#upwardmobility

Upward mobility is a tricky, many-sided, sticky beast. On one hand, you don’t want to forget where you’ve come from and become as out of touch as all of the insensitive, privilege-blind dorks out there who think being broke means not being able to afford $30 yogurt or an annual vacation or something else that would be considered stupidly extravagant to the majority of humans on planet Earth. On the other hand, you want to peek into some of the doors that were closed to you for so long and see if there’s anything inside for you. It’s also very strange to grow up believing that you want more and then to become an adult who no longer believes in that same concept of more anymore because you’ve finally successfully convinced yourself that more isn’t for you, because the entire system is as empty and dirty as an abandoned warehouse.

I realize that it will take a special kind of person to get where I’m coming from here, but if you get it, mannnnn: you get it.

Not to bury the lead, but sending your kid off to private school when both you and your partner have only been educated in public schools, when you and your partner wholly believe in the public school system, and when you and your partner are mildly allergic to the ruling class, is weird. Weirdness aside, when that kid of yours isn’t being served by his public school, and you start to remember how frustrating and alienating your experience in public school was, you begin to consider a rewrite of your rulebook.

For some people, sending their kids off to a private school is just a matter of finding the right one. They start with fancy preschools and work their way up. It’s probably a part of their own family histories, so they never really stop to question what that means for their child and other people’s children. I suppose that’s pretty similar to Adam and me believing that the public school system is the only way to support your community, to offer your child a broader, less homogeneous understanding of social life, and to share your child with people from all walks of life.

Personally, after digging deep, we gave ourselves permission to do what we felt was best for Bastian.

Presently, we’re in week two of our private school experience. I’m still very much self conscious of the choice we made, and that constantly comes out in conversation when someone asks where Bastian is going to school now, but I have never felt more excited and at ease sending my baby off for several hours everyday. I can already tell that he’s being considered at a level that we never encountered at our public elementary. Not because his teachers there weren’t qualified, or that there was anything wrong with the school, but because they simply didn’t have the extra time and energy to spend on Bastian and his needs as learner. He actually came home yesterday frustrated that the spelling words were too easy for him, and instead of panicking because I would have to badger his teacher about making sure he was being challenged and then worry that there’d be no follow-up, I could trust that his new teacher will quickly recognize this and make adjustments for him. Because she can. I can’t tell you how good that made me feel.

I should add that I’m acutely aware of what a unique position we’re in to even be able to make this choice. Bastian is a perfect fit for this new school, and our income is low enough to receive a scholarship. Everything aligned perfectly to make this a reality for us, which made it feel, well, right. Also, with Bastian being my first child, this entire process has helped to distill my own parenting philosophy, which is something along the lines of seeing my role as that of a guide and nurturer. It is my job, and Adam’s job, to help Bastian find himself and have access to the tools necessary for him to live a life of his own creation. He has special gifts that could either work to dismantle his confidence and his future as a learner, or they could bolster his entire existence. I will always do everything within my power to protect Bastian’s right to explore and celebrate himself.

The fund inspires to raise enough funding for 1,000 people of color in North America to attend a graduate program in Global Health. Scholarships will be available as soon as the fund reaches $100,000 USD.

Help us raise the funds to change the current disparities of health by bringing these minorities into the study and practice so they may have a seat at the table.

President Shmesident

I know everyone has different opinions about Mr. Trump, the array of Democrat candidates and the relentless process of electing a President and Congress in 2020.  The irony of “20/20” isn’t lost on me, since our partisan politics demonstrates the narrowest of vision.  “Me, me, my, me and (if you’ve forgotten) ME!  

The facts of stagnant upward mobility for lower classes, the globalization of manufacturing jobs (cutting out traditional blue-collar jobs for our workers), climate change and subsequent desperation causing massive migrations, loom as huge issues that will reach a boiling point but not before legendary suffering.

The current Coronavirus scare highlights a need to pull together but, so far we are still fractured.  We talk about special interests and electability rather than oneness.

It’s a helpless feeling watching our society in disarray.  Is it just me, or is the parade of people on the show “Paternity Court” disconcerting?   One woman slept with her husband and her boyfriend at the same time, had twins and figured each twin had a separate father.

Then there is the baseball cheating scandal with the Houston Astros using technology to tell their batters what pitch was coming, thus increasing the ability to hit the pitch successfully.  This has caused a big hoohah that will melt into oblivion as the news feed buries us in more information… always MORE information.

As long as we win, it matters not how we win.  Just that we win.  Character, values, morals.  Shame, guilt where are you?  Whoever is chewed up in the process will be road kill in the rearview mirror as we blunder forward at breakneck speed.

I know I sound like the “Boomer” that I am.  I won’t apologize for it.  Now that the proverbial behavioral cat is out of the bag and anything goes, the question is, “Do we ever get the cat back in the bag?”  Do we ever come to our senses?

The future of the auto and home industry is in Hispanic hands. According to Simmons data, in 2018 9% of Hispanics (or approximately 3.5 million consumers) are planning to buy a house in the next 12 months, compared to just 6% of non-Hispanics. And while car purchases or leases have remained steady from 2017 to 2018, 14% of Hispanics are planning to acquire a vehicle in the next 12 months, compared to non-Hispanics whose number decreased by 3%.

According to a study by…wait for it… Stanford, Harvard and Census Bureau researchers (casual, we know), Hispanics are fulfilling the American dream more than ever before. Continuing to elevate their economic status, 28% of Hispanics who grew up lower middle class are now upper middle class or higher. This growth is likely due to the rise in number of Hispanics going to college and to the strong work ethic passed down through the generations. MAJOR #squadgoals.