Posts with the tag community

Love Translation by Joan Cartwright

Diva JC — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:32:15 EST

This video says all I can think of.

http://www.youtube.com/user/divajc#p/u/14/28KppgdX4qc

Love and music,

Diva JC

Programs in Your Community

Voice of Vision 'Nterprise — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:48:30 EST

There are various programs launched in the school system to teach youth and young adults how to become professionals in their fields of interest. Tell us what community programs are in your area that encourage young people to generate revenue for themselves?

1 Year

Susie Keeney Edwards — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:32:47 EST

Wow,
I can't believe that only one year ago, we began our new journey of continuing the real work of America: creating a society in which everyone has the same opportunities and rights, as well as becoming a good world neighbor once again.

We still have a long way to go, but we have a really good start, thanks to the hard work of Barack Obama & his staff.

My belief is that everyone in the world has a human right to food, shelter, clothing, education & healthcare. When those essential human rights are achieved by working together for everyone's good, we shall see an end to violence & crime against each other.

We are all from the same family...the human family. Let's keep up the good work!

Still

Sheena B. — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:37:38 EDT

Yes believe is what we must do as acommunity and country if we want to see the evidence of growth. Believing is not just belief in the mind but,our daily actions.I speak for myself to be more involved with our community .Attend your local town meetings . Write down the desires that you have for your community. Then do those things that will materialize your desires .Your hard work is needed for this country. We the people will help make this change worth while. Just believe

New To Community

JKBrock940 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:01:32 EDT

If you would like to get to know me and see my pics, follow me on twitter/JustinKBrock, or on facebook/JustinKeithBrock

President Obama, have you forgotten your promise?

BookwormBev — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:20:49 EDT

President Obama,

You were elected with the greatest wave of hope that I have seen since the election of President Kennedy...

...and now I feel terribly let down.

You have allowed, yes allowed the radical right to capture the emotions of this nation.

Although your negotiating skills are important; although your intelligence is important; although your organizing abilities are important; the most important ability you have is the ability to inspire.

You have not been using that ability lately at all. You have gotten sucked into the endless chess game of power and politics, and you have neglected your constituency, big time!

I listen to the news and the talk shows with dismay. I have been to a town hall meeting on health care with Lynn Woolsey. The passion and fear of the radical right was prominent, although not in the majority. It is hard to believe that so much credence is given to such outrageous lying. The right wing does not approach this subject, or any other, as far as I can tell, with logic or facts; its approach is on a crazy version of faith. It is like people who twist the bible to support their hate and then say, "The bible says it and I believe it." They forget that the people who hated Jesus were the ones who upheld the letter of the law, but not the spirit; the ones who were judgmental and divisive, not the ones who believed in love and community.

The greatness of the United States was NOT achieved by people acting alone, as much as independence is prized here. It was achieved by people acting together. People harvested their crops together, raised barns together. People helped each other. They were good neighbors. We developed a system of free public education, so all children could be educated, not just those of the rich and powerful.

Respect for the United States in the world was not born of military prowess, but of respect for the generosity, caring and fairness of the American people. It was because, at one time, we took the high road, the road less traveled!

Now we have fallen. We take the low road, talking about the necessity for something we don't call torture, but is. We kill, not to protect people from tyranny, but to protect *our* resources, even if they are located in the countries of others.

I find it so hard to believe, President Obama, that you seem to be cooperating with those who are so short-sighted as to believe that the well-being of the United States rests with military domination.

You talk about health care, but you have given away everything important that you might have done for health care. You talk about health care costs, but you are no different than President Bush in your spending our hard-earned wealth on death, on military adventures and military toys. Do you hope to save on health care and give those savings to the military?

Is it time for me to realize that I have been had? That in handing you this election, the American people have been had? Where is the man I voted for?

Yes we can...what? We can sit by while you allow the military-industrial complex and the insurance vipers to destroy America? I don't usually use that term, America - it applies to pretty much the whole western hemisphere, but I use it now, for the idea of American. The idea of people living together in freedom and peace, in community, caring for the well-being of all - not just our families, not just our town, not just our state, but everyone, everywhere. I thought we were nice people! What happened? Tears come to my eyes as I write these words. What happened?

I could understand the trend under President Bush - but you?

I know you cannot single-handedly do it all. But you have ceased to be a leader, because a leader inspires. A leader calls to the best and highest in us. The majority of Americans responded to that call when they voted for you. They were overjoyed at the opportunity to put their energy into positive endeavors at last.

You are gone, it seems. You have gone over to the fraternity of the rich and powerful.

I am dispirited, left behind, holding the (empty) bag of hope, while the mean-spirited rejoice.

Need Help Caring for Your Critters?

The Planned Animal Lovers Community — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:53:24 EDT

Me, too.

Just think...

As disabled or elderly folks, we can't always do everything we'd like - or need - to do for our critters. If we lived in a community of other animal lovers, we would have neighbors who understood our plight and could help us. Conversely, we could help them when they need it.

That's what community is all about.

Wouldn't it be great to know that, if you had to go in the hosptal, or just caught a bad cold and needed to rest for a few days, that there would be someone close by who is familiar with the care and feeding of your pets?

ADD -Attitude Decides Destiny

Unknown user — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 01:27:32 EDT

It is The Attitude that will change us Attitude is not a simple word Attitude is reltionship management ,is everything How we look at, is attitude How we act, is attitude How we react ,is attitude How we support causes,is attitude And Finally What Lessons we should learn from the mistake (not to repeat)is attitude

The American Graduation Initiative

Jill 4 Obama — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:58:23 EDT

TUESDAY, JULY 14TH, 2009 AT 5:52 PM

Investing in Education: The American Graduation Initiative Posted by Katherine Brandon

As part of his effort to build a stronger foundation that will allow us to lead in the global economy, the President announced today a historic initiative to strengthen our nation’s community colleges, and called for five million additional graduates by 2020. Speaking at Macomb Community College in Michigan, the President stressed the importance of education to America’s prosperity: But we also have to ensure that we're educating and preparing our people for the new jobs of the 21st century. We've got to prepare our people with the skills they need to compete in this global economy. (Applause.) Time and again, when we placed our bet for the future on education, we have prospered as a result -- by tapping the incredible innovative and generative potential of a skilled American workforce. That's what happened when President Lincoln signed into law legislation creating the land grant colleges, which not only transformed higher education, but also our entire economy. That's what took place when President Roosevelt signed the GI Bill which helped educate a generation, and ushered in an era of unprecedented prosperity. That was the foundation for the American middle class.
(President Barack Obama greets the crowd at Macomb Community College in Warren, Mich.,
Tuesday, July 14, 2009. Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) Yesterday, we told you about the Council of Economic Advisers’ report about the future of the U.S. labor market. The report described a shift towards jobs that require greater analytical and interactive skills, and the benefits of higher education. It is expected that jobs requiring at least an associate degree will grow twice as fast as jobs requiring only a high school education. The President understands that education is fundamental to reviving our economy and strengthening our workforce, which is why he is committed to increasing graduation rates, and has asked every American to commit to at least one year of higher education: But today I'm announcing the most significant down payment yet on reaching the goal of having the highest college graduation rate of any nation in the world. We're going to achieve this in the next 10 years. (Applause.) And it's called the American Graduation Initiative. It will reform and strengthen community colleges like this one from coast to coast so they get the resources that students and schools need -- and the results workers and businesses demand. Through this plan, we seek to help an additional 5 million Americans earn degrees and certificates in the next decade -- 5 million. (Applause.) You may remember Dr. Biden recently spoke about the critical role of community colleges in our higher education system. Community colleges are rapidly growing, and are needed now more than ever to keep America competitive. The American Graduation Initiative will build on the strengths of community colleges and launch new initiatives and reforms that will increase their effectiveness and impact by figuring out what works and what doesn't, modernize facilities, increase graduation rates, and expand and create new online learning opportunities.

Read the White House fact sheet on the American Graduation Initiative.

The Initiative is estimated to cost $12 billion over the next decade, but the President has outlined a plan to pay for it by cutting waste, while increasing Pell Grant scholarships and reducing the deficit: Not since the passage of the original GI Bill and the work of President Truman's Commission on Higher Education -- which helped to double the number of community colleges and increase by seven-fold enrollment in those colleges -- have we taken such a historic step on behalf of community colleges in America. And let me be clear: We pay for this plan -- this isn't adding to the deficit; we're paying for this plan -- by ending the wasteful subsidies we currently provide to banks and private lenders for student loans. (Applause.) That will save tens of billions of dollars over the next 10 years. Instead of lining the pockets of special interests, it's time this money went towards the interests of higher education in America. (Applause.) That's what my administration is committed to doing.

Disabled?

The Planned Animal Lovers Community — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:37:37 EDT

Just a little disclaimer and some more info about us here...

First, if you think, looking at the picture of me and my horse, that I don't look disabled, think again. That picture is nearly 10 years old, and if you look closely, I was wearing a back brace then. Since then I have had 3 cervical discs replaced with "spacers" (the FDA has not yet approved the actual disc replacements yet - see the next paren), and been diagnosed with 5 herniated lumbar discs (awaiting FDA approval of surgical techniques successfully used in Europe for years), emphysema, arthritis and a myriad of other health problems, including a TBI (traumatic brain injury) that affects my cognitive abilities.

My poor old horse ain't gettin' any younger, either. He was mildly foundered years ago, and has an arthritic shoulder from a fall we took. The last time I was on his back was to ride him to the polls, fully tricked out in banners and flags for our candidate, on Election Day 2006 to vote for Texas Governor. The 5 mile round trip was about all either of us could manage. Both our tails were dragging by the time we got home - but we made our statement!

Second, I am not noted for my tact nor my political correctness. Just to support that statement, I'll say that Jack Nicholson and Bill Mayer are two of my favorite celebrities. That should tell you something! So, if you're easily offended, you can leave - don't go away mad, just go away. Don't complain; I do enough of that all by myself!

On the other hand, if you're serious about helping elders and disabled persons obtain better living conditions, then you'll just have to overlook my abrasive personality, and look at the beauty of this plan. Yes, of course, this is a self-serving enterprise, but if I can help myself AND help others at the same time, I can die peacefully, knowing I have left a legacy of good.

Http://savingtails.blogspot.com only outlines the PAL Community; I have published more details of the plan in other places, but I'll be darned if I can remember where ... I guess I'll have to re-write it. (A mind is a terrible thing to lose.)

Finally, I am in serious need of organizational help for this project! If you have the skills and/or funds necessary to help us obtain 501c3 status, funding, grant writing, advertsing, lobbying, or just want to help by being a supporter, please join my team in groups, blogs, causes, or wherever you find me. I may post on Facebook (see Critter Link), MySpace, Twitter, and wherever else I am.. Meanwhile, you may be able to find PAL by Googling "savingtails" , "critterlink", "Critter Link" or "PAL Community".

Addendum: My keyboard is worn out and sticky, and I'm a lousy typist, so I make lots of typos that i don't always catch. Please pardon me; I do the best I can.

Mitakuye Oyasin (We are all related),

CritterLink

Where to find the PAL Community Project

The Planned Animal Lovers Community — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:32:36 EDT

Please visit my blog: http://savingtails.blogspot.com. If your are an animal lover who is disabled or elderly, and on a small fixed income, this is important to you!

National Day of Service Results!

Dr. Gina — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:28:03 EDT

First and foremost, my volunteer committee is AWESOME!!! It was a wonderfully planned event. We encouraged over 50 people to seek their health care reform answers. And I must say the Redmond PCC's "Grillin' & Chillin'" event is deliciously healthy and AWESOME!

I enjoyed almost the whole day. My committee reasonably agreed to NOT proselytize health care reform and convert people. ALL we wanted to do is inform people and encourage them to write their legislators on their views of health care and any reform. Those who absolutely do not want reform were NOT forced. Those who needed more information, some of us briefly supplied it--pretty much HealthReform.gov. NO PRESSURE!!!

Then the switch in shifts. Volunteers who were untrained. Even after training, arguments ensued. Only a couple of us served on this committee--an lucky me--I had to deflect asinine behavior. Now I KNOW I WAS CORRECT IN STOPPING IT!

1) PCC IS A BUSINESS AND THEY DO NOT WANT THEIR NAME RAKED THROUGH ANY MUD--COMMITTEE AGREED

2) THE EVENT IS A COMMUNITY SERVICE IN A MAINLY CONSERVATIVE AREA SO SUPPORT THE NONPROFIT! COMMITTEE AGREED!

3) HANDING OUT LEGISLATORS ADDRESSES, TELLING PEOPLE HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO THE EDITORS WITH NEWS MEDIA ADDRESSES AND IF THEY WANTED TO SHARE THEIR STORIES IS ALL THE COMMITTEE AGREED TO DO!

So why in the HAYLE are asinine people discussing that mammography radiation causes breast cancer, so don't get mammography? That is irresponsible and that is not a conversation to engage in this event.

I called it off and the ASININE people decided to call the manager of the store to bust me--I KNOW WHY--RACISM!

How can a BLACK WOMAN be professionally in charge of this? Typical of the area. Why am I not shocked? Now if I did go off in my sistah-mode, folks would have called the po-po. I am so sick of this bigotry. It is dumb!

Donations needed to create a Safe Haven for Children in Deprived Rural Town

Candice from Newport, AR — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:55:22 EDT

My name is Candice Cox; I am a 27 year old African American Therapist with a huge heart and small pocket book. J I moved to Newport, AR from St. Louis, MO in September of 2008 with my husband, and 3 year old daughter to provide my services to a community in need as I have 9 years experience working with children and families. Since being here I have realized that this community is depressed as a whole. The children are being jailed, expelled, and placed on house arrest for non violent crimes caused within the schools on a daily basis. Many children do not leave the area or graduate from high school due to being buried under generational barriers of their families. The only options for entertainment are the bowling alley that is only open a few hours a day and the skating rink open only on the weekend. There aren’t many services geared toward introducing and implementing life or parenting skills but they are needed as children are products of their environment. Since being here I have partnered with the Branch Community center, a 501 (c)3 non-profit, and we have been working toward obtaining money to rehab their 137,000 sq ft building to create a community center filled with services and resources. The building, located in "the hood" was quick deeded to the organization 5 years ago and has been operating on personal money and small donations. This building is not acceptable to put children or adults in as it has not been updated since it closed in 1970 due to integration, it served as the school for minority children in Newport. We have received shut off notices for several of our bills and are scrapping to provide basic supplies for the community members who do attend the facility. Please help. I have lost two jobs for unknown reasons due to people within the community feeling that I am trying to cause a problem. I am not violent, aggressive, or a threat, I just see a need and state the facts. Because of my passion and dedication to root for the underdog, I have been told that my upfront and honest personality is considered disrespectful in the south. I cannot turn a blind eye and remain silent when I know that there is blatant classicism and some racism that continues to drive decision in this town. My heart breaks to see the children here as they do not dream to be doctors, lawyers, artist, or even employees. They strive to be baby mommas, drug dealers, inmates, sexual partners, and thugs. I don't feel that it is fair for anyone to live under these conditions as everyone’s life is important and valuable. The parents feel helpless as they lack the basic parenting skills to raise their children, the basic life skills to reach beyond their walls, and the appropriate mental health care to handle the emotional instability within their lives. The people suffering here are of all races but sadly the minorities are suffering the worse as they feel they are only deserving of what they have. Please help me help them. I am at the point where I feel that I will have to leave to make sure my child receives the education, resources, and life that she deserves if things don't change here. A silver lining in the clouds occurred on May 13, 2009 when I was introduced to Rasheed Salaam, Be A Champion Foundation, and learned there are other individuals who share the belief that life is about people and not things. Recognizing the similarities in our ideals and values the Newport, AR Chapter of the Be A Champion Foundation was discussed and set into motion. It is our goal to wrap the community in services that are geared toward enhancing the community one family at a time through building people and not businesses. With the assistance of Be A Champion I feel a renewed spirit as I am sure that we are going to create opportunities and open the doors of our younger and older generations thru enhancement on the community, family, and individual levels. Sharing this vision and passion with my fellow members of the Branch Board they unanimously voted to form a partnership with both companies on May 14, 2009. It is my hope that our partnership and visions manifest quickly but having an understanding of systems allows me to think realistically about the generational barriers within our path that may slow us down. As I stated earlier I was terminated from my jobs as a therapist, for an unknown reason that was not related to my skills as a clinician, but I am continuing to write and implement programs, grants, and volunteer at the community center on a daily basis as well as work with the mentally ill for free on a daily basis at Clinical Neuropsych. I am not from this town, county, or state but I feel there is a reason to be here because I want the children and families within this community to experience the world beyond their walls. I cannot sit and wait for the world to change. After attending a Community Economic Development meeting in April my research was confirmed when statistics from the Governor were presented highlighting the fact that this community has maintained the same economic and educational deficits for over 50 years. In 2007, less than 50% of Newport 4th, 8th, and 11th graders were able to read or complete math on their appropriate grade level. In my mind, it is not ok for children to be educated solely by a school district that has created and maintained vast educational differences between the races for years and continue. It may not be the fault of the district as a whole but the numbers scream that a different approach is needed to approaching children and families as the current approaches and past have only maintained the illusion that one race is superior to another. This we all know has never been true.For this reason it is my hope that you will assist us in this process as we, Amaris Inspirations, Be A Champion, and the Branch Community Center work together to create and maintain a better opportunity for our youth and a brighter future for their families. We have agreed to work together to launch a national fundraiser and implement programs such as College for Kids, Various Solutions, and the Be A Champion Program. This community needs an outside hand as they are not aware of their needs because they have recreated the same environment over and over for years and have no idea of the world they deserve. This community is dying and there is a lot of talent here, not only in the children but in the community as a whole. No one deserves to wake up every day of their lives waiting to die. That is neither fair nor ok. Please look at the link http://sites.google.com/site/amarisinspirationsllc/ under Branch Community Center to get a look at the place where the poor kids are expected to go. If you look at the building and feel that it is up to par for your child, someone in your family, or someone in your community, please disregard this letter. If you wonder how anyone, especially people in a position to implement change, can think that these things are acceptable for any human being please contact me with resources, encouragement, support, etc. I don't know what else to do. I am excited about the things to come but I know we need more support to change the mindset and movement of a community.I wrote to you because you are a person who looks at the value of every individual and I know that you are aware of the issues that are plaguing our children, especially in the small rural areas. Please help. Thank you for your time, I hope to hear from you in the future. My email address is amarisinspirationsllc@gmail.com , the Branch Community Center address is 419 Jones Newport, AR 72112, email is branchcommunitycenter@hotmail.com and my number is 870-664-9488.

Candice E. Cox, LMSW

Volunteer Program Director

Help needy to help needy families with clothing!

Tom Rodgers — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:37:24 EDT

I am asking for donations to help needy families that can not afford to purchase clothing. I operate a community service agency in Cusseta Ga. I assist needy families with clothing needs. I provide clothing for free to the truly needy. I am in need of financial assistance to purchase more clothing to continue my program. Any donation will be greatly appreciated.

Please send donations to Tom Rodgers PO box 968 130 Michelle Circle Cusseta GA 31805-0968. "Please Mark your donation Clothing Assistance Program"

I am a Registered Charitable Organization with the State of Georgia Secretary of State, Registration Number CH-08090.

Please visit my website for more information at http://tomrodgers723.community.officelive.com

http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3163308-10508245

Local OFA Steering Committee Meeting

George A Sanders — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:53:13 EDT

We (a group of team leaders and volunteers in York County) decided we needed to stay in touch and brainstorm things we can do locally to improve our community. We wanted to be ready to mobilize volunteers and share information when the national OFA calls on volunteers to help with projects.

We are looking for volunteers to present ideas for projects and to organize projects. The only rule to get your voice heard is to show up. See the extended post for details...

The local steering committee meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:30pm at the Red Lion B&B, 101 S Franklin St, Red Lion PA 17356. Contact George and 717-332-7429 or george.a.sanders@gmail.com for more information.

God’s Mighty Men - Giving Back to our Community

New Hope — Tue, 26 May 2009 00:03:25 EDT

Time for God’s people to arise and take possession for the kingdom.

To declare the mighty works of God for His Church.

He will cause us to rule and reign in Christ. It’s His power and glory that He is bestowing upon His Church. He is anointing his Church with the power of the Holy Ghost.

We are being transformed into the Mighty Men of God, his new force on earth to meet and triumph over all the challenges and obstacles that come against his Church, the people of God.

These Mighty Men will be the new giant killers of the Kingdom of God. To destroy the works of Darkness; to totally defeat the enemies forces.

We are more than conquers through Christ, through the Christ that lives in us.

He shall cause us to tread upon serpents and scorpions, over all the powers of the enemy.

Just as Joshua and Caleb said that “Let us press in and take the land, for the Lord has given us this land. These people, these giants in the land that the Lord has given to us are bread in our hands. For we shall devour them with the breath and might of our God.

As we worship the Lord and give Him our bodies, our minds and our hearts. We shall increase in strength and power. To know that the Lord our God is with us.

If God be for us, who can stand against us…

As we begin to meditate upon His Word, we shall grow in courage and be as bold as lions. He will no longer suffer to see His Church defeated and oppressed. For He has anointed us to destroy, to break every yoke of bondage.

Let us give back to our communities. Let us not turn aside our eyes from those who are in need. Let us be restorers of the breach, reaching out to the Hurt and Needy. Let the compassion of God well up in our hearts, that we would hear the cry of the needy and help to comfort them. Help them with housing, food, Love and comfort.

Thank you, Lord Richly Bless you,

Peter

Let us give you New Hope for Homeowners.

http://www.newhopehotline.com

Men with a passion to follow after God: email us at info@god4men.org
Visit us on the web: http://www.god4men.org
Reaching towards the Mark, stepping out to New Hights: www.mylife-coach.com

Community Technology Center

Aaron — Tue, 05 May 2009 23:11:40 EDT

I'm trying to start a Community Technology Center in Cortland based on the FreeGeek.org model. If any Cortlanders here are still active and you are interested in getting involved, please let me know!

My presence doesn't matter unless I take action!

Sandi Hughes — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:20:03 EDT

There is certainly plenty to do in this life and those who speak of boredom, or being too tired to do more, miss out on so many of life's blessings. I speak from experience. My plate is certainly over-full with tasks to be completed; and yet, I made a decision last November to support a presidential candidate who calls for "change". Am I such a fool that I dare I cast my vote and leave the action to the man I helped put in office when his campaign called on "me" to participate? No. I cannot be such a fool. "Apathy" was the word of the day during my high school years and we rallied to fight against it then. I have not forgotten that call to action, nor will I ignore it now. Some time has passed since the election and now I must jump in and participate. Whether I act alone or with a legion of like-minded citizens, I will ACT! For those who would join me, pleae step forward and make yourself known. I am in Anza, CA and am looking for others in this community to work with me for building jobs and creating greater success in our community. Let's do this together. I want to hear from you. 951-312-6858.

Organizing Meeting Saturday 5/2/09

Ross — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:50:07 EDT

To effectively plan for and build up to the Clean Energy Jobs Days, we'll hold an Organizing Meetings on Saturday May 2nd at 2:00 at the Barrow Mansion in Jersey City. Please go to:

http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=93104&id=

to sign up. What's the Clean Energy Jobs Day?

On May 28, all over the country, we're organizing a Clean Energy Jobs Day -- a national day of action to turn up the heat on Congress by showing the promise of the clean energy economy to our senators and representatives, the media, and the public. We'll highlight the clean energy jobs and businesses that already exist in our communities, and we'll showcase the ways in which they could expand. During the Jobs Day, each MoveOn Council will organize a press conference at a clean energy business, and then visit a few other clean energy sites. We'll call on their senator or representative to support President Obama's plan for a new energy economy.

More details and upcoming events on our blog:

http://jerseycity-hoboken-moveon.blogspot.com/ Please join us

Rossella Aquila

MoveOn.org Coordinator

Jersey City Hoboken Council

$1 At a Time Will Help!

Tom Rodgers — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:19:00 EDT

I am asking you all to spread the word that everyone can do their part in your local communities by making a donation of $1 at a time.

I would like to ask all of you to make a donation of $1 each month to help me with my non-profit community services agency.

Please send $1 each month to Tom Rodgers,T&C Services PO Box 968 Cusseta, GA 31805-0968 706-464-6546 email me at TomRodgers723@hotmail.com.

Please visit my Website at http://tomrodgers723.community.officelive.com

ONLINE VETERANS COMMUNITY

WEBMASTER — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:42:47 EDT

President Barack Obama says all Americans have a “sacred trust" with the military personnel who have served this Nation, a responsibility to reward courage and self-sacrifice with all the benefits an open democratic society can provide.

MyVetwork (myvetwork.com) provides the solid foundation for a vibrant network of support in the spirit of that sacred trust to improve the lives of not only our active duty personnel and the 600,000 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, but all our nation's estimated 23 million living military veterans - and their families, too.

MyVetwork is already operational, with the capability to service the Veterans Community—for the first time—in three intersecting strings, known as a Trident Connection, add up to One Trusted Source for Veterans that anyone connected to the government understands is crucially needed:

Connection: An easy to use—free—means for our service men and women (all branches, all conflicts, whether active duty, veterans or retired) and their extended families to connect and shape their own community where they can interact and exchange information on getting the services and resources they need (replacing current “Needle in a haystack” searches with the badly needed “Bingo. Found it!” laser-like search). Employs a cool Pin View that makes it easy to:
- Locate people you know, like buddies from combat
- Find people you don’t know, the very people—living nearby or half a world away—with whom you most want to connect based on values, interests, concerns, and specific experiences you’ve identified as important
- Find jobs the MyVetwork way: the “job board on steroids” helps find work that matches your interests and skill sets, and helps vet-friendly employers ensure vets get first-look opportunity at available positions.
Information: MyVetwork is building the innovative “Milipedia” with content specifically shaped by and for the military community, continually adapting to the needs of service personnel and their families and updating the information they seek, especially in the areas of healthcare, education, money and finance, and careering. Whether cutting through the red tape to benefits programs available from the VA; differentiating the proliferation of local services and programs; or finding specific people offering advice and support, Milipedia info has the added advantage of being “vetted” by military personnel who can vouch for the value of the proffered service/information (think “Military meets Wikipedia meets Zagat guide”).
Organizational Umbrella: Finally, a place for unwinding the organizational maze, categorizing all the available services, the scores of organizations, the many websites and the hundreds of community programs already providing support for our military and their families, giving them the best possible means to showcase themselves to the military community with the accompanying opportunity to increase membership, even raise needed funds.

Veterans community in one location. All for free.

Founded by decorated veteran John R. Campbell, MyVetwork draws on the “secret sauce” of the military, the “I’ve-walked-in-your-shoes” strength military personnel willingly share with one another, which will be a driving force behind MyVetwork.

Learn more about MyVetwork by visiting myvetwork.com or join the Veterans Community by visiting community.myvetwork.com.

Online Veterans Community: veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxcKg
Document posted by David Apperson

Long Island Fitness Educator to help community

Christian DiSapio — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:24:14 EDT

Christian Disapio is one of the premier Health Specialists and Fitness Educators in the country. He is the owner of FitnesScience LLC. For more information visit Long Island Fitness Educator. com

or Long Island Personal Training. com.

I will be organizing community events to educate people how to improve the health of our society while lowering healthcare costs. more posts to come....

Thought for Transformation - April 16, 2009

Rev. Nur — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:02:04 EDT

Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a qualitatiive change in our lives. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A Nice Place to Live

CommunityWithFriends — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:00:21 EDT

When we decided to live in San Martin 9 years ago, we had great dreams to realize here. It was the country life we wanted so much, yet it was very close to all the amenities of a big city life. We were in a booming economy with hundreds of jobs available, we had lots of friends who were happy, successful and active. Then, the "Silicon Valley Bubble" bursted.

With Barack Obama's election we started having a hope for the change to be happy and successful again, to be in peace again... That is why I joined this group to get involved in creating a strong community feeling, helping and supporting each other in every way possible.

Our friends are our support group in hard times. To make friends we need to get to know people, to get to know people we need to become friends with them. We must bring back the trust, tolerance, understanding and the gift of sharing. We must open our doors and build strong, safe, peaceful communities. I hope to find it with this network.

Register your Social Skills Set

Life Skills Coach — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:06:33 EDT

Hello fellow Obama Supporters: Support the Houston Resource Directory by subscribing and adding your Social Skills Set. MyHoustonTexas.Info - is an INFORMATIONAL website and a RESOURCE directory; developed by a group of Houston campaign workers for President Barack Obama; 2008 Presidential Campaign [www.My.BarackObama.com]. Similar initiatives have been started in other States. Social skills set are similar to interests, hobbies, qualifications and competencies; which highlight marketable skills and work experience.

Examples: (a) Betty listed her Social Skill Set as retired, clerical, and bookkeeping. Shelia is a small business owner who lives in the same neighborhood, and needs assistance managing her business finances so; she contacts Betty about her bookkeeping services. (b) Willie listed his Social Skill Set as painting, yard-work, and mechanic. Jose lives in the same neighborhood, and needs assistance cutting a tree (from a natural disaster) so; he contacts (interviews) Willie about his yard-work services.

This social skills set concept is indicative of community empowerment, community development, and sustainable communities, and representative of President Obama's goal of empowering communities to work together. For information about collaborating or developing a similar community resource mechanism; please contact: Darryl.Riser@MyHoustonTexas.info

Thanks To All Art Educators Who Came to the Meeting!!!!

Miss Nina — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:26:16 EST

There were an overwheliming amount of art educators in attendance at last nights meeting- it was fantastic! Everyone was so eager to meet each other, so ready so share ideas, challenges, insights. The meeting went on for an hour and a half but could have easily gone much longer if not for time constraints. We have made plans for collaborations and our next meeting will be in 6 weeks. The group wanted it sooner, but I thought it wise to wait just a little longer. WOW. It is souch a good feeling to know you are all out there- I've never done anything like this and all were so appreciative and excited. I feel really good knowing I am helping to build this comminuty of intelligent, inspiring people who feed and nurture the minds of children in such creative, compassionate ways.

The only thing I don't get- why was there so much food left over? :)

Irs Releases Information to help Employers with Cobra Insurance!

Tom Rodgers — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:38:29 EST

The Information below may be helpful to small businesses concerning Cobra Insurance.Please view our website also at http://tomrodgers723.community.officelive.com

Thanks Tom Rodgers

February 26, 2009 Issue Number:

IR-2009-015 Inside This Issue

IRS Releases Information to Help Employers Claim COBRA Medical Coverage Credit on Payroll Tax Form

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today released new detailed information that will help employers claim credit for the COBRA medical premiums they pay for their former employees.

The IRS unveiled new information on this Web site, IRS.gov, that includes an extensive set of questions and answers for employers. In addition, the Web site contains a revised version of the quarterly payroll tax return that employers will use to claim credit for the COBRA medical premiums they pay for their former employees.

Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return, will also be sent to about 2 million employers in mid-March. The form is used to claim the new COBRA premium assistance payments credit, beginning with the first quarter of 2009.

“This is the first step in our effort to provide employers with information on this important health benefit for people who have lost their jobs,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “We will continue our work in the weeks ahead to help employers implement this crucial change for the nation’s unemployed.”

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which became law last week, includes changes to the health benefit provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, commonly referred to as COBRA. The new law will affect former employees and their families, employers and others involved in providing COBRA coverage.

Under the new law, eligible former employees, enrolled in their employer’s health plan at the time they lost their jobs, are required to pay only 35 percent of the cost of COBRA coverage. Employers must treat the 35 percent payment by eligible former employees as full payment, but the employers are entitled to a credit for the other 65 percent of the COBRA cost on their payroll tax return.

Employers must maintain supporting documentation for the credit claimed. This includes:

Documentation of receipt of the employee’s 35 percent share of the premium.
In the case of insured plans: A copy of invoice or other supporting statement from the insurance carrier and proof of timely payment of the full premium to the insurance carrier.
Declaration of the former employee’s involuntary termination.

COBRA provides certain former employees, retirees, spouses, former spouses and dependent children the right to temporary continuation of health coverage at group rates. COBRA generally covers health plans maintained by private-sector employers with 20 or more full and part-time employees. It also covers employee organizations or federal, state or local governments. It does not apply to churches and certain religious organizations. The new COBRA subsidy provisions also apply to insurers required to offer continuation coverage under state law similar to the federal COBRA.

More information about COBRA payments and the new law is available on www.dol.gov.

Palo Alto's Only Homeless Shelter, Hotel de Zink

Alan Stivers — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:33:26 EST

2009 is be the 20th year of Palo Alto, CA’s only homeless shelter, the Hotel de Zink. Its success is due to a partnership between the twelve host churches and the Urban Ministry of Palo Alto. In 2002, the Urban Ministry merged with InnVision, a social service agency serving most of Santa Clara County and part of San Mateo County. While the twelve host churches provide the room, roof and food, InnVision provides the night supervisors, case workers and administrative support. InnVision’s “continuum of care” provides Hotel de Zink clients with basic social and medical care that, when possible, leads them from homelessness to transitional or permanent housing. They provide the clients the follow-through so they can take care of life’s many complexities, e.g. applying for government benefits or a job.

There has been a significant decline in private donations that InnVision collects to fund the salaries of the Hotel de Zink night supervisors and case workers. InnVision is now turning to the faith community for help in raising the remaining $70,000 to $80,000 needed for this program this year. InnVision must also raise funds for the many other shelters, transitional housing units, low-cost housing units and other services it provides, but it will work with us on a special campaign for Hotel de Zink.

I am now working with my concerned friends at my church (First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, U.C.C.) to alleviate this funding shortfall. We have started special collections, allocated funds and are beginning to plan fundraisers. More on that as the details become available. I am looking forward to working with my fellow congregation members, members of the other eleven host churches, other churches and organizations not now involved with Hotel de Zink, InnVision staff, and the community at large. Homelessness is not a church issue alone. Its solution will involve the wider community. We will reach out and I hope we can forge some lasting bonds.

Feb. 7th Recovery Plan Meeting

Samuel from Columbus, OH — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:42:31 EST

Thoughts from the February 7, 2009, Community Meeting on the Economic Stimulus Plan:

There should be a 90 to 120 day moratorium on home foreclosures – Banks who receive federal money must make home refinancing a priority for homeowners who can no longer pay mortgages. They must show how many homes are in foreclosure and how many have been refinanced.

State and city money received should be first used for essential services. City and state workers laid off should be brought back to work. (In Columbus, Ohio the police academy recruits should be brought back and the 11 recreation centers should be reopened. The police fleet should be kept and the 80 policeman positions that were not to be filled due to retirement should be staffed. None of the money from the stimulus plan should be used for Mayor Coleman’s project – Trolley cars downtown.)

The plan will only work if everyone receiving money knows that they are being held accountable. Transparency is a must.

Rebuilding infrastructures is a must, but there is a need to generate jobs that have a future – green technology and retool the automobile industry to be more energy conscious/fuel efficient.

-Beryl

Here is my primary concern about the stimulus package. throughout the campaign, then prior to the inauguration and since inauguration, now president obama continually emphasized two themes: (1) the detoxification of party politics in washington; and (2) ushering in a new era of responsibility.

party politics in washington is quite entrenched, in my view: politicians are primarily concerned about currying favor with their base and not thinking broadly and open-mindedly about the future of the country and its people. it will take some time to dispel this narrow-mindedness, and i'm personally not too worried or disappointed about this because my expectations of tiberi et al. are not that high to begin with. in fact, they're quite low.

the second issue, however, is far more laudable, far more noble and essentially nonpolitical. congress held hearings this week with banking executives for all the country to see: what did you do with the bailout money? what is your executive bonus package? why aren't folks getting loans? but i have the sense that at this early stage, at least, congress and the administration are attempting to pin irresponsibility on the easy targets and ignoring the broader and essential question: how does each american citizen contribute to the amelioration of civic society going forward?

the country was degraded and debased by bush. unfortunately for all, the country was a willing partner in that debasement. and it is difficult to perceive noble ideals from a debased state. in my opinion, it is critical for president obama, at every opportunity, to remind the citizens of the excitement and participatory zeal of his campaign - a campaign that assembled a vast network of idealistic citizens hoping for a better future and longing to be tapped to promote that future.

in conclusion, i would say that the phrase "what the american people need and what the american people deserve" is wearing on me a bit. personally, i don't know if anybody deserves anything at all that they haven't earned. i'm quite conservative in this regard. however, i can bear it as long as i know that everyone is chipping in a little and thinking not for themselves and their own gain but for the common good.
-Sheldon

At this junction, the stimulus shared ideas of my fellow community members fall in line with most of my views and will not want to re-echo.

My addition will be in the areas of those that are not working right no; how can this package help them the benefits of the tax relief? Yes, there is means of getting them back to work, but in the present, their should be some kind of finacial assistance that will help those that no longer eiligible for unemployement benifit and are in the strain of not even being able to look good enough to job hunting. People are looking for food to eat then clothes to wear for job search.

I work with people that have been so deep in situations due to the state of this economy that life to them is meaningless. How can such people be help?

On the home issue: Some people that once had the credit to get loan can no longer afford to say they have that, less more having a job to substain. How can they be in the position to talk to a banker to keep their home?

Their should be some sort of forgiveness that will allow them the right and grace period to keep their homes and family together. Not the standard that is now set in place by Banks.

I have more to add on, but will end in say accountability! accountability!, on all levels of Government.

In this simplicity of words I end.

-Samuel

Before Affirmative Action

Ivan from Christiansted, VI — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:57:21 EST

I can remember growing up in the 50’s, when our communities were more self-sufficient. To me, Affirmative Action divided and destroyed what semblance of togetherness we had as a people. Affirmative Action was designed to Window Dress, creating a crabs in the barrel black society.

Affirmative Action is kinda like the Pyramid schemes. Most of those educated and skilled, who understood the scam, took advantage of the opportunity. They were the ones, who were serving as role models, that began moving on up and out of the neighborhoods.

When Malcolm talked of self-sufficiency, he was accused of separatism. The reality is that within the 50 states we are many nations in one nation. During this presidential campaign it was made clear that family and social values were paramount in connecting with candidates. We African Americans are a family and it is time that we begin working toward our own families’ interests. “Charity begins at home”, is not separatism nor selfishness. The neglecting of ourselves and relying on others to provide for us, nurtures that negative perception other families have of our community.

Until we as a people take ownership of our own financial, political and social destiny we will be seen as not deserving of others’ respect. Today it is not a whole lot about fighting for our rights: it is more of how we should exercise our rights. For one, making sure that we are being treated fairly with the allocation of government contracts, loans, grants, scholarships, etc. and with the contracting of capital improvement projects. With a unified voice some of these infrastructure projects will be developed and buil[t]d by us in our communities.

This new world market, which can only expand, provides opportunities that abound; we have family and in-laws around the world, and when the companies and industries begin finding that potential clients and customers are looking to patronize businesses that are more reflective of their family members, those qualified will be in high demand and will be represented from the top executives to the receptionist.

Those of us who are more fortunate should become entrepreneurs in revitalizing our communities. We as a family need to get out of debt and pool our resources, and make our children, our elders and the legacy of our Ancestors, Proud!

Ivan Butcher II

Service and Unity in the Community: Get Involved!

2morrowKnight — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 09:53:12 EST

As we look ahead, let's all make “connecting, advancing, improving and uplifting the community” one of your top resolutions of 2009. Let’s harness the amazing energy we created to elect the amazing Barack Obama into something amazing for future generations. I believe we are about to witness a period of innovative and unprecedented civic engagement. And why do I believe that?

Because Barack Obama is about to expand existing service programs like Peace Corps and AmeriCorps and put in place new service organizations to confront the ever-evolving needs of this country. According to Obama’s CHANGE.GOV site, this includes the creation of “a Classroom Corps to help underserved schools; a Health Corps to serve in the nation's clinics and hospitals; a Clean Energy Corps to achieve the goal of energy independence; and a Veterans Corps to support the Americans who serve by standing in harm's way.”

This is awesome! Not only is Obama asking all middle and high school students to perform 50 hours of community service a year, but he is going to reward college students who engage in 100 hours of community service a year to receive a fully-refundable tax credit of $4,000 for their education. Yes, Obama is going to make community service a truly desirous component of our national culture.

So encourage your family members, friends, neighbors, and co workers, to participate in some form of service. Before Obama gets started, however, there's a lot we can all do now. You can go to VolunteerMatch.org, which is incredibly effective in matching you to the area you’re passionate about. Or, you can fund classroom projects through DonorsChoose.org, or provide micro-finance loans to entrepreneurs through Kiva.org.

Every year since the age of 9, I’ve found some way to have a positive and measurable impact on my community. I’ve volunteered to hold the infants of drug-addicted parents for area hospitals and given food to homeless families living under freeways. Throughout the year, I go around the community to collect old clothes from my neighbors – clothes to be donated to The Salvation Army and area homeless shelters. And, I also build houses with HABITAT for HUMANITY. So the work one can do is truly endless. I love it!

Right now, the organization Global Green is building home in the area of New Orleans most devestated by Hurricane Katrina - The Lower 9th Ward. These new homes will be more energy efficient for the low income residents set to reside in them.

In this “Age of Obama”, the idea of service will take on something new, something awesome.
We must make a loud declaration of love and community. Word warrior Howard Thurman says it best in his book The Centering Moment:

We must remember those who are close to us by ties of blood and accommodation, whose needs have been exposed to us in the days that are behind; those who are sick and who are moving slowly into a terminal dimension of their illness; those who have fallen upon hard and difficult times, from whose hands have been snatched those symbols of security by which the tranquility of their lives have been measured; those who are dependent upon us for things which we cannot give and we do not know how to say we cannot give them. We remember those men and those women whose private lives are burdened by the responsibilities of others and who find, because of the problems which surround them, that their private lives are inadequate and they are lonely and frightened and dismayed. We remember all those who stand within the shadow of the radiance that belongs to the healthy mind and the vigorous spirit; those who are wrestling with
inner tortures that pull the world out of balance, who find themselves retreating more deeply within in the hope that in the iron-bound security of their inmost privacy they may be
protected from the things that overwhelm and prove unmanageable.

As Thurman's moving passage suggests, we all have a solemn duty to lift each other up. And that means not just being nice to each other. That's not enough. To transform our lives and the lives around us, we must also be thoughtful! Let’s make it happen…and make 2009 the best year yet!

2morrowknight is an internet strategist and community organizer who blogs at 2morrowknight.blogspot.com, and is author of a forthcoming children's book. You can follow him at Twitter.com/2morrowknight and friend him at Myspace.com/2morrowknight.

Say It's Your Birthday

BG — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:52:03 EST

Hello Friends:

A group of friends met at an event organized by Hayyim in Somerville to organize "Be the Change - Somerville group". Hayyim was an excellent host offered some good food. We started with socializing and discussing our group goals and then explored an idea for our first social service project - "Say It's Your Birthday movement".

Overall Group Goals

General theme for the group offered by Hayyim: Support each other in being bearers of the hopeful, confident and unifying moral vision that drew us to Barack Obama.

To start we thought collectively about the question of ‘ What would keep you coming back to this group?’

Common threads in peoples responses – building relationships within the group and locally, building community with a diverse group of people; doing something useful in the world beyond our-selves; working on multiple projects, issues at the same time; engaging in political discussion for our own education, to generate ideas, etc.

- 1st point of discussion offered by Hayyim: can we come up with a project to engage in in the near term to hold us together as a group; need a concrete goal. One priority might be to develop relationships with local elected representatives.

Ex 1: congressman Michael Capuano: arrange a meeting; offer support for recent efforts to encourage humanitarian efforts and diplomatic intervention in Gaza?

Ex.2: Green energy project? What would it be?

Ex.3. Brajesh ‘ It’s my Birthday idea’ – a MOVEMENT to foster community, charitable donations and community service locally

Say It's Your Birthday

General agreement that the ‘It’s My Birthday Idea’ is unique, creative, fun and has a lot of possibility for fostering community and generating human capital for community service. We all decided we would like to explore it further. We agreed that our first efforts as a group will involve crystallizing and implementing this idea. A lot of excitement was generated!

More about the ‘Say it’s Your Birthday Idea’: Brajesh explained the idea of it being a tradition in his family of doing service or offering donations to help out others on a persons’ birthday instead of buying gifts etc. Use the money/assembled people to achieve some kind of charitable action, service work etc.

Can we build on this idea? Generate a community of celebrants (maybe people in the local Obama organization to start) who sign up to be part of the ‘Say it’s your Birthday Club’. The idea is that on someone’s birthday, people in the network are alerted. The Birthday person can specify donation to a charity or implement some kind of community service project using the voluntary effort of the celebrants who sign up. It can be an opportunity to celebrate, get to know new folks in the Local Obama community and do service work or generate donations to charity.

- use the Beatles song as a theme song (Birthday)?

- what should we call this movement?

- discussion of websites to find charitable organizations of a certain bent

Agenda for next meeting:

- Build on the ‘Say it’s your birthday’ idea.

- develop a bigger picture of what this idea will be

- Hayyim will send out a pre-meeting agenda

- Meeting will be at Hayyim’s house; Sun Feb 8 3- 5 pm

- other people are encouraged to offer their houses or establish agendas for future meetings if they are so inclined

- GO VIRAL!

- GO GLOBAL!!

Celebrating The Hardest Four Years Of Our Lives

Qaliqo — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:44:02 EST

Today the real work begins. President Obama has called on us to rebuild our great nation. Bringing a large, populous, wealthy nation to the next level is our task. We must not be overcome, for the hour is late and time is short. Until campaign season in 2012, we are on a new mission: to achieve our destiny as individuals, as communities, as a nation, and as a world. We are all one people today, but the road ahead will be long and arduous.

Cincinnati Obama 2008 is becoming Cincinnati Supports Our President. I invite mailing list members to create a forum for discussing local solutions to the many problems we face. God bless President Obama, and God bless America!

A Global Family Supports Obama

Unknown user — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:06:52 EST

We are a small global family that comes from Africa, Asia, and Europe. We believe that an American president has an important impact on the whole world and not only the US. We are global citizens who are being affected by the global situation which the US plays an important role in it. We hope for a global change that can bring the missing peace justice and prosperity to the globe and not only to the US. We hope for a responsible and honest leadership that works for the sake of people at large and not only for the sake of corporations and politicians.

We congratulate Obama for the inauguration and wish him and his team all success for a mission that we consider to be "A New Global Hope for a Better World".

Said Samir

Editor of www.the-president.us

Dance With Us at Berkeley's Soul Sanctuary Dance and Benefit the Children's Learning Center of the BOSS Ursula Sherman Village

Zach — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:01:31 EST

Here's an invitation to dance on 1/18 from 11am-1pm, and contribute to the National Weekend of Service. You can RSVP at: http://www.usaservice.org/page/event/detail/4jjw3

Soul Sanctuary is a weekly midday family-friendly freestyle dance (since 2003) with irresistible DJ'd music and a welcoming community of people who love to dance.

On 1/18, in order to contribute to the national day (and weekend) of service, as called for by President-Elect Obama in association with the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal holiday, we'll host a special Benefit Edition of the dance, with all proceeds to benefit the Children's Learning Center of the BOSS Ursula Sherman Village.

A sense of community

Tina Marie from Houston, TX — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:56:58 EST

I have just returned from a meeting that was organized by the Move On Organization and although it did not happen due to some technical glitches in the registration system, the group met outside an office building on a cold day in Houston. The feeling amidst the group felt hopeful as we called those who we thought could get us into the building. And as we realized that particular meeting was not taking place in the form that we had anticipated, another did. We interacted with the proverbial, Plan B. We had our meeting outdoors, in the cold and the wind, which for Houstonians is no small matter.

Although we felt a slight disappointment at not having our originally called meeting, we shared our hopes, intention, willingness and ability to participate. The overall energy was of hope, action and community unlike I have felt from my fellow citizens in a while. We spoke of a knowing that change is coming, having faith in our human experience to expect more from government and from ourselves than we have in the past.

I am excited about where we are and what we are accomplishing. I am proud of our new President for being willing to upset the apple cart this early in his term. I am joyful at the extremely talented and purposeful people Barack is surrounding himself with in his cabinet.

Change comes slowly at times but it does come and each step forward is a step toward the change we want in our world.

God Bless you all,
Your fellow American,
Tina Marie Jones
www.tinamarie.com

Rochester Youth Means Change

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:24:00 EST

Lets get started.

Will You Reconsider?

Milton Lee Norris — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:47:20 EST

This article is about choice, and a dilemma facing President Elect Barack Obama. It speaks of the incendiary remarks that have been made by Rick Warren against gays. It shows his arrogance, and remarks that are condescending to gays; it also shows how said remarks can only be a slap in the face to the gay and lesbian community. Closing the author asks that President Elect Barack Obama to rescind his choice of Rick Warren. http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=44757826122&h=Yao6O&u=hwD7J

Philanthropy Now - Creativity and Diversity for Changing

Ruthy Lachman Paul — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 09:04:44 EST

It’s a time of creativity!

There are lots of new models and it’s useful to have this innovation. It shakes things up and it makes people think about what they’re doing.

Today’s problems require more creativity, not less. That leaves us with an even bigger role to play in the community.

So let start work to made our ideal and goals. we ought to find our “Philanthropy Now” by finding our future with imagination and wisdom.

Start split your thought. to create better world that work for everyone.

Ruthy Lachman Paul

The Big Texas Toy Run | Bikes begin gathering at around 9am. All three parades leave at 1pm sharp!

Lisa Holmes - Obama Precinct Captain #3361 — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 09:35:08 EST

Yes we can! The Big Texas Toy Run starts today!

http://www.thebigtexastoyrun.com/

The Big Texas Toy Run is totally unique. It has no official sponsorship from any source and is the only run known to begin in three cities simultaneously and converge in one place. No one group of motorcyclists organizes and executes this event. It is a cooperative effort of independents, clubs and organizations from all walks of the Biking Community.

Since 1985 thousands of gallant bikers in North Texas have joined together each year to put joy in the hearts of children by delivering toys to those in need at Christmas.

The Big Texas Toy Run benefits Mental Health-Mental Retardation (MHMR) of Tarrant County, Dallas MetroCare, and other children's charities in the Metroplex. The toys are distributed to thousands of underprivileged and challenged children all over the Metroplex. All funds disbursed are earmarked for educational needs & recreational use only.

Change We Need Meeting

DanR — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:13:53 EST

Our first Change We Need meeting was held on 12/14 and it was a great success. We have a blog with the minutes from the meeting and our potential community projects here: www.northforknetwork.com.

Amazing People of the Community

TSpangler — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:01:49 EST

I am ever so humbled by the amazing talents we have in our communities. These talents my be retired, unemployed, in career transition... they may be moms, stay at home dads, they are young, they are over 50, they have a variety of passions and they, WE, are all connected by one single, simple thread... the thread of change.

"Change is Coming" kickoff meeting, takeaways & notes

Leo Romero — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:54:30 EST

2008-1213 Saturday, 1-3PM, Specialty Bakery, Santa Clara CA

takeaways: one thing new & surprising

community service: $5-10/month club, small donations, then decide as a group what charities to support, change it up; community gardening, build capacity to produce healthy food locally, rather than just charity
education: volunteer for homework centers, create neighborhood homework centers, get churches involved; parenting classes; counteracting the radio right
community building: figure out how to use the technology of the obama campign to stay connected and reach out to each other ; use the group to help fellow members, e.g find jobs and health care, provide support during transitions
how assess needs, prioritize, measure effectiveness?

notes

Round 1: Janet, Maria, Leo

janet: local communities, $5-10/month club, then what charities we can contribute to, more ideas; not a grand scheme but good for getting people to work together
get copy of declaration, bill of rights, read it aloud; remember what we're all about
maria: lost job yesterday, completely changed perspective; get people jobs and health care. first priority is find job & medical care; can you help such persons in your group; might help just one person, to help others
janet: charity is as necessary for the act of sharing as for surviving how can we help each other find jobs, medical care, security, shelter janet: also need for dignity & respect, support during hard times
volunteering, maybe working with neighbors, businesses, people patrols. Not paid but, could lead to paid jobs
janet: sister’s a business owner, terrified that company might have to let go of people. She can lose all equipment and replace them, but if she loses people, she loses everything.
leo : where can find time, what can do with limited time; how busy people can make a difference, with so little time; how can we use the obama tech to stay connected and reach out to each other

Round 2: Larry, Olivera, Bill

Larry: using tech of obama campaign, how coordinate so not duplicating, how do they use that tech to work with others in the country?
community gardening, victory gardens, using available resources to serve community. michael pollan. plant a row for the hungry (mercury news). What are the available resources, technology
olivera: move beyond charity, to greater good, not so much feed the hungry as feed your soul, help people grow their own food instead of give them food
bill: bugs me most is right wing radio, getting people angry; appears patriotic but isn’t. larry: fomenting hate. how change? olivera: adjust information based on who's giving, know your sources. fairness doctrine, ownership, regulation
community spirit rather than for self larry: how do we prioritize, how assess effectiveness, how assess needs

Round 3, all group

olivera: better homes, better teachers; have a lot of resources, how use efficiently to bring better education and home lives
larry: wife teaches second grade, sees big difference between kids who have parents who get involved, vs those who don’t; schools could be so much more effective if parents volunteered
education: library funding, free education larry - wrap around, community support for families; galen - reading, janet – arts, myra - keep schools past 3
galen - local groups thousands coming up with local solutions, communicating to others nationwide
larry: how take local ideas and share, with all other groups
obama campaign listens
janet: outreach to parents, to other people who want to be active

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

WEBMASTER — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:26:14 EST

The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.

Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.

Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when

individuals and organizations understand that alternative energy technology exists and
when people see the economic benefits of using alternative energy technologies

Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.

Alternative Energy
Source: David Apperson

url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy

Community Action for Team Obama Kivians

Devans00 — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:23:33 EST

Temo Figueroa, a former top Obama field organizer, said the volunteer base is "hungry" to be engaged on the most important issues.

Role for Barack Obama's volunteer network still in flux, http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama-networkdec05,0,7403685.story

"I don't think e-mails or YouTube videos from the president-elect are going to be enough," Figueroa said. "These people want to continue to be a part of whatever agenda comes out of the White House, and they want to be active participants in this government that they feel they have ownership of."

Around this time of year, there are lots of requests for our dollars. All good causes, like Kiva, of course. With the financial uncertainty of these times, I don't have a lot of spare cash to donate to Kiva at the moment. Participating in community Barack Obama events is another way for me to stay engaged.

I signed up to participate in Voting Reform discussion and how Californians can help Barack Obama bring about the change for which we elected him. I look forward to both events. A lot of stuff is going on this month to choose from.

I encourage you to click on the Find Events link in your http://my.barackobama.com/ account to find a way to participate. If your schedule is too booked for this year, I'm sure there'll be other chances in 2009. "Be the change you want to see in the world"is more than just a slogan. Here's the opportunity to show and prove.

Florida 4 Obama

freedom4u_n_me — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:30:43 EST

I just wanted to let all of you know that I'm in Florida for the winter!

I'll be involved here (looking for fellow supporters in the Daytona Beach area!) and I'll see you in the spring!

I know all of you will keep up the great work that you do and volunteer in your community this holiday season!

Gail/freedom4u_n_me

together we hope

maya escobar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:53:41 EST

Article from the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
'Hope' springs anew for Washington University grad students

November 19, 2008 -- Carianne Noga, a graduate student of art at Washington University, ties tags of hope onto a sculpture outside the University City Post-Office. Noga and fellow student Maya Escobar started soliciting people's hopes to place on the sculpture. (Christian Gooden/P-D) By Margaret Gillerman ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 11/29/2008

UNIVERSITY CITY — Georgia O'Keeffe found inspiration in the light and shapes of New Mexico.

Mary Cassatt found hers in mothers and children.

Maya Escobar and Carianne Noga, two graduate students at Washington University's Sam Fox School of Art and Design, found inspiration for their latest project from the long lines on Election Day at a Ben and Jerry's ice cream shop in the Loop.

There, on the sidewalk outside the shop, which was giving away scoops of ice cream to voters, the two women felt excitement and hope among voters. They said they found that same feeling across the street in the long line of voters waiting to vote at the Loop polling place.

"We wanted to continue that moment and not let it peak out," Noga said.

Before the polls closed, they had begun to create their "I hope…" project.

They first staked out a site: outside the University City Post Office at 561 Kingsland Avenue.

They then provided people with bright red tags and paint markers for them to write down their hopes for a better future.

The tags then are affixed to a permanent lattice wood sculpture already on site outside the Post Office.

"As difficult as it can be sometimes to voice our wishes and dreams, it can be strengthening," the artists say in explaining their mission. "We can be reminded of the rest of the world outside our own immediate concerns. In this period of great change and near infinite possibilities, it is time for us to voice our hopes."

While the project is for all people, Escobar said it holds special meaning for young people.

"This is our moment to make a difference for our communities," Escobar said. "We need to be aware — of our national situation, of the economy."

Many of the hopes expressed — most recorded anonymously — so far are noble and universal: "I hope for world peace" and "My hope is that hate is no longer."

Some of the hopes are personal. "I hope to not fear death," wrote one.

Others have a distinctly political bent: "I hope we get out of Iraq and don't go to war with Iran." And some are just fun, like the person hoping for "chocolate cake for dessert ..."

A University City police officer named Hope — Reginald Hope — shared with them his own hope: for safety for police officers. A fellow officer was killed while on duty near the Loop last month.

Washington University Chancellor Mark Wrighton gave his hope and "wishes for better health and greater prosperity for all."

The artists also are encouraging people to submit their hopes online at togetherwehope.com.

[click here for full story]

PLEASE VISIT HTTP://TOGETHERWEHOPE.COM AND SHARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE

TIME'

KINGKIDDMADE — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:42:17 EST

TO ALL SUPPORTERS' OF PRESIDENT ELECT, BARACK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN

AND...ALL ADMINISTRATION TEAM MEMBERS...

KINGKIDDMADE, WOULD LIKE SHARE HER THOUGHTS..."TO GIVE IS TO BE GIVEN"

WHAT TIME IS IT? THE TIME IS FOREVER!

WHAT IS YOUR TIME? "RaiIn" IN YOUR STEAD OF TIME!

WHAT TIME DO YOU HAVE? A BEGINNIG AND AN END!

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHT'S? KINGKIDDMADE!

The Story I Submitted on Change.gov

Penina — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 10:14:12 EST

My Story: I'm a single mom who voted for you, but is ambivalent about your healthcare plan. That's because the one time I buckled and requested ANY public service (children's health insurance), I was expected to surrender my privacy, and tolerate punitive rules, such as losing three months of coverage when I missed a payment. We've since moved to a new state, and we are uninsured.

Social services without a sense of Real Community are dehumanizing, and no solution. It is critical that community be fostered along with any other plan, whether it is for health, security or the economy.

AMÉRICA LATINA

Samuel from Heath, MA — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:22:42 EST

ETANOL SUCESSO BRASILEIRO

Mundialmente reconhecido por seu pioneirismo no desenvolvimento do etanol como combustível, o Brasil é hoje,além de maior produtor e consumidor do produto, também o maior exportador. O crescimento da demanda global pelos biocombustíveis fez o volume ex portado elevar-se de 565 milhões de litros em 2003 para 3,4 bilhões de litros em 2006, que renderam ao país US$ 1,604 bilhão em divisas. Desde o lançamento do Programa Nacional do Álcool (Pro-álcool), há 33 anos, a produção de álcool no país aumentou de 700 milhões de litros para 15 bilhões de litros na safra de 2004/2005. Segundo o Plano Nacional de Energia, o Brasil deverá chegar a 2030 produzindo 66,5 bilhões de litros de etanol. A produção atual ocupa cerca de 5,6 milhões de hectares e serão necessários 13,9 milhões de hectares. O Proálcool aumentou a adição de álcool anidro à gasolina. O álcool etílico hidratado passou a ser utilizado em veículos especialmente desenvolvidos para esse combustível. Em 1985, tais veículos representaram 85% das vendas totais, mas uma crise de abastecimento, quatro anos depois, ceifou a confiança dos consumidores no combustível e o percentual caiu para 2%. Na década seguinte, o carro flex que roda tanto com gasolina, álcool ou com uma mistura de ambos veio para virar o jogo novamente. Hoje, três em cada quatro veículos vendidos têm motores bicombustível.
.
Áreas de pastos para agricultura

Estima-se que apenas 1% das terras aráveis do mundo seja usada hoje para produzir biocombustíveis, segundo a Agência Internacional de Energia. Em 2007, somente 7% da produção de óleo vegetal e 3,5% da de cereais teriam sido utilizadas como combustível. Mesmo assim, estudo da Organização das Nações Unidas para Agricultura e Alimentação (FAO) e do Instituto Internacional para o Meio Ambiente e o Desenvolvimento advertiu que o impulso aos biocombustíveis representa uma grave ameaça a milhões de lavradores. O relatório, divulgado esta semana na cúpula da FAO, enumera riscos sociais e ambientais dos biocombustíveis, mas isenta-os do papel de vilões da crise alimentar. “Os recentes aumentos nos preços alimentares não foram causados primariamente pelos biocombustíveis”, diz o texto, citando quebras de safras, estoques baixos e maior demanda por alimentos e rações na Ásia como causas dos reajustes. O estudo critica as subvenções concedidas aos biocombustíveis na Europa e nos EUA, mas ressalva o caso do álcool brasileiro, citado como mais rentável e viável. Presente em Roma, onde se realizou a reunião da FAO, o presidente Lula defendeu os biocombustíveis, dizendo que a culpa da alta é do petróleo e do protecionismo. Muitos dos que responsabilizam o etanol pelos altos preços dos alimentos são os mesmos que há décadas man-têm políticas protecionistas, em prejuízo dos agricultores dos países mais pobres e dos consumidores disse Lula. O diretor geral da FAO, Jacques Diouf, alerta que a crise de alimentos prejudica todos os países, por isso propôs que sejam deixados de lado “os interesses a curto prazo” ao se lidar com desafios como a mudança climática, a bioenergia e os altos preços agrícolas. Para o dirigente do WWF-Brasi l, Cláudio Moret t i, “a postura correta é negociar abertamente critérios socio-ambientais que sejam firmes e claros”. Áreas ociosas de pastagens podem ser usadas para dobrar a capacidade de produção de grãos do país e fazer frente à demanda mundial por alimentos e biocombustíveis. É o que defende o senador Osmar Dias (PDT-PR), lembrando que o governo federal deveria incentivar os agricultores a aproveitarem as áreas degradadas para ampliar o plantio. Temos mais de 220 milhões de hectares de pastagens. Utilizando 50 milhões de hectares e recuperando essas áreas degradadas poderemos, num curto prazo, dobrar a capacidade de produção de grãos afirmou.O senador propôs ainda que o Brasil estabeleça o zoneamento agrícola para garantir que os alimentos não sejam utilizados como base para a produção de biocombustível. Para o senador Gilberto Goellner (DEM-MT), sistemas de cultivos e criações integrados à floresta são a melhor forma de combinar aumento da área plantada com proteção ambiental. A integração agrossilvipastoril combina viabilidade econômica com conservação dos recursos naturais disse Goellner, autor de projeto que incentiva o uso de biocombustíveis pelas máquinas e equipamentos agrícolas.
.

Por que eles são melhores.

A queima do biodiesel também emite CO2 (e nenhum outro resíduo nocivo ao meio ambiente), mas estudos apontam índices até 80% menores em relação ao combustível de petróleo. Além disso, todo o CO2 emitido na queima do biodiesel é capturado pelas plantas e utilizado por elas durante o seu crescimento e existência. O etanol é um álcool incolor, volátil e totalmente solúvel em água, derivado de cana-de-açúcar, milho, uva, beterraba ou outros cereais, produzido por meio da fermentação da sacarose. Contém 35% de oxigênio em sua composição e possui combustão limpa, ou seja, sua queima resulta somente em calor, sem presença de fuligem. Devido a isso, a emissão de CO2 na queima é baixíssima.

still asking for more money???

Frankie — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:30:05 EST

Didn't you guys shatter every record for political fundraising this year? Didn't you collect more dough than in any previous US election, for both the Dem & GOP candidates PUT TOGETHER? Didn't you win the election over a week ago?

Why are you still hounding us for donations?

It's really Really REALLY sad that this site has not been put to better use, helping to organize community groups nationwide, energizing volunteer activists to shift from campaigning to participation in government, instead of treating it like a candy jar.

Selection for HUD Secretary

Damian from Los Angeles, CA — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 09:52:45 EST

To Whom It May Concern:

I am very concerned about the choices for HUD Secretary that has been mentioned in the news recently. While working for a local government agency I essentially follow HUD regulations to provide programs in the community. These programs range from public services such as after-school activities to the development of affordable housing.

My experience with HUD’s operations has been extremely frustrating because of the disjointed nature of the program implementation process. It is my hope that the Obama administration would select someone that could streamline the process in a way that will allow people like me to concentrate on program implementation rather than filling out paperwork for 10 different departments within HUD.

Ideally, I could select a project in my community and report it to a HUD online project management system that would allow for regulation compliance reporting in a central location. For example, the finance, environmental, davis-bacon, section 3 regulations can all be input into one central database that can track the progress of any project and any department within HUD can make sure that the project is in compliance at every stage of implementation.

Please remember HUD is a $35.2 billion operation and it affects many people and organizations throughout the country. Thank you for listening to my concern and I look forward to hearing the candidate for HUD Secretary.

Sincerely,

Damian Pipkins

service...

SoSeductive — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:21:48 EST

Three Facts about Barack Obama and Service

Barack Obama will enable all Americans to serve:
Obama and Biden will expand AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps, engage retiring Americans, and set up an America's Voice Initiative to send Americans who are fluent speakers of local languages to expand our public diplomacy.
Integrate service into learning:
Obama and Biden will set a goal that all middle and high school students do 50 hours of community service a year, and will establish a new tax credit that is worth $4,000 a year in exchange for 100 hours of public service a year.
Invest in the nonprofit sector:
Obama and Biden will create a Social Investment Fund Network to use federal seed money to leverage private sector funding. They will create an agency dedicated to building the capacity and effectiveness of the nonprofit sector.

Okay, i just had to make a comment on one of these because i have been hearing alot of complaining about the idea of having community service goals. Am i the only one who gets the point of this? We bitch and bitch about our country... but yet you bitch when the idea of helping is thrown out there? So easy to stick your hand out but not to lend it? And to go even deeper into it, Have you noticed how careless and disrespectful most of the younger generations are? I'm part of one of those generations and i can say it. I personally think it's an incredible idea. It's a way to help your commuinity and help put back good morals into younger generations. We need to start giving if we want to see a change in america people... start using your brain and we'll all be okay!

That was the easy part!

Beth from ColoradObama — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:05:52 EST

Now begins the work that must be done to turn our nation around.

I've met so many different people on here, and although our connection to each other was primary internet correspondence, we spent several months going through a process together. It was delightful, agonizing, frightening, frustrating, rewarding...but most of all, it was successful.

For any of you who read this before the site is dismantled and we go our separate ways...it was an honor to be part of this process with you. Millions of us working together, contributing what we could in terms of talent, money, and volunteer work. We built our "community" in less than two years. Imagine what we can do for President-elect Barack Hussein Obama in the next four. And imagine what we can do for our nation.

Beth McKinley~~~bigmacsmama@hotmail.com

Peole Sharing Thoughts Before Election

YogiFish — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:47:49 EST

"The Morning Mix : Moment Before History" - A series of llve online shows talking about how this election would be viewed by history. This show was done the day before the election.

We Are Ready To Keep Helping Barack....

Marjorie — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:52:40 EST

I cannot believe how euphoric I am. Everything has changed and will change. Finally. It's ok if it takes a lot of time and a lot of hard work and sacrifice from everyone. What I care about is that we can move in the right direction now, that there is someone at the helm that speaks about the things I would speak about were I up there.

I believe in you and us Barack. You don't have to be some perfect ideal on a pedestal. I know you are a person like me and my neighbors with your own imperfections. I also know that you are special in that this was supposed to happen and you are helping the world shift. Yes, we did this together but we couldn't have done it without you and your family's courage and sacrifice. You are beautiful people! Thank you for putting yourselves out there for the greater good.

And now for the most important part. Barack, whether you read this or someone who works for you...please pass it on and KNOW THIS. We are so ready to go again for these ideals and change. I am ready to do 100 times what I did at the end of this campaign. I have talked to my friends and neighbors about how you ran your volunteer website...they want to get involved now. People want to help you in your administration through this website. We can build support on difficult issues, explain both sides on hard to understand topics, we can BUILD VALUES OF COMMUNITY, COOPERATION AND VOLUNTEERING/SERVICE, we can help sway public opinion when it is based on fear and old values, we can still help you usher in this change in a big way. I just want you to know that I've been out there talking to people and they want to help...they want to be a part of this with you. You have the charisma and the audiance and the seat at the helm now. Please let us continue to build the waves of change around you because we have the numbers, the manpower and WE STILL HAVE THE SPIRIT, maybe moreso than ever!

You just let us know when you need us. May god and the universe surround you and your family with angels and joy! Oh, and please consider getting a rescue puppy! (There are so many from home foreclosures filling pounds and rescues which are losing donation money to run on....it would send such a cool message if the girls could find one there that they loved!!! Just an thought!)

Peace,

Marjorie Alexander

As the dust settles...

seohonolulu — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:48:38 EST

First off, I would like to take a moment and introduce myself. My name is Matt Webb, I am a father of 3, progressive democrat (almost liberal), and a webmaster/internet marketer by profession. And on top of that, I'm also extremely proud of what was just accomplished too. You know the feeling, I know you do. As we all begin to slowly walk down from our ascension to success, the dust is settling and we are now realizing we are in an incredibly unique position; we have access to our new President, and he has the same access back to us.

I find it ironic that for the last 8 years it was a one sided connection between us and our government; aka the Patriot Act. We were the subject of scrutiny, unwarranted mistrust and unknowing investigation while having our patriotism questioned when we dared to speak up and perform the most patriotic duty we can perform; question our leaders and speak out against their decisions if it does not represent what we as a people want.

However, here we are today, with a doorway open to us and him. Mutually kept open, intentionally forced open out of our fear and discontent of the last 8 years we were dragged through. In beautiful contrast, we now stand ready, steadfast in our dedication, empowered by assurance of our man taking us to better days. So what are we to do in the meantime until we get our first orders?

Keep pressing the good word I say. We still need to talk to people, remind them that this machine won't run itself if we aren't there turning the wheels.

Work a bit harder at work.
Talk to our neighbors more.
Be more involved with our kids and their teachers.
Be vigilant against the onslaught of drugs in our neighborhoods (CALL 911 EVERY TIME).
Conserve our electricity and water, be mindful of the worlds resources.
Change lightbulbs to OFC bulbs.
Recycle everything you can.
Give to charities (money, clothes, toys, food, ANYTHING!)
Cut down on paper use.
Maintenance our cars regularly.
Look into car pooling or mass transit.
Ride a bike.
Walk more.
Get eco-friendly shopping bags and avoid plastic bags.
BUY LOCAL!!!
GO green!

There is so much more that can be done, but this is just keeping your little bubble around you clean and efficient. Get enough of us doing it and the ripple swells to a giant wave. Show people how it can be done and how much it saves you money.. they know it will, but they probably don't have someone showing them how easy it is.

We can not get complacent now. We have come too far to take a "wait and see" approach to fixing what needs to be fixed. We need to talk. We need to listen too. Will you join me by keeping the conversations going?

What it Means! Living Monumental Lives: Hope, Inspiration and Community!

Ricky Fico — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 04:57:37 EST

Living a Monumental Life Guarantees Monumental Rewards! Living Monumentally Enriches The World And An Enriched World Guarantees Us All The Greatest Rewards.

As a few of you who may know me well enough, perhaps you'd understand what I am trying to accomplish... Because of the bounty of circumstances in my life (a few that may be deemed inexplicable) I have sought answers. Not only to my mere existence but answers to the chain of events that led me to where I am today....

For those who had read some of my memoirs, such as The Bookcase you'd perhaps understand the reasons why I am more of an inspirational writer than anything else.

You see, my life was wrought with uncertainties, but for the longest time, I didn't understand the reasons why. But after looking clearly at my life and the myriad of events that defy convention or coincidence I have come to the conclusion as to why I am here.

No, I am not God, I am not Jesus.... What I am, though, is perhaps what I've always been --- a messenger! And to fulfill my role as messenger I had to waddle my way through one heck of an obstacle course. I know now the reasons why though -- to make me stronger, to provide me with a greater understanding, to provide me more compassion, to provide me the many tools that would help me fulfill my duties. Today's world is much more complex than it was then!

And let me clarify a point. For the longest time I was numbed to my existence by alcohol etc. and it really wasn't until September 11, 1992 that I was awakened although I had been presented many signs previously and I thought then merely coincidence or simple serendipity, ah, but we all have those special moments, don't we?

I know there are messengers on this planet, though a few of you may disagree, that is OK. Before the "soul-alerting chain of events" in my life and before I was provided greater awareness and greater understanding I, too, was skeptical. Before the many serendipitous encounters and parallel events in my life with those on the greater world stage I, too, wasn't sure of my purpose here.

We are on the threshold of what I deem "The Golden Renaissance" a time of rebirth, a time for us to utilize our God-given gifts, creativity and know-how to beautify this world, our world, our children's world. This requires dedication, hard work and belief in the common good. I, again, cannot stress enough the importance of community -- the joining of hands, hearts, souls to help maintain balance....

The idea of this very network was provided to me in a dream - a dream so vivid, so real that I soon realized that it wasn't a dream after all. This is reality, you are my reality, I am your reality and together we represent a great and monumental reality -- one that will bear witness to positive transformation and change.

Living a monumental life doesn't mean possession of financial fortune or living in the spotlight of public adoration and fame, what I think it means is that you act in accordance with your own identity while acting in ways that are positive and conducive to happiness, serenity and harmony. What I think it means is that you generate positive energies and in turn, your positive energies have a positive effect on others. Linkin' Monuments-- a positive chain of energy! Share your positivity with others. It is contagious.

Although I dealt with a lot of negative forces in my life and been burdened with many, many disappointments and met many dead-ends, I still retained a sense of optimism and a sense of purpose. Overcoming many challenges provides strength, provokes an amazing sense of accomplishment and being.

One of my favorite quotes that I penned most recently states: "You really shouldn't wonder so much what your life might have been but put into action what you want your life to become." Ah yes, for us who had rocky origins and detoured lives we mustn't look at that aspect in a negative light but instead, place it in a positive light and let it shine on us brightly today. Let's not begin our lives with yesterday: let us begin our lives with today.

Since I had been provided many, many signs as to what role I have on this planet it is incumbent on me to deliver to you what I've been given and it is my greatest hope that you'd do the same. Each one of us has so much to offer. I've aways known this but during the last 16 years, since September 11, 1992 it has been made so much clearer to me...

I am inspired by you as I hope, at times, you are inspired by me!

More On Inspiration:

Each one of us is inspired by forces beyond ourselves; each one of us finds inspiration through acts of others, through nature, through art, music - the list goes on. Inspiration is a catalyst of growth, success, happiness and without it, we would be nothing but mere entities, devoid of soul, devoid of substance...
*****

It is my philosophy that if we strive to live "monumental lives" we are, in essence, looking at those who had made such a positive impact in this world as exemplars, as inspirations.

Those such as Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Mother Theresa not only lived monumental lives but they, too, believed that each one of us could live monumentally as well. And why is that? Firstly, because they believed in equality. They believed in the human spirit. They believed in the "good of humankind." They not only believed in themselves but they believed in their brothers and sisters. If they didn't believe that each one of us was capable of exacting change then their efforts would've been futile and they'd turn their focus toward a lesser horizon.

To live a monumental life, all one has to do is look toward the greater horizon and use his or her God-given gifts to reach that horizon. And in doing so, perhaps inspire others to do the same.

My simple philosophy: "A foundation is but the base and it is the collection of building blocks that creates what many should strive to ascend."

Just like Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Theresa, Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi and countless others, each one of us had been provided the foundation. It is up to us to build upon the foundation. And in doing so, maybe, just maybe, we offer hope to others as well. That is living a monumental life!

"The life you lead is the same one that you must follow."
Ricky J. Fico

WE CAN AND WE WILL!!!!!!!!!!

CamiaJPM — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:52:37 EST

President Barack Obama,

You have brought me to higher heights than I have soared to in YEARS.

You have inspired me to believe in not only yourself, but all of us as well.

I believe in you.

I believe in us. I love you.

I support you.

But most of all, I wanted to thank you, your family and ALL the AMAZING Americans who have stood together, fought together, hoped together, prayed together and unified despite all the odds. All of us undoubtedly PATRIOTIC Americans have done our part to ensure that Obama's famous "Yes, we can!" grew into a "Yes, we can....And we did!!!"

The job is far from over though.

Now that the phenomenal Barack Obama is next in line for the 44th US Presidency,

let us not forget that we must continue to support our President by

coming together as a UNIFIED country to not only support our president, but nurture each other's communities, families and strangers who all dwell in such an amazing country.

Let us HELP Barack Obama bring this war to an end, restore our economy and ultimately the world's economy, eliminate environmental threats, support democracy and TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER, as our President wishes.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of those who have helped shape HISTORY.

God bless America!!!!!!!

Congratulations, Barack Obama, PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.A.!!!!!!!!!

The Hispanic Vote

Arlen from Two Rivers, WI — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:10:39 EST

As a hispanic Voter i'm Exited about this election.. IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE and Only OBAMA is capable to bring change to our country.. to everyone of us...

I have never before felt to eager to VOTE!! I

Many people in our community feel the same way and Obama has broken so many walls even in church we talk about it, we pray we have hope...

Many people that can NOt cast a vote in this election have felt compelled to also help in any way they can even our youth has taken action by taken the phone maken calls, talk to people in this community. Obamas has empower us to do SOMETHING not to be limited by any sircunstances but to Go out and as Dickens will say: ALLOWED MYSELF TO HOPE AS I NEVER HOPE BEFORE...

T-Shirts and Polls

Bibliophanatique — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:01:15 EST

Okay, I live in a decidedly "Blue" state ... not just leaning Blue, but a full-fledged, bright, technicolor solid Blue. So it should not have come as a surprise that when I went shopping for an Obama t-shirt to wear to a recent event (an online order would've taken too long) - I couldn't find ANY! There were plenty of McCain/Palin shirts - but no Obama.

I asked the store clerks (and I went to half a dozen stores!) and was informed that they had sold out of them WEEKs ago! I guess, on the one hand, that's good, but it didn't serve my purpose at all since I needed one fairly soon! The various Democratic field offices (there are three in my county) had run out even weeks before that.

Then I got to thinking: are t-shirts a viable representation of a dem- or GOP- leaning community? It would certainly eliminate the "Bradley Effect" where verbal affirmation for a person-of-color is favored over a white candidate, only to vote for the white candidate at the last second after all. In purchasing a t-shirt a person is, as the saying goes, "puting their money where their mouth is" and making a definite statement who it is they are supporting. If my ascertion is true, then retail sales in my community absolutely favor Senator Obama for President!

What did I do for a t-shirt to wear to my event? I plastered a bumper sticker to a bright blue t-shirt instead. It worked.

These are great times we are living in

Relic — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:34:04 EDT

I think back over the years when people were separated by the politicians of old. Now with Obama we are melting together, finally becoming a nation for all, not the few. Equality, healthcare, taxes, employment, wars, education, woman rights, $10 trillion dollar debt, and just think our one vote will be heard all over the world where we say in one voice. CHANGE!

On Life & Faith, please share this video

Ms_CongenialityHI — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:19:19 EDT

This is a timely, thought-filled conversation with Martin Sheen, actor, devout Catholic and Obama supporter. Please share the link and bookmark the page:

"Can you be pro-life and support Senator Obama?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IczsKEe6es0

This is Deep.

WaltO4 — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:05:48 EDT

I have definitely stopped watching republicans. I think it says more about them then it does me. I promise that I used to listen to Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage and even Ingraham. I read conservative books and everything. My veiwpoint changed when I was battling an unknown illness for the last few years. I had employer health insurance until late 2007. I lost my job because I could not get to the bottom of my abdominal pains. Well finally this summer, I wound up in the hospital in the ICU for the month of June. I had no health insurance at that point. I did have a job, but you know that many jobs require a probation period in order to get the benefits. I got sick just before I could fill out my papers for health insurance. Anyway, I still don't have health insurance and I can't afford it through my job and I can't get affordable private insurance becuase now I have a pre-existing condition. My wife had good insurance too, but her job was really outsourced so that caused a crazy sitution that forced us to move across the country just for her to get a job. This situation is a mess.

My point is that republicans have told me that if I work hard and act responsibly that I would be ok. They never promised me wealth or anything, but the things they told me were actually best case scenarios. Their stories never included how devastated your finances can be if you don't have health insurance. They only told me that "universal" healthcare was wrong. They never mentioned how millions of Americans, including those public servants already receive a form of "universal" healthcare. These guys have a tendancy to leave things out. I believed them and thought that I would be fine if I followed their ideals. They never said that if I worked hard and had a disasterous illness and no health insurance that I would be screwed and would have to file bankruptcy. All of our savings is gone and we had around ten thousand in savings. I have a half million dollars worth of medical bills, not to mention the car I lost due to illness.

These guys don't care about you. They just want to give you an illusion of wealth and prosperity no matter what. They don't make you consider any bad things that can happen to you and they definitely don't tell you that under their plans there will not be anyone to help you if things go bad.

Conversely, they don't tell you that supporting big corporations is the reason that there won't be any help for you. They don't tell you that if big corporations run into problems, you will have to help them out, but those same big corporations don't have to do anything for you. They don't complain about corporate irresponsibilty but they blame an average person with the american dream for the housing crisis. It is the average person's responsibility for getting a foreclosure, but it is not the CEO's responsibility for bankrupting a fortune 500 company.

Wake up people, it is as easy as listening to their opinions about the little man and the big corporations. The conservative movement cares about financial freedom for people who actually have enough money to have financial freedom. Conservatives are concerned about conserving their wealth. They really are not concerned about the people who are trying to get to that point. If you are rich you are alright, if you are not, then screw you!

The Reality

Jessica Hardy — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:25:48 EDT

The Reality The way I see it politics are not just right and wrong. A lot of people out there are saying "No way to John McCain" or "I think Obama is dreaming". The fact of the matter is you should vote for the person that best represents our issues. Nowadays I do, personally, have a hard time understanding how an old rich white guy with old rich white guy theories could possibly represent the majority of America. But you all already know, if you follow my writings, that I'm all about Obama. But the reality is that it's not about which candidate is going to pull us out of this rut. I think it's about which candidate encourages us, inspires us to be better people. I think, if I can get on the Obama horse for a minute, that Barack's message is all about community. It's not necessarily a leftist liberal viewpoint. It's much simpler and applies to everyone, left/right conservative/liberal, it's just a message to take care of your neighbor. It's such an old school way perspective to say anymore "I'm stable and that's all that matters." In other countries the idea is so different than ours. Mexico for example, is one of the poorest countries, and yet you might feel such love from their country. They live as a community. They take care of each other. My god, look at how many Hispanics have risked everything to come to America and send money back home. I knew a girl who housed three Hispanic women so that they could wash dishes at a fucking restaurant so that they could send their checks home to their family. McCain doesn't inspire me to take care of my neighbors. He makes me feel bitter and frustrated when he paces on the debate floor and calls Obama "that one." That one. And that's my point my friends. Your neighbor is not that one. That poor one. That liberal one. That conservative one. That rich one. That black one. That old one. That handicap one. Our neighbors are our responsibility. If we would take better care of each other, we might not be facing the mess that we are in right now. I believe Obama is the right candidate to represent this type of social consciousness. Jesus Christ was a good leader. But he doesn't save us. No one is going to save us. We have to save ourselves.

Looking for Ideas?

Don Adams — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:01:24 EDT

Creating community events that open people's hearts and minds requires great social imagination. By definition, artists and activists are imaginative creatures, but the "social" part doesn't come with traditional arts training. And let's face it: the usual meet-and-canvass format of social-change activism can bore people to tears (most especially us activists!).

How to nourish the imagination needed to break out of the box and create appealing, eye-opening, consciousness-changing events? If you'd like to get inspired by what other creative social-change artists have done, I've got just the Web resource for you!

Just another musician supporting Obama

Steve Lin, www.linguitar.com — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:36:01 EDT

About supporting Obama — the speeches are inspiring, his values are grounded, and the policies sound reasonable. But one of the biggest reasons I’m supporting Obama has to do with the idea that “change comes to Washington, not from Washington”.

In the wave of this massive grassroots-generated support and passion for Obama, I’ve come to realize how we can make our voices heard. I’ve also realized how much the characteristics of grassroots initiatives are reflected in my own work in conducting outreach — in taking my guitar and my music into churches, hospitals, libraries, and other community venues.

In 2005, Eliot Fisk and I founded the Boston Guitar Project, hoping to bring our music into the community and to share the privilege of being a musician with new audiences. Joined by guitar students at New England Conservatory, we began spreading our music all over Greater Boston, from churches in Cambridge, to Latino community centers in the South End, to Jewish retirement centers in Roslindale. In the process, we unknowingly began to change public perception and conception about the guitar.

Without intention, Boston Guitar Project reflected the values of grassroots movements–a core group of dedicated minds, working together for a greater cause, and in the process, discovering a greater sense of meaning and worth within our community. I see this value embedded within Obama’s campaign, and that’s just another reason why I support Obama. I believe that in the same way a group of guitarists were able to get together and warm some hearts, a new wave of young and mature voters will be able to join Obama and Biden in bringing the change we need to Washington.

PS. During the Republican Convention, Rudy Giuliani took special care to ridicule and mock Obama’s work as a “community organizer”. As former Mayor of NYC, where there must be tons of grassroots activity and community organizing, he must understand the value of community work. (What else would you call the community response to 9-11?) In the past few weeks, McCain and Palin have also taken their shots as well. So, either the three of them are just hypocrites, playing into the distasteful and dispicable narrative that politicians have dug for themselves, or they simply “don’t get it”. Or they’re all of the above — clueless, distasteful, hypocritical politicians. Whatever the case may be, these attacks, and the mentalities that allow them, represent an insincere and disingenuous attitude towards ordinary citizens that can not possibly serve our country well.

International Intelligence Report Shocks The American Revolutionary Leadership

MoorAmerican — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:41:49 EDT

Recorded for the Library of Congress October 9, 2008; 26 Days before Election Day 2008.

0203 - - - Ralph Thomas immediately forwards an international intelligence report to the American Revolutionary Leadership on the front line of the General Election Battleground of 2008: ECONOMY - The Money Supply and Banking.

The American War Heroes read the following report with amazement at the 43rd Presidency. Obama MOORines are deployed immediately to deal with the insurgency.

International Surveillance Information Service Report:

Newt Gingrich, Karl Rove, and Fox News Channel; Sponsor’s Alaskan Governor’s Oppression of American People… Anti-Community Activist Initiative of American Solutions - - - ACORN and other organizations engaged in voter registration targeted to effect voter apathy and to terrorized minority, low income communities throughout America… Turning page from focus on Economy to VOTER FRAUD: fabricate, falsify, amplify, propagate narrative about Voter Fraud via mass media --- link narrative to destroy momentum of TEAM Obama. United States Attorneys and Federal Bureau of Investigation being used by 43rd Presidency.

Russian Nefarious Cell of Republican Alqaeda Trickettes Found Operating In Alaska… Governor oppresses and unilaterally holds up petitions presented to be placed on the ballot. Governor either delays or flat out rejects petitions because she disagrees with the process. Governor makes it harder for residents of Alaska to vote on major issues affecting them. The American people living in Alaska feel they have no control of their State government because of the present Governor’s opposition to the people --- who want liberalization of initiative and referendum procedures to hold legislatures accountable to the will of the people.

Governor opposes the right of the American people to convene for the purpose of addressing the flaws in the existing State Constitution. The American people oppose the fluidity of the constitution which enables the Governor to change the language from one printing to the next without a vote of the people. The biggest flaw in the constitution supported by the Governor is its purely socialist context. Private property and individual rights are sacrificed to the collective government as a whole.

The Governor supports INDEPENDENCE which would make Alaska a separate sovereign nation state by a true plebiscite, a direct vote by the entire electorate of the American people, according to international law.

The World as a Community...

True Star Wars Inheritor — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:40:08 EDT

We (the USA), as a government have to think of the world as a community. Our neighbors are frurstrated with our ability to be the leader of the world, and we have to see through their eyes....
walk in thier shoes ~

We saved the world from tyranny during the 2nd World War, and the world expected us to show the road ahead. We excelled with producing the green technology and fed the world the food needed to move forward. We excelled with technology....landing the ONLY man on the moon.

We were moving in steps boldly taken, and risks assumed achievable. WE (the USA) excelled!

Now we realize that as a whole....the Earth survives as a community, or perishes as the only known living planet.

Let us band together, whatever our differences.....whatever our differences we are one....we ARE the human race.

The United States has the resources....and the soul to lead and bring a bright future for all living things. We are at the gates of great change, and WE (the USA) need to take the reigns of this challenge and succeed again!

All the world will be proud of us, the United States....as they have been in the past, but even more so....BECAUSE WE MET THE CHALLENGE!

I say to you.....lets join hands and lead this great living planet to the future we deserve.....

A future where fear is a past experience, a future where all are allowed a voice, a future where our children need no fear of thier true brother and sister....for we all are brothers and sisters.

Dear Wall Street Wizards

Mary — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:27:07 EDT

You are amoral unethical cowardly greedy heartless capitalists! You got yourselves into this mess so why should little America get you out of it? You haven't answered the question yet. You hid behind the President's pant leg begging like a college kid for mummy to send you money because you wrecklessly spent what she sent you last month. You are nothing but snobbish spoiled high brow kids who haven't grown up yet and expect everyone to pay their way in life. You used the average consumer duping them into purchasing homes that you FULL well knew that they couldn't afford! You went to college for financial educations, not the average citizen, so it was up to you to be responsible and make sure those people knew what your dealings with them were. In truth you hoped and prayed that they wouldn't understand so that you could feed off of them like a hyena feeds off the weak prey! No one has mercy or compassion for you now and why should they!

You need to be taught a true lesson and pay the price for your own folly! No one of us average people in the U.S. could give a crap that you got yourselves in this mess. We don't want to bail you out! We paid taxes but you didn't! We don't earn over a billion a year but you do! We don't own multiple homes, multiple cars, private jets, private cruise ships. We don't have excessive savings squirrled away like you do. Why don't you do what the rest of us do and give up everything you have to save your own butt! Isn't that what you expected each and every home owner to do when you forclosed on them? If you died tomorrow no one in the United States would mourn you except for your rich mummies, daddies and possibly your Country Club friends! As for the rest of us in the U.S. we loathe you, we are sickened by your deplorable amorality and greed and we don't feel any sorrow or mercy for you! Some of us are not hear to even speak to you because under the strain of losing everything they committed suicide out of the hopeless dispair in losing their lifelong family homes that you convinced them to refinance without warning them of possible downfalls because you were GREEDY!

In the end, we should all revolt against you and Washington D.C. and demand that you get NOTHING from any U.S. citizen as you gave us NOTHING when we needed your help! Thanks for nothing and may you rot in your filthy mire and live with the guild every day of the rest of your hopefully shortened greedy life knowing that America HATES you and could care less if you are in trouble now! There are good neighbors who reach out with loving hands to meet the needs of their community, but you are not a part of the American community and you don't deserve our support or help! Shame on all of you for even suggesting that we Bail you out! You are the most disgusting lowly bunch of losers that I think I've ever known of! Shame on Bush for supporting you and expecting us to foot your foolhearty disaster!

Sort Stocking America

Justin from Brooklyn, NY — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:32:01 EDT

We should have invested more with and amongst our neighbors in our communities and less in what we thought would get us by on the sly with the least amount of effort. Now we are face to face with the crushing reality that our communities are all we have and all we ever did have to rely upon... and they are in disrepair due to our neglect. It is the fault of none but ourselves that the entire economy is based on a global game of poker amongst those who seek to do little more than 'cash-out' at the right time instead of being based on the direct and personal provision of real and needful goods and services to and for our neighbors governed by local economies of scale.

It is not some small enclave of rich professionals that have built this house of cards only to blow it over. Rather is it an entire nation of people who wish to live as though they are rich, whether with their own capital or someone elses... be it a matter of their own savings or what credit/loans/investments may be obtained from others. As a nation, it is we that have sought to make wealth building our livelihood, regardless of what that wealth was built upon... It is we that have turned the marketplace into a sweepstake. Even the most fiscally responsible have seen fit to gamble their savings so as to be able to afford retirement rather than to roll up their sleeves and toil to make retirement more affordable. And what has justified it all?... the simple rule that rules the simpleton, 'that which everyone is doing must be what should be done and therefore should be what everyone must do.

More than a housing finance rescue plan: hope for a better future

Richard Careaga — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 23:06:22 EDT

It is very likely that Congress will pass a bill next week granting the Treasury authority to borrow up to $700 billion to buy troubled mortgage loans and mortgage backed securities. This program can provide hope as well as relief.
Hope for families, neighborhoods, communities, employment, the economy, the environment and energy independence.
How? That's a tall order.
A lender that cares about families is not going to rush through a foreclosure as quickly as possible just to get the property off the books when that lender is the public's lender. A family in a house they can afford needs a loan they can afford. The public's lender can do that. A family in a house they can't afford can be matched by the public's lender with one they can.
A lender that cares about neighborhoods cares about making sure vacant property does not become the cause of blight. The public's lender can do that by demolishing substandard housing that it owns and land banking it.
A lender that cares about communities cares about maintaining the tax base to support local services. The public's lender pays taxes on its land banked properties at tax rates needed to maintain those local services.
A lender that cares about employment hires contractors who employ local labor to restore and rehabilitate the foreclosed properties it acquires. The public's lender can take the long view and does not have to immediately sell property to speculators who will flip it with only cosmetic improvements that leave it still substandard.
A lender that cares about the economy will absorb excess housing stock and manage it to better match demand by removing substandard housing stock through land banking. The public's lender has the ability to do that.
A lender that cares about the environment will make the housing stock it owns greener before selling it.
A lender that cares about energy independence will use its land banked properties to promote housing opportunities closer to jobs and public transit to cut down on the need for long distance automobile commuting and the oil it requires.
A public lender doesn't solve every problem related to housing, communities, the economy and the environment. It should not be made permanent without a great deal of thought and debate. A public lender while it has stewardship of so much of the nation's housing can do much good in these areas. And we ought to require it to do more than to just get rid of a problem.

Volunteering - It gets easier

Suzan — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:33:13 EDT

Honestly, it can take a little bravery for some of us to leave our comfort zone and go into an unknown situation, even if you know you'll probably be among like-minded people. The first time I stood outside Kroger and registered voters, I felt a little awkward for the first half hour. The first time I met a "strange guy" in a parking lot so we could go canvassing door-to-door together, I was just a tiny bit apprehensive. (He wasn't "strange" - he was a kind, quiet gentleman - an accountant by profession).

Now, I'm a veteran. I not only register new voters, but I can answer all kinds of voting questions. I no longer fear that I might meet someone hostile when I'm canvassing. It's never happened. And while everyone may not agree with my point of view (and some may even be voting for McCain, and not overly friendly), if I had never volunteered, I never would've met a lot of cool, smart people in my community. If I had never volunteered, I wouldn't have talked with all those people who were so excited about voting for the first time. I never would've met so many passionate Obama/Biden supporters who wanted to share their hopes and fears.

I don't even care if I meet up with a hostile McCain supporter any more. It couldn't begin to put a damper on the uplifting experiences I've had volunterring for this campaign. I've gotten way more than I've given.

My Story - Remi Aregbesola (Madison, WI)

Young and Powerful - Madison — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:41:51 EDT

Young and Powerful for Obama

I never expected to be involved in the political process of America. For a long time, I thought it would be better to just organize in my community so I wouldn’t have to deal with all of the backstabbing, smearing, and party dueling of politics while making a positive impact in society. No, it is not that I’m not cut out for it. I felt that it was a waste of time, and a part of me still feels that it is. I am an individual who has overcome many obstacles--big & small. I was born and grew up on the South side of Chicago with two parents who emigrated from Nigeria. Most of my child-hood friends are still poor, have been killed due to violence, or sell drugs. I recently graduated from UW-Madison, one of the top universities in the county, via a POSSE full-tuition scholarship. I have a started my career in Finance and organize in the community as President of the alumni chapter of my fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. I organize because always thought it was best to keep the common touch and politicians usually lack that. But one day I decided to organize for a candidate. His name is Senator Barack Obama.

One of my frat brothers, Jarvis Houston, was visiting from DC and crashed at my place while attending a political training in Madison, WI. Later that day, we were helping another brother of ours move out who recently graduated from medical school and Jarvis began to talk to me about Young & Powerful for Obama (YP for Obama) and the fundraisers they hosted in the past year. He stated that YP for Obama has one final fundraiser left which would occur in six cities (Madison being the seventh) on the same day. We rambled back and forth and I was really reluctant because I had a lot on my plate with the alumni chapter, new job, and new life as a “grown up.” Senator Barack Obama was someone I was familiar with—politically and I was going to vote for him in the election. And even though I really like him as a candidate, I still didn’t want to get involved. Jarvis left after his training was over and told me to think about it. What made me change my mind was all of the training and organizing I experienced in school, in the frat, and in the community. I knew that my involvement should not go in vain and if I were ever going to get involved with real politics this would be the time. YP for Obama was founded by young professionals who were leaders and organizers in college, and now, as young professionals, are still involved only part-time. Besides the issues, the more I learned about Obama’s personal life, my life, and how the other city chairmen’s background intertwined, I was almost certain this was the right route to take. Months after, when Senator Obama gave his nomination acceptance speech, my mother called me as soon as Senator Barack was done. She started screaming with her still “fresh” Nigerian accent, “Remi going to be President, Remi going to be President.” I don’t honestly think she believes I’m going to be President one day, but that Senator Barack Obama was giving her and me inspiration. I never heard her speak like this about anyone. I can tell, she doesn’t have to actually utter the words, but his message and actions epitomize the true principles of America. For me, there is no turning back. YES WE CAN.

Remi Aregbesola
City Chair
Young and Powerful for Obama - Madison,WI
YP4OBAMA.COM

:::::::::
Young & Powerful for Obama Fundraiser September 25th
BE SEEN...BE HEARD...BE POWERFUL! Networking::Music::Social::PoliticalDonate/RSVP Today @ http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpg3qwMADISON, WI
WASHINGTON, D.C.
CHICAGO
LOS ANGELES
NEW YORK
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DETROIT

7 cities...1 day...1 goal! YP4OBAMA.com
youngandpowerfulmadison@gmail.com
:::::::::

Home Page Redesign

Travis J. Todd, Founder, GrowVotes.org — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:10:14 EDT

We've redesigned the homepage of GrowVotes.org. Check it out!

Your local candidates and elections on www.growvotes.org.

Taking Back Our Country

Grace — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:41:41 EDT

I like Obama's grassroots approach. If we want it, we need to go after it. That means work. I'm not sure how government becomes so big. Apparently we allowed that to happen. It's easier to have someone making decisions for us than doing things for ourselves. That comes at a price though. Sometimes too costly. Did we build "Big Brother"? We complain about the intrusion but the people haven't been aggressive enough to make changes. We aren't in big enough groups working towards the same goals.

Our time is split among work, family, education, hobbies, and maybe some volunteer time. I know it's not easy. It's apparent from my blog that I have a passionate cause. I'm at a time in my life when I can work to gain attention and try to build a force of more than one. There are other organizations devoted to the same cause but from a different perspective.

I don't know how to pull forces together. I've submitted policy suggestions through the channels on this website and followed the suggestion of the blog's overseer to put my policy out there through another channel to connect with others. No response so far. Maybe it's only a cause if Obama wins? I want him dearly to be our next president. Regardless, legislation to protect our children is going to be vital. I feel like a lost citizen but doing my best.

I'm not a door knocker or phone call maker. I write. It's the only way I know how to contribute until I can be heard through a greater forum. I would like to see people like me want to be making more of a difference. Let's take the country back. So many issues don't have to be about party lines. What has worked in neighborhoods could work in much larger areas. Who has the blueprints? Who can put a plan together? We can all get video cams and meet nationally.

I've always been a bit on the naive and overly positive side. I like it that way. It gives me hope. Where are the others looking to do the same? Maybe with everyone caught up in the election itself the issues being brought up now must, by necessity, take a backseat. I'm here to do what I can when the time is right. I hope I'll know when that will be.

Community Participation and national Service

Felix Petitt, Jr. — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:58:07 EDT

When I turned eighteen the Select Service Letter came and my Father explained that this document was to add my name to a national list in case there was ever a need for a draft so that young men could be mobilized into military ranks to protect our country. I filled out the document and nervously mailed it off. My Dad was a Master Sergeant in the Marines and my Brother followed in his footsteps. I wanted to be a scientist and had no interest in shooting people or shedding my personal freedoms for service as a soldier.

Here is an idea that I thought up a few weeks ago during a long afternoon of job search hell. Granted, I am an IT guy and not a smart financial guy or a community organizer, which is a wonderful component to my idea. Here we go. Replace Select Service Letters to eighteen year olds with Community Participation Letters for fourteen year olds. The form asks the child a series of questions, not to add the child to a military list, but to find out what the child wants to do when he or she is older.

For example, if the child wants to be a Fireman when he or she gets older, he or she automatically qualifies for the Emergency Infrastructure Track; just made up this name but you get the idea. Imagine a emergency services youth program that occupies the child’s after school activities for 2 to 4 hours a day and the child is paid for participation; maybe $1.25 per hour. Because this program is to sponsor civic responsibility morays and develop strong leadership skills in our youth, the funding should come from Federal, State and Local pockets as part of a Community Development Fund sponsored by the Federal Government and the local communities. The child gets a small allowance and hands-on development skills that will stay with that child for life. This is a good thing. Imagine someone needing emergency CPR or other emergency medical procedures conducted to save a life of an American Citizen and having a young child carry out the care with confidence and instructing others to assist as necessary showing developed leadership skills. This is just an example, but I have seen reports of children who have accomplished such tasks successfully and saved lives in the process. This would help construct confidence in our youth and welcome them to our community as valued members of society. This is a much better outcome then neglecting them through gang memberships, school ethics violations, drugs, anarchist groups, TV and video games. The youth of America have a need and desire to help out and participate. They are naturally curious and would be valued supporters of our communities.

The concept of such programs would include the aforementioned Emergency Infrastructure Track that would allow the child to have access to programs that would involve activities with the Police Department, First Responders, Emergency Services, the Coast Guard, the National Guard and participation in city programs to clean the neighborhoods, feed the poor and care for the elderly. This one track is so vast, but it would immerse the child in public safety concerns and civic duty. The child’s role at the beginning would be to take part in and develop understanding of what these services provide the public and the necessity to protect the community. Instead of focus on one program on the track, which would limit the experience of the child, each week he or she would be immersed in a new program with new civic responsibilities and community concerns. This balances and broadens the understanding of community law, safety and emergency concerns and builds a strong character of civil obedience and honor in the child as well as enhances the programs, as they become clear examples that reflect the health of our communities. Program evaluations would provide awards to participants and controls to protect the child from negative behavior, dangerous or hostile environments while reinforcing good behavior to program participants and broadening the program’s depth of training.

Other tracks could include the Environmental Protection Track, Commerce Track, Creativity Track, Engineering Track, Governing Track, Medical Track…. you get the idea. This involves the youth of America in areas of interest that they have a personal connection to. By simply selecting what interest the child has, he or she qualifies to be a participant of a Track that will involve the child in a rotation of programs that encapsulate the broader interest of the child and allows that child to develop knowledge and experience early in life that they keep throughout their lives. Such participation will enhance our communities and develop future generations of civically responsible adults that will lead our country to a secure and safe and industrious future.

At eighteen years old, the young man or woman receives another Community Participation Letter that asks if he or she wants to continue with the track he or she is on and if he or she wants to try something else. At this point, the typical teen has CPR training and other life saving experience as well as a clear understanding of what their track provides the community. The decision that is made now will be informed and intelligent. Along with the various questions, the teen is asked what school they would like to attend and what majors and minors he or she may be interested in. This civic involvement will give the youth support and enable affordable attendance to colleges and universities. The student can go for any career he or she wishes and will have the confidence of the broad experience already gained through the Track system to move forward toward a clear career path and a happy future.

This program would be community-based and letters will be sent to all fourteen-year-old American Citizens with valid social security numbers. It does not matter what neighborhood they are from or what race they happen to be or if they are a boy or girl. This program is for everyone. The future will see the poor sectors diminish as more opportunities are given to the citizens of the community. Eventually, there will be no homeless sleeping on park benches, under bridges and in alleys and looking for someone to give them a hand up. Everyone will be a community participant and everyone will be considered valuable participants to American society. It all starts with the right program.

I know, what about the military recruiters who prey on the poor to fill our military ranks and keep our forces fortified? After loosing my beloved brother who served in the Marines and having my Master Sergeant Dad MIA twice during his three tour Vietnam hell, I think that a cherished American citizen should be valued more then placing them in harms way on foreign soil. A typical soldier has twelve years of education given to them at great expense by the American Government and to loose those skills to our enemies only weakens our country. I watched two Marines yesterday following a family to their car trying to get their son to sign up. How dare they participate in tearing down our country? I believe in protecting our country and training our citizens to be prepared for anything, but I draw the line at having them shot in the back and dragged down streets and burned and beheaded and torn limb from limb. That is how other countries treat our American soldiers. How much lost potential does it take before we do things a little differently? The enemy’s of America love our wounded because it drains our resources and saddens our people to look at the amputees I grew up visiting the VA hospital for my Dad and I know how it is. No one wants to sea a guy that is all torn up, but that guy challenged the enemy and came back. Always heroes are our wonderful Vetrans.

“But, where do we get our new recruits?” America’s biggest problem is when there is civil unrest and anarchy or civil disobedience, our justice system temporarily detains individuals in prisons where they develop and refine their antisocial skills through co-mingling with other more professional murderers, thieves, rapists, drug dealers and social miscreants. Often they enter bargains that, for protection, they will join gangs or enter into deals to cause civil unrest in the streets of America. I say, that these abundant unlawful citizens should receive the Select Service Letter and in a week’s time be removed from such incarceration to a place where their tattoos can be chemically removed, teeth fixed and hair removed to be handed over to Marine Drill Sergeants, using their old playbooks, to start training them to serve to the path to citizenship.

Basically, if a citizen breaks laws repeatedly and cause injury or death, that citizenship is revoked and associated Social Security number is suspended. Such revocation lands you in military service where you are assigned a level that needs to be accomplished to regain citizenship including reeducation and honor and leadership development. They can earn citizenship in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and anywhere there is injustice that threatens our borders. This program is not to shun our disillusioned, but to keep hope flickering for full restoration of citizenship and a welcome back to American Society. All too often in our current system, people are released back to the same neighborhoods that fostered their bad behavior through friendships and gang memberships. This would give the most damaged Americans a fresh start to a renewed future and a clean slate to build dreams as a participating and valued member of American society.

This would close many prisons around the country and save billions of the American taxpayer’s money. Such facilities can be torn down and turned into commercial properties. Billions more can be saved as these new soldiers would not require full combat pay nor have the privileges afforded our current soldiers. They would be treated well though and just wouldn’t have large paychecks as they would be paid a little more then prisoners now are paid for participating in this program. These billions of dollars can be used to pay for the Community Development Fund and start children on the right path in life.

Our eighteen year olds can focus on college and achievement and careers. They can look to the future and make it happen for themselves and their families. Good citizens are rewarded with good jobs and good opportunities. Lets expand the middle-class and fight poverty so that all Americans can live the American dream.

My story: Young and Powerful for Obama by Remi Aregbesola

Young and Powerful - Madison — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:09:15 EDT

Young and Powerful for Obama

Remi Aregbesola
City Chair
Young and Powerful for Obama - Madison,WI
YP4OBAMA.COM

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Make it count! (even if you can't vote)

Kristian — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:59:46 EDT

If you are turning 18 this year, check your state's laws for voting age. In Arizona, you can register at the age of 17, as long as you will be 18 by the day of the general election. That means that if your 18th birthday is November 4, you can vote, so don't wait to register! Your form needs to be in by the 4th of October for you to be able to vote!

If you are not going to be eligible to vote for a while still, you can find other ways to help turn the vote blue. Volunteering is a great way; not only does it help educate people about the election and other political matters, it will go on your college resume, and you will feel great about helping for a cause. There are many ways to volunteer: ask your school if they allow students to set up booths for voter registration and information tables, ask your local unemployment office if you can register voters outside of their building (this will help get the minority into voting), see if you can hold an open discussion group at your city library, or ask relatives and neighbors to donate money. If you are going to do fundraising, remember to be safe about it.

Myths of small town/big city

Binrondav — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:50:16 EDT

I want to gather together people from from different types of communities who want to challenge the idea that small town "conservative" American owns "good values". What is the difference between people in small towns and large urban areas? The answer relates simply to the organization of resources, and scales of population. Other than that every geography is occupied by people who may differ in culture, language or social patterns while sharing in the integrity of our respective humanity.

For every act of small town kindness there are urban displays of neighborly good will, for every tale of urban crime and violence there are stories of axe murderers and other nefarious characters hanging out in the bayou. There are liberals and conservatives in small towns and big cities and more often than not we as a people are united by basic needs and vulnerabilities - not to mention our tenacity in loving that often binds us to a destiny higher than our own separate indivudual lives. As Horton said in Horton Hears a Who, " A person's a person no matter how small."

People are flawed, and challenged and capable of great harm to self and other. People are brilliant, inspired and capable of acting in the name of the greatest good for human welfare. Given the good/bad duality of our nature we rely on families, groups and communities to support integrated identities and an integrated society.

Urbanites and small towns equally vote against their own self interest when there has been a breakdown in the communal ties that link us more closely to our better interests. Alone and isolated all people are vulnerable to the symbolic manipulation of a forceful authority.

So - I am hoping that a group like Urban Dwellers with Small Town Values can come together to break down the false dichotomy between small towns and big cities. An online forum can help us write letters, write, create YouTube videos and otherwise inspire actions that can help us remain more strongly connected to our beliefs and our values. This strengthens the electorate's capacity to vote on the basis of what is in its own best interest --- in small towns and in our urban landscapes. And a strong electorate is an Obama-Biden electorate!

Mockery and Lipstick

Thor — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:25:44 EDT

The mockery of policies as lipstick on a pig

The mockery of community organizers?

One demands an explanation (not whining) the other demands fighting back.

We need something audacious. Community Organizers unite! We could do a million person march but I know you're too busy taking the responsibility of organizing and helping others - versus yourselves.

Palin Caught Working For Community Organizers

Sue "ELO" — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:26:56 EDT

The photo says it all!

BTW, I heard Senator Obama speaking this morning about the "lipstick on a pig" CONtroversy. When Barack said "Spare me the phony outrage," I was jumping around the room! Way to smack 'em back, Barack!

http://headonradionetwork.com/blog/2008/09/10/palin-caught-working-on-behalf-of-community-organizers/

-Sue and the Ranting Keyboard

Why should Obama get angry?

Sree — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:23:30 EDT

Ever since the Republican convention, I have been seething and is getting more difficult to control my anger. I believe Obama should reflect this anger too. Here are the reasons why.

Community work: I have been active in community work for over two decades. There are thousands of others like me who give their time and money to community work. Delegates and nominees at the convention and speeches by Palin since the convention have belittled our effort. I want Obama to join us in condemning and getting angry. Community work is God's work; communities build countries, communities are where Patriots are made. I love my community!

War: God does not condone Wars! God is not a fear monger! God is truth not lies and smears. I do not impose my beliefs in God, whatever kind it is, on others. I respect every religion. What was the need to enter into a unilateral war? Fighting a wrong war is worse than fighting a right war, even if there is one. Obama should respond that Republicans' premise of their attacks on Obama is baseless. Instead of being defensive or equivocal he needs to attack the very premise of the origin of the war!

Morality: Who are the Republicans to preach morality? Preaching a set of morals and ethics and leading life by another set is hypocritical. Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others!

So, I want Obama to get ANGRY!

Obama Green Inititives

Barry — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:20:17 EDT

1.Implement Cap and Trade Program to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Barack Obama

supports implementation of an economy‐wide cap‐and‐trade system to reduce carbon emissions

by the amount scientists say is necessary: 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. This market

mechanism has worked before and will give all American consumers and businesses the

incentives to use their ingenuity to develop economically effective solutions to climate change.

Obama's cap‐and‐trade policy will require all pollution credits to be auctioned. A 100 percent

auction ensures that all industries pay for every ton of emissions they release, rather than giving

these valuable emission rights away to companies on the basis of their past pollution. A small

portion of the receipts generated by auctioning allowances ($15 billion per year) will be used to

support the development of clean energy, invest in energy efficiency improvements, and help

develop the next generation of biofuels and clean energy vehicles – measures that will help the

economy and help meet the emissions reduction targets. It will also be used to provide new

funding to state and federal land and wildlife managers to restore habitat, create wildlife

migration corridors, and assist fish and wildlife to adapt to the effects of a warming climate. All

remaining receipts will be used for rebates and other transition relief to ensure that families and

communities are not adversely impacted by the transition to a new energy, low carbon economy.

2.Convert our Manufacturing Centers into Clean Technology Leaders. America boasts the

highest‐skilled manufacturing workforce in the world and advanced manufacturing facilities that

have powered economic growth in America for decades. Barack Obama believes that America

companies and workers should build the high‐demand technologies of the future, and he will help

nurture America’s success in clean technology manufacturing by establishing a federal investment

program to help manufacturing centers modernize and help Americans learn new skills to produce green

products. This federal grant program will allocate money to the states to identify

and support local manufacturers with the most compelling plans for modernizing existing or

closed manufacturing facilities to produce new advanced clean technologies. This investment will

help provide the critical up‐front capital needed by small and mid‐size manufacturers to produce

these innovative new technologies. Along with an increased federal investment in the research,

development and deployment of advanced technologies, this $1 billion per year investment will

help spur sustainable economic growth in communities across the country.

I believe in sustainability. I believe we have a significant amount of waste in our society and lifestyle that could make up a considerable amount of the difference between what we have and what we import in the way of energy (NOT oil). The remainder of the difference is doable by existing alternative energy sources and by the incredible amount of innovation our people have if they put their mind to a specific problem. There are countless unconfirmed stories about people inventing devices that could save millions of gallons of gasoline but one way or the other were not allowed to come to 'market'. We can DO what is in front of our faces if we only decide to DO IT! Lets see what ideas any of you can come up with that are practical and implementable solutions so that a President like Barack Obama would use the Office of The President and all the resources available to help develop your dream for our country. The only limit I know of is our imagination.

When a Community Organizes

Andr�a- (You've called him everything else- now call him Mr. President!) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:11:18 EDT

On the third day of its convention, the Republican Party decided to amuse itself by dismissing the time Sen. Barack Obama spent as a community organizer in Chicago. The GOP went a step further and mocked the many people who have helped this historic campaign in various ways. And since the convention, they have continued to do this.

I guess the Republicans just don't get it.

I cannot recall a time in a modern election year when so many people have decided to take an active role in choosing our next President of the United States. For too long we've sat on the sidelines as armchair admirals. We watched conventions and debates, cheering or jeering at our television screens, only to lose interest when something else catches our attention. Being distracted is what got us George Bush in 2000 and again in 2004.

This time has to be different.

Senator Obama said this at one of his early campaign events during the primaries: "I’m asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington… I’m asking you to believe in yours."

For many, that was a call to action. If we want to change the direction of our country, we have to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Over the past 19 months, we’ve done everything from voter registration drives to car washes to raise money. We have called millions of people in all 50 states to tell them why they should vote for Senator Obama. We have held discussion groups and canvassed through thousands of neighborhoods, detailing Obama’s plans for this country. We’ve set up house parties and action meetings to expand the network of support. We have analyzed, discussed, and debated Obama’s plans with our friends, family, and even complete strangers.

This is a type of community organizing—Americans joining together in a common purpose to turn this country in the right direction. This is what that original group of patriots did when they decided they were tired of being kicked around by King George III. This is what slaves and abolitionists did when they pushed back against the evil institution of slavery. This is what women did when they fought for the right to vote. This is what African Americans did when they decided Jim Crow state-sanctioned segregation had to be destroyed.

So when the Republican Party laughed at Senator Obama and his millions of supporters, they were also laughing at every other group who fought for and won the rights and freedom this nation holds so true.

I guess I should be glad the Republicans laughed. It’s actually a great motivator. I now see just how out of touch that party truly is.

Community Organizer and Gulianni

Madera Strong - Team Co-ordinator For City of Madera — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:35:16 EDT

Laughing at the Republican Convention about the work done by community organizers is demeaning to all of us "ordinary people." Palin and Gulianni feel community organizers are unskilled and unworthy. After Katrina, it was the community organizers who came in, saved lives and helped in the aftermath. Government officials, with great titles, had failed the people - but community organizers helped the people of the community survive and move on.

After 9/11 when the towers fell. The community organizers consoled survivors, helped the firefighters and other community volunteers, offered housing, food, medical care and funds. Government without community support - led by community organizers - would be a total mess. Thank your local community organizers who volunteer at your schools, shelters and churches. Community organizers help the needy, elderly, kids, and disabled every day.

If Palin and Gulianni do not understand the vital roles played by our local community organizers throughout the United States - they are not fit to lead this great country.

Jesus was a community organizer. Martin Luther King was a community organizer. Ceasar Chavez was a community organizer. Rosa Parks was a community organizer. Your local minister is a community organizer. The Pope is a community organizer (on a grand scale). Your PTA members are community organizers. Your local politicians are community organizers. The American Red Cross leaders are community organizers. The list of well-known community organizers is long and distinguished. Palin can laugh at us - but we ARE America.

.....

THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER

Chuck Britt — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:21:39 EDT

I was thinkin’

I might just leave

Go on up to Canada

Or down to Australia

Any place without their scorn

I’m sick to death of their scorn

But hell no!

I’ll not fall for their dark pap

I’ll no longer give it the strength

Of my eyes

I’ll not leave

This Land Of The Free

I herby remind them all

I’m stayin’

They can’t’ shame me

They can’t make my heart small

They can’t get me to emigrate

I’ll stay and Organize

I’ll stand in the Commons

I’ll claim the Commons for my brothers and sisters

I’ll claim the Commons for their children.

I’ll shrug off dismissals and blacklists and brickbats

I’ll speak common truth

In the Commons

I’ll address scorn with

The steady voice of the Constitution

The revelations of the Bible

Then the angel of God

Will strike the earth

With her sickle

The blood of men and women

Will pump together

And work together

And produce goodness together

The children will

Smile up their cheeks

Nothing to do but play

After the harvest

You can count me in

I’m for stayin’

I’m for eatin' up

All those Grapes of Wrath

In common meal

With my brothers and sisters

Sittin’ right on the earth

Right beside any road

Eatin’ bunch after bunch

Tellin’ all our stories of Victory

To kin

To neighbors

To anybody else who shows up

G.F.C. Grassroots Finance Committe: Your Moment

Omar Dyer — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:34:13 EDT

Your Moment!
When the times are too great, and the paradox are set for equality, this moment is that time.
When the world is at its lift and the constellation meets the mitts; this moment is that time.
When those that mock, and mark the leadership qualities in a candidate that has been opposed, this moment is that time.
When the opposing incumbent party is cynical of the ideas that the opposition presides, and says that's not leadership and then rephrases those ideas, to make a claim on them; is a true lack of leadership. That's when you know this is the time.
This time the political gamesmanship on pandering politics -- where the bureaucrats only seek gaming the political system, to have power and control; where they spend hours looking at their profits and not the harm to the economy -- this is the moment in time that change has come. That's when you know this is the time.
Change is not about: A Man with pigment in his skin, change is not about a women on a ticket; Change is not about an elder being begged to change their stubborn ways. Have you ever tried to get an elder to change their old habits -- It's hard work but it takes a spirited leader: Like Barack Obama and a nobody like Omar Dyer: two community Organizers to organize change.
Change is not about; saying this person is a better American, and the other is fraud.
Change is when noticeable theories are not correct and a new course is needed; a true leader will say, "I made this move because that's the change we need."
Change is when a person makes the ultimate sacrifice in good of the people they represent. If you follow your candidate: Follow, if you believe your candidate: Believe. You don't need to be little others because they don't have the same views as you. That's when you know it's time to change. That's the type of politics we need to change!
We are in a moment where the bitterness of someone's' pigment in their skin has no barring on the character on the content of their minds -- in a new direction to lead.
We can't afford to demonize an American child because they don't come from my hood.
We can't afford to demonize an American child because they don't have the same ideological thinking as you do!
This campaign is not about being a celebrity in politics, making one before the other: this campaign is about all Americans, coming together and forming: One Nation. One America, a speech John Edwards wrote; a vision Abraham Lincoln saw, a dream Martin Luther King Jr. spoke -- a Hope, Barack Obama preached, and a grassroots campaign achievement by a local community organizer; in which help bring in more community organizers to unite this country from the bottom up. As one of the leaders in Barack Obama's New Jersey's Grassroots Finance Committee in campaigning and organizing; a local community organizer, and other locals like: "Omar Dyer: TheFanNJ," has helped transformed the internet as a reliable source of organizing marching and bringing people to Barack Obama's campaign. TheFanNJ has been strictly better than Karl Rove; and it was done on clean politics.

Sarah Palin as Special Needs Advocate

Andrew Dzeguze — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:07:58 EDT

I wrote what I think is a compelling post earlier, but I labeled it more than slightly intemperately. I used the "pimping out" phrase as a conscious homage to the mini - storm when an MSNBC host used it to describe Chelsea Clinton's campaigning. I'm not going to change the title - it is what I wanted to say then, and I do think that calling out a slepping infant for political points pretty much meets the connotation of pimping someone in the sense of shamelessly using them for your own gain. Anyways, it would be dishonest to retreat now. But I do want to take another look at Gov. Palin's assertion she would be an "advocate" for people with special needs - or at least some of them.

Initially, I'm not sure anyone is well served by high profile advocates whose only known qualification is the biological fact of having a child with special needs. I know that some parents are falling all over themselves at the idea of having "someone like them" in office. Personally, though, I have seen zero indication that Gov. Palin actually knows what the issues she will face as a parent of a DS child are, much less any grasp of the needs of people accross the special needs spectrum. Without that knowledge, power can often become a way of multiplying ignorance rather than enlightenment.

In fact, her own words show a pretty low level of knowledge about the people with special needs she claims to want to help:

"To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House."

There are at least three problems with that statement. First, many people with special needs object to the phrasing she uses. These aren't special-needs kids, or Down Syndrom kids, or autistic kids - they are kids with special needs, kids with Down Syndrome or kids with autism. That might seem like a little thing, but people centered language is one of the key issues to advocates in this area, as it grants people with developmental disabilities the same sort of basic dignity you would confer on any one else. They are, after all, kids first, and any condition they've been diagnosed with comes second.

Second, its technically the people with special needs, regardless of age, who need an advocate, not the parents. Parents are tremendous fighters for their kids, but they aren't looking for something for themselves. Rather, what they want is a better present and future for their kids. At the end of the day, it is the child or adult with special needs who should be the focus of any government attention, rather than making them supporting players in their own struggles. Again, putting the family over the child or adult suggests that they are somehow not people first.

Third, children with special needs do eventually become adults with special needs. They don't stop having needs or needing advocates, though. To the extent they can, they often advocate for themselves, but they need assistance at 22 (and 33, and 44) every bit as much as they do at 2. Arguably, even more so, since by that age many of them will no longer have parents around to help them in their struggles and the world tends to be far less generous to adults with behavioral or developmental problems than it is to children.

I really don't know what to think about the narrow nature of this statement. Is it a reflection of ignorance, or does she really think children are the only people at issue here? Maybe her speech writer Mike Scully just doesn't have a clue how to discuss the issue? No matter the reason, the implications of this cramped understanding of the issue bothers me.

Assuming for the moment that her whole focus is children with special needs, that doesn't suggest she'll be a good advocate for that community, either. I don't doubt her commitment as a mother. I'm sure she will fight for her kid tenaciously, as virtually all parents do, and parents of kids with special needs almost universally have to in order to get a fair shake in a world that still doesn't like to acknowledge that a person with special needs is a person first. I also don't doubt, given her willingness to be so open about his condition (unlike so many other issues she has been questioned on) she will raise the profile of Down Syndrome. However, I doubt the ability of anyone in a McCain administration to effectively advocate for the needs of special needs children, much less the special needs community as a whole. Doing so would require a wholesale reversal of fundamental tenets of the GOP, central policy goals of the McCain campaign and McCain's own words.

Initially, the GOP is known as the party of "small government" and "states rights." Ignoring the areas in which this isn't true (defense, social restrictions, etc.), a typical GOP approach will make advocacy for folks with special needs at a federal level pretty pointless. Right now, states are the primary aid deliverers for special needs people, not the Federal Government. The states get matching funds under Medicaid, but they have to commit to the initial funding levels. As a result, whether you get services at all, how quickly and at what level, is a local issue, not a national one. Some states can and do offer 40 hours a week of therapy for most kids with autism in their state, but may have nothing for kids with other developmental disabilities. Indiana has a 8+ year long waiting list for core services for children with autism, despite having dedicated funds for that category of person. Moreover, once people hit 18 ("age out" in the parlance of the system) the availability of the services they had as children is subjected to a different set of factors and calculations, oftentimes resulting in significant alterations in the level of care provided. Barring a complete reversal of the core Republican belief system, I can't see how a McCain adminsitration could ensure a level playing field for all people with special needs.

Owing to the lack of any universal provision of services, one of the things people in the special needs community, especially parents, are constantly fighting against are threats to their insurance coverage. Insurance companies consider most developmental disabilities "pre-existing conditions" and unless there's a state mandate in place, won't cover people with conditions like autism or Down syndrome at all. They are in business to get more from you in premiums than they pay out in care, after all, and that just doesn't happen when you are dealing with people with special needs. When companies do cover these conditions - typically because they are forced to by state law - the key therapies that help children and young people with these conditions often aren't covered, or only at a level that isn't effective according to prevailing research. The one way I know of right now to get decent coverage is if you are lucky enough to work for a company with good benefits, where the cost drain of your kid averages out with everyone else.

John McCain's central healthcare reform would make this harder, not easier. He wants to tax company insurance benefits to encourage people to seek individual plans. By comparison there is a tax credit if you give up your employer credit and buy your own, a blanket number that is about half the current cost for a "typical" person. The stated rationale for this plan is that it will eventually lower costs for people by increasing competition in the private market. If all people were equally attractive to insure, true competition might occur. However, there will be no incentive for companies to compete to cover people who are less than desirable to insurance companies as clients, at least not without charging them much more. While Elizabeth Edwards has pointed out the general problems with this model for people with pre-existing conditions, the problems for people with special needs are arguably more acute. I have yet to meet anyone from an insurance company that wants to cover, much less compete to cover, children or adults with special needs. There is no mandate in McCain's plan to force companies to cover everyone or some kind of Federal alternative. Instead, he wants states to create last gasp coverage plans like they have for high risk drivers. There doesn't seem to be any good model for these systems, or any one blueprint that states would be expected to follow. At best, a lot of people with special needs who don't get Medicaid funded services right now would wind up confronting a system just as crazy-quilted and inconsistent as the people who do have such services. At worst, people will die from inadequate care and lack of access to services. It really is that simple and horrifying.

McCain's educational policy is also troubling for people with special needs. While he does claim to support fully funding IDEA (the statute that is supposed to fund special ed in America) that hasn't happened in the entire time the law's been on the books. Republicans seem to always find a way to cut, rather than enhance, special ed funding at a Federal level. Because IDEA isn't fully funded, the services public schools legally have to provide for students with special needs often come out of general funds. Given this fact and the budgetary pressures schools are currently under, schools will push to limit special ed costs whenever to they can - which is just about any time a parent doesn't insist on the services legally required. Coupling that with his advocacy for vouchers and "school choice" creates a truly scary scenario. While he hasn't actually proposed to fund vouchers anywhere but in DC (because after all that would be "fiscally irresponsbile"), if such a plan were to become widespread it would likely mean that special education funding would be crippled further. That's because private schools typically won't take kids with behavioral problems or who need special assistance in accessing the curriculum - i.e., children with special needs. While there are schools geared towards these kids, most parents just can't afford them with or without vouchers. So in most cases there would be a higher concentration of kids with special needs in public schools with fewer funds to pay for them. Vouchers are an idealogical tenet of the GOP, and again I see no reason Gov. Palin would or could change that.

While John McCain just lambasted the failures of Washington, there's no indication the way No Child Left Behind treats kids with special needs is one of those failiures in his book. Because the system is geared towards rewarding school mandatory test scores and not looking at progress generally, schools are under pressure to boost their averages. Right now, they can and do try to excuse children with special needs from taking the tests, typically under a claim the child can't fully access the curriculum. However, if a child is thus excluded from a mandatory test, in many states the child cannot graduate from high school (they get a certificate of attendance, not a diploma), even if they otherwise have passed required subjects. That, in turn, bars the child from most higher education programs, including both college and vocational schools. Limiting the career options of people with special needs to protect a test average is hardly in keeping with the core belief underlying NCLB that we need to enhance educational opportunities. Again, though, the GOP has resisted calls to move away from the all or nothing test model, and I have no confidence in McCain to suddenly change the one thing Republicans have succeeded as selling to many people as a domestic success in the last decade.

Finally, there is one critical area of advocacy for people with special needs, primarily adults, where proposed Federal assistance would really help. Unfortunately, John McCain is personally and unequivocally on record as opposing that assistance. For a long time, getting state services with the highest level of care meant a person with special needs had to be placed in what are called State Operated Developmental Centers. For example, children would become wards of the state, taken from their families and placed in these centers where they would stay for the rest of their lives unless the family or the adult person with special needs chose to forego the care. I can only imagine the gut wrenching choice it had to be for parents to put minor children in these settings, and for adults to have to stay there.

SODCs were the state of the art in their time, based on prevailing understanding of the capacities of people with special needs. However, their time has generally passed, as our society has become much more aware of the potential of such people to be vibrant, full members of the communities they live in. SODCs are not the type of setting most people would ever want to live if they had another choice. Residents typically live in dormitory type settings, with severe restictions on their privacy and the personal goods they can have. Since Medicaid limits the income they can have, this only enhances the limitations on creature comforts. They eat in mess hall/cafeteria settings with limited input into their dietary intake. They have lockdown at night for security reasons and the grounds are typically fenced and patrolled. While family can certainly visit, they are not typically allowed to stay overnight. Residents also typically don't have individual caregivers, but rather are collectively assisted by a rotating staff. That, in turn, limits the ability of any person to individually go anywhere off grounds, because the institution can't spare staff to make sure they get back. Imagine, for example, being an adult who just wants to go across the street to a convenience store and buy a snack for yourself, and being told you can't because you can only run errands when a group goes on an outing. For that matter, imagine being someone with an average or above average intelligence, as many people with special needs are, and being told you can't walk to the end of your street, much less take a bus to a job or meet a friend for lunch. If this sounds a little like prison to you, imagine how it feels for the residents.

There is supposed to be a training element to SODCs, too, but it typically isn't focused on life skills that would help someone live in a community setting or have what most of us would consider a "real job." Rather, in many cases the institution will run what is known as a "sheltered workshop," where menial tasks are done day after day. These are things like stuffing envelopes for mass mailings, or putting together piecework under private contracts. While it is work, and something to do, it hardly expands the minds of the residents or challenges them. The residents do get paid, by the way - but not even the minimum wage. Again, not exactly what most people would choose. But the states argued for years that the residents had no choice - they either had to accept residential services or get nothing at all.

This practice of a one sized fits all model with no provision for choice by the individual was struck down by the Supreme Court in the Olmstead case several years ago. As a result, in theory states are supposed to have to place a person in a setting of their choice, so long as it costs the same or less than placing them in the facility would. Some states create a pool of money and let the person use it as they and their case manager feel best fits the person's needs. Others have contracted to provide enough group homes that they have managed to shut all their SODCs. Still others, though, are just beginning the process of creating transition plans and beginning to create a full spectrum of choices. Sadly, many states lacking the political will to do anything have had to be harried along by lawsuits to even make partial progress.

Just as sad has been the lack of assistance to states by the Federal government in carrying out this transition. While the ADA mandates that people with disabilities and special needs be given reasonable accomadations and treated in the manner that creates the least intrusive environment, there has been no funding to back this up and really give states a push in the right direction. Tom Harkin, the primary author of the ADA, has sought to rectify this. In a bill called the Community Choice Act, he, joined by Sens. Obama, Spector, and about 20 others, lay out provisions to enhance Medicaid funding for community based settings (to get for folks out of both SODCs and Medicaid funded nursing homes), create funding for state pilot programs and otherwise provide the foundation so that maybe, just maybe, the life a person with special needs can live and the basic dignity they can have won't be tied to their state of residence.

John McCain, who did help pass the ADA 18 years ago, is on record as opposing this bill. He was asked about it by a self advocate in one of his town halls and was less than pleasant in rejecting it. He offered no reason for his opposition at the time. On July 26 of this year, despite suggestions from staff that he had come around on this issue of basic dignity, he took the opportunity on the 18th anniversary of the ADA to again reject the bill.

The reason? Cost.

Never mind the savings in shutting down out of date institutions. Never mind the cost in lost productivity and wages people with special needs could help generate for our economy. Without any meaningful analysis of the full ramifications of the situation, he simply rejected the idea of federal money being spent in this manner as too costly.

This is an amazingly callous view, given McCain's oft repeated story of his own confinement. He has movingly described how the loss of his freedom drove him to the very brink of despair and thoughts of suicide. Yet he apparently has no compassion for the toll similar restrictions and confinements impose on people with special needs every day. It is said a society is judged by how it treats the least powerful of its members. In John McCain's view of America, the cost of treating people with special needs with basic dignity and respect costs too much. Given that view, and the fact that he has repeated his position in the face of fervant advocacy by people with special needs, I don't see how the mere fact that Gov. Palin is the parent of a child with special needs can make her or a McCain Administration the sort of advocate people with special needs deserve.

What a wonderful role model!

Tracy from Englewood, CO — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:13:41 EDT

A friend of mine and I were discussing Obama's community organizing history, which McCain and Palin think is an unimportant endeavor. He gave me this response:

JESUS WAS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER

How about that for a bumper sticker? He also shared with me that Pontius Pilate was a governor. But that would be insulting to governors. We can keep this message positive and affirming.

Community Organizing is the BACKBONE of the US

FEDupwithRepukes — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:11:17 EDT

The Republican Convention totally does not grasp the concenpt of "we the people". When is it that Community organizing is demeaning work, like it doesnt count as experience when you have hands on dealing with "the people"...

Here is a good article on Community Organizing:

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080922/dreier_atlas

I guess PTA's and "hockey mom'ing" are "technically" not community organizing...

Senator Obama's Community Organizing Should Be Showcased!

Matthew Lenell — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:53:28 EDT

Governor Palin, Senator McCain and the whole RNC should be ashamed of themselves. They slam Senator Obama for not having executive experience when he was community organizing as the original Director of Developing Communities Project.

For those of you who don't know what the project is, go here:http://www.dcpincorp.org/

Barack Obama not only grew the DCP from himself as the sole person to 13 total employees in his three years there, he also increased revenue from $70,000 annually to $400,000 annually. The area he served has well over 100,000 people. He did this all at the age of 22 while Governor Pailin was still a teenager.

The DCP is alive and well today with 32 employees and directors. It provides literacy assistance to the poor, anti-drug education to the young, and leadership training for young women as well as helping to empower the people of the South Side of Chicago to take control over their lives.

Besides their children, has either Senator McCain or Governor Palin started something from scratch and built it into something independent of themselves? In three years from age 22 to 25 Senator Obama did something that most business leaders only dream of: created a self-sustaining entity, did it with the support of the community, for the benefit of all involved and that is alive and well after 23 years. Senator Obama needs to showcase this feat and educate the public as to what it entails.

http://www.dcpincorp.org/

Can you believe it: McCain running as a democrat

LM 27 — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:29:36 EDT

At the end of the McCain accpetence speech hit decided to be a democrat.

the text is below (from the gop site)

Maybe McCain's future is the Obama past --- as a community organizer

If you find faults with our country, make it a better one. If you’re disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them. Enlist in our Armed Forces. Become a teacher. Enter the ministry. Run for public office. Feed a hungry child. Teach an illiterate adult to read. Comfort the afflicted. Defend the rights of the oppressed. Our country will be the better, and you will be the happier. Because nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself.

I’m going to fight for my cause every day as your President. I’m going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God, as I thank Him: that I’m an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country on earth, and with hard work, strong faith and a little courage, great things are always within our reach. Fight with me. Fight with me.

Fight for what’s right for our country.

Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.

Fight for our children’s future.

Fight for justice and opportunity for all.

Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.

Stand up for each other; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America.

Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We’re Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.

Thank you, and God Bless you

Last Laugh

Ms_CongenialityHI — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:22:49 EDT

Community organizing has never been about partisan politics, it is always about people first. It doesn't surprise me that Sarah Palin or any of the other top Republicans don't have a clue about what this "real" job entails. Before Barack Obama came on the national scene, organizers were invisible, and we liked it that way. When I came home to tell my parents what I was doing, I had to rent the film "Norma Rae" to point out the guy with the skinny tie, and say, "That's what I'm doing." The groundwork developing a viable organization with several mentors and leaders took a few years before small victories were newsworthy and concrete enough for my parents to grasp the concept of my career choice. For others I tried to clarify that I didn't sort out closets or garages, but more often didn't bother to elaborate. "I work with churches and temples..." was the easiest way out of those conversations, there was just no spare time to waste, and more than enough real work to be done.

Community organizers know the real work is all about people, anger and action. Yes, anger... and fire and passion. Last night was a good night for organizers--who will put people first, and channel our anger to organize and make the changes we want to see and become.

Please let this motivate you to sign-up (special plea for Hawai`i volunteers, but wherever this note finds you) to register voters, door knock, phone bank, become a precinct captain... whatever you can contribute to the effort. With your help, we community organizers will have the last laugh, come November!

Dear Gov. Palin, I tell you what a community organizer is!

Obamanizer — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:34:08 EDT

A community organizer is a person that helps the people that were let down by their mayor, or governor ... or president ...

I hope that was helpful, as you apparently didn't know at your speech addressing the RNC.

Obama-Rama

Joe Reilly — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:20:36 EDT

How do we accept and work with the reality of our country and world in 2008? How can we begin to make amends for centuries of conquest of the land and its inhabitants and for the present day realities of war and global warming? We can start by doing the right thing today. We can collectively wake up to human suffering and healing, seeing our roles as helpers, healers, and instruments of peace.

I believe that we are alive in a very special time. This present moment offers us an opportunity to direct our individual and collective energies towards a more sustainable and just future. I believe that electing Barack Obama as the President of the United States is a right action that can help steer this country towards healing and recovery, a process that is an important step in ensuring a healthy future for generations to come. Electing Obama as our President will not immediately resolve legacies of violence and injustice, but will serve as a vital and important step in working towards true peace and healing, within our own country as well as in relation to others.

I have just celebrated my thirtieth year on this planet. (Thank you God!) For the first time in my life, there is a presidential candidate who I can fully believe in and support. (Thank you God!) Barack Obama represents to me the best side of American political consciousness. He is inspiring in his drive to empower ordinary citizens and communities to rise above their differences and unite for the greater good. Obama’s clear ability to think and make decisions critically, intelligently, and creatively gives me hope that we can pick up the broken pieces of this country and create something beautiful.

Yesterday I joined two friends in Detroit on a bike ride along the Detroit River to hear Barack Obama speak in Hart Plaza. We walked our bikes in anticipation and awe among the tens of thousands of people sharing the space and excitement. As Obama gave a brief address to the crowd, he spoke about the importance of unions and the organized labor movement. He suggested that we can learn from this movement about how to take care of each other during the hurricane on the Gulf Coast and in our every day lives. His simple message of Brotherhood and Sisterhood reaches far beyond the immediate political realm into values that are core to human survival and civilization.

We have been working on this for generations. The struggles and sacrifices of the Civil Rights Movement, the American Indian Movement, and the Environmental Justice Movement among many others working for peace and justice have all helped this opportunity to manifest.

We are ready for real change and transformation in the United States and in the world. We need a leader like Obama to help us move through these changes. Although he will not resolve all of our domestic and international issues for us, he has the ability to lead and inspire people in our country to work together for a collective change that no one can do alone. We need each other! Obama sees this and helps to remind us of this simple truth. Its not about Democrats and Republicans, its not about Black and White, it is about an inclusive and sustainable future for the USA and for the human race.

Every small action that we do to lend support to the Obama Campaign makes a difference toward achieving our vision. I am dedicating a performance on October 3rd at the Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor to an Obama future. I will be accompanied by an amazing drummer from Detroit named Gayelynn Mckinney and will be joined by special guest poets Brian Babb and Will Copeland. Please join us in collecting and sharing our energy of hope and excitement in support of President Obama.

I am seeking help in spreading the word for this event and am looking for street team volunteers to help hang posters and distribute handbills around Ann Arbor. Let me know if you are available. Please also forward the press release below to any friends in the media.

Thanks for all that you do each day to ensure a brighter future for generations to follow. I am sure they are smiling and singing with us.

In Peace,

Joe

Worth Getting Out

Pivarunas — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 05:34:50 EDT

Well, I finally got out on the street yesterday with the "3 Parks Independent Democrats" voter registration drive, and it was worth it. Living in New York City, where many people live isolated in their rush to get through the day, the week, the month, the year...it is easy to get complacent about life, even cynical. But getting out, carrying a sign calling people to register to vote, wearing an Obama button changed the city blocks I walked into a friendly community. It was uplifting to get smiles and thumbs up from people of all ages, colors, nationalities, sexual orientations, economic conditions, professions... They stopped shopping to wave, left stores to register, shouted out encouragement from cars. Most everyone was either already registered and voting Obama/Biden or was eager to do so. What is more, the 3 Parks is well-organized and democratic itself. They need help fixing up a store front to do calls and fundraising from, but from the looks of it yesterday, they were getting lots of it. By one o'clock, the place was buzzing with working volunteers and enthusiastic visitors, running smoothly. Even though I come from far, I'll be back there on Monday to focus on the Columbia University students, who need to be sure to be able to vote. I'll also head out to Pennsylvania with them the following weekend. I recommend that others join in their actions or in with other groups, or start their own action groups. It is definitely worth the trouble. It takes a community to raise a country. Nancy Pivarunas

Tears of Joy

Ms_CongenialityHI — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:28:39 EDT

It is the morning after the opening remarks of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, and my eyes still burn from the tears shed last night. Speeches and presentations rich with history, and making history, before our eyes were such a moving sight. I could see that even some of the usual stoic news anchors and commentators developed flushed noses and tear-rimmed eyes as the stage makeup faded and the minutes passed. It isn't the first time I've cried during this campaign, and I know it won't be the last. In fact, it was a reminder to pull out my "crying towel" for our Convention Watch Party this coming Thursday evening.

My green towel with the character "Eeyore" embroidered on one side, was given to me as a Christmas gift from a direct "disciple" of Saul Alinsky (credited as a pioneer of grassroots community organizing today) after my third year as a community organizer. Up until the presentation of this gift, I had not known that five years prior, my pastor had pointed me out to my future mentors at a church service where I happened to tearfully ask for prayers for a friend's mother. At the time, he and his spouse (also a seasoned organizer) said, "You must be joking, she's such a cry-baby!" Even worse, there was doubt all the way around that I could handle such demands of time with a preteen, preschooler, spouse and fulltime job. Still, they kept enough of an open mind to "talk-story" with me and challenge me to take a mix of baby-steps, with a few leaps and bounds, into their world... tears, fears and all.

This is not only a story of what is possible, but another illustration of what a family can do when they support each other to reach their goals with little more than a bit of faith in things not yet seen. My tears of joy this week are for the Obama Ohana (family) who share this faith in each and every one of us!

Thorn in my flesh?

Daniel from Raleigh, NC — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:11:18 EDT

In the book of 2 Corithians of the Bible Chapter 12 verse 7, Paul refers to a "Thorn in the flesh." Things that will continue to overshadow and hinder us from acommplishing our goals. The thorn in my flesh my felony. Even it's been over ten years, I never went to prison (only county jail), was a drug conviction (Even though it was caught in my possesion) but I was honest enough to tell the officers that I was selling. I feel as if I commited murder. Both candidates talk about change in the economy, jobs, Iraq...but what about the system? What is being done about felons who have turned their lives around? The first thing that comes out is that we blame society...that we have a choice to do the right or the wrong thing.

Okay, well I paid my debt to societ, turned my life around because I chose to do the right thing. So now, what choices does society have? To choose to continue to keep me austracised because of a mistake that was done ten years ago, or choose to give us an opportunity? Does anyone know how difficult it is to even rent an apartment with a felony? My wife has to be on the lease because if it was up to me, we would either be homeless or living in the slums, which is not the kind of life we want to live. What about a career? If you wanted to become an insurance agent, you cannot apply for licensing because of a felony regardless of how far back it has been. It seems that felons will only qualify for low paying jobs and live in the slums until a true change is made. True, there are felons that will never change, but shouldn't that be up to the individual and not society?

The only thing that keeps me going is that on verse 9 of chapter 12 of 2 Corithians, God responds to Paul by saying: "My Grace is sufficient for the: for my strenght is made perfect in weekness". What God says to me there is that regardless of what you have done in the past is irrelevent to what your future holds.

W for O

Wallace — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:06:36 EDT

For almost a decade, my good initial has been comandeered for nefarious purposes. To differentiate father from son, someone had the bright idea to mark the current occupant of the White House with the initial from his middle name, Walker. And so "W" became a cursed mark overnight for me. Everywhere I lookeed I saw bumper stickers with "my" "W" all over. (We even planned to use the name "Walker" for a child, until we learned of the other name-bearer, and did not want to wish that association upon any child). I'm glad to see those bumper stickers faded or peeled off now, (or even better, with the red slash through them), but the damage of the current occupant is lasting and beyond comprehension. So we all have our work to do to restore hOpe not only in America but also the world's hOpe in what America (should) be a beacon of...

And so this W is working for the O and for hOpe on the hOrizon. And not for "McSame". I want my W back!

It took me a while to get into action. Not because I didn't believe in O, but because I was struggling with my own capacity to make a difference. See, I am a stranger in a strange land--our family relocated in January, and we live in an R county in a a really R state, and I already felt that my vote would make no real impact on behalf of O.

But I have to vOte. And I have to do mOre than that--I feel cOmpelled to lend my vOice and prOclaim hOpe even in my current community. Maybe there are others out there who feel like I do, living in an area where their views are clearly in the minority opionion, asking that question "but what can I do? I'm just one person!" But tOgether, we may just becOme a chOir of diverse voices, jOining in harmOny, and singing prOud! Lets keep wOrking for that hOpe on the hOrizon!

prOudly with Obama,