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Assignment: Observation of a Small Group

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Community Board Background:

I attended the Committee For The Concerns Of The Aging meeting for Community Board 12 (Manhattan). The Aging meeting is held every 2nd Tuesday of the month. The meeting was held at Dyckman Senior Center.

Community Board #12 Manhattan is one of the 59 community boards in New York City (12 in Manhattan). Each of the Community Board members represents a unique geographic area of the city of New York and CB12 represents the neighborhoods of Washington Heights and Inwood in the Borough of Manhattan. It is delimited by the Harlem River on the east and on the north, the Hudson River on the west, and W 155th Street on the south (Community Board 12, 2011).

The Community board is made up of 50 non-salaried volunteered members, who are considered officials of the City of New York. These members are appointed by the borough president, in which half of the members must be appointed from nominees of the districts council members. Each of the Board Members must either live, work, or have special interest in the CB 12 district (Community Board 12, 2011).

As an independent City Agency, Community Board #12 Manhattan is committed to improving the delivery of the City services in the district and advocating for the welfare of the District and its’ residents. As mandated by the New York City Charter, CB#12 Manhattan is responsible to participate in long-term community planning, review applications for liquor licenses and sidewalk cafes, street fairs, street closings, Uniform

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Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), and assessing community needs in the City budget (Community Board 12, 2011).

Monthly Board meetings provide a public forum for members to address items of concern to the community and give residents the opportunity to express their opinions. Additionally, Boards regularly conduct public hearings on the City's budget, on land use matters and other items of concern.

Committees within Community Boards are charged with the duty of following up on the issues raised at Board meetings. Each Board establishes its own structures and procedures for committees; non-Board members may apply to join them.

Demographics

When working with groups, it is important to understand the decision-making behavior and each individual’s role within a group. “A group is a system, a set of related elements that are orderly and interrelated and a functional whole” (Ashman, 2011, p. 78). Group work may simplistically be described as the study and application of the processes and outcomes experienced when a small group comes together.

I introduced myself to the committee leader and informed her about my purpose of attending the meeting. The leader provided me with the agenda. The agenda stated the 5 topics were going to be discussed in the meeting which were, Committee Reports, George Washington Bridge Bus Station Redevelopment, Upcoming Conferences: Changing Face of Aging, DFTA- No Budget Cuts/2012 and Adjournment. The room

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was set up in 4 rows, and about 25 people attended. An attendance list was passed around for everyone in attendance to sign their information. The attendee were offered breakfast, coffee, juice and water. The meeting was scheduled to start at 10am; however it started at 10:28am.

The group dynamics were complex. There was a mix of men and women, from different race, class and ages. There were more women than men, and the leader running the group was an African American woman. The group was very diverse in culture; it consisted of Spanish, African American, and White individuals. It appeared that most of the attendees were primarily from low income class. Many of the attendees came to the Senior Center not only to attend meetings but to eat breakfast/lunch and participate in the free daily activities. The meeting started with an introduction; as stated in the agenda, everyone who was attending the meeting for the first time had to introduce themselves.

System Theory

System theories provides an exceptionally useful means for understanding human behavior in many contexts, including the interactions of individuals, groups, families, organizations, and communities the macro social environment (Kirst- Ashman, 2010, p. 78). In observing the group I was able to categorized it as a Homeostasis.

Homeostasis, is the tendency for a system to maintain a relatively stable, constant stated of balance (Kirst- Ashman, 2010, p. 16). The group had a tendency to interrupt

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the leaders and at times the leaders had difficulty discussing/addressing the topics of the day. It appeared to me that the group verbally retaliated to the leaders when certain

issues were brought up that they didn’t agreed with. The leaders reminded the group that one of the purpose of this meeting was to inform the community about the topics/decisions made during the Community Board meetings. The leader stated to the group that it was essential for them to attend/advocate for themselves during the board meetings. The leaders were able to take control back of the group.

Another system term useful to examining this group is everyone’s role. Role a culturally expected behavior pattern for a person having a specified status or being involved in a designated social relationship (Kirst-Ashman, 2010, p. 80). The committee leader initiated the meeting. There was a female translator and her role was to translate the meeting from English to Spanish, for those in attendee who were not fluent in English. she was able to “gently point out common underlying themes”, an essential aspect of group management (Gambe & Getzel, 1989, p. 178). The role of the translator was very important due to many of the attendee being Spanish speaking. She spoke clearly, the attendee were able to comprehend everything that was being translated. The Director and one of the doctors from Isabella Nursing home were invited to the meeting and their role was to informed the attendee about the new services the nursing home is providing the aging community. Everyone’s role was identify before the meeting started.

In examining this group I was also able to identify the following system theories, the relationship, interaction and sentiments. Relationship is the dynamics interpersonal

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connection between group members (Kirst-Ashman, 2010, p. 80). Everyone seem to know each other, they greeted each other in a friendly manner. Some attendees sat together to those who they were closer too.

Interaction the reciprocal behaviors and communication engaged in by group members (Kirst-Ashman, 2010,p. 80). The group interacted among each other and with the leaders. Some of the attendees approached me to provide me with information about the group and to expressed their interest about having the community more involved with the Aging Meetings. The group and the leaders interacted in a positive manner, every one was able to get their point crossed . The group was very involved and provided much feedback.

Sentiments the emotional feelings and reaction manifested by group members (Kirst-Ashman, 2010, p. 80). When the leader spoke about the new SSI bill that is being explore in congress their was a lot of interaction/sentiments among the group. The group’s body language movement changed, you were able to sense the group frustrations and hopelessness. The leader had to remind the group that the bill hasn’t been passed and they had the right to advocate to prevent from being approved.

Oppression

The SSI bill that its being explore in congress is a form of oppression in the structural level, “it consist of the ways that social institutions, law, policies, social processes and practices, and the economic and political system all work together primarily on favor of

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the dominant group at the expense of subordinate groups” (Mullaly, Bob, p. 63). The elderly population which, is the subordinate group is going to be force to stay in one country for 9months in order to avoid for their benefits to be cut off. The elderly population are usually oppressed due to their lack of disabilities. If this bill is passed it can be a life stressor, “ are generated by critical life issues that people perceive as exceeding their personal and environmental resources for managing them (Germain & Gitterman, p. 817). Many of the aging population go out of the country either to spend time at their native country or to visit family members and they depend of their SSI checks to survive.

Empowerment Theory

Empowerment stresses how group members can help and empower each other though mutual aid, the act of providing support, feedback, and information within a group context (Kirst-Ashman, 2010, p. 82). The leader empowered the group by reinforcing the importance of advocating, to reach out to their community political leaders and expressed their concerns and how the SSI bill will affect them.

The group gave each-other mutual aid about how they were going to advocate and support each other. Mutual aid the act of providing support, feedback, and information within a group context (Kirst-Ashman, 2010, p. 84). The group agreed to start informing the community about the SSI bill, get signatures of individuals who were against the bill and if needed do a rally.

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Consciousness raising is the process of enhancing people’s awareness of themselves, of others, or of issues in the social environment (Kirst-Ashman, 2010, p. 81). The doctor from Isabella Nursing Home, informing the group about the new services available for the elderly. The doctor informed the attendees about his “in house services” for patients who suffer from Diabetes, Podiatric or any other Geriatric condition and who are receiving Traditional Medicare. The doctor informed the group about the increase of HIV/AIDS infected individuals among the elderly population. The doctor emphasized the importance of getting tested for HIV/AIDS and encouraged that attendees do so. The group was given information about where they can get tested for free. The doctor also highlighted the benefits of the elderly receiving the Flu shot in order to prevent other health issues.

Another free service being provided in the community was the Coast to Coast Transportation Service. It provides the elderly with door to door free transportation from 110 street-220street, 5days a week from 9am-3pm. The group appeared to be very interested about these services; many questions were asked and answered. I observed a lot of communication, self-disclosure among the group. The group expressed how this service will help them because many times they don’t have any one to transport them or don’t have the financial resources. The group was able to relate to their common needs and benefits.

Group Dynamics

Some of the group dynamics identify were communication, roles, and power. There was

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communication between the leaders and the aging group. Even though their were roles in placed, no one abused their power of leadership to oppressed the group in any manner. The leaders were able to informed the group about the current issues that are of a concern in the community and of the new different services they will benefit from.

In conclusion, the meeting was able to achieve their goal. The leader followed the agenda and each topic was discussed. The leader spoke clearly, with a soft tone of voice, provided support; as a result, the group was able to integrate/adapt/interact effectively among each other. The group was able to expressed their emotions/concerns, to give their opinions, and ask questions, which were all answered the best way possible. The translator was able to translate everything effectively. The translator and the leader were able to work together positively, they gave each other space and enough time to get the information to the group. The group mission was accomplished as the information was provided and feedback was given, which will be presented to the Community Board 12.

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References

Ashman-Kirst K. Karen, 2011, Human Behavior in the Macro Social Environment (Third Edition), p. 78.

Baker R, 2003, The Social Work Dictionary (5th Edition), Washington DC: NASW Press p. 405.

Community Board 12, Manhattan, Retrieved from: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mancb12/html/home/home.shtml

Gambe, Richard & Getzel S. George, 1989, Group Work with Gay Men with Aids, p. 172-179.

Germain B. Carel & Gitterman Alex, Ecological Perspective, p. 816-822.

Mullaly, Bob, 2010, Challenging Oppression and Confronting Privilege (2nd Edition), p. 63.