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Category Archives: keepin’ it real

Three Things That Give Me Hope

I’m an avid NPR listener. But twice this week I had to change the channel, because I just couldn’t handle the news. I was better off hearing the new Rihanna song for the 13th time in one morning. I know I’m not alone in this either. With enough content available on the Internet to keep us continuously reading, consuming, viewing and gaming for several lifetimes—and with more being created every second—it’s sadly much easier to find a story about corruption, greed or scandal then one of hope, triumph or justice. Lucky for you, I’m a trained journalist—which means I’ve got digging skillz. And I dug up three initiatives that have me excited. I’m not trying to cover up all the harsh realities of our world with this, but rather remind us there are people working hard to create positive change and that hey need our support to continue working. So, if you had to turn off the news today, this post is for you.

P.S. If you really want to stop hearing those stories, considering supporting one of these organizations or another you believe is serving a crucial need in our world.

Architecture For Humanity (AFH)

Architecture For Humanity/Design Like You Give A DamnArchitecture For Humanity won me over with their tag line—design like you give a damn. Um…HELL YEAH?! After a deep dive into their organization and the privilege of conversing with their enigmatic CEO (that’s Chief Eternal Optimist, mind you), Cameron Sinclair, I can tell you that this is a group that is getting shit done and making good on their endeavors. Many of us have lofty perceptions of the role of architecture and design play in our society. We uphold the Frank Lloyd Wrights and Shepard Faireys with such awe. Yet, so many times high design only works for elite projects that serve a very narrow (and usually wealthy) subset of a population. It would seem that design is for the rich—not so if you’re an AFH sort of human being.

If you’re a believer of designing (and living!) like you give a damn, this is an organization I highly recommend following and supporting. They’re doing good work that matters.

Hantz Farms

Hantz Farms LogoBefore Detroit become Motor City USA and long before it became a symbol of the deteriorating US urban manufacturing core, this central Michigan region was an agrarian utopia. Its fertile soils fed thousands and supported a thriving culture of farmers. Today, Detroit is struggling—but it is not alone. There is a contingency of citizens hell bent on staging a comeback for Detroit. From neighborhoods joining forces to create safe passage for school children to and from class, to the innovative urban agriculture revival Hantz Farms is leading, the people of Detroit are determined to make their city better than ever.

What I love about Hantz Farms is that it simultaneously addresses so many issues: The demise of the family farm; lack of access to affordable, healthy, unprocessed foods; inequitable opportunities at green jobs; lack of cost-effective, clean energy options; the cycle of unsustainable business practices; struggling local business cultures; and inefficient dispersal of government resources. Hantz is investing in the future of Detroit by purchasing vacant or nearly abandoned lots and restoring purpose to the land. Keep in mind these are not issues unique to Detroit. Every large US city is working on this same set of issues, just from various positions on the spectrum. What if we started repeating the Hantz farms model? In Oakland, Cleavland, New Orleans, Riverside and St. Louis? Hell, just about every major US city has a district that could vastly benefit from programs like this. It’s something to think seriously about.

B Corporation

I got pretty stoked when I came across B Corporation and B Labs in my work. It was a rough afternoon of trying to maintain productivity, when I really just wanted to find out everything about them. Here’s what I’ve got so far—and why I’m so excited. B Corporation is an organization that is cultivating an entirely new breed of business. It’s a set of standards, certification and philosophic viewpoint that puts public benefit above shareholder returns and corporate profits. And it gets us another step closer to truly sustainable businesses becoming the norm rather than the exception.

Two states have already passed tax laws that give certified B Corporations preferred status (Maryland and Vermont). This is huge, however unfortunate, our business culture today requires financial incentives for many key players to make moves towards being better corporate citizens with genuine concern for their impact both up and down stream. B Corporation is very smart to include this in their strategy for achieving a BCorps stronghold on 5-7% of US GDP within a generation.

Now, don’t you feel a little bit better about the world?

 

Zero to 60 in 2.5 Seconds of Spring

Spring came early to the Northwest this year—Thank God Almighty. 65 and sunny is pretty much unheard of for February in Portland, unless of course we’re in an El Niño pattern, which—SURPRISE!—we are. Environmental scientists may very well point out that there can be disadvantages stemming from such a weather pattern (such as a reduced salmon catch due to warmer Pacific Ocean waters), but I’m not complaining one bit. I’ve been revelling in the warmth and light, and putting on my best pouty face on the days the rain returns. Too many years in the South for college have spoiled me. I’ve forgotten who raised me.

The other reason I’m so stoked that Spring is here—I’ve got a renewed sense of purpose for my year of “Kill it. Crush it. Own it.”

I’m motivated to get things moving. I once again crave knocking the snot out of myself on a run through the Southeast hills. I’m finishing projects that I started five months ago and let sit through the winter (see photo at left; one of two dressers I decided to re-finish in October. I just completed number one ha ha).

The sun is out and I want to be BUSY. I want to walk places in my sassy new cow girl boots. I want to sweat out all the winter toxins at hot yoga. I’m itching to plant our first round of veggies in the garden. IKEA is calling me to redecorate my room. My blog, which has sat dormant for two long, cold months, is demanding to be updated and used as a platform once more.

And here’s the thing—I feel compelled to give into each and every Spring stirring that moves me. I’m powerless to stop myself from barreling out of hibernation at full speed, zero to 60 in 2.5  seconds. Beat that SSC Ultimate Aero!

Am I totally crazy? Did somebody slip me something in my comfort tea this winter? I won’t press charges. Promise. I’d probably give you a big, fat hug and then ask you where you got the good stuff!

I don’t know about you, but I feel my best when I have 20 projects in the works, six more percolating in my brain and an unlimted supply of inspiration to be a human verb every day when I wake up. Spring seems to get under my skin in the best possible way. So, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some serious itching to do!

How To Take One For The Team

Whew! OK, I’m back. Life has been throwing punches for the past two weeks and I’ve been playing defense and offense on all fronts! But I want to share with you something I’ve been learning a lot about since our economy started struggling and since I’ve spent more time in Portland (where the community is very focused and loyal to local businesses and culture). It’s a really simple concept.

We’re all in this together.

“This” being life.

“This” being a recession.

“This” being global warming.

“This” being our community.

I was watching the 1954 Japanese classic, The Seven Samurai, and one scene in particular hit me over the head with an “AH HA!!!” brick.

WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

If you’ve seen the movie, you might remember the scene that did it. The Samurai are meeting with the villagers–who have hired them to protect their community from bandits during the harvest–and laying out their strategy for defeating the bandits and preserving the year’s crop, therefore saving the village from rape, plunder and ruin. Most of the houses are within the moat they are planning to build for protection, but a few are not. The Samurai break the news that in order to save the majority of the village, the villagers must sacrifice those outlying homes. They also demand that each villager must always be fighting to save the whole community rather than just themselves.

Obviously the peasant owners of the forsaken homes are none-to-thrilled about this. They immediately go into I/Me/Mine mode.

Why is that dude’s home any more important than MINE!? What about ME?! I deserve to have my home saved too!

The few disenfranchised villagers try and separate from the group. They throw down their spears and refuse to help in the common goal of saving the village. They are so absorbed in their own anger and pain that they fail to see that in refusing to save the whole–and instead only fending for themselves–they will not only still lose their homes to the bandits (who will have no trouble overcoming a few peasants), but that they would weaken the ability of the village to save the rest of the homes. Their selfishness takes the situation from a lose-win to a lose-lose.

While a lose-win situation is not ideal, it’s a helluva lot better than a lose-lose.

Lose-win means somebody will have the resources to help you rebound.

Lose-lose means we’re all screwed together.

I believe we’re at that point in history. We’ve got to make the decision. Is it “all for one and one for all?” Or are we too self-absorbed at this point to care whether our neighbors and brothers succeed despite our own struggle and loss.

Some of us are the villagers who are going to lose their “homes” (whether literally or figuratively). Some of us are already there.

But does that mean we should throw down our spears and refuse to put what remains of our energy and resources into saving our country and planet?

If you throw down your spear then you are doing two things. First, you’re hurting your own chances for recovery. You get what you give. Give nothing and chances are you’ll get no support in return. Second, you’re also hurting my chances at survival.  And those of that high school senior in Virginia who wants to be the first person in her family to go to college. And the couple hoping they’ll be able to afford to pay the bills for their sick child on only one income. And the recently homeless man on the corner just hoping for a hot meal and a warm bed.

Reality check: We will all be affected in some less-than-desirable way by the challenges we are facing as a country and a species. But the only way Americans and humanity will rise above those challenges is to tackle them together. Notice I didn’t say unscathed. You WILL take some hits. But will you take one for your fellow human being? For the team, so-to-speak? That’s the test humanity is up against right now. If we can’t, we aren’t going to last much longer. And I don’t know about you, but that’s not how I’d like history to unfold.

We’re all in this together. So let’s suck it up and start acting like the “civilized”, “rational” humans we are.

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