What a phenomenal day!

What a phenomenal day! We met with a consultant and she said that we were on point! And I am so happy that all of our late nights and early mornings of organizing and researching are paying off!! YES!! We met in a quaint office and went over what we have accomplished thus far and what else that needs to be completed. Overall, it was a great meeting and we are more motivated than ever to continue our journey to launching this organization. All smiles!!


Valerie Simmons

CHS meets Africa

Its Monday! And I just finished speaking to a class of students at Central High School. I love my high school alma mater. Those were some great kids. They were very attentive and interested in the subject of: Africa! I spoke to them about my experience on the continent over the years and the similarities and differences of life here and there.

First, I asked them to tell me what they knew about Africa by identifying African countries on a blank map. They were able to quickly identify a good number of countries... some of them with the help of a reference (book). Their response to the question what do you know about Africa is written below.

• Poverty
• Skinny kids
• Agriculture
• Tribes/ Ethnic groups
• Language

One student adequately understood that this is only the image that we have access to through the media. And I went on to show that there was much more to Africa than what they knew. I showed  pictures of life in Gulu, Uganda, and Nairobi, Kenya to show them the difference between rural and modern ways of living. I also discussed with the help of Mrs. Agu, special education teacher originally from Nigeria, matters of African culture and recent history.

The students asked some great questions and were eager to understand the misconceptions often ascribed to Africa. Questions included:

• ...what was the situation of war in Northern Uganda? Were you there when it was going on? :)
• ...what about the children orphaned in Gulu?
• ... what kinds of food do they eat?
• ... do kids play with the animals? (Like the giraffes and elephants, etc.)
• ...what is the weather like? 
• ....what do people wear?

 It was very interesting to speak with them. And I think I accomplished something with this class because towards the end one student announced... "I want to travel to Africa, guys, we should all go!" She showed that she was very eager to travel to the continent to see for herself. Some very great kids.

I gave away a bunch of things to the class. Earrings, a mask, a giraffe, some cloth purses, a bracelet, and some Kenyan shillings basically the display to the kids that asked the most questions because they were so active I wanted them to take a part of Africa with them. They enjoyed that the most, I believe.

Overall, that was a really great experience. I was nervous at first, but I cannot wait to do it again!

Ninapenda watoto! Tonja loves the kids!!

                                                   

Finding Board Members...

So, I have spent the last couple of weeks sort of scouting for board members. I got a few references from a really good supporter and I spent this week calling a few other hopefuls. One in particular... I was praying hard for his support and after the third call he informed me that he could not serve as a board member because of  another commitment to a similar initiative.

Ahhh!

Though I am sort of immune to rejection, I was really let down simply because I felt he would have been a really good fit for my organization. I decided to just call the others and get the rejection on in so that tomorrow I could start a fresh.

I called another potential member and he answered on the first call.. Halle! But it shocked me so much so, that I almost forgot why I was calling. We agreed to further decide on a date to meet. That reassured me that all hope was not lost.

As of now, I am two board members in and three to go.

Let's keep it moving.

Dedication to work...

So this past week, we have been at this coffee shop every day researching and referencing every piece of information we could possibly need for this fifteen week experience.  In fact, we frequent the place so often, that the employees know our faces and simply smile and say, “welcome back ladies” as we make our way past the counter filled with cookies and muffins and onto our the table in the corner.
The day would usually start with a quick morning meeting over what we need to get done or make sure we are on schedule.  The tasks aren't hard at all, but they can become tedious occasionally, however once that laptop powers up and those fingers begin dancing on that keyboard, the question “what time is it?” becomes a thing of the past. There are no worries or cares outside of the exhibition being planned and you become one with the nonprofit. I jump in the role as if I have started the organization myself and become so excited about all the new things I’m learning about other countries and what each has to offer.

With all of this being said, there are some mornings where I clearly do not want to even look at my laptop nevertheless open it up and do any sort of work. I know once the hump about getting out of bed and actually starting work is passed, then it’s no stopping on through the night. This same routine is done Mon-Fri and as you can imagine... I am so ready for the weekend!!

Valerie Simmons
Program Assistant

Track...

Today, we had a meeting with Jerome Hutchins... our former track coach. He gave us some helpful advice about running a non-profit and contacts in the community. 

Meet my new program assistant...

Valerie Simmons is a graduate of Westside High School in Macon, Ga. She is an old neighbor and great friend of mine and she has committed herself to the task at hand. She has experience in finance and administration. She is currently studying at Central Georgia Tech. 

Inauguration 2013

 These are some of my favorite pics from the Inauguration.

                                                   Girls for Obama!!!

It's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! Yay!

Today is Martin Luther King. Jr. Day. It is also Inauguration Day, where for the second time in this nation’s history we are inaugurating a president who is African American. Let’s talk about that. Some people have gone on as far as to say that this means that Martin Luther King’s dream was realized.... Realized! Yes someone actually said that. Never mind all of the antics that went on to discredit, defame, dishonor, and negate Obama’s presidency during and even well before both of his campaigns... from the republican critics alone. A realization of Dr. King’s dream needs to be much more than ... a black leader of the free world. Not to say this is a fluke, but there are just too many ills in the world to be satisfied with the only the notion of a black man in the White House. Even further, the speech that Dr. King gave 50 years ago was about much more than a dream. But I digress. 

This brings me to my point. Given the discussion on the progress of our community, I came across this quote of his recently in which his position, quite violent if I may say, from Bill Cosby, American Comedian, educator. 
Speaking on the “knuckleheads” in our community and their lack of or disregard for purposeful living, he says:

“We are not Africans. Those people are not Africans; they don't know a thing about Africa ..... I say this all of the time. It would be like white people saying they are European-American. That is totally stupid. I was born here, and so were my parents and grand parents and, very likely my great grandparents. I don't have any connection to Africa, no more than white Americans have to Germany , Scotland , England , Ireland , or the Netherlands . The same applies to 99 percent of all the black Americans as regards to Africa . So stop, already! ! ! With names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and Mohammed and all of that crap ......... And all of them are in jail.”

 I have to say, I felt some type of way about it. When I read that...it angered me. Better, it frustrated me. And what frustrated me the most was the reality of his comment.

People do not see themselves as African American. They do not see themselves as descendents of Africa with a shared history and even a shared culture. Be it because of the bad press the continent has received over time, a general lack of interest, or complete misunderstanding of the way history worked.. .people just do not subscribe to the notion that they are in any shape or form connected to the African continent... Even worse, they do not care. And worse than that... Dr. Cosby thinks it is stupid. Stupid!

Only focusing on this section of a longer quote, I believe that this mentality is unfounded. In fact, I believe the term African American attempts to undo that disservice of stripping away a people from its heritage. It’s a people trying to reconnect by out rightly addressing that thing that makes them unique. In all honesty there is no one fluid culture and the "American" culture is probably the least fluid of all. It’s the Melting pot where everyone is unique but come together to be American. And it doesn’t mean that we have to leave our differences behind. For me just because I can’t identify with one particular country, I know the history and as painful as it may be it connects me... it connects us all with the continent, the Diaspora, and the obvious truth I am African. 

Though it is our prerogative to call ourselves whatever we wish including “names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and Mohammed”... Really Bill Cosby... overall it is a people trying to reconnect, and I an respect that. Instead of instigating the divide which from his comments sound more based  on class within the African American community, we should be working together to connect our community to that heritage and that understanding.

That is why I feel so moved to start this nonprofit. More than giving under served youth the opportunity to travel abroad, it is an opportunity bridge that gap which is so vast that we don’t even view it as a problem anymore, but it continues to divide us. I want our youth to be able to determine for themselves how they view themselves, and how they identify themselves... but that must be based with the full knowledge of their heritage, their culture, and everything in between. And by experiencing another country, they are better able to understand themselves... They will fully understand that yes, they are American, yes, they are also African American.. .that’s bridging the gap. 

Recognizing that this was an excerpt of a longer quote... Bill Cosby did have a point, no matter how insensitive, lol!. But rather than focusing on his critiques, I will put my ambition to the test and make some moves to combat these ills in our community. Bridges... Let’s go!

Have a wonderful Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! And enjoy the inauguration activities! 

SN: I’m gonna stop shouting, “2 terms,” because President Obama does not listen to tom foolery any more than the people shouting this actually pay attention to any of his policies. Nevertheless... Great day!

Tonja and YO!

Found YO, Yolanda Lattimore, of Poetic Peace at the coffee shop today. She gave us some quick tips to marketing our brand as a non-profit. <3

Yay for the Program Assistant!!!

Yay, I have hired... and by hired I totally mean found someone who can do the work for free... a program assistant. She is great at her job. She has the experience and the know how, connections in Macon, great rapport with youth and general people skills. She also has that gumption that is needed for this start up project because she is willing to put herself out there to get the job done.  I love it! We shall be seeing more of her. And hopefully, we can get this work done in half the time.

Oh yeah, I am finally back to business!

I'm still sick...

I'm still sick. Today, all I could so was sleep. Lord Jesus help me. Is this even blog worthy. Tomorrow is a new day. 

I'm Sick...

Wow. So today I had this important meeting planned with the director and academic adviser of Upward Bound. The meeting was set to discuss the possibility partnership and other ways of support including a focus group for the market analysis. Though yesterday I woke up with a sore throat, I thought for sure the three cups of garlic tea would make me well enough for the next day's festivities. Oh no... Something else was a brewing. I woke up today and I could hardly swallow. It was awful. I immediately set an appointment with the doctor. And though I assumed a much, I was diagnosed with... strept.... throat. NOOOOOO! Even worse, "boo, you are contagious". Which means I am restricted to the house for the next two days while on antibiotics and pain meds. Truth of the matter is that I felt fine... until an hour or so after the doctor when I started getting nauseous and tired. Needless to say I had to cancel my meeting. And now I may not be able to get another one for at least three weeks, which will put me completely behind. I will have to see what I can do about that... once I feel a bit better.  Nevertheless, I'm sick and well I can only hope to get better soon so that my family can stop following me around the house with Lysol.

Oh and get this, my cousin comes to pick me up to take me to the doctor. He brings me a SARS mask to cover my face from the germs. I can feel the love. 

Sunday...

Spending Sunday with my best girl!  Church, Brunch, and a little shopping. Love me some Keigan Evans. <3 

...focus group discussion guides

1/11/13

Just finished the developing the focus group discussion guide for the students and parents. It was simple. About 10 questions that just gets to understand any thoughts and concerns the respondents may have if they or their high school aged child were to travel abroad. I will plan two focus groups with both parents and students. The students, I hope to organize through a community program... as soon as I call them, and the parents I hope to organize through convenient and snowballing from a few parents I know or can find. The purpose of the focus group is to already have an understanding of fears or concerns so that once I begin to campaign and market the project, I am fully aware of what to expect so that I can more easily and appropriately address them. This is the fun part of the process... well I am sure it is all fun, but I can't wait to speak to parents and teens about traveling abroad.. without giving anything away of course. I do believe I should add more questions to the student discussion guide... perhaps to get a sense of cross cultural understanding among them. That's great. Now, to continue with the day. 

Many international educational training programs focus on college students. Why do you think it’s important for students from diverse backgrounds to have international experiences earlier than college?

Because they won’t get to college! Many of these students won’t get to college if they don’t [participate in international programming]. It’s pretty plain and simple that most of the students we work with, marginalized youth, are not getting the support at the high school level to even go on to four-year colleges. On top of that, it may not even be an option in their mind to pursue any kind of international educational opportunities if college isn’t seen as an option. There are many reasons why it’s important for young people to be exposed earlier on, but for the obvious one is that it supports them getting into college.

Many of our students are first-generation going to college, over 60% of our students are first-generation, and many of them don’t have the support, at home or at school, for how to navigate the higher education system. So I think you’re really missing out if you’re not focused on the younger students, the pipeline. In fact, almost all of the One World Now students, when they do go onto college, then continue to study these critical languages and go abroad. They’re already fired up about international education in a way that they definitely would not have been had they not had this exposure in high school. Also, they may not even go onto college [had they not participated in this kind of programming].

Kristin Hayden, One World Now! President and Founder

http://www.oneworldnow.org/whats-going-on/news/article/diversity-network-leadership-interview-series

...Status update

1/7/13

Whew. I took the weekend off. And boy did I need it. But now its back to work. Though I woke up late (12am), I went for a run, made a large salad for lunch and headed to the coffee shop to get my work on.  I have been here for hours with only a dinner break… and everything is just flowing out. It’s great! Currently, I am of course blogging, but I have planned the student and parent informal meetings/ focus group, organized a contact list, and began searching for these contacts and researching their relevance to this org. Seems menial, but it is o so important. It has even given me more as it relates to developing the concept note. Well, I will sign off now and update you later.

...business plan

1/4/13

I told Alicia yesterday that I needed a business plan and she offered to help. I love these people. I swear I could not do it without any of them. So we will meet soon to turn my concept note into just that. She has also promised to send it to her uncle in Texas for which it is his job to assist people with creating a business plan. We will see what he thinks of it. Crossing my fingers.

Back to business!

1/3/13                                                                                                                        

It’s a new year and it’s back to business!

Today, I met with George Muhammad of the Kwanzaa Cultural Access Center, Inc. The meeting went very well. It was one of the important meetings in that it provided me with names and contacts of the black business community in Macon. People I will need as supporters in any and every way. It was a very helpful meeting. The next step is to begin contacting these people to share with them my non-profit (once she has a name) and ideas about how we can partner or come together for a common good. I also learned that if I want to do things the way they should be done, I have to start a nonprofit to back the program. If I just placed the program within an already existing entity, some program components could be lost and it would be under the direction of someone other than me. So, its best to go all the way with it. As I suspected. But now it means I must go ahead and commit to all of the steps needed to developing a non-profit, including a business plan. A business plan? Yes honey! 

Kwanzaa 2012

Picture of George Muhammad (right) and Dr. James Beverly (left) during last year’s (2012) Kwanzaa Ceremony.