January is National Mentoring Month!
January is National Mentoring Month and I’d be remiss to not profile Kids ‘n Kinship before Groundhog Day. I’ve served on the board of directors for the past 2 years and been greatly privileged to be a part of its critical work. Kids ‘n Kinship’s mission is to provide friendships to children ages 5-16 who … Continue reading
Climbing the Ridge
one step / one step / i stop / i takeone breath / one breath / warm sunabove / white snow / belowi breathe / i take / one step / one step -Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer“Climbing the Ridge”
Save GAMC and it may save you.
The countdown on the Fix It Now MN website is at 38 days, 6 hours, 44 minutes, and ticking until GAMC (General Assistance Medical Care) ends. Providing health care coverage for the poorest of the poor in Minnesota, GAMC was eliminated by Governor Pawlenty via a line item veto at the end of the last … Continue reading
Another perspective: Ayiti en photos
CNN and other major news outlets depict the trauma, weariness, and angst of Haitians and relief workers currently toiling round the clock to bury the dead, heal the wounded, and rebuild the island nation following the catastrophic earthquake one week ago. To give people a glimpse into the beautiful landscape and culture that existed before … Continue reading
It’s a day on, not a day off.
Next Monday, schools, banks, and post offices will be closed in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. However, the National Corporation for Community Service urges people to consider it a “day on,” not a “day off,” in hopes of honoring the legacy of Dr. King, Jr by continuing to fulfill his commitment to … Continue reading
Kite Ayiti Viv! And how.
6 years ago, last week, I stood in this building. As of Tuesday evening, it is no longer standing. Haiti’s capital city, Port au Prince, suffered a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday evening, just before 5:00PM EST. Over thirteen additional aftershocks, many registering at 5.0 on the Richter scale, followed. Buildings more than one story … Continue reading
"The Death of Haitian Democracy"
Tonight, a number of colleagues and fellow activists with whom I’d visited Haiti in January 2004, following its Bicentennial Celebration, reconnected over the phone. We caught up with each other, shared personal news and media reports about the current conditions in Port au Prince, but most importantly, reflected on the memories of our days shared … Continue reading
@MinnesotaRising Meets: Brian Bell
Happy New Year, everyone! I’m excited for @MinnesotaRising to have our second vlog interview with Brian Bell, a Millennial leader role modeling active citizenship in Minnesota! Please check it out and share your feedback below. http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8676311&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1 @MinnesotaRising Meets: Brian Bell from Diane Tran on Vimeo. Contact Info: brian.b.bell@gmail.com, @brianbbell, Brian’s LinkedInYear of Birth: 1985Resides in: … Continue reading
Investments in knowledge pay social dividends
“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” -Derek Bok, Former President of Harvard University Thanks to the growth of the open-source philosophy, not everyone need suffer under the cost of oppressive student loans to gain thoughtful and meaningful education. A number of initiatives are working to share knowledge online and off – see below … Continue reading
The 110th Christmas Bird Count: Citizen Science in Action
In the spirit of bringing holiday cheer as far as into this new year as possible, I wanted to highlight a group whose local volunteers I have recently learned from and lobbied with on climate action issues. The Audubon Society wraps up its 110th Christmas Bird Count today, demonstrating that despite the over-professionalization and specialization … Continue reading
Minnesota Rising 