Give a dollar. Give a damn.

I recently did an unlearn presentation for a leadership summit at my previous university and was in dire need of a strong conclusion. I decided to use a video that I watched in Grand Central Station describing the difference you can make with your two hands. The video was about Mandela Day 2009. Although it was quite relevant, I wanted to leave the audience with something to look forward to – not something that had already passed.

More recently a friend sent me a link to something that would have worked just as well… or better. Gratitude Week is happening October 12-16 with the purpose of “Doing one thing today to end homelessness now.”

“Vancouver is one of the most prosperous and desirable places in the world to live. Yet we have more than 2,600 people living on our streets. We all know homelessness is something that must end, but the problem keeps growing. And while the issues of homelessness are complex and sometimes contentious, the reality is that until people have their basic needs of safe, clean affordable housing and shelter met, the larger and more difficult issues cannot be addressed”.

I really like the idea but let’s make this a challenge. Why can’t we challenge universities, colleges, high schools, elementary schools and cities across the country? This is an awesome concept that has to catch fire. Social networking has to take its toll… and fast!

Starbucks Cares… Do You?

We Can Solve It

Race Against Time

 

I started reading “Race Against Time” by Stephen Lewis and was completely blown away by the opening paragraph.

 

I have spent the last four years watching people die. Nothing in my adult life prepared me for the carnage of HIV / AIDS. Between 1998 and 2000, I participated in a study of the Rwandan genocide, commissioned by the Organization of African Unity. Visits to commemorative sites reminiscent of Auschwitz, encounters with survivors, interviews with women who had been raped repeatedly during the genocide – it all felt like a descent into depravity from which there was no escape. And yet, somehow, because it came to an end, because the little country of Rwanda is managing to piece itself together, step by painful step, there is at least a sense that the horrific events are rendered unto history. That is not to say that we should ever forget, only to say that it is over.

 

Alive and Kicking

 

A friend of mine told me to read an article in Sports Illustrated titled “Alive and Kicking.” To be honest, it was a pretty lengthy article but deserved every ounce of space it took up on those pages. If you have a few minutes, take the time to read it. It really puts things in to perspective.

 

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1140917/index.htm

 

In a nutshell (you still have to read it), this is a story of a young woman who took a chance. She created a world of opportunity for war refugees from 24 different countries around the world. It all began when she witnessed a group of young boys playing soccer in a concrete parking lot with a beat up old ball and rocks for nets. Many were without shoes and wore left over clothing samples. She saw an opportunity. The next day at the same time and place she went with a brand new soccer ball and asked if she could play. From there she created a team called the Fugees and began on her pathway to greatness!

 

Again, you have to read this article. These two paragraphs give the story absolutely no justice. It’s such a different world we live in and some of the experiences these children have witnessed at such a young age just boggles my mind.

 

“One Fugee had seen his father gunned down by soldiers, another had seen his dad’s fingers sliced off.”

 

“My heart hurts,” the boy told Luma–the truest excuse a Fugee had ever given her.

 

Think about ways you can volunteer your time, maybe not to the same extent that Luma did but try once a week to give something back to your community. As a society we are constantly stressed about life, relationships, employment and the list goes on. Guess what, the stress you place on your life is no bodies fault but your own. Change your life and be who you want to be. Find your passion and do what you love. Don’t be afraid to be happy.

Energy for the Developing World

The other night I watched The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos. He interviewed a man by the name of Muhammad Yunus.

Bio: Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi banker and economist. He previously was a professor of economics and is famous for his successful application of microcredit – the extension of small loans. These loans are given to entrepreneurs too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans. Yunus is also the founder of Grameen Bank.

In 2006, Yunus and the bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, “for their efforts to create economic and social development from below.” Yunus himself has received several other national and international honors. He is the author of Banker to the Poor and a founding board member of Grameen Foundation.

In 2007 Yunus showed interest in launching a political party in Bangladesh named Nagorik Shakti (Citizen Power), but later discarded the plan. He is one of the founding members of Global Elders. Yunus also serves on the board of directors of the United Nations Foundation, a public charity created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes. The UN Foundation builds and implements public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the UN.

I found an interesting clip from the weekly video podcast for the PBS series e². This video really has me thinking and “Banker to the Poor” has jumped to the top of the list of books that I must read. Check it out…

Free the Children

 

Free The Children is the world’s largest network of children helping children through education, with more than one million youth involved in our innovative education and development programs in 45 countries. Founded in 1995 by international child rights activist Craig Kielburger, Free The Children has a proven track record of success. The organization has received the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child (also known as the Children’s Nobel Prize), the Human Rights Award from the World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations, and has formed successful partnerships with leading school boards and Oprah’s Angel Network.

The primary goals of the organization are to free children from poverty and exploitation and free young people from the notion that they are powerless to affect positive change in the world. Through domestic empowerment programs and leadership training, Free The Children inspires young people to develop as socially conscious global citizens and become agents of change for their peers around the world.

Free The Children has built more than 500 schools around the world and has reached more than one million young people through outreach in North America.

Free The Children is a children’s charity registered in Canada, the United States, Japan, China, Mexico, Kenya, Sri Lanka and other countries around the world.

Make It Right

In December of 2006 Brad Pitt met with a group of experts to discuss the possibility of building green affordable housing to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Previously, Pitt had sponsored an architectural competition with the goal of generating the ideas on how to rebuild sustainability.

The project was to take place in the Lower 9^th Ward of New Orleans, one of the areas most devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Brad Pitt put together a team of local architects and the group set of goal of building 150 safe, affordable, sustainable, high design quality homes. Although 150 homes may not seem like a lot, it was one of the largest rebuilding projects in the city. Another very interesting goal the team had was to produce a system that could be easily replicated. Interesting…

The architects were asked to design a 1200-square-foot house that was five to eight feet off the ground with a front porch and three bedrooms. The houses had to cost around $150,000 and the donations to Make It Right would help cover the financing. Take a look at some of the designs

http://makeitrightnola.org/mir_SUB.php?section=mir&page=designs&mySub=main

In February of 2007 I was given an opportunity to travel to Biloxi, Mississippi and see first hand the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. I travelled with Habitat for Humanity and our goal for the week was to build as many homes as we could (a few of us saw Brad and Jennifer going into a hotel).

It had been almost a year and a half since the hurricane hit so I really did not know what to expect. I did some research online and after seeing pictures I thought to myself, there is no way it could still be that bad.

It was like nothing I could image! The streets of destruction were endless. Houses were nothing more then a pile of beat up old memories. There were boats on top of cars and garbage everywhere. Just horrifying.

I can remember the pain I felt in my shoulders as I carried yet another stack of shingles up the ladder. This pain did not even come close, not for a second, to what the people of New Orleans experienced.

We had the opportunity to go out to a few local pubs during the week. When you have the opportunity to hear some of the stories and meet some of the people first hand it changes your life. Everyone was so receptive. The questions never ended…

How long are you staying?

When are you coming back?

How many more people can you bring back the next time?

If you ever need a place to stay…

What an experience! There are so many people in the world that are less fortunate. I gave up a week of my time and it helped me realize how lucky I really am. It really put things in perspective and it was one week. I want the opportunity to do more…

Here is something interesting. The more we see celebrities on board with “The Green Movement” the more I see People Magazine and Entertainment Tonight Online covering the stories. Maybe we can get away from:

“Gossip: Is Cameron Diaz dating Diddy?”

“Attempted Murder for 50 Cent?”

Who really cares? Why don’t we become more educated as a society and take some time to contribute, Take some time to learn, and take some time to unlearn.