It's often difficult to put into words the exact meaning of community. It has in fact been a journey and a struggle for me since I left Detroit at the ripe age of 10 and bounced from Redford to Monroe to Ann Arbor, and abroad. Since then I have had many notions of what community is, some rooted in theory and some in practice. The work of my friends across the world and in Detroit have certainly led me to believe there are those as interested in the righteous goals of social change as the emotional and human connections it takes to make that possible.
I once sat at a meeting in Detroit with about 10 of these people and said I felt more at home now than in a while. Yet what is that word? Is home the place we find security? Or is it the place that secures our ideals? Does it start in a house with four walls and a roof? Or does it start beyond the mental and physical walls that strangle our self image and that of the world? Is it where I find a value that allows me to continue my life's work? Or is it a place that values the work I am able to do with the resources I have?
I cannot begin to answer these questions for anyone else, but I am happy to still be in a process by which I am answering them for myself. I have lived a life that has allowed me the space to confront life's beauty and its complicated irony, often together. One method I use for expressing this process is writing letters to people I have no intention of sending. I'm still not able to fold one up and drop it in the mail, but recently came across the first one I ever wrote in May of 2005. It was during a deeply contemplative time as I graduated college. It was to myself.
"Dear Evan,
Be honest and true, because the way of the unjust is blanketed in lies and misrepresentations. Know always that your way will never be the absolute one, as there will always be infinite amounts to learn and share in every movement and interaction in your future. Be conscious of your environment and all things that depend on the harmony of their surroundings. Recognize not only the beauty but the immense power of the natural to help guide and direct our human shortages, and do not fall victim to the destructive results that the hoarding of resources breeds around us.
Keep those people close to you that have proven to be as much a part of your identity as any defining moment, feeling, or relationship. Also, mind the fact that you will not be able to honestly and completely offer yourself until you have reached inside, found your inner silence, listened to it, and returned a more committed man. Know that the path to your silence will be teeming with challenges and temptations- the essence of what makes human life exciting, painful, and rewarding. Let your choices be a symbol for others to heed while they are bombarded with the weapons of the deceitful and driven into disparaging circumstances.
Take with you the message that has been played over and over again throughout all generations of human existence- that in a world full of fertile fields and fruit trees, millions remain hungry. That in a world rich with innovation and education, stratification closes these doors on the masses. That in a world with such potentially productive institutions as democracy and religion, they remain intent to produce tears in the human fabric, only to be mended with blood soaked thread.
Be righteous enough to step back when necessary, and visionary enough to not accept what lies in front of you. Do not be afraid to give true love, as this is foundation of any revolutionary spirit. And be wise enough to know when it is being returned. Remain in struggle with the oppressed, neglected, and cast aside, as this is the where the seeds of humanity grow to produce the most beautiful blossoms and sweetest sustenance ever sampled. Do these things and your reward will be greater than bounty or bullion. It will be the connectedness of your soul to another, and then another, and another- until there are more than can be counted with sight or device, and a grander vision will appear before you..."
...to be continued.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
About those singing Atlanta school children...
I thought this was relevant since I posted their video the other day...
by Dana Goldstein
I was so impressed with the policy chops of the seventh grade singers and dancers TAPPED posted about earlier today that I did some reading on the school they attend, the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta. As I suspected, it is no ordinary middle school, but an incredibly media-savvy private institution. (Check out the professional head shots of the teachers. They look like the cast of a network television drama.) The school was founded by 36-year old Ron Clark, the 2001 Disney Teacher of the Year, Oprah darling, and author of best-seller The Essential 55. Perhaps Clark's Southern upbringing was at play in creating his teaching philosophy and the book that explains it, a compendium of basic social rules he believes children need to be taught. Examples: "If you are asked a question in conversation, you should ask a question in return." "Do not save seats." "When you win, do not brag; when you lose, do not show anger." I totally support these rules and can be quite a stickler for etiquette. But as one online reviewer quipped, "Clark reminds me of those parents who think that everybody should have perfectly disciplined children because she does. I don't like them much, either."
In any case, Ron Clark isn't a public charter school. It is a year-old private academy with corporate sponsors including Dell Computers, Delta (which sent the students on field trips to six continents), and Promethean (manufacturer of interactive whiteboards). The school is housed in a converted warehouse and features an amusement park-like atmosphere complete with a giant slide. And while it's clear the teachers there are working themselves to the bone and doing amazing work, this is no ordinary group of disadvantaged, inner city kids. Tuition is $14,000 annually, though there is a sliding scale depending on family income, and Clark does extensive fundraising for scholarships. Fifty out of 350 applicants were accepted for the first academic year, only after an extensive interview process. Parents must commit to 10 hours of volunteer service each quarter. That's 40 hours per academic year -- an entire week of work.
In other words, this school is practicing exactly the kind of "skimming" that critics point to as a major shortcoming of the school choice movement. The Ron Clark Academy is the kind of project John McCain and his chief education adviser, Lisa Graham Keegan, would hail, with their record of support for school privitization experiments and vouchers. Undoubtedly, this school and its students are, in every way, extraordinary. But if this campaign had focused at all on education, the candidates would have debated the implications of using schools like Ron Clark as the model for national reform. Alas, that never happened.
by Dana Goldstein
I was so impressed with the policy chops of the seventh grade singers and dancers TAPPED posted about earlier today that I did some reading on the school they attend, the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta. As I suspected, it is no ordinary middle school, but an incredibly media-savvy private institution. (Check out the professional head shots of the teachers. They look like the cast of a network television drama.) The school was founded by 36-year old Ron Clark, the 2001 Disney Teacher of the Year, Oprah darling, and author of best-seller The Essential 55. Perhaps Clark's Southern upbringing was at play in creating his teaching philosophy and the book that explains it, a compendium of basic social rules he believes children need to be taught. Examples: "If you are asked a question in conversation, you should ask a question in return." "Do not save seats." "When you win, do not brag; when you lose, do not show anger." I totally support these rules and can be quite a stickler for etiquette. But as one online reviewer quipped, "Clark reminds me of those parents who think that everybody should have perfectly disciplined children because she does. I don't like them much, either."
In any case, Ron Clark isn't a public charter school. It is a year-old private academy with corporate sponsors including Dell Computers, Delta (which sent the students on field trips to six continents), and Promethean (manufacturer of interactive whiteboards). The school is housed in a converted warehouse and features an amusement park-like atmosphere complete with a giant slide. And while it's clear the teachers there are working themselves to the bone and doing amazing work, this is no ordinary group of disadvantaged, inner city kids. Tuition is $14,000 annually, though there is a sliding scale depending on family income, and Clark does extensive fundraising for scholarships. Fifty out of 350 applicants were accepted for the first academic year, only after an extensive interview process. Parents must commit to 10 hours of volunteer service each quarter. That's 40 hours per academic year -- an entire week of work.
In other words, this school is practicing exactly the kind of "skimming" that critics point to as a major shortcoming of the school choice movement. The Ron Clark Academy is the kind of project John McCain and his chief education adviser, Lisa Graham Keegan, would hail, with their record of support for school privitization experiments and vouchers. Undoubtedly, this school and its students are, in every way, extraordinary. But if this campaign had focused at all on education, the candidates would have debated the implications of using schools like Ron Clark as the model for national reform. Alas, that never happened.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Let's try this again...
I just happened across one of my friend's sites - The Boggs Center - and noticed a link to my own blog. If you have been clicking on this until now, I deeply apologize. It has obviously been a sporadic at best destination of interesting tidbits. Consider this a reinvigorated attempt to provide the occasional conversation piece or midday chuckle.
And to get us started off on the right foot (or the correct foot), here you go with a little love out of Atlanta:
WhateverYouLike!
And to get us started off on the right foot (or the correct foot), here you go with a little love out of Atlanta:
WhateverYouLike!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Who Gains from the Green Economy?
By Preeti Mangala Shekar and Tram Nguyen
Last year, the Oakland-based Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, with a miniscule staff and budget, worked relentlessly to pass the Green Jobs Act in Congress—a bill that if authorized will direct $125 million to green the nation’s workforce and train 35,000 people each year for “green-collar jobs.” That summer, Ella Baker Center and the Oakland Alliance also secured $250,000 from the city to build the Oakland Green Jobs Corp, a training program that promises to explicitly serve what is probably the most underutilized resource of Oakland: young working-class men and women of color.
In these efforts lay a hopeful vision—that the crises-ridden worlds of economics and environmentalism would converge to address the other huge crisis—racism in the United States. It is what some of its advocates call a potential paradigm shift that, necessitated by the earth’s climate crisis, can point the way out of “gray capitalism” and into a green, more equitable economy. The engine of this model is driven by the young and proactive leadership of people of color who intend to build a different solution for communities of color.
Van Jones, president of the newly formed Green for All campaign, talks about how earlier waves of economic flourishes didn’t much impact Black communities. “When the dotcom boom went bust, you didn’t see no Black man lose his shirt,” he points out, only half joking. “Black people were the least invested in it.”
read complete article at:
http://colorlines.com/article.php?ID=276
Last year, the Oakland-based Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, with a miniscule staff and budget, worked relentlessly to pass the Green Jobs Act in Congress—a bill that if authorized will direct $125 million to green the nation’s workforce and train 35,000 people each year for “green-collar jobs.” That summer, Ella Baker Center and the Oakland Alliance also secured $250,000 from the city to build the Oakland Green Jobs Corp, a training program that promises to explicitly serve what is probably the most underutilized resource of Oakland: young working-class men and women of color.
In these efforts lay a hopeful vision—that the crises-ridden worlds of economics and environmentalism would converge to address the other huge crisis—racism in the United States. It is what some of its advocates call a potential paradigm shift that, necessitated by the earth’s climate crisis, can point the way out of “gray capitalism” and into a green, more equitable economy. The engine of this model is driven by the young and proactive leadership of people of color who intend to build a different solution for communities of color.
Van Jones, president of the newly formed Green for All campaign, talks about how earlier waves of economic flourishes didn’t much impact Black communities. “When the dotcom boom went bust, you didn’t see no Black man lose his shirt,” he points out, only half joking. “Black people were the least invested in it.”
read complete article at:
http://colorlines.com/article.php?ID=276
Gonzales Proposes Plan to Bring Fresher Foods into Local Schools: Plan will allow schools to purchase more food from local farmers
LANSING – State Representative Lee Gonzales (D-Flint Township) today introduced House Bill 5967, a bill that would make it easier for school districts to purchase food from local farmers for school lunch programs, bringing more fresh fruits and vegetables into our cafeterias and boosting the local economy.
"It's important to give our schools the ability to bring the freshest and healthiest food possible into our school cafeterias," Gonzales said. "When our children fuel up on healthy foods they are able to focus on their school work and prepare themselves for the good-paying jobs of the 21st century. This plan will help our schools provide the best possible food for our students at lunchtime."
Gonzales' plan would streamline the bidding process for school food administrators by increasing schools' small purchase threshold (SPT) for food procurement to $100,000, up from $19,650. The SPT is the dollar value above which competitive, formal bids must be obtained for purchases. Purchases below the SPT may be obtained through a simple informal bidding process in which schools may accept bids or quotes in writing or by phone, typically from at least three vendors.
Michigan's current SPT has proven to be a barrier for school food authorities who want to increase fresh and local food because it makes the bidding process more onerous, which often prevents schools from purchasing food from local farmers.
Purchasing locally grown food from local farmers for school meal programs – known as "farm to school" – has other benefits. It can provide schoolchildren with greater access to fresh fruits and vegetables, hands-on educational opportunities about local agriculture and food systems, expanded market opportunities for Michigan farmers and economic development opportunities.
"By implementing the higher threshold in Michigan, children will have greater access to fresh and locally grown food," Gonzales said. "This not only helps them develop healthier lifestyles and a taste for nutritious foods, but will help to expand market opportunities for Michigan farmers and keep more dollars in our state."
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"It's important to give our schools the ability to bring the freshest and healthiest food possible into our school cafeterias," Gonzales said. "When our children fuel up on healthy foods they are able to focus on their school work and prepare themselves for the good-paying jobs of the 21st century. This plan will help our schools provide the best possible food for our students at lunchtime."
Gonzales' plan would streamline the bidding process for school food administrators by increasing schools' small purchase threshold (SPT) for food procurement to $100,000, up from $19,650. The SPT is the dollar value above which competitive, formal bids must be obtained for purchases. Purchases below the SPT may be obtained through a simple informal bidding process in which schools may accept bids or quotes in writing or by phone, typically from at least three vendors.
Michigan's current SPT has proven to be a barrier for school food authorities who want to increase fresh and local food because it makes the bidding process more onerous, which often prevents schools from purchasing food from local farmers.
Purchasing locally grown food from local farmers for school meal programs – known as "farm to school" – has other benefits. It can provide schoolchildren with greater access to fresh fruits and vegetables, hands-on educational opportunities about local agriculture and food systems, expanded market opportunities for Michigan farmers and economic development opportunities.
"By implementing the higher threshold in Michigan, children will have greater access to fresh and locally grown food," Gonzales said. "This not only helps them develop healthier lifestyles and a taste for nutritious foods, but will help to expand market opportunities for Michigan farmers and keep more dollars in our state."
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