AGUA Guest Presentation

On Friday, October,19th,2007 our Humanities class had a guest speaker named Elizabeth Earnley. She is a young women who works on the AGUA Association, which stands for Aquifer Guardians in Urban areas. This association is made up of a group of people who focus on keeping our water system safe and well preserved.The young women seemed to be very enthusiastic about her job and seemed to be devoted to it as well. During her presentation Ms. Earnley spoke about the Edwards Aquifer and how we as a community can help to keep our water system safe. Ms. Earnley gave the class information on how developers get a certain plan approved or denied. The city council of San Antonio is responsible for approving or denying any activity on the recharge zone. The city council has a very huge responsibility on what and where developers can develop their businesses. The AGUA commitee focuses on helping regulate how much impervious coverage will be used in a specific project before construction can take place. The committe of AGUA is soley concerned with keeping our water source free of contamination,so that our city and surrounding areas who utilize this precious water source may remain safe, healthy and free of any hazardous chemicals and or pollutants. Ms. Earnley told the class that we as the community of San Antonio can help to make a change in what and where projects get approved if we only get informed and make an effort to attend city council meetings. The community as a whole can make a difference if we all stick together and defend what is ours. Our words and actions can make a difference if we put our time and effort into protecting our precious watersource.

My Family's Neighborhood

Every human being has a place where they reside. People may choose a place of
residence for various reasons. A persons place of employment, where they attend
school, where they were raised, or feel most at home may be reasons why they choose
a specific place of residence. I myself choose to reside in the northwest part of
San Antonio. I live in a fairly decent two bedroom apartment with my two little
children. My oldest is named Anthony, he is 7 years old. Damion is my little one, he
is 2 1/2. We live on Marbach Road, the nearest cross street, which is less than 1
block away, is West Military Drive.

My neighborhood is a rather nice and decent area to live in. The
people who reside in my neighborhood are of various ethnic backgrounds, but the
majority is made up of Hispanics or are of mexican descendents. I suppose that it is fair to say that the neighborhood is for the most part, a middle working class
neighborhood. Although I don't know for a fact, but most people in the area seem to
work and contribute to the economies finances.

My neighborhood is convenient to a variety of places. My children and I live right across the street from a convenience store, chinese restaurant, Domino's pizza, a daycare, and so many other convenient places.
We are also not very far from John Jay high school. The high school is only about
three blocks away from our apartment. There is also a bus line conveniently located right in front of our apartment complex. When we first moved in I did not have a vehicle for
about 1 year, so we utilized public transportation for quite a while. Living right
in front of a bus line is one of the major reasons that I chose this area as a place
of residence. Most importantly, I decided on this neighborhood because it is
convenient to my son's elementary school. The name of the school is Mary Hull
elementary. It is a great school and is part of a terrific school
district. The elementary school is part of Northside Independent school district.

I am very happy living in my part of San Antonio. I enjoy the various
conveniences so very close to home. Also, I know for a fact that my children are
happy here as well. The sweet smiles and laughter that come from them when they play
outdoors show me that they are happy and content with their environment. My families
social welfare is what is important and as long as we are haappy and content in this
neighborhood we will remain here. After all home is were the heart is, right?

Guest Presentation

On Wednesday, October 10th, 2007, our Humanities class had the privilage of welcoming Dr. Heywood Sanders into our classroom. Dr. Sanders gave an interesting presentation on how and when the city of San Antonio began to unravel into the city that it is today. He spoke of how San Antonio was basicly built on a minimal amount of financial funding. Our lovely city at one point in time was simply a mere piece of land waiting to be molded into what it is today.

Dr. Sanders expertise in studying and researching the facts about the city's development and modernization, was well worth listening to. I never actually gave much thought about how and when my lovely hometown began to evolve, only until after listening to what Dr. Sanders had to say. His information, charts, and graphs that he presented to the class were mind boggling. Although most San Antonians may now have the commodities needed to live life comfortably, it wasn't very long ago when this city was basicly living in the stone ages.

Life as a San Antonian, was easier and most comfortable if you had the sufficient finances to live so. For instance, a most neccessary commodity such as indoor plumbing did not become easily accessible by most everyday folk up until the year 1960. Prior to this most humanity was subjected to using mother nature's facilities. Where you decided to go to take care of natures call was referred to by Dr. Sanders,as a pit privie. Due to this, Humanity was subjected to unfortunate mishaps, such as inhaling the bad odors which came from the pit privies. Diseases and illnesses also came with the territory. Why should any living Human being be subjected to such unfortunate events. Just because they are not of a certain finacial economic status? It simply seems unhumanitarian. This information presented was quite alarming.

Dr. Sanders also showed the class various charts and graphs that make San Antonio out to be a very divided city. Race, and economic status is how our city is divided and this is really heartbreaking to me. Why should this matter? Well it simply says alot about what money and status can do for a human being. As you have heard before, money makes the world go round. Therefore, if you want to live a comfortable life and be offered the needed commodities to do so then becoming educated and informed can be a big step to attaining the unattainable. This is just some food for thought.