Black parents getting arrested for homechooling in NY

For the second time in a week, I came across a story of a single black mother being arrested for homeschooling. Both had withdrawn children according to the laws of the state, both have been harassed and arrested and children put in foster care because the school alerted social services and told them things like:

They moved too many times
Too many absences (they were withdrawn)
Speaking out against schools

All that time I thought the HSLDA was full of crap (I still think that) with all of their "they will come and get your kids" stuff in order to get our money and then use it to fund Republicans.... will they now support these black homeschoolers who are getting targeted as more and more black people begin to homeschool, or do they want to keep homeschooling pure and keep black families out?

Home-Schooling Leads to Neglect Arrest, Leaders Want Children Returned to Mother

There's another one in lower NY but It is not in the news, I found out about it through her Facebook Live.

Here's another story that I know less about:
NYC targets homeschoolers

Never too old to go back to college

A few years ago, I posted that I was going to get my real estate license... I took the online class, but at the end decided not to go through with it... it seemed like an easy way to get into the workforce.

After a few years of volunteering, and learning while doing, and talking and thinking, I have decided to get a second bachelors followed by a Masters degree... right now, I reviewing math online because I will probably need college algebra.

Wish me luck.

What I learned at Broadwaycon

As I lay in my hotel bed with sore legs and aching feet, I feel very happy and satisfied. I have just spent 3 whole days at BroadwayCon 2017, also known as BroadwayCon #2, the year we didn't get snowed in due to a huge blizzard. It was great, and after the last couple of months, I was due a break from the issues of the world that troubled my mind.

It's not like I wasn't aware of the STUFF that has had me so upset, but I was allowed to celebrate, art, and fun, and the artists who create the fun and entertainment that is so worth celebrating. The STUFF was actually a pretty major theme throughout the weekend, but to get to look at it through the lens of artists, deep thinkers, who create and reinterpret the world around us, was a beautiful thing. It was also good to know I was surrounded by people who were pretty much of the same mind. Sure some people didn't agree and a few people left, but in this crowd, it probably less than 1% of the crowd who had a problem with the narrative. 

The opening and closing performances, for example referenced leadership that split our country and banned all that is good and threatened liberty. But in Broadway fashion, the first performance found a happy solution, and the latter gave us hope that we could in fact, survive this.... this.. that thing that would not be mentioned, but we all understood. 

So, here are the things I learned at BroadwayCon:

1. If you want to be an artist (Theatre art, visual art, writer), you need to create art... daily. 

2. You should spend half the work day in research and the other half of the day creating. 

3. You need to promote yourself using social media... it is the best way to be discovered.  Learn to use it. 

4. Never say no to an opportunity unless it makes you feel unsafe. 

5. Use your emotions to fuel art.

6. Let societal issues fuel you. 

7. Don't worry about doing derivative work. That can be paralyzing.. Create whatever comes up and then work through it to something original. 

8. Bad ideas can and will lead to wonderful ideas. 

9. What is meant for you is for you. Keep seeking opportunities, but don't get discouraged if you don't get it. 

10. Someone else's success is not your failure. 

And the bonus item: Artists are incredibly socially aware and often err on the side of compassion. 

Thank goodness I am not alone. I so feel like a fish out of water lately....  I thought the tide had turned... but it turns out I may have ended up in the wrong stream. 

Gates, Fences, and Walls

As is typical in Metro Atlanta, I live in what some would call a McMansion, in a gated community. It didn't take me long to discover that I was locked in with the crazies. The people within this gated community act just as squirrely as the people on the outside.

Within our upper-middle income community, we have had thefts, drug deals, speeding on streets kids play on, and vandalism... the people that did the crimes lived within the community.  Take for instance the fact that my car was ransacked last night. The thief took my backpack. But before they took it they removed the contents.. My binder for the community theatre board, my folders and receipts for each costuming project. They just took the backpack and the cell phone charging brick that was in the pocket.... well, that and then they tossed the car looking for change. They didn't even take the Gas card that had $17.00 on it. Chances are, this was a neighborhood kid.  Who lives in my community. If I see my backpack again, I will be pressing charges.

So besides the fact that my neighborhood is gated... there are actually 2 gates because it is a 2 part neighborhood and the pool and tennis are in the other part, the pool is fenced.  Tall fences... tacky fences with a bit of wire at the top to keep outsiders from climbing over and using the facilities. When they put in that horrible looking prison fence and the security cameras I stopped using it altogether.  First, I felt jailed. Second, I felt watched. No one wants to feel watched in their swimsuit... so fencing the pool took the enjoyment out of it.

And then there are walls. Who are they really for? And do you really want to be trapped in with the people building them?