Dr. Jesse Dixon is Director of Multi-Cultural Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He joined our nursing conference last week to help prepare us for our upcoming clinical immersion. With more than ten years of experience leading university groups to Washington, DC, Dr. Dixon has a lot to share with us.
For me, his willingness to offer advice about the DC Metro, neighborhoods, schools, homeless shelters and classrooms we'll be visiting was enlightening and reassuring. He provided common sense safety tips and ideas for some of our upcoming interactions with folks from the shelter, including bringing photos to share. "Some of these residents have never been out of the city," he said. Well, we have a lot to share about living in small towns!
On a more serious note, Dr. Dixon raised a complex research question for us: Does inner city homelessness foster mental illness OR does mental illness foster inner city homelessness? We can expect to encounter a number of persons whose illnessness are part of a cycle of poverty, domestic violence, and substance abuse.
What about the culture of a large metropolitan center? Speaking personally, I LOVE big cities. And the prospect of visiting a great big urban center is exciting to me. However, it will be an amazing contrast to visit places of great wealth and power (the White House and Capitol Building) along side some of the poorest neighborhoods in the city. Washington, DC through the lens of a homeless population ~ wow! Watching a limosine drive up to a fancy hotel next to the Steinbruck Center, for example~ what a sharp contrast that is! Angelique has spoken about the contrast in a prior post on our blog.
And finally, what will it feel like when we are the minority? Instead of looking like almost everyone else in Wisconsin, suddenly we'll be immersed in a urban center that is rich with color and diversity. How will THAT feel?
I can't wait.
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