[Applause] so my name is Bonnie Winfield I am the
so my name is Bonnie Winfield I am the
so my name is Bonnie Winfield I am the director of community partnerships here
director of community partnerships here
director of community partnerships here at Lafayette College I’m also a Posse
at Lafayette College I’m also a Posse
at Lafayette College I’m also a Posse mentor and I see my Posse here cool yay
mentor and I see my Posse here cool yay
mentor and I see my Posse here cool yay I’m also a creative artist I have a
I’m also a creative artist I have a
I’m also a creative artist I have a thing called the journey home where I
thing called the journey home where I
thing called the journey home where I work with women from the local jail and
work with women from the local jail and
work with women from the local jail and Lafayette students and some of the
Lafayette students and some of the
Lafayette students and some of the students here are part of that so my
students here are part of that so my
students here are part of that so my talk is one eight zero four two here I
talk is one eight zero four two here I
talk is one eight zero four two here I stand I cannot do otherwise and I
stand I cannot do otherwise and I
stand I cannot do otherwise and I thought I’d do a little mindfulness
thought I’d do a little mindfulness
thought I’d do a little mindfulness exercise and that is for everybody to
exercise and that is for everybody to
exercise and that is for everybody to stand up and join me in one 8:04 to here
stand up and join me in one 8:04 to here
stand up and join me in one 8:04 to here I stand I cannot do otherwise so if you
I stand I cannot do otherwise so if you
I stand I cannot do otherwise so if you could just repeat that one eight zero
could just repeat that one eight zero
could just repeat that one eight zero four two here I stand I cannot do
four two here I stand I cannot do
four two here I stand I cannot do otherwise okay you can sit down so when
otherwise okay you can sit down so when
otherwise okay you can sit down so when I was asked to do this TED talk that’s
I was asked to do this TED talk that’s
I was asked to do this TED talk that’s what came to my mind this one eight zero
what came to my mind this one eight zero
what came to my mind this one eight zero four two does anyone know what that is
four two does anyone know what that is
four two does anyone know what that is zip code right and so that’s why I
zip code right and so that’s why I
zip code right and so that’s why I wanted you to stand with me because this
wanted you to stand with me because this
wanted you to stand with me because this is where we are right now in this moment
is where we are right now in this moment
is where we are right now in this moment and unless we are like beam me up Scotty
and unless we are like beam me up Scotty
and unless we are like beam me up Scotty right we’re here right now in this if
right we’re here right now in this if
right we’re here right now in this if code so I started thinking about why is
code so I started thinking about why is
code so I started thinking about why is this one eight zero four two here I
this one eight zero four two here I
this one eight zero four two here I stand important to me right and so I
stand important to me right and so I
stand important to me right and so I realize that it is about this journey
realize that it is about this journey
realize that it is about this journey I’ve been on and this journey started in
I’ve been on and this journey started in
I’ve been on and this journey started in Syracuse it went to Nicaragua came back
Syracuse it went to Nicaragua came back
Syracuse it went to Nicaragua came back it keeps moving on me
it keeps moving on me
it keeps moving on me came back to Binghamton New York and
came back to Binghamton New York and
came back to Binghamton New York and then to Tennessee and now to Easton so
then to Tennessee and now to Easton so
then to Tennessee and now to Easton so it began in Syracuse I was taking an
it began in Syracuse I was taking an
it began in Syracuse I was taking an urban geography class and the professor
urban geography class and the professor
urban geography class and the professor asked me and other students to go to
asked me and other students to go to
asked me and other students to go to some place in the city sit on the corner
some place in the city sit on the corner
some place in the city sit on the corner and to think about the soul of the city
and to think about the soul of the city
and to think about the soul of the city in that place so I went down to the
in that place so I went down to the
in that place so I went down to the corner of Harrison
corner of Harrison
corner of Harrison and Adams streets in Syracuse and I sat
and Adams streets in Syracuse and I sat
and Adams streets in Syracuse and I sat there and what I saw were cars and
there and what I saw were cars and
there and what I saw were cars and trucks zooming by going to the highway
trucks zooming by going to the highway
trucks zooming by going to the highway I saw across the street the housing
I saw across the street the housing
I saw across the street the housing projects called the bricks behind me was
projects called the bricks behind me was
projects called the bricks behind me was a big parking lot and the museum and I
a big parking lot and the museum and I
a big parking lot and the museum and I kept looking at all of this right I
kept looking at all of this right I
kept looking at all of this right I didn’t see any people I saw cars going
didn’t see any people I saw cars going
didn’t see any people I saw cars going places going nowhere actually seemed
places going nowhere actually seemed
places going nowhere actually seemed like while I was sitting there I
like while I was sitting there I
like while I was sitting there I realized my father told me a story about
realized my father told me a story about
realized my father told me a story about walking down driving down Harrison
walking down driving down Harrison
walking down driving down Harrison Street on his way to the hospital with
Street on his way to the hospital with
Street on his way to the hospital with my mom who was pregnant for me and the
my mom who was pregnant for me and the
my mom who was pregnant for me and the hospital was just a few blocks away he
hospital was just a few blocks away he
hospital was just a few blocks away he described a very different Street he
described a very different Street he
described a very different Street he described a community where there were
described a community where there were
described a community where there were stores and houses and barber shops and
stores and houses and barber shops and
stores and houses and barber shops and bars and all different kinds of things
bars and all different kinds of things
bars and all different kinds of things churches it was a community right and
churches it was a community right and
churches it was a community right and that’s where I was born it was a very
that’s where I was born it was a very
that’s where I was born it was a very different place than what I was feeling
different place than what I was feeling
different place than what I was feeling when I was watching all of these cars
when I was watching all of these cars
when I was watching all of these cars zooming by to go to the highway and I
zooming by to go to the highway and I
zooming by to go to the highway and I started thinking about that and I
started thinking about that and I
started thinking about that and I started thinking about what the urban
started thinking about what the urban
started thinking about what the urban development and urban renewal did to our
development and urban renewal did to our
development and urban renewal did to our communities and where were those other
communities and where were those other
communities and where were those other little babies that were born in that
little babies that were born in that
little babies that were born in that hospital were they able to like me move
hospital were they able to like me move
hospital were they able to like me move out of that area with my family to a
out of that area with my family to a
out of that area with my family to a village outside 30 miles away
village outside 30 miles away
village outside 30 miles away I feared not unless their skin was white
I feared not unless their skin was white
I feared not unless their skin was white like mine and realized that that sense
like mine and realized that that sense
like mine and realized that that sense of place was very important at the same
of place was very important at the same
of place was very important at the same time I was part of the National Congress
time I was part of the National Congress
time I was part of the National Congress and neighborhood women National Congress
and neighborhood women National Congress
and neighborhood women National Congress neighborhood Women is all over the world
neighborhood Women is all over the world
neighborhood Women is all over the world and it’s women in in communities get
and it’s women in in communities get
and it’s women in in communities get together in neighborhoods to make a
together in neighborhoods to make a
together in neighborhoods to make a difference and one thing they were doing
difference and one thing they were doing
difference and one thing they were doing is they were looking at housing in the
is they were looking at housing in the
is they were looking at housing in the center of Syracuse we got together and
center of Syracuse we got together and
center of Syracuse we got together and we sat in circles this is when the first
we sat in circles this is when the first
we sat in circles this is when the first starts of my like sitting in circles
starts of my like sitting in circles
starts of my like sitting in circles right and we talked with these women
right and we talked with these women
right and we talked with these women about what it would
about what it would
about what it would – in the bricks to make their sense of
– in the bricks to make their sense of
– in the bricks to make their sense of place and sense of home better and they
place and sense of home better and they
place and sense of home better and they talked about planning followers and
talked about planning followers and
talked about planning followers and putting up little picket fences on the
putting up little picket fences on the
putting up little picket fences on the sidewalk and maybe having a rocking
sidewalk and maybe having a rocking
sidewalk and maybe having a rocking chair out there where they could talk to
chair out there where they could talk to
chair out there where they could talk to their neighbors
their neighbors
their neighbors two weeks later I sat with those same
two weeks later I sat with those same
two weeks later I sat with those same women in a in a city hall meeting where
women in a in a city hall meeting where
women in a in a city hall meeting where we sat in rows like this and open-front
we sat in rows like this and open-front
we sat in rows like this and open-front were for white men standing in suits
were for white men standing in suits
were for white men standing in suits telling us that they were going to tear
telling us that they were going to tear
telling us that they were going to tear down the bricks we don’t need this
down the bricks we don’t need this
down the bricks we don’t need this public housing anymore we need to do
public housing anymore we need to do
public housing anymore we need to do something different so again I realized
something different so again I realized
something different so again I realized whoa what is this sense of place and
whoa what is this sense of place and
whoa what is this sense of place and what is happening and I realized that
what is happening and I realized that
what is happening and I realized that when we did that Orban renewal we took
when we did that Orban renewal we took
when we did that Orban renewal we took away that sense of place I then did a
away that sense of place I then did a
away that sense of place I then did a dissertation on public housing women who
dissertation on public housing women who
dissertation on public housing women who lived in public housing and bought
lived in public housing and bought
lived in public housing and bought houses through a public-private
houses through a public-private
houses through a public-private partnership this represents one of those
partnership this represents one of those
partnership this represents one of those houses around that time I had this great
houses around that time I had this great
houses around that time I had this great experience to go to Nicaragua this was
experience to go to Nicaragua this was
experience to go to Nicaragua this was right after the Revolution when I was in
right after the Revolution when I was in
right after the Revolution when I was in Nicaragua I went up to the mountains to
Nicaragua I went up to the mountains to
Nicaragua I went up to the mountains to a clinic before I went up there I saw a
a clinic before I went up there I saw a
a clinic before I went up there I saw a baby that was dying of malnutrition this
baby that was dying of malnutrition this
baby that was dying of malnutrition this baby was only nine months old she was
baby was only nine months old she was
baby was only nine months old she was dying of malnutrition because of the
dying of malnutrition because of the
dying of malnutrition because of the United States because of our economic
United States because of our economic
United States because of our economic boycott they couldn’t get the little
boycott they couldn’t get the little
boycott they couldn’t get the little tiny needles that were necessary for her
tiny needles that were necessary for her
tiny needles that were necessary for her transfusions at the same time I was the
transfusions at the same time I was the
transfusions at the same time I was the director of infant foster care at
director of infant foster care at
director of infant foster care at Syracuse Catholic Charities and we had
Syracuse Catholic Charities and we had
Syracuse Catholic Charities and we had another little baby nine months old who
another little baby nine months old who
another little baby nine months old who was not able to be adopted
was not able to be adopted
was not able to be adopted we named her Holly my teenage sons
we named her Holly my teenage sons
we named her Holly my teenage sons bought her little sneakers they wanted
bought her little sneakers they wanted
bought her little sneakers they wanted to adopt her she couldn’t be adopted
to adopt her she couldn’t be adopted
to adopt her she couldn’t be adopted because her mother was 13 and was raped
because her mother was 13 and was raped
because her mother was 13 and was raped by her uncle who was a drug addict and
by her uncle who was a drug addict and
by her uncle who was a drug addict and the baby was black so I started putting
the baby was black so I started putting
the baby was black so I started putting these things together and it was really
these things together and it was really
these things together and it was really really troublesome and I was crying the
really troublesome and I was crying the
really troublesome and I was crying the whole time I was in Nick
whole time I was in Nick
whole time I was in Nick so we go up to this clinic and the
so we go up to this clinic and the
so we go up to this clinic and the director the clinic’s talking and he
director the clinic’s talking and he
director the clinic’s talking and he seemed like he was talking to me because
seemed like he was talking to me because
seemed like he was talking to me because he I think he thought whoa this woman is
he I think he thought whoa this woman is
he I think he thought whoa this woman is going to do something so I said what can
going to do something so I said what can
going to do something so I said what can I do for you what can I do for your
I do for you what can I do for your
I do for you what can I do for your people right he said well what you can
people right he said well what you can
people right he said well what you can even do you can go back to your place go
even do you can go back to your place go
even do you can go back to your place go back to your place and teach your people
back to your place and teach your people
back to your place and teach your people about what their government is doing
about what their government is doing
about what their government is doing because we believe that the people who
because we believe that the people who
because we believe that the people who live in your place would not want this
live in your place would not want this
live in your place would not want this to happen so I said yes Here I am
to happen so I said yes Here I am
to happen so I said yes Here I am sitting in the mountains of Nicaragua
sitting in the mountains of Nicaragua
sitting in the mountains of Nicaragua saying yes this man I will do this I
saying yes this man I will do this I
saying yes this man I will do this I will go back to the United States and
will go back to the United States and
will go back to the United States and teach all these people right here I am
teach all these people right here I am
teach all these people right here I am entry-level job Catholic Charities never
entry-level job Catholic Charities never
entry-level job Catholic Charities never been to college two teenage sons single
been to college two teenage sons single
been to college two teenage sons single mom and I come back and I get on the
mom and I come back and I get on the
mom and I come back and I get on the little circle way right the highway that
little circle way right the highway that
little circle way right the highway that goes around Syracuse and I just kept
goes around Syracuse and I just kept
goes around Syracuse and I just kept driving around I was like what am I
driving around I was like what am I
driving around I was like what am I going to do how am I going to do this
going to do how am I going to do this
going to do how am I going to do this where am I going to get off where is my
where am I going to get off where is my
where am I going to get off where is my sense of place so not to be in place is
sense of place so not to be in place is
sense of place so not to be in place is not only to be nowhere it is not to
not only to be nowhere it is not to
not only to be nowhere it is not to exist that is what our urban renewal did
exist that is what our urban renewal did
exist that is what our urban renewal did to people right moving to the suburbs
to people right moving to the suburbs
to people right moving to the suburbs all of that so I decided I was going to
all of that so I decided I was going to
all of that so I decided I was going to college went to college and decided was
college went to college and decided was
college went to college and decided was going to be a professor and when I was a
going to be a professor and when I was a
going to be a professor and when I was a professor I decided I was going to teach
professor I decided I was going to teach
professor I decided I was going to teach about democracy now question is right
about democracy now question is right
about democracy now question is right this why of what this theme is what does
this why of what this theme is what does
this why of what this theme is what does that have to do with 18 1 8 0 for 2 what
that have to do with 18 1 8 0 for 2 what
that have to do with 18 1 8 0 for 2 what does teaching about democracy have to do
does teaching about democracy have to do
does teaching about democracy have to do with sense of place so in BAM 10 I got a
with sense of place so in BAM 10 I got a
with sense of place so in BAM 10 I got a grant from the University to open a
grant from the University to open a
grant from the University to open a storefront similar to what I did here
storefront similar to what I did here
storefront similar to what I did here right
right
right I opened a storefront called embracing
I opened a storefront called embracing
I opened a storefront called embracing the soul and students from the college
the soul and students from the college
the soul and students from the college people from the community all came down
people from the community all came down
people from the community all came down to that storefront to make art because I
to that storefront to make art because I
to that storefront to make art because I believe making art together makes a big
believe making art together makes a big
believe making art together makes a big difference and it had to do with living
difference and it had to do with living
difference and it had to do with living there on that
there on that
there on that Eitan in that town around the same time
Eitan in that town around the same time
Eitan in that town around the same time 9/11 happened and some of my friends and
9/11 happened and some of my friends and
9/11 happened and some of my friends and I got together and we thought we need to
I got together and we thought we need to
I got together and we thought we need to have some kind of festival because
have some kind of festival because
have some kind of festival because everyone is feeling what you can imagine
everyone is feeling what you can imagine
everyone is feeling what you can imagine right after 9/11 so we had healing our
right after 9/11 so we had healing our
right after 9/11 so we had healing our city and healing our city was drumming
city and healing our city was drumming
city and healing our city was drumming and dancing and storytelling and all of
and dancing and storytelling and all of
and dancing and storytelling and all of these things that helped us realize what
these things that helped us realize what
these things that helped us realize what could happen in that place this is just
could happen in that place this is just
could happen in that place this is just an article from the local newspaper that
an article from the local newspaper that
an article from the local newspaper that talked about the importance of that
talked about the importance of that
talked about the importance of that activity in that experience for people
activity in that experience for people
activity in that experience for people we also had music in that place we had
we also had music in that place we had
we also had music in that place we had drumming there is still a drum circle
drumming there is still a drum circle
drumming there is still a drum circle that 15 years later is happening every
that 15 years later is happening every
that 15 years later is happening every Tuesday night and that is the drum
Tuesday night and that is the drum
Tuesday night and that is the drum circle that I started so I realized that
circle that I started so I realized that
circle that I started so I realized that wherever you stand I can be the soul and
wherever you stand I can be the soul and
wherever you stand I can be the soul and you can be the soul of that place my
you can be the soul of that place my
you can be the soul of that place my next stop on this little journey was
next stop on this little journey was
next stop on this little journey was Greenville Tennessee it’s a beautiful
Greenville Tennessee it’s a beautiful
Greenville Tennessee it’s a beautiful place but I really had a hard time
place but I really had a hard time
place but I really had a hard time finding my sense of place there but that
finding my sense of place there but that
finding my sense of place there but that didn’t stop me I realized that I could
didn’t stop me I realized that I could
didn’t stop me I realized that I could help other people figure out what was
help other people figure out what was
help other people figure out what was their sense of place at the same time as
their sense of place at the same time as
their sense of place at the same time as today people were struggling with what
today people were struggling with what
today people were struggling with what does it mean to be an American
does it mean to be an American
does it mean to be an American so students at Tusculum college and I
so students at Tusculum college and I
so students at Tusculum college and I went to a couple of elementary schools
went to a couple of elementary schools
went to a couple of elementary schools and we worked with the children there
and we worked with the children there
and we worked with the children there and their parents and made murals on
and their parents and made murals on
and their parents and made murals on what it means to be an American and we
what it means to be an American and we
what it means to be an American and we did this in two different places whoops
did this in two different places whoops
did this in two different places whoops now we get to one eight zero four two so
now we get to one eight zero four two so
now we get to one eight zero four two so here we are came back here I came here
here we are came back here I came here
here we are came back here I came here to Easton and again here I stand and
to Easton and again here I stand and
to Easton and again here I stand and here I sit down it’s circle so what is
here I sit down it’s circle so what is
here I sit down it’s circle so what is this what is this winning 0 for 2 how’d
this what is this winning 0 for 2 how’d
this what is this winning 0 for 2 how’d this all happen right and what happened
this all happen right and what happened
this all happen right and what happened was I heard students talking about oh
was I heard students talking about oh
was I heard students talking about oh I’m going to go downtown to Easton I’m
I’m going to go downtown to Easton I’m
I’m going to go downtown to Easton I’m going to go to Easton right I’m like
going to go to Easton right I’m like
going to go to Easton right I’m like wait a minute you are in East End Easton
wait a minute you are in East End Easton
wait a minute you are in East End Easton it Lafayette is in East End right and so
it Lafayette is in East End right and so
it Lafayette is in East End right and so then I started this whole little like
then I started this whole little like
then I started this whole little like thing of telling everybody so I thought
thing of telling everybody so I thought
thing of telling everybody so I thought a first-year seminar and in my first
a first-year seminar and in my first
a first-year seminar and in my first year seminar we went down and we met in
year seminar we went down and we met in
year seminar we went down and we met in this other storefront that I that I
this other storefront that I that I
this other storefront that I that I started here and we made art with people
started here and we made art with people
started here and we made art with people this is us making a rug we wove a rug
this is us making a rug we wove a rug
this is us making a rug we wove a rug with women from the local jail
with women from the local jail
with women from the local jail we made murals as part of the first-year
we made murals as part of the first-year
we made murals as part of the first-year seminar on what it means to be part of
seminar on what it means to be part of
seminar on what it means to be part of East End this was from a Jane’s walk I
East End this was from a Jane’s walk I
East End this was from a Jane’s walk I have all kinds of artwork based on this
have all kinds of artwork based on this
have all kinds of artwork based on this having people get a sense of what it
having people get a sense of what it
having people get a sense of what it means here I stand right these are more
means here I stand right these are more
means here I stand right these are more pictures of us making murals so I began
pictures of us making murals so I began
pictures of us making murals so I began to wonder how does this all come
to wonder how does this all come
to wonder how does this all come together like how does my saying yes in
together like how does my saying yes in
together like how does my saying yes in the mountains of Nicaragua how does that
the mountains of Nicaragua how does that
the mountains of Nicaragua how does that connect that teaching about democracy
connect that teaching about democracy
connect that teaching about democracy how does that connect to that sense of
how does that connect to that sense of
how does that connect to that sense of place that I realized when I was sitting
place that I realized when I was sitting
place that I realized when I was sitting in the corner of Syracuse on those
in the corner of Syracuse on those
in the corner of Syracuse on those streets this is where I integrate
streets this is where I integrate
streets this is where I integrate citizenship and sense of place according
citizenship and sense of place according
citizenship and sense of place according to Irish Marian young citizens
to Irish Marian young citizens
to Irish Marian young citizens citizenship must involve among other
citizenship must involve among other
citizenship must involve among other things the capacity to engage those who
things the capacity to engage those who
things the capacity to engage those who are different and yet share the same
are different and yet share the same
are different and yet share the same place in a liberal arts college we must
place in a liberal arts college we must
place in a liberal arts college we must take on the challenge to develop a
take on the challenge to develop a
take on the challenge to develop a critical pedagogy of place at the most
critical pedagogy of place at the most
critical pedagogy of place at the most general level a critical pedagogy must
general level a critical pedagogy must
general level a critical pedagogy must be a pedagogy of place it must address
be a pedagogy of place it must address
be a pedagogy of place it must address the specificities of the experience
the specificities of the experience
the specificities of the experience problems languages and histories that
problems languages and histories that
problems languages and histories that community rely upon to construct a
community rely upon to construct a
community rely upon to construct a narrative of collective identity we must
narrative of collective identity we must
narrative of collective identity we must give the students most of you a lens to
give the students most of you a lens to
give the students most of you a lens to help you see and connect to the world
help you see and connect to the world
help you see and connect to the world right this can be done at its best in
right this can be done at its best in
right this can be done at its best in the place and embodied practice it’s why
the place and embodied practice it’s why
the place and embodied practice it’s why had you stand right and feel what it was
had you stand right and feel what it was
had you stand right and feel what it was like to stand in one 8:04 to developing
like to stand in one 8:04 to developing
like to stand in one 8:04 to developing a sense of place where you realize the
a sense of place where you realize the
a sense of place where you realize the impact of your acts
impact of your acts
impact of your acts and what it has on the local community
and what it has on the local community
and what it has on the local community that is life and that is important if we
that is life and that is important if we
that is life and that is important if we seek to develop active citizens which is
seek to develop active citizens which is
seek to develop active citizens which is part of the Lafayette mission yes my yes
part of the Lafayette mission yes my yes
part of the Lafayette mission yes my yes in the mountains of Nicaragua the
in the mountains of Nicaragua the
in the mountains of Nicaragua the opportunity to connect what they are
opportunity to connect what they are
opportunity to connect what they are learning to how they live rather than
learning to how they live rather than
learning to how they live rather than what they will do we ask that right I
what they will do we ask that right I
what they will do we ask that right I heard some questions at lunch what are
heard some questions at lunch what are
heard some questions at lunch what are you going to do you graduate what you’re
you going to do you graduate what you’re
you going to do you graduate what you’re going to do let’s start asking how are
going to do let’s start asking how are
going to do let’s start asking how are you going to live we can begin with how
you going to live we can begin with how
you going to live we can begin with how they live in the present moment how they
they live in the present moment how they
they live in the present moment how they live and connect in 1804 to because give
live and connect in 1804 to because give
live and connect in 1804 to because give me a place to stand
me a place to stand
me a place to stand and I you all will move the world
and I you all will move the world
and I you all will move the world [Applause]
”
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