Human Rights, Immigrants Rights & Flexibility

My interests include immigrants' rights and human rights. As the project develops between the Women's Department of Belize and Attorney Moore, gaining international exposure in both areas are being afforded to me in this IPSP(International Public Service Project).


Yesterday's joint meeting with the Women's Department (Michelle Irving-Director) and Attorney Antoinette Moore was very successful in mapping out a unified strategy for assessing domestic violence within the migrant community and community of Dangriga as a whole. Although my personal, larger interests are to evaluate aspects of immigrants' rights as it relates to domestic violence and access to services, a reality that has been revealed is that it is very difficult to effectuate change within the migrant community when the actual citizenry does not already have the right(s) afforded to them. The apathy within the courts, government and even among citizens as it relates to domestic violence as a whole is the overarching giant. As was stated in our two hour visit, a wholistic approach or examination of the reality of the problem is needed, if any traction is to be made to assist migrants.


One of the biggest concerns involve violent domestic sexual assaults. Looking from a human services and legal view, Irving and Moore indicate that within both the migrant community, and citizenry as a whole, sexual assaults upon the most vulnerable (children, women, boys and older men) have increased over the past few years. One of their major concerns is that because it is happening so frequently, the police, courts and even community are becoming more and more desensitized to the issue. In addition, the cases that do get reported and are lucky enough to make it to court still face hurdles of the legal system's lack of expertise or concern in prosecuting such cases. In order to begin the process, we decided that a thorough evaluation of domestic violence, with an emphasis on sexual assault, is needed.

LESSON LEARNED: The importance of being flexible and growing with the process. Although my initial plan was to focus solely on the migrant community, having the ability to allow the process to organically develop based on the needs of the local community is extremely important in public service. Understanding and improving domestic violence among citizens of Dangriga will inadvertently benefit the migrant community.

Todays' agenda was to include a trip to Punta Gorda with Attorney Moore to visit with the Indigenous Mayan community who, through the help of Attorney Moore and a team of professors/students from the University of Arizona James Rogers School of Law, recently won a Landmark human rights case in which the Supreme Court of Belize held that the Belize government's failure to acknowledge the customary land rights of the Maya villages violated their constitutionally protected rights to property, equality and life. Learn more at http://www.law.arizona.edu/depts/iplp/advocacy/maya_belize/index.cfm?page=advoc . However, due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Alma and other developing tropical storms in the region, the flight has been postponed.

By the way, I am doing just fine! It is very rainy here right now but no hurricanes are expected to develop, just lots of rain for today and tomorrow. So I am planning to stay in and get some research done.

Scenes from Belize

Isnt this coconut tree just beautiful. These trees are all over the place and they make for the most beautiful surroundings.

A local Dangrigan and retired police officer, Phillip, stops to chat with me a moment.
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A mother and son sells limes, lemons and oranges in the Stedfast community.

A view of Ecumenical Drive in Dangriga where the bicycles are more plentious than cars.

My humble abode while in Dangriga.

This is my bedroom. I'm feeling at home already!

This is our living room. Isnt it cozy!

This is the kitchen area. Down the hallway, you can see where the bright light shines out of my bedroom.

Today, I am off to visit with Michelle Irving (Women's Dept) to set a meeting with Atty Moore where all three of us can strategize on a joint project between the two offices. I had an amazing day yesterday working with Atty Moore. Had a chance to interview with her a couple of client cases (power of atty, negligence) and then spent most of the day in the Dangrigan Magistrate Court. I will update you on the rest of the events later. My taxi has arrived to take me places today. We are in the middle of Tropical Storm Alma and I am told that another tropical storm is developing that will possibly hit this weekend.

"Why? " Bicylces...Revealed

A few days ago, I pondered the question "why?" and determined to not be judgmental while exploring the answer. Having ventured out a bit since that time, I now have the answer to why bicycles are so plentious in this already economically depressed city. For 1 American dollar, you get 2 Belizean dollars. So even if you divide this $10.59 per gallon in half, the price per gallon would still be astronomical by today's standards in the U.S. Using my American dollars, I would pay about $5.30 per gallon.

Should we be grateful for the less than $4 a gallon we pay in the states? I'm still not so convinced. Regardless, one of the things I am growing to like (maybe I will soon come to love it) is the fact that people all day greet each other while riding their bicycles from home, to work, to school, to court, to grocery shop...etc. They are all so friendly. Initially cautious towards visitors but they warm up quickly, just with a friendly smile or an initiated hello.

Clinton School Premeire Video - WATCH IT!

This morning, I awake in preparation to have breakfast with the crew at the Jungle Hut. It is simply beautiful here. Palm trees in each yard and the sun is bright and fair beeming down with intensity already. I will update you later on today's events. I am to meet with my two hosts today, Michelle Irving and Atty Antoinette Moore. I look forward to learning a lot from these ladies.

Meanwhile, I share with you the link to the recently premiered Clinton School of Public Service video trailer. I am honored to be a featured speaker (near the end), along with fellow classmates, James Mitchell (the driver), Sanford Johnson (the Mississippian), Lukman Arsalan (from Jordan!!) and Emily English(from Little Rock). It's only about 4 minutes long so watch it all. It is extremely inspiring and tells the story of who the students are that would explore such a masters degree as "public service", what the school is really about and will inspire you to service as well. Enjoy!

Go to the Clinton School website and click on the "Play Video" with President Clinton shown in the box. Here's the website. http://www.clintonschool.uasys.edu/ or you can catch it on YouTube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9oaawWoHps

Friendly, yet Curious.......Dangriga, Belize

Shauna & Jared (my roommates) walking to the "Jungle Hut" to meet UA Fayetteville "Village Project" students and professors standing in the background.

Flat Stanley visits with Rachel & Shauna, my roommates at the Peacework Guest House in Dangriga, just before we head to the "Jungle Hut" to have dinner with the UA Fayetteville group also in Dangriga working on afterschool programs and other projects. Shauna & Rachel oversee projects for Peacework in Dangriga.

The one counter inside the Dangriga Maya Island Air airport.

I finally made it! As I traveled today from LR to Houston to Belize International and finally resting in Dangriga, I must admit I am anxious. Anxious to get started working on my project, anxious to meet the people who live in this small community, anxious to learn more about the culture and now anxious to understand why. Why?.....yes, Why!

As I walk through the streets of Belize briefly to go have dinner with my roommates and the UA Fayetteville students, I couldn't help but to secretly ask myself ....Why? Yet I don't want to make assumptions or be judgmental. I want to respect this amazing place and its people. Still, the ever present Why? kept cropping up. Houses that would appear dilapidated to most Arkansans are cherished homes to Dangrigans. In my mind, I asked...Why so impoverished? My mind kept inquiring...Why bicycles? Why are so many people just hanging out on the side streets and yards. While my mind quiz me over stuff I don't have the answers to right now, everyone I meet smiles and curiously greets me with a hello. While I am still wondering, they are just living their every day lives in a place they call HOME.....Dangriga, Belize. I sleep tonite with the smiles of a family sitting along the side of the road under their shadetree...friendly, yet just as curious of me as I am of them.

Family Fun before Leaving for Belize! Black Pilots of America!

My family getting ready to enjoy lunch after attending church Sunday, May 25. We talked about my upcoming trip to Belize. We laughed and joked and just enjoyed each others presence. So much so, that another patron came over to our table after seeing us and said, "It's so good to see your family laughing and enjoying one another." These are the wonderful people that really make my life so full!

My dear and supportive husband and his little "Daddy's Girl" (Ruby).

Afterwards, RJ "dreams" of driving us to Grider Field for a very special Memorial Day

weekend event.

At Grider Field (Pine Bluff) Ruby & Roslyn gain a friend (Daysha) as they all await the opportunity to meet the special guests that were there.

Pictured above: Hubert Loney(St. Louis, MO), Durelle Robinson (Grand Prairie, TX) and Jessie Jackson (St. Louis, MO) with RJ, Ruby & Roslyn.

What better way to prepare the children for mommy's travel to Belize than getting an opportunity to meet members of the Black Pilots of America (BPA, Inc). Operation Skyhook 2008 was held May 22-26, 2008 in Pine Bluff at Grider Field. Member chapters came for a weekend of fun, aviation comradery and serious flying competition. BPA, Inc. members volunteer to give airplane rides to hundreds of enthusiastic kids.

Captain Benny Clay of the California Redtails poses with RJ & Ruby as they prepare to go "Up, Up & Away!" (Roslyn could not go as the rides were for those ages 8-18).

Inquisitive Ruby wants to know all about what she's getting ready to get into!

RJ & Ruby returns from their 15 minute fly around and are greeted by Dad, Roslyn and BPA, Inc. President COL (Ret.) Palmer Sullins, Jr.

Captain Benny Clay (far right) was so kind and attentive to them while in his care.

Ruby wanted to go again! BPA member, Virgil Miller of the Arkansas Thunderbirds, chats with her and encourages her to stay excited about aviation! We will definitely be back next year!

Flat Stanley goes to Belize!

One unique aspect of the Clinton School students' travels is that we will all take "Flat Stanley" along with us. By the end of our International Public Service Projects, Flat Stanley will have some really GREAT cultural and geographical stories to share with children all across Arkansas thanks to the vision of Arkansas' First Lady Ginger Beebe. Preparing for his trip to Belize, Flat got some really fancy clothes! Ruby & Roslyn Trotter joined me and other members of Class III at the Governor's Mansion in April 2008 as Mrs. Beebe hosted a Flat Stanley coloring party for the Clinton students. In addition, students at Moody Elementary stand with Flat as he visits their school to oversee the additional coloring party hosted by Mrs. Burdick's first grade class (Roslyn's teacher) and Mrs. McDaniel's second grade class (Ruby's teacher). Visit the official Flat Stanley website featuring Mrs. Beebe's project with the Clinton School of Public Service. http://www.flatstanley.com/Arkansas/intro.html
LESS THAN ONE DAY BEFORE DEPARTURE!

Reach Me...If You Can!

President Clinton visits Fall '07 with members of Class III.

Here's my contact info while in Belize:

• iltrotter@clintonschool.uasys.edu


• http://www.trotterinbelize.blogspot.com/ (Post a message to me!)


• Phone Number TBA

May 27th is the Day!

I will live in Danriga, which is in the Stann Creek District. I look forward to an awesome experience! I am told that the people are KIND, the atmosphere LOVELY, the challenges facing the people CONSIDERABLE and my colleagues, Michelle Irving - Director of the Women's Department and Human Rights Lawyer Antoinette Moore FASCINATING WOMEN OF DISTINCTION in their own rights. I will depart on May 27th and will not return until August 4th. So if any of you see my beautiful young girls and their hair is all over the place, just take your comb out of your purse (back pocket) while I'm gone and help my husband out!! My two girls and 6 feet tall son of 12 yrs are in good hands with Mr. Trotter. I will definitely miss him and the kids dearly during this time, but we will stay in touch by web cam, email and skype! Keep us in your prayers.

Preparing for Belize

Hello everyone,
What an amazing experience the graduate program at the UA Clinton School of Public Service has been! And continues to be. Having successfully completed two semesters of intense core curriculum, which includes an in the field, real-world, hands-on practicum experience in communities across Arkansas, all 30 students in my class are now embarking on an International Public Service project on six continents.

My travels will take me to Belize, Central America where I will work with the Government of Belize Women's Department and Human Rights Lawyer, Antoinette Moore. I will engage in a baseline study of the Stann Creek District in analyzing and subsequently making recommendations to the government concerning several aspects of immigrants rights.

Immigrants Rights are Human Rights! (More on this as I delve into the project). I look forward to updating you daily (beginning May 28th) on my academic project and trip. And I will remember you when I am basking in the Sun on the Caribbean Sea!

Idonia