What Does Grace Mean To You?

"Cause I'm an ace when I face the bass
40th side is the place that is giving me grace"
-Nas, "Halftime"

On Friday, September 12th, I caught a play in Harvard Square (Cambridge) at the American Repertory Theatre. Entitled, "Let Me Down Easy," it was a one-woman stage production that was truly moving. Anna Deavere Smith is a story-teller in the truest and most empirical form. She weaved together tales of sorrow, pain, heartache, adulation, and struggle to bring the stage to life. The props were basic, yet the visuals were pretty ill.

The concepts of grace and compassion are central themes throughout the production. She channels not only the voices and accents of people she encountered all over the world, but also managed to capture their spirits as well. From Rwandan genocide survivors to jockeys to journalists, she does an amazing job of making a patchwork of disparate narratives fall into place as a collective tale of the diaspora of the human spirit.

Several things stood out to me. It had to do with the concept of circles of identity and how even when we are defined by who we are, we can still be rendered powerless in the face of a greater lack of diversity. Sometimes your significance is diluted simply by your surroundings. Another equally compelling notion was the ideal that ALL local conflicts have the potential to threaten and engulf us all. To me, it struck to the core of how America's indifference to much of the past several decades of turbulence in Africa has contributed to the continent's instability. And lastly, no one is ever truly safe; no matter how good they are. I've often bemoaned the fear I carry with me of becoming of victim. You never know when someone will consider you to be a cockroach and decide today is the day to trample upon you.

In retrospect, I think we can all learn a thing or two about ourselves if we take time to actively listen to the stories of others. The play was real good. What started as a medical school project became a series of interviews and then staged readings and now a stunning performance. The show runs through October 11th. Get in there, yo. Shout-out to Sandra from the Bay State Banner.

broken promises, privatized profits, and socialized debt

There are people in life who have such an aura of wisdom that encircles their being that you cannot help but feel a little bit smarter after having a conversation with them. One such gentleman by the name of Ty comes to mind. I most recently ran into him at an open house on Monday evening at the new offices of the Union of Minority Neghborhoods (UMN). UMN has been a steadfast proponent of community organizing, social justice, and - most recently - CORI reform and social justice. Its executive director, Horace Small, is a large, loud, and proud brother from Philly who gets down with the get-down. He is a tireless advocate and a consummate mentor who I have come to wholeheartedly admire and respect. At the open house, UMN friends and supporters had a chance to meet board members and their new staff additions. I had a chance to eavesdrop on a conversation Ty was having about the recent economic woes facing the country. And it was a simple, singular observation that struck a chord with me.

privatized profits, socialied debt

In essence, that's what all this bailout brouhaha amounts to. Just another remixed version of the same rich get richer and the poor get poorer song that we've all heard before. Folks in the nonprofit and social services arenas have been damn near begging seemingly forever. Yet, the War on Terror and the Iraq occupation has been funded well. The mortgage crisis and golden parachutes are nothing new, yet now we want to bail all of these companies out all of a sudden? Yet, we preach the gospel of good financial management of consumers; rich and poor alike. A high school kid questioned why wasn't anyone making these companies put some of their profits in a savings account. Simple and yet so poignant, right?

But how can this land of the free and home of the brave protect corporate profits and shareholders before the everyday man and woman with no accountability or oversight? Robert Reich said it best, "We tell poor nations they have to make their financial markets transparent before capital will flow to them. Now it's our turn." It's time for the government to man up and holla at Warren and get to regulating on these fools or else you and I will be taking on Wall Street's risk and bad debt. And I got enough beef with Sallie Mae as it is to take on any more. Word.

looking for something to do this weekend?

Oh really? Well, you are in luck, yo.

There's a live art show on Saturday featuring graf artists in action and a DJ spinning the-kind-of-music-I-like-to-dance-to at Re-Up in Brighton. The midget and I will be in the building, yo. I may even try to cop something. Shout-out to my man Steve from SimplyOutstanding for putting me on to this. I'm really loving the ill visual arts and graf community that Boston has.

The critically acclaimed movie, Trouble The Water, opens this weeekend as well. In Boston, it's playing at the Kendall Square theater.

And I'd be remiss if failed to mention the four festival thingies going on. This is really, truly a good weekend to get out and about and emjoy life. Don't waste a second of it, yo.

Boston Tattoo Convention (Fri, 9/12 - Sun, 9/14)
http://www.bostontattooconvention.com

The Boston Arts Festival (Fri, 9/12 - Sun, 9/14)
http://www.bostonahtsfestival.com

Boston Film Festival (Fri, 9/12 - Wed, 9/17)
http://www.bostonfilmfestival.org

Boston Comedy Festival (Sun, 9/14 - Sat, 9/20)
http://www.bostoncomedyfestival.com

Enjoy.

Barr Fellows Program

The Barr Fellows Program honors the contributions of the most gifted and experienced leaders in the Boston area. Over a three-year period that includes a sabbatical, international travel, a series of retreats, and peer learning, these distinguished leaders have an important opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of their organizations and find the inspiration to attain even higher levels of effectiveness, creativity, and innovation.

The Barr Fellows program is designed to focus on leadership. It is intended to honor the contributions of the Boston area's most gifted and experienced nonprofit and public school leaders by giving them an opportunity for replenishment, and by supporting their organizations during this time. These leaders primarily come from nonprofits working within the Barr Foundation's program areas of education, environment and the arts, but the interdisciplinary nature of the problems we seek to address calls for a broader mix and therefore also includes leaders from housing and social services. The growing diversity of our city, especially the increase in immigrant populations, also suggests that effective leaders must develop a global perspective. We have built that learning into our design as well.

Barr Fellows Program

It was more of a formality, but I had to submit a letter of support for Project HIP-HOP's participation in the Barr Fellows Program. More formally, it is actually a nomination for our Executive Director, Mariama White-Hammond. So, this is really just a shout-out. lol. I had to start it out all cutesy to keep you reading though. Clue-clue-clue...Desert Sorm. LOL.

The Barr Fellows Program honors the contributions of the most gifted and experienced leaders in the Boston area. Over a three-year period that includes a sabbatical, international travel, a series of retreats, and peer learning, these distinguished leaders have an important opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of their organizations and find the inspiration to attain even higher levels of effectiveness, creativity, and innovation.

She awed me when we first met and continues to inspire me to this day. So instead of bestowing praise as an after-thought, how I give some credit where it due. A shout-out also goes to Marvin Martin of the Greater Four Corners Action Coalition and Jesse Solomon of the Boston TEacher Residency Program; two fellas I know are doing great work in the city who joined her in the Barr Fellows Class of 2009 cohort of 12 leaders. Word.

Community Partnerships Leaders Program

Community Partnerships Leaders Program

Overview: The Community Partnerships Leadership Program (CoPaLS) is a new initiative created by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation with input from a number of organizations working to improve access to health here in Massachusetts. CoPaLS’ purpose is to strengthen the basic leadership skills among emerging community leaders and activists who are passionate about their work. CoPaLS meets weekly for 5 evening sessions conducted over two-months.

Program topics are:

• Determining and Setting Strategy for Successful Community Health Initiatives
• Building Collaborative Meetings
• Dealing with Conflict and Learning to Talk About It
• Working Collaboratively with the Press
• Impacting Policy

Participants:

• We are looking for applicants who are passionate about improving access to health in their communities by strengthening their skills in the topics areas listed above.
• A group of up to 20 highly-regarded applicants with recognized leadership potential will be selected to participate in CoPaLS.

Eligibility and Selection:

• Candidates for the program those people in the community who work closely with a community health center, advocacy group, or community based organization. The candidates are seen as emerging leaders and who would benefit by strengthening their skills in working with a variety of stakeholders.
• Selection will be based on completing an application, the individual’s commitment to attend all five sessions, and their goals of what they plan to do with the tools and network they gain through the program.

How to Apply:

• Applicants must complete the attached application package and submit to the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 18, 2008.
• Applicants are encouraged to have a letter of endorsement of not more than a page from a not-for-profit organization serving the low income and uninsured here in Massachusetts.

Program Cost:

• The Foundation covers the tuition for the program, including the cost of sessions and other learning experiences, educational materials, and meals during the sessions.
• In addition the Foundation will assist with parking or transportation costs.
• Should assistance with reimbursement for child care be a necessity, the Foundation will help.
• Participants accepted into the program are requested to make a one time payment of $25. This is representative of the individual’s intention to take part in all five sessions of the program. The money is used to help defray the cost of materials and food.

Selection Timeline - 2008:
A Selection Panel made up of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation staff will evaluate the applications. Decisions of the Selection Committee are final.

September 18: Complete Application Materials due by 5 p.m.
September 23: Selection and Participant Notification
October 15: First session begins at Landmark Center