Make Time for Peace

Do you live in Ann Arbor Michigan? Is it a short drive away? Are you planning a trip to the area? If so make time to visit the ultimate community initiative, Peace Neighborhood Center.

Peace Neighborhood Center' mission is to provide programs for children, families, and individuals who are affected by social and economic problems. Peace helps people discover options, enhance skills, and make choices that lead to self-sufficiency and positive community involvement.

Executive Director, Bonnie Billups Jr. explains that Peace Neighborhood Center is in it for the long haul, to ensure that those who come through the door receive the continued support need to be self sufficient and find their greatness.

Peace Neighborhood Center has been serving the Ann Arbor Community for over 38 years and over time has expanded in order to meet the challenges of integrating communities, combating drugs and violence, and addressing educational and economic equalities.

There are a variety of youth programs. REACH and Alternatives for Youth after school programs offer activities to promote the development of social skills, healthy positive attitudes, leadership skills and goal setting. These programs are support by more than 150 volunteer tutors. In addition to after school programs , Peace Neighborhood Center offers summer day camp, College/Career Prep Club, mentoring, and Performance Arts Academy.

This organizations commitment to family is evident in the variety of programs for youth as well as adults. The Center offers several groups and programs to assist with substance abuse recovery and prevention, counseling, advocacy and assistance, and homelessness.

Peace Neighborhood Centers Family Enrichment Program represents the cornerstone of family togetherness. Participants enjoy family cooking, internet/email workshops, a family fun and are reward for their participation.

Peace partners with a host of local organizations to include United Way, Ann Arbor Jack and Jill, the University of Michigan. As well Peace has an extremely diverse group of board members representing a wealth of experience and commitment to the Ann Arbor community, and is a model for new and growing nonprofits to emulate. Starting & Building a Nonprofit: A Practical Guide

The center has a lot to offer the entire community, with innovative programs and ways to get involved. Current volunteer opportunities include after-school tutoring, program assistants, and grounds maintenance. You can also make a donation no matter where in the world you are with their secure online donation page http://www.peaceneighborhoodcenter.org/donate.php.
Peace Neighborhood Center is generously supported by local area grocery stores through their community rewards programs. With very little effort, you can support Peace every time you shop, learn more at http://www.peaceneighborhoodcenter.org/grocery_cards.php.
With the Script Card Program, buy a gift certificate from there page and Peace will receive a percentage donation from the company with no cost to you. You get the exact amount of goods or services that you pay for. Find out more at https://www.peaceneighborhoodcenter.org/scrip_options.php.

Make time for peace in your neighborhood.

With the World Cup coming to an end, let us not forget Africa

Music sensation Shakira is determined to leave a legacy that will have a positive impact on African development. Shakira’s camp released this news statement about the Barefoot Foundation's project in South Africa.

“Barefoot founder and 1Goal Ambassador Shakira visited a school in Soweto with the 1GOAL campaign, an international campaign to ensure that education for all is the lasting legacy of World Cup 2010. 1GOAL is supported by the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) and FIFA and co-chaired by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan. 1GOAL asks fans to lobby their country's leaders and help ensure all boys and girls have access to quality primary education.

Shakira visited the school in the township of Soweto, sharing her own experiences with students and advocating for the importance of education. She celebrated the heroic efforts of the teachers and students at the school before teaching the students a few dance moves. Shakira's song, "Waka Waka - Time for Africa," is the official anthem of the World Cup and benefits education programs.” –Barefoot Foundation news release.

The Barefoot Foundation‘s aim is to improve education and quality of life for children and partners Colombian Nonprofit, Pies Descalzos. Together the two organizations have launched projects that range from global advocacy and school construction to food programs and psychological counseling.


With projects in Columbia, Haiti, and South Africa, the Barefoot Foundation can use your help. Learn how you can sponsor a child, make a donation, volunteer, spread the word and much more at http://www.barefootfoundation.org/.

More celebraties are lending a hand to improve education. Serena Williams, tennis pro, opened a second school in Kenya with the help of Build African Schools, a non- profit organization dedicated to building schools, installing electric power and providing computers and other educational equipment for children in Africa, http://www.buildafricanschools.org/

The Andre Agassi Foundation for Education (AAFE) has reached tremendous heights toward improving access to quality education for children in the US, through Agassi Prep located in Nevada. "AAFE, is more than a school or a set of beliefs, it is a movement committed to transforming education so that all children have a shot at success," express the Agassi camp, http://www.agassifoundation.org/.

Learn more about what celebrities are doing to impact social change and also contact them via http://www.looktothestars.org/.

If You Wanna Make the World a Better Place

This weekend was tremendous, a vision came full circle, and Team Ramstein was formed. A few amazing women joined together to raise $2,806 USD and run for Women for Women International UK’s Run for Congo Women Initiative. This was the first run hosted by the UK office and raised over $30,000 USD, 100% of which will go to support the training program in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Women sponsored into this program receive food, clean water, and clothing for themselves and their children, school for children, education programs to improve literacy, job skills training to start a business and empower a woman to change her community. There are real people behind what we are doing, meet Honorata a survivor, business woman, community leader, graduate of Women for Women program, a success!

I am truly proud of our team, Terri Miles, Ebony Johnson, Rebecca Cave, Lauren Almond, Heather Perry, Michelle Miller, Marissa Skidmore and myself. We pushed ourselves in different ways, some running in their first race, others far exceeding their fundraising goals, and all of us increasing awareness of how women are affected on a global scale.

Being compelled to change the things we see as unjust or in need of improvement, takes self reflection. As the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson said, “If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change,” serve your local and global community. We all have the power to inspire and enact positive change. See US based and international organization that would love to have your support, no matter how far or near you are, no matter how much or how little time you have to spare.

Save the Children, works to ensure children get proper healthcare, food, education and protection. They are saving lives in emergencies, campaigning for children's rights, and improving their futures through long-term development work. More than 9 million children are still dying every year before their fifth birthday. We need to act together, now, to change this appalling reality. Find out how you can assist http://www.savethechildren.org/.

Eat So They Can is a movement that is committed to helping children and women across Africa, Asia, and South America break the poverty cycle. Sign up to host your own dinner and choose to support one of our important causes: Orphaned and Vulnerable Children, Women's Empowerment, Emergency Relief, or Anti-Trafficking. Find out more http://www.eatsotheycan.org/.

 

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program contributes to peace and development through volunteerism. UNV is inspired by the conviction that volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and by the idea that everyone can contribute their time and energy towards peace and development. With partners, UNV advocates for volunteerism, integrates volunteerism into development planning and mobilizes volunteers. The enormous potential of volunteerism is an inspiration to UNV and to volunteers around the world. Learn more about how to become a UN volunteer http://www.unv.org/how-to-volunteer.html.

Women for Women International believes that when women are well, sustain an income, are decision-makers, and have strong social networks and safety-nets, they are in a much stronger position to advocate for their rights. This philosophy and our commitment to local leadership, builds change and capacity at the grassroots level. To join this effort or sponsor a woman visit http://www.womenforwomen.org/help-women/help-women-globally.php.

Earthwatch is an international environmental charity which is committed to conserving the diversity and integrity of life on earth to meet the needs of current and future generations. We work with a wide range of partners, from individuals who work as conservation volunteers on research teams through to corporate partners, governments and institutions. Find out how you can become directly involved in environmental research and conservation at http://www.earthwatch.org/getinvolved/

Please don't feel limited to these organizations, research, continue to read this blog and find the best support for the change you wish to see in the world.



"Man In The Mirror" Man In The Mirror (Remastered Version)



I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .

Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror (Official Music Video). Watch more top selected videos about: Michael_Jackson

Shop The Thread Loop...15% Off, Make a World of Difference

Hello my Fashionistas, I’ve found a great way for us to stay chic and have a positive impact on social change. My good friend Jo Blundell left the corporate world and started an “eco fashion” online boutique. The Thread Loop is a shopping hub where you can buy clothes and things that are more than pretty. They’re all created with a consciousness toward people, communities and the planet.

So what’s eco fashion...Sustainable fashion, also called eco fashion, is a part of the growing design philosophy and trend of sustainability, the goal of which is to create a system which can be supported indefinitely in terms of environmentalism and social responsibility. Sustainable fashion is part of the larger trend of sustainable design where a product is created and produced with consideration to the environmental and social impact it may have throughout its total life span, including its "carbon footprint". (courtesy of wiki)

According to the May 2007 Vogue appears not to be a short-term trend but one could last multiple seasons. While environmentalism used manifest itself in the fashion world through a donation of percentage of sales of a product to a charitable cause, fashion designers are now re-introducing eco-conscious methods at the source through the use of environmentally friendly materials and socially responsible methods of production. (courtsey of wiki)

The Thread Loop was founded by Jo Blundell (on the left) whose background is a far from fashion or green having come from a marketing and financial services background. She was inspired to make the change after reading an article some years ago on the enormous social and environmental damage of the current fashion industry business model.

Currently the Thread Loop features six designers, who have developed a wide range of sustainable products to include blouse, dresses, bags and accessories and much more.

Shop www.thethreadloop.com and receive 15% off with this code: globalactionsblog (the offer expires 31 July 2010...act now).

How can you get involve...although many of us are conscious of recycling our newspaper, buying organic produce and using energy efficient appliances in our efforts to “save the planet,” we don’t put the same level of energy into where our clothes come from and how they are made.

By learning more we make a difference.

Check out Jo’s page on Big issues... http://www.thethreadloop.com/The-big-issues_234.aspx

Eco fashion is not a trend; see the Vancouver Fashion Week 2009 EcoFashion show. Also check out amazing eco fashion magazines such as Boho...and find out if you’re a Boho girl at http://www.bohomag.com/.

Three Cups of Tea

I recently finished the book Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, a heroic story of Greg Mortenson’s journey to improve social conditions in rural areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan, through the gift of education. Tom Brokaw describes it as, “one of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time. Greg Mortenson’s dangerous and difficult quest to build schools in the wildest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan is not only a thrilling read, it’s proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world.”

 

His story was inspirational and intriguing as he came upon many challenges and obstacles to accomplish his goals. There are many things to learn from Mortenson’s successes and failures, three which really hit home for me were 1. Never give up, 2. Learn what the people need, not what you think is best for them and 3. Immerse yourself in the culture, i.e. learn the language and customs it will open doors and increase your impact. Mortenson’s first school, the Korphe School (left) was completed in 1996.

Mortenson’s nonprofit organization the Central Asia Institute (CAI) continues to promote and support community-based education, especially for girls, in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. To make a tax deductible donation visit CAI website http://www.ikat.org./ Or if you want to get involved the organization promotes Pennies for Peace (P4P), which is ideal for mentors, families and teachers to introduce children to cross cultural experiences and all them to see the impact they can have on others. P4P educates children about the world and how they can make an impact, one penny at a time http://www.penniesforpeace.org/.

Be The Change

Global Volunteer Network’s (GVN) founder Colin Salisbury leads a program called Be The Change. I recently attended this program in Tuscany, Italy. For me Be The Change provided inspiration and focus, that I don’t think I could have discovered elsewhere.

17 people representing 13 different countries shared their desires to be catalyst of social change. Colin, Courtney and Nadine, leaders in the field of social change, led seminars and mentored participants during the week long course. They help us mold our thoughts, dreams and much confusion into a defined plan that we could put into action.

My experience was phenomenal. Meeting like minded individuals and finding incredible mentors has inspired me to create this blog, invest in French language immersion and pursue social change with NGOs on the ground working toward solutions in areas I believe in. But most importantly I returned home with a sense of possibility; I can make a difference on a global scale…one person at a time.

Be the change you want to see in the world. – Gandhi



To learn more about Be The Change and it's facilitators visit Globalvolunteernetwork.org

My Purpose

I’m Kimberly and I want to make a difference in the global community. My quest to figure out how to do this has led me here. I grew up in the United States and graduated from Howard University and the University of Oklahoma. I am a proud sister of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. My career started in the United States Air Force in 2005 and I have since served one tour in Iraq. Service to all mankind has been my passion for some time now. My first volunteer pursuits include working with Teach for America  and AmeriCorps programs Jumpstart and Heads Up. These wonderful experiences were eye opening and have fueled my desire to do more.

Along the way I’ve meet amazing people who too are working to impact social change throughout the world and I’ve learned about organizations that are implementing programs and touching lives around the global. I’m continuing to learn more through reading about change makers with extraordinary stories. I want to share this with you and create a single location to connect with people, organizations and stories driving global actions.

Join my quest by following this blog. You will learn more about current movements, be connected to global social change, and have easy access to ways to get involved and take action on issues you are passionate about.

Share your experiences with me and be featured in www.beaboutchange.blogspot.com

It’s as easy as giving free hugs.

Run for Congo Women

The Ramstein Team is official and ready to run for a cause: Terri Miles, Ebony Johnson, Rebecca Cave, Lauren Almond, Heather Perry, Michelle Miller, and Kimberly Jones. The run will be July 3, 2010 in London, UK at Regents Park.  This truly means a lot to us to have friends and family help impact the lives of others. Please spread the word. Make a donation at  http://www.active.com/donate/runforcongowomen/Womenrun4congowomen.


 

I dedicated my first half marathon to the women of the Congo, on May 8, 2010. Training was difficult, I ran hills and pushed myself each time to go further. On race day I gathered with 7 friends, who also supported the cause and wore the Run for Congo Women logo. There were over 10 thousand race participants and you could feel the excitement in the air. We all finished the race and left knowing we pushed through not just for ourselves but to help others. Several friends, family, and charitable hearts donated to the cause, we raised 838 USD, exceeding our goal. I couldn’t be more thankful for their support.

Now with a team of 7, we are running a 10k in support of Congo Women. Some of us are new runners and some are experienced but our goals are the same, to help Congo women and finish the race. But I need your help, Through Women for Women International the money that is raised will go support the women in the war torn country by providing:

• Food, clean water, and clothing for the women and their children
• School for Children
• Education programs to improve literacy
• Job skills training to start a business and empower a women to change her community
We have a webpage that will make donating so much easier. Use the secure link and you can donate right now. It’s so easy. Make a donation.




Learn more about the Congo
Learn more about Women for Women International