thoughts on how research happens

Paradigm and paradigm change are integral in research. In my Methods of Research bibliography is an Open Society Institute video on their drug policy advocacy around the world. 

http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/voices/what-world-can-learn-switzerlands-drug-policy-shift

As ever one's  personal experience is just that, one's personal experience.  Most of my interest in drug policy has been in terms of clinical social work since 1982 with clients having substance abuse concerns. Caregiving as presented in the work of Ann Burack-Weiss has so informed my practice. I routinely refer to mindfulness as per Buddhist thought.

Policy is another lens. In my experience, luck has had it that I have known several drug policy advocates who are also tied to the Open Society. The first is a Swiss legislator who I visited in Zurich in the early 1990s and was then involved in the work presented in the Open Society video. I also observed the experiment to allow drug use in a Zurich park. My trips were in the time of my doctoral study in cross-national social policy, and I visited social work programs in Berlin and Rotterdam. 

Secondly, I have known the strategic planner for Open Society programs throughout the world and heard about initiatives since the 1990s. Third, I have done recent consulting with a drug policy organizer in San Francisco whose program is funded by the Open Society.

The work of these advocates as well as my lens as a social worker qua researcher are examples of how research can and does happen, and is utilized. The Zurich project initiated as action research  for real life social welfare activity and is presented as a case study video (case study is a method of intense focus on a case, group, community,  program or policy).  My friend at Open Society has put together resources around the world about drug policy, i.e, meta=research. The San Francisco activity is  case study and action research: the process of needs assessment and implementing solutions with real time evaluation feedback.

Thinking from the lens of Kuhn, paradigm shifts. Drug policy is changing as data analysis shows best practices from real life activity. There are many ways of knowing. 

Newark NJ summer life 2013

Mijn 14th summer in Newark, NJ. Not much swimming going on.. rain days and my leg was messed up. But did make the pool a bit and still days ahead.

Visited a brother several times in the NJ suburbs.. found a good local pizzeria in Morris County. Doing my caregivng. Family reunion on the side of our maternal grandmother, a whole crew of cousins unknown to me, the Croatian-Dalmatians. A whole diaspora from Vrboska, Hvar.

Writing about social workers in politics. Donated funds to Booker for Senate, Buono for Governor, Gale Brewer for Manhattan Borough President.

Good summer songs always!!!

Music background in the playlist for a July 2013 episode of Eastenders. The hauntingly beautiful song from "Trainspotting", Underground-Born Slippy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOi8Gnq_z_U

Pre-iftar evenings this Ramadan listening to Capital Cities-Safe and Sound.  Listening to Adele, and Layla.

Lots of videos this summer.. "Man of Steel", "Lone Ranger and Tonto", "the Heat". YouTube video catching, seen every PBS Mystery Poirot, and BBC Spooks seasons 1 through 4.

Carpe the season. And Happy Birthday to a Park Ridge IL buddy from Maine South days, today! So many shared years!

figuring out summer songs etal by myself or with friends and/or neighbors. meanwhile.. gotta get with this one! sucha generational thing.. the best song of every summer always and forever!http://mashable.com/2013/08/07/stephen-colbert-get-lucky/

Always da best! A wondrous spirit in our world.. Sindiwe Magona

The amazingly talented author/poet/social worker.. Sindiwe Magona. From International House, NYC to Columbia University (Faculty House and school), to the UN.

Clearing out thousands of photos. Love the lifes of Sindiwe Magona that I have been so blessed to witness! 

9/11/2012: Remembering 9/11/2001

For several years one of the first discussions in all of my NYC college classes was "What were you doing on 9/11?" as all of us were here that day. Have always had firefighters, hospital workers, first responders in my classes. Several of my Methods of Research student teams wrote brilliant proposals to do research on the ptsd of 9/11 survivors. Bonding in my Newark building with other residents; the store owner, in particular who we would ask to update us on those neighbors one had not seen. One such neighbor in a daze for months from the horror of having walked through the MerrylLynch WorldPlaza and dodging people jumping from the WTC towers. I remember the weeks of falling asleep to the BBC or CNN coverage of the aftermath to hear the names of those who had died. The horror on seeing a former co-worker whose fiance, a Citibank employee, never got out of the towers. Remembering the first train trip into NYC a few days post 9/11 and everyone looked out the window to see the rising plume of smoke in what used to be the WTC in the skyline. Photo: one of my conte crayon drawings from Pier 51, West St, WTC in distance.

Mad cripple of NY

i respect Michelle for talking about her Dad. Somedays I may be a mad cripple of NY but I am def privileged. Michelle, her Mom and brother just show the love of a parent who took care of his! So amazing! Thanks to her Dad!

Using the crutch as I fell off a NJ train in December. I had an appointment and such adrenaline I did not realize how damaged my knee had been. Had a trick knee already. After falling in the street while using a cane, I decided I needed to use the crutch. No fun falling in traffic but once some passerby was telling folks I was just a drunk! LOL.. I starting saying "I just finished teaching my methods of research class to college students.." but decided the onlookers would just think he be another delusional. 

I can at least laugh at the notion of being just another mad cripple in NYC considering the range of human behavior one sees in NYC. Thank the universe for having my public pool in Newark NJ.. swimming is my bliss now!

But, Michelle's father had far more challenges and I can only just be so proud of Michelle, her family, and respect the love and caring of her Dad.

Love as supported by the Dems

Love is all we really have in the end. Hope springs eternally in the human heart. Thanks for a political force that supports love! Go Obama!

have to think of this wonderful Matt Alber video! "End of the World"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTvJdpkdLiw&feature=plcp

seems more like the start of a new world though! Damn happy to be alive to see it all!

Obama and zen for me

Thinking of Michelle Obama's comment that "for Barack, success is not about how much money you make. It's the difference you make in people's lives!"

How congruent that thinking is with mine. Naikan method.

naikan zen method

contemplating 3 questions

1. What did this person do for you? all the concrete things, their worries,      pleasures..

2. What did you do for this person?

3. What trouble and worries did you cause them?

from Mom to current people in one's life.. to strangers.. the bus driver...

"The point is... someone cared for us or we would not have survived." -Brazier, Zen Therapy