Blog 2 - Changemakers Reflection Luciana Lujan

 During the project change makers of America our professor divided the class into four groups giving to each one a period of time to choose and work. Every member had to choose a person who were a change maker of United Stated according to the period of time assigned for the group.

I would like to resume some of each presentation.

 o   Group n1, 1700’s.

    In group 1 the key figures that created a sizable impact on the political foundation for the founding of the United States of America during the late 18th century. Focusing on figures who demonstrated their focus was on independence, creating the framework for a democratic institution, and developing the Constitution. With framers like James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Roger Sherman, George Mason, and the First President of the United States: George Washington being the drafters of the fundamental document that would lead to the separation of the United States from the Kingdom of Great Britain. With the constitution being the framework, they helped to compose the Bill of Rights, further assuring that there would not be the same form of persecution or wrongful overstepping of the government, as similar to what was faced under British rule.

 

o   Group n2, 1800’s.

    The members decide to talk about Fredrick Douglas, John Brown, Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton, Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockfeller. According to my preferences, my favorite part was when group number 2 present about Florence Nightingale and Clara Barton. I like how both improved nursing, gaining respect and organization for the nurse practices, and building opportunities for women at a time when they did not have the same possibilities as man did. If we think about the effect of their work, we would be able to recognize all the advantages that we have now. If Nightingale and Barton did not fight for the nurse field, today, we would not be able to have all the medical assistance that we have. Example, if nurses do not exist the medical field would be providing an incomplete service because a doctor can diagnose and give medications but sometimes, we need someone to create the plan and put it into action, specially during times of war or pandemic.

    Also, both Florence Nightingale and Clara Barton challenged the social restrictions placed onto women during their time and proved that women could perform their roles with excellence and grace.

o   Group n3, 2000’s.

    I am part of the group number 3; we had to worked about change makers of 2000s. My group members choose Barack Obama, Kenataji Brown Jackson, Stacy Abrams, Alejandro Mayorcas and Sonia Sotomayor. I choose Vivek Murphy because I wanted to learn about someone who was and is still working to change public health conditions and improving them. During my research about Vivek Murphy, I learned how some mental health illnesses are connected, for example depression and loneliness are strong connected because when someone is depressed, the person has a high tendency to have the feeling of being alone although that sometimes they are not alone. When a person is in a lonely situation, they have a stronger chance of having an experience with depressive symptoms. Being connected through similar symptoms. Learning about how the loneliness epidemic is creating separations between groups of people and creating a more isolated state. We need to continue their work by creating more inclusive spaces that are able to be shared not just by those who hold power and wealth but also to give space to the stranger who just moved from across the country to start a new life. They too deserve to feel welcomed and invited into a space that encourages self-expression and collaborating with different people with vastly different backgrounds to come together as one. Working on ways to build closer connections with one another is not just a way to help lower the tendency of loneliness but it gives better opportunities for communities to grow together into tighter knit communities.

o Group n4, 1900s.

    This group select influential figures who fought for the expansion of civil rights, social justice and equality not only in United Stated but also influencing other nations to follow and rid themselves of the country destroying plague that is called racism. The efforts made focused on expanding rights and protections to provide opportunities for groups that have been historically marginalized.

    Role models not only while living but also continuing to inspire generations to follow, such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Alice Paul, and Betty Friedan who in the face of adversity and discrimination, fought for the equal rights of all people, including the rights of people who did not want for them to have their own rights. 

    
Leading the way by being activist, creating legal reform, and working their way into political leadership, they advance the movements to have racial equality, women’s rights, and human rights. With their work contributing to social changes that include civil rights legislation, by giving all Americans equal right no matter their skin color by creating anti-discrimination laws. Their work led to the ending of the apartheid and not allowing for one group of people to systematically suppress nonwhites from having social mobility. Despite their efforts, it has not been to the level that women feel they are seen as equal to men, despite being the right to vote, the right to open a bank account on their own, the protection against being discriminated against for being women. Despite all these advancements, women are still seen today as second class citizens, whose purpose is to please men and reproduce. And with such a sick and deranged thought process, these leaders would be rolling in their graves if we do not continue to fight for women to have reproductive rights. Not only because a woman has the right to do as she pleases with her body, but because it is an insult to the healthcare workers who fought the recognition as healthcare as a profession.