Showing posts with label Volunteer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Volunteer. Show all posts

Monday, March 16, 2020

Consistently Updating Post: Ways to Help Fight Covid-19 in Minnesota

We're all in this together. 


Image by ADAM ZYGLIS, THE BUFFALO NEWS, NY

I, like many of you, have been shocked at how quickly changes due to COVID-19 have rippled through our communities in the last few weeks. Literally overnight we have seen closures of stores, entertainment, transit, conferences, workplaces, schools, and just about every non-essential function.

I know that I always feel better in times of need or crisis when I feel like I am able to do something (anything) to help others. Often that involves physical volunteering as my funds are limited, which is obviously off the table right now for most organizations (and for me personally).

That said, there ARE many ways that organizations are creatively finding ways to pitch in to help each other out and uplift the community. I've seen links flying around ad hoc and wanted to consolidate what I can find for anyone seeking a one-stop-shop of ways to give back and kick into gear. See below for what I have and keep checking back here - I will continuously amend this list as more organizations announce initiatives.

And as a reminder - make sure to express your gratitude when you are able to those who are on the front lines of risk of exposure to and fighting the infection rate of the virus. It expands far beyond just healthcare, and there are crucial groups of workers (such as janitors, grocery and gas store clerks, etc.) who deserve our care, attention, respect and gratitude. This article provides a good illustration of some of these workers and the risks they currently face.

To start off, this is a one stop shop collecting resources by zip code across the entire U.S. It's an amazing spot to resource help of many kinds - check it out: https://findhelp.org/

This is also a good resource for questions about the stimulus that passed the U.S. Senate yesterday - it's a handy FAQ from the New York Times. 

Healthcare 

I am *obviously* not a medical professional - so don't listen to me (or any other blogger / internet personality / etc.) about medical habits. Instead, seek these resources:


Education / Childcare

While schools are trying to set up remote learning, many parents still need to fill time with enriching activities while systems are down or overloaded. Here's a roundup of some proactive ideas:


Food Access

Many, many restaurants are offering to provide free meals to students who cannot eat for free at school (god bless them all!). This master list is being maintained with addresses and details of what kinds of meals are available.


For shoppers - pay attention to which foods have WIC marking on the price tags and when possible choose other options. WIC assisted shoppers are not allowed to choose other items when WIC items are sold out, so saving those groceries for those who have no choice will help those most in need.

Also some grocery stores are implementing limited hours for shoppers most at risk of the virus (compromised immune systems, the elderly, etc.) to shop first and have first access to most goods. Lunds & Byerlys is one such store - at-risk shoppers can come from 7 - 8 a.m., and the store opens to all shoppers after 8 a.m.

If you want something to do physically with your free time, Second Harvest Heartland needs volunteers to help pack individual food drop off boxes. They have a huge space that allows volunteers to follow COVID-19 protections (lots of soap available, 6+ foot distance between volunteers, etc.), so it's a safer option than others to volunteer. Click here to learn more.

And additionally, the hospitality industry is being devastated by this crisis - many are already unemployed, and restaurant and catering groups are quickly working to pivot towards nontraditional business revenues. Eater has a more global update on things you can personally do to help your favorite local venues weather this storm.

Local beer producers are beginning to offer pickup and delivery, so if you want libations to pick up your spirits (ahem) - click here to learn more and support small local businesses through an extremely tough time.

Additionally, CityPages developed a nice resource for restaurants and booze purveyors offering pickup and / or delivery, and WCCO News has created *the* definitive list (in interactive map form!) for restaurants offering pickup and delivery throughout the crisis.

NPR just did a great short piece on why you don't need to disinfect your groceries, also giving important tips for safely grocery shopping to limit your exposure.

Housing, Utilities and Pay

Help fellow citizens know their rights regarding housing bills and utilities; many state and governments are mandating consumer ad citizen protections, and Minnesota is one of them. The following are resources for anyone being challenged on bills, housing, etc.:

Several Twin Cities Neighborhoods are collecting resources to share with each other - check out the following links for those:

Entertainment / Business

If you're a long-time Compendium reader than you know how close the arts and entertainment industry of Minnesota is to my heart. They are being deeply impacted by the ongoing crisis. Below are some ways you can support them (as well as creative programs being released to help take your mind off things).

Donate

If you had tickets to a show that closed or was postponed, please don't ask for refunds if you can help it. Every dollar that can stay in the theatrical community will help keep doors open and lights on once they are cleared to do so, and liquid cash is one of the resources most scarce for these organizations even in the best of times.

Donate to the Personal Emergency Relief Fund for artists hosted by Springboard for the Arts. This is going to be a very, very important pot of money as dozens of theaters are indefinitely closed during the height of their regular season programming, affecting hundreds of artists around the state. If you have any cash, please toss a little their way.

Otto Bremer Trust just established a $50 million fund to help organizations weather the crisis. Click here for more information.

Minnesota Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (MnVOAD) has a full listing of organizations cleared to accept hands-on volunteers; check out their detailed information if you want to get out of the house to help the community.

Watch / Distract Yourself

This article is a nice reminder that it's ok to prioritize mental health and unplug from the constant barrage of news about the virus. Take a walk, do some meditation, read a book and call it a day. It's ok to slow down at this time. I will continue adding a roundup of creative initiatives from arts and entertainment organizations below as well:

Locally Hosted Options


National / International Options



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Monday, August 7, 2017

A Wonderful Trip through The Immigrant Journey Project

The Immigrant Journey Project is everything that Refugia should have been but wasn't. I hope it has an incredible audience engagement; it deserves it.  


This little map was the most beautiful way to connect all audience members' families' journeys to the United States! 

When I was arranging to see The Immigrant Journey Project, the media rep I was in contact with made sure to send a disclaimer: "don't forget that these performers aren't professional actors!", she said. She needn't have worried. I can safely say that The Immigrant Journey Project is one of the most candid, moving, intimate works I've seen in a while, and the mixed cast is a huge part of it's success.

Let me back up for a second and start at the beginning. The Immigrant Journey Project marks the culmination of a three year long development process between Mu Performing Arts and several community groups, including CHAT, the Hmong Elder Center, SOY, Wilder and WISE. The grant-funded project was devised to help Asian-American elders and more recent immigrants to tell their stories through learning about theater and puppetry. The Immigrant Journey Project takes the scripts and stories written by dozens of participants and distills them into a series of short vignettes that shine a light on each of these unique narratives. The show is split into three themes: past (where Hmong elders tell of their lives as youth living in their villages); present (young immigrants talk about their recent immigration to the United States and their observations of cultural differences); and future (Mu Performing Arts cast members imagine a futuristic potluck in space). The result is a show that has it all - wonder, humor, ennui, heartbreak, gratitude, perspective and a whole lot of heart.

The Immigrant Journey Project opened with the story of Pa Lee Thao as she remembered sweet stories from her childhood in the village, such as losing a shoe in the river and going on dates. All of the vignettes told by the Hmong elders are told by the elders themselves in Hmong, which are then translated into English by one of the actors. It was so special and beautiful to see these wise community members become animated and engaged as they shared pieces of their past, many of which were beautiful and elegantly simple. The one exception was "Poison From the Sky 'Tshuaj Saum Ntuj' " by Cher Pao, in which he detailed how his village and their farms were poisoned by chemicals dropped on them during one of the many wars that devastated SouthEast Asia in the twentieth century. Pao's abrupt style was shattering, and the simple facets of his story laid bare the horror he witnessed as a young man. It was incredibly moving, and added a lot of gravitas to the rest of the show.

In between the Hmong elder's stories were two other biographical series. One, called "WISE," was the more modern telling of three young girls who are recent immigrants to America. Each has had a very different cultural and familial experience and has arrived to the United States for different reasons, but they also share several themes. Standouts included stories about the first time each encountered snow and the difference between foods and eating habits in their respective cultures versus the U.S. The girls were shy but engaging, and their vibrant, youthful perspective brought great energy to the performance. It was a joy seeing them work with the experienced Mu performers, with whom they clearly shared a warmth and comfortability that was inspiring to see.

The final series was the fictional and much more creative "Futuristic Potluck," staged by Mu Performing Arts' cast members. These were much sillier (and funnier) stories that were a huge hit with the children in the audience. There were some strong political themes raised in these potluck narratives, such as social anxiety, sexism, gender rights and cultural reflections on the year 2017 (from 50 years into the future of course), but the overwhelming sense from this series was community and positivity. Normally I would have found something like this potluck series to be really out of place and a waste of time in a show like this. However, when woven between the more serious and emotional true stories of the young and old immigrants featured here, the futuristic potluck provided a welcome dose of humor that helped break up each series of stories.

The live music on stage was unique and beautiful.

All of the stories of The Immigrant Journey Project were told through puppets made by the artists themselves under the expert tutelage of Masanari Kawahara (also known as Masa). I've seen Masa's puppets in action before but they never struck me quite as they did in this performance. Each puppet was clearly made with love and care, and it was so beautiful to see the artists represent themselves visually. Their vibrant and expressive use of color and shape made the puppets very relatable, and displacing their story through a puppet (rather than "acting" themselves) really helped to build confidence and project each person's narrative. The futuristic potluck puppets were abstractly creative (very reminiscent of Guardians of the Galaxy, actually) and a whole lot of surrealist fun. They were also shockingly expressive, a testament to the strong voice work of the Mu cast members.

The Immigrant Journey Project is exactly what we need more of in Twin Cities theater and an inspired choice for Mu Performing Arts to wrap up their 25th season. It is such a brilliant way to bring real-life stories to the stage in an authentic, respectful and engaging way. I love that it was able to give back to the community both in terms of training and arts, and in educating the audience about these vital stories. The Immigrant Journey Project is everything that Refugia should have been but wasn't. If you went to see the latter show, I strongly urge you to support The Immigrant Journey Project too. These are real stories from real refugees and immigrants about their real experiences in both of their homelands, and I am certain that any audience can find something to learn from these brave artists.

Tickets to see this show (at the new-to-me and fabulous Steppingstone Theater) cost only $10, and rest assured that any money you spend will be well utilized by Mu Performing Arts to continue this kind of community-focused work. My only wish upon leaving the theater last weekend? I would love to see this project re-created with the many other incredible immigrant communities we have here in Minnesota. While this is technically outside of Mu's mission and scope, they have proven themselves to be expert custodians of such narratives, and I hope we can apply their expertise to lift up other communities as well.

I highly encourage everyone of all ages to check out The Immigrant Journey Project with Mu Performing Arts at Steppingstone Theater before it closes on August 20. It's the perfect way to wrap up your summer theater series, and it's a model for artistic community engagement in the future. For more information or to buy tickets, click on this link. 
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Friday, May 26, 2017

Living the Podcast Dream with MN Tonight: Child Care Episode

It's amazing how things come full circle. 



CD's are out and vinyl is in. MP3 players went the way of the dodo, and parachute pants and chokers are back on fashion's frontlines. But you know what old technology is having the biggest renaissance of all? Radio.

Radio in the form of podcasting, that is. Who could have predicted even 10 years ago that an over 100-year-old technology would be the way of the future? With smash success podcasts like Serial and S Town (the former which broke the internet on its release in 2014 by going straight to #1 on iTunes and hitting 5 million downloads faster than any other podcast; and the latter which smoked Serial's record two years later by hitting 10 million downloads in only four days) sweeping the nation and jumps into the podcast pond from everyone from blogger influencers to Malcom Gladwell and Tim Ferriss, it seems everyone has some skin in the podcast game.

And why not? Personally, I think that in our oversaturated pop culture and era of unending newsfeeds, blips, clips, and quick taps and swipes there is a *deep* yearning among the general populous for thoroughly researched stories, nuance and thoughtfulness. It's why we're seeing such an upsurge in readership of major news and long form publications that have struggled ever since the internet ripped the print business model to shreds, or seeing an upsurge in interest in documentaries, or have long-form monologues like John Oliver's Last Week Tonight receiving millions of YouTube hits. People crave considered perspective, and it's just not possible to provide that level of insight in a 140-character soundbyte.

I am a huge fan of podcasting, online shows and long-form comedy for all of the above reasons. Additionally, they provide a free medium that can give me something to do on my walking commute or data entry days, and there are so many terrific, totally unique podcasts* that provide information I can't really find elsewhere. So I was so excited when MN Tonight reached out and asked if I would be willing to attend a live recording of Episode 5 of Season 2 of their life TV show. Although MN Tonight isn't technically a podcast (it's an online television program), the format really felt like my favorite podcast and comedy shows, so it was an opportunity to witness something totally new. I'd never heard of the show, but I couldn't pass this one up; an opportunity to indulge my nascent podcast obsession, get an inside view into how online shows are recorded and written, and learn more about serious issues facing Minnesotans today? SIGN ME UP SALLY.

MN Tonight is a multifaceted package; think Steven Colbert's musical interludes meets the Daily Show's correspondents meets John Oliver's well-researched monologues and interviews, and wrap all that up with a focus solely on Minnesota politics and current events, and you have a good idea of the subject matter. Season 1 tackled light subjects such as Islamophobia, police brutality, water quality, trans rights, and marijuana and liquor law changes on the ballot. Season 2 fits right into the fold with episodes (so far) on the bee and pollinator crisis, refugee communities, and affordable housing, all issues about which I'm super passionate and deserve a deeper (and more fun) dive than local newspaper clips are able to provide. Wednesday's show was a bit of a mix-up due to the special session at the state legislature; the show had Representative (and all-around #girlboss) Peggy Flanagan on deck to discuss the urgent issue of affordable childcare in the state, but she was unable to attend due to, you know, doing her job and shit. Thankfully the team was able to pull in Bharti Wahi, the inimitable head of the MN Children's Defense Fund**, and she did an admirable job of explaining the issues facing our state's most vulnerable population. MN Tonight founder Jonathan Gershberg did a good job of pinch-hitting to help fill the gaps, and it will be very interesting to see where he takes the show as he matures in his role as the show's host.

Outside of the featured interview, there were some inspired performances by the Shrieking Harpies***, who provided a few hilarious (and totally improvised! so impressive) songs about the Minnesota summer, brunching and other awkward tales. Kerri and Kenzi did a hilarious segment on the issue of legalizing weed that hit home with much of the Millennial audience. But my favorite sketch was easily Native American correspondent and MN Tonight writer Dave Anaya's wonderful segment on LIHEAP****, a vital federally funded program that provides financial assistance to provide heat through the winter for those with low incomes. As you might imagine this is an issue key for Minnesotans, and is urgently threatened as the program is on the chopping block in Trump's new budget. Anaya gave a richly rounded overview of LIHEAP and argument in its favor, and I would love to see more segments from him in the future. His winning delivery and clear passion for the subject really sold it to the audience, and you could see him fitting right in with Trevor Noah's Comedy Central crew.

Despite the programming hiccups, I had a romping good time at MN Tonight and I'm looking forward to tuning in to future performances. It's so fun when organizations "lift the veil" and allow audiences to participate in their activities. I stand 1,000% behind MN Tonight's mission to make issues that tend to be dry or boring for people in Minnesota a little "sexier," and I think they have a crack team that's only going to go further. I LOVE that they focus on issues facing all of Minnesota, even the small, poor, rural areas. I grew up in a small town and although I'm a city girl now, there are tons of people still living outside of the Metro and their issues matter too! There's a clear focus on diversity in the show, and I imagine that will only continue to grow as it evolves. The Brave New Workshop is a great comfy venue for MN Tonight and I hope that as the audience grows, more live shows can be added than just once a month (think Prairie Home Companion style).

I highly encourage you all to check out MN Tonight - I mean it IS free y'all - and support some of the causes they are detailing. The show is not only fun but provides real, actionable ways that all Minnesotans can be involved in making our state a better, safer, happier, healthier place to live, and who doesn't love that? Plus at the very worst, their branding is dope AF and you can get some gorgeous new local art to Instagram. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. You can check out MN Tonight at their website here, where details about the next live show and copies of past episodes can be found.

* I can recommend you *so* many podcasts - faves for sure are Malcom Gladwell's Revisionist History, The Tim Ferris Show, The Skinny Confidential, Serial and S Town of course, Krista Tippett's On Being, and NPR's How I Built This for starters - and that's just the tip of the iceberg. 

 ** Check them out guys - they do amazing work and always need extra support! Worth a volunteer day or a donation for sure. Link here. 

 *** The Shrieking Harpies are currently in residence at HUGE theater through the end of June, so make sure to check them out. 

 **** For real LIHEAP is super important - more information here. 
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Tuesday, January 17, 2017

GOOD KARMA: The Ghostlight Project

#bealight #ghostlightproject #allarewelcome

Photo courtesy of Mixed Blood Theater.
Ahead of the looming inauguration festivities (or, some might say, dirges) this coming weekend, theaters around the country are hosting a Ghostlight ceremony this Thursday, January 19 at 5:30 p.m. to help shine a light of solidarity with marginalized groups and fellow theater patrons who are concerned about current political events. The Ghostlight Project is creating safe spaces and commitments from the public to help defend such spaces across America; they define safe spaces as those where:

  • It is safe to be who you are, regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, (dis)ability, gender identity, or sexual orientation. 
  • Diverse opinions, dissent, and argument are not only tolerated, but invited.
  • Active listening and courageous exchange are fundamental values.
  • Collective action, activism, and community engagement, both within and outside the walls of the theatre, are cultivated, encouraged, and supported."
The event is meant to be a national event of solidarity and inclusion, and participants are coming from all 50 states and more than 30 local theaters and learning institutions. Twin Cities theater groups are certainly involved; just check out this list of attendees:

  • 7th House Theater
  • *Augsburg College
  • Girl Friday Productions
  • Hero Now Theatre
  • Impossible Salt
  • In The Heart of the Beast
  • * Intermedia Arts
  • *Lyric Arts
  • *Mixed Blood Theater
  • MN Theater Alliance
  • Moving Company
  • Mu Performing Arts
  • *The Ordway
  • Pangea World Theater
  • *Park Square Theatre
  • Patrick's Cabaret
  • *Penumbra Theatre
  • *Pillsbury House Theater
  • Prime Productions
  • Sandbox Theatre
  • *St. Olaf College
  • *Stages Theatre Company
  • Theatre Latte Da
  • Theatre Novi Most
  • *University of MN Theatre Arts & Dance
  • *Winona Senior High School Drama program
  • Young Dance

There's a wonderful piece up on CityPages about the local groups involved, much participation of which has been helmed by Mu Performing Arts' own Randy Reyes; check it out here.
Photo courtesy of Park Square Theater.
If you want to attend (and if you're free, you should; the event is only 30 minutes, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the respective locations), you have two main options:

In Minneapolis, Mixed Blood is hosting a coalition of theater companies and is participating with local businesses to provide specials. 15% of all proceeds from sales at the 7 Corners location of The Republic will go back to Mixed Blood that day, so make sure you stop by if you attend the ceremony. Their full schedule says: "Join us, along with representatives of 7th House Theater and Theater Latté Da at the firehouse beginning at 5:00pm. A brief presentation will occur at 5:25pm with our lights shining together at 5:30pm. Bring your own light source to share in this moment. All those who participate are welcome to then bring their light to the Republic at 7 Corners to further this important conversation."

In St. Paul, the largest gathering will be at Park Square; their schedule includes:

  • Gather under the 7th Place Marquee at 5:30 p.m. on January 19
  • “Light up” – use your cell phone flashlights or come wrapped in fairy light – to join our ghost light of people
  • Turn on the ghostlights in Park Square’s outer vestibule and in the Boss Lobby that will remain on as a symbol of welcome. Park Square will put its DEI pledge next to these lights
  • Group sing “We are a Gentle Angry People" by Holly Near.
  • Adjourn to Park Square’s Proscenium Lobby for coffee and hot cocoa
  • Make the “I am____ I fight for_______” pledge. Notes along with a board for display will be provided

More information on nation-wide plans at theghostlightproject.com.

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Tuesday, December 27, 2016

What's in Your Resolution?: 2017

Resolutions are a tricky thing...

Cooking more is definitely on the 2017 agenda. 

Sometimes they can be really helpful. For example, last year I made a resolution to be more consistent about working on the blog. Not only has that proved to be far more fulfilling than expected, but it has taught me so much about persistence, growth and self-teaching, and introduced me to some amazing new friends.

Resolutions can also be depressing, however: they don't always account for life's unexpected changes; you shouldn't only adjust your life or do positive things one time a year; and sometimes the goals you set for yourself can be a little overambitious.

So as I look forward to the coming year, I'd like to know: what do you want to see more of here? More books, more food, more shows? More museums or volunteering opportunities? I'd like to make this a two way project and post more of what you want to see.

Please let me know your thoughts! You can always comment here, or find me at my Twitter handle or Instagram. Until the next post, sending you all best wishes; I'm having a great holiday break, and I hope you all are enjoying a blessed end to the year.
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Monday, December 19, 2016

Best of 2016: GUEST POST (Are We Now or Have We Ever Been?)

For my first ever guest post, I'd like to introduce you to my wise friend Genesia. 

At Beyonce...who doesn't love Beyonce?
This amazing lady just turned 30, and let me tell you - she has some things to share. I've been trying to get her to do a guest post for me for a while, and when I read this it really resonated as a look back on the year and a good way to think moving forward. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did! 

I’m turning 30. Which I’m told comes with an existential crisis. Either I’ve been managing it’s flair ups deftly, or I’m in denial about how deep the rabbit hole of uncertainty actually is *shrug.* Either way, its abundantly clear to me that I’m smack in the middle of a transitional phase. It was not brought to me by Xerox in 4 parts without commercial interruption, it’s live.

The complicated-feels-turn-up is extra real.

Mostly, I’m comfortable with this change, and am excited to see what’s beyond the horizon of this milestone. Sure, I have angst aplenty, but not necessarily about this. I mean it’s weird don’t get me wrong, but also, turning 30 is kind of cool. One of the main gains with this shift into a new section of adulthood, is learning to be more unapologetic about the things that are (currently) important to me.
For example:
  • I make no apologies for being child free and not wanting to have children.
  • I make no apologies for going from attending church multiple times a week to joining Pillow Baptist AME Church for Happy Brunchers and Hustlers.
  • I have always been proudly black, so no issues there (even though, I did go natural a few years ago which is a change or whatever).
  • I make no apologies for being plus-sized.
  • I make no apologies for not wanting to get married anytime soon, if at all.
  • I make no apologies for choosing to eat out-in-the-street rather than make daily lunches.
  • In all these areas there is room for adjustment, but, I make no apologies for being where I am (currently) on this journey, for who I am or who I am becoming. Some things will change, some, will not.
I feel now, as I never have, like moons and like suns, with the certainty of tides that I am a force in this world. But even with the growing surety of my womanness there is something trailing, biting, that I have not been able to shake loose from my soul. Alas, try though I might, I cannot evade the reality of a world where open and deeply entrenched racism has intensified so much. To say nothing (right now) of patriarchy, rape culture, queerphobia, fatphobia, xenophobia, misogynoir.
Like teak credenzas, vintage white supremacy has returned.

And it’s nasty.
Biting. 
Vicious. 
Unyielding. 
Loud. 
Defiant. 
Demanding.

Children of the 90's were afforded a certain amount of space to grow. Even with disgusting displays of systemic injustice still seething through all sections of society and media (Rodney King being a poignant early childhood reminder that we were not, and had never been safe); Racism, though systemically ferocious in it’s destruction of our communities as it had been for our grandparents, felt (on occasion) hypothetical, diasporic, distant, coded. As (technical) 80's babies born a tad too late for big hair and shoulder pads, but just in time for the Tootsie Roll, just in time to be Naughty By Nature while hip-rolling to Aaliyah in our Jodeci Boots, we were in the lull between two battles.
Crack and the subsequent war on drugs, de-industrialization and the loss of access to normal economic means of survival, mass incarceration increases, furthering of historical housing and lending discrimination practices and the depression caused by the aforementioned had already destroyed the infrastructure around us. The rising action in the story arc of “Gentrification: The Musical” obliterated much of the world our parents grew up in. Where I grew up, vacant lots were the norm.

Neighbors were losing grip of neighborhoods that had been in the family for decades. Slow and deliberate, this decay sets the stage for everything we see now. It was here, formed on these previously vibrant slabs, we learned how to play the game. It was here, we were supposed to aspire to more. Which almost makes no sense. But we did hope, we did dream –even if those dreams were sometimes halted in the street, or cut short by circumstances. We believed we could achieve. In essence, as told by oh-so-many assemblies and graduation ceremonies, we believed we could fly.

Our parents, raised with a (relative) sense of security were smacked by the realities of coming of age during Reaganomics and under Bush the Elder. Though their world was crumbling, proving promises of progress to be false, they did their best to equip us with the lessons of their parents. If they had gained nothing from being the fruit of the civil rights movement and the babies of black pride they were conscious of their beauty, and of their rights. They owned that. Even if they couldn’t get loans from the bank to own something substantive to leverage any more than their grandparents could.

They started us young. Many of us cut our teeth on the demand for divestment from South Africa’s system of Apartheid. We had never set foot in, nor laid eyes on Africa, we even believed the lie that scratching your booty and being African was a great insult to be lobbed at kids who was black as us on the playground. Still we began to understand that we were a part of something bigger. We grew strong. We were given a foundation of variety, of options, of representation. We, though this system still hated us, were on TV, in so many shades and types. We were on radio. We were in sports. We were undeniable. Even when there were issues on the home front, we were visible, for one small moment, and if only to each other.
We grew strong.

I was recently asked, if I thought the collective ‘we’ is / if I am better off in America now or in 1960. This question was born of a genuine curiosity from the person who asked me, not, thank goodness, an attempt to throw micro-aggressive shade. I said I didn’t know. I tried in that moment, as I am trying now, to come up with a definitive position on this.

I just don’t know.

Here’s why: When I was 27 or so, Ferguson happened. Among various angering segments of media coverage, I watched, in horror, a clip one morning with an unhooded Grandwizard of the Klan, in plain view on MSNBC. He was discussing their local chapter’s campaign for ‘order’ while the community waited to find out if the officer responsible would be charged for murdering 17 year-old Mike Brown. The Klan had been distributing flyers in St. Louis, threatening lethal force for those who chose not to “behave.” Private citizens, were openly threatening black residents with violence, if these folks dared to have a response to systemic racism that was deemed unacceptable to them.

It was 2014.

51 years after the March On Washington.

58 years after the Montgomery Bus Boycott. 59 years after Mamie Till buried her baby boy. 1 year into the 2nd term of the first black president. We were supposed to be past this. As I typed that last sentence, I know it’s not true. I knew it wasn’t true then. But seeing that man on screen, unhooded and unashamed was a clarion call to what was, what is, and what was to come. I was shaken. And I remember sobbing into the phone on a call to my mother that day (I just needed to hear her voice). She and my dad and my village had built me to weather this. I wasn’t oblivious to the ways of the world. I was equally weary as I was aware. This should have rolled off me. And it just didn’t. I didn’t know why.

The fatigue I felt that day overwhelmed me. In that first conversation, hearing my mother’s words of comfort through her own bewilderment is when I first identified a responsibility that had been weighing on me.

Movements are created by the community. They are manned by all types of folks (though not all of us are regarded equally –especially when counting intersectional gender/social identities -specifically women and queer folks –who have oft been excluded from the historical record, despite mountains we move). Movements are energized by ‘young people.’ At every stretch they/we are the ones who will go out on the front lines, and stand for justice, for equity. It is then, in my opinion, the responsibility of those who came before (even if only just before) to pass on knowledge, to support, to help guide, to listen, and to toil with. As the eldest child, and as the 2nd oldest of my extended/blended siblings, this is work I am well-suited for. I want those who come after to have some measure of sustaining hope in these trying times. Seeing that man naked and unashamed, riding for his most racist of causes, stole my hope.

I feel like I’ve been living a long time. And miles to go before I dream.
I didn’t know until that moment, that this theft was possible. I didn’t know that I could feel as powerless as I did in that moment. His brazenness, or rather, his comfortability with being in the open, proved that things had reverted to something we were supposed to be conquering.

Decimation. Bewilderment. Indignation. I felt utterly unprepared to combat this devilment, for a few terrifying moments. How could I protect, or guide anyone, if someone like him shook me so? How can we be tasked with doing the saving of the children in our communal charge, if we are still children ourselves?

Diamond’s little girl was not saved from the carnage. We were forced to watch it happen, but we could do little. The little girl who spoke so bravely at the city council meeting in North Carolina in the wake of yet another murder-by-cop. Nothing could rescue her from having her pain, our pain, mocked. Sandra Bland, who’s mother undoubtedly had access to the same videos we did, is gone. Not protected. Tamir Rice. Within 13 seconds someone’s child was erased, and no one will pay. Alton Sterling’s son was not saved from his sobs, wailing, gnashing. Some of these children are old enough to be mine, are old enough to have come from me. Freddie Gray’s back didn’t break itself –despite what the state says. Rekia Boyd didn’t fire the bullet that killer her. Korryn Gaines’ little boy is the only one who stood witness to his mother’s execution. He is forever changed. He is 5.

How can I tell them they will be okay? This is the responsibility I feel. This is what I heard in my mother’s voice through the receiver (and in my father’s voice when I spoke to him later that same day). This is where I found myself that day. This is where I found myself this summer, x amount of years later, on the eve of teaching/facilitating a social justice summer camp I’d developed, the week after Philando. My staff and I wondered what we would say to the children about their power. We wondered if we would be unwittingly feeding them a lie.

The conflict, though immense, is not all dark. As much as I feel responsible to those walking with me, those who I can help guide and aid as they process this thing we’re fighting, I know those who came before are with us. I hear this when my grandmother is fired up, and is willing to continue the fight despite having endured what she has for decades. For example: I am reminded to call up the words of the negro national anthem — they understood these dark days. They spoke prophecy and a timely word at the time about continued hope.

…Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chast’ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet,
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered…
I know that I’ll keep going. It’s what we do.

I wrote this in sections. While reflecting on my identity, as I often do (let there be angst), it has become partially clear to me that much of the subject of my reflections is related to the feeling of being alone, or walled off. As an intersectional woman (I’m black, a black woman, just coming out of poverty *fingers crossed*), who spends a great deal of time looking for and observing connections that occur in life, history, business, relationships, faith, etc it can be lonely. As an individual, I’m a loner. Its just the way I’m made. I have wonderful interpersonal relationships and family for days. I am loved. And though I spend copious amounts of time alone, it doesn’t produce any loneliness in me. Realizing however, that the world has never seen me as a full human, does. White supremacy, like other systems makes people feel disconnected from others, and feel that they are alone and/or invisible in their struggle. In their toil. And in the case of privilege that they are alone in their success.

I see me though. And I see us.

I recently told my niece, who is 4 and deeply concerned about monsters, that there were no monsters in my house. In the world there are monsters, of this we can be sure, but I had them cleared out of my home. Express order. We then had a conversation about god, and how god was bigger than any monster. I believe this. Once she’d exhausted her questions (and me) about the nature of god, as if coming to a revelation she pointed out that we can kill the monsters, too. Each of us can kill the monsters. We have that power.

In a year like 2016, I think often of the sweet-by-and-by. Not that I’m in a hurry to get there, but I am reminded of Maya Angelou’s speaking of the inevitable Rise. I am reminded by Nikki Giovanni that we sip nectar from on high. I am reminded that there is a fire in us. That there is strength. That they too felt this thing, this nagging, persistent thing, and they wrote their way through. They sang their way through. They prayed their way through. They fought. They wailed. But they didn’t let this thing stop them. They learned to own their self. To master themselves — even though the world could often claim that right on paper. But never in spirit. They resisted. They resist.

We collectively and individually resist.

We are connected to the things in this world, in this life. But we are not only bound to the things we can see. Or the things that would overtake us. We are infused with power from on high, and/or from within. We are linked with those who came before and with those who are to come after, those who walk alongside. We are in a dance that propels us all forward. I do not always carry hope. But in the end I know that I’ve decided to persist. For as long as I can.

This is where I am right now.

Thank you for allowing to me to make note of this transition.
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Wednesday, December 14, 2016

GOOD KARMA: Help Aleppo Now; Donate to the White Helmets

I'm going to keep this one brief....

Raise your hand if you're appalled at the situation in Syria. Everyone's hands are up? Good.

This situation, particularly the dire, dire plight of refugees and Syrian citizens, has gone on for far too long. All reports out of Aleppo are beyond horrifying, and we must do everything we can to help those suffering there. It should never have taken things reaching this point for the Western world to wake up, but here we are: let's do something to fix it.

It can be really, truly overwhelming to try to figure out where to donate for worldwide crises. How do you know the money is being well used, or going at all towards the people you're trying to help? How do you choose between dozens of worthy organizations, each of which seems to need funding more than the last?

In this situation, I'll make the choice easy for you: donate to the White Helmets.

This extraordinary organization sends citizen volunteers - CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS - into the most dangerous situations imaginable to help those who are the most threatened, literally. A chief role they have played in Syria to-date is helping to uncover those who are buried alive in the rubble left after serious bombing, which happens devastatingly often (see the trailer above for the short about this group that is currently featured on Netflix. I promise, it's worth watching).

The brave men and women working for the White Helmets need every resource they can get, and thankfully we can help with that. Any donation, even $5 or $10 dollars, makes a difference - remember, 1,000 people donating $10 each is $10,000, and it grows exponentially from there. 

So for the sake of our fellow humans, for those who are suffering, for those who we have the defined obligation to help as much as we are able: please, please donate to the White Helmets. Consider it your good karma for 2017.
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Monday, November 21, 2016

Good Karma: Christmas with a Conscience

I know a lot of us are feeling motivated these days to do something to make a change in the world for the better.


I'm not much a fan of gift guides for giving stuff; this is America after all and I can guarantee that 90% of us have at least a few things (but let's be real it's really more like an entire room's worth of stuff) that we neither need nor use.
My gift of choice (no judging).
So rather than supporting the spirit of capitalism this holiday season, how about supporting some organizations that need your help? You can volunteer or donate, but either way, these groups are working for: healthier and safer communities; civil rights protections; media literacy and position-neutral in-depth journalism; a healthier environment; socially aware art; and general just cool stuff to make the world a better place. Please feel free to suggest any other great groups that I may have omitted - it takes a village!
Education
Education is a huge passion of mine and I love to support organisation helping kids grow. The MN Urban Debate League, hosted at my alma mater Augsburg College, does amazing work with kids in the city to help them gain confidence, learn debate, and become better public speakers. I love their work and they are a great place to focus donations! And while I'm at it, Augsburg College is a great place to send donations as well. They consciously cultivate one of the most diverse student bodies in the country and students always need extra help with scholarships and grants - your money will go far there. Rebound Inc. works with strengthening education and averting the prison pipeline for young African-American men; they're also an awesome place to give to.
Arts Organizations
I am a huge fan of purchasing tickets for plays, museums, concerts, exhibits, or season passes for the same, instead of giving people stuff. This is particularly true for little kids, who usually already have a huge amount of toys but don't often get to go see live theater or events. In that spirit, I definitely encourage you to consider purchasing the three show package at the Children's Theatre Company for the littles in your life - it's an amazing deal. Or if you want to support arts accessibility for everyone, contribute to my favorite company Ten Thousand Things. Their mission is incredible and I'd love to see everyone support it. And Black Table Arts is a collective featuring black artists and helping support their work, which often includes activism and supporting social justice initiatives. Black Table Arts often hosts free events - you can find more here at their Facebook page.
Healthy Journalism
Media literacy is a huge cause I support, particularly in the age of the internet. There is very little to help us sift through the detritus of the web right now so anything that helps provide us with more investigative reports with honest sourcing is a friend of mine. This is a list of organizations trying to do that work; please consider financial contributions to help prevent them from being privatized.
  • Democracy Now is a shining beacon in the current media swamp, providing incredible journalism on vital issues around the world. You will never regret an episode, and it is always available for FREE - help support their work.
  • NPR — local and national. Donate to your local member station.
  • ProPublica—leading some of the best investigative projects in the country, and designing incredible data and tech tools to do it.
  • Center for Public Integrity—Pulitzer-Prize winning reporting on everything from politics to juvenile justice.
  • International Consortium for Investigative Journalists—the folks who brought you the Panama Papers investigation, coordinated by hundreds of journalists across a dozen countries.
  • The Center for Investigative Reporting—they’ve got Emmys, Peabodys, and other awards, plus an excellent podcast, Reveal.
  • The Texas Tribune—pioneering a new approach to state politics and policy reporting, which is desperately needed.
  • Institute for Nonprofit News—a network of small and local nonprofit news publishers, who are usually paying attention to things the big players don’t or won’t.
Religious Organizations
The holidays are obviously a key time for religious organizations to engage donors and volunteers. Despite your personal beliefs, many of these organizations do great work all over the world (just keep in mind that work comes with a message). A sampling of effective organizations includes:
  • Lutheran World Relief: I have some strong family ties to this organization, which was the first Christian organization to provide aid to Palestine after the creation of Israel post-WWII. It's a great organization and near to my heart. They do a really cool gift program around the holidays where you can sponsor wells, buy livestock for farming families, provide families with medicine, or select other unique and truly useful items to give to families in need.
  • Samaritans Purse: If you've ever heard of Operations Christmas Child, look no further; this is the organization that sponsors that initiative, in addition to other acute aide relief initiatives. This is an evangelical Christian organization.
  • World Vision: Most famous for their child sponsorships, World Vision is an evangelical Christian organization tackling poverty around the globe. 
  • CAIR is doing amazing work in America to help dispel some of the taboos surrounding Islam and provide protections for Muslims who are endangered in our current political climate. You can learn more about their mission here. 
  • Afro Deli is a locally owned, delicious restaurant that also donates a portion of all proceeds to community organizations. You get amazing food AND support your local community? Wins all around.
Secular Organizations
If you're just not on board with "the reason for the season," look no further - these are great, international organizations that have been proven to truly give their donations to those in need, and don't come with a message attached.
  • Oxfam features a similar giving program to Lutheran World Relief, and their money goes far - roughly 80% of donations go straight to the causes they're intended to support.
  • If you crave a really personal connection to your donations, consider using Kiva, where you can choose directly the person your gift impacts. Better yet? It's a microloan with a very small chance of default; once the loan is paid back, you can reinvest it in another small business on the site.
  • Campus Kitchens is an incredible group that takes leftover food from school cafeterias and re-purposes it to feed the food insecure, be they senior citizens or kids in after school programs. It's an amazing mission I've volunteered with before and I highly, highly recomomend getting involved. The local chapter at Augsburg College goes way beyond food packaging, and also includes nutrition education, working in a community garden, multicultural holiday meals, and more.
  • I can easily guarantee you that the furthest bang for your buck locally will occur by giving to Second Harvest Heartland. This is another group I've volunteered with, and their impact is staggering. With short, two-hour long donation shifts covered throughout the week, volunteer impact last year alone gave meals to well over half a million people and more than 77 million meals.
  • The Experimental Farm Network is doing incredible work on the East Coast to help revive heirloom species, plant rare seeds from endangered climate zones (for example, they have quite a few items right now from Syria), and help people of color earn property. It's an ambitious mission they perform on a shoestring budget. You can donate and receive seeds from their collection (promised to be interesting!). Definitely check them out.
  • If you believe women's health isn't a niche issue and is actually quite vital to everyone's happiness and success (I do), consider donating to Planned Parenthood. They provide crucial services to women (and men!) of all ages, particularly in rural, under-served communities. They do amazing work and are going to need all the help they can get.
Ongoing Sponsorships
Do you have $20 or so to spare monthly? Then consider participating in an ongoing giving program. The Mocha Club is one such option, asking participants to give up a couple luxury coffees a month to sponsor ongoing aid work in Africa; the donations sponsor community based efforts. To sponsor a child in a third world country (usually for education, sometimes for other needs), give to World Vision (see the religious organization sections above). Or, if you're a fan of subscription services like Birchbox or StitchFix, you can get a 100% locally produced and curated box each month from MinnBox - a truly innovative way to support the local economy. Oh, and each of the products they feature is also eco-friendly and sustainable - they think it through.
Actual Stuff
If you just can't help yourself and simply must buy things for people, consider getting from companies with a strong social service mission. Lego has really committed to supporting social justice issues. Or you can go guilt free and purchase fair trade items from a place like a co-operative store or a fair trade focused website (like this one). I adored local artist Julie Van Grol's series of 100 Badass Women on Instagram in 2016 and she's selling prints of her amazing sketches here. If you want a wider range of options, try Etsy; in addition to getting something original, you can filter to only see products that will donate a portion of their proceeds to charity organizations (click the "proceeds to charity" filter when searching).

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