Day off!!!

Today, I took the day off to hang out with my cousins…. Well technically it’s Sunday. Even God rested on that day. I love these boys!

We went to visit moms, granny, and the loved ones that have gone on. <3

Survey Results...

12/29/12

Results of the survey unveiled some pretty nice data. At least 30% of those who took part in the survey had travelled abroad .That is outstanding, I believe. One better which gets at the core mission of my program is that none had ever been abroad through international education… that is according to the survey. Only 5 stated that they had gone abroad “to see the world/ culture” whereas many other travelled on family vacations or to visit family outside of the US. This suggests a definite need for such a program given that this cohort of youth (through convenience sampling) represented limited exposure to international education. That’s great!… well, its not great, but for the purpose of my program.. It is just a fantastic finding.  In the coming weeks I will hold a focus group with parents and students regarding international exposure. To get more information that can support the necessity of such a program. I love it!

Surveys...

Pics from Youth night passing out surveys! 

#turnup for international exposure!

Budgets... oh dear!

12/28/12

I met with Krystle Ainsworth today. What a lovely woman. She read through my concept note and gave some very healthy advice… GET THAT BUDGET DONE! She has even offered to assist. And her husband Mr. Forbes is an accountant. So he may be “welcomed in” to assist as well. Lord knows I will need it. She gave me some additional pointers as well, but overall she really like the concept note. She said it was a really good and necessary idea. I love her! Now to get that budget!

Oh, so far we have the idea of Bridging the Gap as a name. Gotta work on that as well. It’s so hard.

Curriculum...

12/28/13

WOW! At this moment all I can say is wow! It is such a blessing to be in the presence of such talented and respectable people who I can call colleagues and friends. This meeting I just left with Melanie Lockett totally blew my mind. Not just the interesting adaptations I can include as a part of the program’s curriculum, but the amazing support I have received from this sister! I tell you, I sent her small email requesting to meet, thinking I would introduce to her the ideas that I have and how she can help with her expertise as an educator and we can go from there.  She came to the meeting more than prepared. She prepared for me the Georgia high school standards, example activities, and even books she had already identified for the program. Amazed, I was… mostly because this was really just to be a meeting for me to introduce her to the idea. Boy was I wrong. Her preparedness and overall efficiency is what I need in a supporter. The meeting went well and left me in the right direction to start developing a curriculum for the program at that very moment. I love it!

Kujichagulia!

12/28/12

Yesterday, I collected 69 short surveys at Youth Night for Kujichagulia’s night of Kwanzaa. How Amazing! I was very excited that the kids were willing to complete the surveys, which for many took only 2 minutes. I ran out of candy when small kids started arriving and taking multiple pieces at once. But it was okay because the others were still willing to complete the surveys. I adjusted the age limit for those to complete the survey from 13 to 17, to 12 to 25… with a few outside of that limit. It works out because while many traveled in the past, it still gives an idea of level of international exposure among the group. So, I can say that the survey was a success.

Kujichagulia is self determination. I'm all about it!

Turnup

Working Hard… True Story

#Turnup #YouthNight # Kujichagulia

...behind

12/26/12

O my goodness it is the day after Christmas and all through the house.. I am the only creature stirring for there is no mouse. The problem is … I’m behind. Yikes. I need to go back through this concept note again and again so that it is spotless. I had a meeting scheduled for today via skype in Kenya, but there was no answer. This meeting is important because it will be helpful with finding and consolidating volunteer sites for the youth. I will have to reschedule for tomorrow or Friday. I have set another meeting on Friday at 2pm for Curriculum development. This meeting I hope can give me advice on how to develop an educational curriculum for high school students that can be incorporated into this program. I will speak with a good friend and colleague in Macon to accomplish this task.  Lastly, tonight is the first night of Kwanzaa so I need to speak with one person in particular to set something up…at least tell him about my ideas and see if he would like to support. Also, I need to ask if I can hand out short surveys tomorrow at youth night. It would be the perfect opportunity to get some preliminary background information from the target group. I need to come up with four questions and print them on paper and find a way to pass them out on Thursday night. So this will busy week indeed.

Umoja!

12/26/12

Very exciting news! Tonight I went to the Umoja night Kwanzaa celebration at the Douglas. I was able to successfully set a meeting with George Muhammad just to get advice and strategize on how we can get support from the community for this program. Partnerships and sponsors will be very important to the process and he will be helping me to get in touch with all the necessary entities. Funny enough I actually met his mother tonight who is .. Hello…a Fiskite class of “52. Even better she is active in the Macon Fisk Club, which I was unaware of. I plan to speak with them as well to make them aware of my efforts so that they may support. So I need to add the references to the concept and go over it once more.

Additionally, I was given permission to hand out surveys on tomorrow. The surveys will be about 5 questions to ascertain information on international exposure among the youth in Macon Georgia. So, I need to type up and print these surveys right now. Tomorrow will be a busy day. I wanted to have a girl’s day with Alicia. Duty Calls!

Truffles...

12/23/12

~ Its the holiday season!~

I am so happy to be on solid ground. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve so get excited! I am making Truffles for Christmas gifts! Enjoy!

No flight for you...

No flight for you…

So Emirates cancelled our outgoing flight hours after the 500 passenger flight was to leave. I got no flight reimbursement for the connection that I missed. It led to the worst flight experience ever. But I made i to Atlanta a day later than expected after 6 episodes of Desperate Housewives, 5 planes, 4 hours of sleep, 3 stop overs, 2 movies, 2 disgusting games of plane footsie, 1 delay, 1 item lost to TSA, and nearly no wifi…

15,000 miles, and 46 hours later… My luggage was still missing in action.

Friends in many places... Thanks!

A couple of weeks ago I asked colleagues and friends that have either traveled or schooled with me to submit to a written statement on their experiences abroad. This statement I would add to a presentation and/ or website to help encourage parents and students of the benefits of international travel and education. People are just so kind. After two weeks, I collected about 10 stories from these colleagues and friends. Their experiences were each amazing.  These are people who are doing such great things right now and many of them have traveled more than once after such an enriching experience. I am not only proud to know them, but I am also proud to know that their experiences enriched their lives both personally and professionally, as my experience did for me as well. How great! I want to thank each an every one of them for taking the time out of their busy schedules to assist me in this process. I won't call them out now, because they will be represented on the website later, with permission of course. Thanks again!

                                              

Our World is Round

Our World is Round. Check out the video and be sure to support the Safari Simbaz Cycling team! Shout out to #teamark. I love you guys!

http://www.safarisimbaz.com/about/

Home…

12/16/12

I leave for home in 4 days. 4 days… I’m not ready. But, I can’t wait to see the fam, the friends, and begin to share my ideas about this nonprofit endeavor. I hope it is well received. Mactown.. here I come! #Turnup!

Concept Note Round 1...

12/14/12

Okay, so I have more to add to the concept note but its so hard reading it over and over again. I need a few more editing sessions, but it is almost time for the holidays so it is taking a lot of energy to keep at it. I need to add more to the program approach section… though at this point the note is already so many pages, I am not sure if it is a concept note anymore. Simultaneously, I need to set some meetings for Macon with a few stakeholders and people in the know. 

Superboo!

Superboo is so supportive. 

He gave me great advice for the concept note. <3  

#bonk

http://www.bonk.co.ke/

Yippie!

12/13/12

Been working hard! The concept note is ready for review! Yippie!

A Name...

12/5/12

The project needs a name. I have been going back and forth for days trying to think of something that is useful and that will stick. Earlier, I thought of Macon to Africa, because the organization will be sponsored n Macon Georgia here I am from… but that name is just not good enough. A friend suggested Black to Africa… Yeah right. As I continue writing this concept note perhaps the name will come to me. Let’s see. 

One World Now!

One World Now!
This program founded by Kristin Hayden is a global leadership program based in Seattle, Washington. Just when you think an idea is original…lol! This program is an excellent example of what I hope to provide for youth in Macon Georgia. The the programs are different in approach, the goal is all the same: to encourage global leadership and international travel and education among the under-served.