Comments on: Non-Profit Workers and Food Stamps or What it Means to Me to be Black In AmeriCorps: By Jan Jugran http://www.mypeacecity.com/2009/10/24/non-profit-workers-and-food-stamps-or-what-it-means-to-me-to-be-black-in-americorps-by-jan-jugran/ nonviolence & social change Mon, 19 Apr 2010 04:14:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Jennifer http://www.mypeacecity.com/2009/10/24/non-profit-workers-and-food-stamps-or-what-it-means-to-me-to-be-black-in-americorps-by-jan-jugran/comment-page-1/#comment-3141 Jennifer Sat, 27 Mar 2010 03:00:10 +0000 http://www.mypeacecity.com/?p=767#comment-3141 Jan, Thank you for sharing this with me. As a white, I really hadn't seen it that way. We whites are typically pretty arrogant and can use some education from black folks. I like and need to be humbled. Hey and come over and eat Easter evening if you don't already have plans. That should save you a little bit on the food bills! -Sheep in Wolf's Clothes Jan, Thank you for sharing this with me. As a white, I really hadn’t seen it that way. We whites are typically pretty arrogant and can use some education from black folks. I like and need to be humbled. Hey and come over and eat Easter evening if you don’t already have plans. That should save you a little bit on the food bills! -Sheep in Wolf’s Clothes

]]> By: Courtney http://www.mypeacecity.com/2009/10/24/non-profit-workers-and-food-stamps-or-what-it-means-to-me-to-be-black-in-americorps-by-jan-jugran/comment-page-1/#comment-2158 Courtney Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:32:55 +0000 http://www.mypeacecity.com/?p=767#comment-2158 Jan, you know me well enough to know that I try to be enlightened and unbiased and self-aware when it comes to matters of race... hell, I take pride in it! But as a white person I am ALWAYS "unburdened by the weight of history, statistics, or stigma"... and I should never, ever forget that. Great writing. Thanks for keeping me honest. And thanks for your service. Jan, you know me well enough to know that I try to be enlightened and unbiased and self-aware when it comes to matters of race… hell, I take pride in it!

But as a white person I am ALWAYS “unburdened by the weight of history, statistics, or stigma”… and I should never, ever forget that.

Great writing. Thanks for keeping me honest. And thanks for your service.

]]> By: AM http://www.mypeacecity.com/2009/10/24/non-profit-workers-and-food-stamps-or-what-it-means-to-me-to-be-black-in-americorps-by-jan-jugran/comment-page-1/#comment-2042 AM Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:16:39 +0000 http://www.mypeacecity.com/?p=767#comment-2042 @Marquita: at least get a forbearance on your student loans! PLEASE?? That $200+ can make all the difference at the time you need it most. You can get up to 36 months of forbearance, 12 months at a time. @Marquita: at least get a forbearance on your student loans! PLEASE?? That $200+ can make all the difference at the time you need it most. You can get up to 36 months of forbearance, 12 months at a time.

]]> By: Marquita http://www.mypeacecity.com/2009/10/24/non-profit-workers-and-food-stamps-or-what-it-means-to-me-to-be-black-in-americorps-by-jan-jugran/comment-page-1/#comment-2009 Marquita Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:40:46 +0000 http://www.mypeacecity.com/?p=767#comment-2009 Jan this is a great article. I lost my job in Sept. and I'm battling with the same decision. unemployment definitely is not paying rent, bills, student loans and buying food. Sad to say I would rather mess up my credit than to let the cashier know that I receive food stamps.. Jan this is a great article. I lost my job in Sept. and I’m battling with the same decision. unemployment definitely is not paying rent, bills, student loans and buying food. Sad to say I would rather mess up my credit than to let the cashier know that I receive food stamps..

]]> By: jan http://www.mypeacecity.com/2009/10/24/non-profit-workers-and-food-stamps-or-what-it-means-to-me-to-be-black-in-americorps-by-jan-jugran/comment-page-1/#comment-2005 jan Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:06:16 +0000 http://www.mypeacecity.com/?p=767#comment-2005 jeannette--somebody told me the same thing when i used this as a discussion topic in americorps, that because it's not going to be a long-term or generational thing with me, i shouldn't think anything of it. but if i break out the food stamps card in a store, it doesn't have a label on it that says, "TEMPORARY RECIPIENT" or "IT'S JUST BECAUSE SHE'S IN AMERICORPS" or any other kind of exception. there might be lots of exceptions within the statistics, too--but nobody's pointing that out, ya know? i want to read your companion piece, ericka! jeannette–somebody told me the same thing when i used this as a discussion topic in americorps, that because it’s not going to be a long-term or generational thing with me, i shouldn’t think anything of it. but if i break out the food stamps card in a store, it doesn’t have a label on it that says, “TEMPORARY RECIPIENT” or “IT’S JUST BECAUSE SHE’S IN AMERICORPS” or any other kind of exception. there might be lots of exceptions within the statistics, too–but nobody’s pointing that out, ya know?

i want to read your companion piece, ericka!

]]> By: Ericka http://www.mypeacecity.com/2009/10/24/non-profit-workers-and-food-stamps-or-what-it-means-to-me-to-be-black-in-americorps-by-jan-jugran/comment-page-1/#comment-1998 Ericka Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:34:11 +0000 http://www.mypeacecity.com/?p=767#comment-1998 J - love your writing!! I could write a companion piece for you: What it means to be black in research. My funding is provided by the National Institutes of Health (government-run) and my research is completely devoted to the betterment of mankind. I have three (one, two, three) engineering degrees so far and I bring home a small amount of money. It's practically negligible when you add in the cost of living in New York. I am paid through a Fellowship. For some reason, NIH does not adjust the stipend for cost-of-living. My health insurance is not completely covered, I pay taxes, I pay my own tuition (my school sucks), I only get the major holidays, I get no summers, and I am expected to work at least 12 hours a day every day to graduate on schedule. I've often thought that doing doctoral research is a luxury for the few; generally, you see lots of upper- to upper middle-class people doing this in the City. If you look at the stats, there are very few blacks doing this. It's probably less about recruitment efforts and more about compensation so we can eat, etc. Thoughts? J – love your writing!!

I could write a companion piece for you: What it means to be black in research. My funding is provided by the National Institutes of Health (government-run) and my research is completely devoted to the betterment of mankind. I have three (one, two, three) engineering degrees so far and I bring home a small amount of money. It’s practically negligible when you add in the cost of living in New York. I am paid through a Fellowship. For some reason, NIH does not adjust the stipend for cost-of-living. My health insurance is not completely covered, I pay taxes, I pay my own tuition (my school sucks), I only get the major holidays, I get no summers, and I am expected to work at least 12 hours a day every day to graduate on schedule. I’ve often thought that doing doctoral research is a luxury for the few; generally, you see lots of upper- to upper middle-class people doing this in the City. If you look at the stats, there are very few blacks doing this. It’s probably less about recruitment efforts and more about compensation so we can eat, etc. Thoughts?

]]> By: Jeannette http://www.mypeacecity.com/2009/10/24/non-profit-workers-and-food-stamps-or-what-it-means-to-me-to-be-black-in-americorps-by-jan-jugran/comment-page-1/#comment-1997 Jeannette Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:05:41 +0000 http://www.mypeacecity.com/?p=767#comment-1997 Good article....i got on assistance in college (food stamps, heating assistance)....before the age of the internet where you had to go to the office and apply in person. I felt that embarrassment of applying for assistance, hoping no one would see me. However, i felt that I was different from others because I used it as a temporary fix. That's how you should view it as well....just something temporary. Good article….i got on assistance in college (food stamps, heating assistance)….before the age of the internet where you had to go to the office and apply in person. I felt that embarrassment of applying for assistance, hoping no one would see me. However, i felt that I was different from others because I used it as a temporary fix. That’s how you should view it as well….just something temporary.

]]> By: Mark T http://www.mypeacecity.com/2009/10/24/non-profit-workers-and-food-stamps-or-what-it-means-to-me-to-be-black-in-americorps-by-jan-jugran/comment-page-1/#comment-1874 Mark T Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:16:25 +0000 http://www.mypeacecity.com/?p=767#comment-1874 Great article Jan. Please write more. Great article Jan. Please write more.

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