On some level, we all know that it’s the people that make the community. But how do we as individuals determine how we’ll work together? Are there written rules or do we carry on ‘how it’s always been’? In communities nationwide, long-time residents will tell you stories of the [...]]]>

Lindsay Heights Neighborhood Mural

On some level, we all know that it’s the people that make the community. But how do we as individuals determine how we’ll work together? Are there written rules or do we carry on ‘how it’s always been’? In communities nationwide, long-time residents will tell you stories of the good old days. The long-past time when neighbors watched out for one another, when you knew everyone’s names, family, and what they were doing (especially if it was something they shouldn’t!)

But that time is gone now, replaced with bars on windows, self-imposed curfews and anonymity on your own street, right? Not in this Milwaukee neighborhood if one group of residents can help it.

Championed by Sharon and Larry Adams, the Lindsay Heights neighborhood’s sense of community has been intentionally rebuilt by its residents for over a decade. Sharon started working with neighbors by taking walks, waving to people and getting to know them. In a neighborhood plagued by prostitution, drugs and gun violence, this was no small task. Her willingness to be neighborly led to others joining her on her walks and to still others having the courage to report crimes when they saw them occurring.

Neighborhood Gardens have helped connect and inspire residents

Next, taking an asset-based approach, the Adams’ purchased and restored a condemned turn of the century home with the help of a local carpenter, community development worker and neighbors. This house was later sold to a first time homebuyer and launched the Walnut Way Conservation Corporation, a Community Development Corporation focused on rebuilding neighborhood pride through rebuilding housing. They have since bought and renovated 18 houses, but have been involved in the building or remodeling of over 500.

Through this focus on people and community rather than arbitrarily created jobs or plunked down apartment stock without regard to the neighborhood, the crime rate in Lindsay Heights has dropped and residents with the means to relocate have chosen to stay and live in the area. This may seem like a small accomplishment, but in a community that watched its population dwindle since the 1960’s, a bit of stability is a wonderful thing.

How do you engender this spirit of community and stability in your neighborhood? How do you strengthen your social ties? Remember, it’s the small things that count. Starting or participating in a neighborhood association, parent/teacher group, community garden or neighborhood repair shops are great ways to get to know people. If you’re new to your area, start with the library, local coffee shop or grocery store; they usually have community newsletters or calendar to start you in the right direction.

The impact of good will and being neighborly can change attitudes and lives. We impact one another daily, in many subtle ways whether by waiving to a neighbor on their porch or chit-chatting in the grocery store line. Being intentional in our actions and interactions is just the thing to place your neighborhood on the path to prosperity.

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April 27th is a date that is burned in my memory. Having served as a Peace Corps volunteer over two of these dates, the South African national holiday in is one that no one – especially a temporary resident –could ignore. National Freedom Day marks the first non-racial elections held in [...]]]>

April 27^th is a date that is burned in my memory. Having served as a Peace Corps volunteer over two of these dates, the South African national holiday in is one that no one – especially a temporary resident –could ignore. National Freedom Day marks the first non-racial elections held in South Africa after almost three-hundred years of colonialism in 1994.

Inextricably tied to this celebration is Nelson Mandela, the leader of the South African liberation struggle. In 1990, Mandela’s release from nearly thirty years of imprisonment for his actions and planning in support of “non-racial alliances against apartheid and white minority rule” was the symbolic punctuation to the toppling of a government power that did not represent the majority of its people.

To this day, we marvel at the circumstances this icon withstood, and the grace, leadership, and power demonstrated by his persistent fight and still peaceful acceptance of his fate.

This April, in addition to the commemoration of the unforgettable event of democracy in 1994, we also have the benefit of the symbol of Mandela’s struggle, imprisonment, and ubuntu philosophy that are evident in his historic monument that was unveiled last summer. The passing of Freedom Day reminds South Africans of Mandela’s resilience, and of their own. The monument in his honor, tells the world that it is not merely strength or compromise, but perspective, which makes all the difference.

The 31×68’ monument is comprised of fifty steel pieces that when viewed from only a slight, particular angle bears the face of Mandela.  On their own they are integral pieces, each with their own story and representation, but it is their positioning together that gives the power to reveal the larger picture.

Like most efforts to bridge community and create lasting change, this power is lost to an outsider, and even to the group itself, without the advantage of perspective.  What do you see here? What does it tell you about what happened, who was involved, and who YOU are?

My challenges are miniscule – this is what each passing Freedom Day reminds me. Mandela’s monument serves an even more valuable reminder – to look deeper and more thoroughly at the things we see, and that every angle matters.

What experiences have you had that changed your perspective? Can you find new meaning in something you’ve seen a thousand times?  Share your comments with us.

Now, that’s freedom.

How much would it cost to eliminate poverty? According to Lant Pritchett of the Harvard Kennedy School,“the world could eliminate extreme poverty for about $45 billion a year,or roughly the amount spent on movie tickets annually worldwide.” At first this quote seems depressing,how can we live in the world where [...]]]> {Cross-posted from Resources Now!}

How much would it cost to eliminate poverty? According to Lant Pritchett of the Harvard Kennedy School,“the world could eliminate extreme poverty for about $45 billion a year,or roughly the amount spent on movie tickets annually worldwide.” At first this quote seems depressing,how can we live in the world where more people are willing to shell out money to go see Transformers 3 then give to help change a fellow human’s life?

However as an entrepreneur I ask a different question:how do you make solving poverty as appealing as buying a movie ticket? This quote smells of opportunity to me. If we could get everyone in line at Transformers 3 to find more value in giving to those in needs,we could find a way to access that $45 billion for a good cause.

How do you do it? One example is Malaria No More which teamed up with College Humor to create Malarious,a series of videos of celebrities doing ridiculous things. Celebrities from actor Ed Helms to competitive eating champion Takeru Kobayashi do things like insulting a puppy, performing magic ,or creating a slam poem to bacon.

However just like a movie all of this entertainment doesn’t come free. After watching the previews you will have to donate to Malaria No More before you can access any of Malarious’videos. You choose how much to donate from $1 to your life savings.

Not only does Malaria No More get a donation,it gets you email as well,allowing them to contact you for further support. What I love about the project is it both entertaining and has an impact. How could other projects tap into this market for social good?

As someone who has consistently received emails asking me to report images on Facebook depicting and encouraging violence against women – only to receive a form reply when I did that Facebook did not agree that these were hate speech – I was particularly happy to see the recent success [...]]]>

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As someone who has consistently received emails asking me to report images on Facebook depicting and encouraging violence against women – only to receive a form reply when I did that Facebook did not agree that these were hate speech – I was particularly happy to see the recent success of Women, Action & the Media (WAM), the Everyday Sexism Project and author/activist Soraya Chemaly this week.

On Tuesday Facebook acknowledged that its systems to identify and remove hate speech “have failed to work as effectively as we would like, particularly around issues of gender-based hate.”  This admission is a direct result of an open letter to Facebook executives asking them to “ban gender-based hate speech” and a call to action for Facebook users to contact companies whose advertisements appear alongside materials that target women for violence.

The result was more than 5,000 emails to Facebook advertisers and more than 60,000 tweets on Twitter.  This activism prompted Nissan and other companies to withdraw their advertising from Facebook.  Additionally Facebook has stated they will:

• Review how gender-based hate speech is dealt with
• Update employee training
• Increase user accountability
• Communicate with women’s groups

While this appears to be a great step forward it will remain to be seen if Facebook follows through with their promises of reform.  If you have an idea or action that you would like WAM’s support with visit their website to pitch and discuss.

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Like most returned Peace Corps volunteers, I love talking about Peace Corps. I love talking about my host country, I love talking about my fellow volunteers, and I love talking about the night a jumping spider the size of my hand got inside [...]]]>

Logo of the United States Peace Corps. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Like most returned Peace Corps volunteers, I love talking about Peace Corps.  I love talking about my host country, I love talking about my fellow volunteers, and I love talking about the night a jumping spider the size of my hand got inside my bed net with me.  Yesterday, the Peace Corps offered me the perfect opportunity to talk about just one more reason I’m proud to be a part of the Peace Corps community.

Deputy Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet announced yesterday that Peace Corps will now be accepting applications from same-sex domestic partners who want to serve together as volunteers overseas.  Currently, seven percent of Peace Corps volunteer positions are filled by married couples who serve together.  Same-sex couples can start applying for service starting on June 3, 2013.

So, if you or someone you know is interested in serving with their same-sex domestic partner, please share this great news with them, along with this additional information on service in Peace Corps as a same-sex couple.

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You have probably heard the remarks made by Abercrombie and Fitch (A&F) CEO Mike Jeffries that he doesn’t make women’s clothes in sizes extra-large because he doesn’t want uncool kids and larger women wearing his clothes. To quote this grand wordsmith “Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive [...]]]>

You have probably heard the remarks made by Abercrombie and Fitch (A&F) CEO Mike Jeffries that he doesn’t make women’s clothes in sizes extra-large because he doesn’t want uncool kids and larger women wearing his clothes.  To quote this grand wordsmith “Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong.  Are we exclusionary? Absolutely.”

Additionally in an effort to keep the brand exclusive, A&F goes to the lengths of burning their damaged or unsold items.  This not only keeps them off the backs of those who need clothing/our assistance/help the most, but it also disrespects the thousands of people who worked to make the clothes.  This flagrant wastefulness further sucks the humanity out of a brand that is proving it does not have much soul left to lose.

In response Greg Karber has decided to rebrand Abercrombie and Fitch himself – as the brand for those in-need.  Greg released the video above to start his campaign.  The video features clips of Greg buying up A&F gear at thrift stores and handing them out to people who are homeless in Los Angeles.  Now he is encouraging all those who have A&F clothing to donate it to their local homeless shelter.

While I don’t support making those who are less fortunate a pawn in a media debacle, I do think the sentiment behind Greg’s campaign is a worthy one.   Not being a big fan of A&F from the start I don’t think I actually own anything made by them.  However, I do have more than enough clothes that I wouldn’t miss.  So in solidarity with this clever idea let’s all get to spring cleaning and donate our new or gently used clothing (whether it’s A&F or not) as well as toiletry items (such as sample or travel size shampoos, soaps, etc.) to those in need and turn the asinine words of one man into a call to action.

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Baltimore City detention center has made headlines after a scandal revealed the inmates were running the show and had been employing guards to smuggle in cell phones, food and drugs. Mother Jones recently produced a list of the top 10 worst prisons and the horrors that occur within their walls. In Louisiana, one [...]]]>

Baltimore City detention center has made headlines after a scandal revealed the inmates were running the show and had been employing guards to smuggle in cell phones, food and drugs. Mother Jones recently produced a list of the top 10 worst prisons and the horrors that occur within their walls. In Louisiana, one in 86 adults is in prison.  After release, ex-offenders are 38 times more likely to be unemployed than non-offenders.

Violence in prisons is nothing new; any TV show from OZ to The Wire will tell you that. In 2003, Congress enacted the Prison Rape Elimination Act, providing $60 million for a two-year survey of state and federal prisons to determine the pervasiveness of prison rape and creating various panels to offer remedies.  So why is violence still so prevalent? With the barrage of information coming at you constantly about trouble with the prison system and the difficulties of making the transition to civilian life, it’s easy to feel helpless.

These programs, however, are fueled by our tax money. The inmates are the product of our communities and educational systems. This gives hope!

What can you do to help?

Education:

• 1 in 3 prisoners do not have a high school diploma (contrasted with 1 in 10 of the general population). Tutoring at your local elementary, middle or high school will keep more kids on the path to higher education and away from crime.

Employment:

• Support ‘Ban the Box’ legislation in your area, this movement is to remove the check box that signals conviction of an offense.  No matter how minor or irrelevant their offense oftentimes this check means an individual will not be considered.

Organize:

• Practice non-violence and model the behavior in your community.
• Organize your community to help stop violence; for tips on organizing, ask Campaign Consultation, Inc.
  

  Beat the Street’s All Star Clinic

• Participate in local recreation centers and programs like Beat the Streets to ensure there is a constructive outlet for young people.

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