The Musical Genius Of A Learners' Ally

2006-03-31T21:10:00.000-08:00

Tricia Holloway Treats

Everyone As An Individual,

Is One Of The

Best Of Co-Workers,

And Is A Great

Master App Rapper

By Michael Chacko Daniels
Editor & Publisher, New River Free Press International

When Tricia Holloway’s former co-workers in Oakland and Berkeley speak about her, they use words such as ⎯ mature, calm, poised, patient, efficient, organized, friendly to strangers, treats everyone equally, and dedicated.

Over the three years that she worked at the former Jobs for Homeless Consortium ⎯ from April 2001 to July 2004, I found her to be all of the above and more [Please check Box One below, for one of the mores ⎯ the writer of The Master App Rap.] as she coordinated and delivered literacy services at the Consortium’s Learning Center in downtown Oakland, always exceeding the agency’s target for the number of homeless clients seen and served.

She treats everyone as an individual,

says Arlene Talbot

As someone who is very committed to the notion that those of us in the Workforce Development field should maintain high standards for quality work and excellent customer service, I appreciate Trish for being a wonderful example.

Even before I started working closely with Trish as a co-facilitator for Fast-Track Training Academy trainings, I got to know her as a highly dedicated and empathetic colleague. Her natural and technical skills, along with her ability to be efficient and organized, allowed her to help people to overcome obstacles and be competitive in their job search.

She never lost sight of the person as an individual, and her gentle nature allowed clients to feel at ease and be comfortable in discussing their issues and conveying their needs. Trish has high standards for quality work, which she maintained regardless of the background of those she assisted.

Then as we began to work together as co-facilitators training workforce development professionals, she brought with her that same commitment to excellence. She came on board with enthusiasm and had an excellent focus on our responsibility to provide material in a manner that was clear and accessible to all.

Her calm and poised disposition was a perfect counter-point to my more dramatic approach, and we were well-received as a team. This also worked well when we conducted our “playlets”, which theatrically conveyed our material. Luckily, we didn’t bring tears to our audience, but we did bring laughter.

And I’ll never forget the time when we had a two-day workshop in Santa Cruz ⎯ while visiting the Boardwalk she took me up on my (somewhat joking) suggestion to ride the roller coaster . . . Big Fun!

I appreciate Trish for being a beautiful example of making one's way in the world with composure, high standards for excellent work, and a deeply-felt spiritual nature . . . all of which have an impact on those she comes into contact with, and a positive influence on those she serves.

⎯ Arlene Talbot, former director
Jobs for Homeless Consortium’s Fast-Track Training Academy

One of the best co-workers I ever had,

says Hong Hunt

I surely appreciate her a lot. She is the one of the best co-workers I ever had who would never bad-mouth anyone. She was always well-mannered and handled all situations properly. Most of all, she had love for everyone around her. Trish and I share the same belief ‘serve one another with love.’

. . . Trish is the type of person whom you can open your heart and talk to when you need advice. She is mature, capable of understanding, and has plenty of good advice to share. When you talk to her, you don’t ever have to worry about sharing personal issues that you don’t want to be spread out as gossip later on. She has the perfect manner in dealing with people. I just dream about being like her in that sense.

She is friendly to strangers just as to friends. She treated everyone equally ⎯ you won’t feel alienated when you are around her.

I relate her maturity and her good manner to the fact that she is a good Christian. It’s the Christ-like spirit within her that’s bringing out all the good fruits that we see. She does everything with loving kindness as evidenced by all the birthday parties she hosted for each individual staff she worked with.

⎯ Hong Hunt, a former team leader
Jobs for Homeless Consortium
You can read Career Visions’ 2005 interview with Hong Hunt @ http://indiawritingstation.squarespace.com/career-visions-hong-hunt/

A Rap for Learning

A Rap for Getting a Job

The Master App Rap written by Tricia Holloway got widespread play at the Jobs for Homeless Consortium ⎯ among staff and clients, and, through the dissemination work of the Consortium’s Fast-Track Training Academy, among Bay Area service providers.

It fascinated youth service providers from across the country, who attended a Department of Labor-sponsored national training session.

The Rap was part of the Consortium’s unique and successful fast-track learning techniques and Learning in Context adult education.

These were designed specifically for individuals who faced multiple barriers to becoming gainfully employed.

The Master App Rap is, I believe, one of Trish Holloway’s lasting contributions to the homeless community and to the workforce development field [See Footnote below on Memories of a Magical Moment in Jobs for Homeless Consortium's History at the end of the interview].

⎯Michael Chacko Daniels, former Consortium executive director

The Master App Rap

By Tricia Holloway

Introduction

I don't mean to cause a sensation. I'm here to rap about the Master Application.
There are four parts I'd like to highlight, so listen up with all of your might.
Section one is for identification. Another highlights your education.
There's a place for your work history. References no longer a mystery.
I guess you'd say this is my introduction. By no means is this a big production.
You want to have a draft application, that's complete, correct, and yields an invitation
for the job . . . for the job . . . an interview for the job . . . for the job.

Personal Information

Focus your attention on personal information.
Knowing that for some this is a cause for great frustration.
Perhaps the client is without a home, this section pushes buttons that say, I'm alone."
Asking for an address and a phone number, defensive response no longer a wonder.
Keep in mind agencies exist, voice mail and address is there if they persist.
Jobs Consortium is there to assist, and if they don't have it, they'll get you the list.
This is my conclusion for personal information.
I hope you learned a lot from this lyrical creation.

Education/Training

Now we're moving right along. I'll continue with my informative song.
I'd like to highlight "training/education"; once again you may be met with (some) frustration.
It seems simple ⎯ school's name, state, and city.
The reality of life may not be so pretty.
Perhaps reminded of choices once made, wounds reopened ⎯ dropping out, poor grades.
Proceed with caution and compassionate care, the goal is not to judge,
But help the client be prepared.

References

Let's review the section marked "References"; keep in mind employer preferences:
Co-workers, friends, and my colleagues; not to list supervisors or family.
(It's) a good idea to give them your resume, to form a list of positive things to say.
Your situation will be better not worst,
But, always, please, be sure to ask them first.

Work History

A list of jobs from recent to past, the work is valid even if no cash was passed.
Caution when using "self employed" to fill a gap, back-up with references for an incredible "app".
Verify dates, title, and salary, keep these in mind while constructing "Work History".

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this instructional rap, reviewing four components of the Master App:
"Information", "Education", "Refs", and "History". This document 's no longer a mystery.
Keep it neat, complete, and accurate, you will discover your clients will benefit. PEACE.

A Tricia Holloway Data Bank

High School
Compton High
Compton, CA

Colleges
Elementary Teaching Credential
Mills College
Oakland, CA

B. A. Psychology
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, CA

Teachers that influenced Tricia Holloway the most
Elementary: Ms Riggins-Williams
"She taught me the importance of discipline,
excellence, and personal responsibility."

Junior High: Ms Judith Nott
"She made learning fun and I felt loved,
not only as a student, but as a person."

Books that influenced Tricia Holloway
The Bible

Favorite Philosopher
King Solomon

Favorite Saying
Something I say to myself when I'm trapped by perfectionism:
"It doesn't have to be perfect, just done."

Favorite Musician(s)
If I had to narrow it down to one, I'd say:
Kenny Loggins
Otherwise, I'd say there are too many to mention.

Q________________________

New River Free Press International

Tell us about yourself.

What makes you who you are?
_________________________

TH I have many roles. I'm a wife, a stepmother, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, etc. I'm a hard worker and an active participant in my community and a faithful member of my church.

Largely, I am who I am due to the influence of my relationship with God, my husband, my parents, family, friends and teachers. My faith continues to define me as a person with ever expanding roles and responsibilities. I am definitely, as my husband would say, "a work in progress."

I'm 40 years old and I'm married to a wonderful man, Don. We live in San Francisco, and we are expecting our first child. I currently work for a nonprofit organization that serves veterans in the Bay Area. I enjoy the work that I do. It makes me feel good to see someone who wants to work, get a job, and begin to rebuild his/her life.

I would say that I am hardworking, and sometimes I can get really intense and focused on a task and doing it efficiently and in an organized manner. I can neglect relationships and hurt others and forget that life is also to be enjoyed. So I'm very grateful that I have people like my husband and friends that teach me to lighten up and have a good time.

Q________________________

New River Free Press International

What was your vision of

society that brought you to

the work you do?
_________________________

TH I believe that God put me on this earth for a reason, and that it is not all about me and what I want. I believe that he will continue to reveal why I'm here, and for now, I do what I can to make this world a better place through everything that I do. I carry this attitude with me regardless of whether I'm on the job working with a colleague or a participant in our program, or I'm preparing a meal at home for my family. The key for me is to see my role in the larger context of God's plan (which isn't always clear).

Q________________________

New River Free Press International

What do you think we

should remember as we remake

the world through the work we do?
_________________________

TH It's important for me to remember that what I do is not about me. I get to use the gifts that God has given me to help someone else. It is great when someone comes back and says thank you, but that is not the reason why I do what I do. I also have to remind myself that I am making a difference even when it may not seem like I am.

Lastly, I often ask myself or pose the question (once again, regardless of the setting), "Are we building thoughtfully or are we simply reacting to the problem immediately before us?" The challenge is to build "it" (world, family, etc) in such a way that it transcends our lifetime.

Q________________________

New River Free Press International

Has your vision changed

as you have participated

in the remaking of the world?
_________________________

TH My vision is constantly being defined and refined. I continue to ask God to help me to see more clearly his purposes for me.

Q________________________

New River Free Press International

What challenges do you

perceive in achieving your

vision of society? What needs to be

done to overcome these challenges?
_________________________

TH There can be a pull to just go through the motions of living but not acknowledging hurt, disappointment, fear, or doubt that the vision will be achieved. There have been times that I have simply felt like I was existing, going through the motions of living, but being hardened at a heart level by negative circumstances.

I am learning to be honest and to deal with whatever comes my way, knowing that God can bring good out of the most challenging of situations.

Q________________________

New River Free Press International

What personal lessons

have you learned from the

devastation caused by the

Asian Tsunami and the

post-Hurricane Katrina tragedies?
_________________________

TH I remember being numbed by the staggering numbers of the dead with the Asian Tsunami. I couldn't conceive it. And although I was here, I was moved to do what I could by giving monetarily, as well as praying for those affected.

My initial reaction was similar with the tragedies in New Orleans. I found myself crying a lot, and there was a greater sense of helplessness, but those feelings were soon replaced with anger and outrage. I was angered by the lack of humility and responsiveness of the United States government. I also couldn't understand the violent reaction of some in the Superdome.

I learned that life is fragile, and I need to do what I can to help. It takes each one of us to make a difference, and I can make a contribution. In cases mentioned above, it was to pray and send financial aid.

I must also acknowledge my emotions because it is important to not allow my heart to become immune or hardened to the pain of others.
_____________________________________

Memories of a Magical Moment in

Jobs for Homeless Consortium's History

By Michael Chacko Daniels

Ms Holloway’s dedication and commitment to opening up a world of opportunities for homeless persons took a special turn in 2003 ⎯ a magical moment for me ⎯ when her inherent genius converged with knowledge, training, inspiration, and her willingness to take on a personal and intellectual risk to produce a giant leap for the Jobs for Homeless Consortium in training homeless clients in how to apply for jobs.

That year, after 15 years of pioneering methods of addressing the employment and training needs of thousands of homeless persons ⎯ over 15,000 from 1988 onwards ⎯ with federal, local, and private funding and donations, the Consortium had reached a critical stage.

It is true that we had developed an integrated approach to address the challenges, anxieties, and stresses homeless persons face.

And, it is true we recognized that in the fast-paced information age, if significant numbers of our clients were not to be permanently left behind as orphans of the age, our workforce development and digital divide programs had to incorporate knowledge of the barriers to learning and how people learn best.

And, it is true that simple exercises were performed to free our clients of internalized oppressions in order to help them take possession of their skills and their inherent intelligence. This focus started with the Consortium’s job preparation workshop and continued in its one-on-one counseling, job clubs, and in-house trainings in Carpentry, Office Skills, Janitorial, and Environmental Remediation.

And, it is true that invariably, those who went through the various sessions expressed how good they felt about themselves through these exercises.

And, it is true that with the help of Yana Parker (the late, world-renowned Resume Guru ⎯ author of Damn Good Resume Guide, The Resume Catalog: 200 Damn Good Examples, Resume Pro: The Professional Guide, Ready-to-Go Resumes, who adopted the Consortium) and her mentees (Beth Smith, Blake Walters, and Arlene Talbot) we had made great strides in producing resumes for the East Bay’s homeless community.

Yet, as Arlene Talbot never failed to remind us, our clients were limited by not having all the information at their fingertips when employers asked them to fill out job applications.

So, some of us, including Trish Holloway and Arlene Talbot, who were focused on the problem, met in the heart of downtown Oakland at 14th and Broadway, not too far from the sturdy oak tree that inspired the City of Oakland’s trademark logo.

Ms Talbot presented the case in favor of getting all our clients to work on producing a Master Application ⎯ call it Sample or Draft Application, if you will ⎯ which would include all the information that employers want, including what would be included in a resume.

The contra view was: Service providers and clients were being informed about the importance of doing a Master Application, but they weren’t getting it. How can we get clients to focus on doing a Master Application in the midst of all their deeply-felt urgency to get a job and work themselves off living on the streets? How can we get service providers ⎯ who inevitably internalized the client’s urgency ⎯ to focus on this important task?

I thought: What a marvelous opportunity for finding a way to speed up everyone’s learning on this subject and to get across the importance of multiple intelligence and learning styles!

Remembering Educator Peter Kline’s comment to us that musical intelligence and musical learning styles were inadequately addressed in adult learning, I asked the group, “Who would like to activate our musical intelligences and that of our clients by putting to music the importance of developing a master application? Maybe, even come up with a rap on it.”

“A Master App Rap?”

“Yes, a Master App Rap?”

I looked around the room.

Talbot said she loved rap and she’d be glad to provide content from her years of workforce development knowledge to anyone who would write the rap.

I looked around.

The verbal and nonverbal response was: Nope. Nope.

When you put out a call, the secret is to let it sink in, I told myself. Not to hurry. Not to worry. Let it sink in. At some point, it will spark a positive response. If not now, later.

I didn’t have to wait too long.

I saw Trish Holloway’s eyes lighting up, head nodding.

“I’ll do it,” she said.

Not long afterwards she performed it for us and we were, as Ms Talbot points out ⎯ “thrilled.”

About the Editor: San Franciscan Michael Chacko Daniels, formerly a community worker and clown, and now a re-emerging writer and editor, grew up in Bombay. Books: Writers Workshop, Kolkata: Split in Two (1971, 2004), Anything Out of Place Is Dirt (1971, 2004), and That Damn Romantic Fool (1972, 2005). Read all about his Indian and American journey at http://indiawritingstation.com/community-service-calls/. He helped found the Jobs for Homeless Consortium in 1988 and was its executive director from 1995 till its closing in 2004.

All views expressed in the interview are those of the interviewee

and not those of the editor or this website.

This Interview Is Also Published On

http://indiawritingstation.squarespace.com/holloway-raps-for-learners/

NOTE: THIS INTERVIEW FORMAT IS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF

MICHAEL CHACKO DANIELS AND HIS ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS:

NEW RIVER FREE PRESS INTERNATIONAL: US-INDIA WRITING STATION AND CAREER VISIONS FOR A SMALL PLANET.

AGREEMENT: NEW RIVER FREE PRESS INTERNATIONAL/US-INDIA WRITING STATION/AND/OR CAREER VISIONS FOR A SMALL PLANET WILL RETAIN THE FOLLOWING RIGHTS: ALL RIGHTS TO PUBLISH THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW, OR PART(S) OF IT, IN ELECTRONIC, AUDIO, VIDEO, AND/OR PRINT VERSIONS; ALL RIGHTS TO RETAIN IT IN ITS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ARCHIVES INDEFINITELY; AND ALL RIGHTS TO INCLUDE IT IN FUTURE PRINTED COMPENDIUMS AND BOOKS. THE EDITOR RETAINS THE EDITOR'S PREROGATIVE TO EDIT THE INTERVIEW FOR GRAMMAR, STYLE, CONTENT, AND LENGTH. THE INTERVIEWEE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THAT HE/SHE WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY PAYMENT, EITHER NOW, OR IN THE FUTURE, FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS INTERVIEW. BY SUBMITTING WRITTEN AND/OR ORAL RESPONSES TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS BY ANY METHOD, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ELECTRONIC, TELEPHONIC, MANUAL, AND/OR POSTAL METHODS, THE INTERVIEWEE AGREES TO THE ABOVE CONDITIONS AND STIPULATIONS. AFTER FIRST PUBLICATION BY NEW RIVER FREE PRESS INTERNATIONAL/ US-INDIA WRITING STATION/AND/OR CAREER VISIONS FOR A SMALL PLANET, THE INTERVIEWEE RETAINS THE RIGHT TO USE HER/HIS IDEAS AND WORDS THAT ARE CONTAINED IN HER/HIS RESPONSES IN THE INTERVIEW FOR ANY PURPOSE WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS. THE FORMAT OF THE INTERVIEW AND THE QUESTIONS WILL REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF THE EDITOR AND PUBLISHER.

-END-

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Have you visited the rest of

Michael Chacko Daniels' website,

US-India Writing Station?

If not, please do and be sure to

bookmark this site. If you wish to

refer others to it, here's the URL:

http://indiawritingstation.squarespace.com/

Feel free to visit, and explore: Fiction, Poetry, Community Service, Homeless, Commentary, & Discussion On The Road To Remaking The World We Live In . . . San Francisco, Grand Rapids, Evanston, Bombay, Kerala, Oakland, Berkeley, Monterey, Bangalore, Calcutta . . .

Feel free to share the above link with others.

____________________________

Have you read Michael Chacko Daniels' flash fiction story,
Sing an Indian Name, on Denver Syntax's free online magazine?
If not, here's the URL:

http://www.denversyntax.com/issue5/fiction/daniels/indian.html

Feel free to share the above link with others.

______ * ______

Have you read Michael Chacko Daniels'
short story set in Bombay in 1958:
Three Dozen Mangoes for Mr. Diefenbaker
on Drexel University's online magazine, Dragonfire?
If not, here's the URL:

http://www.dfire.org/x2089.xml

Daniels is donating to university and public libraries, the second revised editions of his three books--for inclusion in their uncensored permanent India, Asia, or World Literature collections. First preference will be given to libraries that currently have the first edition of these books. Ask your local library to request Anything Out of Place Is Dirt (Novel), That Damn Romantic Fool (Novel), and Split in Two (Poetry) today from: Michael Chacko Daniels, Post Office Box 641724, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA.

General information about
Michael Chacko Daniels'
university library book donation program

Don't you love stories of people's challenges and struggles?

San Franciscan Michael Chacko Daniels likes writing them.

Professor A. N. Dwivedi describes Daniels as a “major author” in PAPERS ON INDIAN WRITING IN ENGLISH (Atlantic Publishers, 2002). “On the count of language,” he says, “I have an unfeigned admiration for the novelist.”

Having grown up in a book-starved community in India, Daniels is now donating his published literary works to university libraries in the United States and India:

Novels:
Anything Out of Place Is Dirt (1971, 2004)
That Damn Romantic Fool (1972, 2005)

Poetry:
Split in Two (1971, 2004).

These are limited editions, so please act fast.

All three books are available, free of cost, to university libraries in the United States and in India.

For students doing research on Indian Writing in English in the 1960s and 1970s, they would be considered valuable additions to a library's collection of original works.

Daniels’ novels explore the close, many-layered relationships between young men in India at a time of urban isolation; unfulfilled romantic yearnings within a conservative society; religious, linguistic, economic, and racial divisions; intense argumentation over contending paths to national development--peaceful versus revolutionary; and of mental breakdown and suicide.

About his book of poems, Split in Two, Oakland's Poet and Oral Historian Ralph Dranow says: "This handcrafted, hardback edition, with its handsome cover, looks put together with exquisite care. And so do the poems. Daniels is a deft artisan of language, as well as a writer of open heart and keen intelligence. He is equally at home with family portraits, philosophical musings, love poems, wry self-reflection, and satire."

Daniels studied at Bombay’s St. Michael’s High School, Wilson College, and University (M.A., Economics), before venturing to Northwestern University in the U. S. (M.S., Journalism).

His thirty years in community service work in the United States include five as a Volunteer In Service To America (VISTA) and 16 at Berkeley’s Center for Independent Living. His major focus has been community development, homeless training and employment, and accessible housing for persons with disabilities. He helped establish Jobs for Homeless Consortium in Berkeley in 1988 and was its executive director from 1995 to October 2004.

He was also the editor and publisher of New River Free Press of Grand Rapids, Michigan (1974-1977); editor and designer of The Architecture of Independence series (Ramps are beautiful, 1982; Going where you wheel, 1986; and Making your home accessible, 1988); and executive editor of Fast-Track Training & Employment: Opening a World of Possibilities for Your Clients (Jobs for Homeless Consortium, 2000).

In June 2005, his flash fiction, Sing an Indian Name, was published on Denver Syntax free online magazine @

http://denversyntax.com/issue5/fiction/daniels/indian.html

In February 2006, Dragonfire, Drexel University's online magazine, published his Three Dozen Mangoes for Mr. Diefenbaker, a story set in Bombay in 1958 @

http://www.dfire.org/x2089.xml

Daniels' website URL is:

http://indiawritingstation.com/

Daniels is donating to university libraries, the second revised editions of his three published works--for inclusion in their uncensored permanent India, Asia, or World Literature collections.

In the United States, ask your university or local library to request the books today from:

Michael Chacko Daniels
Post Office Box 641724
San Francisco, CA 94109

In India, ask your university library to request the books today from:

P. Lal, Writers Workshop
162/92 Lake Gardens,
Calcutta 700045, India

These are limited editions, so you are urged to put in your request as soon as possible.