Blushblog

31 Days of Service - LIFT

                                             (Image courtesy of www.liftcommunities.org)                                             

Over the last couple of months, media outlets and community representatives have reported the increasing employment gap between white Americans and minority Americans.  The recession has impacted minority communities so much that immediate action is required.  As our government continues to battle over the best way to combat troubling unemployment percentages, grassroots efforts are being forged to assist communities and individuals in need.  For those of us fortunate enough to be employed, it is imperative we join these efforts to ensure our communities are as economically and politically empowered as possible.

In Washington, DC, Lift-DC is a non-profit organization that seeks "to combat poverty and expand opportunity for all people in Washington, DC."  With the assistance of volunteers from local universities and through partnerships with other area organizations and agencies, Lift-DC works one-on-one with its clients to help them attain employment, locate housing, and obtain childcare, healthcare, and legal services. Volunteers also assist clients achieve the computer skills necessary to be competitive for jobs.

Lift-DC is in need of volunteers and monetary contributions to reach and assist as many citizens in need as possible.  Lift-DC's annual benefit event is being held on November 17, 2011 at Long View Gallery. The organization is seeking individual and corporate sponsorships for the benefit. Sponsorships and tickets may be purchased through Raël Nelson-James or online at http://liftdc.eventbrite.com. If you have further questions, please feel free to contract Raël Nelson-James at 202-289-1151 or RNJames@liftcommunities.org.

Lift is also present and active in Boston, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia.  Please volunteer and/or donate in your area.  A healthy community raises productive citizens.  

Tell us how you are helping your community.

Let's Hear it for the Boys + My Find

Lets Hear It For The Boys!!!

Ok, have you ever been so extremely proud of people that you don't even know that you could just burst out in tears.  Alright, maybe not, but I almost did when I read this article.   The long and short of it is that at a high school where only 4 percent of the current senior class read at grade level when they were freshmen, the entire senior class has now been accepted to college.  Many of these kids were from some of the city's roughest and poorest neighborhoods.  That is phenomenal for any senior class.  Much less for the senior class of an all male, all african-american, public school.   Excuse me.  Let me type that in capital letters, just in case you missed it.  100% OF THE SENIOR CLASS OF AN ALL MALE, ALL AFRICAN-AMERICAN, PUBLIC SCHOOL, IN CHICAGO ILLINOIS GOT ACCEPTED TO COLLEGE.   WOW!!!  They deserve to be celebrated and exemplified by all races and genders. 

I heard it noted earlier (sorry I forgot where) that they didn't lower their standards when the administration noticed that many of the students performed below grade-level, they rose the students up.  They didn't make the student's settle for less.  They had the students achieve more.  And now when you factor in what many of them have to go through to even have to get to school, they have overcome more than their counter-parts.  They required longer school days and more english credits.

I think that even as adults, we should pay attention.  This should be a lesson that we should pass on to our children, nieces, nephews and cousins, even if the school system doesn't.  Each of these boys are assigned college counselors from day one.  Can we make it a point to do this within our own families?  School administrations don't rule our roost.  We do.  If school requires kids to read one book a week, why can't parents require an additional.  A lot of districts are lowering standards.  Let's raise them back up at home.  I don't have any kids, so it's hard to offer advice, but this certainly provides inspiration.

At one of the assemblies, Jay-Z's "Every Day A Star Is Born, Clap For Em', Clap For Em, Clap For Em, Clap For Em, Hey" blazed from the speakers.  How True.  How True.

Get it boys!  Congratulations!  Let's Clap For Em'

Please Read and Pass it on.

My Find

I've been on the hunt for a gaudy, 1980's cognac decanter forever.  I felt like goldilocks.  Each one that I found was either too light, too streamlined, or not sitcom/soap opera enough.  I wanted a real 1980's George Jefferson/Dynasty crystal cut heavy decanter. 

I've combed Home Goods, Marshall's, TJ Maxx, CB2, Pier 1, Crate and Barrel, Red Envelope, the list just goes on and on.  I found one on Ebay, but wasn't willing to pay over $100 for it.  That was just asking too much.  I didn't want it that bad. 

Alas, I didn't give up the hunt.  The good thing about stores like Marshalls, Homegoods, and TJ Maxx is that their inventory changes so often.  You have to constantly visit.  Last night, I wasn't even looking and I past this little gem.  It was like I was on an episode of Falcon Crest.

Sorry, that the pictures are a little blurry.  Camera phone photos at it's finest. 

I fell in love with the crystal cut and weight.  Oh and the $20 price tag. 

I think that i'll write them off on my taxes as a security system.  I'll take a drink and hit a burglar on the head with it.  I think that I'll tie a nice satin ribbon around the neck with a label so that I can remember what cognac I have in the decanter.  After a few drinks and after some time, I tend to forget :)  I may come up with another system.  We'll see.