For Woolman: an educational community with a purpose and a heart!
I found your website tonight when searching for more info on the plight of the U'wa tribe in No. Columbia (after watching an unusual program: Phenomenon: the Lost Archives' "Keeping the Faith").
Katherine (Spring 2010) had written a piece on this tribe's struggle against OXY, a struggle that had escaped my notice until tonight.
What I learned was exciting. What I found on your school's website is exhilarating!!
Also enjoyed Marijke's piece in time for Halloween, "Make it Slavery Free." Keep up the good work, and the next time I'm nearby, I'll check in for a visit!
For the opportunity to live in a community where I can participate in a simple and sustainble lifestyle. I am so appreciative of all the work we do together to keep Woolman humming. Where else could I come home to a woodpile stacked on my porch, share in the bounty of a beautiful garden, and only have to do the dishes a three times a week?!?
On Nov 11, 2010, Sarah Mattox said:
I am grateful that Woolman is thriving, ever-evolving, and striving to be a kind, whole, and inclusive place on this earth! Thanks to all of you who dedicate your day-to-day to living the values of this place. I am filled with joy to know that it is a part of the world!
I'm grateful that Woolman is a community where people are welcomed, seen and appreciated. I am grateful for my wonderful son and husband and glad that we are part of the extended Woolman community. I love the fact that my 13 year-old-son Matthew is always enthusiastic about going up to Woolman- for family work camp, graduation, or for a weekend when I'm going for my board work. There is a Mosaic Project/Brett Dennen song about inclusion that Matthew and I like to sing, which says "we all need hope and care and love". I know that Matthew feels "the hope and care and love" at Woolman and knows he is accepted in this community. Thanks for being inclusive!
I wish the inclusive values of Woolman were more prevalent in the world. Recently, I have been made acutely aware of the hurt that comes from exclusion. My 20-year-old niece Eliza was recently excluded from her first college class at Southern Oregon University (SOU) after attending 13 of the 18 classes of Introduction to Ceramics. She was loving the class, actively engaged and working hard when she received a certified letter withdrawing her from the class, which she was auditing. I truly don't understand why she is being excluded; the University asserts that her presence was disruptive to the class and that her intellectual disabilities disqualify her, yet they do not provide evidence for either assertion. I wish my niece did not have to experience the pain that comes from being discriminated against for being different. Like my son Matthew, Eliza has Down Syndrome.
All the students in Eliza's Ceramics class and many other people have advocated for Eliza, asking the University to let her finish the class. I am grateful to these students, educators, friends, and famliy members who see the injustice and are speaking out. I am grateful for Eliza, her Mom Deb and her Dad Ron- they are wonderful people and they are blazing a path that will benefit many others, including Matthew. Please go to the website (www.elizaschaaf.com) to learn more and add your voice to the many voices that are supporting Eliza and her right to be included in this class. You can sign the petition in the upper right corner and check out the Call to Action letter and materials further down the right column. Thanks for considering how you can help adovate for Eliza and for inclusion in higher education.
Responses
For Woolman: an educational community with a purpose and a heart!
I found your website tonight when searching for more info on the plight of the U'wa tribe in No. Columbia (after watching an unusual program: Phenomenon: the Lost Archives' "Keeping the Faith").
Katherine (Spring 2010) had written a piece on this tribe's struggle against OXY, a struggle that had escaped my notice until tonight.
What I learned was exciting. What I found on your school's website is exhilarating!!
Also enjoyed Marijke's piece in time for Halloween, "Make it Slavery Free." Keep up the good work, and the next time I'm nearby, I'll check in for a visit!
Chris in Seattle
I feel most grateful when I know the nature and details of the work at hand.
For the opportunity to live in a community where I can participate in a simple and sustainble lifestyle. I am so appreciative of all the work we do together to keep Woolman humming. Where else could I come home to a woodpile stacked on my porch, share in the bounty of a beautiful garden, and only have to do the dishes a three times a week?!?
I am grateful that Woolman is thriving, ever-evolving, and striving to be a kind, whole, and inclusive place on this earth! Thanks to all of you who dedicate your day-to-day to living the values of this place. I am filled with joy to know that it is a part of the world!
I'm grateful that Woolman is a community where people are welcomed, seen and appreciated. I am grateful for my wonderful son and husband and glad that we are part of the extended Woolman community. I love the fact that my 13 year-old-son Matthew is always enthusiastic about going up to Woolman- for family work camp, graduation, or for a weekend when I'm going for my board work. There is a Mosaic Project/Brett Dennen song about inclusion that Matthew and I like to sing, which says "we all need hope and care and love". I know that Matthew feels "the hope and care and love" at Woolman and knows he is accepted in this community. Thanks for being inclusive!
I wish the inclusive values of Woolman were more prevalent in the world. Recently, I have been made acutely aware of the hurt that comes from exclusion. My 20-year-old niece Eliza was recently excluded from her first college class at Southern Oregon University (SOU) after attending 13 of the 18 classes of Introduction to Ceramics. She was loving the class, actively engaged and working hard when she received a certified letter withdrawing her from the class, which she was auditing. I truly don't understand why she is being excluded; the University asserts that her presence was disruptive to the class and that her intellectual disabilities disqualify her, yet they do not provide evidence for either assertion. I wish my niece did not have to experience the pain that comes from being discriminated against for being different. Like my son Matthew, Eliza has Down Syndrome.
All the students in Eliza's Ceramics class and many other people have advocated for Eliza, asking the University to let her finish the class. I am grateful to these students, educators, friends, and famliy members who see the injustice and are speaking out. I am grateful for Eliza, her Mom Deb and her Dad Ron- they are wonderful people and they are blazing a path that will benefit many others, including Matthew. Please go to the website (www.elizaschaaf.com) to learn more and add your voice to the many voices that are supporting Eliza and her right to be included in this class. You can sign the petition in the upper right corner and check out the Call to Action letter and materials further down the right column. Thanks for considering how you can help adovate for Eliza and for inclusion in higher education.
Add your response