Moises Castano

Final Reflection Paper

El Buen Pastor is an organization that seeks to offer Latino families hope for a positive

future in Winston-Salem by empowering the youth with skills, guidance, love, and education. Its

a community of change to a better tomorrow for the children of the Latino community who

identify as members of El Buen Pastor, as they are the ones who make up El Buen Pastor.

I was fortunate to learn, volunteer, connect, and mentor fifteen middle school kids that

are part of the El Buen Pastor community, and to befriend Elijah Pone from Author in Action.

The kids and Elijah made a lasting impression on me. COM 339: Practices of Citizenship, taught

me a secret recipe, if executed correctly results in practice of good citizenship, title of the

course speaks for itself. The recipe is: three droplets of evidence, of engagement, of

community partners, of education, and a tablespoon of reflection.

The recipe was developed in the course of twelve weeks via readings, class discussions,

and an openness to learn and be involved. Shall we begin? The first step is to add the first of the

three droplets of evidence. The first droplet introduces Aristotle's concept of citizenship defined

through a logical lens: what is required doesnt mean that it is sufficient. Birthright may be a

requirement to a persons citizenship in society, however it isn't sufficient. He expands this

notion by defining citizenship as an ongoing activity, enshrined with habits and routines that are

akin to a community.

In my case, legally speaking, I am a Colombian citizen but not in practice. I employ my

resources and conduct rituals that serve an American community. Aristotles critique of citizens

as a passive bearer of rights without responsibilities is justified because of the inverse

relationship between citizenship and the inclusiveness of the political system (Boyd, 223). In
class I learned my initial belief of citizenship as connectivity isnt sufficient for me to be

considered a good citizen even though its required. Therefore, birthright may be a requirement

to a persons citizenship in society, but its not sufficient the same way that connectivity isnt

sufficient. Therefore, to involve myself with El Buen Pastor and become an active member in

their community, not once, but multiple times creates the ongoing activity needed for practicing

good citizenship.

The ongoing activity was made possible because of the required element that was needed

in order to practice citizenship - connectivity. El Buen Pastor came to visit our class earlier in the

semester, the opportunity to connect with them presented itself and I took it. I was able to

establish a connection with the kids as I sat with them in one table. I spoke to some in English

and others in Spanish; it was easier for me to connect with them, as I too am Hispanic. I found

similar interest we all had in common to spark simple conversations that can release the

reluctance they would have in speaking with me. My first encounter with the Buen Pastor kids

helped paved the road map to my ongoing activity with them and guide the successful execution

of the project my group members and I did with them on April 27th, 2017 on Sustainability,

that Ill elaborate on when I get to the education ingredient.

The second step is add of Engagement. Engagement is essential for the recipe of

Practices of Citizenship that results in one of the many practices of good citizenship, because

when we engage we help the efforts to drive cultural change and better decision making in a

community such as Winston-Salem. My interactions with the locals of Winston-Salem helped to

navigate my thinking and perception of my role as a student at Wake Forest, but also as an

inhabitant of Winston-Salem. It helped me understand the necessity for Wake Forest students to

exit the Wake bubble and strive to become active members in Winston-Salem.
 As a result, my engagement came from staying informed of the events happening in

Winston to be able to participate in the ones I was interested in. In doing so, I exited the private

sphere that was Wake Forest and entered the public which was Winston-Salem. In regards to El

Buen Pastor, I was engaged with them for two weeks prior to our project of Sustainability, as I

began to learn about them and their lives. I enjoyed getting to know the kids because it forced me

to think about things differently and appreciate the stuff I took for granted when I was younger.

The third step is another droplet of evidence that entails a piece of reading we did on

Daniel Allens book Talking to Strangers it highlights the need for citizens to confront the

nature of their citizenship as in the basic habits of interaction in public spaces (Allen, pg.5). In

my case my basic habit of interaction in public spaces came because of this class. I realized the

increase of involvement I was part of was shocking because of how uninvolved I was in the past.

Therefore, one can argue I was underperforming in my role as a member of Winston-Salem.

Thankfully, Ill graduate having changed that notion as my engagement with El Buen Pastor and

W-S community brought me to equilibrium.

The fourth step in the recipe to create a practice of good citizenship is of community

partners mixed in with engagement for the outcome to be fruitful. The reason why is because in

the course of the semester we connected with two different community partners: El Buen Pastor

and Author in Action; two different missions, but one same goal - to better the lives of the people

involved in the organization and empower them with the tools theyll need to become successful

in the future. Both organizations serve as a form of mentorship and positive influence to its

members, something kids need in todays society. I was lucky enough to interact with both

community partners and extend the connection outside classroom doors. One individual I

became close with was Elijah Pone, a member of Author in Action who has hopes and dreams in
becoming a rapper with his brother. He uses Author and Action as an escape from work and

everyday life. A place he lets his thoughts run free, and gain the skills needed to undergo all odds

that might be against him. I have listened to his music, its good, and it has a nice twist, no

offensive language. He wants to reshape the way people view rap, not as a tool for advocating

violence, as some people claim it to be, but a tool that voices change and awareness. In Elijah's

pursuit he too can be considered to be practicing a form of good citizenship. He might not be

using the same ingredients as me, but we both are pursuing an ongoing activity. A reason the title

of the course is Practices of Citizenship, hes doing one practice as I am doing another.

Elijah believes he has a duty to fulfil and a responsibility to his family and community.

As a result, he sees music as a way to hold himself accountable to both of these aspects by

attempting to influence a group of people that are capable of bringing change that he and his

community seek. When Elijah told me this, I found it to be very interesting in regards to

citizenship. All people have rights and duties, however others have more of a responsibility

because of the influence they have in a community. For example, policy makers have more of a

responsibility because they are the ones who make laws, but those who arent policymakers have

also a responsibility to vocalize and educate, so those laws can get passed. If I compare this to

Elijah's case, he sees his music as a way to influence people to take action on the issues he deems

important by shedding light on them. He told me he would consider himself successful if gets

people to start thinking about the issues. Even if doesnt lead to change, making people aware

allows him to feel fulfilled. I respect and applaud that. Elijahs friendship enhanced my

awareness and appreciation towards myself and surroundings, I am grateful to him for that.
 Okay, I have added so far four ingredients to the recipe that can makes up good

citizenship. However, without adding the fifth ingredient, education, both Plato and Aristotle

will consider my recipe incomplete. I was thinking in skipping the explanation to why they

would consider the recipe incomplete without it, but mother says A recipe without reason is

irrational. Maybe mother never said that, but Socrates reminds us All I know is that I dont

know, therefore, I dont know if mother said that phrase nor do I want to know. Although, rather

than talking about my mother and her crazy sayings, we'll elaborate on Aristotle's view on

education as its the final droplet of evidence anyway. Aristotle believed education should be

mixed with a clear philosophy of life, as in a concern for the ethical and political. Education is a

way to work for what is good or right, as in learning by doing. For example, Anything that we

have to learn to do we learn by the actual doing of it We become just by doing just acts,

temperate by doing temperate ones, brave by doing brave ones. (Aristotle Niconachean Ethics,

Book II, p.91). The same is with citizenship, being a bearer of a passport isnt enough to be a

good citizen, one has to act upon their citizenship the same way we act upon our learning. For

instance, a person who votes can be considered to be a good citizen within the moment,

whereas a person who doesnt cant because as mentioned earlier being a bearer of a passport

isnt sufficient, but then again this is up to interpretation.

The education ingredient is the project of Sustainability my team and I executed at El

Buen Pastor. This is the sixth ingredient because the ingredients before it were needed before

arriving at this point. I mentioned previously by connecting with the kids earlier helped pave the

success of our project on Sustainability because the kids were open to learn and respected us

enough to listen and participate. If we were to have gone to El Buen Pastor without any prior

interaction with them, it would have been a big failure. One can teach, but teaching doesn't result
in the students (El Buen Pastor Kids) to have learned the material taught, if they are not receptive

to learn in the first place. Therefore, with prior interactions the receptiveness factor was added

and our workshop was a great success.

Luis Trinidad, a seventh grader who just came to the United States from Mexico was one

of the kids who was most receptive to learn. After the first activity of learning whats recyclable

and whats not recyclable, we transitioned into an arts and crafts activity with all the recycled

stuff on the table. The goal was to make art with everything recyclable. Luis came up to me and

told me Moises, te voy a ensenar hacer una flor con una lata d'agua, as he grabbed the scissors

and bottle of water and began to cut it up. In less than five minutes turned it into a flower, he

kept true to his promise. At the end of the activity the white less cardboard turned into an array of

recycled art made by a bunch of middle schoolers who were enjoying the process of learning.

Once it was over, we cleaned up and left.

The last and final step to the citizenship recipe is a teaspoon of reflection. Its important

to note, this is the most important ingredient in the entire recipe. The past twelve weeks can best

be describe as a journey of knowledge, action, and awareness. The knowledge aspect is learning

about citizenship. The action part is my experiences with practicing citizenship. And, the

awareness part is recognizing my own view on citizenship in the way it altered from week 1 to

week 12. I learned there is not a right form to practice citizenship, they are multiple ways and it

differs depending on the individual and culture. However, in all practices of citizenship a form of

action needs to be taken because citizenship is something we chose to maintain.

I agree with Aristotle that what is required doesnt mean that is sufficient. Yes, a person

can be a citizen of a place, but its not enough to be a citizen of a place if the citizenship is not

accounted for. A person has a duty and responsibility towards their citizenship, because their
citizenship provides them rights. A person who does not fulfill these duties and responsibilities

then fails to maintain their citizenship and become only a bearer of a passport. Citizenship is

something we must not take for granted and acknowledge there is not one correct form. I am a

citizen of the United States, and a bearer of a Colombian passport. In the future, if God permits I

marry an Italian woman, then Ill become a citizen of the U.S and Italy as I will employ my

resources and conduct rituals that serve both the United States and Italy.

My experiences inside and outside the classroom were impactful towards my wellbeing

and development as a person, but also a citizen of the United States. I was able to use the

beginning notion to my belief of citizenship to connect with our community partners: Author in

Action and El Buen Pastor that helped me expand my understanding of citizenship as more than

connectivity, but acting to enable positive change, as I have done by becoming a mentor to the

fifteenth Buen Pastor kids and supporting the mission of empowering them and being a positive

influence in their lives. From the fifteen kids, eight of them, Kael Trinidad, Luis Alonzo, Edgar

Baos, Edwin Jimenez, Jaime Mendez, Jose M Alonzo, Pedro Alvarez, and , Luis Trinidad,

showed me the beauty about service and engagement. The pros of connecting with these kids

was the ability to bring simple joy and become a positive figure in their life. In the six times I

hung out with my squad from Buen Pastor, I was able to share stories, give them insights, and

play with them. It was beautiful and I hated it. I hated it because the con is forming a strong

connection with someone and then not maintaining it. For instance, volunteering with the kids,

having them like you and connect with you, but then never returning again. For kids thats rough,

especially because they are young and see things more differently. Imagine a person enters your

life, you connect with them, eat with them, play with them, and learn from them. Then, one day
you find out they wont come back. That hurts, and in the long run it does more harm than good.

Therefore, sometimes its best not to form a strong connection, if you know you wont be able to

maintain it. However, luckily its not my case as I am going to be staying in Winston and can

continue the the established connection I have with El Buen Pastor. I didnt imagine I would

become part of the El Buen Pastor community, but I did. I appreciate Odette for her dedication,

and willingness to guide these kids to a better life and keep them off the streets as she told me. I

plan on collaborating with her, and I am excited for the developments that are to come over the

summer as she mentioned.

Lastly, the class made me aware of my citizenship and what it meant. Awareness is

essential because it enables understanding and helps lead change. By being aware of my actions I

am able to understand the impact they have on me, others, and my community. When I am able

to understand that impact then I can see the best course of action to take to help my community

as a whole. When I graduate, I choose to take the path of entrepreneurship because I believe I

will innovate something great that can help my community. If I were to settle for a job that I am

not passionate about I would be doing not only a disfavor to myself, my community, but also my

citizenship. If one believes to have a duty and responsibility then one must follow it, until proven

otherwise. My duty is to the field of innovation and business.

Okay, folks, the recipe of citizenship is complete. I want to remind all this is one form of

citizenship, and they are many other practices of good citizenship, let's review. The recipe I

learned from COM 339: Practices of Citizenship, to achieve the final result of good citizenship

are: three droplets of evidence, of engagement, of community partners, of education, and

a tablespoon of reflection. Thank you Professor Von Burg for the recipe.