july 16 2008

where does change really come from?

is it the result of millions of dollars and work-hours and years of lobbying? is it the willingness to take a risk by individual politicians? does it take a catalyzing public event, like the brutality of fire hoses and southern police during the protests and marches against segregation?

there are a lot of job opportunities posted for big advocacy groups, like pirg and the sierra club. these groups are famous of late for putting teenagers and twentysomethings on street corners to ask you if you (and your pocketbook) care about the environment.

the jobs have ambitious titles like "community outreach organizer" or "youth coordinator."

i'm hesitant to apply for these positions. working in an office for a year has given me enough alienation to last a lifetime, even though i am super high on the idea/basic premise of the organization i'm working for. with the sierra club and pirg, i have enough doubts about their methods and size that i think i'm going to pass for now.

i want a couple years of being told what to do, honestly. "teach these kids." "write these articles." "edit these papers." i've had enough of being a "liaison" - "building capacity and sustainability" - for now.

this'll probably all change tomorrow, anyway.

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jobs applied for (level of interest):

outreach coordinator for some LEGO robot program for kids at ASU (robots! destroy! could be cool?): rejected, pre-interview.
phoenix teaching corps (gung ho! cautious at best.): rejected, post-interview.
new times music editor (stoked on the possibility): pending.
community outreach and advocacy for refugees (stoked on the possibility): pending, interview kinda scheduled.
some kinda curriculum editor at the University of Phoenix: pending.