Parading, parenting, and participation

Mardi Gras 2007

Instead of parading today, which is what any reasonable person would be doing, I'm feeling a bit down in the dumps since I have to be at work. I need glitter and king cake.

Instead, I'm at the office. Wait, you say, isn't it spring break? Yes my friends, but since I'm now in the land of professional studentism spring break just means time to catchup on all the work stuff I can't get to in a normal week including grading three weeks worth of papers. Chuck laughs at me when I complain about the piddly amount of grading I do.

So today I'm preparing for a series of participatory evaluation workshops for the project I work on. Since I have time this week (See: Spring Break), we've scheduled 5 workshops with our community partners. After a series of meltdowns this morning with Mr. J involving markers and shoes, I realized that many of the lessons of participatory research are basically the same as my parenting philosophy:

• Respect the process
• Meet people where they are instead of where you want them to be
• Acknowledge that you cannot instill a desire for change or action from the outside
• Knowledge comes in many forms - classroom and experiential
• Realize that perfect is not possible or desirable
• Long term commitment is the only way to make improvement
• Granola bars can restore goodwill and
• When all else fails make a joke

Also, patience. And more cake. Happy Mardi Gras!