Asana!

Check out this Task Management Application called Asana. It's kinda of a life saver!!! It allows you to schedule what tasks need to be completed and when. I like it because it can sync to your computer or phone calendar and email or notify you when things are upcoming, due, or past due. It can help keep you on track. I spent an hour just loading my work plan into the app to help me get better organized. And Two Hands is better for it! Check it out!

Lepta na Mwelu

Yesterday, I met with John Ngare  of Lepta, a youth organization in Mathare slums. They assist youth  aged 18-25 with training in performing arts. On my visit, I met with kids concentrating intently on guitar and keyboard. They meet regularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We decided that TWO Hands could come and work with the youth of Lepta with their service project for a local school, Kiboro Primary. Together the youth could engage in program planning for an arts and crafts fun day at the school. We will engage more in creating a full week of activities for both groups. It sounds fun, so far!

I also went by Mwelu for a visit. Since the two organizations are around the corner from each other. Though we decided our youth may not be able to work with them because of the time frame, it still may be possible to collaborate in some way. As I waited for the meeting, I sat with Racheal to  watch a few of the movies filmed by the kids in the organization. I must say, these kids are pretty good!

Check... Check

Logo- Ready
MOUs- Done
Site Visits- Scheduled
Brand Identity- Finito...

Things are really moving.  

Whoohooo!

Photographer...

Check!!!

Just got a photographer to take the branding shots for TWO Hands. This is quite exciting.

Click Pictureworks with Mwarv!

The passion behind Mwarv's work,

"Africa is a very blessed continent. However, many Africans don’t see it that way. We have believed in the skewed negative stories about Africa to the point of pitying ourselves and seeking the riches of the lands from where these storytellers come. With every click I take, I will show you what a blessed place we live in. I will rebrand Africa, one click at a time."
- Mwangi Kirubi (Mwarv)

This will be a fruitful partnership. I am very excited!!!

Check out his blog!

Photos will be featured on the TWO Hands website and all other branding materials!

So cute!

Okay...

I stole this picture from The Nest Home, a children's home in Lumuru Kenya, which cares for children whose mothers have been incarcerated for petty crimes. The picture was just too adorable not to share... three little girls who have wrapped stuffed animals on their back the way African Mamas do.

I thought it was so cute!

Mama Ndogo.

Brooklyn school girls get American Girl store thrill

I found this article published on NBC News yesterday. It is so wonderful in so many ways. 

Check it out below!
Brooklyn school girls get American Girl store thrill
Meghan Holohan

June 20, 2013 at 8:06 AM ET

A group of girls were chatting in Rob Robinson’s fifth grade classroom in PS 28 in Brooklyn when the special ed teacher overheard them talking about American Girl dolls. One of the girls mentioned a place girls can visit on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan to purchase these dolls. At the store, a girl can also buy matching clothes for her and the doll and visit the salon where both can get their ears pierced and hair styled.

“I know about this place. Only white girls can go there,” one of the girls explained.

Robinson, who admits he didn’t know what an American Girl Doll was, believed that this girl was mistaken. Surely, the store is for people of all races.

“I just heard what you said—I think everybody goes there, not one specific group,” he said. And to prove his point he added: “We’re going.”

The girls stared at Robinson as if he were crazy.

He didn’t realize that American Girl Dolls—a doll matched to a historical era like Colonial America or the Depression—cost more than $100 and that a day at the store would be a significant investment—one he and his students couldn’t afford. About 80 percent of the students at PS 28 qualify for the federal free lunch program.

After recovering from sticker shock, he remained determined to show his students that they can go where they want and achieve their dreams. Robinson believes that his participation in similar programs as a child helped him become determined and success.

“Here [was] an opportunity to turn around the thinking of little girls when they are thinking of image,” he says.

To fund the trip, Robinson built a website, 21 Girls of Color to American Girl NYC, and approached his network for donations. He worried that people might not give. Meanwhile, the list of students kept growing. He started with seven girls, but ended with 27. He had to limit it so they could dine in the private area, which accommodates 40 (this included an entourage of Robinson, chaperones, a photographer, and security).

Despite his worries, the donations rolled in—in five weeks Robinson raised $14,000. He provided stylists to fix the girls hair and nails, a limo ride to and from the store, and a photo shoot for them. Each girl received a doll, an American Girl t-shirt, a bag, her picture on the American girl magazine, breakfast, and private dining at the café at the store.

“When they walked into the American girl place, they lost their minds,” says Robinson. “They walked differently, their shoulders were squared, and it was amazing to see that. And they believed they belonged there or anywhere else.”

View the full article here

It is so encouraging to know that there are good-hearted people out there who believe that children should be exposed to certain things no matter their economic situation. And that is essentially what we seek with TWO Hands. I remember the Addie doll and also how I couldn't have one as a child though some friends of mine had them. If I had the opportunity these girls received I probably would have been just as excited. The article is so wonderful. I love it!!!

I'm Just Saying Though...Congrats Mrs. Sheila Hogan

Special shout out to my second mom, Mrs. Sheila Hogan, who was awarded as an  'I'm Just Saying Though' 2013 "Golf For A Cause" Recipient last weekend. I have known Mrs. Hogan since I was three when she somewhat adopted me from my preschool. I was best friends with her daughter, Lauren, though she treated me as her own from then on. Even through my own mother's battle with cancer she has been very supportive, loving, kind, and just an amazing woman.  It is such wonderful news to hear that she is receiving this award... so thanks to IJST for recognizing her in this way. Mrs. Hogan, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011, is a community leader and honorary TWO Hands Board member. She currently works at my old high school.



Check out the video and be sure to take a look at the IJST blog! 

I found this picture...

of the Ladies Choir at Parkie as we prepared to sing for Mother's Day!

Don't we look Smart! Can you find me?

Quote of the day...

In my daily research, I came across an interesting quote that I decided to share with you:

Leadership is not about taking control, but about making someone believe in something you are passionate about. 

-Anonymous

I have paraphrased a bit, but you get the gist. I find that many people try very hard to be leaders... attempting to control a situation or group of people. Even I have made that mistake a few times. But it is not power that makes some one a leader, it is the influence the person has.

I know a lot of great and inspiring leaders. I shy not to put myself in that list. I can only strive to be a better leader.... a great one by continuing to follow my passion and working to effectively communicate it to others.

Are you a leader?

Tarrus Riley... Tick Tock we waiting!

So over the weekend I went to the Tarrus Riley and Alpha Blondy reggae concert at KICC in downtown Nairobi. If you didn't hear the news, the performers were a no show and a full on riot was launched. Here's the scoop. 

The concert was said to last from 6pm to 6 am… But by 3 am, neither Riley nor Blondy  had come out on stage. The crowd was tired of waiting. Once the MC made the announcement that the performances would begin at the top of the hour… concertgoers became enraged... myself included. They began throwing beers cans at the stage even hitting the dj and onstage security... myself not included. Two concertgoers then took to the stage attempting to steal the mic to announce, rather inaudibly, “They are not coming”, “There will be no show”.

All of a sudden the cans turned into glass bottles being hurled at the stage.  Patrons attacked the dj tent and began looting the food and beverage tents. General admission ticket holders broke down the gate separating them from VIP… with the help of security I’m told, continued  the madness. As the MC and DJ disappeared from the stage, the music was suddenly cut and stage lights turned off. You could see the crew backstage packing up their items and escaping through a secret exit.

As a confused witness to all of the madness, I slowly backed away from the stage, angry, but simply unsure of a lot of things… So, my boo Tarrus Riley... he really ain’t coming? How long have the promoters known about this? Will I get my money back? Will I get hit with a bottle? Will I ever get to see Tarrus Riley? Will I get home safely? What is that naked man doing? A lot of questions swirled in my head ... as this was a highly anticipated engagement for me almost a year in the making (since I missed him in Kenya last August).

And though it was quite a dangerous encounter, I managed to make it home unharmed, though terrified and noticeably upset.

Concert goers were unsure who to blame. The promoters made a public apology offering little explanation and compensation for the incident.  

In fact, their statement quite suggested that it was the fault of the concertgoers who refused to be patient enough to enjoy the forthcoming show. But truth be told... there was no forthcoming show. If it hadn't started by 3 am (especially after the promotion team's claim of paying 40,000 Euro for the artists to perform) it wasn't going to happen. And an announcement then would have been courteous instead of a poorly written excuse after the fact. 

Meanwhile, a video of Riley from Berlin surfaced to shed some light on the incident.

 

He says, he didn’t see the promoters until after the show. What’s up with that?

Whatever it is… the promotion team has offered a free show with Alpha Blondy… but to be honest, I don’t know AB and I cam to see Riley. And I don’t plan to put myself in that position again… therefore…they should really find a way to get us our money back.

Otherwise, I am pretty sure their career as promoters is more than finished.

What a bust. 

Tarrus.. Tick tock, I'm waiting... raindrops no fallin'....why don't you come ova (to the stage at KICC Kenya)! Those were my sentiments. 

I still love you tho!!

Africa Unite!

 A meeting of the African Union in Nairobi... at Junction Mall.  Countries Represented Kenya, Egypt, Sudan, and Nigeria. Serious talks were held about the past, present, and future of the continent and it’s people….including:

1)   The dangers of Shisha, but how much we love it

2)   Excessive smoking in Egypt

3)   The professor’s tattoos: Nigerian popular culture.

4)   The transformation of Nigerian popular music- Fela Kuti to Iyanya.

5)   Running a raw marathon

6)   Having your cake and everyone else eating it too.

7)   Fighting terrorism: The Al Shabab and Boka Haram.

8)   A Sudanese in Thailand

9)   Sex changes in Thailand

10)  How eating fruit before meals can be healthier

Among other important discussions...

If you didn't get it... I am joking! This was actually some of the random conversations between some good friends over lunch and coffee on Sunday afternoon.

Good times with some really some people!

Africa Unite!

Ed's last day!

I went by ARK since today is Ed’s last day. I took some sandwiches and fruit salad in celebration. 

After a review of the logo and branding material, we have a few more kinks to work out, but its not long before we are complete. I am really excited. He has designed t shirts, mugs, letter heads, business cards and everything. So we are almost on our way. 

Good job Guys and thanks a bunch. <I totally forgot to snap of picture of the team.>

But the logo will be unveiled for the public at a party scheduled for early August!
So be on the lookout!

My new favorite thing...

Rose Macaroons!

Yummmm!

After getting a bit lost on my way around the city today, I felt a bit tired. Running after matatus can do that to you. Anyhow, I decided to treat myself to some macaroons from Mama's. And this flavor is my new favorite. Oh what a deserved treat.