New Year's Resolutions

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve! There are tons of things happening in the District--parties and events and open bars and concerts.
I always find New Year's traditions a bit over-priced, crowded, and over-hyped; however, I do appreciate the opportunity to reflect on the past year and to look forward into the new.
A new year and a new calendar aren't automatic restarts, of course. There is really no break--it is simply the way we as humans have devised to count time--the marking of four distinct seasons passing.
No matter how arbitrary January 1 might be, it's still an opportunity to evaluate your life and see what's working and what's not.
what made you happy in 2011? Aim to do more of that in 2012. What gave you satisfaction? keep that up for the New Year.
What are things you want to try but never get around to? Put those on the list for the New Year.
Are you living the life you imagined for youself? If not, where did you get off track? Is the way you live in line with your values and belief system? Again, if not, make changes to put yourself where you want to be.
Aside from all the partying and the glamour, New year's is about reflection, introspection, and starting fresh.
Set the tone for a great 2012 by doing things that matter to you. Tell someone your resolutions so that you will be held accountable. Make them achievable so that you can find success.
All of us are good, all humanity has what it takes to make a difference and live with joy. Find it.
I read something recently that has stuck with me and has become a sort of mantra for me: "You will find freedom by accepting your limits and living within your means." It's not about being extravagant, it's about understanding the limits in life and being ok with them. You can truly and fully live with satisfaction when you are comfortable and fully extended within the realm of possibility. 


Wishing you all freedom and joy in 2012,

Megan

Game Change

So this movie will be coming out in 2012. I think it is very interesting that they will be releasing this film to our television sets in 2012 with the big presidential election coming up. With all of the discussion of who will be leading the GOP in the general election I find this film interesting to get an idea of all of the inner workings that occur to put together a presidential team. I will probably be writing a follow up after I see the film, but watch the clip above and let me know what you think. Was Sara Palin the game changer that the McCain party was looking for? Taking some of what you see in this clip what type of pair will the GOP 2012 put together to represent against President Obama?

--Krystal

Giving Back for the Holidays pt 2

A few weeks ago we discussed ways you can give back during the holiday season. Giving back doesn't require any particular creed or faith, it is really just about doing something for someone else. Really we should be doing for others throughout the year, but it is especially important during this time of year when those less fortunate are most vulnerable. Well after bringing this topic up a few weeks I decided to do a little research on more opportunities throughout the DC area to get involved with during the holidays.

Now thanks to a wonderful volunteer coordinator at Miriam's Kitchen I was given a list of great volunteer opportunities. But if it wasn't for this particular volunteer my search would have been a lot more stressful. Who knew it would it be so difficult to find a place to volunteer? Most organizations I found were not looking for volunteers just for the season and those that did have seasonal opportunities had very strict shifts and limits to the amount of people who could sign up. These organizations also required lots of paperwork for someone who only wanted to help out for the season. Regardless, I wanted to share with you all the list I received of great places to give back this season. Check them out and do what you can to help someone else.

Anyone who finds other great organizations to volunteer with please feel free to share!

Happy Holidays!!

--Krystal

    

1. Food & Friends: Caring for those living with life-challenging illnesses by preparing and delivering specialized meals and groceries in conjunction with nutrition counseling.        

2. Grate Patrol:  For those who can't get in... Grate Patrol goes out!

Every Saturday and Sunday, 52 weekends a year, two cars leave the parking lot of St. Paul's Episcopal Church (2430 K St. NW) and go out with 378 bags of healthy breakfasts, to be delivered to people living on DC's streets. Grate Patrol strives to hit the "nooks and crannies" of the city, finding and serving the homeless wherever they can be found. Meet at 5:45 a.m. to start our deliveries before people leave their sleeping areas!  For inquiries about Grate Patrol delivery volunteering, please contact Glenn Marsh at 703-622-6484or marsh_glenn@emc.com

3.       A Wider Circle: Volunteers are needed on Saturdays from 10am-4pm and Sundays from 12-4pm. at in Bethesda.  Volunteers will help clients pick out furniture, sorting and organizing donations, organizing the warehouse, and/or picking up donations from around the region. There is no age requirement to volunteer.  Please contact Katie Reidy, Volunteer & Intern Coordinator at 301.608.3504

4.       Bread for the City: www.breadforthecity.org

5.       Calvary Women’s Services: Cook meals for 25 women, teach LifeSkills Classes, do overnight supervisingwww.calvaryservices.org

6.       Thrive DC provides meals and services to homeless men and women. For volunteering opportunities, please contact volunteer@thrivedc.org

7.       SOME (So Others Might Eat) has many diverse volunteering opportunities. Check their website for more information: www.some.org

8.       N Street Village has many diverse volunteering opportunities. Check their website for more information: www.nstreetvillage.org

9.   Martha’s Table offers multiple volunteering opportunities such as: wagon driver, food preparation, and tutor. Check their website for more information:www.marthastable.org

10.   Interested in helping children and families? Check out the Mary’s Center for volunteering opportunities: www.maryscenter.org

11.   DC Central Kitchen has various volunteering opportunities. Check their website for more information: www.dccentralkitchen.org

12.   Go apple picking with friends or family on the weekends athttp://striblingorchard.com/default.aspx You can then donate some of the apples to Miriam’s Kitchen. We will make delicious desserts for our guests!

National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day

This coming Wednesday, the shortest day of the year (and thus the longest night), is the 22nd annual National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day. The service will be held at New York Ave Presbyterian Church at 6pm in Washington.
This service is to celebrate and remember those lives lost on the streets in our nation's capital. Names will be read of people who have died homeless in 2011.
The vigil will dually serve as a reminder to our community that all ought to have access to shelter, health care, and proper nutrition. It is a basic human right to feel physically safe and comfortable throughout the night.
Everyone is invited to come out and participate on this first day of winter. The cold and darkness will be a good reminder of how important shelter is.
This important event will be held in various cities all over the country. Come out and remember those who have died on our streets, in our community: those for whom the system failed.

--Megan

Urban Poverty

Interesting, but unsurprising, visual demonstrating the spread of poverty across DC. The city, though it doesn't make the "Top 10 Most Segregated," is segregated, rich and poor, white and non-white. DC has come a long way in the past couple of decades, but the rapid gentrification projects aren't always good for the city's revival and the city's long time citizens.
To me, this visual really demonstrates what most already know about DC. The "forgotten" East of the River neighborhoods are the poorest. These are also the neighborhoods where the most crime happens, where the drop out rates are highest, and where there are no grocery stores to shop at. These neighborhoods are almost entirely African American populations.  Poverty is systemically and institutionally tied to race in this country. Knowing that, I wonder what can really be done to reverse the cycles and actually defeat poverty?
Many programs in the city simply aid those who are dealing with poverty; the programs are not meant to actually defeat poverty. While of course I agree that this aid is helpful and necessary for those in desperate situations, I'm curious to find out what can really end this culture of poverty? As I believe, it is so closely tied to race, I'm very unsure. It's not easy to reverse history. How to undo what's been done? Programs have certainly been in place to make equality and justice accessible to all, but it's just really not that easy. History plays a role and has influenced who has advantages and disadvantages: poverty is predetermined .

A speaker I heard in the past week  said to the group, "There is a cure for homelessness: houses!" It is, yes, that simple. Housing would dissolve the problem of homelessness; however, policies and procedures and cultural and societal norms get in the way. How can we give one person a house but someone else has to pay for theirs?
It's systemic, it's self perpetuating. What would work to break these cycles?

--Megan

Crime and Punishment Museum DC

On this blog we like to introduce and discuss some of our favorite spots in the DC area and recently I took advantage of a Groupon deal and visited the Crime & Punishment Museum for the first time. And trust me when I say this is one of the most exciting museums with well structured and interesting exhibits.

Normally a trip to Crime & Punishment can cost you about $20.00 at the door and slightly cheaper if your purchase tickets ahead of time online, but Groupon has done more that one special with tickets at $10.00 a piece. Now with all of the free museums DC has to offer some of you may be against paying to visit a museum,but these exhibits are well worth it and you don't even need a guided tour which can cost you about $5.00 extra.

Crime and Punishment offers a variety of exhibits including; Bonnie & Clyde, Jewish Gangsters and interactive exhibits like punishment: the consequence of crime and crime scene investigation. You will also be enlightened by the history of crime and punishment and stories and updates from headlining cases throughout US History. Learn about every serial kill from John Wayne Gacy (the clown that killed) to Cho Seung-Hui (VA Tech gunman) Each story includes all past information and updated findings. You will also be able to view the FBI's 10 most wanted list with updates.

For anyone that enjoys Dexter, CSI, NCIS, Bones, Law & Order, Amercia's Most Wanted, Good Fellas, Public Enemies or any form of entertainment involving either crime or law enforcement will enjoy the several interactive exhibits which put you in the role of law, order, or outlaw. You leave this museum with a greater knowledge of law, crime, order and punishment. To really get the full enjoyment of this museum you should make it a day trip and don't rush through the exhibits. This will be worth the $20 charge, but keep your eyes open for another Groupon or Living Social Deal.

--Krystal

Human Need not Corporate Greed

"Human need not Corporate greed" read a sign in an assembly of individuals protesting wrongful foreclosures. With all of the recent publicity given to the widespread Occupy Movement I feel of is also necessary to discuss another movement and assembly of individuals that is picking up speed.

Recently reports have been coming out that unemployment rates are falling and the economy is stabilizing. This may be true in some areas, but overall it is a misleading fact. The holidays bring an influx of consumers to stores throughout the US. This increase in business and customers warrants additional staff to the businesses. Seasonal work is a great way to get your foot in the door at a company, but usually is just a temporary fix to unemployment issues.
Since the collapsing of the real estate market many individuals have been left upside down in mortgages without hope. Foreclosures have swept the nation leaving families on the streets.

Some of these foreclosures have caught media attention with residents refusing to leave. Most recently I saw a vase where a war veteran was losing his home and instead of taking it, residents of his community joined his side. They stood together to protect the home of an American war vet. Or a story with an 103 year old woman and her 83 year old daughter were being forced to leave their homes. The stress of.the foreclosure was so much that 83 year old suffered a heart attack. Fortunately in this case human need outweighed corporate greed and this family was not forced to leave their home of 50 years. Not everyone is as lucky or has the support of their community and in many cases corporate greed outweighs human need.

With the 2012 election on the rise it is important for all Americans to know where the values of our country lie and understand how integral a role we can play in the decisions made in our community and government with a voice, vote, or simply standing up for what we believe is right.
-Krystal

Religious Discourse in America

Just a quick post from me today, but I wanted to share this article I came across on Facebook earlier this week about Tim Tebow. The writer makes the point that if other football players and fans were to mock Tim Tebow's religious actions on and off the field if he were of another, less mainstream religion, there would be major consequences, apologies, and a lot of disapproval. It is politically incorrect to do so. Despite this, people feel free to mock and poke fun at Tim Tebow's showing of gratitude and faith on the field.
I think what this says about religious discourse in this country is fascinating--and all too true. Everyone has that "open-minded" friend who accepts any alternative lifestyle choice, but despises Christians or conservatives, or some other mainstream cultural point. The catch-22 of that being, of course, that this in opposition to their supposed "open minded" stance.
Tim Tebow, as the article points out, is merely demonstrating that one's faith (any faith) has space in any arena we choose to take it. We can give thanks for our blessings wherever we find them--and there are so many.
Religion in this country is tied closely to politics; understandably so, as the foundations of this nation and of many others around the world are built on various faith traditions and religions. As Americans take the plunge to extricate and separate religion from politics, government, and public spaces, it is definitely a delicate balance. This notion that all faith traditions can be celebrated and respected here is an admirable one, but there is still a lot of conversations that need to happen. I think one of these is the fact that we need to protect and respect all of these traditions--including those that are mainstream--no religion is above or below this boundary and ought to be sacred and respected by all.

--Megan