A Day at a Community Farm in Little Haiti

On January 28 2012 the Dreamers took a very interesting field trip to an urban/community farm in the Little Haiti community of Miami, Florida. As the school bus drove to the location, Dreamers were surprised and skeptical to believe that a farm actually existed somewhere in between the houses and apartment buildings off 76th street. But they were pleasantly surprised...

This urban farm sits on approximately 2 acres of land and is located behind a house, all owned by Ray Chasser. Dreamers walked through the house, entered the backyard, and suddenly found themselves on an farm! Unlike a farm in Texas, Mr. Chasser's farm was less traditional, but was eccentric and eclectic: potted-turtle-shaped plants; music playing in the background; road signs and other postings that normally would seem out of place, but fit right in; and other little artifacts (shells and empty coconuts hanging from trees). All of these details made the farm so much more unique and inviting.

Mr. Chasser first began the field trip by sharing with the Dreamers how and why he started the farm. Mr. Chasser purchased the home at a time when drugs and crime was at an all time high in the Little Haiti area. He wanted to create a haven for the youths in the area as well as provide a healthier food source for the members of community. Today, community members are able to purchase goat milk, eggs, papayas, ackee, mangoes, collard greens, peppers, and honey from Mr. Chasser!

Dreamers began the tour by feeding the animals (mostly goats, an Emu, turkey, and a pig). The Dreamers also learned about the compost techniques that Mr. Chasser uses...the most interesting was human waste!! As Dreamers ventured further onto the 2 acre farm, tree houses, and an outdoor bathroom and kitchen appeared. People actually live in the tree houses!!

Few interesting facts Mr. Chasser shared:
1. Chickens can lay approximately 300 eggs per year
2. A rooster is NOT needed for a chicken to lay an egg
3. Chicken-Rooster=eggs found in the store
4. Chicken+Rooster=eggs, that if kept at a certain temperature for 21 days, hatch into baby chickens
5. Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the nation's bird because it has traces of red, white, and blue

Hope you all enjoy the pictures!!

Thank you Ray Chasser for opening up your home and the farm to I Have A Dream-Overtown Inc.

Owner, Ray Chasser

Alejandro feeding an Emu

Treehouse

Compost

Collard Greens (left) and Green Peppers (right)

Papaya Tree

Warm eggs laid by chickens!

MLK Day of Service: A Day ON, Not A Day OFF

January 16th is a day when most schools and businesses are closed. Many students and working adults are happy when this day of the year approaches because it is one less day of the week that they have to attend school or go to work. As a result, many spend the day relaxing.

But when people realize the importance of this day, that this, the birth date of activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., January 16 takes on a new meaning. No longer are people only concerned about relaxing and attending a parade, but a need a to "serve others" is inspired. Dr. King once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"

To answer the above question, on January 16th 2012, twenty-two Dreamers, along with hundreds of other students and community volunteers, joined City Year-Miami on a beautification project at Miami Northwestern Senior High School. Opening in 1955, the high school was the first vocational school of its kind in a generation to serve African-American Miamians. Today, Miami Northwestern continues to serve predominately Black students and is a landmark in the Liberty City area. Knowing its history and the "B" status the school has received, Miami Northwestern was a perfect place to host MLK Day of Service.

Hundreds of people were dispersed around the entire school painting and gardening. The Dreamers were responsible for painting the Reading Hallway on the third floor and did a great job!! A special THANK YOU to City Year-Miami and all the Dreamers who attended!!



Volunteers gather in the Courtyard for the Opening Ceremony

 

Dreamers hard at work :)

Our future artist



MDCPS Superintendent: Alberto Carvalho:
"Collectively we get to see a better tomorrow..."



Day At The Holocaust Memorial

"Developing the whole child, academically, socially, and emotionally are all targets of IHAD" are words written in a grant proposal and were exemplified on Monday, December 19 2011. This Monday marked the first weekday of the Winter Break, but the Dreamers still made the conscious decision to attend a field trip at the Holocaust Memorial.

The small group of Dreamers learned about the Holocaust (1933-1945): the persecution of Jews, gypsies, Methodists, and homosexuals by Hitler's regime who considered the previously mentioned groups to be inferior and responsible for the economic state of European Germany at the time. This history lesson and tour were facilitated by actual Holocaust survivors Mrs. Riva Rosenblat and Mr. Maurise Trojanowski. Mrs. Rosenblat actually shared how her family hid in forests at that time and how here grandmother died in a concentration camp after a few days.

The Dreamers really soaked up the information that were given this day. Not only were they alert to what was being shared by the survivors, but they asked great questions!! Through their questions, we learned many things: the term "ghetto" was coined during the Holocaust when Jews were restricted to certain parts of the city and underwent curfews and rationing of food; "Holocaust" means "sacrifice by fire"; twins were experimented on during the Holocaust; Jews were stripped of their names/identity and branded with a number as a new form of identification; and many members of Hitler's regime moved to Argentina after the Holocaust ended.

The Memorial has a mural illustrating the history of the Holocaust. At the center of the Memorial, is a large hand sculpture with people coiled around it. Mrs. Rosenblat asked the sculptor what's the meaning behind the structure and his response was, "What does it mean to you?" Mrs. Rosenblat's interpretation of it is: a hand reaching up to God.

The following pictures will give followers of this blog a glimpse of what the Dreamers experienced on this day. But, if given the chance, visit the Memorial on your own...it is a great experience whether you are of Jewish descent or not. Again, a special THANK YOU to Mrs. Rosenblat and Mr. Trojanowski for sharing their stories!!

Dreamers gather around to hear the Survivors speak

The tour begins

Sign at the entrance of a labor camp. It means "work will set you free." Forced to make this sign, the Jews turned the "B" upside down...a subtle, yet brave act of resistance.

Jewish twins underwent very invasive experiments and were left to perish afterwards

Written on the walls of this tunnel were names of the many concentration camps

A torch with "XXIII Psalm" written below

A list (not a complete one) of families persecuted during the Holocaust...



Holocaust Survivors Mrs. Rosenblat and Mr. Trojanowski (center) & the Dreamers



Go Buccaneers!!!

To reward the Dreamers who are doing academically well and to welcome the Winter Break, Dreamers attended a men's basketball game at Barry University on Saturday, December 10 2011. The Dreamers have already traveled to Barry University for a college tour, so most were very familiar with the campus. Unlike a college tour, which is more academically driven, this field trip was more recreational. It allowed Dreamers to relax from the regular hustle and bustle of high school, as well as spend time with their mentors, who were kind enough to attend the game as well!

Although the Buccaneers suffered a lost against St. Thomas University (67-70), the game was very exciting, especially the last half. The half time performance was also great: competitive jump rope routines performed by elementary and middle school students. They were super talented!

It was a nice Saturday. Thank you to all the mentors who attended!

November Enrichments With MDC Honor College Students

Miami-Dade College professor, Alex Salinas, has had a long standing relationship with the Dreamers. He has known them since they were in first grade and has always enlisted the help of his college students to work with the Dreamers on various engaging activities and the month of November was no different.

For three days in November, students from MDC's Honors College at Inter-American Campus decided to have a series of enrichments entitled "College Advice from ACTUAL College Students."


Professor Salinas addresses a group of 32 Dreamers



November 2 2011: Day One
The first day was great! It began with the icebreaker "Connect." One person begins the game by standing up and stating their name and sharing something about themselves, such as hobby or favorite food. People in the audience are then suppose to shout "connect," run up, and link arms with the person standing if they share something in common. It was a nice way to introduce everyone and share something unique. A short presentation was then given by student Leana Ramos about the college experience and the requirements for getting into college. Topics mentioned were: having a high GPA; using your interests and hobbies to help decide on a major; and study habits. Very important information! The first day ended with another icebreaker "Agree/Disagree", in which students moved to opposites ends of the room to show their approval or disapproval for certain issues/questions. Some questions asked were: will money solve all problems? is age a factor in wisdom? This icebreaker sparked great conversation among the Dreamers.
 

"Connect"
   

November 23 2011: Day Two

For the first activity, Dreamers divided into three groups. The task was to build a tower using note cards. The catch: Dreamers had to use ONE hand and NO talking was allowed. For 10 minutes the room was completely quiet while Dreamers worked on the task, which was very funny to watch! Dreamers Estrella, Precious, & Jaimesha said "creativity", "eye contact", and "team work" were necessary to complete the task. Well done ladies!!

The day ended with the Dreamers breaking up into small interest groups: arts, law enforcement, engineering, medical, psychology, and business. Each group was headed by one or two college students who were able to answer questions about those majors. Dreamers we very engaged. They were speaking to people who are actually majoring in the same thing they want to do in college.

The artistic group

Our future engineers :)

November 30 2011: Day Three

The MDC students welcomed Dreamers with Chinese food! For this day, Dreamers were asked to showcase a talent. As such, Myeisha, Emanuella, Jamee, and Jaimesha performed a dance for the entire group :) The day ended with a one of the college students showcasing his karate skills...he is a black belt!!

Ladies, you made Cristian Mena very happy!

Awesome karate skills...wished I videotaped it instead

Professor Salinas' lesson: "The words 'thank you' and 'thought' are cousins. To say 'thank you' means to 'have you in my thoughts'." Throughout the three days that the MDC students worked with the Dreamers, they always began each day by saying "thank you." Thanks to professor Salinas' lesson, those common words take on a new meaning.

A very special thank you to Professor Salinas, Professor Gonzalez, Dr. Feignbaum, Persaud Dharam, & ALL the Honor College students who came to spend time with the Dreamers. The Dreamers have been on numerous college tours, but through the November enrichments, you allowed them to view the college experience through a different lens. We will always have you in our thoughts too!!