Balkan Route: Hungary Increasing Fence on Serbian Border Amid Ongoing Violence and Extended Controls, NGOs to Launch a Joint Action to Support Refugees Surviving Winter in Abandoned Buildings of Belgrade | European Council on Refugees and Exil European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) |
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Balkan Route: Hungary Increasing Fence on Serbian Border Amid Ongoing Violence and Extended Controls, NGOs to Launch a Joint Action to Support...
Parents devastated after autistic child kicked out of school because it doesn't have a fence Newshub
The remaining fence surrounding the U.S. Capitol will start to come down on July 8, Fox News is told.
Officials installed a two layers of fencing blocking off the Capitol shortly after the Jan. 6 riot. they removed the larger perimeter of fencing in March, but the inner fencing remained.
The National Guard was also deployed to D.C. in the wake of the riot, and at its peak some 5,200 Guardsmen stood watch at the Capitol. The last remaining Guard members left on May 23.
Still, Fox News is told there are questions as to whether the U.S. Capitol Police have the resources to protect the Capitol. Many officers have left or remain injured. Morale remains very low after the riot.
"We dont know that we are in a better position than we were on January 5," cautioned one knowledgeable source on the issue.
A number of lawmakers told Fox they agree that it is time to take down the fence.
NATIONAL GUARD TO LEAVE DC, PENTAGON SAYS
"This is the people's House and this belongs to the American people. We want it to be free and open," Democratic Rep. Don Beyer, Va., told Fox News. "The House did pass a bill that would put a lot more money in the Capitol Police and the kind of training and the resources necessary if there were an attack. And I think that'll be fine.
"It's also is a terrible signal," Beyer continued. "As we call it, Baghdad on the Potomac, we don't want this to be like the Green Zone."
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala. told Fox News the fence is "pure politics."
SENATORS RELEASE REPORT ON CAPITOL ATTACK
The fence is one of the ways they justify continuing to talk about January 6. Is there still some threat? They've got us walking through magnetometers. Members of Congress are no threat to each other, but they want to keep the focus on what happened on January 6. And then somehow Trump is still a problem out there that Americans are concerned about. And we're just not. This is just, it's pure politics."
"This fence is in no way going to be needed now or in the future."
Federal prosecutors so far have charged more than 500 for involvement in the breach of the Capitol building that led to five deaths.
In April, a motorist rammed his car into Capitol Police, killing one officer and forcing the Capitol complex to go into lockdown.
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Last month, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Senate Rules Committee released their report on the riot.
This week, the House passed legislation to create a select committee focused solely on investigating the riot, a move that was panned by Republicans as too partisan but hailed by Democrats as necessary to give the American people a full accounting of what happened during the deadly attack.
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Fence surrounding US Capitol is expected to come down starting on July 8 - Fox News
The Peruvian Pavilion in the 2021 Venice Biennale Seeks to Transform Fences into Tools for Integration
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Playground: Artifacts for Interaction, by curator Felipe Ferrer, aims to transform the fences surrounding Peru's public spaces into tools for social integration. The project proposes removing the gates enclosing public spaces throughout Lima andPeru's other urban centers, inviting residents to freely enter and interact with the spaces.By removing these "security" mechanisms, which really serve as tools of segregation,and installing benches, playgrounds, and soccer fields, the project aims to divert all the energy, time, and resources put into installing fences and channel it into bringing new life to these public spaces.
"Peru is still nursing scars from the bloody conflict that marked the country from 1980 to 2000. Residents of the capital began to put up fences around their homes and streets as a means of defense. Twenty years later, fences are still being put up. With urban centers across the globe becoming increasingly crowded, along with the incessant droneof digital media, hostilepolitical climates, and post-pandemic socio-economic disarray, people are more fearful than ever of one another. These fences are a physical representation of this fear and it's our job to transform this fear into opportunity."
The normalization of fences, both in Peru and abroad, has made them a fixture in both the urban landscape and the public subconscious. Everyday, more fences are erected and their presence is ever more naturalized. "We need more spaces for integration, not exclusion. We need to realize the true cost of separating the city and its inhabitants. Public spaces should be where we feel most included and equal."
The Peruvian Pavilion greets visitors with a large fence, typical of many Peruvian cities. It hangs from a beam that spans the length of the exhibition space and is marked by several signs reading STOP, ENTRY PROHIBITED as well as the hours of the exhibit.
On the other side of the fence, which will be closed due to sanitationprotocols, is the exhibit's centerpiece:a "playground" meant to invite viewers to interact with one another and formulate new social contracts. Some are see-saws that require two people to sit together in order touse themcomfortably. Others are staircases that need to be held by another person while another uses them. Other fixtures of the exhibit include a football post, corner benches, and other elements.
Above the fence hang two lenticular posters, containing two versions of the same image of iconic spaces from around the globe. In one version, the space is fenced. As the viewer moves to a different vantage point, the image transforms and the fence disappears. In highlighting the fences found throughout Peru, the exhibit also prompts us to examine the fences found across the globe.
A video shows how fences transform public spaces by using hundreds of photos from throughout Peru and the world. The majority of the photos were obtained with the help of the public, who uploaded them to a designated Instagram account with the hashtag #RIPublicspace.
The pavilion invites viewers to reflect, not only on what they've seen in the exhibit, but what they see in their everyday lives. At the end of the exhibition, the fences will be returned to their original parks, to further shape and transform the spaces they occupy.
The exhibit is supported by the Wiese Company and Foundation as well as the Peruvian Commission for the Promotion of Exportation and Tourism- PROMPER, the Ministry of Foreign Relations, the Ministry of Culture, and the National University of Engineering - UNI, the Peruvian Chamber of Construction - CAPECO, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, the University of Lima, the Private University of the North, Ascensores Powertech, Servimetales, Hunter Douglas, ArtCo, Trazzo, Iguzzini, Marx, Tribeca, Decor Center, and Lima Cmo Vamos.
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The Peruvian Pavilion in the 2021 Venice Biennale Seeks to Transform Fences into Tools for Integration - ArchDaily
Jun 27, 2021
Cross-country riding is basically galloping across the country, jumping various obstacles. The ability to transition from the gallop to the appropriate speed and balance for the upcoming obstacle is an essential skill for riding cross-country. It is a skill that needs to be practiced just as jumping the actual fences needs to be practiced. Recently I had a conversation with Captain Mark Phillips about how to do this.
THE CONVERSATION
Back when I was competing at the 5* level and being coached by Capt. Mark Phillips, I asked him for help because I was having trouble getting my horse back for the straight forward galloping fences at the Advanced speed. I didnt want to just let my horse gallop to the fences unchecked, but I also didnt want to do too much because that cost time and sometimes interfered with the rhythm resulting in a chip in or an awkward distance to a big fence. The discussion that followed helped me understand what I needed to do, and I recently had a chance to review the topic with Capt. Mark.
First, I should say that Capt. Mark didnt like the term getting my horse back because of the backward connotations. So I will be using the term setting up in this article as it suggests preparation and upward balance, which is what we want.
In answer to my question, Capt. Mark went on to explain setting up to me in this way. He asked how fast my horse would be galloping between fences. The optimum speed at the Advanced level is 570 meters/minute. Since I would need to slow down for the technical fences and combinations, I would need to go faster than 570 meters/minute between fences to make up time, so my speed between fences might be 600 meters/minute.
Next Capt. Mark asked what I thought my horses stride length would be at a galloping speed of 600 meters/minute. I guessed maybe 18 feet. (The specifics dont matter here.) He said, ok, then if I were to maintain the same rhythm, what would my horses stride length be if I were to slow down to 500 meters/minute? I thought that if I were to maintain my rhythm but slow my speed, that would require a shorter stride length, so my stride length might be 15 feet. He said good, then to set up correctly, I should:
ILLUSTRATING THE CONCEPT
The diagrams below illustrate this concept of changing the horses speed while maintaining the same rhythm and impulsion. In the diagrams, each bump represents one gallop stride, and the horizontal axis represents the distance covered in one minute. (The values used for rhythm and speed were chosen to simplify the diagrams and do not represent actual rhythms and speeds found in cross-country riding.)
The first diagram illustrates a 5-meter stride length at a rhythm of 10 strides/minute. This rhythm and stride length would produce a speed of 50 meters/minute.
The second diagram illustrates a 4-meter stride length at the same rhythm of 10 strides/minute. Since the stride length has changed, the distance covered in 1 minute has been reduced to 40 meters/minute, which is exactly what we wanted to accomplish: reducing the speed while maintaining the rhythm and the impulsion. Only the stride length has changed.
HOW TO PRACTICE AND TRAIN YOUR HORSE
This critical skill of shortening the horses stride length and bringing their balance up while maintaining the speed of their feet and impulsion is easier said than done. Like anything else involved with riding well, it requires practice and training. So practice. Train your horse to understand what youre asking for. You dont even need jumps or a cross-country course to work on this skill. A big arena or field where you can gallop a little will do the trick.
To practice, start with a nice forward canter or slow gallop. Then shorten your horses stride by changing its balance. Do this by supporting the horse with your leg, bringing your shoulders up, and taking a soft feel upward and forward of the mouth. Dont pull with your hand or slow their feet. Use as much leg as you need to keep their feet active and their front end up. Balance is always supported by the riders leg (inside calf muscle).
When practicing on hotter horses, they may not want to slow their gallop given only these subtle aids. If you use your hand too strongly, they will most likely tighten in the neck and back and pull against you. If this happens, you may want to try the following exercise:
Introducing this hint of lateral suppleness should help soften the horse over the topline and allow them to shorten their stride. Start by asking for just a little shortening. If the horse gives you what you want, reward them by letting them go forward for a few strides. Go forward with them, loosening your elbows and following their mouth with your hand. Then ask again for shortening, asking for more as they come to understand what you want.
When practicing on quieter horses, touching the reins with too much hand may cause them to slow their feet and lose impulsion, so be sure to use your leg before your hand. If the feet slow down, immediately apply the leg (and the crop if necessary) to keep their feet active. The impulsion that you will need to jump the fences comes from active feet.
If you are competing at the higher levels and your horse hasnt learned this setting up skill yet, you may need to begin setting up quite far in advance of vertical fences or technical combinations to be sure that you have the correct speed and balance for the question at hand. This will take more time, but it will hopefully save you from an unfortunate run-out or an awkward jump from a bad distance.
EXAMPLES OF SETTING UP
If you want to see great examples of this setting up skill, check out videos of Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin, William Fox-Pitt, Piggy French, or Harry Meade going around a cross-country course. These experts are so good at galloping and jumping that you cant even see them setting up for the fences. Their hands barely move, and their horses gallop remains active and rhythmic. But dont be fooled. . . theyre doing exactly the right amount of work. Its just not visible because these horses are well trained to understand what their riders are asking for.
Incidentally, this lengthening and shortening of the frame and the stride isnt anything new to our event horses. This action is asked for in most dressage tests. The only difference is that you are asked to shorten and lengthen at the walk, trot, and canter in dressage. In cross-country, you are asked to do it at a gallop.
The photo above shows the horse and rider galloping. The horses head and neck are lowered and stretched out. The rider is up out of the saddle, going forward with the horse. Here the stride will be longer, and the speed will be faster.
The photo above shows the horse and rider setting up for a fence. The rider has closed their leg against the horses side, lowered their seat toward the saddle, lifted their shoulders, and taken a light feel of the mouth. In response, you can see that the horse has shifted its weight more to the hind legs, lifted its head and neck, and both horse and rider appear to be focused on the upcoming obstacle.
HOW MUCH TO SET UP
At the lower levels of competition, where the speeds are lower, and the fences are more straightforward, less setting up is needed. But riding cross-country at these levels provides a great opportunity to teach the horse rhythm, straightness, and lightness in front of the fences. You can work on these things:
More setting up will be required at the upper levels because the galloping speeds are higher, and the fences are larger and more technical. How much to set up will depend on the speed of the gallop, the profile of the fence, and the question being asked by the upcoming obstacle or combination.
CONCLUSION
I want to thank Captain Mark Phillips for taking the time to share some of his vast knowledge of cross-country riding and for helping put his marvelous explanations and advice down on paper.
To summarize, Capt. Mark said this:
The most difficult part of cross-country riding is to persuade yourself to use your leg before your hand. The second most difficult part is to balance up and forward, and not to pull back to adjust your speed.
About Captain Mark PhillipsCaptain Mark Phillips rode for the British Eventing Team for 20 years. During his career he won the 5-star event at Badminton four times, along with numerous gold and silver medals at the Olympics, World Championships, and European Championships. Capt. Phillips then took on the role of Chef dEquipe of the U.S. Eventing Team. He led the team for 20 years, helping them to win 26 medals at the Olympics, World Championships, and Pam Am Games. Currently Capt. Phillips focuses on cross-country course design. He has designed courses across the United States and Europe, most notably the 5-star courses at Burghley and Luhmhlen, and the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 course.
[2 MIN READ]
Weve all had a rough 18 months adjusting to a world with COVID-19, but according to our experts, our kids have had a particularly difficult time. While we know vaccination is a tried-and-true way to combat diseases like COVID-19 and our best path to getting back to normal its a very personal decision, especially when youre making it for your kiddo. Here are some things to consider if youre on the fence about getting your children ages 12-17 vaccinated.
Our children have missed out on so much this past year and have had to sacrifice some of what makes kids, kids. Getting them vaccinated will allow them to get back to the things they love sports, sleepovers, camps and hanging with friends. Children should be out living life safe from the virus. This summer, lets help our kids be kids again.
Children are feeling more scared, lonely, anxious and depressed as a result of COVID-19s imposed limitations, such as quarantine and isolation. Being away from friends and familiar activities can be hard on the mental health of children.
Isolation and loneliness are significant contributors to the long-term mental health ofchildren and youth, according to Robin Henderson, PsyD, Chief Clinical Officer, Work2BeWell, Providence.
Were definitely seeing increases in anxiety and depressionin youth, much of which can be attributed to the complete disruptionof normal social activities created through pandemic isolation and social distancing.
Getting kids vaccinated means they can start to safely socialize and get together with their friends, peers and loved ones again. Plus, the protection the vaccine gives may ease anxiety of getting sick from COVID-19.
Its not just kids that can benefit from the vaccine. Parents get some relief too! The vaccine can mean more peace of mind in sending kids to friends houses or camp or going on a family vacation, without the worry of them getting seriously sick. Parents also have the added benefit of knowing vaccinated kids are unlikely to contract the virus and expose those at risk of getting very sick from the disease.
Right now in the U.S., the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for use in children 12 and up.The vaccine is encouraged by public health authorities and has been proven safe and effective for everyone 12-17 years of age. We know that the vaccine prevents sickness and hospitalization from COVID-19, and that side effects are generally mild. Down the road, other COVID-19 vaccines for children and adolescents are expected to be available once clinical trials have been completed.
A fully COVID-19 vaccinated child is a protected child. And, while we do recommend everyone who can get the vaccine do, we know it might not be right for everyone. Check with your local or state health department for more information about the vaccines and what activities children can do following vaccination, and talk with your childs health care provider to discuss what options are availableand right for your family.You can also learn more about the benefits and potential risks of vaccinating your children for COVID-19 here.
If you have questions about vaccinations or want to secure one for your child, make an appointment with your primary care physician. If you need a doctor, you can find a Providence provider in your area by searching in our onlineprovider directory.
Subscribe to our newsletterto get more educational and inspirational stories from the expert caregivers at Providence.
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This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
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On the fence about getting your children vaccinated for COVID? Here are a few reasons to consider it - Providence
HOUSTON, June 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fencing Supply Group ("FSG"), a portfolio company of The Sterling Group, today announced its partnership with Fence Supply Inc. (FSI). FSG is a group of industry-leading distributors and manufacturers of fencing and outdoor living products. Fence Supply Inc., a well-respected and growing fencing and building material distributor based in Sunnyvale, Texas, is a single-branch operation that provides product and service to commercial, industrial, and residential customers in the Dallas Metroplex and surrounding areas.
"We are thrilled to welcome the Fence Supply Inc. team to the FSG family. With the addition of FSI, FSG further strengthens its position as the national leader in fence manufacturing, distribution, and outdoor living products," said Andrea Hogan, FSG CEO.
"The FSI partnership adds scale and outstanding fence expertise in a key market with growing demand," added Jeff Cook, FSG Executive Vice President of M&A and Greenfields. "FSI will continue to execute exceptional local service while leveraging the benefits of FSG for our customers, employees and suppliers."
"Fence Supply Inc. was born from the idea that customers should have access to quality fencing materials and components in one place, and service was a top priority," said Chris Brown, President of Fencing Supply Inc. "The next logical step for FSI was to take the business to the next level of value creation, and through our partnership with FSG we will have the ability do even more for our customers and employees."
Sterling has deep experience in the building products distribution industry, having previously partnered with entrepreneur owners to build Roofing Supply Group, Construction Supply Group, and Artisan Design Group.Sterling intends to continue to support the platform through organic growth initiatives and an active acquisition strategy.FSI is the fifth acquisitionfor the Fencing Supply platform. FSG acquired Merchants Metals, Binford Supply, Cedar Supply and Pro Access in early 2021.
About Fencing Supply Group
Founded in 2021, Fencing Supply Group (FSG) is a group of industry-leading fencing distributors. FSG is the largest wholesale distributor of fencing supplies in the United States. FSG businesses serve professional fencing contractors who provide new, improvement, and repair fencing services across residential, industrial, commercial, and infrastructure end markets. The FSG model combines local relationships, service, and expertise with national scale and resources to benefit customers, employees, and suppliers. Current FSG companies include Binford Supply, Cedar Supply, Fence Supply, Merchants Metals, and Pro Access Systems, which collectively operate 53 branches across 29 states.
About The Sterling Group
Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity and private credit investment firm that targets investments in basic manufacturing, distribution, and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies at initial formation range from $100 million to $750 million. Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 59 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $14.0 billion. Sterling currently has over $4.0 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visitwww.sterling-group.com.
SOURCE The Sterling Group, L.P.
Purple is one of my daughters' favorite colors, but it turns out the color purple has a pretty important meaning for land owners in Illinois.
Have you ever taken a hike, a jog, or a bike ride and come across a randomly placed post painted purple? Perhaps you were hunting and came across one? Or maybe you saw a fence with purple painted posts and thought, hmm....these people must really like the color purple? Well, that is not the message the posts and fences are meaning to convey.
The "Purple Paint Law" has been in effect in Illinois since 2011, and allows "Illinois landowners or lessees the option of using purple paint markings on trees or posts on their property as a 'no trespassing' notice"according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website.
If you happen to be a "get off my lawn" guy or gal, and are thinking painting all your fences posts purple sounds like a grand idea, please note that the Purple Paint Law does not apply to all Illinois home owners and has to be done specifically in order to be legal. According to illinois.gov, all purple posts must be:
1. A vertical line of at least 8 inches in length. The bottom of the mark shall be between 3 feet and 5 feet high. Each mark shall be no more than 100 feet from another such mark and be readily visible to any person approaching the property.
Or
2. A post capped or otherwise marked on at least its top 2 inches. The bottom of the cap or mark shall be between 3 feet and 5 feet 6 inches high. Posts so marked shall be no more than 36 feet apart and be readily visible to any person approaching the property. Prior to applying a cap or mark that is visible from both sides of a fence shared by different property owners or lessees, all such owners or lessees must agree to the decision to post their own property.
Something else I found kinda interesting about this law; purple was chosen as "the" color because it is highly visible in the midst of a forest, and it can also still be seen by many visually impaired people. FYI, all you hunters and campers, Illinois is not the only state that has this law in effect...
The 100 Best Places to Live in the Midwest
Arecent survey says Illinois is one of the most fun states in the U.S.. Truth is that Chicago is the biggest reason, but there's so much more than the Windy City.
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Why You Need to Turn Around When You See A Purple Fence Post in IL - q985online.com
[Knock LA, like other news outlets and citizen activists, initially had trouble receiving even basic information from Urban Alchemy. So, the author of this article applied for a job at Urban Alchemy and underwent two days of training for the Project CIRCLE pilot program. Urban Alchemys CEO Lena Miller provided comment through a media firm after we revealed our undercover reporting.]
The fence is never coming down. Thats how they keep the encampments out and control the park. Near the end of our walk around Echo Park Lake with an Urban Alchemy program operations manager, he explained to me and other trainees the process by which we would document and chart all of our interactions with unhoused folks, to prove to the mayors office that were doing the work. By the end of the year, there will be 100 of us in Venice, and 100 of us in Hollywood, but well be the O.G.s, he said.
When asked later about how they came to learn about the fences indefinite status, a representative of Urban Alchemy told Knock LA their information about the fence has come from media reports. As of publishing time, Knock LA has been unable to find any articles or newscasts describing the fences seemingly permanent presence in Echo Park Lake, so its possible that manager was confused about how, exactly, they control the park.
Since the sweep in Echo Park Lake, and with Councilmembers Mitch OFarrell and Joe Buscainos ongoing conflict with LAHSA and unhoused service providers in general, Urban Alchemys role in the Citys homelessness outreach structure has dramatically expanded.
Urban Alchemy, founded in 2018, is an unhoused outreach company focusing on hiring formerly incarcerated people and those with a history of substance abuse or experience with homelessness. The main premise of UAs training documents was that they were hiring people with emotional intelligence, because they believe that unhoused people have a similar type of emotional intelligence to damaged or incarcerated people, therefore facilitating communication They view their outreach as coming from a trauma informed lens. Hurt people hurt people, the instructor often repeated.
Urban Alchemy first came to Los Angeles in 2020 as part of an effort to provide showers, handwashing stations, and cleaning to Skid Row. They offered similar services in San Francisco since 2018. Urban Alchemy provided a data sheet showing they supply over 12,000 showers per year. On the walk in Echo Park Lake, a manager told me that they had the largest shower program in the country. Street Watch LAs Jed Parriott said, Im familiar with Urban Alchemy as running Pit Stop porta potties like the one on Alvarado/101 freeway. I am a huge fan of that program specifically for the porta potties. I was very confused as to what they were doing at Echo Park Lake weve always pushed for a jobs program for unhoused people.
An operations manager introduced us to the engagement team at Echo Park Lake as Urban Alchemys cream-of-the-crop alchemists, or practitioners. Yall see the park? No camping anymore. They did that, referring to this top squad. We dont work with law enforcement anymore, another member of the engagement team agreed. For his part, Councilmember OFarrell, who represents Echo Park Lake, claimed that the individuals living there were not swept and that his office coordinated with Urban Alchemy before the violent displacement of unhoused residents.
Urban Alchemy told Knock LA this about the engagement teams role at Echo Park Lake: Urban Alchemys outreach team worked for months to establish relationships with the guests living in Echo Park to understand their needs and identify appropriate housing options, with the support of LAHSA and the PATH program. As part of our work, we obtained an agreement from LAPD that they would stand down and allow us to engage and support the guests in Echo Park. On March 24, 2020, approximately 400 police officers showed up at Echo Park Lake to disperse protesters and guard the hasty construction of the apparently indefinite fence. Councilmember Mitch OFarrells office has yet to respond to our request for comment as of the time of this writing.
Urban Alchemy receiveda $1.1 million contract with the City to manage the Safe Sleeping Village in CD 13 at a cost of $2,600 per person per month. For a similar arrangement in a tent site in San Francisco, the San Francisco Chronicle noted that the city was paying $5,100 per tent, per month twice the rate of a one-bedroom apartment. Urban Alchemys CEO Miller has been criticized for her lavishly adorned public appearances, and it has been suggested that Urban Alchemys daily count of tents is used to inform other city services on how to better conduct sweeps. Urban Alchemy would typically collect data in connection with any service contract, Urban Alchemy told Knock LA. They continued, Urban Alchemy complies with HIPPA guidelines in relation to all client data, and only aggregate data is shared with a contract partner. Their hauntingly familiar logo an eyeball inside of a triangle and a circle cannot help but remind one of the Eye of Providence and raise suspicions of surveillance and conspiracy, especially given the intensely policed nature of Echo Park Lake. It feels like when I see Urban Alchemy now I say, Oh, theyre the first wave. The next waves the cops, said Parriott.
Most of the language in Urban Alchemys online literature seems based in New Age philosophy, rather than medical training or social work. In a statement provided to Knock LA, Urban Alchemy elucidated some of the spiritual values they teach: Our Practitioners must be armed with a powerful spirit that communicates caring, safety, non-judgement, and kindness. Ones spirit gains power through righteous deeds and actions.Alchemy is the science of spiritual power. This science cannot be persuaded, manipulated, or deceived to provide different results. One cannot cheat or deceive their own spirit. The only way through, is by approaching life with a clear/n spirit.
One Urban Alchemy director runs a separate nonprofit in San Francisco called Illuman that focuses on teaching spirituality to men, and, specifically, during a summer camping trip, young men.
Typically, Urban Alchemy calls their outreach workers Practitioners or Alchemists, but a perusal of LinkedIn reveals that some employees list their job title as Security Guard. The Guardian describes a San Francisco site as being guarded by Urban Alchemy staff. According to a UA representative, People may be listing this description on their LinkedIn because they are trying to find a job title that a large proportion of employers would value and commodify their skill sets to future employers.
Their work has also received glowing recommendations from unhoused activist General Jeff, and Steve Lopez of the LA Times, whose piece mostly focused on the organizations mission of giving formerly incarcerated people a second chance at employment. Miller and the Urban Alchemy staff often speak about how an incarcerated person has better emotional intelligence to deal with outreach to unhoused residents.
The first in-person orientation day for Project CIRCLE (Crisis Incidents Response Through Community Led Engagements), Urban Alchemys elite outreach team, was, appropriately, held in a circle near the entrance of Echo Park Lake. We were told by our training manager that this would be a chance to prove to the mayors office that UA could justify their faith (and money) in the program. People have been out here for years and cant get the job done, our manager said, referring to LAHSA. They dont want us out here. Project CIRCLE is currently slated to expand to Hollywood and Venice in late July 2021, though there may be delays. There was an air of defensiveness bordering on hostility to what the organization perceived as critics. This was especially true when it came to Street Watch LA or, as a member of Urban Alchemys engagement team called them, the LA Street Watch.
If they ask you when the fence is coming down, hesaid, then theyre part of LA Street Watch [Street Watch LA]. They could look like anyone. A husband and wife. They bring their kids. They dont want us here because they want the homeless in the park Dont give LA Streetwatch any information because they want us out of the park and the homeless back in. Jed Parriott of Street Watch LA, a city-wide, grassroots volunteer organization focused on outreach services and advocacy with unhoused residents, responded: Weve said from the beginning we are fighting for fucking housing is a human right for everybody. We have been the ones who over a year ago myself and others just got arrested, pressuring the city to open more hotel rooms. Urban Alchemys response to Knock LA answered all of our questions, except the one regarding their employees comments on Street Watch LA.
A trainee asked why people would want to keep homeless in the park and interfere with outreach teams such as Urban Alchemy. An engagement team member answered that Street Watch protesters are paid, and doing things for their own benefit. According to Parriott, Theres zero evidence that any of us get paid because we dont because were all volunteers we fundraise and literally buy tents and hygiene supplies. Parriott also described Street Watchsorganizations relationship with Urban Alchemy prior to the Echo Park Lake sweep as cordial and not antagonistic, though he did say Urban Alchemy began to openly state they were there to help clear people out of the park once rumors started to swirl about an upcoming massive sweep.
Multiple members of Urban Alchemy made it clear that employees were not to not talk to anyone media or otherwise about the fence erected at Echo Park Lake after the mass eviction of unhoused people and arrest of protesters and journalists in March. Just say you dont know, or tell them to talk to your supervisor, one practitioner said. If anyone asks what youre doing here, be careful, our manager said. Point to a piece of trash and tell them youre here to pick up that trash. Thats it. One enthusiastic trainee he had fully memorized Urban Alchemys jargon and acronyms from the orientation slideshow, even meticulously rapping the organizations 7 spiritual values asked, Why shouldnt we talk to anyone? Arent we trying to start a dialogue? Our manager responded, You know how they twist our words for business.
We may look like security, but were not security, one member of the engagement team said, regarding Urban Alchemys recognizable neon green and black outfits. During my in-person interview, I was encouraged to never call the police, but rather an Urban Alchemy supervisor. However, on my training walk around Echo Park Lake, my manager was adamant that we call the police whenever an incident felt out of control. He specifically advised that we call 911. A trainee asked, Why wouldnt we call the non-emergency number? Our manager responded: The fuck is a non-emergency number? The literature in the Zoom training session indicates to call a non-emergency number, however.
Practitioners are trained in first aid and how to treat people with Narcan in an emergency. Ostensibly, Project CIRCLE could be used as an alternative harm reduction strategy in place of law enforcement when dealing with unhoused people, but Knock LA wanted clarity on exactly how that would look.
When I pressed Miller for more details on the organizations policy on calling law enforcement, they directed me to the mayors office. The mayors office has yet to respond for comment at the time of publishing.
Interactions with unhoused people were compared to hostage negotiations and also to chess games. While the future of the Citys overall plan to deal with encampments is unclear, with a motion to criminalize camping by amending ordinance 41.18 a sit-lie law that makes sleeping, sitting, or lying in public spaces a criminal offense being rammed through city council, a decision to be made on the Judge Carter case, and an upcoming mayoral race (where candidate Joe Buscaino has spoken about eliminating the role of LAHSA entirely), the role of companies like Urban Alchemy may only grow. They list 638 practitioners now, and once Project CIRCLE begins, that number will increase with new hires. Theyll be at the forefront of countless interactions with unhoused folks, and because of their private nonprofit status, somewhat shielded from the public eye. It remains to be seen how they will fit it to the ultimate goal of getting unhoused folks into permanent housing.
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'The Fence is Never Coming Down,' and Other Things Urban Alchemy Told Us - Knock LA
Coffee shop owners Alaina and Keith Schwartz are going viral for their positive response to graffiti spray-painted on their establishment in Nashville, Tennessee.
Alaina Schwartz told TODAY Food that she and her son spotted the graffiti, which was painted on a fence surrounding the coffee shop's dumpster, as they pulled up to Caliber Coffee Co. on Saturday morning.
Fence with graffiti on it (Courtesy Alaina Schwartz)
"My son who's six was like, 'They did a bad thing. You can't do that,'" Schwartz recalled. However, she and her husband were determined to turn a negative into a positive: After looking at the security footage and confirming that the graffiti was spray-painted by some teenagers, they put out a call on Facebook asking local muralists if they'd be interested in painting over the graffitied area.
Fence with graffiti on it (Courtesy Alaina Schwartz)
"I was like, 'How can we spin this to make it something positive?'" said Schwartz. "We were like, let's make this great I was like, 'Hey, Nashville artists, we're looking for a mural, we had people attempt to do a mural last night, we're looking for something a little bit different.'"
Schwartz said that she was looking for a "positive or uplifting" piece of art, but the post led to an even more surprising turn of events.
"The next day, those boys came into our shop," said Schwartz. "They came up and they're like, 'Can I speak to the manager?' And my husband, who's up there, was like, 'Yeah, that's me,' and they're like, 'Can we speak privately?' And they look terrified. Super, super scared. They were like, 'We're so sorry.'"
Related: The suspect threw a brick through the front door but there wasn't any money in the cash register.
Schwartz said her husband reassured the boys, telling them that it "wasn't a great choice" but reminding them that "we've all made mistakes."
"My husband's like 'We've all been there, we've all done something we shouldn't have. Thank you for coming in and apologizing.' We were absolutely shocked that they came back," Schwartz said. "And then the boys offered to make it right. They were like, 'What can we do, can we paint over it?' (My husband) was like, 'If you want to, you don't have to.' And so they came back and repainted over it. It was amazing."
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Fence with graffiti on it (Courtesy Alaina Schwartz)
Schwartz said she shared the story on social media to put out a message of positivity and grace, but was shocked by the online response.
"We were completely floored. We're just a little mom-and-pop coffee shop So it was really incredible to see that people responded well," she said. "We want to be able to give second chances and celebrate people being brave and coming forward and saying, 'Hey, I've made a mistake.' For us to have that opportunity to extend grace and mercy that we've all needed at different points in our lives for different things is a really great opportunity for us as parents to show our own children, 'Hey, you're going to make mistakes, and it's OK.'"
While the graffiti has been painted over, Schwartz said she and her husband are still looking to find a local artist to paint a mural on one of the business' walls. The pair is also going to add a new fence to their property so that they can work with a charitable organization, Shower the People, a Nashville group who has outfitted a bus with showers and laundry supplies for unhoused people in the city.
"We're going to be partnering with them and adding a fence to the back of our building so that we can offer hygiene kits that will just hang on that fence for anybody to pick up and have what they need," Schwartz said. "And that connection only happened because they saw (our post). These are little connections that are going to make a huge difference. It has absolutely nothing to do with us as a business, but we really believe that we should be not only a business but constantly try to reach out and empower and uplift others."
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Coffee shop owners forgive teens who graffitied fence, let them paint over it - Yahoo News