United Haiti

From Here I Stand

John Hicks — Fri, 28 May 2010 06:58:45 +0000

So where am I going with this whole idea of helping in Haiti?

Well… I’m a public health major – that’s a start. Maybe a trip to Haiti is a bit further down the road. But today in my H-225 class (Individual and Social Health) a classmate shared her experience from volunteering in Haiti and how much help the country needed. I nearly melted with jealousy. I want to be there and lend a helping hand. I’m getting closer to seizing that chance… I just know it.

Still There

John Hicks — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:33:01 +0000

Yep, I still want to go and help – but for sure it definitely doesn’t look like the ideal time to volunteer is spring break. Even the first week or so of summer break is quite a push, but I’m still on board.

Time-Frame Bump?

John Hicks — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:34:33 +0000

I’m still full-steam on getting to Haiti to help, but the more ideal, likely time-frame for traveling and volunteering would probably be around the end of the school year when summer break is just getting started. Spring break is approaching very quickly – too fast to really get a solid plan rolled out. Plus, in two months highly-qualified volunteers with more critical skills will still be the most needed individuals on scene. Perhaps by summer more volunteer organizations will be established and a relatively smooth program will allow people like me to lend a hand without hampering relief efforts.

But, I’m still working with my classmate to get something figured out. We are considering meeting up somewhere and sometime to discuss our options. Plus, I retrieved my passport and discovered that it is still valid through September of this year.

Project United Haiti 2010: Stage 1…. Clear!

John Hicks — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 03:45:42 +0000

I went north, home in Tualatin from Corvallis where I attend Oregon State University. I was worried about telling my parents that I was interested and really wanted to volunteer in Haiti over part of spring break. To my surprise, both of them had no objections to the idea. In fact, their supporting argument was that I am 19 years old and can make those decisions. I was thrilled! I really thought they would go into that “shelter John” spiel about all the reasons not to go. However, it’s pretty much up to me to get this arranged, to figure out the details, and to work it all out. I’m nervous, but very happy at the same time.

So, the next step is to research my options. There will be many volunteers from around our nation who will want to volunteer, and I need to make sure I get my name on the list. My time frame for volunteering is spring break – so near the end of March. The higher up the list my name is, I assume, the more likely I am to be selected and for during my available time off of school. I also need to find out which organization to go with. Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, others? One other thought is to go through a church group, however I am currently no part of a church nor am I particularly religious in one way or another. Church volunteer groups are usually supported by funds the organization receives through donations and contributions – and they share that with members of their congregation. I am a nobody right now… And I must find a way in. I will also confer with my classmate who is seriously interested in traveling to Haiti over spring break. Maybe the two of us can figure out a plan.

Hoping… Needing… Waiting to Help.

John Hicks — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:54:37 +0000

Initial brainstorming plans have been put into place and I am going to start looking into a possible relief volunteer trip to Haiti over spring break as part an aid organization. I took the online Red Cross volunteer orientation – it simply tells you about what type of tasks a volunteer performs. However, I am not sure if the Red Cross is the ideal volunteer organization for when it comes to the month of March. Red Cross is an immediate response aid to disaster scenes. Once the initial disaster is handled and government-organized aid groups are no longer needed, the Red Cross will likely not still be on the front-lines. So… Maybe I should look into Habitat for Humanity or perhaps search for other volunteer relief organizations. I have talked with a classmate who is serious about going to Haiti on spring break… Maybe the two of us can figure something out.

Ticket to Ride

John Hicks — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:03:54 +0000

Just as is in the media, Haiti is still largely on my mind. In recent days it has become a topic of issue in which a couple of my acquaintances have pushed to participate, hands-on, in some way. I am envious of their “go-get’em” confidence, stride, and ability to make some calls and potentially wind up in a catastrophic foreign country for volunteer purposes. You all know by now that I want to be one of those people – and who knows what I might end up doing.

For right now, it is clear that the state of the country is left best in the hands of government and non-profit immediate aid officials who are professional, qualified individuals in the line of work that they perform. But perhaps in a month or so Haiti will need volunteers – people to pick up the peaces and work towards a rebuilding effort. I want to be there. It is an immersion experience that will change your life forever, and you will never know what is outside of our shallow, boxed-in every day lives unless you go out and make a change – find that Francois within you that alters your cookie-cutter lifestyle. No matter your field of profession, this can change your outlook on everything. Also, remember to wear red on Tuesday, January 19 to show your awareness and support for Haiti.

So, I pose a question to you.

Originally published on Craziosity

Helping Haiti

John Hicks — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:52:33 +0000

Understanding the full catastrophe in Haiti after their 7.0 earthquake and aftershocks is actually quite difficult via controlled and edited media. Everything we read, hear, and learn about is governed through filters in broadcast control. Not only are numerous sightings too graphic for network television, but there is also the fact that the news we receive is heavily delayed by communication and post-production.

I’m trying to discover the career path I want to follow in life. I sometimes doubt my interest in news, broadcasting, and technology. But then a horrible event like Hurricane Katrina, the 2004 Indonesian Tsunami, and most recently the Haitian catastrophe cause me to reconsider my stance. It is times like these that I so badly want to be part of a major news team and travel to these countries – experience and immerse myself in all that is happening, and be able to compel emotions, feelings, and visuals through writing, photography, and even technology. For example, right now I would really like it if I wasn’t in college and was working with a news organization and had the chance to cover the events in Haiti. I want to help people, but I am no doctor, no relief worker, no medical student, no bringer of peace. But what I can do is utilize my skills in what I know best to compel those who view my work to donate money for organizations, and perhaps even inspire others to follow my same path.

This has actually just occurred to me. I had a brief conversation on Twitter with @BrianBarker, an ex-KATU’er, now Public Information Officer for TVF&R. He explained to me how he convinced KATU to send him to New Orleans after the Hurrican Katrina disaster in 2006. He commented on the bodies he saw laying around the streets, the horrible things he has seen, and the experienced that was life-changing. His story is what has inspired me to keep following my love for journalism. I don’t want to grow up to be a reporter, a director, or some script writer… Maybe something regarding new media communications… Yet in fact, I do not know what I want to do, but if events like these tug at my heart to be there and capture the mood and details, I know something is there for me to pursue.

Help victims of the Haitian Earthquake disaster… click on the SocialVibe widget to the right of this page. There is no sign-up necessary, and all you have to do is answer questions and complete basic activities.

You can also aid those in Haiti by text messaging “Give10″ to 20222. This will add $10 to your wireless account bill and will be donated to services in need of funding, but keep in mind that this monetary support can take up to 90 days for organizations to receive and process. Donating online is the quickest way to expedite support to the Haiti disaster response and recovery, but keep your eyes out for cyber-scammers looking to steal your money. The best route to take is locating donation websites via major news sources such as your local television stations or network channels like CNN, FOX, ABC, or through trusted re-tweets on Twitter.