Comments on: From the Editor: Notes on organizing Matador’s Haiti relief effort http://matadornetwork.com/change/from-the-editor-notes-on-organizing-matadors-haiti-relief-effort/ travel culture worldwide Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:43:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Julie Schwietert http://matadornetwork.com/change/from-the-editor-notes-on-organizing-matadors-haiti-relief-effort/#comment-48933 Julie Schwietert Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:55:50 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=2495#comment-48933 Thank you Gabriela- I feel so humbled by you and your work, too, and I was so happy to meet you recently. Thank you Gabriela- I feel so humbled by you and your work, too, and I was so happy to meet you recently.

]]> By: Gabriela Garcia http://matadornetwork.com/change/from-the-editor-notes-on-organizing-matadors-haiti-relief-effort/#comment-48932 Gabriela Garcia Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:22:45 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=2495#comment-48932 Incredibly powerful writing. I can completely relate to a lot of your feelings. Being in Miami, in Little Haiti, hearing all the people around me eager to hear from relatives, and being present when they finally get the dire news. Seeing them work through their tears, gathering up supplies and personnel and and feeling that momentary hope when you see it finally head out. But all the while I'm standing there still feeling like it's not enough, like it's never enough, like even in the worst of circumstances governments, and interests, and self-obsession trump our desire to reach out in solidarity. Yet, I am humbled. Humbled by people like you, who offer glimpses of humanity, and remind me that I can be doing even more. Thank you for all your hard (and often frustrating) work. Incredibly powerful writing. I can completely relate to a lot of your feelings. Being in Miami, in Little Haiti, hearing all the people around me eager to hear from relatives, and being present when they finally get the dire news. Seeing them work through their tears, gathering up supplies and personnel and and feeling that momentary hope when you see it finally head out. But all the while I’m standing there still feeling like it’s not enough, like it’s never enough, like even in the worst of circumstances governments, and interests, and self-obsession trump our desire to reach out in solidarity.

Yet, I am humbled. Humbled by people like you, who offer glimpses of humanity, and remind me that I can be doing even more. Thank you for all your hard (and often frustrating) work.

]]> By: Russo http://matadornetwork.com/change/from-the-editor-notes-on-organizing-matadors-haiti-relief-effort/#comment-48103 Russo Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:15:34 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=2495#comment-48103 Amazing...a great insight on your thoughts and daily activities. "5. “Logistics” is a word I’ll avoid using for a long time. " - I think I completely understand and agree with you on this point -_- enough is enough. Amazing…a great insight on your thoughts and daily activities.

“5. “Logistics” is a word I’ll avoid using for a long time. ” – I think I completely understand and agree with you on this point -_- enough is enough.

]]> By: Lindi http://matadornetwork.com/change/from-the-editor-notes-on-organizing-matadors-haiti-relief-effort/#comment-48104 Lindi Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:33:08 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=2495#comment-48104 Wow. Julie. I can't express how you've touched me with your incredible compassion and love. Thanks for this.The recovery efforts after a massive disaster like this require passion and a lot of dedicated work. Thank you for all you've done. If I can help, please let me know. Wow. Julie. I can’t express how you’ve touched me with your incredible compassion and love. Thanks for this.The recovery efforts after a massive disaster like this require passion and a lot of dedicated work. Thank you for all you’ve done. If I can help, please let me know.

]]> By: Nancy http://matadornetwork.com/change/from-the-editor-notes-on-organizing-matadors-haiti-relief-effort/#comment-48882 Nancy Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:06:52 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=2495#comment-48882 Thanks for these notes Julie and bringing us, in an intimate way, along the journey the last few weeks. The raw emotion in your words made me tear up. Thanks for these notes Julie and bringing us, in an intimate way, along the journey the last few weeks. The raw emotion in your words made me tear up.

]]> By: Julie Schwietert http://matadornetwork.com/change/from-the-editor-notes-on-organizing-matadors-haiti-relief-effort/#comment-48873 Julie Schwietert Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:56:16 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=2495#comment-48873 Jared- Thanks for taking the time to share these kind words; I really appreciate them. I happened to finish writing this up after listening to the news this morning, which was pretty depressing, what with worries about the human trafficking of orphaned kids, etc., so I ended this piece on a not so hopeful note. But the truth is that I feel a great sense of hope and possibility, and particularly because of people like you. Please keep us posted about your work; we'd love to feature your stories here. Peace, Julie Jared-

Thanks for taking the time to share these kind words; I really appreciate them.

I happened to finish writing this up after listening to the news this morning, which was pretty depressing, what with worries about the human trafficking of orphaned kids, etc., so I ended this piece on a not so hopeful note.

But the truth is that I feel a great sense of hope and possibility, and particularly because of people like you.

Please keep us posted about your work; we’d love to feature your stories here.

Peace,
Julie

]]> By: Hal Amen http://matadornetwork.com/change/from-the-editor-notes-on-organizing-matadors-haiti-relief-effort/#comment-48876 Hal Amen Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:52:19 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=2495#comment-48876 So meaningful to get this inside look, Julie. Thank you. So meaningful to get this inside look, Julie. Thank you.

]]> By: Jared Krauss http://matadornetwork.com/change/from-the-editor-notes-on-organizing-matadors-haiti-relief-effort/#comment-48872 Jared Krauss Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:07:54 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=2495#comment-48872 Julie, we've spoken, and I empathize. I haven't had to deal with this level of stress, in fact any thing anywhere near it, but I get it. On a more happy note, the Haiti Volunteer Project has offered to take us to Haiti with them over our dates. It will cost about 500 per volunteer, plus the ticket to Haiti, but I think it's worth it, and do-able. One thing, thank you for responding. Even that little response was just another piece of encouragement to me. I was going to send you an email saying thank you, but I want people to know how much I appreciate what you are doing. Also, David, thank you for taking the chance you did on my email to you, and forwarding it to Julie. I'll keep you updated on what our plans exactly are. Julie, this is little consolation for all the time and effort you have put into this, but know that somewhere, someone has benefited from it. That's what is important in this sort of effort, that you know that you are helping people, even if you feel like you're not. With kind regards and immense appreciation, Jared from Iowa Julie, we’ve spoken, and I empathize. I haven’t had to deal with this level of stress, in fact any thing anywhere near it, but I get it.

On a more happy note, the Haiti Volunteer Project has offered to take us to Haiti with them over our dates. It will cost about 500 per volunteer, plus the ticket to Haiti, but I think it’s worth it, and do-able.

One thing, thank you for responding. Even that little response was just another piece of encouragement to me. I was going to send you an email saying thank you, but I want people to know how much I appreciate what you are doing.

Also, David, thank you for taking the chance you did on my email to you, and forwarding it to Julie.

I’ll keep you updated on what our plans exactly are.

Julie, this is little consolation for all the time and effort you have put into this, but know that somewhere, someone has benefited from it. That’s what is important in this sort of effort, that you know that you are helping people, even if you feel like you’re not.

With kind regards and immense appreciation,
Jared from Iowa

]]> By: Julie Schwietert http://matadornetwork.com/change/from-the-editor-notes-on-organizing-matadors-haiti-relief-effort/#comment-48383 Julie Schwietert Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:05:03 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=2495#comment-48383 Kirsten- Thanks for your comment. Matador is actually working with partner organizations on the ground in Haiti, including Partners in Health, and you can fill out an online volunteer form here: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dFF0bEhXNGE2SnZsWjBDbldxZE5kOFE6MA At present, they're prioritizing medically trained volunteers, but other opportunities are likely to open up in the coming weeks and months, and we'll keep providing updates here. Kirsten-

Thanks for your comment. Matador is actually working with partner organizations on the ground in Haiti, including Partners in Health, and you can fill out an online volunteer form here:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dFF0bEhXNGE2SnZsWjBDbldxZE5kOFE6MA

At present, they’re prioritizing medically trained volunteers, but other opportunities are likely to open up in the coming weeks and months, and we’ll keep providing updates here.

]]> By: JoAnna http://matadornetwork.com/change/from-the-editor-notes-on-organizing-matadors-haiti-relief-effort/#comment-48871 JoAnna Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:05:28 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=2495#comment-48871 It will continue to be an uphill battle. Thank you for all your hard work. It will continue to be an uphill battle. Thank you for all your hard work.

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