Fall 2011- WEEK 3 (10/16/11)
Guest Speaker: Eddie Ahn
This week, we had a guest speaker Eddie Ahn. He is currently residing in San Francisco, CA and is a Legal Fellow for the Brightline Defense Project (http://www.brightlinedefense.org). Eddie also writes and draws his own comic strips called: "Sidewalk Empire: The Avenue." For more information, go to: http://www.ehacomics.com/. Or go to Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ehacomics.
During the session, Eddie discussed community, organizing and education. He asked the mentors and students to come up with one adjective or noun that we would use to describe a community. Some words were: unity, cooperate, sharing, togetherness, group, society, proximity, respect and neighborhood. He spoke briefly about his background and past work experiences.
Then, he talked about his advocacy work with the Brightline Defense Project and campaigns that he assisted with. Currently, the Brightline Defense Project is working on the Local Hiring Program such as the SF Community Jobs Campaign. Afterwards, he talked briefly about his personal project, his comics, about how he first became interested in drawing and about the characters in the comics. Then, there was a Question and Answer session where the mentors and students asked questions regarding Eddie's job, his comic and his opinions on current events and issues in the United States.
During the session, Eddie discussed community, organizing and education. He asked the mentors and students to come up with one adjective or noun that we would use to describe a community. Some words were: unity, cooperate, sharing, togetherness, group, society, proximity, respect and neighborhood. He spoke briefly about his background and past work experiences.
Then, he talked about his advocacy work with the Brightline Defense Project and campaigns that he assisted with. Currently, the Brightline Defense Project is working on the Local Hiring Program such as the SF Community Jobs Campaign. Afterwards, he talked briefly about his personal project, his comics, about how he first became interested in drawing and about the characters in the comics. Then, there was a Question and Answer session where the mentors and students asked questions regarding Eddie's job, his comic and his opinions on current events and issues in the United States.
Biography: Eddie Ahn has been engaged in community and legislative advocacy work as both a recently graduated law student and an attorney for Brightline since 2009. Prior to law school, he was an AmeriCorps member, serving as an afterschool programmer in Oakland’s Chinatown. While working toward his law degree, he participated in the Legislation Clinic and worked on civil justice and environmental issues for the Assembly Judiciary Committee in Sacramento.
Mr. Ahn has received his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and his B.A. from Brown University.
Mission Statement of Brightline Defense Project: Brightline’s mission is to promote sustainability and opportunity in traditionally underserved communities through public policy advocacy and partnerships. Our focus is on three pathways to protect and empower communities in need: 1) advancing environmental justice, 2) ensuring job creation and retention, and 3) advocating for the development of fair, affordable, and sustainable housing.
THANK YOU EDDIE AHN for taking the time out of your vacation to assist Shared Stories by speaking about your background, experiences and your current advocacy work. It was a great opportunity for the students to hear about the work you do in your community and inspire them to take action in their own communities too.
Mr. Ahn has received his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and his B.A. from Brown University.
Mission Statement of Brightline Defense Project: Brightline’s mission is to promote sustainability and opportunity in traditionally underserved communities through public policy advocacy and partnerships. Our focus is on three pathways to protect and empower communities in need: 1) advancing environmental justice, 2) ensuring job creation and retention, and 3) advocating for the development of fair, affordable, and sustainable housing.
THANK YOU EDDIE AHN for taking the time out of your vacation to assist Shared Stories by speaking about your background, experiences and your current advocacy work. It was a great opportunity for the students to hear about the work you do in your community and inspire them to take action in their own communities too.
ASSIGNMENT: With the topic you have chosen, do research and submit an outline for your presentation or blog for next Sunday.