emme's old kentucky home: Sidewalk U New York

On Friday we went to GiGi's Playhouse in Harlem. GiGi's Playhouse is a national organization that provides services to person and families with Down Syndrome. First the students were given a presentation which reiterated what they had been hearing all week about views of disability - medical model vs social model. After a week of awareness and education, they were well ready for the advocacy project Benny had for them. Most of the group took fliers out into the community to ask merchants to hang up and to raise awareness of GiGi's Playhouse and Down Syndrome. Students reported positive responses and great conversations with people in the community. Benny was pleased to hear who had been willing to hang up fliers. After, some of us went to shop in one of the places that took a flier and then to eat at a cafe that took a flier: a win-win all around. One of the students then went with me to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the evening ended with the whole class having a classic Italian dinner together at Zagara Wine Bar and Ristorante where we treated like family. Wonderful people and wonderful food. Then back to the hostel to pack for home.

Riding the subway.

Frog attack.

Learning about GiGi's Playhouse.

A few remained at GiGi's to do some service right there.

Reflecting on their advocacy experience.

The raw Shea Butter caught my attention.

The nice store where we bought some gifts and souveniers

Art inside the cafe..."Creativity is allowing yourself to make ~~Art~~ MISTAKES. ART is knowing which ones to keep." Really great southern food at the Blvd Bistro.

Roof top art.

Chair sculpture by Picasso at MoMA, part of a special exhibit. We made a chair project in 3-D so I was really noticing the chairs in the museums presented as art, not for sitting in.

Another Picasso - what a very, very strange little man. As I have some young viewers for this blog I have refrained from posting pictures of some his more possibly hostile sculptures of women.