As everyone in the group prepares for the 4th week of their placement, nearly everybody is having the same thoughts about their community partners; we are all finally realizing our purpose here in Seattle. We all knew in the summer leading up to the program that we would be coming here to work with our community partners and do our best to make a difference. However, many of us didn’t know what we’d be doing, and the change we were hoping to make seemed very abstract. Now though, after becoming oriented with our community partners, identifying their goals, and helping them in their mission, we can all see how we, as Duke students, are going to make an impact.
My moment occurred this past week when I finally realized the magnitude of the work my community partner does. Through my organization, the Washington Environmental Council, I am helping organize public forums and hearings on issues surrounding oil transport in Washington. One of the most profound things that I’ve learned through my organization is the pure power of these hearings. Now I know this comment may sound a bit silly at first, as the purpose of public hearings are to facilitate change. However, as a generally unaware third party, I had always viewed hearings as something that were never relevant to my life, and something that took a special type of person to attend. As I’ve worked with my community partner though, I’ve found out just how wrong I was. Through my work, I’ve really begun to see how important and influential these hearings are and I’ve realized that these hearings really do serve as direct access to the government. Furthermore, I’ve realized that organizations like the WEC are mostly responsible for the momentum behind many issues, and subsequently, the change that happens.
One aspect of my project that I’ve found the most surprising is the amount of organization that goes into making events like these happen. From the outside, I’ve always assumed that organizations like the WEC simply sent emails to their list and crossed their fingers that people would show up. What I’ve realized though, is that there is much more work that goes into these events than I previously thought. All of this is exemplified through the meetings I’ve attended, the letters I’ve drafted, the phone calls I’ve made, and even the large oil tanker Hayley and I have built out of tape and cardboard. All of this, in an effort to educate people about potential impacts that a second dock at the largest oil refinery in Washington can have on their everyday lives, and to have them make those concerns known through a series of public hearings facilitated by the Army Corps Of Engineers.
Over the next few weeks I will get the opportunity to attend these hearings and forums that I’m helping plan. I have a feeling that these will end up being highlights of my time here in Seattle, as not everyone has the opportunity to really see their work come to life. Most of all though, I’m looking forward to simply being a part of movement that has the potential to change the face of oil transport in Washington, both now and in the years to come.
Quinn Hosler
Duke Student '16
My moment occurred this past week when I finally realized the magnitude of the work my community partner does. Through my organization, the Washington Environmental Council, I am helping organize public forums and hearings on issues surrounding oil transport in Washington. One of the most profound things that I’ve learned through my organization is the pure power of these hearings. Now I know this comment may sound a bit silly at first, as the purpose of public hearings are to facilitate change. However, as a generally unaware third party, I had always viewed hearings as something that were never relevant to my life, and something that took a special type of person to attend. As I’ve worked with my community partner though, I’ve found out just how wrong I was. Through my work, I’ve really begun to see how important and influential these hearings are and I’ve realized that these hearings really do serve as direct access to the government. Furthermore, I’ve realized that organizations like the WEC are mostly responsible for the momentum behind many issues, and subsequently, the change that happens.
One aspect of my project that I’ve found the most surprising is the amount of organization that goes into making events like these happen. From the outside, I’ve always assumed that organizations like the WEC simply sent emails to their list and crossed their fingers that people would show up. What I’ve realized though, is that there is much more work that goes into these events than I previously thought. All of this is exemplified through the meetings I’ve attended, the letters I’ve drafted, the phone calls I’ve made, and even the large oil tanker Hayley and I have built out of tape and cardboard. All of this, in an effort to educate people about potential impacts that a second dock at the largest oil refinery in Washington can have on their everyday lives, and to have them make those concerns known through a series of public hearings facilitated by the Army Corps Of Engineers.
Over the next few weeks I will get the opportunity to attend these hearings and forums that I’m helping plan. I have a feeling that these will end up being highlights of my time here in Seattle, as not everyone has the opportunity to really see their work come to life. Most of all though, I’m looking forward to simply being a part of movement that has the potential to change the face of oil transport in Washington, both now and in the years to come.
Quinn Hosler
Duke Student '16