SAINTS LIKE BILL * A LITTLE SILLINESS * Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter * Vol. 11 * June 15, 2010

VOICES OF 

PROPHETS

WHEN Patricia Hill Collins writes about the "outsider within," I think she is describing the attributes of people we might call saints or prophets. She describes a person who is "inside" an organization, but who can still speak as an "outsider."

 

In her original context, she was writing about "outsiders" whose voices have not been heard inside many institutions in our society. But I think her idea has a much broader application. I think the "outsider within" can be a good metaphor for social work.

 

Isn't a social worker most true to her profession when she takes the voices she hears in various places and carries them tot he larger institutions in a community. Isn't an essential task of a social worker to amplify the voices of those who have not been heard or who have been forgotten.

 

It's not easy to do this, of course. In fact, it's really, really hard.

 

First, one has to listen. That's not easy in a society which places such a strong value on talking.

 

Second, one has to carry the messages of outsiders to insiders -- those inside political halls and corporate walls. These messages may not be well-received, in part because they remind insiders of the advantages they have -- more money, more power, more access.

 

IT'S NOT enough to just deliver the message, The "outsider within" needs to go further -- further to search for common ground, to build bridges between outsiders and insiders.

 

This is difficult work. You have to step far outside yourself to do this, reaching and stretching into places you haven't been.

 

When we see people doing these things, it's an inspiration. We applaud both their ability to speak out and their ability to reach across barriers which divide us by race or income or nationality. We often call such individuals saints or prophets.

 

Bill Sackter was one of those people, one of those saints. The task of the original Bill's Coffeeshop (and its now many spin offs) is to lift up the story of this man who inspired many and to pass it along to others. We enrich ourselves and others when we tell the Bill story, reinvigorating our work in "abilities awareness" and inspiring others to do the same. The Bill story is also a reminder to look for other "saints" around us. More about that another time.

 

TIS THE SEASON FOR

THE COTTONWOODS
It's mid-June and the cottonwoods are blooming. All over the Midwest the past few weeks you could see the white puffs drifting from these trees. I've been traveling and have seen them in South Dakota, in Minnesota and all over Iowa. The appearance of these white fuzzy puffs is one of the reassuring signs from Mother Nature each year. They come out just as the season changes from spring to summer. Oh, and the fireflies are back, too.

 

RECOMMEND US TO

YOUR FRIENDS

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JUST A LITTLE

SILLINESS

 

We were sitting around the other night and sharing bumper stickers (and ideas for bumper stickers). Here are some of the best. Your contributions are invited for a future issue:

 

Rome wasn't sacked in a day

 

Free the Fortune 500

 

Get the US out of North America

 

No matter who you vote for, the government always gets in

 

Where too much is never enough

 

Make every occasion a time for revolution

 

___________________________

 

Wild Bill's Coffeeshop is a project of the School of Social Work at the University of Iowa. It has been a part of campus life in Iowa City for over 35 years. Located in North Hall, the coffeeshop is open weekdays from 8 am.

 

Uptown Bill's Small Mall is the cross town cousin of the original coffeeshop. Located at 401 S. Gilbert and other locations, it includes a coffeeshop, bookstore, performance venue and other enterprises. Uptown Bill's is open seven days a week from 8 am. For more information, call (319) 339-0401.

 

Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter is a virtual extension of the coffeeshop and Small Mall. Published since 2000, it is written by Tom Gilsenan, a former manager of the original Bill's. Tom recently returned to Iowa City and will become the director of Uptown Bill's next month. You can write to him at: tomgilsenan@gmail.com. Check Facebook for the Friends of Bill's Coffeeshop and Uptown Bill's Small Mall pages.

--
New address in June:
210 S. Clinton St. No. 402
Iowa City, IA 52240