5.2 Discussion SWK 543
Getting Started
Imagine you have just started working for a local social service agency. You have been assigned a case with a single mother and a young child. The mother is recovering from substance abuse. She is looking for a job but is running into several issues such as limited income, her possible loss of Medicaid, and childcare. This situation poses a dilemma. What do you do? By understanding your local, state, and federal policies, you can advocate for change or rally community support for service development.
Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:
- Assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services. (PO 5)
- Demonstrate character, scholarship, and leadership in becoming a world changer through application to personal life and professional social work practice.
- Demonstrate Christ-like attitudes, values, worldviews, and ethical and professional behavior within advanced clinical practice. (ILO 1)
Resources
Textbook: Social Welfare Policy: Responding to a Changing World
Textbook Reference: Hoefer, R., & McNutt, J. (2016). Social Welfare Policy: Responding to a Changing World. Oxford University Press.
- Media: Families Matter
- Video Link: https://fod-infobase-com.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/p_ViewVideo.aspx?xtid=5042&loid=44194
Background Information
In this assignment, you will see how practice and policy come together. You will explore the many ways policy affects clients’ well-being and life chances.
Instructions
- Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
- In your textbook Social Welfare Policy: Responding to a Changing World, read Chapter 10, “Social Services for Children and Family.”
- Watch Segment 7, Case Study: Single Mother, from the “Families Matter” video.
- Navigate to the threaded discussion and respond to the following:
Although the video presented some dated hourly pay, there were many relevant aspects to consider. After watching the video, what do you see as working for Jeanette and what do you see as not working for her?
Citing support from the textbook, how would you redesign the children and family services system? - Your initial post is due by the end of the fourth day of the workshop.
- Read and respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings, as well as all instructor follow-up questions directed to you, by the end of the workshop.
- Your postings also should:
Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking by providing evidence from workshop resources to support responses (with APA citation).
Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.
Provide clarification to classmates’ questions and provide insight into the discussion.
Be posted on two different days during the workshop. - Review the rubric that your instructor will use to evaluate your work. Self-assess your initial post and responses using the rubric and make improvements as needed to meet expectations and ensure that your work fulfills all the requirements.
Man: WE’RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING MONEY AND GIVING OUR CHILDREN THINGS RATHER
THAN SPENDING TIME WITH THEM.
Woman: WHEN I LOOK AT MY BUDGET, WITH MY CHILD CARE, I AM GOING TO STRUGGLE JUST TO BUY
DIAPERS AND FOOD.
Woman:
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO ALL THIS STUFF ON MY OWN?
Woman:
MY PARENTS RAISED FIVE KIDS.
I FEEL LIKE I’M GOING TO BE DOING REALLY WELL, AND IT’S ALL I CAN DO AND MY HUSBAND CAN DO
TO RAISE ONE, AND PROVIDE WHAT I FEEL SHE NEEDS AND BE HER ADVOCATE IN THIS WORLD.
Man: AND I THINK IT’S OUR OBLIGATION TO BUILD A BETTER WORLD FOR THEM.
Man: WE DID WHAT WE THOUGHT GOOD PARENTS SHOULD DO, AND WE LOOK AROUND AND WE
WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LEADERSHIP?
MY WIFE AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE WERE BETRAYED.
>> Moyers: TONIGHT ON LISTENING TO AMERICA, “FAMILIES MATTER.” CAPTIONING OF THIS
PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MUTUAL OF AMERICA, THE JOHN D. AND CATHERINE T. MacARTHUR
FOUNDATION, THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND PUBLIC TELEVISION VIEWERS.
>> LISTENING TO AMERICA IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MUTUAL OF AMERICA AND ITS FAMILY OF
COMPANIES, MAJOR UNDERWRITERS OF GROUP PENSION PLANS AND RETIREMENT SAVINGS
PROGRAMS; THE JOHN D. AND CATHERINE T.
MacARTHUR FOUNDATION, A CATALYST FOR CHANGE; E CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING;
AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
Moyers: GOOD EVENING.
GROWING UP IN EAST TEXAS, I USED TO HEAR MY FATHER TALK ABOUT THE LOCAL POLITICIAN WHO
BRAGGED THAT HE NEVER MET A BABY HE DIDN’T KISS.
SOME OF THEM WERE UGLY AS SIN AND DROOLING LIKE A BROKEN FAUCET, BUT HE CONFESSED
KISSING THEM MEANT HE NEVER HAD TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTING RECORD TO THEIR PARENTS.
NOW, POLITICIANS DON’T HAVE TO KISS BABIES THESE DAYS.
THEY CAN JUST TALK ABOUT FAMILY VALUES.
THEY DO IT TO REACH US AT OUR MOST VULNERABLE HUMAN CONNECTION, TO COME DOWN ON THE
SIDE OF HEARTH AND HOME.
WE’RE GETTING A LOT OF SUCH TALK IN THIS CAMPAIGN.
President Bush: THERE IS NO SURER WAY TO BUILD OUR NATION’S FUTURE THAN WITH THE MORTAR
AND THE BRICKS OF MORAL VALUES AND STRONG FAMILIES.
Dan Quayle: THE CULTURAL ELITES RESPECT NEITHER TRADITION NOR STANDARDS.
THEY BELIEVE THAT MORAL TRUTHS ARE RELATIVE AND ALL LIFESTYLES ARE EQUAL.
THEY SEEM TO THINK THE FAMILY IS AN ARBITRARY ARRANGEMENT OF PEOPLE WHO DECIDE TO LIVE
UNDER THE SAME ROOF, THAT FATHERS ARE DISPENSABLE, AND THAT PARENTS NEED NOT BE
MARRIED OR EVEN OF OPPOSITE SEXES.
THEY ARE WRONG!
Ross Perot: MY PARENTS ARE MY HEROES.
I WAS BORN UNDER VERY MODEST CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT NO CHILD COULD HAVE HAD BETTER
PARENTS THAN I HAD.
THEY DIDN’T PREACH TO ME, THEY DIDN’T LECTURE TO ME.
THEY WERE WONDERFUL EXAMPLES.
Bill Clinton: THE QUESTION IS NOT ARE FAMILY VALUES IMPORTANT.
OF COURSE THEY ARE.
IT’S NOT ARE THEY UNDER FIRE.
YOU BET THEY ARE.
IT’S NOT IS TV DESTRUCTIVE OF FAMILY VALUES.
ALL TOO OFTEN IT IS.
THE QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
Moyers: ALL THIS TALK ABOUT FAMILY VALUES IS NOT NEW.
100 YEARS AGO, THE U.S. HAD THE HIGHEST DIVORCE RATE IN THE WORLD AND AMERICANS WERE
BEGINNING TO WORRY ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION ON THE FAMILY–
PARENTS WORKING LONG HOURS IN FACTORIES AND MINES, CHILDREN BEING EXPLOITED AS WELL,
RAMPANT ALCOHOLISM, AND FATHERS, INCLUDING MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER, HEADING WEST AND
NEVER COMING BACK.
THE FAMILY HAS KEPT CHANGING IN THE 20th CENTURY– MORE DIVORCE, MORE SINGLE PARENTS,
MORE OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTHS, MORE ABSENTEE FATHERS, MORE CHILDREN IN POVERTY.
NOW THE BABY BOOMERS, BORN AFTER WORLD WAR II, ARE HAVING CHILDREN OF THEIR OWN.
WHEN YOU LISTEN TO THESE PARENTS, YOU HEAR THEM DESCRIBING A SOCIETY THAT IS ANYTHING
BUT FAMILY FRIENDLY.
LISTENING TO PARENTS IS SOMETHING RICHARD LOUV DOES VERY WELL.
HE’S A REPORTER FOR THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE, BUT HE DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS A FATHER
FIRST– AND HE BROUGHT HIS SON TO NEW YORK WITH HIM, HE’S SITTING RIGHT OVER THERE
BEHIND HIM– AND A JOURNALIST SECOND.
HE’S ALSO THE AUTHOR OF A BOOK CALLED CHILDHOOD’S FUTURE, BASED ON SOME 3,000
CONVERSATIONS WITH PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND CHILDREN FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FROM
EVERY WALK OF LIFE.
RICHARD, DO PARENTS AND KIDS TALK THE SAME WAY AS POLITICIANS?
Louv: NO, THE POLITICIANS GENERALLY ARE OF THE LET-THEM-EAT-VALUES SCHOOL OF POLITICS.
WE GET PREACHED AT A LOT, BY POLITICIANS, BY C.E.O.s, BY COMPANY PRESIDENTS, BUT THE
POLITICIANS DON’T SIGN FAMILY LEAVE BILLS.
THE C.E.O.s DON’T HAVE FAMILY- FRIENDLY POLICIES IN THEIR COMPANIES.
THEY FIRE YOUNG MOTHERS FOR GOING HOME TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR SICK CHILD WHEN THE DAY
CARE CALLS.
WE GET PREACHED AT A LOT.
Moyers: WHAT DO PARENTS TELL YOU THEY NEED?
IN ALL THESE CONVERSATIONS YOU HAD, CAN YOU DISTILL THE ESSENCE OF WHAT PARENTS SAY
THEY NEED?
Louv: PARENTS NEED EACH OTHER, THAT’S WHAT PARENTS TELL ME.
Moyers: WE WENT WITH YOU TO TALK TO SOME OF THE PARENTS THAT YOU HAD MET WHILE YOU
WERE DOING YOUR BOOK.
THEY MET IN THE STUDIOS OF PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION– OUR SISTER STATION– KPBS IN SAN
DIEGO.
HERE’S A LITTLE BIT OF THAT DISCUSSION.
Man: WE FEEL LIKE WE RENT OUR KIDS.
OUR DAY STARTS AT 4:30.
WE’RE AT THE SITTER’S AT 6:00.
WE’RE BOTH AT WORK, WORKING IN UNIFORM, AT 6:30.
WE’RE OFF AT 4:30.
WE GET THE KIDS AT 5:00.
WE GET HOME.
WE FEED THE KIDS BY 6:00.
THE LITTLE ONE’S ASLEEP.
THE… ZACK NEEDS A BATH.
HE’S IN BED.
BY THEN IT’S 8:00, AND WE’RE DEAD, SO LET’S TRY THIS AGAIN TOMORROW.
Woman: I THINK WE NEED TO REVISE OUR ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE GOOD LIFE REALLY IS,
AND THAT I DON’T THINK WE’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH OUR PARENTS.
MY PARENTS RAISED FIVE KIDS.
I FEEL LIKE I’M GOING TO BE DOING REALLY WELL, AND IT’S ALL I CAN DO AND MY HUSBAND CAN DO
TO RAISE ONE, AND PROVIDE WHAT I FEEL SHE NEEDS AND BE HER ADVOCATE IN THIS WORLD.
Woman: I CAME FROM A DIFFERENT COUNTRY AND A DIFFERENT CULTURE, BUT NOW 11 YEARS LATER
I’M STILL NOT USED TO THE WAY CHILDREN ARE SEEN IN THIS COUNTRY.
MOST OF THE TIME I FELT REALLY LOST AS A PARENT.
CHILDREN MEANS “HAPPINESS” IN VIETNAM.
PHUC MEANS “HAPPINESS.” Louv: THE WORD “CHILDREN?” Woman: THE WORD CHILDREN MEANS
HAPPINESS.
SO IF YOU ASK ABOUT MY INCOME, I CAN TELL YOU, OH, I’M NOT RICH IN MONEY, BUT I’M RICH IN
CHILDREN.
IN SOME WAY, IT’S MORE VALUE THAN HAVING MORE MONEY BECAUSE IN VIETNAM, I DON’T THINK
THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT WITH PEOPLE WITH A LOT OF MONEY, BUT WE HAVE RESPECT
WITH GOOD FAMILY WITH A LOT OF CHILDREN.
THAT’S SOMETHING THAT WE’RE MISSING HERE, AND THAT’S SCARY.
Man: WHERE I GREW UP, YOU KNOW, THERE’S ALWAYS BEEN DRUGS AND GANGS, AND I DON’T WANT
THAT TO… MY DAUGHTER TO BE RAISED IN THE SAME ATMOSPHERE AS I WAS.
Woman: YOU KNOW, I WENT BACK TO COLLEGE.
I’M STRUGGLING WITH THAT.
I WAS ON WELFARE AT THE TIME, BARELY COVERED THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE, YOU KNOW, AND I’M
STRUGGLING, I’M TRYING TO DO MY HOMEWORK, THE KID’S SCREAMING, YOU KNOW, CRYING, YOU
KNOW, I’M ALL ALONE HERE.
I DON’T HAVE ANYBODY TO HELP BABY-SIT, EVEN FOR A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE EVERY DOLLAR IS
GOING TO A BOX OF MACARONI AND CHEESE TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE, AND JUST ONE DAY I JUST
LOST IT.
YOU KNOW, I JUST PICKED UP A CHAIR AND THREW IT ACROSS THE ROOM BECAUSE I’VE JUST HAD IT.
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO ALL THIS STUFF ON MY OWN?
Woman: I DON’T BELIEVE RAISING CHILDREN WAS MEANT TO BE DONE SOLO.
WE DON’T DO A GOOD JOB.
CHILDREN NEED MORE PEOPLE TO BOUNCE OFF OF.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO QUEST AFTER SOMETHING ELSE BESIDES INDIVIDUALISM AND
INDEPENDENCE, WHICH WE’VE ACHIEVED.
WE’VE DEFINED OURSELVES, AND NOW WE HAVE TO GET CONNECTED.
Woman: YOU KNOW, IF I GO TO WORK AND I HAVE TO RUN HOME BECAUSE MY CHILD JUST HAD AN
ACCIDENT OR IS SICK, THE JOB, THE WORKPLACE DOESN’T LOOK AT ME AS, WHAT A NICE CARING
PARENT SHE IS.
THEY LOOK AT ME AS I’M UNRELIABLE.
Woman: THE NAVY HAS A SAYING THAT THEY TELL YOU– WELL, THE CHILD OR YOUR HUSBAND OR
YOUR FAMILY IN GENERAL DID NOT COME IN YOUR “C” BAG.
WHEN YOU WENT THROUGH BOOT CAMP, YOU WERE ISSUED EVERYTHING YOU NEEDED, BUT NOT A
FAMILY AND NOT CHILDREN, AND IF YOU DECIDED TO DO THAT ON YOUR OWN, THEN THAT’S YOUR
PROBLEM.
Woman: I APPLIED AT McDONALD’S, AND I TOLD THEM I HAD A DAUGHTER, AND HE GOES, “WELL, DO
YOU HAVE CHILD CARE FOR HER, YOU KNOW, FOR YOU TO COME TO WORK?” AND I SAID, “YES.” HE
GOES, “BUT YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU DON’T COME TOO MUCH TO WORK, YOU KNOW, OR THAT YOUR
BABY IS SICK OR THIS OR THAT,” HE GOES, “YOU COULD AUTOMATICALLY LOSE THE JOB.” Woman: I
AM AN EMPLOYER, AND IN MY COMPANY I REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR FAMILIES FIRST.
I THINK THEIR FAMILIES SHOULD COME FIRST.
Man: WE’VE GOT TO.
Woman: AND THAT’S NOT TO SAY THAT NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN FIRED FOR BEING ABSENT TOO
MUCH.
Man: YOU SAY YOU’RE REAL NICE TO YOUR EMPLOYEES, RIGHT?
Woman: I TRY TO BE.
Man: DO YOU HAVE A CHILD CARE FOR THEM?
Woman: WE DON’T HAVE A CHILD CARE, NO.
WE HAVE ACCESS TO A CHILD CARE FACILITY DOWN THE STREET.
WE DON’T HAVE…
Man: BUT DO YOU PAY FOR THAT?
Woman: NO, WE DON’T PAY FOR IT.
Man: YOU SEE, THAT’S THE PROBLEM.
YOU SEE, NOT ALL OF THEM CAN AFFORD THAT, TO PAY THIS, EVEN THOUGH IT’S A LITTLE BIT
CHEAPER.
Woman: THE PROBLEM IS, IT’S A DOUBLE-EDGE SWORD BECAUSE MOST COMPANIES CAN’T AFFORD
TO PAY FOR CHILD CARE FOR ALL THEIR EMPLOYEES EITHER.
Woman: MY CHILD CARE AND MY LOANS ARE MORE THAN MY RENT, OKAY?
WHEN I WAS ON WELFARE, I DID BETTER ON WELFARE, BECAUSE WHEN I WAS ON WELFARE, I DIDN’T
HAVE TO PAY CHILD CARE.
I STAYED AT HOME.
Woman: WE NEED TO JUST TO RETHINK OUR WHOLE ATTITUDES TOWARD EACH OTHER, AND THOSE
OF US WHO HAVE MORE… YOU KNOW, IT’S SORT OF FUNNY FOR ME TO CHARACTERIZE MYSELF AS
SOMEONE WHO HAS MORE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT I HAVE LESS AND I’M DOING WITH A LOT LESS
BECAUSE OF OUR DECISION FOR ME TO STAY HOME, BUT I THINK THAT THOSE OF US WHO HAVE
ENOUGH TO OWN A HOME AND HAVE ONE PERSON AT HOME SHOULD BE LOOKING OUT INTO THE
COMMUNITY AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT DON’T HAVE AS MUCH AS US.
CAN WE GIVE?
Man: WE’RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING MONEY AND GIVING OUR CHILDREN THINGS
RATHER THAN SPENDING TIME WITH THEM, ACTUAL TIME WITH THEM.
Man: AND I LOOK AROUND AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IT SEEMS LIKE CHILDREN AREN’T VALUED.
WE SAY THEY ARE.
WE SAY THEY’RE THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY.
WE SAY WE REALLY CARE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE AT EVERY TURN IN THE ROAD WE’RE CREATING
CHILDREN WHOSE WORLD VIEW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK SO HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT
IT’S COMPASSIONATE AND THAT IT’S HOPEFUL.
IT’S DISTURBING TO ME.
MY WIFE AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE WERE BETRAYED.
WE DID WHAT WE THOUGHT GOOD PARENTS SHOULD DO, AND WE LOOK AROUND AND WE WONDER
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LEADERSHIP?
Moyers: QUESTION: ARE THE CONCERNS OF THESE PARENTS REPRESENTATIVE OF THOSE AROUND
THE COUNTRY?
I POSE THAT QUESTION NOW TO ROSALIE STREETT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PARENT ACTION, THE
NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION FOR PARENTS.
WHAT ABOUT IT?
DO YOU HEAR THAT KIND OF TALK ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY?
Streett: CONSTANTLY.
THERE’S AN AFRICAN SAYING, “IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD,” AND I THINK THAT THAT IS
WHAT I KEEP HEARING PARENTS SAYING, IS WHERE IS EVERYBODY ELSE?
WHERE ARE THE SUPPORTS?
WHERE ARE THE LEGISLATIVE POLICIES?
WHERE IS THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT WHAT I’M DOING?
Moyers: THE LAST PARENT, AS YOU SAID, SUGGESTS THAT THERE’S A LEADERSHIP PROBLEM, AND
JILL BRADLEY, YOU WORK WITH PARENTS AND KIDS, RUNNING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS FOR THE CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY.
WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED?
Bradley: PARENTS WHO FIND THEIR WAY INTO OUR PROGRAMS HAVE ALREADY FOUGHT THROUGH
SEVERAL BARRIERS, BECAUSE WITHIN CHICAGO HOUSING, OR PUBLIC HOUSING, PARENTS ARE
ISOLATED EVEN TO A FURTHER DEGREE, I THINK, THAN SOME OTHERS WHO DON’T HAVE TO FIGHT
THROUGH POVERTY AND THE CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY TO HAVE A VISION, TO WALK OUT OF
THEIR APARTMENTS AND SAY, “I AM SOMEHOW GOING TO CONNECT.” THERE IS A TENDENCY THAT IS
NOT UNREASONABLE TO BE… TO FEEL HOPELESS, SO ONCE THEY PULL THEMSELVES UP AND MAKE A
DECISION TO COME OUT AND JOIN THE COMPANY OF OTHER PARENTS, THEY FIND SOME OF THE
SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED IN OUR CENTERS.
>> Moyers: RICHARD LOUV, IN YOUR BOOK CHILDHOOD’S FUTURE, YOU DESCRIBE A WEB, AND AS I
HEAR JILL AND ROSALIE BOTH TALK, THEY ARE– THEY TALK ABOUT SUPPORT, BUT I CAN SEE THAT
WEB THAT YOU DESCRIBE.
WHAT IS THAT WEB OF SUPPORT?
Richard Louv, Author: YEAH, FIRST, IT’S NOT THE SAFETY NET.
IT’S THIS HIGHER THING THAT HAS 1,000 STRANDS.
IT’S ALMOST ORGANIC.
IT’S EVERYTHING FROM HOW WIDE THE SIDEWALKS ARE IN A NEW DEVELOPMENT, WHETHER
THERE’S ENOUGH ROOM FOR KIDS TO PLAY, TO WHETHER THE SCHOOL REALLY MEANS IT WHEN
THEY SAY THAT THEY WANT PARENTS TO COME AND VOLUNTEER, WHETHER THE EMPLOYER REALLY
MEANS IT WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT FAMILY VALUES.
DOES HE GIVE ANY TIME OFF FOR PEOPLE TO GO AND VOLUNTEER IN THE SCHOOLS?
DOES HE MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS?
ARE THERE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THESE INSTITUTIONS?
THE BEST WAY THAT I CAN DESCRIBE THIS IS PERSONALLY.
WHEN I GREW UP, I GREW UP IN A FAMILY LIKE MANY FAMILIES.
I HAD VERY LOVING PARENTS, BUT THEY HAD PROBLEMS.
THEY HAD ALCOHOL… MY FATHER HAD ALCOHOL PROBLEMS.
BUT I ALWAYS HAD THE SENSE THAT WHEN I WENT OUT THE FRONT DOOR, I COULD FIND SOME OF
WHAT IT WAS I NEEDED.
I COULD FIND THE OLD COUPLE DOWN THE STREET THAT I COULD ADOPT AS MY SURROGATE
GRANDPARENTS, WHETHER THEY WANTED TO OR NOT, AND THEY WOULD FEED ME COOKIES AND
LOAN ME BOOKS AND LISTEN TO ME.
I HAD MENTORS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
I HAD PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHO’D REPORT ANYTHING BAD I DID ON THE STREET, AND
THEY DID, BUT… AND MY PARENTS HAD THAT WEB OF SUPPORT, TOO, EVEN THOUGH THEY OFTEN
DIDN’T KNOW IT.
IT WAS OFTEN INVISIBLE.
THAT’S THE THING THAT IS BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC, BOTH GOVERNMENT AND FAMILY-BASED AND
NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED, THAT HAS BEEN PULLING APART.
Moyers: WHAT I HEAR YOU DESCRIBING IS WHAT WE USED TO CALL CIVILIZATION– SAFE STREETS,
GOOD PARKS, SCHOOLS THAT WORK, SCOUTING, EXTRA- CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY
ACTIVITIES, RIGHT?
Louv: THE FLAT TRUTH IS THAT WE DO NOT RAISE OUR CHILDREN ALONE.
WE ARE BEING TOLD BY THE SOCIETY THAT WE SHOULD.
WE CAN’T DO IT.
WE NEED OUR NEIGHBORS, WE NEED OUR SCHOOLS, WE NEED THE GOVERNMENT.
Moyers: WE SEE THAT IN ANOTHER FAMILY YOU INTRODUCED US TO IN SAN DIEGO, SO LET’S TAKE A
LOOK AT A DAY IN THE LIVES OF A COUPLE FROM OUR PARENTS’ GROUP OUT THERE ON THE WEST
COAST.
REPORTER GAIL PELLETT VISITED WITH THE FAMILY OF GREG BOLDEN.
Mother: WHAT TIME IS IT?
Father: 6:54.
Mother: OKAY.
Father: YOU BETTER HURRY UP.
Pellett: IN THE BOLDEN HOUSEHOLD, TIME IS CAREFULLY MEASURED IN THE MORNINGS.
Mother: JARRHA, YOU SEEN DIANA’S PINK AND WHITE TENNIS SHOES?
Jarrha: NO.
Pellett: THIS IS A TWO-PARENT WORKING FAMILY.
Mother: EVERYBODY BRUSH THEIR TEETH?
Children: YES.
Pellett: IT’S 7:00 A.M., AND LELIA, HER HUSBAND GREG, AND THEIR THREE KIDS ARE SO FAR ON
SCHEDULE.
Lelia: BYE, HONEYS.
Boy: BYE.
Lelia: KISS, KISS, GOOD-BYE, SEE YOU LATER.
Pellett: THE BOLDENS LIVE IN A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN SPRING VALLEY, A SUBURB OF EAST SAN
DIEGO.
THEY’VE ONLY GOT ONE CAR, SO GREG DRIVES LELIA TO WORK EVERY MORNING WHILE THE KIDS
WAIT AT HOME FOR HIM TO RETURN.
Greg: OH, THEY’VE GOT A DANCE CLASS AFTER SCHOOL TODAY.
THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING A PROGRAM.
Lelia: WHEN ARE THEY HAVING A PROGRAM?
Greg: TOMORROW NIGHT.
( Lelia laughs ) >> Pellett: DURING THE 20-MINUTE RIDE TO LELIA’S JOB AS COURIER FOR FEDERAL
EXPRESS IN SAN DIEGO, LELIA EATS BREAKFAST, WRITES CHECKS AND MAKES NOTES FOR GREG.
Greg: WHAT TIME ARE YOU GOING TO GET OUT TONIGHT?
Lelia: 7:30 WOULD BE GOOD.
Pellett: LELIA WORKS A 10 TO 12-HOUR SHIFT, FOUR DAYS A WEEK.
Lelia: SEE YOU LATER.
Greg: BYE.
Lelia: BYE.
Pellett: GREG NOW DRIVES HOME TO FINISH GETTING THE KIDS READY FOR SCHOOL.
Girl: I HAVE TO PUT MY BED TOGETHER.
Greg: YOU PICK UP ALL YOUR STUFFED ANIMALS?
Pellett: THE TWINS, DIANA AND DaNETTA, ARE SEVEN.
Greg: YOU GOING TO TUCK YOURS IN, TOO?
Jarrha: WANT ME TO TAKE SOME OF THAT?
Greg: YEAH, WHY DON’T YOU TAKE MY JACKET FOR ME.
Pellett: THEIR SON JARRHA IS NINE.
IT’S A TEN MINUTE RIDE TO THEIR SCHOOL.
Greg: LOOK AT THAT.
THE WHOLE FOOTBALL TEAM IS LATE.
Pellett: AFTER SCHOOL, THEY’LL GO TO A BABY-SITTER.
Greg: YOU GUYS WALK UP AFTER YOUR PLAY REHEARSAL.
OKAY? SO I’LL SEE YOU GUYS THIS AFTERNOON.
Pellett: GREG WILL PICK THEM UP AT 5:30.
Greg: CLOSE THE DOOR!
OKAY, NOW I CAN TURN UP MY MUSIC AND RELAX.
( turns on music ) AH…
Pellett: IN THE PAST, GREG WAS A TECHNICIAN, PRODUCING ANTENNA SYSTEMS FOR THE MILITARY.
WHEN HIS CONTRACT EXPIRED, HE DECIDED TO WORK WITH THE FAMILY COUNSELING CENTER
CONNECTED TO HIS CHURCH.
NOW HE’S THE DIRECTOR, TRYING TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO TURN IT INTO A VIABLE BUSINESS,
BUT SO FAR HE COLLECTS NO SALARY.
Greg: IT WAS… IT WAS VERY TRYING.
MY WIFE AND I, WE– ACTUALLY, WE DISCUSSED IT AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT, AND… THE JOB MARKET
WAS REALLY SOFT, SO WE JUST DECIDED THAT WE WOULD MAKE A DECISION, AND BASICALLY, WE
WORKED ON ONE INCOME.
Greg: HOW YOU DOING?
Woman: FINE, HOW ARE YOU?
Greg: WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU THIS MORNING?
Greg: WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO, AND WE COULD DO FOR THE
LONG HAUL.
Greg: OKAY, I GOT TO RUN UPSTAIRS AND GET THE FOOD.
Greg: IT’S SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE
HURTING.
THEY’RE EVEN WORSE OFF THAN I AM.
I’M BLESSED THAT I HAVE A WIFE THAT HAS A GOOD JOB.
Woman: CAN WE MAKE ROOM IN HERE?
Pellett: THE COUNSELING CENTER PROVIDES EMERGENCY FOOD, A JOB BANK, AND HOUSING
REFERRALS.
Greg: OKAY, CALL AND ASK FOR MRS. WEAVER, AND TELL HER YOU HEARD ABOUT IT THROUGH THE
SOUTHEAST COUNSELING CENTER.
Greg: I MEAN, PEOPLE COME IN WITH MENTAL STRESS.
YOU KNOW, THEY’RE UNABLE TO PAY THE GAS AND ELECTRIC BILL, EVEN IF THEY CAN PAY THE RENT.
Greg: WHAT KIND OF WORK DO YOU DO?
Woman: WELL, ACTUALLY, I’M A LICENSED HAIRDRESSER, AND I HAD TO STOP WORKING JANUARY OF
THIS YEAR BECAUSE I HAD FAMILY MEMBERS TAKING CARE OF MY DAUGHTER, AND THEY COULDN’T
TAKE CARE OF HER ANY LONGER, SO I HAD TO GO LOOK FOR CHILD CARE, AND IT WAS TOO
EXPENSIVE.
Greg: THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ACROSS THE NATION MAY BE 7%.
HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY, IT MAY BE AS HIGH AS 30% OR 40%.
Greg: IF WE COULD HELP YOU FIND CHILD CARE THAT’S, YOU KNOW, LESS EXPENSIVE…
Woman: YES, DEFINITELY.
Greg: AND I KNOW ONE YOUNG LADY WHO WANTS TO OPEN UP HER OWN SHOP.
YEAH, LET ME GIVE YOU THE NUMBER AND MAYBE… YOU KNOW.
ANOTHER QUESTION I ALWAYS ASK, DO YOU HAVE A CHURCH HOME?
Woman: WELL… YEAH, I DO.
I JUST HAVEN’T BEEN THERE IN A WHILE BECAUSE I HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION TO GET THERE.
Greg: WE FEEL THAT THE CHURCH IS BASICALLY A FAMILY UNIT, AND IN THE CHURCHES WE FIND
STRENGTH AND WE FIND UNITY AND WE FIND HELP.
Pellett: GREG’S CHURCH PROVIDED HIM WITH A LINK TO OTHERS CONCERNED WITH WHAT’S
HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY.
GREG IS CO-CHAIR OF THE SAN DIEGO ORGANIZING PROJECT, A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION THAT
REACHES OUT TO FAMILIES THROUGH CHURCHES OF ALL DENOMINATIONS.
Woman: CAN WE COME AND TALK WITH YOU?
Man: SURE, WHY NOT?
Greg: WE ARE A COMMUNITY- BASED COALITION, AND WE REPRESENT ABOUT 25,000 FAMILIES IN THE
SAN DIEGO AREA.
WE WENT OUT TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE ASKED THEM, OKAY, WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN
CONCERNS?
Woman: WHAT BOTHERS ME IS JUST WE’RE JUST TRAPPED AROUND ALL THIS DRUG SELLING, AND
WHAT SCARES ME IS THAT– I JUST HAD MY DAUGHTER THREE MONTHS AGO– IS THAT IT WAS
FRIGHTENING WHEN I WAS EXPECTING HER, A LITTLE BOY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM US HAD
DIED FROM A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING.
Man: WHEN WE MOVED HERE, IT WAS A GREAT, IT WAS A GOOD COMMUNITY, AND EVERYONE, YOU
KNOW, TRIED TO HELP EACH OTHER.
NOW WE ARE SCARED.
Pellett: THE LOBATA FAMILY HAVE LIVED IN THIS EAST SAN DIEGO NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 20 YEARS.
Greg: HOW CAN YOU SEE US MAKING A CHANGE?
Man: I THINK THAT ONLY WE CAN MAKE THE CHANGE.
I THINK WE CAN MAKE THE CHANGE IF FIGHT TOGETHER AGAINST TO GET A BETTER WORLD FOR
THE FUTURE FOR THE CHILDS.
I THINK THAT’S OUR OBLIGATION TO BUILD A BETTER WORLD FOR THEM.
Greg: WE WANT TO JUST THANK YOU FOR INVITING US INTO YOUR HOME.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
Man: THANK YOU.
I FEEL BETTER BECAUSE I DON’T FEEL ALONE.
Greg: THAT’S RIGHT.
Woman: AND DON’T FORGET TO VOTE.
Man: OH, NO.
Woman: TUESDAY.
Man: OKAY.
Greg: THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF GOING BACK AND ACTUALLY CANVASSING THE COMMUNITY,
GOING DOOR TO DOOR, TALKING WITH INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES, WE CAME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN.
WE NEEDED EXTENDED LIBRARY HOURS, WE NEEDED AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, BECAUSE A LOT OF
KIDS WERE LATCHKEY KIDS.
WE NEEDED DRUG-FREE ZONES AROUND OUR SCHOOLS.
Pellett: THE SAN DIEGO ORGANIZING PROJECT APPROACHED THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS WITH A
PROPOSAL TO FIGHT THE DRUG SCENE.
THEY SUCCEEDED IN GETTING $28 MILLION OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD TO EXTEND LIBRARY HOURS,
PROVIDE TUTORS, AND CREATE HOME STUDY CENTERS IN LIBRARIES.
THE MONEY ALSO GOES TOWARD IMPROVING RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AT PARKS.
Greg: IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PRIDE AND PROTECTION PLAN, THERE’S ALLOCATIONS FOR PARK
RANGERS AND WALKING PATROLS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, AND GREATER UTILIZATION OF
THE PARKS, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND JUST PROGRAMS DESIGNED FOR THE KIDS.
WE’VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE POLICE.
WE’VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND SAID, “YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING,”
AND THEY DID, BECAUSE WE CAME OUT NOT WITH ONE OR TWO PEOPLE, NOT WITH, YOU KNOW, 300
OR 400, BUT THE FIRST TIME WE MET WITH THE MAYOR, WE MET… IT WAS 1,000 PEOPLE.
Man: DO IT WITH A REAL BALL.
HERE WE GO.
WATCH OUT.
Greg: SO LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING.
YOU SEE VERY MANY DRUG DEALERS AROUND HERE NOW?
Girl: NO.
Girl: SOMETIMES WE SEE GANG-BANGERS.
Greg: SOMETIMES YOU SEE GANG-BANGING?
Woman: BUT IS IT BETTER THAN IT WAS, LIKE, A LONG TIME AGO?
DID YOU USED TO USE THE PARK A WHILE AGO?
Girl: IT WAS A LOT OF STUFF.
THERE USED TO BE SHOOTING.
Woman: DO YOU THINK IT’S BETTER NOW?
Girl: YEAH, IT’S BETTER, WAY BETTER.
Woman: WAY BETTER.
Woman: FIVE YEARS AGO, YOU COULDN’T EVEN USE THIS PARK AT ALL.
I USED TO TAKE MY KIDS AFTER WORK SOMETIMES, AND TAKE THEM UP THERE FOR A PICNIC, BUT
THERE WAS, LIKE, DEALERS UP ON THE HILL AND EVERYTHING.
AND THERE’S A LOT OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS IN THE AREA, SO THERE’S A REAL NEED FOR PARKS,
AND A LOT OF OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS TOLD US THEY WANTED TO RESPOND TO THE DRUG PROBLEM
BY SAYING WE NEEDED MORE JAILS AND MORE POLICE OFFICERS, BUT WHEN WE INTERVIEWED
PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AMONG OURSELVES, WE FOUND OUT THAT PEOPLE, THEY WERE
AFRAID, THEY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO USE THE PARKS.
Greg: LET ME ASK, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE PARK NOW?
Woman: IT’S PRETTY GOOD.
I DIDN’T– WHEN I USED TO TAKE HER TO THE PARK, I WOULDN’T COME TO THIS ONE.
Woman: WE ARE THE PEOPLE, THE ONES WHO PAY WITH OUR TAXES WITH THE PAY FOR THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE IN THE GOVERNMENT, AND THE GOOD GOVERNMENT, THE GOOD LEADERS, GOT TO
LISTEN TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE THAT PUT THEM THERE.
Pellett: IN LATE MAY THIS YEAR, THE SAN DIEGO ORGANIZING PROJECT HELD WHAT THEY CALL AN
ACCOUNTABILITY SESSION WITH A GROUP OF CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF SAN DIEGO.
THEY WANTED TO INSURE THAT THEIR $28-MILLION PLAN WAS GOING TO SURVIVE.
AT A FOLLOW-UP MEETING, GREG AND OTHER LEADERS ASSESS WHAT THEY’VE LEARNED FROM
THEIR PROCESS.
( applause ) >> Greg: YOU KNOW, WHEN WE CAN BRING OUT 600 OR 700 PEOPLE OUT AND WE CAN
CONFRONT THE NEXT MAYOR OF SAN DIEGO AND TELL THEM WHAT WE WANT THEM TO HEAR, I
MEAN, WE SHOULD FEEL GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES.
Woman: I FELT VERY PROUD.
Woman: VERY PROUD.
Man: POWERFUL.
Woman: POWERFUL, AND JUST TO KNOW THAT WE WERE WELL ORGANIZED.
Pellett: ONE OF GREG’S COLLEAGUES TURNS THE MEETING INTO A TRAINING SESSION BEFORE THE
GROUP GOES OUT TO CANVAS MORE FAMILIES.
Woman: WE EMPOWERED OURSELVES.
Man: EMPOWERED OURSELVES, OKAY.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WHY IS IT THAT YOU FELT THAT KIND OF POWER THERE?
IT WAS BECAUSE OF YOU BEING IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER FOLK, RIGHT?
Man: ANYONE OF THESE DOORS, ANY DOOR.
Man: WE’RE WEAVING A WEB OF RELATIONSHIPS IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHERE, IN MANY WAYS, THE
COMMUNITY BECOMES OUR EXTENDED FAMILY, AND SO AS WE GO OUT TONIGHT, LET’S ENGAGE
WITH PEOPLE, INVITING THEM TO SHARE THEIR STORY, AND INVITE THEM TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO THEM, AND THEN INVITE THEM TO PARTICIPATE WITH US.
( speaking Spanish ) >> Moyers: TRYING TO CONNECT THIS CONCERN WITH FAMILY TO MATTERS OF
PUBLIC POLICY IS THE WORK OF OUR NEXT GUEST, STEVEN BAYME.
DR. BAYME IS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNAL AFFAIRS OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE AND CO-
EDITOR OF A BOOK ENTITLED REBUILDING THE NEST: A NEW COMMITMENT TO THE AMERICAN FAMILY.
HE ALSO SERVES ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE INSTITUTE FOR AMERICAN VALUES.
DR. BAYME, I FIND GREG BOLDENS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THAT IN SAN
DIEGO, BUT WHY ISN’T THE ACCUMULATED EFFECT OF ALL THESE INDIVIDUALS WANTING TO CHANGE
THE WAY THINGS ARE NOT MORE POSITIVE?
WHY DO YOU THINK WE’RE AT SOME KIND OF IMPASSE IN OUR ABILITY TO DEAL WITH THE NEEDS OF
PARENTS?
Bayme: WELL, THIS STORY IS PARTICULARLY ENCOURAGING BECAUSE IT BRINGS TOGETHER THE
RESOURCES OF PARENTS, OF RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS CHURCHES, SYNAGOGUES, AND
GOVERNMENTAL POLICIES AS A MEANS OF TRYING TO BREAK THROUGH AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY
OF FAMILY LIFE IN THE COUNTRY.
BY AND LARGE, HOWEVER, THE POLICY TODAY IS A POLARIZED ONE.
YOU HAVE LIBERALS TALKING ABOUT GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAMS.
YOU HAVE CONSERVATIVES TALKING ABOUT FAMILY VALUES.
NEITHER SIDE IS LISTENING TO ONE ANOTHER.
AND AS A RESULT, RATHER THAN MAKE THE KIND OF PROGRESS THAT GREG AND HIS GROUP ARE
MAKING, UTILIZING A WIDE VARIETY OF INSTITUTIONS, BOTH SIDES ARE TALKING PAST ONE ANOTHER.
Moyers: I WAS VERY TAKEN WITH YOUR ESSAY, “A NEW SYNTHESIS ON FAMILY POLICY,” CALLING FOR
MOVING BEYOND LEFT AND RIGHT, MOVING BEYOND LIBERAL AND CONSERVATIVE.
Steven Bayme, American Jewish Committee: LIBERALS HAVE TO REALLY BEGIN LISTENING TO
CONSERVATIVES WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT FAMILY VALUES.
THE TERM FAMILY, RESPONSIBILITY, AUTHORITY, COMMITMENT, ALL THOSE ARE CRUCIAL FAMILY
VALUES THAT SHOULD NOT BECOME POLITICALLY INCORRECT.
BY THE SAME TOKEN, CONSERVATIVES HAVE TO LISTEN WHEN LIBERALS CHARGE GOVERNMENTS
WITH NEGLECT, WITH FAILURE TO INSTITUTE ENOUGH POLICIES TO HELP PARENTS TO BE PARENTS.
LIBERALS TEND TO TALK IN TERMS OF ECONOMICS, AND THAT’S VERY IMPORTANT.
CONSERVATIVES TEND TO TALK IN TERMS OF PERSONAL CONDUCT AND RESPONSIBILITY, AND THAT’S
EQUALLY IMPORTANT.
UNLESS WE ARE ABLE TO S BOTH POINTS OF VIEW, WE’RE NOT GOING TO GET ANYWHERE WITH THIS
DEBATE.
Moyers: DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE TO YOU OUT IN CHICAGO, IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING WORK
THERE?
Jill Bradley, Chicago Housing Authority: IN FACT, IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN YOUR INTERVIEWS TALKED ABOUT EMPOWERMENT, IT IS THE DECISION TO
MAKE A BETTER LIFE AND BE PUBLIC ABOUT IT, AND TO JOIN THE COMMUNITY OF OTHERS– IN FACT,
TO CHOOSE THAT COMMUNITY, TO FIGURE OUT WHICH OTHER MOTHERS ARE GOING TO TRY TO
RAISE THEIR CHILDREN LIKE MINE, HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER TO HELP EACH OTHER, AND
AGAIN, TO TRY TO DUPLICATE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU’VE TALKED ABOUT IN YOUR LIFE AND
MINE, TOO.
Rosalie Streett, Parent Action: IT MAKES SENSE TO ME.
WE SEE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AS WELL, THAT PEOPLE ARE MEETING IN SMALL GROUPS.
THEY MAY NOT HAVE GONE AS FAR AS THE GROUP THAT WE JUST SAW– IN FACT, MOST OF THEM
HAVEN’T– BUT THEY’RE MEETING IN GROUPS AND TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT, HOW DO WE DO THIS,
HOW DO WE MAKE A LIFE FOR OUR FAMILIES THAT’S THE KIND OF LIFE WE WANT?
Moyers: BUT THOSE SMALL MEETINGS DON’T SEEM– AND LOCAL EFFORTS– DON’T SEEM TO ADD UP
TO A NATIONAL, THE NEW NATIONAL CONSENSUS THAT DR. BAYME IS TALKING ABOUT.
Louv: NEITHER DID FEMINISM BEFORE IT WAS CALLED FEMINISM.
I THINK THAT WE ARE IN A HISTORICAL PERIOD VERY SIMILAR TO THAT WHICH PRECEDED THE
FEMINIST MOVEMENT AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, AND IT’S…
WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A FAMILY– I CALL IT FAMILY LIBERATION– BUT SOME KIND OF FAMILY
MOVEMENT IS COMING THAT WILL NOT BE EASILY LABELED.
Moyers: CAN YOU SEE THAT?
Bayme: POLITICIANS ARE LISTENING TO US, AND THAT WAS REFLECTED IN SOME OF YOUR OPENING
CLIPS.
CONSERVATIVES ARE FINDING IN SOME OF THE LIBERAL PROGRAMS THAT THERE’S SOMETHING
WORTH LISTENING TO AND ALIGNING THEMSELVES WITH.
BY CONTRAST, LIBERALS EQUALLY LOOK TO CONSERVATIVES, SAYING, SUPPLY US WITH THE VALUES
AND THE CONTENT, AND PERHAPS WE CAN MARRY SOME OF THE PROGRAMS TOGETHER WITH THE
VALUES.
Moyers: WELL, LET’S COME BACK TO SOME FAMILIES WHO ARE TRYING TO DO JUST THAT.
THERE’S ANOTHER PARENT IN SAN DIEGO WITH WHOM GAIL PELLETT SPENT SOME TIME.
HER NAME IS JEANNETTE PETTIFORD.
( child crying ) >> Woman: WE’RE GOING TO ZIP UP YOUR COAT AND GO BYE-BYE.
Pellett: JEANNETTE PETTIFORD LIVES IN EL CAJON, A SUBURB NORTHEAST OF SAN DIEGO.
SHE’S 28, SINGLE, AND HAS A 20-MONTH-OLD SON, LAMAR.
Pettiford: THE BIGGEST THING, I THINK, IS THAT YOU’RE ALL ALONE, YOU DON’T HAVE THE HUSBAND
OR THE FATHER OR THE CO-PARENT TO BOUNCE IDEAS AND COME UP WITH STRATEGIES ON
DISCIPLINE OR WHATEVER, IT’S JUST YOU.
Pellett: MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AT 8:30 IN THE MORNING, JEANNETTE DRIVES LAMAR TO A BABY-
SITTER ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AWAY FROM HER HOUSE.
( crying ) >> Woman: WANT TO SIT IN YOUR CHAIR?
Pettiford: MY MOM IS ABOUT TWO HOURS AWAY FROM HERE, AND WE GET TO SEE HER EVERY TWO
MONTHS OR SO, BUT WE’LL CALL EACH OTHER.
Woman: GOOD BOY,
THERE WE GO.
Pettiford: OTHER THAN THAT, NO, I DON’T HAVE ANY FAMILY OUT HERE.
Pettiford: SEE YOU LATER, HONEY.
Woman: IT’S OKAY, BUDDY, IT’S OKAY.
THERE WE GO.
Pellett: JEANNETTE IS UNEMPLOYED AND SPENDS MOST DAYS JOB-HUNTING.
THIS MORNING, HOWEVER, SHE’S OFF TO A PARENTING CLASS.
Instructor: WHAT’S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I OFTEN SUGGEST THAT YOU ASK YOURSELF?
Woman: “WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT?” Instructor: WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT.
WHEN YOU’RE GETTING UPSET WITH WHAT YOUR CHILD IS DOING, ASK YOURSELF, “WHAT’S WRONG
WITH IT?” Pettiford: YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY CAME OVER THE OTHER DAY AND SAID, “WHAT’S HE
DOING WITH THE BOTTLE?
HE’S TOO, YOU KNOW…” Instructor: WHEN WE GET ADVICE FROM EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY, WE
HAVE TO MAKE OUR OWN DECISION IN THE END ANYWAY, DON’T WE?
Pellett: THE MOTHERS IN THIS GROUP ARE MOSTLY SINGLE, AND ALL OF THEM ARE RECOVERING
FROM ALCOHOL OR DRUG ADDICTION.
Instructor: …IN THE POSITIVE SIDE, RATHER…
Pettiford: I CAN REMEMBER GETTING HIGH THE FIRST TIME I WAS LIKE 11 OR 12, AND SO MY DRUG
PROBLEM GOT BAD FAST.
Pettiford: I STILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, YOU KNOW, WHEN I GET REAL FRUSTRATED AND I’M TIRED
AND STRESSED, YOU KNOW, WITH MY ANGER, BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO THROW SOMETHING ACROSS
THE ROOM, OR I JUST WANT…
Pettiford: I WAS REALLY JUST GOING NOWHERE.
I WAS DYING OUT THERE.
I ENDED UP HOMELESS, I, YOU KNOW, GOT IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW, AND…
Pettiford: AND I JUST GOT TO DEAL WITH ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL MY FEELINGS.
Pellett: ALTHOUGH JEANNETTE SOUGHT THIS GROUP OUT ON HER OWN, SOME OF THESE MOMS HAVE
BEEN ORDERED TO THIS CLASS BY THE COURT.
Woman: YOU KNOW, SO WHAT I DID WAS I SWATTED HER WITH IT AND I FELT BAD AFTER I DID IT,
BECAUSE, FIRST, I SWATTED HER SO HARD WITH THAT STRAP ONE TIME THAT IT MADE A WHIP ON
HER LEG, AND I STARTED TRIPPING, SAYING, “C.P.S. IS GOING TO TAKE MY KIDS AWAY, AND THIS IS NOT
WHAT THEY TAUGHT ME IN PARENTING,” AND I WAS TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL.
Pettiford: WE NEED A SAFE PLACE TO GO WHERE WE’RE NOT BEING JUDGED AND WHERE WE CAN
REALLY FEEL SAFE TO TALK ABOUT OUR FEELINGS.
Woman: IT’S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SAY THAT I’M SORRY TO A CHILD, BECAUSE IT’S LIKE I’M
THE ONE SUPPOSED TO KNOW EVERYTHING.
Pettiford: WE GET MAD AT OUR KIDS, AND WE GET MAD THAT WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, STRUGGLE SO
HARD WITH OUR RECOVERY, AND WE’RE SCARED, AND, YOU KNOW…
Pettiford: WELL, THIS– I GET KIND OF A BREAK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, WHILE MY
SON IS AT DAY CARE, AND I’M JOB-HUNTING, AND… I USUALLY COME HOME AND EAT LUNCH AND…
THEN GO BACK OUT AND HIT THE PAVEMENT.
Pellett: DURING HER RECOVERY, JEANNETTE EARNED A COLLEGE DEGREE.
RECENTLY, WHILE WORKING WITH THE MENTALLY RETARDED, SHE WAS INJURED, SO SHE’S BEEN
RECEIVING WORKMAN’S COMPENSATION AND LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JOB IN SOCIAL WORK.
Pettiford: HELLO, MAY I SPEAK TO KEN WHITE, PLEASE?
Pellett: HER PROBLEM AS A SINGLE PARENT IS FINDING A JOB THAT WILL PAY ENOUGH FOR CHILD
CARE.
Pettiford: THANK YOU, BYE-BYE.
Pettiford: WHEN I GOT A JOB OFFER, HE’S OFFERING ME $8.46 AN HOUR, WHICH SOME PEOPLE SAY I
SHOULD BE LUCKY, THAT PEOPLE WITH MASTER’S DEGREES ARE FIGHTING OVER JOBS THAT ARE
$6.00 AN HOUR.
BUT FOR ME, WHEN I LOOK AT MY BUDGET, WITH MY CHILD CARE, I’VE FOUND CHILD CARE NOW
$300 A MONTH, AND THEN I HAVE MY SCHOOL LOANS, THAT’S… POSSIBLY I COULD GET THEM DOWN
TO $100, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY’RE $200 A MONTH– THAT’S MORE THAN MY RENT RIGHT THERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT MY BUDGET, AND I’M GOING TO STRUGGLE JUST TO BUY DIAPERS AND
FOOD, LET ALONE A BABY-SITTER ONCE IN A WHILE, OR A PIZZA ONCE IN A WHILE, OR CLOTHES FOR
WORK.
Pettiford: BILLS, BILLS, BILLS.
DOCTOR BILL– MY SON WAS SICK LAST WEEK.
Pellett: IF JEANNETTE TAKES THE JOB SHE’S BEEN OFFERED, SHE’LL HAVE TO GIVE UP MEDICAID FOR
LAMAR.
Pettiford: BUT ONCE I GET THIS JOB, I’D HAVE TO PAY LIKE $133 A MONTH TO GET ME AND MY SON ON
THE HEALTH PLAN, AND THERE’S– I DON’T HAVE $133.
I PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT $150 TO COVER FOOD AND GAS AND DIAPERS AND… SO I THINK I CAN STAY
ON MEDI-CAL A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER I GET A JOB, AND THEN AFTER THAT, I’M ON MY OWN, SO
I’M NOT REALLY SURE YET WHAT I’M GOING TO DO.
TAKE A RISK, I GUESS– HE’S A PRETTY HEALTHY KID.
( chuckles ) SO…
Pellett: DO YOU HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH LAMAR’S FATHER AT ALL?
Pettiford: WELL, I SEE HIM ON THE STREET EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, WHEN I’M DRIVING DOWN MAIN
STREET, I SEE HIM.
Pellett: HE LIVES HERE LOCALLY?
Pettiford: YEAH, HE’S STILL HOMELESS, HE’S ON DRUGS, AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, HE’LL TRY TO
CORNER ME TO TALK TO ME ABOUT SEEING LAMAR, OR… BUT IT’S KIND OF… HE’S USING LAMAR TO
TRY TO GET BACK WITH ME, BECAUSE HE HASN’T MADE IT YET.
HE HASN’T GOT CLEAN YET AND…
HE SEES ME, MY LIFE REALLY IMPROVING.
I HAVE A CAR NOW, AND I’VE GOT SOME CLOTHES NOW, AND, YOU KNOW, AND I LOOK HAPPY NOW,
SO…
HE WANTS TO STILL BE INVOLVED IN THAT, BUT I CAN’T ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN UNTIL HE’S CLEAN
AND SOBER– OFF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, AND… GET SOME RESPONSIBILITY.
AND THEN HE’S WELCOME TO VISIT LAMAR, AND VERY WELCOME TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT WHEN HE
CAN GET ON HIS FEET AND GET A JOB AND…
Pettiford: HI, LINDA!
COME ON IN.
Linda: HOW YOU DOING?
Pettiford: I’M PRETTY GOOD.
NICE TO SEE YOU.
Linda: NICE TO SEE YOU, TOO, DARLING.
Pellett: JEANNETTE’S BEEN REACHING OUT TO OLDER WOMEN FOR HELP WITH EVERYTHING FROM
JOB-HUNTING TO FINDING CHILD CARE.
Linda: SO CAN’T YOU PUT HIM ON THE WAITING LIST FOR THAT ONE?
Pettiford: I THINK HE HAS TO BE AT LEAST TWO, SO THAT’S JUST A FEW MORE MONTHS.
Pettiford: I NEED HEALTHY PEOPLE TO MODEL HOW TO DO THIS THING CALLED LIFE, YOU KNOW.
Linda: YOU AND I CAN SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT IT, AND WE CAN DO A BUDGET.
Pettiford: I LOOK FOR MENTORS ALL THE TIME.
IT’S UP TO ME TO GO LOOK FOR WOMEN LIKE THAT– THEY’RE NOT GOING TO COME KNOCKING ON MY
DOOR.
SO I GO OUT IN THE WORLD AND GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, OR, YOU KNOW, GO TO SUPPORT
GROUPS AND INTRODUCE MYSELF, GET THEIR PHONE NUMBER AND TALK TO THEM, AND… BECAUSE I
NEED OTHER WOMEN IN MY LIFE.
I CAN’T DO THIS THING ON MY OWN, YOU KNOW?
I JUST CAN’T.
Moyers: IT REMINDED ME, AS WE WATCHED, OF ONE OF YOUR INTERVIEWS WITH A PARENT WHO SAID
TO YOU, RICHARD LOUV, “WHAT PARENTS NEED MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS A FAIR WAGE FOR
OFFICE AND CLERICAL WORKERS, WHICH REFLECTS THE ACTUAL COST OF LIVING.” YOU FOUND THAT
GENERALLY?
Louv: OH, YEAH.
IF I COULD READ SOMETHING ELSE THAT SHE SENT ME.
THIS WOMAN WAS A VERY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN.
SHE WAS THE CONTROLLER OF A VERY PRICEY COUNTRY CLUB IN SAN DIEGO, AND SHE SENT ME AN
ACCOUNTING OF WHAT HER SINGLE PARENTS WHO WORK FOR HER, OF WHAT THEIR EXPENSES ARE,
AND I THINK IT ILLUSTRATES SOMETHING HERE.
SHE POINTS OUT THAT THE AVERAGE WAGE FOR OFFICE WORKERS, WHO ARE OFTEN SINGLE
PARENTS, IS $8.50 PER HOUR.
SHE ASKED, “HOW DOES THAT KIND OF PAY TRANSLATE INTO A STANDARD OF LIVING?” AND SHE
OFFERED THIS ACCOUNTING: “TYPICAL TAKE-HOME PAY IS $1,100 PER MONTH.
NOW SUBTRACT RENT, $575; FOOD AND SUPPLIES, $250; GAS, $40; CAR INSURANCE, $60; CAR
PAYMENT, $100; CLOTHES FOR WORK, $35 A MONTH; CLOTHES FOR ONE CHILD, $25 A MONTH;
TELEPHONE, $16; CABLE TV– IT’S CHEAPER THAN GOING OUT– $24; CHILD CARE, $375.
TOTAL EXPENSES, $1,500; EXPENSES NOT COVERED BY TAKE-HOME PAY, $400.” NOW ASSUME THAT
THIS WOMAN IS A SINGLE MOTHER, RECEIVING, IF SHE’S LUCKY, A CHILD-SUPPORT PAYMENT OF $250
A MONTH.
SHE’S STILL SHORT $150 A MONTH, AND THIS DOES NOT CONSIDER EXTRAS LIKE CAR REPAIR,
CHRISTMAS, BIRTHDAYS, OR HEALTH INSURANCE, AS JEANNETTE POINTED OUT.
Moyers: SO IT’S A STRUGGLE FOR ALL OF THESE SINGLE WOMEN.
SO THE QUESTION– NOW, THE TOUGH QUESTION ARISES, WHERE ARE THE FATHERS?
Streett: I THINK I WANT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION WITH A QUESTION, AND THAT IS, WHAT ARE WE
DOING TO START THINKING DIFFERENTLY IN OUR COUNTRY ABOUT THE FATHERS?
WHAT ARE WE DOING– WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE FATHER THAT WE SAW, JEANNETTE’S BABY’S
FATHER?
HE– SHE DESCRIBED SOMEBODY WHO REALLY NEEDS A COMMUNITY TO REACH OUT AND DO SOME
STUFF TO HELP HIM GET BACK ON HIS FEET AND TO HELP HIM BECOME THE KIND OF FATHER THAT
SHE OBVIOUSLY WANTS HIM TO BECOME.
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
Moyers: LOOK, I ASK THE QUESTIONS AROUND HERE– YOU ANSWER THEM.
( laughter ) ANSWER THAT VERY GOOD QUESTION.
Streett: WELL, I DON’T THINK WE’VE THOUGHT ABOUT THE FATHERS IN THE WAY THAT WE REALLY,
REALLY NEEDED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THEM, AND I DON’T THINK THAT OUR PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES TARGET FATHERS AND TARGET YOUNG MEN, I DON’T THINK WE THINK ABOUT THEM AS
FATHERS.
SO, OFTEN…
Moyers: THAT SHIFTING IT– ISN’T THAT SHIFTING THE ANSWER FROM THE FATHERS AND THE
FAMILIES TO: “SOMEBODY OUT THERE DO SOMETHING”?
Streett: NO…
Steven Bayme, American Jewish Committee: PRECISELY, THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT I CALL
“ECONOMICS AND CULTURE CANNOT BE SEPARATED.” THE LARGER PART OF THE STORY IS, HOW DID
WE GET INTO THIS SITUATION WHERE MARRIAGE DISSOLVES FAIRLY RAPIDLY, HUSBANDS DISAPPEAR,
FATHERHOOD BECOMES A DISAPPEARING NORM IN AMERICAN CULTURE?
NOW, I THINK PART OF THE ANSWER IS SIMPLY, WE HAVE UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT GOES
INTO A MARRIAGE.
WE THINK IT HAS TO BE PERFECT– NOT ONLY THE WEDDING, BUT THE ENTIRE 30 YEARS AFTER THAT,
AND THE MINUTE IT DOESN’T BECOME PERFECT, WE INCLINE TOWARDS DISSOLVING THE MARRIAGE
MUCH TOO QUICKLY.
BUT THE LARGER QUESTION OF, WHERE ARE ALL THE DADS, THE LARGER QUESTION OF WHAT HAS
HAPPENED TO MARRIAGE IN AMERICA, WHY DO WE HAVE THE LARGEST DIVORCE RATE OF
ANYWHERE IN THE WESTERN WORLD?– ALL THOSE QUESTIONS HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED ON THE
BASIS OF CULTURE.
Moyers: BY THAT YOU MEAN THAT THERE’S SOMETHING AT WORK IN THE WHOLE AMERICAN SYSTEM
THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO DISMISS THE FATHER, OR DIMINISHES THE FATHER, FROM ANY
RESPONSIBLE ROLE?
Bayme: PRECISELY.
MY PET LINE IS THAT WE REQUIRE MORE HOURS OF TRAINING FOR A DRIVER’S LICENSE THAN WE DO
FOR A MARITAL LICENSE.
Moyers: THAN WE DO FOR WHAT?
Bayme: FOR A MARRIAGE LICENSE.
WE DON’T WE HAVE FAMILY-LIFE EDUCATION COURSES IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES?
WHY DON’T WE SPEND MORE TIME ON TRAINING PEOPLE FOR WHAT GOES INTO MAKING A MARRIAGE
WORK?
Richard Louv, Author: KIDS TOLD ME THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THE CLASSROOMS, IS THAT TO
TALK ABOUT SEX IN THE CLASSROOM NOW IS LESS OF A TABOO THAN TO TALK ABOUT FAMILY, IN
TERMS OF WHO DOES WHAT.
Jill Bradley, Chicago Housing Authority: I WANT TO PUSH YOU A LITTLE BIT ON POLICIES, GOVERNMENT
POLICIES, AND THAT IS, TO TAKE MY CLIENTELE, WHO ARE IN PUBLIC HOUSING, NOW WE’RE TRYING
TO MOVE TOWARDS WAYS TO BRING THE FATHERS BACK IN.
I’VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT THEY’RE REALLY NOT INVISIBLE, BECAUSE WHENEVER WE HAVE A
PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN, FATHERS DO APPEAR– THEY’RE IN THE AUDIENCE.
VERY OFTEN THEY DO BRING THEIR CHILDREN TO THE DAY-CARE CENTERS.
THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MARRIED TO THE MOTHERS, BUT THEY ARE IN SOME DEGREE IN
EVIDENCE.
AND YET, IN ORDER TO LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING, YOU HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU ARE
ABSOLUTELY THE POOREST PERSON ON EARTH, AND PLAN TO STAY THAT WAY.
BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE SUPPORTS AND STEPS TO HELP PEOPLE.
I’M GOING TO JUST PUSH YOU ONE MORE MOMENT.
I WONDER IF WE HEARD HOW MANY TIMES PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT DAY CARE AS CRITICAL, NOT…
PEOPLE ARE SO AFRAID OF THINKING THAT IT IS TAKING AWAY THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PARENTING,
OR MOTHERING, IN THE CASE OF MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THIS FILM, BUT ALSO, THESE
ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE WOMEN TO NETWORK, TO GET IN THAT WEB AND TO SUPPORT ONE
ANOTHER.
Moyers: I LIKE WHAT YOU SAY, BUT THE PRACTICAL CONCERN IS THIS: EVERY TIME I’VE DONE A
PROGRAM LIKE THIS– ALMOST EVERY TIME– SOMEBODY SAYS, “WELL, AT LEAST PART OF THE
ANSWER IS TO GET THE SCHOOLS TO DO X, Y OR Z,” AND I HEAR MY DAUGHTER OUT THERE, WHO
WAS A SCHOOLTEACHER FOR SEVEN YEARS, NOW HELPS TO EDIT A MAGAZINE FOR TEACHERS, SAY,
“BUT DAD, EVERYBODY KEEPS PUSHING EVERY PROBLEM ON THE SCHOOLS, AND THEY– WE– CAN’T
DO IT.” Bayme: I WAS NOT SUGGESTING IT HAS TO BE PUT ON THE SCHOOLS.
I’M SUGGESTING THERE IS A WIDE VARIETY OF INSTITUTIONS OUT THERE THAT CAN BE, AND ARE
SUPPORTIVE OF FAMILY AND FAMILY VALUES.
Moyers: INCLUDING SOME OF THESE COMMUNITY GROUPS.
Bayme: PRECISELY.
I WOULD BRING IN THE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS, WHICH CAME UP IN ONE OF YOUR EARLIER CLIPS.
THEY HAVE A DEFINITE INTEREST IN NURTURING FAMILY VALUES.
WE HAVE TO LISTEN MORE TO THAT, AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE MORE EXPLICIT AND OUTSPOKEN,
IN TERMS OF TALKING ABOUT MARRIAGE, FAMILY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TWO-PARENT HOME.
Moyers: SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, PUBLIC HOUSING, ALL KINDS OF FACILITIES– THAT MAKES ME THINK
OF THE LARGER SORT OF PUBLIC SPACE OF THE COMMUNITY, A PUBLIC SPACE OF OUR CITIES TODAY,
AND IN YOUR BOOK, RICHARD, YOU TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE IN THIS WEB OF CIVILIZATION OF
THE SHAPE OF THE CITY.
AND WE FOUND IN SAN DIEGO, IN A MIDDLE-CLASS, COMFORTABLE, SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD, A PARENT
WHO’S VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT BRINGING THIS WEB DOWN TO WHERE PEOPLE LIVE AND
PLAY.
THE PARENT’S NAME IS SUZANNE THOMPSON.
HERE’S GAIL PELLETT’S REPORT ON MRS. THOMPSON.
Thompson: I HAVE JUST ONE CHILD, AND SO FOR US AS A VERY SMALL NUCLEAR FAMILY, NO
EXTENDED FAMILY IN THE AREA– THEY’RE FAR NORTH IN THE STATE– I THINK THE MOST ISOLATING
TIME IN MY LIFE WAS WHEN I WAS HOME WITH A TODDLER.
THERE WAS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS VIRTUALLY EMPTY, NO ONE WAS THERE.
Pellett: SUZANNE THOMPSON AND HER FAMILY LIVE IN POWAY, A NEW SUBURBAN COMMUNITY ABOUT
30 MILES NORTH OF SAN DIEGO.
THE TRACT HOME DEVELOPMENTS THAT SNAKE AROUND THE HILLS HERE HAVE NAMES LIKE
BELLEFLEUR AND PROVENCALE.
ON SUZANNE’S STREET, THE GARAGES ARE USUALLY AS BIG, OR BIGGER, THAN THE HOMES.
THE FRONT YARDS ARE BEAUTIFULLY MANICURED, BUT DEVOID OF HUMAN PRESENCE.
KIDS USE THE STREETS TO PLAY IN.
Thompson: OKAY, WELL, I’M GLAD YOU GOT THE FAX.
Pellett: SUZANNE WORKS AT HOME, IN ORDER TO HAVE FLEXIBLE TIME WITH HER NINE-YEAR-OLD
DAUGHTER.
Thompson: BUT THIS… WELL, WE HAVE A GREAT CONCEPT HERE.
Pellett: SHE’S A SALES REP FOR A CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND DESIGN FIRM, PUTTING HER DEGREE IN
CHILD DEVELOPMENT TO USE.
Thompson: WHAT I DO IS, I HELP PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING OUTDOOR PLAY SPACES FOR
CHILDREN, AND SO I WORK A LOT WITH LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND CITY PERSONNEL, DAY-CARE
CENTERS, COMMUNITY GROUPS.
AND I’M FASCINATED WITH HOW CHILDREN LEARN.
I WAS FASCINATED WITH, IF YOU CHANGE THE READING CORNER IN THIS WAY, IT TENDS TO GET THE
CHILDREN OVER HERE MORE.
BECAUSE I THINK IF WE REFRAME OUR FAMILIAR ENVIRONMENTS, IT TENDS TO INVITE A NEW
BEHAVIOR.
Pellett: SUZANNE HAS APPLIED THIS PHILOSOPHY TO HER OWN HOME, CREATING A SPECIAL NOOK IN
HER DAUGHTER JULIA’S ROOM.
Thompson: AND IT BECAME A PLACE WHERE SHE’LL GO TO READ OR DO A CRAZY PUZZLE OR TALK
WITH A FRIEND OR LISTEN TO HER TAPES, AND… SO IT’S JUST KIND OF HER OWN LITTLE REFUGE.
Pellett: SUZANNE’S REPUTATION AS SOMEONE CONCERNED WITH KID SPACES TRAVELED DOWN THE
BLOCK.
Boy: IF WE DID IT, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO PUT IT IN?
Thompson: WELL, THAT’S THE THING.
AS SOON AS IT GETS WE FIND OUT WHEN THE CITY GETS TO ACQUIRE THE LAND…
Pellett: HER TEN-YEAR-OLD NEIGHBOR JOEY HAS BEEN BUGGING HER ABOUT HOW TO TURN THE
VACANT LOT AT THE END OF THE STREET INTO A PLAYGROUND.
Thompson: SO LET’S GO TAKE A LOOK.
POINT OUT TO ME WHERE THE BEST PLACE FOR THE…
Thompson: EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, HE’D DROP BY WITH A PARK PLAN.
HE WAS REALLY CONCERNED THAT THE LITTLE KIDS HAD SOMETHING TO DO, AND SOME PICNIC
TABLES AND GRASS AND TREES.
HERE IT SAYS “ROLLER HOCKEY.” I THINK THE KIDS WOULD ALSO LIKE SOME JUST WILD SPACE, JUST
SOME SPACE THAT…
Girl: LIKE THIS, IT’S LIKE THIS.
Julia: WE COULD PLANT SOME TALL TREES.
Thompson: YEAH, AND TELL THEM THE IDEA THEY HAD ABOUT DONATING TREES.
Girl: OH, YEAH, WE WOULD ALL… WE WOULD ALL BRING, LIKE, ONE TREE OR A PLANT SEED AND WE
WOULD PLANT IT, AND JUST TO MAKE IT LOOK NICE.
Julia: WE ALSO HAD THE IDEA OF PLANTING, LIKE, A BIG FLOWER GARDEN THAT EVERYONE COULD
CONTRIBUTE TO.
Thompson: OUR CITIES GENERALLY ARE SHAPED WITHOUT CHILDREN AS USERS IN MIND.
I THINK THE CAR AND OUR SEWAGE SYSTEMS GET FAR MORE ATTENTION, FAR MORE ENGINEERING
EXPERTISE GOES TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS.
I THINK WHAT WE’VE LOST INCREDIBLY IS, WE HAVE LOST THOSE POINTS WHERE WE MIGHT
CONNECT, THAT MADE IT MORE LIKELY WE WOULD CONNECT FREQUENTLY.
WE CAN HOP IN OUR CARS.
I ZOOM DOWN THE STREET, I WAVE AT A COUPLE NEIGHBORS, BUT I HAVE NOT CONNECTED WITH
THEM.
SO THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM OUR LANDSCAPE.
DEVELOPERS WILL TELL YOU– SOME THAT I’VE TALKED TO, NOT ALL, OBVIOUSLY, BUT– THAT WE’D
RATHER HAVE A THREE-CAR GARAGE AND A WET BAR THAN WE WOULD A FRONT PORCH AND MAYBE
A GREAT ROOM WHERE THE WHOLE FAMILY– THE OLD FARMHOUSE KITCHEN.
Pellett: CREATING PLACES TO INVITE CONNECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE IS A PASSION THAT SUZANNE
SHARES WITH HER HUSBAND RICHARD.
Richard: WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO DO IS SET OUR HOUSE UP AND OUR YARD UP SO THAT IT IS MORE
NEIGHBORHOOD-ACCESSIBLE.
Pellett: THEY’VE DECIDED TO MAKE AN ADDITION TO THEIR HOME.
Richard: …MAYBE EVEN INFORMAL KIND OF A TOWN HALL SORT OF PLACE THAT WE CAN HAVE.
Pellett: AN OPEN COURTYARD IN THEIR FRONT YARD.
Richard: A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT WHATEVER IS GOING ON IN LIFE.
WE’VE EVEN HAD A FANTASY ABOUT MAYBE BRINGING IN PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, TO
SIT IN A NEIGHBORHOOD SETTING AND LET THE NEIGHBORS ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT… WHAT
THEIR VIEWS ARE ON VARIOUS ISSUES THAT MAY HAVE IMPACT ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT’LL BE RIGHT WHERE WE’RE STANDING RIGHT NOW, WHERE THESE ADIRONDACK CHAIRS ARE, AND
IT’LL MOVE OUT JUST ABOUT TO HERE.
AND IT’LL MOVE IN A KIND OF A GENTLE CURVE RIGHT IN THIS AREA.
Thompson: I THINK WE SHOULD CREATE A MOVEMENT CALLED “WEB ARCHITECTURE,” AND WEB
ARCHITECTURE WOULD HAVE ALL THOSE REALLY IMPORTANT CONCERNS– EARTHQUAKE-PROOFING–
ALL THOSE REALLY IMPORTANT CONCERNS, AND IT WOULD ADD TO IT CONNECTION, BECAUSE A WEB
IS DEFINED BY ITS MANY, MANY POINTS OF INTERCONNECTION, AND THAT WOULD BE THE OBJECTIVE.
Thompson: SO WE SHALL SEE.
THEY VOTE ON IT TOMORROW.
THE DEVELOPER VOTES AS TO WHETHER TO DEED THE LAND TO THE CITY, AND THEN WE’LL GO
FROM THERE, SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
Moyers: WATCHING THAT, IT STRUCK ME THAT WHAT SUZANNE THOMPSON IS TRYING TO DO IS TO
BRING TO THE SUBURBS THE SAME SENSE OF SMALL TOWN OR CITY LIFE THAT MANY OF US
REMEMBER FROM OUR OWN YOUTH, TO TAKE OUT TO THOSE SUBURBS SOMETHING OF THIS WEB OF
CIVILIZATION THAT A CITY AT ITS BEST IS, RIGHT?
Richard Louv, Author: YEAH, I LIKE TO REFER TO SUZANNE AS THE SUBURBAN GUERRILLA.
AS WE SAW WITH SUZANNE, AS WE’VE SEEN WITH ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT YOU’VE INTERVIEWED,
THE PARENTS, PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE WAY OUT AHEAD OF THE DEVELOPERS, WAY
OUT AHEAD OF THE POLITICIANS.
IF THE DEVELOPERS WERE TO LISTEN TO SUZANNE, THEY COULD BUILD COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
EVEN MORE MARKETABLE THAN THE ONES THEY’VE GOT, THAT WERE FAMILY FRIENDLY– IF THEY
LISTENED TO PEOPLE LIKE HER.
IF THE POLITICIANS LISTENED TO THESE PEOPLE LIKE GREG BULL AND THE OTHERS, THEY COULD
FIND THEMSELVES ACTUALLY EFFECTING CHANGE, INSTEAD OF REMAINING IMPOTENT, LIKE SO MANY
OF THEM DO FEEL.
Moyers: BUT WATCHING HER IN THE SUBURBS, I WAS ALSO WONDERING IF THAT KIND OF CONCEPT–
WHAT DO THE PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING, YOUR CLIENTS, THINK AS THEY SEE THAT PROJECT?
Jill Bradley, Chicago Housing Authority: PROBABLY LESS ABOUT HOW TO REARRANGE SPACE.
INSTEAD, THEY’D LIKE TO SEE HOW TO KEEP THEIR SPACE SAFE.
BUT WE DO LISTEN TO CHILDREN, BECAUSE THEY EXPRESS THEIR FEARS: “WHY CAN’T GROWNUPS
HELP PROTECT US SO THAT WE CAN PLAY?” BECAUSE THE WEB, UNFORTUNATELY FOR THEM,
BECOMES VERY SMALL AND CONFINING, AND SO THEY WANT TO BREAK OUT.
SOME OF THE BEHAVIORS THAT WE SEE THAT WE FIND NEGATIVE ARE SIMPLY A FACTOR OF
CHILDREN BEING CONFINED TOO MUCH.
Steven Bayme, American Jewish Committee: ONE OF THE MORE INTRIGUING ASPECTS OF THIS CLIP IS
THE PARTICULAR FAMILY STRUCTURE OF THE COUPLE INVOLVED.
THEY ARE A TWO-PARENT FAMILY, THEY HAVE SMALL CHILDREN, SHE HAS OPTED TO WORK OUT OF
THE HOME, RATHER ON A PART-TIME BASIS, ON A FLEX-TIME BASIS, RATHER THAN OUR USUAL IMAGE-
– WHICH IS OFTEN TOUTED IN THE MEDIA– OF PARENTS WORKING BOTH AT FULL-TIME CAREERS.
IN REALITY, PARENTS WITH SMALL CHILDREN, PRESCHOOL AGE, ABOUT A THIRD HAVE OPTED FOR
THE KIND OF MODEL THAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT, WHICH MEANS THAT WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
TWO FULL-TIME CAREERS, BUT USUALLY ONE FULL-TIME JOB AND ONE FLEX-TIME OR PART-TIME
EMPLOYMENT.
Rosalie Streett, Parent Action: WE HEAR OVER AND OVER FROM PARENTS THAT THEY WANT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FLEXIBLE HOURS, THEY WANT TO WORK PART TIME, THEY WANT TO DO JOB
SHARING, BUT THEY DON’T WANT TO BE DEPRIVED OF BENEFITS, BECAUSE THEY CAN’T SURVIVE
WITHOUT THEM.
Moyers: I THINK ALL OF US KNOW SINGLE MOTHERS WHO HAVE RAISED CHILDREN WELL, STRONG
AND HEALTHILY.
BUT IN MY OWN EXPERIENCE, IN THE EXPERIENCE OF ALMOST EVERYBODY I MEET, WE ALSO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS BETTER TO HAVE TWO PARENTS IN THAT FAMILY, AND ONE OF THEM
EARNING SUFFICIENT INCOME TO ENABLE A FLEXIBLE ARRANGEMENT ON RAISING THOSE CHILDREN.
BUT THAT’S THE IDEAL IN AMERICA NOW, IT’S NOT… IT’S NOT THE NORM.
Bradley: IF FATHERS HAVE TO COME INTO A FAMILY WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEM,
AND, OF COURSE, ARE GOING TO BE PENALIZED AND LOOKED UPON POORLY BY SOCIETY, THEN YOU
CAN UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE REASONS THAT THEY DO NOT COME IN AND EMBRACE THEIR OWN
FAMILIES.
AND THE SAME WAY WITH MOTHERS WHO FEEL DISSATISFIED, CERTAINLY, WITH FATHERS WHO ARE
NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE.
I CAN SYMPATHIZE WITH THAT MOTHER WHO SAID THAT UNTIL THIS GUY GETS HIS LIFE TOGETHER,
HE IS NOT WELCOME HERE ON THOSE TERMS.
THEY’RE NOT CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT THEY WANT.
Moyers: SHOULD WOMEN BE THE ONES WHO GO HOME TO TAKE CARE OF THE CHILDREN?
Bradley: THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.
THE FEMINIST IN ME SAYS THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.
BUT SOMEONE HAS TO, AND PEOPLE, OF COURSE, ASSUME THAT MOTHERS ARE AT HOME WAITING
FOR WELFARE CHECKS.
THAT IS NOT THE TRUTH.
THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO GET OUT OF THAT, AND IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT STRUGGLE.
Bayme: BUT I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO LEARN NOT TO STIGMATIZE THE PARENTS, USUALLY WOMEN,
WHO OPT TO STAY AT HOME TO CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
Moyers: IT IS POSSIBLE TO DEVALUE MOTHERHOOD.
Bayme: EXACTLY.
LOOK, WE HAD A MAJOR DEBATE HERE IN THE LAST YEAR OVER CHILD CARE, AND CHILD-CARE
LEGISLATION.
THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED WITH THE SO-CALLED A.B.C. BILL WAS A STEP FORWARD THAT
MADE AVAILABLE MORE DAY CARE INSTITUTIONS.
WHAT IT DID NOT ADDRESS, WHICH IS CURRENTLY BEING DEBATED IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW, IS
SHOULD THERE BE RECOGNITION FOR THE STAY-AT-HOME PARENTS?
SAY, IN THE FORM OF REFUNDABLE TAX CREDITS.
Bradley: SOME OF THAT WAS A RESULT OF THE THING THAT I JUST EXPERIENCED LAST WEEK.
WE HAVE AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM.
FOR OUR CHILDREN, THAT’S A LIFE-AND-DEATH ISSUE.
IT IS A MATTER OF THEM BEING IN A SAFE PLACE IN THE AFTERNOON.
WE HAVE TO TURN AWAY SO MANY CHILDREN THAT SOMETIMES THE DILEMMA GETS CAUGHT– IT’S
SORT OF LIKE THAT, “SHOULD WE STAY ON PUBLIC AID, OR SHOULD I TRY TO GET A JOB AND THEN
NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO TAKE CARE OF MY CHILD SHOULD THEY GET SICK?” Moyers: YOU MEAN,
YOU REALLY TURN THESE KIDS AWAY WHO WANT TO COME?
Bradley: WE HAVE TO.
AND THEY STAND AT THE DOOR AND WATCH THE ONES WHO WERE THE LAST ONE TO GET INTO THE
PROGRAM.
IT’S… IT’S, IT IS THE MOST HEARTBREAKING PART OF MY JOB.
Moyers: FOR LACK OF MONEY?
Bradley: FOR LACK OF, I MEAN, YOU TALKED ABOUT A.B.C.
A.B.C. WOULD HAVE EXPANDED THE POSSIBILITY– AND DID.
BUT THERE IS, I’M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW, THE UNMET NEED IS TREMENDOUS.
Louv: ALMOST EVERY LIBRARY IN THIS COUNTRY IS A CHILD-CARE CENTER.
Moyers: EVERY WHAT?
Louv: LIBRARY IN THIS COUNTRY IS A CHILD-CARE CENTER.
CHILDREN GET LEFT THERE BECAUSE THERE’S NO PLACE TO LEAVE THEM.
I THINK THAT– I HAVE A PROBLEM HERE.
WHEN THIS DISCUSSION REACHES THIS POINT, IT BEGINS TO BREAK DOWN ALONG PROGRAMMATIC
LINES, WHETHER IT’S THIS PROGRAM OR THAT PROGRAM.
THEN WE HAVE TO CONFRONT THE FACT THAT CHILDREN ARE GROWING UP IN A DIFFERENT TIME
ZONE THAN WE ARE.
THEY GROW UP VERY QUICKLY, AND WHILE WE ARE DISCUSSING OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR POLICIES,
THEY’RE GONE– ANOTHER GENERATION IS LOST.
I THINK THAT WE NEED SOMETHING– I THINK WE CAN’T WAIT FOR WASHINGTON, WE CAN’T WAIT FOR
THE EDUCATION PRESIDENT, WE CAN’T WAIT FOR, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT PARENTING GURU.
WHAT WE NEED IS A FAMILY MOVEMENT, VERY MUCH LIKE THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT.
THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT DID NOT BEGIN WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.
IT BEGAN WHEN WOMEN SAT DOWN AT KITCHEN TABLES LIKE THIS ONE AND BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE A WOMAN.
YOU CAN’T SKIP THAT STAGE.
WE’RE IN THAT STAGE NOW.
AS PARENTS AND AS OTHER PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT KIDS, WE HAVE TO BRING NON-PARENTS INTO
THIS MOVEMENT, WE HAVE TO BRING SENIORS– SENIORS COULD BE THE WINTER SOLDIERS OF THIS
MOVEMENT.
SOME OF THE MOST MOVING PROGRAMS I’VE SEEN IN THE SCHOOLS ARE WHERE SENIORS GO INTO
THE SCHOOL AND SIT WITH THEIR ARMS AROUND KIDS AND TEACH THEM TO READ AND GIVE THEM
THE POSITIVE ADULT CONTACT THAT IS SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN ALL THE CURRICULUM IN
THE WORLD.
BUT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT A PROCESS, A NATIONWIDE KITCHEN- TABLE CONFERENCE, AS IT
WERE, A NATIONWIDE MOVEMENT WHERE PARENTS LIKE…
Moyers: AMERICA AS ONE BIG KITCHEN TABLE?
Louv: THAT’S RIGHT, AND…
BUT LIKE THE PARENTS THAT YOU’VE INTERVIEWED HERE, WHO ARE ALREADY OUT THERE DOING IT,
THEY NEED TO CONNECT.
WE CAN’T WAIT FOR A POLICY DISCUSSION.
Moyers: WELL, YOU STARTED THIS DISCUSSION WITH YOUR BOOK, CHILDHOOD’S FUTURE, AND IT’S
FITTING THAT YOU HAVE THAT FINAL WORD.
THANK YOU FOR THE BOOK AND FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. BAYME, THANK YOU, JILL BRADLEY, THANK YOU, ROSALIE STREETT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ALL COMING.
AND THANKS TO GAIL PELLETT FOR HER REPORTING.
I WELCOME THE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE THAT EACH OF YOU BRINGS TO THE INSIGHTS AT THIS
TABLE AND TO HER JOURNALISM.
BECAUSE POLITICIANS AND IDEOLOGIES OFTEN TALK ABOUT FAMILY VALUES AS IF THEY EXIST IN A
VACUUM, LIKE HYDROPONIC TOMATOES OR PRIME-TIME TELEVISION– DETACHED FROM THE REALITY
OF LIFE AS IT’S LIVED BY HONEST-TO-GOODNESS, FLESH- AND-BLOOD FOLK AT A PARTICULAR
ADDRESS IN A REAL ZIP CODE.
IF WE COULD LOOK BEYOND THE RHETORIC TO THE FAMILIES, WE MIGHT SEE WHAT IT ACTUALLY
TAKES TO HELP PEOPLE TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES.
LIBERALS, AS DR. BAYME HAS SAID, COULD GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW POLICIES CAN
FAIL, DESPITE THEIR GOOD INTENTIONS, BECAUSE IT TAKES MORE THAN A PROGRAM TO REPAIR THE
BREAKDOWN OF THE FAMILY, AND CONSERVATIVES MIGHT COME TO APPRECIATE THAT JUST AS
INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR CAN BE DESTRUCTIVE OF FAMILY LIFE, SO CAN THE BEHAVIOR OF CAPITALISTS
AND CORPORATIONS.
EVERY ONE OF US IS A STRAND IN THE WEB, AS PARENTS, CHILDREN, NEIGHBORS, TAXPAYERS,
EMPLOYERS, WORKERS, WORSHIPPERS, AND CITIZENS.
THE FAMILY CRISIS IS AMERICA’S CRISIS.
WHAT WE NEED IS A LOT LESS TALKING ABOUT IT, AND A LOT MORE WEAVING OF IT.