Maʻawe Pono is the fact that really, Maʻawe Pono has kind of says, Hey, take it at your own pace. Make sure you listen to your community. Don't rush anything. But yet what do we all? Do? We all have timelines. We all have these, these dates we have to adhere by. So really, one of the things I see is possibly it kind of having a little bit of a hindrance, because what it is, is, we go ahead and great. We have a six month time frame to come up with a solution. But if we don't actually think of it, well thought out, which may take a year, maybe take nine months, maybe take more, but when is it we're going to be revisited again? Two, three years down the road? Because in reality, we just put a bandaid on it instead of actually going in and fixing it. And I can tell you I saw that personally with reimagining which is how to get the mental health cases. Case calls into a nine eight system rather than the 911. Sounds like it's easy enough, but it's not. Unfortunately, no two systems work the same with the 911 system. Everybody has their own way of working. We're talking even within your own state. They have a different data set, different way of going ahead and not only putting out a call, but on how it is that they actually document the call. So that right there just shows Well, that's a bigger picture. Really, that's something that has to really be analyzed before we even go any further. So I like to see if anything, anybody here can share anything that you've had to deal with something like that too. Or maybe you saw you guys came up with a good solution or maybe could have maybe worked on a little bit harder to make sure that you came up with a little bit better solution that was more advantageous for anybody. So if anybody would like to share, we'd love to go into it and kick back with this identity formal so I know Krystina has one.
Let's see. See ya. Okay. Hi, everyone. So I just want to share that organizing and like trying to make sense of this data that you whatever you're working on. That's hard. The amount of times where I like go back to look at the, like, questions I've asked whether it's for, like qualitative gathering or quantity, just like, wow, why did I ask that? This is usually like with personal projects. So I guess, what is the process like for everyone else? When you're trying to like once you've collected your data, like what is that process? Like for you?
I can share in two different ways one, in kind of reflection of like, when have I kind of learned a lesson looking back on gathering some data and what I did with it. I recently helped, like a gamer group of mine kind of figure out how they want to organize more formally. And I approached it in a very civic tech kind of way where I was like, let's make a questionnaire. Let's build a form. Let's see what the relationships are, you know. And there were a couple of questions where people, you know, responded to it, but even though it was a well written question, it sort of like led them to more like one of the answers more than the other like you can clearly see how that was like reflecting and how they were responding to it. And it was a point of like, it was a point of consensus we really needed clarity on and we could not get clarity on it even though we had like 99% responded rate, or whatever to the forum. You know, we got everybody's input, but we did all of that for what because now we're not actually sure what it says when we really think about it and have to like break down what that what that particular questions answer looks like around all the other answers that we got. So that was that was a big learning moment for me and now needing to kind of really tease out more specific responses to that in the next round. And then and then this group, you know, having some fatigue around being asked questions again, some more. Doesn't never end and like well, if we just get one more for one more survey we'll do it. Um, so true. But yeah, that's what that I'm really resonating with others experience around that particular point. And yeah, I think I think that's what the reflection is for next time for me is, I don't know like that endless pursuit of asking the just right question that just right way.
Yeah. And I know you're very emerging your gamer community. So did that help you though being so involved to go again, you kind of get a little bit more info than what you would have originally. Came up with
well, yeah, you know, it really helped me understand my own position within it because that's it's I don't know, I guess it's kind of an ethnographic study. I'm a member of this same pool of of question, query and responses. So that was that was a pretty interesting way to navigate it as well. And this is all of course, a very informal passion project kind of thing. low stakes, there's not. But yeah, but that was it was an interesting mix of of trying a lot of the practices that I've learned in my civic tech, community stuff, you know, in a completely sort of different environment and seeing you know, what, what stuck or what kind of fell apart but yeah there's one out there's wildlife out my door so I'm now distracted.
My usually my kids outside my door so yeah. Yeah. Or my husband? Yeah.
I'm curious how like, Betsy, like how you approach that too, because that that's your job.
You have to have a diverse community.
Yes. And if last week you were I know you mentioned about sometimes stepping away from like, giving those participants space because they just don't want to be question and you know, the enticement of like a gift card is not going to be enough. So I guess I'm curious, like, What is your perspective? Like?
Yeah, I mean, I just, like have so many thoughts. I've just like this, like whole thing because yeah, I mean, it's something that I, you know, encounter a lot. You know, like just a background for folks who don't know, I work at code. I work at Code for America like headquarters, and I work on the tax benefits team. And you know, honestly, I make a lot of mistakes. I feel like the one thing that I do like about Code for America and just like our community is that we accept that, you know, like, we're going to make mistakes, we're going to mess it up in that, you know, like things things are just going to happen and that's kind of the learning process. And that's something that was really hard for me because I'm just such a perfectionist, and I have to be right and if I fail, it's like Oh, my God is the end of the world. But yeah, I just feel like Yeah, it's really hard sometimes just to, you know, like, reach like reach out to those communities, because a lot of times you know, people are living their lives and, you know, like they, they don't want to be asked like any more questions like they kind of think like, Okay, I asked the first round of questions. That's, you know, that's it for me and, you know, but sometimes, like, you know, like, as researchers, like we do, like, you know, like, have we call them panels, like, of people who are interested in doing future studies, especially, like, if it's like, you know, like tax benefits, for instance, like I, you know, like, have a couple of people that I could like, reach out to and ask if they were interested in doing a like another interview or maybe like a usability test. And so sometimes we might, you know, at the end of an interview, say, hey, like, do you want to be involved in in future studies, they're all compensated. So that's kind of a good way to retain folks, but it's not really like a, like a general practice or code. For America. It's more just like something that, you know, we're kind of experienced in but yeah, of course, like, none of its like really guaranteed, you know, people get busy, especially during the holidays. So it really just depends, but, you know, we really do try to like tap into the folks that we've already reached out to just because, yeah, I mean, we want to just keep giving and, you know, building those relationships,
do you find the tax realm to be a little bit harder to kind of tap into because the fact that it is so difficult to understand just in general?
Yes, yes. And people just don't want to talk about taxes. It's so difficult to get people to ask them about you know, taxes. There's nobody I mean, I'm pretty sure like, Mary, you know, and just a lot of folks who just like file their taxes in general, like, nobody wants to think about taxes unless they actually have to. Absolutely. Yeah. And because, like, you know, I know you you were you were you were volunteering on the team as well. So I yeah, I feel like it's so hard just to get people I mean, people like to talk about the refunds. I realized, like when I reach out to people, and you know, like, I see that they've gotten a refund. Oh, they look, you know, they're happy to talk about it. But the people who didn't get their refunds, those are the people that were the hardest to reach because they don't want to talk to you. Yeah, there's there's just a lot going on. And then also just the IRS, people think are the IRS even though we partner with them, or we're not the IRS and that also kind of complicates Kansas City, they don't want to talk to us because, you know, they're like you're the IRS. I don't want to talk to you or say anything to you.
Where your refund are two different things, and sometimes they don't understand that
sounds exactly. Yeah. Yeah. So there's a lot I mean, I think it just depends on like, the questions you're asking. I think people love to talk about themselves in general. But yeah, with taxes, it can be very, very difficult.
Do you find it to be so hard on the people who are actually taking those the graders who are actually taking in the information that you find it hard to actually help to acclimate both of them reason why I'm asking is because I was asked to actually go ahead and do the review for the 13 614 C that is going to be coming out for the following year. So I've been asked to kind of take a look at it and see what I think about it, just how user friendly it is. But do you find it's kind of hard for the client and the greeter to kind of come to a common goal there at times because the fact that it is so hard to understand.
Yeah, I think if I'm understanding your question Mary like is working. Could you repeat the question?
It's like the greeter the people who are actually it because I'm a gr greeter, which means that we go ahead and we look at the assessment of documentation, make sure it's all there first, before it gets handed off to the taxpayer. So that right there to me is really nitty gritty because that's when they have to first first do a warm hand with this. Either it's going to they're going to like it or they're not. Either they're going to understand the documentation we're asking for or they don't or they get frustrated. And then we had said we have some people that we get straight on origin to because how can we say it a different way it gets really difficult. So uh, do you find that maybe acclimating them both? is a little bit difficult because of the hard subject matter?
Oh, yeah, yeah, definitely. And I think it's interesting because like, I feel like that's like at the beginning of the process. Like I usually interview people after the process, like once they're done like, you know, filing their taxes or if they've attempted to file their taxes. So it's also kind of like a very different, like point in the process because I usually, you know, get it from people who are like, I hate your service or I love yours. You know, but I know that at the beginning, I mean, that's also like, kind of like the first touch point that they have with people's you know, like going through the intake form and, you know, like readers. So yeah, I think it just really depends on like, where they are and the process that could also kind of determine that.
Speaking of like greeters and greeting, like the first touch point like it just occurred to me, we didn't even introduce ourselves like to each other. So I want to apologize for that. And if it's your right to give like a brief like just intros like to introduce I know that some of us are familiar with one another, but since we were having folks like, Would that be okay. Perfect. Well, would anyone like to go first?
The first, I'm very nervous, and I have the project manager for behalf and I'm very excited to be here with you. Here in our community. And I'm gonna pop it on off to Renee.
And I'm Rene joy. I'm a volunteer in the cook for America community and I've done some project work with the network team before as well. And I'm currently the communication specialist for design Justice Network. And I'm really excited to like get this is my first opportunity to engage with the my way pono course and I'm glad to be here and I'm I'm choosing the next I'll choose Nate he came, he came on camera ready and raring
Hey, my name is me. I am a software developer I've been working with. Open Fresno and cook for SAC and we're working right now on a pretty cool education analysis thing that takes the data that districts have and trying to like track with charts and stuff to to get better results for for students. So I'm trying to learn more about like research to help me with that. And my interest in the indigenous community was Hi, I was working with a farm last year based in Hawaii. And I was doing the technical stuff for them and so hopefully I can learn stuff and apply it back to that community. I will pass it off to Betsy.
Cool. Hi, everyone. My name is Betsy. And I'm a qualitative researcher at Code for America and I work on the tax benefits team and I've been there for almost three years now. And yeah, I was interested in this course. Just because I know a lot of people who are running them in a mafia pono so that's really awesome. And I'm also a Polynesian My family's from Tonga. So I kind of resonate a lot with the teachings and yeah, I just like really love this stuff and I try to incorporate it into my work. So thanks, everyone.
No, hello. I'm glad that you're all here. I'm Christina. I am one of the product managers with Mary to help support everyone through the course. And even after the course like it the like from what I've gathered, working on the course myself, is that like it's all about relationships and I really hope that our community within the network and also outside of it is stronger because of it. Well, with that said. Does anybody else have anything you'd like to specifically bring up about the course? Nate I know you just started and with Renee, kind of being a new face to the concepts like so far is there anything that you'd be if there's anything that I guess resonated with you or you found interesting, at least from the first lesson? We'd love to hear
I think in just the introduction, introductory diving in that I've done thus far over just like the past week. What I really appreciate is the how the four R's you know, indigenous online learning in particular, showed the process of like growing into a concept along the way because it's five hours, but it was, I guess, originally four hours and then through through that work, they found that relationships were the fifth are to integrate into the concept not only as a separate factor, but like the one that tied all of the other ones together. That was that was in some of the first material shared on the Slack channel, I think. But that's a that's a takeaway that I really appreciated and keep going back to in my notes which are just getting started. But that's that's what I can share so far.
I had a question just because I I just started this morning on the first lesson I'm almost all the way through the first lesson but is it too late for me like is it too late to one get credit but I would still do if I didn't get credit either but I'm just wondering like, is a week I mean, there's only a week left I think in the year so is should I just kind of do what I can or should I try to do it all?
Actually, you still get credited? Absolutely. We even you get credit even if you work up until the 31st. Without a doubt we plan on doing we'd like to go again if you can go through all of it be great, but the main thing is really doing the kilos and the reflections. That way they know what they you've got the concepts that way they understand that you are understanding exactly where they're coming from, what the research entails and that you can go about doing it efficiently. So those are the main point so if you can't at least go ahead and you know, maybe you go through all the modules but you don't answer and that's fine, but at least do those as to those last seven kilos and reflections. That right there will get you where you need to be at. And yes and it is doable. So like I said until midnight. You've got until midnight the 31st
Okay, definitely yeah, I'll um, I'll take my time and then like really picked up about it. I just didn't know if like some of the questions later on. Are they like, take a month to reflect or something and it's like, I only have a week, but I can. I can think about it. Okay.
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I've done my reflections in a courtroom. I've never did it while I was fishing. It just depends on where you're at.
I did while I was working. So one of my jobs is out of an arena. And for an event I was outdoors, convenient. And part of my job was going around and checking on, you know, staff and also guests. And even though I couldn't check my phone, which was part of kilo, like that's your you're encouraged to you know, conduct your observations for 15 minutes without any distractions. And you have to be closely like, observant and using all your senses including, you know, your gut, which is like referred to as I believe. Now, I believe. Correct me if I'm
wrong or the any, any?
I think any it's like the desire, the desire Yeah, but it's all blended. So it's like your six, seven mind or something and I'm getting paid to observe. Ivan included a template that we created to help with reflecting on your kilo experience. And not only is it like a good way to just document but you're kinda like mapping out like, potential analysis like if you consistently conduct observations trying to like find, I guess some type of answer to the question that you're trying to solve. Like, you can kind of notice some patterns from your observations
Absolutely, I'm gonna go put that duck in the in the chat here, so that way you will have it. I just dropped it in the chat. Oh, great. Oh, you're good. Now Have any of you found it to be easy or hard? To do a reflection, so to say?
I need to start it so it'd be easy. Trust me. How about you Betsy? Have you found it easy or hard to do?
Honestly, I'm actually just getting started today. I had an answer. I'm sorry. No, no,
that's okay. Well, do we argue our industry flecked on this kind of things to begin with? Really? Because all of us have to go hit maneuvered we have a problem in front of us, no matter what it is personal or business. We're still doing that. Really. We're having to go ahead and do the pattern detection. And figure out okay, what's a better way to go ahead and, you know, if to manipulate whatever it is that the situation may need to be addressed with. So, you know, and I think that's one of the things that we need to realize is that really, we do this already. It's not really an extra lift. It's just a different frame of mind, or a different perspective of putting it in.
Renee, you mentioned that you saw one of the slack posts with about the five hours. I'm curious, like, are you in the course are you part of our Slack community? Totally.
So that's yeah, that's I think, when I saw the ad for not ad but like the notice for the talk story Cafe it was on discourse. And then the intro email that I got when I like signed up or said hey, you know, I'm interested in showing up to the to the event. made it clear that oh, I'm I'm might be signing up for a whole course. Oh, it's a bit of both in that. You know, my entry point has been the roundabout. But I do have access to the course materials. I'm able to look at them and registered. I'm registered there. So I you know, and I do happen to have time up until the end of the year to attempt to, you know, respond to the materials authentically. So, I hope that it will be enough to finish the course. But you know, for now, I'm just happy to share. I'm just happy to share the space and share in the concepts they're really really resonate with the work that I've been doing too. And, and I could learn a lot more about particularly, and now answer the other question which is, how hard might it be to do reflection which I can tell since the reflection is asking for like, a very grounded embodiment of a moment, I'm gonna have a hard time it's hard for me to stop intellectualizing or trying to have a cognitive process in order for me to feel present and engaged and safe or what have you. So practice that's asking me to engage my senses a little more broadly. Then then that frontal lobe kind of area, I'm gonna struggle with it and I'm glad for a challenge because I would like to wrestle with that a little more and exercise that those sensory based muscles.
Well, if you need the support, we're here and the power of now Eckert told me, that helped out that's helped me tremendously, really, just to kind of be in the moment not to be thinking about everything else and just concentrate there. But it is it is a little bit overwhelming to be new, something new. Anything new is you have to you can be simply different ideas and better use well if you hear any help, let us know. i We did put a kilos of our own in, in the channel to kind of show mine is actually the courthouse. That was my second. Second one. I believe. That's what made me choose bilingual communities to actually go ahead and kind of put more of my avenues towards especially to hit my my energies, especially because my grandmother she only when he was an X because she didn't know how to read or I had to speak English. So and that was in Spanish or English. She didn't know how to read or write. So we're finding that apparently there's a lot more kids nowadays and adults who are not they don't know how to read. They don't know how to write. So really, how can we actually go ahead and kind of bridge that gap to get them back into the community where if there's something there of importance, they could still get the message equally as important as everyone asked us.
Rene, so would you be open to hearing like suggestions on like how to get centered or grounded from like, yeah,
yeah, thanks for checking. And yes, I am and would appreciate it.
Oh, that might be excellent. Especially if all three of you are starting from ground zero, right. It felt like a high making Heidi.
I believe in lesson two, that's when the course goes into focusing strategies. And like getting centered and grounded. And we know as civic technologists slash hackers slash whatever label we want to give ourselves everything like there's no one size fits all. So finding, like I don't want to say I guess practice finding a practice that works for you, and it feels good for you. I think is the best approach to get getting there trying to figure out how to get centered. There are some recommendations within the course that include Ollie's which are chance, but sometimes for some reason, that might not work or might not feel feel right. So I guess this is open for everyone. Like what do you do to get centered like what feels right for you to get centered, or grounded, or focused?
And I'll just start with sharing that for me. I think that what got me to feel comfortable with it. The beginning was to do it someplace familiar, because I went where I go fishing all the time. And actually, it kind of woke up my senses set like I'm starting to hear different things. I was observing other things that I would normally have not observed because I'm so busy fishing and doing everything else that it actually got me more in tune. So sometimes maybe just being in a more familiar place, maybe a park you always go to or something to kind of just just to kind of focus in a different manner or in a more tuned way. I found that to be helpful for myself.
Yeah, I just want to call out just like how hard it is to really do that to stay focused, especially when there are like so many distractions and so many things that are happening because I feel like I'm one of those people where I have like a really hard time like being mindful and being in the moment. And so, sometimes like when I when I don't feel grounded or focus, like you know, y'all go to a park or I'll just be, you know, like, kind of like in nature because I feel like it kind of like reduces the kind of distractions because everything is like usually really still and there's just like not really a whole lot going on. And so I think that's that's something that that kind of helps me too is just like acknowledging that those distractions are happening and maybe separating myself or Yeah, or just or just trying to find a quiet spot and just re centering but yeah, it is very hard.
I think it's also hard when you have this as an appendage. This is me this is something that really it's hard to even go five minutes without making sure Oh, well is anybody looking for me? So that's it. This thing goes dead. Oh my god, I'm freaking out. Wow. Especially if I don't have Turker. So So you know, it does get hard to keep those distractions at bay.
Yeah, recently I shared with Mary so our phones, some phones have focus mode. And I have been like, enjoying pressing that button.
Oh, she's so focused. I love it. She
know I get distracted easily and Renee wrote a great post about like Slack notifications on discourse, which I can't access at the moment. But feel free to drop in the chat or like are dropping into the notes that I thought was a great way to like, help adjust the CFA slack settings or just slack in general. That says I turned my notifications off. I would like to read it. It's really good. It's really good. And there's also a playlist that Renee and a few other brigade leaders or members or network volunteers, I guess you would say who have also like curated on discourse to help focus. We also have a Spotify playlist courtesy of the Mavi course team. That there are social justice songs. So if you're looking for I guess, a broader view feel with a wave. Yeah, a broader connection. Yeah. Go ahead, Mary.
I was just gonna say so so a little Bob Marley like so it's pretty cool actually.
From what I'm hearing, nature, listening to music, turning off notifications. Am I missing
anything? No, so far, but I can't say I couldn't understand how hard that is. Because up until last year, I was constantly it'd be 10 o'clock at night and my husband's like, what are you doing? Hey, nope, this someone's got you I was always because I was wanting to be on top of my game. Are you at this last year? I said nope. Forget. I'm gonna go get at my family's first this time. I now know when to say no, I can't go ahead and do something because you know, hey, I don't have the bandwidth. So why am I gonna go ahead and, you know, over over expectations and under deliver? No, I so I've learned to go ahead and kind of be a lot more mindful in that manner and also to give my family the time that they need to say okay, this does have I have to go ahead and just disconnect
and I was I was gonna share too that I think I think I think the this band or this group that I'm linked in the chat is on some playlists, but they're Orlando based. So for me and Christina, I just wanted to like represent with the beautiful chorus, but they they make music specifically for meditative embodiment practices. And you know, create different rhythms and like tonal layering and everything that is really, really my go to for when I want to do focused work that is also still like warm to my spirit. Sometimes. Some of the other stuff is a little a little cold or I don't know, you know, I have some I was gonna say some of the stress in embodiment practice for me is how sensitive I already am to sensory experiences. And so sometimes having to, like really open up my body to the full sense of a moment. I'm like, Well, I'm already working with a lot over a year. So, you know, the the recommendation to be in a really familiar space or in a space where maybe like, you can predict a lot of the environmental factors more than more than not is a particularly helpful for me to consider. And, and yeah, and then I was just going to offer up to my post about navigation. Navigating notification stress is just just affirming shut all your notifications off. There's no There's no tips or tricks. It's just shut them off. Shut them all off.
Yeah, there's a so we have a sprint calendar, which we're welcome to share. To help anyone who wants to get through the course like in blocks, or like focus blocks. And there are labels excuse me, Dave labeled rest. Like the fact that we have to have that visible like the computer to tell us you need to rest
I do. It's wild,
but like simple, very simple concepts.
So easy to let it get away with you to where you're just like, hey, you go and go and going and I've got this deadline and that deadline, I gotta take the kids here. I gotta go there, that all of a sudden, venue yourself ragged and then you don't understand why you're not 100% Okay, well, Oh, you didn't take that time? Because really, yeah, it's great to care about your community, but you can't care about your community if you don't care about yourself.
Yes, huge plus, huge, huge plus to that. You'd have to, you know, take care of yourself and before you can take care of others because you can't be can't run on empty. Yeah, that's, that's huge. That's actually something that I'm also trying to learn like in my work, especially since like the work that we all do. You know, like, we're working with communities like, you know, sometimes we hear stories that, you know, like can be like triggering or can be kind of like re traumatizing. That's you know, something that we tend to talk about on the research team is like, just making sure that we take care of ourselves because we talk to a lot of people and we hear their stories and some of those stories are not happy stories. They don't have happy endings, at least like at this point. So yeah, I just a huge I'm a huge fan of self care and just making sure that we're, you know, always doing well so that we can take care of other people.
Oh, absolutely. And seriously, I learned it the hard way. I've had a major stroke and three small strokes. They've all been because of stress. So really, I've learned I've taken a very big step back to saying hey, wait a minute, is me even in the moment where is this for stressing over? No, it's not. Yeah, just let it go, bro. I feel like a deck. And sometimes I switch you have to do and that's even up we get to merged into the communities that we actually research. You can aspire to start speaking to elders and start speaking to people who have very strong opinions. And that's great, but you have to realize that okay, you're taking down their story. It's not anything against you or anybody else. It's their story. So you have to take it as it is and you'll face value, rather than you go ahead and internalizing it
Yeah, one practice that I like to do actually, when I have a particularly hard day and like I've maybe listen to someone's story that's just been very, you know, it's like very heavy. You know, sometimes I'll do a meditation like right before bed and I'll, you know, just kind of like sit there and try to be present but then I try to imagine you know, kind of giving those feelings or giving that story back to the person who it belongs to. But I feel like that really helps me a lot. It's just kind of like this like visualization activity, but I feel like just like kind of like taking that like visualizing taking that load and just returning it back. Is for me very helpful.
I love that concept of returning it back. I also signed people up for security social services as an independent rep. And it's a it's very hard it can take anywhere between a half hour to three hours to do a one application because they're giving up important information. They don't trust the government to begin with. So now they're going to trust you. And a lot of them are already in a bad position. That's why they're here. So you know a lot of my don't do I recharge this time, some of them walk out with food and clothing. But bottom line is that hey, I give back because I wish I had had that. That 30 years plus that I've been in and out of the system. I wish I'd had someone to help to guide me and not feel so bad either because I hate to say this, but when you go to those services directly in their offices, sometimes they don't make you feel the most well and they actually can be very intimidating. So it's very helpful to know it that you can kind of give back to say, hey, it's right there, done that. Let's go and do this out together.
I think that's part of like with Mavi pono it's you you have that you are part of that community. It's your responsibility, or as I guess network stewards, as we call it within our space. It's like we are investing in our communities and we have a responsibility to care for that community and contribute where we can and making sure we continue to carry forward our initial or mission I guess. Just a heads up. It is about 10 more minutes until we wrap up. I would love for us to share in the comments like I guess highlights from our time together, what appreciations you have or challenges or wins and like just take up this time like I guess the next minute to just reflect on that and then dropping the cat chat and we'll go around and talk about it. Thank you
You need more time. Feel free to add yours. Would anyone like to share theirs out loud
How do you say yes. Especially when it says true and being so vulnerable. Being willing to be just so open? It's really nice to know you can be in a space that is not not judgmental, not where you're going to have to feel bad about Oh wow. I might get it. Put off the wrong kind of attitude or anything. No. I really believe firmly in leaving any kind of titles at the door and just being people because you know what? That's all yours people. We're all the same and I'm grateful for all of you for being willing to do that. Because you really it's not easy to do sometimes so Mahalo.
I believe we lost Betsy but hope Thank you Betsy
I just looked over from the chat her message and saw no Betsy
right I saw wow. Oh it's okay. Um I have to commend everyone here. Whether you're starting from like today, or you know, six months ago, we started what in the summer? Hey, that's that's feedback. Even though we have this target date, I'm not gonna say deadline. It's we have our target date of December 31 to complete the course. The fact that we're staying with it and we're learning little by little that things are things need time. I think that's part of research like this needs time to just like, marinate for it to to come to fruition. So like I just want to shout that out. Like, if that's in here. Like, that's like that's a win, just celebrating, especially during the holidays. And if you have families and if you're trying to take care for yourself and the fact that we're sticking with this and just trying. That's why and if you haven't already I think a big thing too is Yes, Betsy we're here. Come back Betsy
was gonna say Oh, since you are starting, I think communicating with I just want to communicate with the Mavi pono team, the teaching assistant, a Lani like giving them updates because they are part of our community as well. And they are sharing this wisdom with us and just keeping them in the know like this where you're at. I think it's just really valuable and helpful to everyone's success. Betsy has gone again. That was my heart. Would anyone else like to share
and also remember, we're here for support anything you guys need. And you I've actually friends with all of you so yeah, okay, what time of day it is. Let me know that's what we're here for.
You I have I have some kind of things that I've been thinking about. I don't know if I'm like ready to share them or something like there are was just wondering, like, are we going to do this again, like one more time? Or? And then also, maybe I could reach out like they're kind of just like questions like, of like appropriation kind of with the with with Hawaiian. Like working through stuff. I have questions about that. And I don't know if it'll come up later. So I don't I can want to do a little bit more in the course but are we going to meet again one or two more times?
The guy be very good for sure. Next week, we always do it again if we want to go again. And again. You can always reach out to us as well. individually. We can have one on ones anybody's that's what we're here for.
Okay, cool. Thank you. Yeah, yeah. Mary, if you don't mind dropping the toxic Cafe number three, post in the chat. That'd be great. We'll also include it within the notes. Yes. So next Friday, December 3 Yet, at same time, same place, we will be meeting for the last time. However, we are available to meet earlier in the week to if need be.
Yes Is it the pole that you want? Or is it the cafe assessment?
No. Because I can't store coffee number three.
Oh, I can't find it. Funny
that this Court of that calendar.
Oh, yes, yes. Okay. Let me go ahead. And they'll say
like the last one of the year.
Okay, I'll go better for you. Thank you. Sorry about that.
I think it's on my calendar, too. So cool. Thank you. Thank you guys so much.
Yeah, and any questions? Yeah, we're going to be staying on for the next 15 minutes. So if you have any questions that you'd like to ask to feel free and Betsy, welcome back. Yay.
I don't know what happened. But I'm back.
Crazy how that happened.
So does anyone have oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead. Renee. You You're about to
go. I don't I was going to say I don't have any questions. I'll just start working my way through materials and see what questions emerge from there. And I just wanted to say thank you for your time and I'm glad I was able to attend and I hope to attend next Friday as well.
Wonderful. Please be on the lookout for a survey from your time. Yes, we will be sending those out. After this and also following up on any resources that you are curious about. We will share out the notes and if you have anything that you'd like to add like maybe tomorrow or day after you realize oh, there's something that that was pointed out from our discussion. I want to talk about it. Feel free to add it to the notes document and also share what you're working on in the Slack channel.
Okay. You give me we just got it's like I was gonna ask, is there anything that we could do to make it a little bit more interactive for people to kind of join in the conversation or we maybe do a little bit, something different to kind of get a little bit more interaction in there?
I'm not sure. I'm still so new to the channel. I haven't seen the flow. But I mean, from what I would normally be doing, you guys are doing what I would do, which is you know, letting folks know they can respond via emoji. You've got stuff up on the pinned in folders that are easy. To access. Like all throughout our conversation, I was able to go and find everything I needed to find right where I expected to find it. And there's automated messages that are really helpful like when I joined the Slack channel and it sent me a little primer to get you know, acclimated. So I mean nothing but observations on what's already there. It's great. I'm engaging with it capably myself so you know, no, no notes.
Well, we'll also take the spicy takes to what
it takes anybody has a problem.
All right. Well, I'll talk to you guys later.
Thank you so much. He's happy. Thank you. Mahalo. Great day and you both of you. Absolutely. We're still welcome to go ahead and move me anytime. Even off the cuff. You're going to reach us today you I'm getting a little bit real stonewalled here. Got a little bit of writer's block here, Christina and I do that to each other over and over again because really, it kind of, it's hard when you don't really know if you're right on target. And that's what happened to this. So.
So Betsy will join us momentarily. Nate. So definitely. We'll we'll bring that to your back. You have a question? Yes, question.
It's right in the chat.
Oh, okay. Are you involved with DB one Oh one.org disability benefits one on one site that was presented by the founder at one of his code for Sacramento meetings.
Cool. Um, no, I'm not actually but this is this looks like a really great resource. I'm just like, looking at it right now.
I know me too. And I'm like, Whoa, wait a minute. I was I
remember each day. Yeah. Oh, sorry. Go ahead.
Oh, Mary, like because I forget who somebody presented and I thought maybe was associated with Code for America.
I do not know it. I believe I was not there for that one, unfortunately. Okay. Yeah. But this is one of them. Yeah, exactly. No, this is great. Wow.
I was just curious. Yeah. Yeah. Thanks for sharing this. This is this is really cool.
Yeah, yeah. Because so many people find it so hard to actually just get to the information itself.
Yeah, unfortunately sometimes government services aren't advertised very well. And a lot of people don't know that they qualify or, yeah, I'm, I'm sure like we all we're all familiar with this, like working in civic tech. But that's kind of one of the big barriers is that people just don't know what they qualify for.
Although I think that we would be very helpful is if they got more people who have had the experience of actually having to qualified for that kind of stuff. To go kid and really kind of help them say, Okay, this is what needs to work a little bit better. This is where you can do more advertisement. We're starting to do a lot more advertisements in doctors offices, because that's where everybody's gonna go one point or another.
Yeah, that's so funny because I just got a text message from Kaiser, which is like my medical medical, I used to be on Medicare, which is kind of like the Medicare of that, you know, I think I'm still on their list because I've tried to get off I've tried it. It's funny it took it took a long time for me to get on and now that like I'm finally working and I have, you know, like private health insurance now, I can't get off. They still send me like medical, you know, like advertisements. You know, they, you know, gave me a text message for get CalFresh which is a service that we have here at Copa America that I worked on for a little bit. So I just I just want to like wow, this is this is full circle right here.
I got the vote for the taxes. Yeah, that's right. And even for the criminal assistance, which I don't know how that killer got in there, because I don't remember that we've ever had anything with rental assistance. But hey, it could be it was one of the platforms that they did, but it's great. To know I wish that we had all that stuff all in one area website where people could just say, Okay, I'm gonna go ahead and I'm gonna sign up for everything I've qualified for it, rather than having to go to go to everything separately.
Exactly. That's the dream. Oh, absolutely.
Absolutely, yeah. I think that that's what it is. I've heard Oh, it's gonna be hard to get to that point. You just get everybody's approval you just your way, but the applications there. Oh
yeah, that's kind of like what we're kind of hoping to do in Minnesota. Like there are some folks that are that are working there. And they're trying to create like, they call like an integrated benefits forum, where people can basically just apply like, you know, like, check the box like Do you need help with food, you need help with housing and you can just check down the box and then, you know, one application kind of like helps you apply for all of those things. So I think that's pretty cool. Like that's, you know, that's I feel like that's what people need.
Absolutely nothing that didn't you don't even know what they qualify for, if you don't see it. So here they could be trying to pay PG and E their electricity or they don't even know there's assistance for that. If you can't do it, and it's going to be hard to make ends meet. There is assistance and a lot of people don't know that even for our garbage, you know, they as as a senior citizen, most counties go okay, they give a 10% discount if you're a US citizen. And that's 10% but that many counts
think it's all across the board, even with the course itself. Like we it took me a while to realize oh, we we have office hours available with the course team. And it's like all it would take is Hey Allamani Can I meet with you to talk about this?
This whole time? Yeah, that's right. This whole time she was in touch with a La Nina was attachment and I we didn't even know we were both doing that.
Or even with each other. Yeah, so like thinking about your experiences, like thinking that oh, someone who is like a, I guess I don't know, the tax consultant or I don't know what what is that advisor what that role is, but I think like, what if we were all like that with them? No, no, but like, something that you've learned, like, like, for me, it's like, it's you're giving a piece of like, you're like you're sustaining the knowledge that you've gained all the work that you put into it. Does that make sense?
As a very strong believer that a lot of people especially in tech, they need to hand over their information instead of feeling threatened by younger people. They need to go ahead and realize that no, that's longevity. You're actually handing down more of a history where have you are you really actually going in and asking for the baton. be welcoming to it don't feel threatened. Yes.
And I'm about mindset, you know, especially like when I go in like I feel like everyone I talked to I always learned something from them. Everybody has value and everyone has a perspective that you know, that is very unique to that person's, but to that person's life and how they've lived their life and so yeah, I think that's why I just like love doing what I do and I you know, do research is I get to talk to people and I get to hear their stories and you know, understand how they see things and it's great. Like, I just think it's, it's so awesome. And I'm really grateful to you know, like work in a place where I can do that. Because, you know, and civic tech, especially like this is all about building things for the people. So it's like what better way than to talk to as many people as possible and get their perspective on things and you know, just see where things go.
And I'm very thankful for your pastor for your point of view as a to go ahead and really, to give it a story back to them, because I've had many times where I've had those stories that it sticks with me and you know, I've saved my rosary for them at night because I'm just like, Wow, I'm so worried about the, especially nowadays, I'm seeing a lot more middle class people who they had good jobs, they had a great place to stay and now all of a sudden they're out on the streets, and I'm helping them and I wish I could do more but I can't. So thank you for that. Because really, it's hard to well, you care so much to really go ahead and leave that story to back to them and not have it manifesting yourself. Because I've been there I've lived in my car before I mean, I've been homeless so hey, I know
so at brigade Congress, I did a session about aspirational clutter. And what that's what you kind of remind me of this idea that like it's the weight that you're carrying, this is I don't want it's not a burden, but it's just this idea this something that's weighing heavily on you and you can't let it go. And Marie Kondo. She follows this, this, I guess, mindset of like once this clutter once this object has served its purpose you think it and you let it go? So I love the idea that you have is it's you're giving it their story back and like by thanking if we're showing gratitude, thank you, whatever process we have or practice, like I just love that idea. Because when we're counseling all those struggling, or difficult conversations it's a gift like thank you for this gift. It served its purpose. Let it go.
Yeah, I love I love that you you express gratitude, you know, because I That's That's exactly how I feel like when I listen to these stories is that like, you know, they feel comfortable and vulnerable enough to even share these stories with me. And so in a way, it's almost like I feel like I am kind of indebted like I have to hold this for them. And I think it's okay to hold it for a little while but then when it starts to kind of like affect your life, like there's a point where you just have to like you know, let it go because, you know, you have to help so many other people. So yeah, it's it's a very it's a really it's kind of like a hard balance, but I'm Yeah, but I'm really happy that you know, other people see it that way as well because sometimes it's just not easy to talk about these things.
Did you find that? It is kind of like hard conversations that can be difficult to talk about that really, that they don't feel that they're either appreciated or they kind of feel like it's so difficult for them to open up and once they do you how do you handle that difficult situation to really let them know that they are appreciated?
Yeah, that's that's such a great, such a great question. I mean, I think just giving agency you know, and just saying, hey, you know, talk about what you feel comfortable with. You know, like we're not here to quiz you. I'm not here to say that you're right or wrong. Like this is your experience and really just like, you know, allowing them to you know, share as much as they want of course I have you know questions like research questions that I'll ask them but you know, like to be honest, like I sometimes will skip those questions like if someone is, you know, very emotionally distraught for instance, like all to stop the interview and just say, hey, like, how are you doing? What do you need right now? Like, are you okay? You know, because that's, that's more important to me, that's more important than, you know, like a research project. I mean, it's that's just, that's just how it is. And I was actually reading a little bit of them avevano stuff and you know, like reciprocity is really big. In this, this perspective of doing research, and that's kind of the perspective that I take is that, you know, like, I'm not coming in just to like take information or take data from someone I'm, you know, here as a person and a human being. And I just really want to, you know, try and give back as much as I'm getting from from the person I'm talking to, even if that means like stopping the interview. Maybe, you know, giving them resources. You know, we have a list a list of resources that sometimes will give people depending on where they're located, you know, you know, like to something just to just to get back to folks because yeah, sometimes those conversations are just not easy. So
I think it helps figure genuine because people can tell when you are being genuine, and when it's just something you're doing because it's your job. So, yeah, and I really appreciate the genuine intent that everyone has here because really, it's there's nothing fake about this and we're in it because we want to help improve because we love people and we want to make an improvement in not just our communities but even in our lives. Because really, it feels good to know. We're all givers. We're all our our caregivers, regardless of whether it be our families, our communities. We all care about others. But the one thing that I think that we all give each other is the genuine generosity of knowing that hey, we can go ahead and be quite frank, we can go okay and be supportive. But we also know we have to give to ourselves too, because if we don't, we could really go ahead and be a little bit kind of short. And really, we can't do it
relationships, it's relationships, that yourself relationship with others. And like your first community is your family and then old versus yourself, then your family and then it gets broader and broader. And I think the stronger it is, I think more competent, we feel as like, you know, researchers are just trying to solve a problem like that. Like forget the taller researcher it's like you're you're helping, you know, find a solution for a problem.
And if anything, the one thing that I find that request and I were just talking about this as well as that really, as I had opened up with time should not be a factor. Because really what we start putting ourselves on a time schedule and a time limit. We start rushing things and what happens when we start rushing things even as individuals we commit something we fall we do anything that may be go ahead and actually trip us up. So why should this be any different?
And with that, boy, this has been a wonderful session. I gotta tell you, I got to thank you for all such a wonderful, deep seated, honest to good talk. Thank you.
Yeah, mahalo. Thanks, everyone. This is always I've always I always leave in a good mood when I react. So thank you for this and I will definitely come to the next one. Yeah, happy holidays. Everyone was sent to
you and actually do have a little bit before we go so we can talk to you for just a second because from for
anytime, AQ. Thank you.
Thank you guys. I'm wanting to just hear your guys's experience dealing with trying to solve problems, you know, there has to be negative for you to solve the problem. So, I mean, hopefully I kind of want to do that too. So I appreciate you guys sharing your stuff and have a happy holiday.
You too.
Yes. Christmas, Nate. We will get back to you. We have like a lot of resources that you can we can help you with. So just be on the lookout.
Cool. Cool. Yeah, yeah, I can like the other. Renee I think said my stuff was pretty well organized too. So like I appreciate you guys. The way you've been doing stuff is easy to find. So but yeah, I appreciate anything you think I need to also take note of
and if she does have any questions, just just drop us a DM, that's the fastest or email. You can do that too.
Okay, you got me you know how to get ahold of me quickly. So that's it. Thank you so much. Thank you guys. Sounds great. Happy holiday. By