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Adversarialism and Mutuality

California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Created: April 4, 2001
Latest update: April 4, 2001
 E-Mailjeannecurran@habermas.org

Mutuality in Praxis: An Example

On Tuesday, April 3, 2001, Lisa Jean Stevens wrote:

jeanne:

I am assuming you will not get to read this before class tomorrow....but I have been thinking about something for days. I have had to reread much of both texts, the second time so much more satisfying.

Anyway, the point is that I have a Juvenile Deliquency class here on campus. we had a guest speaker from the Boys and Girls Club of America. He was charming and excited and intertesting. What strikes me now and as I look over my notes from his visit, is that his favorite "buzz" word was "collaboration" and he liked to say "it's all about partnership". As I was rereading Fellman, I was excited to think of an example of mutuality (I think) that is working. If the young man, Salvadore LeGunnis, from the Hollywood Boys and Girls Club is touting true information, it is as mutualistic as anything I have heard of in the neighborhood.

Sal talked about how to prevent gangs. They have a "motto" called B.U.I.C., and it stands for Belonging, Usefulness, Influence and Competence. He claimed that this is the goal of the Boys and Girls Club, to build these characteristics in kids, especially underprivileged kids who are likely to turn to gangs for similar validation. The information that he gave about gangs and why they exist, seemed rather Marxist to me. He claimed that youths (especially underpriviledged) feel that the system uses them and works against them. In a gang they can unite in force and have some power over their destination (or so they think).

The one point that made me feel warm and fuzzy, is that this club offers all kinds of programs and does not answer to the government for funding. They are dependent on contributions from private institutions, but they are able to charge only $20 per year and will waive that if they need. They offer day care, art (including ballet, acting, dancing, painting, mosiacs....and more), reading programs, sports programs, confidence building programs. He claims their core areas are to help kids learn about character and leadership, education and career, Keystone club (one child helping another, i.e older advsing the younger), health and life skills, sports, fitness and recreation . . .

He clamed over and over this program is possible due to collaboration, the give and take of the community . . .

anyway, it touched me and seemed so positive, as does Fellman most of the time.

cya in class....lisa jean stevens

On Wednesday, April 4, 2001, jeanne responded:

Lisa,

Sorry I didn't have a chance to respond on Tuesday before school. So much to keep up with!

I was excited to see you transferring your learning across classes. That suggests that you are making this material your own. Great that you took the time to summarize the speaker's thoughts and identify him well enough that the rest of us could pursue his interests if we needed to.

Good also that you noted "buzzwords." That can really help you to remember and/or to organize your notes.