Category: Monday Spotlight

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Monday Spotlight: Baking With Oil

Before I get into this week’s Monday Spotlight, I want to be absolutely clear that my personal point of view is not sitting in this.  I am just bringing these topics up because they are two issues that are extremely current in our country where people are standing up and making a point for what they believe and how they feel about what is happening with the changes in our country.   I feel that it is important that we look at people’s opinions objectively so we can hear what they are saying before we actually make an opinion.  This goes along with everyday life and can be exercised here with these two very opinionated and political subjects.  Take from them what you will and I openly invite you to share your thoughts on them.  This is a completely open, unbiased forum for anyone in our community we call the United States. 

WE ARE ALL INVOLVED!!!

UC Berkley Bake Sale:  If you haven’t seen in the news at all, tomorrow, September 27th, the UC Berkley Republicans group is having a bake sale to show a satirical example of what is happening in California.  The state is currently awaiting Governor Jerry Brown to sign a bill that will let race, gender, ethnicity and geographic origin influence your admission into the university system.  Both sides of this argument make extremely valid points but what I can see from the argument is that for some reason it is sounding more and more like a republican’s vs democrat’s argument when it has nothing to do with political party.  Coincidentally the college republicans sponsored the bake sale but the end product is this; either way how we admit people into college, are they graduating by completing the same expectations as everyone else?  All I want to know is that once anyone is admitted into any university, are they leaving with the tools and are competent to do what is needed in their desired career and can they constructively add to our society?  In a day and age where the University system has become more of a money making business and less of a structured education house, I have to wonder if the student’s best interest is even being considered when any of these decisions are being made?

Here are a couple links that have additional thoughts and opinions on what is happening with the bake sale.  After tomorrow, we’ll see how much thought these differently priced goods create on the subject. 

Bake Sale Facebook page

CNN

Huffington Post

New York Daily News

Keystone XL Pipeline: For some time now, there is a proposal sitting on Capitol Hill to allow a pipeline to carry oil from central Alberta, Canada down to Houston cutting right through the country and going right through the Ogallala Aquifer.  Since the beginning of August, there has been a group, Tar Sands Action, that has been protesting outside the white house trying to convince President Obama to not allow this to happen.  Since they have began protesting, there have been more than 1,250 protestors arrested including actress Daryl Hannah.  This is a huge deal to do with much of the country.  It states exactly how much our elected officials are really listening to their constituents and says tons to how we treat the face of our country.  This also makes people question the integrity of our country attempting to wean ourselves off fossil fuels. 

To say the least though, these activists are definitely taking initiative on something they believe in.  In November they will be putting together an even larger protest.  Maybe their story will inspire you to go to D.C. and cheer with them or maybe it will inspire you to go and protest against them because you think it is a good idea for this pipeline to cut through our country.  My goal with Project Kinect is that you took a moment to think about it, find out some information for yourself, and make your own decision.  Happy Monday.

Here are some more references for the Keystone Pipeline Project

TransCanada

The Washington Independent

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Monday Spotlight:Art and Community

Art fascinates me.  I’ve never been one to be able to draw, paint, sew, work a pottery wheel or anything that entails arts and crafts, but I still get extremely fascinated by it.  This week in the late summer, I the Monday Spotlight to look at what some communities are doing to use art as a vehicle to bring them together.    With in these examples, I hope that you can bring something to one of the communities that you belong in.  Art is one of the best ways to bring a community together and have something to look at and know that you all worked together.

  • Art in the Public Interest: (API) is a nonprofit organization that supports the belief that the arts are an integral part of a healthy culture, and that community-based arts provide significant value both to communities and artists. Based out of North Carolina, they have really put focus supporting art that reflects not only a commitment to quality but a concern for the culture in which that work appears. One of the most influential projects they represent is the Community Arts Network. CAN is able to help you with direction and obtaining the tools you may need to create a community art based organization in your area. 

 

  • Made By Survivors: Created in 2005, married couple Sarah Symons and John Berger pooled all of their savings and with the help of their community of friends, organized Made By Survivors that is dedicated to fighting human trafficking and slavery with empowerment and social enterprise.  Their mission really speaks to me and I feel that what they are doing to assist with personal empowerment is an inspiration to us all.  You can read their mission right on their Facebook page. While you’re on their website, you can donate directly to their cause, or you can peruse their products and purchase a beautifully made handbag or set of earings.  Take some time there thought because the website has an infinite amount of information.

 

  • ArtInfo Sometimes you just need to keep up with what is happening, find a little inspiration, get some new ideas or just read a little gossip; Art Info can help you with that. This online magazine brings art, ideas, meeting show times all together to share with anyone who wants to view or be apart of the art community.  ” Our mission is to provide unparalleled access to the world of art and culture.” 
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A Word or Two from Mike Lofgren

Today, as I was looking through what was happening on truth-out.org, I came across this article by MIke Lofgren discussing the climate of both political parties, putting blame and truth on both of them for where our country is and the direction that it is headed in.  If you need a little history about Mike Lofgren, then you would like to know that he was a Congressional Staffer for 28 years.  He retired from his life on Capitol Hill after looking objectively at what is happening to the GOP as well as our government  in general.  I took the time to read the article twice to make sure that I wasn’t missing any extremely subjective views and I feel that he does a great job of just being an observer and placing fault on both sides. I do suggest reading the footnotes first because it will place you in a state of just reading the article opposed to try to negate what he is saying. 

Here are two excerpts that I really enjoyed to help give you an idea of what you will be reading if you are thinking about it.

  • Historical circumstances produced the raw material: the deindustrialization and financialization of America since about 1970 has spawned an increasingly downscale white middle class – without job security (or even without jobs), with pensions and health benefits evaporating and with their principal asset deflating in the collapse of the housing bubble. Their fears are not imaginary; their standard of living is shrinking

 

  • It was not always thus. It would have been hard to find an uneducated farmer during the depression of the 1890s who did not have a very accurate idea about exactly which economic interests were shafting him. An unemployed worker in a breadline in 1932 would have felt little gratitude to the Rockefellers or the Mellons. But that is not the case in the present economic crisis. After a riot of unbridled greed such as the world has not seen since the conquistadors’ looting expeditions and after an unprecedented broad and rapid transfer of wealth upward by Wall Street and its corporate satellites, where is the popular anger directed, at least as depicted in the media? At “Washington spending” – which has increased primarily to provide unemployment compensation, food stamps and Medicaid to those economically damaged by the previous decade’s corporate saturnalia. Or the popular rage is harmlessly diverted against pseudo-issues: death panels, birtherism, gay marriage, abortion, and so on, none of which stands to dent the corporate bottom line in the slightest.

 

To view the entire article, click here.  Please let me know your thoughts after you read it.  The purpose of posting this is to motivate thought on the climate of our national community.  This is necessary especially on a national holiday that celebrates rights that ironically, have been taken away in numerous states this past year. 

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Monday Spotlight: Personal Loves

This weeks Monday Spotlight is focused on some things that are extremely near and dear to my heart.  I have some things and people in my life that have really contributed to  who I am and how I continue to move forward as a human being.  We all have guide posts in our lives and some of them actually become staples that we must go back to and reconnect with.  Sometimes these guideposts, being a place, person, or thing, become part of your life and you can’t think of your life without them. 

  • The Ann Walker Show:   While getting into my online radio show, I was introduced to a very vocal and phenomenal woman named Ann Walker.  She would come on our show and we would give her time to give “Ann’s Rant”.  Talking with her during and after the show adds so much to my being because she always has a grace about her that carries so much knowledge, comedy and comfort.  Her new show is on The Global Voice Broadcasting Radio station and it gives her a vehicle to share her voice on a regular basis to anyone.  We all have a voice and Ann is a great example of how you can get your voice out there and be heard.  If you don’t like her opinion, that is fine but if she at least makes you think about a more important issue that concerns a larger population than your normal routine, then she is doing her job.  She is a huge believer of self-education and knowing what our government is doing when we’re not looking.  Thank you so much Ann for what you are contributing to our entire community called the United States.  Maybe one day she’ll finally run for an office. Here is where you can like her facebook page.

 

  • DiGn2it Magazine: Back in January, as I was getting ready to embark on Project Kinect, I started an online magazine with one of my best friends.  We wanted to create a space for people who have ideas that they want to write about.  These people could be new writers, adults who want an added thing to do that allows them to share a passion, hobby, craft or just to speak their voice.  Since we have started this magazine, there has been a great feedback from our readers as well as these new voices who are taking this opportunity to put something out there with their name on it.  Currently we have an extremely talented, ambitious and beautiful woman named Alex who will be taking over the ropes of the magazine.  Keep an eye on this woman because she will really create a brand for this still adolescent magazine.
  •   Survcast: I have been following Survcast for a while now on Twitter and just a couple weeks ago started routinely checking out the website.  You ask what survcast is? Well survcast is an online free speech engine. It has topics that are so diverse that anyone can get something out of it while being exposed to something that had never crossed their mind.  Today as I was looking at their facebook page, I noticed the article about Aaron Sorkin quitting facebook and then asking readers if you could quit facebook?  Before that, there was a post about Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is the first synthetic man-made female sex hormone (oestrogen) prescribed primarily to prevent miscarriage and complications in pregnancy.  All over the board to assist with anyone’s voice.  In their about us page, they state “When people rise up on a large-scale, other people take notice. Survcast provides the ideal format for this to occur”.  Take a look at it and get surprised by what you take away from it.  Start out by checking out their Daily Top Ten.  You will be shocked how content comes from everywhere.

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Monday Spotlight: Urban Farming and Chickens

It’s Monday and that means a new Monday Spotlight.  Since the very beginning of Project Kinect almost six months ago, two things keep coming back up and as we go into the next six months, I will be getting more focused on these community programs.  One of the topics that continue to come up all over our lives is Urban farming.   Urban Farming is so essential because we really need to discover the greatness for growing our own produce and herbs in spaces that can be utilized for such productive purposes.  The price of food is going up quickly and the number of hungry people is just growing along with it so it is time that we all learn how to get our hands dirty.  Expanding Urban Life, this weeks Monday Spotlight. 

  • Urban Farming: This website does a great job of forming a community with different people who have gardens.  You can find out what they are doing, learn from each other and share what great things are happening in your garden.  You register your garden and then show your progress.  That simple and yet so fulfilling.

 

  • Beginning Farmers: This is a website that if you have no idea even of what farming is, then they will spell it our word for word.  This site shows all farming and truly shows everything from how to find land, to specifics like mushrooms.  It is a wonderful tool for all farmers, beginners to advanced.  There is even the education on Urban Farming which is most beneficial for this Monday Spotlight.

 

  • Urban Chickens: Ever since I was sitting at that table with the couple from Atlanta in Austin in March, I have not stopped hearing about raising chickens in the city.  I think that this is a hard idea to get our minds around but once you do, you can see the benefits to having backyard chickens.  At this Urban Chickens website, you can find everything you need to know about getting started with a coup and buying, feeding, and taking care of chickens.  I also added two videos about the concept.  One is from Portland, OR and the other is from London.  Great ideas in both and it really gives the pros and cons to this new way of raising livestock. 

And from London…

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Monday Spotlight: Volunteering and Maine

  •  United Saints Recovery Project.    The United Saints Recovery Project started in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and has been working on rebuilding homes for natural disaster areas ever since.  Tuscaloosa was the next in their lofty endeavors and they are definitely making an impact.  For more information check their information page on their website.  If you would like to donate to them, check that out here.

 

  • Volunteer Maine: I’m so excited to get my butt up to Maine this fall and see a part of our country that I haven’t had the opportunity to see. Because of this, I have begun to research the next step of my trip.  Here is a great volunteer website that collects volunteer opportunities from all over the state.  Check them out if you’re in the area for these opportunities. 

 

  • Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project: After seeing how many people had no idea what legal help they had or didn’t even search because of a lack of funds in Alabama, I’m really interested in finding out how some organizations are really successful with their free legal assistance.  When I get up to Maine, I will be meeting with someone from this project to find out how and why they have been so successful. 

 

    The Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) coordinates the volunteer efforts of Maine attorneys and community members to help people of low income navigate the civil justice system. We provide free information, brief assistance and pro bono legal representation in civil legal matters to qualifying clients. Our volunteers give Mainers in need the tools and know-how to be equal participants in our legal system.
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Monday Spotlight: A Little LA

Being that I was in Los Angeles this weekend, I wanted to spotlight a few things from this wonderous city that I call home; Well one of my homes.  While I have been getting ready for this trip back to Los Angeles, I had a ton to get done and that included of course social media networking.  Despite how I try to ignore the friend suggestions that are offered on facebook, I checked out one of them because he had created an organization that assists in getting volunteers for different events and programs. 

  • The Los Angeles Service Club Created by Harrison Bloom,the Los Angeles Service Club is designed to bring together like-minded people dedicated to helping others by raising money and awareness to those in need for the Greater Los Angeles area.  This is a great way to get out into the community, assist, meet some great volunteers and not have to do the legwork  that it takes sometimes to research a good volunteer opportunity. 

 

  • Sofar Sounds I got picked up from the airport by my friend Michelle and one of the first things that she wanted to share with me was this living room concert series that she went to.  Apparently, a group from England were sick of playing for groups that would text, talk to each other and talk on the phone during their concerts. The result is that they decided to tour and start playing for smaller crowds in more intimate settings.  I personally feel that this is the best way to get people together that just want to enjoy the music.  Don’t get me wrong, a live concert with thousands of people is amazing, but there is something to be said for just pure enjoyment of the music;  AND, it’s BYOB

 

      
  • We Love Long Beach My friend Christine came up from Long Beach on Saturday and was so excited that she got to volunteer with this organization.  The Mission Statement is “To know and serve the people, the neighborhoods and the City of Long Beach”  I personally think that it is an amazing endeavor to really get the people of Long Beach feeling more like a community through breakfast.  Who doesn’t love breakfast?   Once a month the people of We Love Long Beach raise from donations, all of the food for breakfast and then invite the entire community out for breakfast.  While they’re there, they can help make breakfast, get involved with community events, or just work on getting to know each other which of course helps to build an event stronger city.  I really think that this is a project that is easily adaptable into other communities and doesn’t take as much to organize as other larger events might be.  Seriously, let’s have breakfast!  
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Monday Spotlight: Some Videos of Interest

I figured that since I am home for another month or so, why not share more of the research that I am doing and put into a weekly feature called the Monday Spotlight.  In this space I will share some of the great things I am seeing done across the country that are focused on creating and inspiring change for all people, without judgment or prejudice.

This video really comes from Leslie and American Sans-Cullotes and is talking about a simple form of pay it forward that can easily be started by anyone.  Here, Leslie begins the chain with gift cards to a local grocery store.

  • This last weekend a film was featured in several different cities in the country and I definitely think it is relevant to what we need to be focused on in our society.  This film was created out of the minds of National Geographic and all shot b people from all across the globe.  Then name of the movie is Life in a Day
  • The final concept for this Monday Spotlight is the Imagine Cup.  I came across this from Amelia’s Adventures. This video concentrates on finding a solution for visually impaired students to still be able to learn in a traditional classroom setting with a blackboard and teacher in the front of the room.  The underlying focus of this video though is that is technological solutions better than policy solutions when empowering individuals with disabilities.
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