Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is the United States' largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service. The program was created in 1995 by Prudential in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) to honor middle level and high school students for outstanding service to others at the local, state, and national level.

The program's goals are to applaud young people who already are making a positive difference in their towns and neighborhoods, and to inspire others to think about how they might contribute to their communities. Over the past 14 years, more than 260,000 young Americans have participated in the program, and nearly 90,000 of them have been officially recognized for their volunteer work.

For more information, visit http://spirit.prudential.com

DEADLINE: Monday, November 9, 2009

on demand

objects in the mirror are closer than they appear
dreams bounce on puddles
like soundwaves ripple ears
we huddle in bunches to stay warm
holding close what's known
repressing hunches to leave home
only to return in due time
yet came back to faded signs
and pictures with frayed edges
we hedged bets; averse to happiness itself
never knowing what the future holds
yet melting down hearts like roach clips in the dark
we spark it up for those soulmates seemingly still on the ark
waiting for us to disembark
and hold hands
but the cold hands and feet and days only repel
never quite able to tell the season
or the reason for our being
except that forever is infinite
which is definitely a long while
so the smiles may not hold as much joy
the cheek bones too much to bear for the man-boys
who tried to do what was right
and still got bagged like thieves in the night
so the ski masks came out
ill ice grills framed their mouths
and angst filled the air like sauerkraut
and broken glass
the shards of which we use to claim our place
in the sand
the first of the last
the last of the firsts
chivalry on demand

Moonwalkers

Butterflies gave me hope on rainy days
yet, I'm asking them to change their ways though
Told them to stop making my heart
flutter
Pent-up passion caused me to start stutter-ing
and twisting
my words
And I'm no fan of being tongue-tied

Ao, although no big puns are intended,
this average Joe did say he didn't want to be a player
no mo
Made those former cocoons beat it because
there is no black or white
only invincible gray matter
when nothing else matters otherwise

We struggle to hang on to high hopes
Hanging them on half-charged power lines
unaware of the electricity
casually zapped from our core
Do you remember the times when sweaty palms
meant your SkyTel was blowing up?

Now we make love via text messages

Midnight thrillers on the big-screen of
ritualized romance
dancing below windows and off walls
This pretty young thing found an equal match to rock with
You see, his story was equal parts depth and ambiguity
a dangerous combination of risks, rewards, and reggrets
helped to shape his past, present, and future
but sweat is the stream of life connecting their dots
until that one night in Japan when the blood on the dance floor had them screaming and channeling life's force through their vocal chords

i guess we're all men and women staring blankly in mirrors
still trying to see our true selves through the steam

Revolve, a fundraiser for Project HIP-HOP

Peace family,

I wanted to take a quick moment to say hello to everyone and invite you to an event this Thursday evening. You may or may not know already, but I am a volunteer and board member for an organization by the name of Project HIP-HOP, which is based in Dudley-Square. It is a youth-focused entity that is helping to create a new generation of community-engaged, socially-conscious, and grounded young people. This Thursday, May 28th, Project HIP-HOP will host an event entitled, REVOLVE, at the Boston Foundation's headquarters (75 Arlington Street) from 6 PM until 8:30 PM. The event will feature live music by our resident teen DJs, hors d'oeuvres by Ethnica Catering, and refreshments by Bon Vivant Wine Company.

Project HIP-HOP is not all things to all people; but it means the world to many. It is a safe haven for youth from Dudley Square's bordering neighborhoods. It is a nest for a new breed of community organizing centered around local solutions to local problems with creative thought, feedback, and action by those most affected by the problems and the solutions. It is an experience in itself where youth learn about ways to use hip-hop culture for social change to empower themselves and their communities

To be straight-up, it is indeed a fundraiser, but also a celebration. It will be a time for us to celebrate many occasions. Our Executive Director, Mariama White-Hammond, was recently named a Barr Fellow and will embark upon an extended sabbatical. Filling in for her will be D'Mon Bills, PHH's Deputy Director, who just joined in February and hit the ground running. For the last three years, I have served as the board chairperson. I will be stepping aside as to allow for a fresh leadership perspective. Taking my place as board chairperson is Marc Germain, a good brother who is actually a PHH alumnus. So, in essence, PHH has already come full circle. Two people (Mariama is an alum as well) who were formerly youth leaders are now community leaders committed to fostering a new kind of cycle amongst our people. Not one of tragedy, despair, and struggle; but one of purpose, hope, and integrity.

So, in closing, I am asking you to consider attending the event, but even more importantly, to strongly consider making financial or in-kind donation. I truly believe with my heart and soul in this organization and its impact has been tremendous thus far. But as the saying goes, there is always room for improvement. The young people of this city need to know that the adults do in fact have their backs.

If you would like to learn more Project HIP-HOP, feel free to visit the web site or just ask me. I'm all ears. Take care and stay up.

Peace,
-Eric/POPS

http://www.projecthiphop.org/revolve.html