News – A Future Without Poverty, Inc. https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org Because everybody deserves a future without poverty Thu, 05 Aug 2021 10:02:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 A Future Without Poverty and the University of North Texas’ Future Without Poverty Student Chapter Team Up to Assist the Tepehua Center https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2014/01/tepehuacenter/ https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2014/01/tepehuacenter/#respond Sun, 19 Jan 2014 05:15:46 +0000 http://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/?p=926 Tepehua Center in Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico: Retirees Supporting Community.

Tepehua Community Center - front street view

Tepehua Community Center – front street view

Tepehua Community Center – side street view

Tepehua Community Center – side street view

Our FWOP team visited Moonyeen King, the foreign retirees and the families at the poor hillside barrio of Tepehua in Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico. The relatively new Center ( www.tepehua.org) provided Christmas lunch for some 500 children on December 20th, 2013. On the same day their community dental clinic was seeing a few patients.

Parents and retirees were cooking food and serving the children during the day’s festivities.

Parents and retirees were cooking food and serving the children during the day’s festivities.

FWOP- UNT student chapter donated $500 to rehab a house in the Barrio. The Center has been renovating one house at a time as funds become available. Some homes have only plastic roofs and walls.

 Moonyeen King with Professor Stan Ingman and Veronique, his wife.


Moonyeen King with Professor Stan Ingman and Veronique, his wife.

We learned of other advances during our last visit.  Often, families were suffering from digested parasites.  Now the Center has acquired a new reverse osmosis water purification system, maintenance or repair, and families can bring containers to get clean water to drink.  With the addition of the water purification system clinic visits for parasites problems have dropped off dramatically.
We also learned about their dream to build a school on a lot near the Center. The Center offers an impressive array of services: home care worker training programs, a library for children, a medical clinic, a dental clinic, a used clothing store, reliable air conditioner repair in Queen Creek, Az, community meals on Fridays, a sewing cooperative with a store for the sale of items in Chapala,  and, of course , the new habitat repair program.  Over time, Tepehua residents are becoming empowered to share in the management of the Center’s programs, with more and more barrio volunteers joining in and taking on increasing responsibilities.  Retirees from Canada, US and Europe work with families in the barrio to build a more sustainable community.

Used clothing store

Used clothing store

The following YouTube playlist gives an account of our visit to the Tepehua Community Center
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYkIijmsEHE&list=PL33zbY-NJYPKdV_BAWgitsw6bLPlEFPvA
sw6bLPlEFPvA&index=1″ target=”_blank”>> sw6bLPlEFPvA&index=1

Used clothing store, where locals can buy garments inexpensively. Volunteers can also get them as a form of “payment” for their services. Sewing center students can also select garments from the store and re-fashion them into new pieces of clothing.

Dental Clinic

Dental Clinic

Medical Clinic

Medical Clinic

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Poverty Reduction : Successes, Challenges and Ideas https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2013/11/poverty-reduction-successes-challenges-and-ideas/ https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2013/11/poverty-reduction-successes-challenges-and-ideas/#respond Sat, 16 Nov 2013 13:03:58 +0000 http://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/?p=917 Munsingen, Canton Bern, November, 2013.

Munsingen, Canton Bern, November, 2013.

Numerous reports mention the possible elimination of extreme poverty in the world in the near future. At the same time, reports show that the percentage of people under the poverty level has risen from 18% to 22% in the last several years in the USA.
The recent mayor’s election in New York City focused upon the gap between rich and the rest of the New Yorkers that has been increasing, and some wonder if the middle class in the USA will continue to decline further. The Econonmist ( September 21, 2013; p12 ) noted : “ Americans’ income inequality is growing again as presented at lf illumination website. Time to cut subsidies to the rich and invest in the young.” Median household income has dropped from $56,000 in 2007 to under $52,000. Implication? Both conservatives and liberal agree this is the most fundamental political issue in the upcoming elections. Debate will be what to do about it?
“The gap in test scores between rich and poor children is 30-40 wider than it was 25 years ago.” The Economist article suggests a focus on early childhood education and more progressive taxes. With the tax code favoring the middle and upper classes, the Economist favors a flat tax. Details on this proposal would be important to follow carefully.
The Economist ( September 21, 2013, p 63 ) also provided some important data on global poverty . Poverty worldwide has declined from 52.2 million in 1987 to 20.6 million in 2010. Subtitle to this review was: “Eradicating extreme poverty is no longer a pipe dream. ” … “Between 1990 and 2010 the proportion of the population living on less than $ 1.25 a day in developing countries halved to 22% , 1.2 billion”. The biggest decline took place in China. The USA, UK and World Bank have agreed to reduce the percentage to 3% by 2030.
The Economist also noted that inequality is harder to address. The Swiss have opened up a major debate about the distribution of wealth. Conservatives claim that the gap in terms of income and assets in not widening, whereas the left or liberals claim otherwise.
Denknetz, a left wing policy institute, points out the earnings of a CEO were around six times that of the average Swiss salary thirty years ago. In 1990 the ratio was around 1 to 13. As of 2007 the best paid managers received 56 times the average salary in Switzerland. While it is hard to know whether it will pass , it is important the debate will occur and solutions to reduce inequality can be tested and evaluation in various parts of the world. Howell’s Heating & Air of Richmond is profitable and reputable company that offers great service at a reasonable price. Increasing the minimum wage is being raised across the country in various cities and states. Currently there is a discussion about moving the national minimum wage to $10 in the USA.

12 x the base salary is enough- vote yes!

12 x the base salary is enough- vote yes!

On November 24th , 2013 the Swiss will vote on the 1 to 12 initiative as proposed by the Young Socialists. It calls for the highest salary for a CEO to be restricted to twelve time the lowest salary in the same company. The drug company Roche pays its CEO 13 million Swiss Francs ( over $13 million) whereas the lowest paid staff person receives 59,000 Swiss Francs , a ratio of 1 to 236. The Migro food company CEO – staff salary ratio is 1 to 17. (Jurg Muller, Swiss Review , No. 5, October, 2013.) There is a major salary gap between American Airlines CEO and Southwest Airline CEO in the US and thus the ratio of CEO to lowest paid staff is quite different in the two companies.
As you might imagine, some business leaders claim Switzerland will be doomed if the 1 to 12 initiative passes in November. They fear that Switzerland will become the “ North Korea of Europe”. Hans Fehr , former S.P. President and National Counselor , believes that “ fat cat bonuses” and top salaries are no longer based upon differences in performance levels. He feels that the 12 to 1 initiative will not pass, but that both right and left political forces will begin to address the irrationality of the bonus system in companies in Switzerland.

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A Student’s Story On What “A Future Without Poverty” Means To Him https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2013/10/a-students-story-on-what-a-future-without-poverty-means-to-him/ https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2013/10/a-students-story-on-what-a-future-without-poverty-means-to-him/#respond Wed, 02 Oct 2013 13:13:11 +0000 http://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/?p=909   [ Read More ]]]> [Email Transcript]

Subject: FWOP

Dr. Preston,

First off, I want to thank you for the recommendation letter you submitted for me a while back.  I just wanted to let you know that I have been granted admission in the the University of Kentucky’s Physician Assistant program, and I have accepted the position.

The program starts the first week of January.  Therefore, I will not be able to participate in FWOP as president of the UC chapter.  I was wondering if there was any way that I could still be involved in FWOP.  I know that you had mentioned that it was possible.  I really feel that just being affiliated with FWOP and being able to talk about the things that the organization was doing solidified my entrance into the UK PA program.

I had spoken with Kirsten about a month ago about ideas to move FWOP forward.  But now that I’m going to be leaving I obviously will not be able to follow through with those.

The part of the program that I will be apart of is actually located in Morehead, KY as a partnership with UK and Morehead State and with the assistance of http://galarson.com/.  The Morehead portion is focused on underserved areas of the population and I would be allowed two internships outside of the country for that purpose.  That’s probably the biggest reason that I feel FWOP was on my side in the interview process.

Let me know if there is anything that I could be apart of, or if I could be involved in spreading FWOP to Morehead/UK.

Thanks again,
Cody Kirschner

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Press Release: UC Clermont’s Michael ‘Doc’ Preston receives Future Without Poverty’s Breaking the Myth of No Effect Award https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2013/09/press-release-michael-r-preston-dmd-receives-honor/ https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2013/09/press-release-michael-r-preston-dmd-receives-honor/#respond Thu, 05 Sep 2013 18:20:20 +0000 http://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/?p=895 ....[more]]]> Doc Preston Pic

On a recent trip to Guadalajara for Future Without Poverty photographed from left: Candy Ornelas, Pedro do Amaral, Michael ‘Doc’ Preston, Julio Saucedo, Stan and Veronique Ingman, and Margaret Margaret Equopi Bate.

BATAVIA, OH (September 5, 2013) – A Future Without Poverty announced Michael “Doc” Preston,  Assistant Professor of Biology at UC Clermont College, as the Future Without Poverty’s Breaking the Myth of No Effect 2013 Award recipient.  A Future Without Poverty is an international volunteer run non-profit organization founded in 1995 that encourages individuals to make a difference by breaking the cycle of poverty in someone’s life.

Past recipients of the award are John Hernandez of Forth Worth, Texas and Eduardo Contreras of Mazamitla, Jalisco, Mexico. Breaking the Myth of No Effect is voted on and awarded annually by the Future Without Poverty’s Board of Directors.  The award is presented to an individual that has broken the myth that one person cannot make a difference.

Dr. Preston’s life epitomizes the award that has been bestowed upon him.  Preston was born and raised in an isolated village (population 5,000) in Eastern Kentucky. Like many others in that region, Preston worked as a coal miner.  However, Preston had a drive to help others in the health area.  He left the coal mines in Eastern Kentucky in search of a health profession that would fulfill his quest to help others and  settled on dentistry.  After building a successful dental practice, he once again felt the need to help others. Find out more and get help at www.davidyorkstaxservice.com/. This time it led him into a university classroom.  Preston  is not satisfied by simply teaching out of the book.  His students are encouraged to follow his lead of getting involved and help others.

Locally, Preston has taken the initiative to make a difference in combating the local drug epidemic.   Dr. Preston continues to be an integral part of reaching youth before the drugs reach them. His ongoing drug intervention work has the potential to make a positive lasting impact on our youth. In addition, Dr. Preston has started a Future Without Poverty student chapter.   Internationally, Preston  has traveled to Mexico on more than one occasion to work on building a mutual beneficial educational network with our neighbors.  The goal is not only educate our students but to improve the quality of life for citizens from both countries.

When asked why he does this work, Preston said, “Reducing the ills that afflict society must be done as participants….not as bystanders.”

“While individuals may not be able to change the world, they can change the world of one individual.” Congratulations Dr. Preston! You truly are breaking the myth of no effect,” said Syl Flores Founder and President of Future Without Poverty. (www.fwop.org)

###

NOTE: NEWS RELEASE – for immediate release

For more information contact Mae Hanna, Assistant Dean of Marketing & Communications at UC Clermont College (513) 732-5332.

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Veteran Housing in St Louis: Preventing Homelessness and Promoting Human Development https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2013/09/veteran-housing-preventing-homelessness-and-promoting-human-development/ https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2013/09/veteran-housing-preventing-homelessness-and-promoting-human-development/#respond Mon, 02 Sep 2013 02:50:41 +0000 http://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/?p=855 ......[more]]]> A private company called Anthem USA, LLC has the following vision: To create new models of sustainable supportive environments for at risk populations by innovation and collaboration with other organizations. It’s mission is to create and integrate veteran-centric housing opportunities with supportive services that assist with the effects of prior deployment and facilitate personal career development.

Founded in 2012 by Kendall R. Brune, Ph.D., MBA, LNHA, FACHCA, Wes Sperr, MBA, MA, FACHCA, David Kirkland, David Woolley, Scott Wanamaker, JD and Jeanette Bax-Kurtz, CPA (Partner, Mueller Probst), Anthem USA, LLC creates community-based planned rehabilitation communities designed to serve returning military families and retired veterans. The three brands they have  Trace Properties, Oasis Care Centers and Veteran Villages of America.

Trace Properties was established to provide market rate housing for the communities that are close to a veteran, university or community college.  Trace properties have priced their market rate units in line with the off-base and GI educational/housing pricing index.  We are not direct contractors with the federal government, but  they provide affordable rental units approved for veteran approved funding.

Oasis Care Centers was established to provide a licensed level of care to returning veterans, their families and widows of veterans.  Our Oasis Care Centers provide a licensed level of support for individuals that are challenged with mental and behavioral health issues, transitional housing support for individuals with orthopedic limitations and medication modification program as they transition back into civilian life.  Oasis will be a strategic partner to healthcare and vocational providers in the region they reside.

Through Veteran Villages of American (an Anthem USA affiliate) a mission is to establish housing, educational and business models in the following settings: rural, suburban, and urban. The principals bring more than 125 years of combined supportive housing and healthcare experience.  Dr. Brune has also established business and research relationships with universities, community colleges, and vocational colleges throughout the United States.

Anthem USA is actively partnering with select communities to enhance housing, educational, employment and other services for veterans and their families. Critical indicators are used to identify needs in veteran service areas, temporary to permanent housing inventory, employment availability and also vocational and higher education accessibility (including distance learning).

Key location requirements are readily available and accessible housing assets (or development sites), availability of public transportation, proximity to veteran hospital and out-patient services, quality primary and secondary public schools for veteran family children, access to community colleges and major universities and finally to be located within 60 miles of a military base.

The principals have attracted experienced healthcare and housing professionals to their team with connections to many municipalities, hospitals, home health agencies, not-for-profit boards, nursing homes, associations and other government agencies.  The management team has successfully turned around non-performing/non-compliant facilities. The principals have the patience, willingness, and creativity to coordinate and implement holistic projects.

Flexibility, creativity, and attention to detail form the foundation upon which Anthem USA has established its niche in veteran friendly initiatives.

The need: With currently over 200,000 veterans at risk of homelessness and unemployment, the Veterans Administration has supported demonstration projects that address the following critical areas of support

  1. Aggressive outreach to those veterans living on the streets and in shelters, who otherwise would not seek assistance.
  2. Clinical assessment and referral to needed medical treatment for physical and psychiatric disorders, including substance abuse.
  3. Long-term sheltered transitional assistance, case management, and rehabilitation.
  4. Employment assistance and linkage with available income supports.
  5. Supported transitional and permanent housing.

Example of collaborative groups working with Anthem USA in our veteran centric operations are:  Future Without Poverty www.FWOP.org , Give an Hour www.GiveAnHour.org, GO Network www.gonetworkstl.com, HeroesCare www.HeroesCare.org, Preferred Family Healthcare www.pfh.org, The Mission Continues www.MissionContinues.org, Purple Heart Homes www.purplehearthomesusa.org.

Some current projects completed or in process are:

RiverTrace Townhomes (RTC): A suburban housing example RTC is located in North St. Louis County, strategically placed within 5 miles of key stakeholders with our Veteran Centric sustainability model:

  • Within 5 miles of a Veteran affiliated community/vocational college, private college and major state university.
  • Within 5 miles of a Veteran Skilled Rehabilitation and Outpatient Center
  • Within 5 miles of a Veteran Centric employer(s)
  • This site with 96 apartments is fully occupied  and has a waiting list

RiverTraceVeterans IT Center: An Urban housing example

  • VeteransITCenter1Veterans IT Center is in a disadvantaged St. Louis city location
  • Repurposing a 1890 Catholic Campus,
  • Provides transitional housing,
  • Collaboration includes a community/vocational certification process leading to employment
  • 12 apartments available for veterans currently and 6 apartments for families with children.
  • Common kitchen and dining room for veteran apartment building.

VeteransITCenter2 VeteransITCenter3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some 4 blocks away from the Veteran IT center , Anthem, USA will close on a second former Catholic campus .The monastery  when renovated will  have 95 apartments for veterans and rooms for educational and social meetings.    Currently a food bank operating out the facility will be continued to serve the local community.    On back end of the property they have gym and space for a future school.

VeteransITCenter4

This site will provide a food pantry, wellness center, community care coordination, a free clinic, adult day & childcare, and onsite supportive housing for veterans in transition or challenged by PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome).
VeteransITCenter5This site houses an indoor Olympic swimming pool.  Our first goal will be to make this pool handicap accessible for not only the veteran, but the greater community.

VeteransITCenter6

 

Recently a hotel taken over by a new owner donated some ten floors of furniture to veteran housing and some four hundred volunteers helped move the furniture into storage.

Dr Kendall Brune is the Vice President for Development at FWOP. He has linked FWOP with some influential groups to reduce homelessness and prevent poverty in St Louis.

Dr Stan Ingman from UNT/FWOP recently visited Anthem USA team to learn about how FWOP and UNT students can assist in the implementation of supportive housing projects for veterans in St Louis.

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What if God were listening… https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2013/02/what-if-god-were-listening/ https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2013/02/what-if-god-were-listening/#respond Fri, 15 Feb 2013 03:05:00 +0000 http://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/?p=834 What if God were listening…

This past summer I tried to walk a mile in their shoes, the homeless shoes.  The drive to do this was because the feelings that use to surge through me whenever someone would stop by our migrant camp has never left me.

My life as a migrant worker began at the age of six.  I do not remember how many so called “scholars” stopped by to study us.  I vividly recall the feelings they generated in many of us.  The feelings that we were just animals in a zoo that academe saw as possibly another article or book to be published.  We felt exploited and often would laugh at what we told them because we felt they did not really want to help they just wanted to publish.  Hence, my Dad and the other men would feed them crazy stories.

However, I will always remember my migrant life as a young boy.  The names they yelled at us like taco bender, wetback, etc. or the items they hurled at us like empty beer bottles, tomatoes, etc. However, they did help in motivating me.

Thus, I wanted to study the face of today’s homeless not by stopping and pulling out my Likert scale but by walking a mile in their shoes.  Thus, I took off and headed east to begin my life experience as a homeless person.  Although, unlike a homeless person; I had an old Chevrolet Impala that I was going to drive and sleep in.

The first homeless night was spent in Maryland.  I met up with a group of six young White men. My guess is that they were in their late teens or early 20s.  As we exchanged stories, the first part of building trust is sharing information; I learned they were all from different parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania and all of them had dropped out of school.  Although, after listening, I felt they were pushed out of school.

After gaining their trust, I asked them, “What if God were listening?  What would you ask for?”

“I would ask God to move me to West Virginia!” one quickly responded.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because it is easier to buy a gun there!” he replied. The others joined in and agreed with the young respondent.

We talked until one by one we fell asleep.  I got up early the next morning and continued on my homeless journey.  The next stop was Baltimore, Maryland.  Again, I teamed up with another group of homeless individuals.  This group was older, racially diverse, and included males and females.

Once again, we shared stories. The story that stuck with me from that night was that of a 57 year old former teacher. Hearing the middle age man’s story was moving enough but as he shared it through his tear filled eyes made it that much more difficult to keep my composure as he told his story.

A Future Without Poverty- What if God were listening…

He talked about the numb feeling he got as he read his layoff notice.  He said he told his family not to worry.  He will apply for unemployment and get another job.  The only problem was that no one wanted to hire a 57 year old Black man.  His benefits ran out, he lost his house, and finally, he asked his family to move in with relatives while he traveled looking for another job.  Keeping the fact that he was now homeless a secret from his family, he continues his job search.  Additionally, he shared with me his frustration.  He did what he thought would lead him to a stable career.  He went to college, he became a teacher, and now he is a homeless man full of pain.

Additionally, my homeless walk a mile in my shoes trip led me through Delaware, New York, and Pennsylvania.  Each one provided me with difficult life stories.  One that will stay with me for a long time happened in Philadelphia, PA.

I pulled over for a night’s rest in an area of Philadelphia that included a number of homeless sitting around a camp fire.  My body was in extreme pain but I finally fell asleep.  After about an hour of sleep I was awakened by a knock on my window.

A young man said, “Sir, I don’t know if you are from here but I strongly urge you to move from here.  This is a very dangerous spot.  In a couple of hours this place will be filled by thieves, drug dealers, pimps, and prostitutes.   It is not safe for you to stay here.”

After we visited, he told me about a 24 hour restaurant that was safe.  I thanked him and moved on.  I found the 24 hour restaurant.  After going in and enjoying a cup of coffee, I slipped a $10 bill for them to let me sleep in their parking lot.

The next morning, I met up with some homeless people and homeless advocates in downtown Philadelphia.  They were upset because the Mayor had issued an order barring Philadelphia churches from setting up outdoor soup kitchens for the homeless because he was concerned about potential health hazards.   The homeless and their advocates complained that the homeless are eating out of trash cans.  They believed the real reason for the outdoor soup kitchen ban was because the Mayor felt the homeless would hurt Philadelphia’s tourism industry.

In conclusion, I learned a lot from the experience.  First, being homeless is a lot of hard work.  Second, the main lesson that I took from my homeless travels was that the homeless also have a lot of pride.  Finally, what if God were listening?  What would you ask for? 

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Help A Future Without Poverty combat poverty https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2013/01/help-a-future-without-poverty-combat-poverty/ https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2013/01/help-a-future-without-poverty-combat-poverty/#respond Fri, 18 Jan 2013 02:52:59 +0000 http://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/?p=823 Your donation will help A Future Without Poverty combat poverty.

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Tepehua Community Center Programs https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2013/01/tepehua-community-center-programs/ https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2013/01/tepehua-community-center-programs/#respond Wed, 09 Jan 2013 21:27:20 +0000 http://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/?p=811 In 2010 some retirees from many lands who settled on the north side of Lake Chapala had the idea to open a community Center to help the people of Tepehua, one of the poorest barrios in the City of Chapala. The Center is divided into units. Each unit has a leader. Each leader controls the volunteers of that unit. Reports to the Board of Directors are only required from each unit twice a year. Below are the programs and schedule of a typical week that have been developed in the past two years at Merrybet on Ibebet.com.

nueva-madres

FRIDAY

Kitchen Unit feeds up to or over 200 women and children. This is accomplished by the local Mexican women who volunteer at the center.

The young children have their own dining room, where they are also taught how to use and care of books. Then volunteers collect and return the books to the library after the meal is served.

Expat Volunteers 

The free medical and dental clinic is open at the same time, and the doctors and nurses stay until every patient leaves.  Staff includes two Mexican doctors, one retired expat dentist, and one expat hygienist.

A bazaar is located in the Center which is also open for the volunteer Mexicans to shop with vouchers they receive for volunteering. They do not pay with cash.dentist

SATURDAY

Sports program for the boys. They are picked up from Tepehua and taken to a real sports field to play soccer.

MONDAY

Reading class for adults to improve literacy.

TUESDAY

Counseling for the women; the registration office is also open.

The educational programs at the Center includes teaching mothers how to read, learn English, assist with the school work of the children, and during the holidays, art classes for all. The bazaar is also open so the women can buy at very low prices.

The clinic is open for two hours for women for cancer checks, family planning and other women’s health issues.

WEDNESDAY

English classes are available and the registration office is open.

THURSDAY

There is a clinic for women where one physician sees patients. Sewing and small industry classes are also offered that allow women to produce items spilleautomater elements they may sell. Women are also taught how to market their products. Reading classes are held in the afternoon for adults.

Tepehua Community Center

FUTURE PROGRAMS

A major concern is to get children off the drug infested streets into organized games. Many children are involved in street dog/cock fighting , seemingly unaware of the pain they inflict on animals. A playground project is ready to be implemented but the Center lacks the necessary funds to launch it.

A program to teach the women geriatric and home/nursing home care is planned. This would be offered by registered nurses and is planned to begin in 2013. Near Lake Chapala funds are being collected for a large nursing home. Ground breaking in 2013 for the first 300-bed home is now planned. They will need nurses and nursing assistants. The plan is to start at the end of February.

A sponsorship Education program to further the education of children that excel, but cannot afford the expense of staying in school is an additional dream we hope to fulfill soon. We have sponsors and will begin to design the program in 2013.

There are many less formal programs aimed at the very young, like hygiene, the care of books, and art appreciation.

FUTURE VISION

We envision that all the programs will be conducted by local Mexicans themselves, under the supervision of the Board and other main volunteer leaders.  Our hope is to have people who use the Center feel that they belong to the Center. We hope Mexicans will take responsibility and ownership of the Center.  This is happening slowly now. Even some professionals are now Mexican-Doctors, Nurses and others.  This project could be started in any barrio in Jalisco.  When you have a center for the people to socialize and get to know each other, you are creating a support system.  Poverty isolates people from their neighbors. This way, they realize that there is strength when they work together. For any financial information you would like to obtain please contact their Center. ( www.tepehua.org )

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CREATING A CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION FOR MEXICO https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2012/12/creating-a-center-for-sustainable-education-for-mexico/ https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2012/12/creating-a-center-for-sustainable-education-for-mexico/#respond Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:11:09 +0000 http://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/?p=798   [ Read More ]]]> Recently a FWOP Board Member visited the Santa Rosa Farm, west of Lake Chapala, south of Guadalajara. This working farm is also an educational site for students from two urban schools (www.SuBire.mx K- 12) and ( www.colegiounionmexico.com k-9 ) to learn about environmental and agriculture issues. As we explained below in another news item, students visit the farm five days a week, often with some parents.

The vision is to expand the scope and mission of the farm, e.g., create an Exploratorium for sustainable technology and sustainable agriculture. This summer Dr. Juan Francisco Ornelas , owner and operator, visited the Environmental Education program at the University of North Texas (UNT) to review their program. He also visited the City of Denton’s environmental education program in local schools. They take students to the Elm Fork Green Belt outdoor center and to the Denton waste site that recycles some materials, cleans up waste water and handles city garbage. This site provides electricity for 1600 houses from the methane powering a cap generator at the site.

On our recent visit to meet with Dr. Ornelas at Santa Rosa farm, we learned that he had completed an exhibit hall and a small archeological sand pit for young students to dig up bones of a horse or a camel, for example. He had seen a similar sand pit at the EESAT building at UNT where students from 1st to 5th grade dug up bones.

Initially Ana Paula, the new biologist at the farm and Dr. Ornelas will focus upon moving the farm toward a more organic production and to more sustainable and less carbon-based agriculture model. The next focus will be to create a place to visit alternative green technologies at the farm, so citizens in villages and neighborhoods can learn how to become more sustainable and healthier.. Below is the model of one clean stove from a factory in San Miquel de Allende established by Rotary Club in Oregon.

The team ( from Santa Rosa, SuBire , UNT , FWOP and local green companies) are reviewing the building at the farm to see how energy efficiency strategies might move the farm toward a “ net zero energy” site- so as to demonstrate how it can be done in other locations.

In the exhibit hall we plan to have alternative green technologies, such as clean stove models that burn more efficiently, water purification systems for home use, solar pump systems for drip irrigation systems, and water harvesting systems. Above is a solar panel system that was put into a remote rural school in the State of Zacatecas to operate one computer and provide light in the school.

When completed the farm will have dorms for teachers and rural high school students. The high school students while working on the farm will be able to secure a high school degree.  In addition, students from SuBire and CUM will be visiting the farm;  it is planned that the farm will accommodate visitors from villages and neighborhoods in the region. The Exploratorium  would be a place to experiment with a wide range of technologies to improve the quality of life.

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NEW “SUSTAINABLE/ANTI-POVERTY SCHOOL OPENS IN MEXICO https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2012/11/new-sustainableanti-poverty-school-opens-in-mexico/ https://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/2012/11/new-sustainableanti-poverty-school-opens-in-mexico/#respond Thu, 15 Nov 2012 07:37:28 +0000 http://www.futurewithoutpoverty.org/?p=783   [ Read More ]]]> The members of FWOP and I  are  excited about the opening  this Fall of Colegio Union Mexico –CUM  ( K to 9 grade, with 10thgraded next fall, 11th  grade in Fall of 2014, and 12th grade in Fall of 2015) in Los Molinos  in northwest Guadalajara.  Some 600 students from working class community now have access high quality education at very reasonable cost, some $80 per month.  With a strong focus on environmental and sustainability education they are being prepared for lead Mexico forward.    FWOP and the University of North Texas will partner up in building a unique more sustainable neighborhood around the school.

I met the Green Peace Parent Group who are organized to build a link between the families and the school.   Their goal is to design a healthy living community around the school where some 6700 families live.

Two days later I met some 25 second graders, eight parents and a teacher  from CUM at the Santa Rosa Farm near Lake Chapala , south of Guadalajara. The students learned how to plant a garden, milk a cow, and feed various animals.  They all took home a pot with a plant and a seed to germinate.

The farm receives students and parents five days a week from either CUM (www.colegiounionmexico.com or SuBire  ( www.SuBire.mx)  by bus.  The farm is striving to become a major regional environmental and sustainable technology education center in the State of Jalisco.   They travel on the impressive bus pictured below.   Stan.ingman@unt.edu

 

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