My Motivation for Wolove Project

One of the real passions that have driven me to the Wolove project is my love for young children. I have always had a special place in my heart for them and especially for those who are underprivileged, emaciated and in need of emotional and educational support.

The work we are doing in Haiti aligns me with my passions for underprivileged, malnourished, neglected, abandoned and abused children. I believe that all children should be given the opportunity regardless of socio-economic class to be able to fulfill their dreams.

Wolove,

Dr. Monique C. Adams

Dr. Monique C. Adams – Biography Sketch

Dr. Monique C. Adams is currently the Education Consultant at Ifriendnet Organization, Inc.  Ms. Adams also, works as an Employer Group Coordinator at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield in Rochester, New York.  Ms. Adams attended Keuka College from 1984 to 1988 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management.  She attended Rochester Institute of Technology from 1996 to 1997 and graduated with a Masters of Science in Service Quality Management.  She came to St. John Fisher College in the summer of 2008 and began doctoral studies in the Ed.D Program in Executive Leadership.  Dr. Adams pursued her research in Self Perceptions of Senior African American Volunteers Who Participate in Formal Volunteer Organizations in Rochester, New York under the direction of Dr. Michael Wischnowski and Dr. Karyl Mammano and received the Ed.D degree in 2012.

Moreover, at the time of my doctorate study, I was unemployed and was limited by certain social (connections) and cultural resources (black associations, churches) to facilitate the recruitment of African American volunteers in a timely manner. The cultural capital needed to recruit senior African Americans for this study was grueling. The questioning of African Americans required a response to the following questions:  What college did I attend? Did I belong to a sorority?  Where do I attend church?  Did I belong to any Black professional organizations? And Where do I reside? 

As you can imagine, I was hurt and shocked by this behavior. I really did not understand why this was happening. Later, I discovered I did not fit the black middle class structure. Unfortunately, having limited access African Americans participants postponed my graduation date. However, I did not let it discourage me.  I persevered!

Up until fairly recently, I had no idea what I wanted to do. A conversation with Robert Avel would inspire me to travel to Florida on Thursday, June 19, 2014 to meet Bertony Paul. I share this to let you know you can RISE above adversity with God.  For most of my life, I went through a lot of different personal and professional challenges. However, I know for sure you can rise above adversity.  With God, all things are possible!  It has nothing to do with where you live, what church, what college, what professional organizations you are affiliated with.  It is being connected with people who will LOVE, Mentor and empower you with the tools needed to succeed.

In closing, I look forward to educating you on how to rise above and beyond your circumstances so you will be able to pay it forward.

Wolove You,

Dr. Monique C. Adams

Kont Chans yo

Kont Chans yo
Gen anpil ki gen pouvwa nan sa nou pale sou lòt moun ak tèt nou. Anpil fwa, nou tande Statistik negatif sou kominote moun koulè. Sepandan, se nan pèspektiv sosyete prensipal la. Mwen la jodia pou chase tout nwaj ak tout mit yo sou kominote moun koulè. Lè m ‘te ap grandi, mwen pa panse ke m’ te tande yon moun di, “mwen vle fè moun k ap resevwa asistans gouvènman mwen vle fè yon dilè dwòg, yon jennès, oswa yon moun ki san kay. Sepandan, ki sa mwen sonje nan tout sa mwen tande se fraz sa yo “Mwen jis fè li” oswa “Mwen ap resevwa pa”. Se konsa, kouman moun sa kominote moun koulè jwenn isit la? Anplis de sa, poukisa mo yo “Mwen jis fè li” oswa “Mwen ap resevwa pa” te vin nòmal la? An pati de sa, paske estatistik pentire yon sel foto de pwoblèm yo san li pa bay yon grenn solisyon ni eksplike eksperyans imen. Pèsonèlman, mwen konnen baryè sistemik kontinye perpétuer opresyon ak dezespwa nan kominote moun koulè. Jis sou chak fòm kominikasyon, medya sosyal, televizyon, liv, jounal pale sou konba a nan kominote moun koulè, espesyalman Afriken Ameriken ak Latino Ameriken yo. Souvan, sa ki pa pa mansyone yo se trezò Tanp lan kache nan kominote sa yo. Gen lidè envizib (pwofesè, manman, papa, matant, tonton, ak konseye, etsetera) ki kontinye kenbe kominote yo ansanm sou yon ti moso fil.
De ane de sa, mwen te ekri yon tèz sou Oto-Pèsepsyon nan Senior Afriken Ameriken ki patisipe nan Volontè fòmel. Rezilta yo nan rechèch mwen yo fè montre ke kapital sosyal ak kiltirèl yo se resous ki pi enpòtan pou rekritman ak retansyon ki piti osinon gro kondisyon sosyoekonomik volontè Afriken Ameriken. Epitou, yo te jwenn yo se tandans kiltirèl nan Ameriken ki an konsantre sitou nan aktivite pou rezo a fanmi ak aparante, menm si patisipan yo gen mwens chans tèt yo.
Ki jan sa gen rapò ak WoLove, se sa map esete devlope pi devan nan edike timoun ayisyen ki jan yo kapab devlope pwòp tèt yo epi vini de sitwayen prodiktif. Mwen kwè ke anpil ladan yo bezwen yon men moute pa yon men desann osinon yon kado. Sepandan, Ayisyen yo jwenn yon lonje men osinon bay kòm solisyon pwoblèm yo. Anplis, nou konnen fikse rapid yo se pou yon ti tan. Anba lide sila a, nou gen yon jenerasyon nan fanmi ki te fet moute ak grandi fin vye granmoun tou depann de gouvènman. Lide depandans sa a te gentan vin fè wout nan lavi yo. Vrèman? Reflechi sou li. Si anviwònman ou oswa kominote a ankouraje w depann sou feyè nan men gouvènman/ong , Lè sa a, poukisa yon moun dwe fè efò pou yon bagay pi byen? Te gen yon tan lè te gen yon stigma ki asosye ak asistans gouvènman an osinon mandyansite. Nan tel pwen, moun te vle travay plizyè travay pou fè pou evite stigma a tache sou yo ak resevwa èd gouvènman an. Depi chanjman an soti nan fabrikasyon djòb nan nan faktori pou rive nan sektè sèvis la, anpil moun baze pi plis ak plis sou pwogram gouvènman an. Pa gen pwoblèm gen anpil moun ki travay; men li se pa ase yo satisfè bezwen debaz yo. Sa se yon lit konstan ki evantyèlman konvenk moun yo pou aksepte gouvènman an kòm sèlman opsyon yo siviv. Jiska kounye a, pa gen yon gen yon program ki antretni lide a nan anseye Ayisyen oswa lòt kominote povrete antre ki jan yo kraze sik povrete a. Malgre ke, objektif la nan pwogram gouvènman anpil ladan yo bay asistans tanporè; Sepandan, si moun yo pa edike nan yon laj jèn pou yo kapab vin endepandan ak sitwayen pwodiktif Lè sa a, tandans la se tonbe nan move sikonstans . Kite m ‘fè li klè, mwen pa di pwogram gouvènman an pa ta dwe bay asistans, si sa nesesè sepandan; li pa ta dwe vin yon plan pou pran retrèt osinon yon plan vitam etenam.
Tout moun, ki fe siksè te fè eksperyans bezwen èd nan lavi yo. Diferans ki genyen se ke moun ki reyisi yo kapab monte pi wo sikonstans yo se paske yo te gen kapital yo sosyal (koneksyon) ke yo konnen gen tandans ki plis vaste, ak eterojèn. Wilson ak mizik (1997) pwoklame ke se kapital sosyal ki te sipòte pa lide ki fè konnen “moun ak gwoup ka jwenn resous ki sot nan koneksyon yo nan youn ak lòt e ki soti nan kalite koneksyon sa yo” (p. 698). Dapre Putnam (2000) byenke yon kominote koulè gen kapital sosyal (koneksyon) se omojeneyite (ak moun ki gen pwoblèm ki sanble) malerezman koneksyon raman ede yo jwenn aksè nan resous yo bezwen pou yo sove sosyete yo ye a nan pozisyon ekonomik. Nan opinyon mwen, mwen disipe mit ke kominote moun koulè yo se parese kap chèche feyè, panse osijè de sa a. Ki jan yo kapab di ke yon konsesyonè dwòg se parese, anpil vann dwòg 24/7, epi si yo ap sèlman ap chèche feyè poukisa moun ki pa dilè ta travay plizyè travay oswa bay pran swen lòt moun. Nou dwe cheche konnen epi rankontre osinon pataje rezilta? Sa yo se sije enpotan medite sou yo.
Anfen, li enperatif pou nou kòmanse gade pi fon pou wè rasin kòz yo nan yon pwoblèm. Anpil fwa, se pa sa li ap parèt. Plis pase aplikasyon ane a nan Federal ak Eta-yo, regleman yo te benefisye kèk ak fè mal sa ki sou majinalize yo nan sosyete a.
Dezi mwen kòm yon konsiltan edikasyon nan Wolove se ede timoun yo gade pi lwen pase sikonstans yo epi fe yo wè ke si yo travay di, obeyi lwa yo, epi renmen peyi yo ke li posib pou yo reyalize rèv Ayisyen an, (ki se pa marye, ki gen yon kay nant savann pou bèt, ak 2.5 timoun), men reyalize rèv pa yo. Youn ki se inikman pwòp rev pa yo, epi ki te ranpli avèk lanmou, se espwa, ak pwomès ki sèlman ka prepare yo pou yon avni, epi kite yon eritaj pou anpil jenerasyon kap vini.
Dr. Monique C. Adams
Konsiltan Edikatif nan Ifriendnet Organization, Inc.
http://www.ifriendnett.org
Entèprtasyon kreyòl pa Bertony Paul

Wolove is an organization where dreams are possible to achieve.  I am delighted to be a part of this journey.  It is my hope to teach you “life skills” to help you navigate various levels of adversity. Yes, we can achieve greatness!

 

 

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Against the Odds
There is a lot of power in what we speak over others and ourselves. Often, we hear negative statistics about communities of color. However, it is from the perspective of mainstream society. I am here to dispel the myths about communities of color. When I was growing up, I do not think I heard anyone say, “I want to be the recipient of government assistance I want to be a drug dealer, a prostitute, or a homeless person. However, what I do recall hearing are these phrases “I’m just making it” or “I’m getting by”. So how did these communities of color get here? In addition, why have the words “I’m just making it” or “I’m getting by “has become the norm? Partly, because statistics paints a picture of problems, not one with provides a solution nor explains human experiences. Personally, I know systemic barriers continue to perpetuate oppression and hopelessness in communities of color. Just about every form of communication, social media, television, books, newspapers talk about the plight of communities of color, especially African Americans and Latino Americans. Oftentimes, what is not mention are the hidden treasures within these communities. There are invisible leaders (teachers, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, and mentors, etcetera) who continue to hold their communities together on a thread.
Two year ago, I wrote a dissertation about Self-Perceptions of Senior African Americans Who Participate in Formal Volunteering. The results of my research show that social and cultural capitals are the most significant resources for recruitment and retention of high-low socioeconomic status African American volunteers. Also, found are cultural tendencies of Americans that are primarily focused on activities for the family and kinship network, even if participants are less fortunate themselves.
How this relates to WoLove is I will pay if forward by educating Haitian children how to become self sufficient and productive citizens. I believe many are need a hand up not a hand out. However, Haitians are given handouts as solutions to their problem. Moreover, we know quick fixes are temporary. Bottom line, we have a generations of families who have grown up and grown old depending on the government. It has become their way of life. Really? Think about it. If your environment or community encourages you to depend on handouts from the government, then why would anyone strive for something better? There was a time when a stigma was associated with government assistance. To the point, Individuals were willing to work several jobs to avoid the stigma attached to receiving government help. Since the shift from manufacturing jobs to the service sector, many individuals are relying more and more on government programs. No matter how many jobs, people work; it is not enough to meet their basic needs. This constant struggle to make ends meet eventually convinces them to accept the government as their only option to survive. Until now, no one has entertained the idea of teaching Haitians or other poverty stricken communities how to break the cycle of poverty. Although, the goal of many government programs are to provide temporary assistance; However, if individuals are not educated at a young age how to become self-sufficient and productive citizens then the tendency is to fall prey to their circumstance. Let me make it clear, I am not saying government programs should not provide assistance, if needed however; it should not become a retirement plan.
Everyone, even successful people have experienced needing help in his or her life. The difference is successful people are able to rise above their circumstance because of their social capital (connections) who they know, which tends to be more extensive and heterogeneous. Wilson and Musick (1997) asserted that social capital is supported by the idea that “individuals and groups can gain resources from their connections to one another and from the type of these connections” (p. 698). According to Putnam (2000) although, many communities of color have social capital (connections) it is homogenous (with people who have similar problems) unfortunately, these connections seldom help them find access to the resources he or she needs to escape their current socio-economic position. In my opinion, I dispel the myths that communities of color are lazy and looking for handouts, think about this. How can a drug dealer be lazy, many sell drugs 24/7, and if you they are only looking for handouts why would those who are not dealing dealers work several jobs or provide caregivng to help make ends meet? These are things to ponder about.
In closing, it is imperative we begin to look deeper to see the root causes to a problem. Many times, it is not what it appears. Over the year’s implementation of Federal and State, policies have benefited some and hurt those on the margins of society.
My desire as an education consultant of Wolove is to help children look beyond their circumstance and see that if they work hard, obey the laws and love their country that it is possible to achieve not the American dream, (married, with a house in the suburbs, with 2.5 kids) but their dream. One that is uniquely their own and filled with love, hope, and promise that not only prepares them for a future, but leaves a legacy for many generations to come .
Dr, Monique C. Adams
Education Consultant at Ifriendnet Organization, Inc.
http://www.ifriendnett.org

Haiti la Poesie des Pierres Qui Crient

RIRES ET MISERES

Tous pour un

Un pour tous

Le cri d’une Haïti exangue

Délaissée par ses fils

Morts où est votre haïtianité

Modernité absurdité deux faces une seule pièce

 

Battez-vous, battez-vous encore demain vous boufferez des pierres

Sans la couverture de Paul, Haïti renaitra de Pierre

Haïti pleure votre cruelle méchanceté

Haïti pleure votre rapacité

Haïti pleure avalenchement votre division

 

Hier encore vous étiez frères

Une matinée sans fraternité

Demain tous vous partirez sans maternité

Que restera-t-il de vous mes frères

 

Il restera de vous et pour toujours

Ce que vous avez construit ensemble et sans  fureur

Alors vivez ensemble avantt qu’il ne meure

Wolove

On disait souvent, nous devons laisser le monde mieux que nous l’avons trouver. Mais, on constate qu’il y a de plus en plus de souffrances et de misères à travers le monde. Aussi, il y a des endroits de notre monde comme les Etats Unis d’Amérique qui sont beaucoup plus avancés ou beaucoup plus riches, et d’autres coins de notre planète comme Haïti qui sont un tout petit peu en retard ou très pauvres. Cependant, est-il possible de soulager la souffrance ou la mesère des pauvres à travèrs le monde?
La richesse ne vient pas du ciel un bon petit matin, les pays riches ne sont pas plus avantageux que les pays pauvres mais plutôt, ils sont mieux organisés. Aujourd’hui, si on veut s’organiser, il faut le faire globalement. Car, dans la globalisation on parle beaucoup plus de communauté que de nationalité. Par exemple, dans la communauté des medecins, un toubib américain est plus proche d’un toubib français qu’un autre américain qui est avocat parce qu’ils ont le même jargon médical même s’ils ne parlent pas la même langue. Toutefois, faut-il créer une certaine communauté mondiale pour les pauvres?
Nous pensons que non; car nous ne voulons pas avoir des pauvres pour l’éternité, ce qu’il faut essayer de faire comme l’a si bien proposé Ifriendnet Organization c’est d’utiliser la technologie de l’niternet pour aider les pauvres à avoir accès à toutes les communautés existantes; et de s’inspirer des rêves des communautés les plus développées pour que les pauvres à leur tour puissent devenir riches et prospères. Pour nous à ifriendnet.org, l’un des rêves les plus adaptés pour transformer la vie des démunis: c’est celui des américains, dans lequel il faut faire trois choses: 1- travailler dûr, 2- obéir la loi, 3- aimer sa patrie.
En effet, avec ifriendnett.org nous allons partager le rêve américain avec les nécessiteux du monde entier. C’est un rêve que nous appelons: «the américan triangle of success» ou le triangle à succès des américains: travailler dûr, obéir la loi et aimer sa patrie.

Wolove Garden Haiti

A moment that is supporting the backyard farming for kids and teaching them how to grow food for themselves and to earn money from their efforts in Haiti. This moment is led by the Kids of Haiti. It is the kids that is teaching the other kids the benefits from their own personal success stories. For the first time in Haiti it is not the adults but the kids who are changing the culture of the country. Feel free to support the kids and feel free to donate for this cause. As adults we are only supporting the kids of Haiti to live their dreams and develop their small business Minds.
http://www.ifriendnett.org

Welcome to iFriendnet News

 

Children represent the hope that we have left in a mostly mismanaged world. They represent a fresh start and  a new approach to the problems that plague our societies. iFriendnet believes that, by investing entrepreneurial knowledge in children, the mistakes that we oft commit as adults would not be repeated. Children are smart. They know what works and what doesn’t. This demographic is essential to the continued development of a society.

The Wolove Garden Haiti project does exactly that. We started in March 2014 with 50 children who started gardens on their own. With 8 gardens destroyed by animals, we now have 42 gardens now blooming with essential fruits and vegetables. This garden idea, which emanated from the Wolove idea, seeks to empower young people by allowing them to manage the trajectory of their stories as social entrepreneurs and investors.