the friday philanthropist

one year ago i was taking out teams of teens to do community service in the summer heat of new orleans. july 2008 was an intense month and, ultimately, the highlight of my nccc experience. this year i discovered summer in the city, a metro-Detroit operation striving to provide teens with positive and diverse community service opportunities. to understand my enthusiasm for this organization, it might be helpful to catch a glimpse of life as i see it:

working with at-risk youth in a south suburb of the city, i am keenly aware of the urban-suburban divide as well as other forms of segregation - racial, economic, political, ethnic, religious. recently, as i listened to two teenage boys explain in prejudice-laden language their inability to escape violence and gang activity less than 10 miles from my home, it seemed like a much greater distance. i thought how sampling life in a few different neighborhoods could provide the perspective necessary to survive high school. then i thought back on my own teen experience living in an adjacent county. some of my friends' parents did not allow their children to set foot in detroit for purposes charitable or otherwise. i experienced my first encounter with blatant racism in the main office of my high school from a national honor society student who assumed i shared her feelings.

to my mind, the chief benefit of summer in the city is not developing youth leaders or rehabbing houses. the greatest opportunity this organization offers is for young people to step outside of their comfort zones, interact with peers from diverse backgrounds, and engage in activities that help them understand: the difference between a foe and a friend is often saying hello.

**summer in the city is experiencing a bit of a financial crisis and struggling to keep registration fees down so people are not turned away for economic reasons. i know times are tight, but if you have a dollar to spare, it would mean a lot to me if you'd spend it here.**

the friday philanthropist

a few months ago jess and jordan called me and mentioned a charitable organization their friend created in mombasa. to be honest, that information got shelved because jess and jordan also told me they were getting married.

today i read over blog entries about carly and friends' experiences opening and running a home for "street kids" in mombasa, kenya. it reaffirmed to me that every person is given gifts with which to improve their world, however they are inspired.

the friday philanthropist

throughout the month, i take note of various charitable activities going on around me. i listen to the radio, butt into strangers' conversations, and google up a storm to find organizations that are inspiring, creative, and - this month - downright funny.

kamm cares is anything but humorous; founded in brotherly love and recognition of a sister's fight against cancer, kamm cares is your traditional tear-jerker. it helps families mitigate child care and grocery costs while mom's undergo radiation treatment. it just so happens that aforementioned brother, ken mckenzie, is not your typical philanthropist.

mckenzie has made a name for himself by lightening the mood while shedding light on difficult issues within his community. in 2007 and 2008, he compiled and sold men of mortuaries calendars to raise funds for kamm cares. while it looks like the calendars are on hold for this year, kamm cares is still providing support to women with breast cancer and their families.

thanks, britni, for keeping it fresh. jess and jordan, you're up next.

the friday philanthropist

a few years ago girls rural might not have caught my attention. admittedly, i'm a city gal who tends to focus on urban issues. but that was before i met stacyee george from a small town near hollandale, ms. at risk of sounding naive, i was shocked to discover that many of the difficulties my friend encountered in her community, from violent crimes to unplanned pregnancies, mirrored negative images of urban america. the difference was i'd never heard anyone lament about low graduation rates and hiv/aids infection in rural mississippi.

girls rural turns "remote dreams into realistic possibilities" by providing social and cultural opportunities young girls might not find in their hometown. the website suggests several ways to participate such as a monetary donation, organizing a community meeting, and becoming a mentor. more than anything, girls rural reminds me that everywhere, densely populated or not, there are opportunities to grow together through service.

**in unrelated and equally awesome news: family friend, mitch cope, was recently featured in model d for his work in hamtramck, an up-and-coming artistic community.

the friday philanthropist

it's time to get real honest for a minute here: i TOTALLY wrote this week's fp on sunday morning and backposted it for friday. life's gotten busy here in the d and i only expect it to get busier as the weather warms up. to avoid writing really lame fp's, i'm going to post on this column the first friday of every month.

in the meantime, let's talk about peace. most people would agree that teaching a young person the value of peaceful living is beneficial immediately and for generations to come. how do you effectively instill this value and break down barriers to peace? below are three approaches in the global community:

music
the shropshire music foundation's dedication to "teaching children peace through music" rings true like an elvis costello song. created in 1999 in response to ethnic cleansing in kosovo, the shropshire foundation now boasts programs in kosovo, northern ireland, and uganda. by providing instruments and music education, the foundation encourages children to play alongside neighbors that might otherwise be considered enemies. musicians, dancers, and athletes might find interesting service opportunities in the november practice for peace campaign.

basketball
this one goes out to my cousin, scott. peace players international serves youths in 5 locations: northern ireland, south africa, middle east, cyprus and new orleans. the middle east program, founded in 2005, "facilitates dialogue and fosters tolerance" between "jewish and arab youth" through integrated basketball leagues. for nola friends with a lingering isp itch, taylor smiley (504-309-9660) is the managing director and the office is located at 1509 jefferson ave.

pushcarts
pushcarts, like music and basketball, are only vehicles for change. teej forwarded me this cnn article about efren peñaflorida's unique endeavors in the philippines through the dynamic teen company. convinced that education is the key to preventing gang violence, 16-year-old peñaflorida set to work making it more accessible to impoverished youths in his community. twelve years and 1500 children later, trained teen volunteers teach saturday classes (from reading to hygiene) out of pushcart classrooms.

the friday philanthropist

this week i took liz's challenge to find a family-friendly volunteer activity in the greater-lehi area. it's a bit of a stretch, but here's what i've got for you and davey (baby emma can probably tag along, too):

as i have been learning in my history of philanthropy class, american health care providers include non-profit, not-so-non-profitty-non-profit, and for-profit organizations. unfortunately, the differences are often difficult to identify and based on outdated technicalities. utah hospice specialists is a for-profit organization that provides "an unparalleled quality of palliative hospice care" by striving to "embrace life's special moments."

but it was the memory keeper program, not the tag line, that caught my attention. as memory keepers, volunteers conduct and record "interviews" with hospice clients about their life experiences. in some cases, memory keepers gather these stories via close friends and family. the stories are then compiled and stored so that, after the client passes, loved ones can receive a copy to review and cherish when they "want to remember."

to ensure program quality and client safety, volunteers must attend a 12-hour orientation, have been/get TB tested, and pass a background check. so you should probably sever your ties with the italian mafia asap.

the friday philanthropist

today, it's sunny and 65 in the d. and i had the day off work. a.k.a. bike adventure. as i rode up woodward to 8 mile, then doubled back through neighborhoods, people greeted me all along the way - at the bus stop, on bicycles, and out on their front porches enjoying the weather. this is one of the many reasons i love cycling in the city - it's a social event as much as a mode of transportation. another aspect of biking i adore is that it is an activity you can enjoy at virtually no cost. cue the friday philanthropist:

i first learned about community bike shops in new orleans through r.u.b.a.r.b. bike. the general idea is to make cycling more affordable and less intimidating to city residents. beyond that, community bike organizations are as diverse as the cyclists they serve. some offer "earn-a-bike" programs for children and teens to learn how to build bikes and ride them. others, such as bicrowave in santa monica, focus on teaching adult cyclists how to repair their own bikes. yet others rehab and resell bicycles at a fraction of typical retail costs.

the hub of detroit puts an interesting spin on things. as a "nonprofit, full-service retail bike shop," they vend merchandise you might find at rei or performance bike. this alone is a service to detroit residents who would otherwise be making a trip to the 'burbs for these items. however, all of the hub's profits are recycled into the organization, providing a sustainable funding plan for their youth "earn-a-bike" program, back alley bikes.

every wednesday and thursday evening from 6-8pm, the hub of detroit welcomes volunteers to help clean up shop and learn the basics of bike assembly and repair. you can guess where i'll be next wednesday. they also solicit for donations of unwanted bikes, parts, and accessories.

what's happening at your community bike shop?
new orleans
los angeles
santa monica
philadelphia
logan
chicago
boston

don't see your city or town in the list above?
check out this wikipedia entry that allows you to search for community bike organizations by country, state, and city. each entry provides contact information and most offer a direct link to the agency's website.

the friday philanthropist

sorry folks. delivering sandwiches, entertaining younguns, and analyzing ngos in mexico distracted me from my friday responsibility. anywho...this one's for you, teej:

the national ms (multiple sclerosis) society claims: "ms stops people from moving. we exist to make sure it doesn't." as an organization, the ms society educates, advocates, counsels, entertains, and raises funds for research and programming.

march 2-8, 2009, is ms awareness week. that means it's a great time to check out the national website to answer your questions or contact your local chapter about volunteer events.

there are a variety of sporadic and regular opportunities from assisting with a special event to doing household chores for someone living with ms. a few years ago tj encouraged me to volunteer for a fourth of july event at the hollywood bowl. after assisting clients and their families in getting tickets, finding seats, and collecting event swag, i donned a festive headband with springing stars and enjoyed the outdoor concert for free.

so check it out. either in person through your local chapter or at work when your boss is looking over your shoulder to make sure you're not watching youtube videos. won't she be impressed?



**in honor of tj's mom, judi, who fought a good fight and raised an outstanding daughter. may she rest in peace: 08.19.08.**

the friday philanthropist

this week goes out to velia who suggested that service comes from the sole. incorporated in 2006, toms shoes is your typical 21st-century footwear manufacturer, complete with nationwide retailers and online shopping. well, almost typical.

friends of toms, a 501(c)(3) affiliate, allows the company to keep its "one for one" promise: every pair of shoes you buy, toms provides a pair of shoes to a child in need. last october, founder blake mycoskie wrote about his most recent efforts in the huffington post.

buying shoes just isn't your thing? the friends of toms website (mentioned above) provides several suggestions for local and global volunteers.

have a favorite nonprofit? caught wind of a fresh idea? please email me your suggestions for the friday philanthropist at c.sparklepants@gmail.com.

'til the next time...

the friday philanthropist

it's no secret i think philly is the new brooklyn; it is the hottest spot for american urbanites these days. but detroit - stick with me - is also a killer place to live. forget the pun, and really consider it:

that's what detroit synergy is all about. an all-volunteer organization, it serves as a community platform for individually-initiated activities that "generate positive perceptions" and "build upon the city's strengths and resources." projects fall into three categories: dialogue, discovery, development. i went to my first meeting last night and this is what i heard:

bike detroit (dialogue): free, organized leisure rides based on neighborhood or theme. "spring training" will showcase detroit's sports venues from yesteryear and today.
dinner club (discovery): recession-friendly, participants buy advanced tickets (~$10) to meet up at a casual restaurant and dine from a fixed menu. march's venue is eph's.
project clean (development): a monthly event from april - october, detroit synergy partners with local organizations to "clean up, paint up, fix up." 2009's inaugural event is painting a former police station that is positioned to become an art gallery.

what was it like? detroit synergy chooses a different meeting venue each month. last night was hosted by mezzanine, a downtown boutique, and included drinks and snacks. attire varied from biker gear to business suits. the strict agenda moved from 5-minute presentations to break-out sessions for project development, and back again. people were friendly and energetic. one person, hearing that i recently moved home, introduced me to other california transplants. we then discussed a newcomer event to help people acclimate and find stereotypical comfort spots, such as sushi for californians and bagels for new yorkers.

who participates? it really depends on the event. detroit synergy's mailing list is close to 5,000. there are no dues or required fees for most events. based on my family's experience, projects draw people of all ages and varied demographics within the city and suburbs.

in the past, i've relied heavily on social networks through my university, church and professional field. so the transition has been rough - jobless, taking online classes, and meeting at a church 45 minutes from home. detroit synergy was a particularly delightful find as a geographically-centered, and community-minded, social network.

the friday philanthropist

this week i return to my first love: homelessness.

nyc-based common ground, recently named one of the "top 45 social entrepreneurs who are changing the world" by fast company magazine, has a simple mission: to end homelessness.

sorry folks. we've tried that.

what fresh idea does common ground bring to the picture?
they don't offer shelters. they offer homes. common ground builds and operates "a range of housing options for homeless and low-income individuals and families."

too good to be true, right?
wrong. common ground's "street to home" program reduced homelessness in the 20-block neighborhood of times square by 87%.


how does it work?
participants contribute 30% of their income, whatever that is, toward rent. common ground tenants stay for an average of 5 years. management boasts a low eviction rate of 0.9%.

there's more?
common ground recently expanded their programming to include environmentally sustainable building materials and practices.

crying yet?
in december 2007, npr featured a sister-operation, project 50, near la's skid row. earlier this week, la daily news reported: "today, 'wild, wild west' - one of the 50 most chronically homeless people on skid row - has been clean and sober for a year, has a home and is 'happy and doing well.'

parting words?
"any time you see a homeless person in distress, please call 311. the operator will contact common ground or one of our partners."

the friday philanthropist

last night, dad and i decided to check out the arab american national museum, whose opening in 2005 marked the first of its kind, worldwide.

highlights: mosaic-filled courtyard featuring arab culture and history; visiting exhibit, "a yemeni community: photographs from the 1970s by milton rogovin," depicting life in the "bustling steel town" of lackawanna, ny; table displaying famous arab architecture with corresponding light-up wall map; and museum store vending everything from jordanian pottery to dead sea salt natural mineral cosmetics.

other enjoyable, if not somewhat predictable, elements: permanent exhibit, "living in america," (reminiscent of the museum of tolerance) and programming, such as "global thursdays," (akin to the skirball cultural center).

most museums, like the arab american national museum, are nonprofit organizations who rely heavily on revenue from memberships and admission tickets. so next time you are hard-pressed to find a philanthropic endeavor, consider visiting a local museum.

the friday philanthropist

last monday, sam, nephew duo:spastic-fantastic, and i, went to work making old tires new. the story is this:

detroit's got abandoned tires: bad for the environment, bad for people, bad for morale.

detroit's got people who are homeless and unemployed.

cass community green industries, one of many ccss programs**, makes tires + people = mud mats, which are sold nationwide.

overhead = nilch.

proceeds go directly to paying the mud mat makers and helping ccss to be a more self-sufficient organization.

founder, reverend faith fowler, summed it up like this: "it's cleaning up our community and creating jobs for people. and it doesn't cost the city a dime."

**cass community social services also uses tires to make heavy-duty shingles for sheds and garages. other programs include soup kitchens, shelters, and transitional housing.

the friday philanthropist

you might have noticed i've been on a service kick since i got out of americorps. and that gets old REAL fast - we all have full-time lives, most of us already serve lots in our communities, and the last thing I want to hear is how i need to do more for another cause before i can sleep well at night.

a little story about yours truly -

when i moved to la, i felt that volunteer opportunities were like scholarships: statistically present, practically absent. during my americorps service, i was startled to learn that there are an estimated 1.5 million registered nonprofit organizations in the u.s., and that even the smallest communities have a need for volunteers. for this reason, i get totally geeked when i read about an innovative organization and i want to share it with EVERYBODY (extreme extrovert, perhaps?).

so let's make a deal. it's called, "the friday philanthropist". once a week i'll profile my latest nonprofit fancy - no more, no less. deal? i hope so, cuz here goes the first installment:

urban farming, inc., headquartered in detroit, was recently featured on the bbc news for its efforts to eradicate hunger by feeding the poor with harvests from urban vegetable gardens planted on formerly derelict land. founding director, taja sevelle, says urban farming, inc. draws inspiration and structure from the wwii victory garden model. interested in volunteering?

if you live in one of the following cities, you're in luck:

detroit
new york
newark, nj
los angeles
montego bay, jamaica
minneapolis/st. paul
st. louis
raleigh, nc

coming soon to:

atlanta
new orleans
west palm beach, fl