. At the onset of 2008 and with my recent unemployment, I decided to write and maintain a blog concerning unemployment in Las Vegas, Nevada in comparison to the nation (https://paulgoree.wordpress.com/2008/12/21/unemployment-extension-tier-ii/).

As our nation witnessed high unemployment levels and the extension of Tier benefits, I documented how these efforts were affecting my community in Las Vegas and what unemployment legislation was our elected officials considering. I am proud of the work I did on this blog, for I experienced another venue of social welfare, not often considered by others. For me the number one function of a social worker is assisting those in need of assurance. The assurance usually has to do with economy security. And therefore as our nation experience the trails of a dooming economy during from 2008 – 2010, I provided accurate up to date detailing of Tier benefits to support the ever increasing 99er population. Also I felt it my duty to encourage my readers, and facilitate our Presidents optimism of economic recovery. I often quoted inspirational thoughts from Franklin D. Roosevelt, during the Great Depression 1932. One of my more popular post, I advised fellow unemployed person of a FDR quotes from 1932. In an attempt to prevent lofty behaviorism, FDR instructed the America public "...above all else, do something…” And to engrave endurance, he stated, “…“ When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.”(Albert Fried)


Keeping in the spirit of FDR, I decided to volunteer my time at the Salvation Army. The majority of my time was spent, assisting the homeless in the DRC (Day Resource Center), where they could take a shower, get assistance with social service and medical needs, and get referrals to Veteran assistance and Social Security. Volunteering provided me with real life experience with, the societal need of social workers. When my employment situation did eventually get better, I unknowingly was experiencing employer abuse and warned my blog readers about the consequences of prematurely waivering ones labor rights out of desperation for some employment during this recession/depression. I informed them of the state and federal laws that assign the titles of contract employee verse contingent workers. This was valuable information, for many employers sought to cut operation expenses by using contingent workers as contract employee and avoiding employment insurance taxes.

Over the last two years I have put a lot of thought into my passion, its history and how I intended to re-enter the academic world. The most inspiring thing I constructed since 2009 is a list of historic personalities, whom I term "My Scholar Heroes", these are persons I have researched, admire and plan on dedicating my life to their endeavors. They include, Benjamin Franklin. General William Booth, Jean Henri Dunant, Clara Barton, Ron Dellums, Jane Adams, Mary Richmond, Jimmy Carter, Edit and Grace Abbot, Lester Blackwell Granger, and so many others I am endlessly adding to my list. The one attribute each of these, scholar heroes have in common is they each contributed to humanity something of a social welfare value. They touched the world, by providing from their passion to assist in the overall betterment of humanity. I believe the most effective way to accomplish this is through social welfare, which includes education.

Today I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity to continue my education at Arizona State University majoring in social work. My intentions are to finally complete my undergrad degree, obtaining a BSW in 2013. At which time I am planning on achieve what I think is the ultimate in my field, a JD/MSW. How I plan on touch the world with social welfare is by completing my educational goals, then continuing what I have been doing for almost 20 years now, simply providing some assurance to those who seek it. I have a specific interest in homelessness and want to be involved with non-profit homeless services. As our economy idles, more and more working Americans are finding themselves unable to keep up with their family living expenses. Many of them are falling victim to depression and the fear of homeless for themselves and families is an event of failure. I think it is critical that stigma associated with homelessness, poverty and social welfare be removed, in order for recipients to fully benefit from all that is available to them. When I was volunteering, I witness the tragic depths of self guilt and pity, by men and women who felt they had lost their grasp of industriousness. They had internalized national unemployment as a personal guilt. I sought to it; to remind them

that our current economic condition is not their fault and they (we) are not victims. Like FDR, I reminded them that during these times of misfortune, we must keep functioning. The social welfare tools available to society are in part paid for by them, when they were employed. Simple awareness is sometimes the best antidote. I want to fill the social welfare field with awareness. Fortunately with a JD/MSW I will have some leverage in policy making, which I intend to use for the reassurance of social justice (economically and civilly).

Cali Reflection - - Arrival Back To Cali, reflections of awareness of current behavior. San Diego 7/2015

CALI-REFLECTIONS:

Through reflecting, especially internal reflecting (S.Freud) one able to consciously reflect upon past experiences, without a external/super ego factor being accessible. Thus one come to a self acknowledgment by which responsibility become imperative and must be acknowledged by the self first. Then one is able to move forward with how they responded and validate (self analysis). As with psycho analysis, it is a slow discovery process, which a person growth in strength based, self determinate and empowering motives helps an individual understand more of the social development of their psyche and why they are as they are! So here is my understand, by which I see currently many values and concrete thoughts being developed within my life at the age of 7-8. I have only perfected these thoughts as I utilize them. At the core of the state incidences, the rooted variable that will remain and developed through my life is very vivid. In Jame Hillman's work, he details the importance of these childhood developing variables, which often remain as we mature into adulthood. If these variables are acknowledged early: the opportunity to fuel them becomes an empowering factor. http://www.scottlondon.com/interviews/hillman.html


CHILDHOOD REFLECTIONS OF DEVELOPMENT:

I at a young age,  K-12 always went about tolerance of others regardless of their expressions or actions towards me. I came across as very socially passive, but couldn't understand the aggression of social norms.Yet at time refuse to let myself be comprised on factors I felt were not fair.  In 3rd grade (first time) Taft Elementary in Santa Ana, CA. Our school was socially inter-grating at the time merging hearing impaired with non-hearing impaired to help over come educational and social differences. I recall my first outstanding teacher, Mrs. Davis who got disappointed with the lower level reading circles self acceptances of being the 'dum-dum group'.

One month she pulled several of us aside from the lower level group, took us in the library and explained what today I now know as educational reseach. Her theory was that we did poorly in the reading circle because of the other groups expectation and the text book. She then told us the importance of her theory and how we had the entire library as our text book, within our grade level. After choosing a book of our own decision and writing a report. The grade of that report and our performance would give access to the next grade level. Finally I loved to read and learn. Mrs. Baker proved to me that teachers are more than educators, they are empowerment providers. It was also in this same class that I easily would leave campus at lunch, walk to the park and have lunch there.

 I would return for class on time and no one noticed. Until one recess I was approached by two hall monitors questioning me about being on the other side of the campus alone. Their obligated duty resulted in me not only losing my freedom to utilize my recess and lunch to be alone  but also free time social involvement I did not desire at the time. Such activities as conventional sports and playground activities. My mother was told that the school thought more extra social collective activities would be a good ideal. My mother was overall cool knowing I was not interested in Little League, but being the military mother she is, thought the Cub Scouts would be a good thing. Well today I reflect back and laugh at the wit/ Freuds' subconscious behavior at work. I was determined to not cooperate because I didn't think it was fair. So I would intentional not wear my uniform correct, I would delay task to received a badge. The other scouts fully understood my opposition against them in our meetings. At school all was fine, but I made their objective difficult hoping for the day a realization occurred. It finally did when my mother and the Den Mother concluded maybe my interest are better else where.

To fully reflect disciplinary actions sometime lead to more serious behavior that must be attended to server and prompt. I had to repeat the 3rd grade because a new 'private-public' school was built and I had to attend. The code of conduct and expectation were higher. At such a honorable academic school, it became the social horror of the school district that a theft existed in the 3rd grade and identifying this individual was complicated taking longer than it should have. I was that theft, stealing from my 'favorite' teachers’ purse for unexplained reasons. Just to do it. I remember the detective coming several times and him one day telling us the seriousness of this. He informed the class that whoever the individual is will be caught. And one day fellow classmate could rest assured that person would be on an Most Wanted criminal poster. Eventually I got caught and several server action taken, especially at home. The tragedy was Mrs. Melton truly was my favorite teacher. Her father like mines was a performer/music, she lived music and travel like me. However the events which lead to the breaking of that bond I never fully understood why, but knew it was wrong and the implication of those actions.

INTERACTIVE DEVELOPMENT EXPRESSIVE COMMUNICATION:

A later in high school I remember one peer asking me if I recalled the incident. She wanted to make sure I remembered and that she 'prayed' for me knowing I was a good person, troubled but good. It was at that point I understood people who care (friends, family, and elders) will check on you time to time to time: verifying previous behavior has developed into something supportive and utilitarian in essence. Why, because unlike others you hold a higher standard you placed upon yourself, which helps others evaluate themselves. At no time had I denied the event, yet nor was it coffee table conversation except at home and extended family members. That peer helped realize early on people are understanding and people (like her) want to know a person had grown, come full circle and is not ashamed of their past which has made them what they are.  Reason why she is so relevant is after she questioned me I wonder why no one else brought the subject up.  It is imperative that in collective society, that this “Expressive” interaction is norm and always in effect.

EDS--KELLY SERVICES--LTV STEEL : Cleveland OH 1997-1999

EDS--KELLY SERVICES--LTV STEEL : Cleveland OH 1997-1999

I accepted a contract assignment in Cleveland, OH as conversion tech. Job duty depends on the nature of the corporation. Sometimes the corporation is/excepts increased future business, thus upgraded systems and training of current employees occur. Sometimes the corporation is going out of business and I sever as skeleton crew assistant. Thus in Cleveland, OH 1997, LTV STEEL CORPORATION was going through the logistics. The logistic companies to handle the logistics and consulting were E.D.S (plano, tx) and Anderson Consulting.

My assignment was under the company itself. We go floor to floor (in the B.P Building) department to department determining the skeleton crew. My duty work with each departments manager and their chosen employee to stay.  After the first department was made a skeleton. A decision was made between legals, if I were to continue in this skeleton crew, one of the consultant firms required I be removed for a week before I reentered for the next floor. The other was against it. And through some confusion, many exchanges happened. Seeming LTV STEEL was all the reflected this great nation in the steel industry and E.D.S and Anderson Consulting were the top consultant firms in the nation. And they both are hired to dissolve LTV Steel---some days you could feel the tension in the air.

My Kelly Service recruiter called me to the office and let me know, that the decision had been made, that I leave the building between floor changes. Thus she will be providing me with a week assignment to cover the work.  The first assignment was KEY BANK recep/admin asst. $1 million dollar account plus transfer in. This job lasted for the week by which Key Bank wanted to buy out my contract which was not possible. My recruit called me into the office and her statement..."Paul did not you tell me the only requirement for assignments, is that it was in the Steel Industry? "Yes". Then she explained the rest and that in the future the Vice President I was working under was going to find a solution to meet the requirement.

The solution was found and I had to leave the office again. I was sent to a stated: Recruiter from Plano, TX for an interview. When I enter the office there only him. He saw me and jump to explaining everything. Only one question for this job. How many lines-occupy an Excel spread sheet for a 8x10 paper? I expressed the wrong answer, I didn't know? He then told me about a different job that he thought I'd be perfect for. He stood up and expressed to the best qualities about me. The primary one being I can appear intimidating in the corporate business world. The preceded to ask me what I think about an event.  He explained the event. After he finished I replied, "Well I just don't think that fair?" "Your hired". Assignment at one of the steel mill plants. I would be working with 2 other temps who are leaving within a week. There are 3 engineers and clerk. The 3 engineers have not be able to produce at a reasonable leave. The job is identify antiquated inventory as far back as 1880.  There is only quanitative data and it is broken into different reports. All of the inventory that the company purchased must be identified for it's value and not one item had been identified.

Within 3 days me and the two other temps identified an item. By which I put together a pc, and sent a note on the mainframe. That caused a red alert at the main downtown office with both consultant firm. When I finally talked to my boss he informed me, that the floor supervisor saw his workers inviting me on a tour of the mill  and that I had the tip of my shoe over the entrance line, violating OSHA ruling, because I had no eye gear on, which some one was getting for. It's all fine. He then told me, I need to listen to what my Kellys Representative is going to tell me. He thank me and wished me luck.

My Kelly Representative, as I entered the office, approached me stating "Paul I'm sorry, but I have to repeat this again. Didn't you say you wanted to only be in the Steel Industry? " "Yes".  She then went on to tell me that EDS director want to give me a raise for the assignment (over $20 an hour) for the job that I had done so well. But she couldn't let him because I was of a different Kelly rank. I would have to be at Kelly Professional rank, which requires a B.A. So the most she could give me was a raise to $12 dollars and hour and I was employee of the month for 2 months, and E.D.S. had bought my contract out and I now will be working with E.D.S. who has bought out LTV Steels benefits department. My new assignment was going to be in the Employee Benefits Department at LTV Steel as the assistant to the administrator of Retiring Employees and Surviving Spouses. Our office was moved from Cleveland, OH to Lakewood, OH.

The problem with Kelly Service is that they should have provided me more information before simply doing the assignment transfer. Had she informed me that the position with EDS at LTV Steel requires a higer security back ground check. I would have desired to remain as I was with LTV Steel.

The assignment ended 1999 with a F.B.I string operation on a veteran hero involved pension theft. WOW what a shock!

The problem with EDS is that another temp (they would come in and out -2 of them) approached me at the end of my assignment and asked me, "What does it feel like to be the nation index consumer report specialist? I had no clue to what he meant and reminded him that I was not going to apply to EDS, because I didn't feel I was smart enough." He then went on the express, "They haven't told you yet and then reminded me of his comment regarding smart." He couldn't believe that I would think such thing and that EDS hires on an indifferent perspective seeming some department are in need of out of box thing. It make the team more beneficial. 



THIS IS WHY MARGRET FINN is such a heavy heavy complication on my mind, seeming I won't allow her doings to end up like the two corporation above---unattended to, brushed under the rug! Recently in L.A. I heard a gentleman express, "What kind of job, pays you on the  last day of work with the company? Which is so funny and raises questions.

GREYHOUND LOS ANGELES

Once again a business just can't seem to balance it's customer service teams and location workers.  Greyhound bus service this is long in being expressed; because I am still shocked at the service of the  Los Angeles terminal, that not only effected me, but 3 elderly females also.

2016/July L.A. to PHX at the L.A. terminal : I purchase my ticket with the cash ticket machine. The behind the counter announcer expressed all the buses that were scheduled and stop immediately at the one before mine. Not announcing mines nor the 2 elderly before me. The fact that after the counter announcer, announcement was made. There was an employee who seemed to direct the line. 10 minute to 5 minutes, he would go around shouting the bus number and destination of the present loading bus. It would be impossible for someone to not hear him. And yet my bus was loading when I wonder, why I haven't heard any bus announcements. And the 3 elderly ladies seem to feel the same.

When I approached the counter, there were 2 persons in front of me. The 3 elderly were behind me. Finally I reached the counter and the very rude clerk informed me, I had to buy a new ticket. My bus had only exited the terminal 15 minutes prior to me approaching the counter. The first ticket was purchased on the machine/with cash. This allows one to put anybodies name. I thought this county and state had determined that wrong. - Now this second ticket would have to be purchased at the counter, changing all the factors. The first and second ticket cost $20 each). I had to pay an additional $20 for the next bus. I felt that this was not responsibility to attend to. It seemed as if the entire terminal was taken over by a group of actors and work for hires. Who intentional did not announce two buses at all.

At the Phoenix terminal they had the  same machine:yet only credit cards, debits cards, prepaid cards (FDIC regulated) can be used. Keeping in order the name on the ticket much match the rider.

GREYHOUND, have you found it PROFITABLE$$$$$, collecting data from  your customer. Did you evenly provide "fare change" to them for being unconsently used in your research with these machines? I am only concerned about the second $20 dollars I had to pay, at the fault of your employees.

GREYHOUND, don't forget the best and most import thing about FREE enterprise is competition. Maybe you should consider the options that are available now (EL-PASO BUS) or Trailways. Maybe they understand true customer service better. I AM A VERY DISSATISFIED CUSTOMER.

Paul Dewitt Goree
pg-la2016@outlook.com

CIVIC SERVANT or CIVIL EMPLOYEE--

During these last days/months in Los Angeles...I have kept my disposition of R.E.D.U (still no answers-- the Margaret Finn -S.W.B.S in Phoenix is the most difficult due to lack of profession ethics.
I've been going around L.A. where serious disrespectful actions from civil employees have happen. Here is a re-post...http://paulgoree.blogspot.com/2016/10/regarding-issue-with-los-angeles-city.html

UPDATE: Photo of mly Ol' Glory Chiespirt Flag and Thoughts about Trumps Burning of an American Flag....SYMBOLISM

As promise, I will now display the actual flag, Second flag found in YMSD's (Yankwik Mexikayotl San Diego) new indigenous location in Balboa Canyons.  As stated in last Chiespirt was my real non-profit attempt. And this flag, represents my LIBERTY and FREEDOM. and this image.every.htmlhttp://paulgoree.blogspot.com/2016/11/2-ol-glory-flags-that-represent-every.html
with this drawing

Well since that post, My Ol'Glory has experienced much more. A fire. Thus one early morning (4:00AM) as I was walking to pavement street that I sleep at. I was walking through the garment district and noticed one of the buildings had a fire burning on a wooded antique type warehouse door.  As I approached the fire, several thoughts ran through my mind. Finally I came to the conclusion, 'well you should put this fire out!' That seemed the last and oddest thought. I intended to do that. But as it burned, I thought about what IF anything, DOES ANYTHING MEAN TO ANYONE ANY MORE? 

I didn't have to question myself about my intents, but DOES IT MATTER, WHO STARTED THE FIRE? Or about others around. NOPE and thus I thought, "well do like you have been doing since 3rd Grade in Santa Ana, CA. Put it out!" and I put it out with my Chiespirt Ol'Glory Flag.

So here are the remains of that flag. After realizing what I had done. The first thought that popped to mind, was "Well Ol'Glory, this ain't the first fire, you've experienced or have put out, UHM! RESILIENCE as those you aspirer such as me. Thus this flag in it's current state of condition will make it to SACAMENTO, CA.

As far as comments made by Donald Trump regarding the demeaning of American worth in acts such as burning Ol'Glory. I tend to think placing an American in jail for these acts are cross referenced in themselves and only aid us in demeaning ourselves, through THOSE who we elect to ADMINISTER This Great Democracy. Whoppi Goldberg is absolutely correct, WE THE PEOPLE, DO HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPRESS OURSELVES and if that leads to us, emotionally burning the flag: to prove how angered we are, then WE HAVE THAT RIGHT!

https://youtu.be/TiKkmUQ1PiA   (Whoppi Goldberg comment on Donald Trump)

2 OL' GLORY Flags that represent every AMERICANS RIGHT TO BE FREE!

NO 4th of July Flag 2016...and reason why I admit I DEFACED OL' Glory intentionally! Yes and I wrote on it exactly what this drawing states (since the real one got taken down in Los Angeles) I wrote that I waived this flag and my liberties to Margaret Finn at S.W.B.S seeming the McKinney Veto Act seems to give behavioral services the gist and power over homeless person. Where by behavioral case managers believe that all homeless person (85%) are user or abuser of substances. Here Margaret keep my OL'Glory and all she represent, which you may never know!

This flag, which I will parade up-state to San Francisco and then to Sacramento, I want to dedicate to all those who love/hated...but LET ME BE ME from K-12 in Santa Ana, CA. Because they of all others know my ways by which I have evolved to CHIESPIRT. I was Chiespirt always seeking to merge and the differences of others to bring society upward. Chiespirt was my real non-profit attempt. And this flag, represents my LIBERTY and FREEDOM.