Astauffer

Tomorrow I head off to Los Angeles, California for a national Industrial Area Foundation training. It is an 8-day training that promises to be personally challenging and professionally forming. I have no idea what I am in for. Everyone that I have spoken to about this training says that it changed the way he or she thought about his/her self, his/her society, and the work he/she want to do. Often in this work, the motivation or "why question" is put forth toward organizers: "Why do you organize?", or "What does that mean for you?" and "What are you angry about?" You see, even before I started this YAV year I was asked that final question. When I flew down here over a year ago to interview with the organizers, that was the final question the lead ... read more

I don't often think of myself as representing my ancestors. Signifying their presence or acting in their memory today requires me to stretch my self-conception beyond "Aaron," to an inclusive and encompassing: "Aaron Stauffer." Who I am in history is more than that which I have molded and created of my self. It both scares and challenges me to think that I may be more than my self made man. Every morning, I get up and put on my tie. It's part of the organizer "get-up." This work involves the creation of and sustaining of peoples' public selves: so looking professional is part of demonstrating to others that when we meet with them, we treasure their time. It is something that I have gotten used to. I consider myself pretty laid-back; putting across the image that ... read more

Hello All! I'm not a big fan of mass fundraising efforts; I prefer personal conversations. But this is a good way to update you all on what might be the most important event of the summer for my YAV year. As some of you may know, through my work here I have been able to attend weekend seminars and trainings. Now, I have the chance to attend an 8-day National Training in Los Angeles, CA. All funds given will go to food, board, and transportation costs to and from the airport (Flights are covered). Please take the time to check out the letter and some of the photos below. Here's a letter I've sent out to Supporting Congregations throughout the States (Churches that have financially supported me this year), explaining the IAF National Training. As of ... read more

I ended the last entry with a bunch of questions. And it's funny, because each time I've sat down to write a bit more about these questions, as soon as I pause in my writing, my mouse seems to instantly go to another point on the screen: email, music, facebook: something just to distract me from these thoughts. Not because I don't enjoy these thoughts and questions, but because I know I haven't figured anything out in the last month. That really, this year, has been a time of raising a whole lot more questions that solving and resolving any. So again, here I am, at the computer, with tea and readings beside me wondering the same things: As political individual who act in the public space, how do we act most meaningfully: caring for our ... read more

Every now and then I need a wake up call. Too often I get caught doing the routine of life. These wake up calls are jarring, dispiriting and humbling. They reset my situation in life and place me in a new location that allows me to see things more properly. It rained today, and as I drove across the highway city of San Antonio, I finally felt that things were moving in me: Its been a while since I've wrote on this blog and I think as each day went by I had less of an impetus to really write. I could not, for the life of me, think of a way to update you all on everything that's happened and happening in San Antonio. But after today, I think I've found just the way. Panera ... read more

Things have been busy here in San Antonio, as Congregational Development comes to its heaviest month, House Meetings are taking place multiple times a week: people are beginning to talk about their worries, their anxieties, and the support systems that help them deal with those worries. People are beginning to listen to stories that personalize issues such as education and immigration, health care and workforce development. I'm working with a woman on setting up a Diabetes course for numerous seniors who come to the NGO that works with our church. For her, who also has Diabetes, this is something that is so obvious and needed. Why hasn't this been done before? She asks. Especially here in this zip code, with the highest rate of seniors who have diabetes. Several members of the congregation are working to ... read more

Even though I have been a bit lax in keeping up-to-date thoughts going on this blog, I still would like to share this one with you all. Someone close to me recently sent me this article: http://www.independent.co.ug/the-last-word/the-last-word/4027-madonna-bono-clooney-cannot-save-africa-only-africans-can Granted, to get a more complete sense of where my thoughts are coming from on this article, you'll probably have to know the girl who sent it to me, what our relationship is, why I am so interested in thinking about this stuff, and finally, it might help to know me personally, too. Well...in the face of all of that, I'll give you the quickest summation of the article, my thoughts on it, and why I think you all should read it too. The article is about self-empowerment of Africans. It argues that "The West cannot save Africa, only ... read more

As I spend more time in San Antonio, I begin to become a part of its landscape. I explore new coffee shops and walk new street corners leaving bits of memory like bread marking where I’ve been and how I’ve been there. I find, too, that these spaces are marking me, luring me in for more cups of coffee or meals shared with friends. Sometimes, these experiences are shared with others: in waitress-conversations, or with friends during lunch breaks or brief dinners. Undoubtedly I create new relationships in each new place that I find. The Foundry is a coffee shop on the Near-Northside of town. Ridden with hipsters and churchgoers, it has the cheapest coffee in town: a $1 dollar endless cup. I spend a lot of time there: Along with good cheap endless coffee, the ... read more

Here's an article by Paul Krugman I read earlier that I thought was very insightful and useful. I was able to see him speak a while back and it was interesting: He's a solid academic; a very bright man; yet not what i thought he would be at all. Several things struck me about him: primarily, whose responsibility it is to "rebuild" or "construct" this society that he advocates for often in his columns. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this piece. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/07/opinion/07krugman.html?_r=1 Cheers, AS... read more