Restoring Shepherd Parkway

Some of the volunteers cleaning up the park.

In the Congress Heights area of our nation's capitol sits an urban park, which contains the remains of the earthwork fortifications of two forts, which were built as defensive bulwarks during the Civil War. Although it is home to a variety of wildlife, this park has the distinction of being the most polluted in DC, since it is littered with garbage and has become home to many invasive species.

The Congress Heights area has certainly had its share of urban neglect, especially after WWII, but development dollars have been sent in its direction in recent years. This is the same area into which Nathan Harrington, who teaches at Moten Elementary School, decided to move. By the way Nathan also is involved as a tour guide, gardener, and community activist.



Nathan says about his home purchase, "I purchased a modest home in Congress Heights to share with friends. Part of my intention in choosing to live there was to challenge the deeply engrained racial and geographic division of Washington, DC."

It wasn't long before CONGRESS HEIGHTS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION came calling. That's when he became chair of the project to RESTORE SHEPHERD PARKWAY. The majority of the work so far has been in educating the community about what has happened to the parkway, along with ambitious plans to restore it to the point that it would include a three-mile system of hiking trails, actually in this park at the south end of DC.

A winter scene that shows the beauty of the parkway.

But much work is needed before that can happen. There is that trash that needs to be removed. The project has actually moved to the trash removal stage. With the help of the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, which oversees this city park, a schedule of trash removal events has been posted on their website. Both the blog for the Shepherd Parkway restoration and their facebook page solicit volunteers to help with the clean-up, after the door-to-door engagement process that led the way to community engagement. Of course, the project does accept monetary donations, too, on their blog pages.

Some of the trash that was removed from the parkway.

Thanks to this article from Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/nathan-harrington-restore-shepherd-parkway.

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His Father's Patrol Car

Deputy Sam Brownlee's patrol car.

Back in November of 2010 Weld County Sheriff's Deputy Sam Brownlee was involved in a high speed chase with a male suspect. When the man became involved in an altercation with officers, he grabbed Deputy Brownlee's gun and shot him three times, killing him. Deputy Brownlee died in the line of duty that day, leaving two sons, Tanner, 15 years old at the time, and Chase, then age 16.

Both Tanner and Chase retained a few mementos that continue to remind them of their father, such as his old motorcycle jacket. Tanner said, "Just everything I can get means a lot to me."



And so, years later, came the day that the Sheriff's Office was to auction off the patrol car that Sam Brownlee had driven during his patrols. The money raised through this auction raises goes to fund Concerns of Police Survivors, a group that helps the family members of fallen officers, just like the Brownlees.

Deputy Brownlee's patrol car was one of very few that had been assigned specifically to one deputy. And Deputy Brownlee took his responsibility seriously, making sure it was in good repair, having it checked whenever something wasn't quite right with it, washing and even buffing it up to a shine. Both of his sons were well aware that their father's patrol car meant quite a lot to him.

The brothers had managed to raise over $3300, so that Tanner could make a bid and maybe even buy the old patrol Dodge Charger. Its book value was listed at $12,500 in mint condition, so the young men thought they had a chance.

It was raining outside, so the auction was held inside. Close to the time that the bidding began, Tanner put in their bid, but the bids climbed much higher than they could afford to offer. They were consoling themselves with the thought that at least they had had a chance and were able to offer a bid.

Finally the hammer came down, and the winning bid of $60,000 was announced. Steve Wells, a local rancher, had made the winning bid and he went up to receive the keys to the patrol car. But instead of returning to his seat, he walked over to Tanner and gave him the keys. It turned out that, even though Steve had never met Deputy Brownlee's sons, he had bid for the car in order to do what he just did - hand the keys to Deputy Brownlee's sons. And Steve never said anything about why he did what he did.

Tanner Brownlee with his dad's patrol car - and the keys.

As for Tanner? He's quite happy that he has this huge memento from his dad, a patrol car on which his father lavished so much care. Tanner said, "This is just so huge. I mean, me and my dad built a fence and stuff, but having something I can use and drive around, it just means a lot." I'm sure his dad, Deputy Brownlee, is smiling down on the sons who have been so lucky to receive such a cherished remembrance of their father and the work he loved.

Steve Wells (in hat) hugging Tanner Brownlee.

Thanks to this article from the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/05/14/the-unexpected-twist-after-son-of-fallen-deputy-is-outbid-for-his-late-fathers-cruiser/.

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Sanitary Napkins

Promoting the project for education about menstruation.

There are some things that those of us in developed countries take for granted. We have products that help women to continue normal, everyday activities when we menstruate. But that can be lacking in less developed countries, severely affecting the ability of women and girls to participate fully in daily activities.

Back in 2008, Sylvia Biira, who was teaching at a school in western Uganda, noticed that many girls would be absent from classes for four to five days each month. As she thought, she realized that the girls were missing classes on days of menstruation because they had no sanitary protection. In Uganda, these products are very expensive and considered a luxury, especially for the majority of families, who can't afford them.



In addition, there is the tradition that considers menstruation to be taboo, a time that limits women and girls from circulating in the community. Given those limitations, many girls were missing out on a significant portion of their education.

So, Sylvia got together with Samuel Ndungo, the director of the LUHWAHWA YOUTH FOUNDATION, to see if they could develop a solution. Together, they developed the Menstrual Health Management Project. Previously, girls and women had been improvising to make somewhat absorbent pads from various materials that weren't too effective and sometimes led them to develop urinary tract infections (UTIs). So, the challenge was great!

This solution involved education of community members on basic sanitation, including the use of soap for handwashing. Something as basic as soap had to be made, so that was included in the education. Then came education about menstration, with the assistance of IRISE INTERNATIONAL. And AFRIPADS provided very inexpensive menstrual pads through yearly supplies in the form of kits. That enabled members of the community to make more absorbent menstrual pads from better materials. This has become one more way to make sure women and girls can participate more fully in society and get the entire education they deserve.

Utilizing materials in the kits to make menstral pads is a project for both men and women.

Thanks to this article from Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/sylvia-biira-samuel-ndungo-subsidizing-locally-made-reusable-sanitary-pads-help-testing-evaluation-wider-community/; and the above links.

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A Different Kind Of Interactive Book

The pre-published book already in the hands of children.

Everyone knows that most books are made from paper and that paper comes from trees. The process is not as simple as that; chemicals are usually added; there are different types of paper; and paper can even come from recycled paper. But you get the idea.

Introducing a small publishing company in Buenos Aires, Argentina, PEQUENO EDITOR. The company works with illustrators and writers to produce a small selection of children's books in Spanish. As experience has sometimes shown, small companies can be big innovators.



Anne Decis, an experienced French illustrator, and Gustis, one of Argentina's best-known illustrators, collaborated in this project. For the resulting book, "Mi Papa Estuvo en la Salva", or "My Dad Was In The Jungle", Gustis told the story, based on his experiences in the jungle, while Anne did the illustrations. The story is told from a child's point of view and takes children on a reality-based trip through the Ecuadorian jungle.

So, what is unique about this book? First, it was made with biodegradable ink, printed on recycled paper, which is itself environmentally friendly. PAPELERA PALERMO, also based in Argentina, provided the special paper for the project. You see, what is really special about the book is that native tree seeds have been embedded in the paper. Then the pages of the book are bound together with a hand-stitched binding.

But that's not the only thing. The book is interactive in an ecologically friendly way. Once the child has finished however many readings of the book he/she desires, that book can be planted in the ground to grow a tree. And that becomes it's own story and learning experience.

When the seed book is planted and nourished properly, the circle of life gets completed. The child sees the beginning of a book, any book, as the seed grows into a seedling, and as the child grows and ages, the seedling becomes a tree, the very beginning of the process to become a book, filled with ideas. What could be more reality-based than a real-life experience? No, the book is not yet for sale, even in Argentina, but the project is coming closer to that eventuality. Even when it goes on the market, it will only be available in Argentina, and then as this little publishing company grows, like a tree, it can become available in other parts of the world. And that's the circle of life, too.

A book signing on behalf of the small publisher that could - think big.

Thanks to this article from Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/11/plantable-book-tree_n_7244060.html?utm_hp_ref=good-news.

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A Serving Of Customer Service

Ridge helping his special customer with her meal.

Jim Schroeder, general manager at the QDOBA restaurant on Hurstbourne Parkway in Louisville, employs a particular philosophy in running his business.  He says, "It's not about making people's food. It's about what kind of positive impact can I have on somebody else's day." Certainly, that is a wonderful philosophy to adopt in running a business, especially when employees take it to heart.

That's certainly the case of Jim's employees. His restaurant has one special customer, who doesn't get out and about all that frequently. She has some disabilities, so when she gets out on the TARC bus, she makes sure to stop in at her favorite restaurant. In order to make it through the front door, she has to wait until someone notices her presence and can help her. On this day, it was Dr. David Jones, who said, "We helped her get in because she was out in the parking lot so we helped her get in." He was the one who filmed what happened next.



It was Ridge Quarles who took this young woman's order. He continues the story, "She didn't get out of her house very often, but whenever she did, she always told me, 'Ridge, this is my most favorite place to eat.'...By now, she's actually been in so many times that we know what she likes to ear."

It was the same that she had ordered previously, taco salad with hot sauce and cheese for lunch, a burrito with hot sauce and cheese for dinner. Ridge said, "I had helped her through [the] line and sat her out in the lobby, got her a drink, got her utensils and napkin and kind of started to walk off and I was like, you know, 'Is there anything else I can help you with?' and she turned around and she was like, 'Sir, if you don't mind could you help me eat?'"

Ridge knew just what to do. He put on a pair of gloves and helped his customer to eat. When so many others would have walked away, why did Ridge help her? Said Ridge, "I mean, she needs help and if I wasn't going to do it, no one was. Who else is going to do it?"

Ridge certainly impressed Dr. Jones, the videographer of this scene. As he said, "It seems to me that if everybody in the world would just use the simple gift that they have to maybe benefit somebody else, think what the world would be like."

And it's not as if Ridge's kind act would cost the business very much. In, fact, it is probable that it would have the opposite effect, especially for Dr. Jones, who said, "I said, I don't know, I think I'll just send it [the video] out to some of my friends and say 'there's still some good people in the world.'" And you bet when they've seen the video, they'll notice the name of the restaurant, whose employee has a heart of gold.

Ridge Quarles at Qdoba.

Thanks to this article from WAVE3 News: http://www.wave3.com/story/29032820/tonight-at-6-restaurant-customer-records-random-act-of-kindness.

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Entrepreneurial Deterrence Of Human Trafficking

From Spring Festival fund-raising event.

It wasn't so long ago that Ty Diringer graduated from Oberlin College. Even as a student, he was already on his way to making a mark in the world. You see, he's on a mission to end human trafficking.

While in college, he became a DALAI LAMA FELLOW, where he launched Kenya Reads, which helps students in that country obtain an education. Later, as a LAUNCHU/CREATIVITY & LEADERSHIP ENTREPRENEURSHIP FELLOW, he launched PROJECT UNBOUND, which was designed to support small entrepreneur projects to address reducing and eliminating human trafficking.



Mr. Diringer, although a recent graduate, has experience in designing entrepreneurial projects, working with nonprofits, and also with political campaigns. He and his Project Unbound co-founder, ALYSSA PHELPS, need their skills in publicity and organizing to raise the funds needed to provide small grants. Ms. Phelps has brought her skills in spirituality and her interest in other cultures to offer added dimension to the enterprise. She graduates this year from Oberlin.

Basically, Project Unbound provides seed grants of $30 to small profit-making enterprises that will help draw people into the movement to eliminate human trafficking. In addition, the organization serves as an education conduit, providing training in business models and the various aspects of human trafficking, which has also been conceptualized as current-day slavery. Frequently, victims find themselves enslaved through exploitation. These are frequently poor people, who are looking for ways to better themselves, but end up stuck in this dark underworld, from which they have difficulty emerging without some external assistance.

Eventually, the organization has plans to extend from its start at Oberlin to other colleges. The founders hope to raise additional funds to sponsor competitions between colleges in fund-raising efforts and unique ways to work on solving some of the issues that keep human trafficking in existence.

One of Project Unbound's collaborating organizations at the Spring Festival.

Thanks to this article from Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/ty-diringer-project-unbound/; and the above links.

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What Is Friendship?

Hand-in-hand, in friendship.

Writers and authors not only look at words, but utilize them with a purpose in mind, frequently to tell a story that is deeper than one could ever tell with a picture. Fictional characters speak their thoughts in words, as do average human beings. Words can tell about reality or create a whole, fantastic, imagined world.

Philosopher and poet DAVID WHYTE chose 52 ordinary words to discuss in short essays, that became his book, Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning Of Everyday Words, published this year. His essays explore the many dimensions of each word, bringing the reader to a fuller and richer sense of the many ways that word can be used. One of those words is friendship.



So, what does Mr. Whyte have to say about friendship? According to him, "Friendship is a mirror to presence and a testament to forgiveness. Friendship not only helps us see ourselves through another's eyes, but can be sustained over the years only with someone who has repeatedly forgiven us for our trespasses as we must find it in ourselves to forgive them in turn. A friend knows our difficulties and shadows and remains in sight, a companion to our vulnerabilities more than our triumphs, when we are under the strange illusion we do not need them. An undercurrent of real friendship is a blessing exactly because its elemental form is rediscovered again and again through understanding and mercy. All friendships of any length are based on a continued, mutual forgiveness. Without tolerance and mercy all friendships die."

Friends know our internal feelings, sometimes much more than the parents who begot us. Parents have a notion of who they want us to become, but not necessarily our friends. There is an acceptance of who we are, in all our beauty and with all of our flaws. Here's Mr. Whyte again, "In the course of the years a close friendship will always reveal the shadow in the other as much as ourselves, to remain friends we must know the other and their difficulties and even their sins and encourage the best in them, not through critique, but through addressing the better part of them, the leading creative edge of their incarnation, thus subtly discouraging what makes them smaller, less generous, less of themselves."

Friendship requires an ongoing commitment, an ongoing contribution, an expenditure of energy, over a length of time. As David says, "The dynamic of friendship is almost always underestimated as a constant force in human life: a diminishing circle of friends is the first terrible diagnostic of a life in deep trouble: of overwork, of too much emphasis on a professional identity, of forgetting who will be there when our armored personalities run into the inevitable natural disasters and vulnerabilities found in even the most average existences."

How many times, we, as humans, refer to our friendships and how they have sustained us throughout our lives! The intermingling of relationships is part of our human condition, maybe as vital as the water we must have to sustain life. As Mr. Whyte writes, "[T]he ultimate touchstone of friendship is not improvement, neither of the other or of the self, the ultimate touchstone is witness, the privilege of having been seen by someone and the equal privilege of being granted the sight of the essence of another, to have walked with them and to have believed in them, and sometimes just to have accompanied them for however brief a span, on a journey impossible to accomplish alone." That is the human condition - to need that emotional accompaniment, making the journey through life with, rather than without.

Thanks to this article from Daily Good: http://www.dailygood.org/story/1059/david-whyte-on-the-true-meaning-of-friendship-love-and-heartbreak-maria-popova/.

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