Aaron McDonald first brought up his need to contact Public Health, Public Works, whatever, in the beginning of the semester. Throughout our dealings with the election, we kept trying to find ways for Aaron to make an effective connection to get the water, with mosquitos, removed from the street in his neighborhood. Email afte email went unanswered even after Antoinette Easley shared with him how it had been managed in Manhattan Beach.
When Aaron finally got to speak to a real person, the curt response was, "Well, how do you know it hasn't been done?" The election over, I returned to trying to follow through with all those links I had given you on Vector Control and West Nile Virus. An hour later, I had listened to a zillion recorded messages, and finally talked to a real person who let me talk to Mark Brooks, Field Operations Manager for Vector Control in The West Vector Section, I think.
Understanding that I was asking for a public relations exchange with the Los Angeles County of Public Works, which was where are all the recorded speeches and Internet materials had led me, Mr. Brooks transferred me to Heather Teodoro, a public education specialist. Sounded like just what I needed. After I explained the entire problem to Ms. Teodoro, for the fourth time, I think, she told me I'd have to start all over again in the Greater Los Angeles Vector Sector, with Ms. Stephanie Miladin. Beaten, I agreed. But Ms. Miladin was in a management meeting and couldn't talk to me. We will not speak of the irony.
I left her my school number, and said I'd call this afternoon. Aaron, I can understand your frustration. Now, this afternoon when I talk to Ms. Miladin, I want to suggest the following questions that I'd like to have a representative of the Greater Los Angeles Vector Sector, Public Education or not, come and disscuss witih us.
- The situation: Mr. McDonald has attempted to communicate over the Internet, as prompted, several times. None of his emails have received responses. He is asking to have stagnant water with mosquitos removed from his district. Ms. Easley, who works in Manhattan Beach, has advised him on how to get it done, but that has resulted in naught also. When Aaron finally got to speak to a real person, the curt response was, "Well, how do you know it hasn't been done?"
One of our classes is on agencies, policy and practice. We would appreciate some advice on how to handle short circuits like this where we can't get through to anyone who seems to be able to help with our problem. Maybe we could create a "Dealing Effectively with Agencies Guide."
- Our class on women and poverty would like to know if the county can help us understand why it was more difficult to get the stagnant water removed in a poor area than in a relatively rich area, Manhattan Beach. Is there an ombusdperson at the county who could help us get past such injustices as this when they are perceived? What can we who are trying to build academy-community bridges do to help poor people wend their way through barriers such as Aaron encountered?
- How can we build a bridge from academic resources like our classes on agency and poverty that might help communities communicate better?
A Justice Site
jeannecurran@habermas.org
On Building Effective Bridges to Awareness with Agencies: