November 23, 2009
Remember Ian? My friend held an amazing fundraiser for him last March and there’s another one coming up in just a few weeks. San Diego locals, please do what you can to spread the word and support Ian! Also, if you click the picture/flyer below you can download/save a copy of the flyer to pass along. Thank you!
December 12th from 6pm-2am!
September 1, 2009
You can also click this picture to download it here. I highly recommend visiting CureSearch though for more information about Childhood Cancer. Every year, 12,500 children are diagnosed with cancer.
This month, I will recommit to the blogging journey that began last summer with Team In Training for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It is a cause near and dear to my heart. Come with me on the journey and spread the word. Together, let’s raise awareness. Let’s end Childhood Cancer.
March 31, 2009
Today was the first day of LIFE Week at the University of San Diego. Living. Is. For. Everyone. LIFE. Co-sponsored by Students For Life, University Ministry, Associated Students, Students for Peace, Women’s Center, Romero Center, Residential Life, and the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies LIFE Week is dedicated to bringing awareness to different life issues. Each day this week, in conjunction with LIFE Week I will be posting on the corresponding topic to the day.
I am not for sale. You are not for sale. No one should be for sale.
Author and co-founder of the Not For Sale Campaign, David Batstone, gave a multi-media presentation this evening. Musical artists Novice and Brant Christopher accented the presentation. I do not know if my words can represent the caliber of this evening, but I will try… and I will let the facts speak for themselves.
Today, March 30, 2009, there are 27 million people enslaved. Slavery, as defined by the U.S. Constitution’s 13th Amendment is “involuntary servitude.” Is this person free to leave? Has she been forced? Is he confined? Human trafficking generates $32 BILLION a year. There are 800,000-900,000 people bought and sold and 200,000 of those are in the United States. The vast majority of those being trafficked are women (80%) and 50% are children. One million individuals are bought and sold for sex.
These are a handful of statistics, but the numbers are overwhelming. In many ways, they are hard to grasp. For me, it is hard to imagine that slavery still exists in my backyard. It is not simply a matter of low wages or people being paid under the table (which isn’t to say that that is simple). It is also not a matter of employees being treated poorly and unjustly. It is slavery. It should have been eradicated long, long ago. But, it’s not gone. People are bought and sold. Can you imagine it? Think of your friends. Your family: your sisters, brothers, children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, mothers, aunts, and cousins. Your students. Your clients. Think of the people you know, especially the youth, and imagine others of the same age as slaves. Chained to sewing machines. Pleasing adults clients. Picking fruit. They are not paid and they cannot leave. They are a commodity to be bought and sold. Tell me it doesn’t make you sick.
Novice included in one of his songs the distinction that we care more about the soles on our shoes that the souls of people. We have the power within us to make that NOT TRUE. There are many ways that we can get involved.
WORK Differently
Check out FREE2WORK. If you are a business of one, 10, 50, 500, or more… become a part of FREE2WORK. If you are an individual, consider whether the places you go are free. For example, when you’re planning an event, check to see that the restaurant or venue you are choosing has committed to be slave-free.
BUY Differently
If 20% of consumers shopped differently, it would make an impact on the way companies did business. Imagine instead of 1 in 5 shoppers though, if 2 or 3 or 100% of shoppers demanded ethics and slave-free items available for purchase. Not For Sale is currently running a chocolate campaign… if you can commit to purchasing slave-free chocolate, it will make a difference. You may wonder, but how will it make a difference? You can print a “proof of non-purchase” to distribute to locations that do not carry slave-free chocolate.
PLAY Differently
Still not sure how you can help? What do YOU like to do? Do you play soccer? Run? Play music? Swim? Ice skate? What if you made a pledge to donate to Not For Sale … whether it be $5 every time you run five miles or a nickel every time you make a basket or $50 for every time you play a certain song. You make the choice. How do you play? All kids should be free to play.
RELATE Differently
We need to relate differently and if we work, buy, and play differently… we will relate differently. We have the power to make a difference. We can end slavery. We can be a part of the change. As Brant Christopher sang, “this too shall be made right.” Let’s pray that we can make it right sooner rather than later. If we pay attention, listen, learn, share, fight, believe… we can re-abolish slavery. Human trafficking can come to an end.
I bought Batstone’s book Not For Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade—and How We Can Fight It tonight after his presentation, so this definitely won’t be the last you’ll hear on this. I was told the book might “ruin” me. As if the presentation didn’t? It did and I’m glad. I hope the book does too. My understanding on slavery and human trafficking was deepened in unbelievable ways this evening and I will continue to raise awareness and do the best I can to fight slavery. I will stand up as an abolitionist to re-abolish slavery.
What will you do?
March 26, 2009
As an alum, I try to do my part and publicize the events going on at USD… particularly for the organizations I was involved in as a student. This evening, I present the schedule for the 4th Annual LIFE Week hosted by Students for Life. LIFE Week will begin on Monday, March 30th.
Click To View and Download
March 12, 2009
For the next four days, you can GET 30% off your purchase at Gap, Banana Republic, & Old Navy and they will GIVE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 5% of your purchase. It starts today (March 12th) and goes through the weekend.
Shop to fight cancer! Print your coupon here and use it as many times in the next for days as you want! Everyone wins… you get those new summer clothes, Gap gets sales, and LLS benefits to research for cancer!
March 4, 2009
Dear and Darling Readers, Friends, and Family,
My friend Maria is an Occupational Therapist here in San Diego and she is currently providing therapy for a little boy named Ian. She’s holding a fundraiser for Ian on March 28th, 2009 in San Diego. I know there is a good chance that many of you are thinking, “Another fundraiser?! Girl, we are not made of money.” But, I would like to encourage you to read Ian’s story. I ask that you click these photo links at the bottom of this post and read what Maria has written. I ask that you read the article from the Union Tribune about the accident and Ian’s parents. I ask that you consider what you can do… be it donation, attendance, prayer, donation at his website, or SPREADING THE WORD.
I never in a million years would have expected that I could have raised the $4500+ that I raised last summer for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Most people heard me say, “I’m crazy, but I’m going to try. I’m going to tri.” I even said it in my original letter! It was unbelievably difficult, but I did it with the help of others. Your donations added up and made a HUGE difference. Your donations and support impacted my life, but more importantly, they made an impact on the Society’s efforts to help those that are fighting the real fight.
Now, we can come together again to help this little boy get the therapy and treatment he needs to have a better quality of life… the therapy and treatment he needs to one day walk and SURF again. We can help. YOU can help.
Spread the word. Share this link… and download the files below and share them directly. READ his story (I’ll also be adding a link to his site in the blogroll on the side).
Thank you.
March 2, 2009
As a TNT alum, I still get emails weekly about fundraisers and other events taking place in the San Diego area… I wanted to pass the following information along from a message I received today.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is sponsoring a blood drive on Tuesday, March 24th (see below for more details).
The email also states:
We are also hosting a drive for the Bone Marrow Registry in conjunction with the Blood Drive. This is a totally non-invasive procedure; it just takes a cheek swab to register. You may call 619-400-8268 if you have any questions about the Bone Marrow Registry process.
You may qualify to be a marrow or blood stem cell donor if you:
• Are between the ages of 18 and 60
• Have no history of asthma, cancer, diabetes, neck or back problems, heart or circulatory disease
• Are within 20% of the ideal weight for your height and age set by the NMDP®
• Are willing to donate to anyone who needs a transplant
I’ve copied the location and registration information from the email and posted it below, if you able, please consider attending. If you are unable to attend this particular drive, please be aware that there are blood banks all over the United States and most accept walk-ins or have appointments available. Consider being a blood donor. Also, even if you cannot attend this drive, you can become a registered bone marrow donor in other ways as well.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Parking Lot
9150 Chesapeake Dr
San Diego,CA 92123
3/24/2009
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Sponsor Code: TLLS
Click here to make an appointment.
Please call 1-800-4MY-SDBB if you have any questions about being a life-giving blood donor.
February 5, 2009
Ava Rosemeyer - Superprincess Angel
On the two year anniversary of Ava’s passing, let us be reminded of her beauty, her life, and the legacy she has left. Be cautious in and around cars. Advise children on what to do if they become locked in a car. Remember her and pray for her family today. Read and print this postcard that they created of Ava’s Rule … share it with others.
January 29, 2009
My cousin, an elementary school teacher in my home county, forwarded along an email to me today. The issues presented in the email were issues that I am all too familiar with as I also have a roommate with a Masters in Education, friends that are teachers, and a sister currently studying to become a teacher. In my quest to use this blog to bring awareness to causes close to my heart, I told my cousin I’d put the email here. As I don’t know the author of the email personally, I’m going to highlight portions of it in italics. My own commentary will continue in normal type. It is necessary that we prevent California’s politicians from:
Undermining Class Size Reduction by offering full flexibility on categorical programs.
—The governor’s proposal for complete and permanent “flexible” use of all state categorical funds would allow local districts to eliminate the state’s successful Class Size Reduction program and won’t save the state one dime. Eliminating CSR is a giant step backward for our kids and will hurt ethnic minority and low-income students the most. Giving students individual attention is not possible when there are 40 students to every teacher. Teachers, parents and students get it. Why can’t our lawmakers? “Flexibility” means no accountability and no guarantee that education money will be spent in the classroom
As a former public school student in the state of California, I can attest to the problems with having 40+ students per teacher. The law that reduced class sizes didn’t come into effect until I was far beyond elementary school and the law does not extend to secondary school. As a high school student, I often felt like just another number in the herd of cattle going from class to class. Our classes were over crowded and often times there were classes without enough desks for the students. By the end of the first semester, my sister’s own Spanish teacher DID NOT know her name. While I personally think crowded classes aren’t an excuse, they certainly are a contributing factor.
Illegally manipulating Prop. 98 (the minimum school funding law) so the state will never pay back more than $7 billion owed to our schools.
Honestly, I’m not too familiar with Prop. 98. So, feel free to Google it. Let me know what you find.
Cutting $10.8 billion from schools and colleges over the next 18 months.
This is disasterous. I know so many people that are praying to keep their jobs and so many more that are trying to find jobs. People with credentials, Masters, and certificates to teach bilingual education that CANNOT FIND JOBS teaching in California. We NEED them. The STUDENTS need them. And as my sister works towards her own degree at a public college in California, these cuts mean higher tuition, fees, and other possible setbacks. I know that at one point her school was seriously considering closing because of costs.
They could be voting on these destructive measures any day now, since the governor and Legislature are required to reach a budget solution by February 2, 2009. This deadline was set when the governor called a special session under the Proposition 58 rule.
Step One
CALL YOUR ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND YOUR STATE SENATOR
USING CTA’S “CUTS HURT” HOTLINE: 1-888-268-4334
Tell your legislator to fund our schools, uphold Prop. 98, and protect the Class Size Reduction program.
If you’d rather e-mail your state leaders, click here.
Step Two
CALL YOUR U.S. SENATORS
1-800-294-9811
Tell them to make sure they include funding for our public schools and community colleges in any Economic Stimulus package.
If you’d rather e-mail your congressional leaders, click here.
Thank you for lending your voice to the fight for our students and public schools. To find out more about the state budget crisis and what CTA is doing to advocate for more funding visit www.cta.org.
David A. Sanchez
CTA President
Please pass this information along. Please call, email, whatever it takes. The State of California is supposed to be working in our best interest. This is clearly not in our best interest.
January 29, 2009
I read a lot of blogs. No, really, I read a lot of blogs. I love reading about how other people are living their lives and learning about lifestyles so different from my own. I believe we are all connected as people and reading these stories gives me perspective and strengthens those connections.
Tonight, as I opened my Google Reader, I saw the above photo link. I clicked it and have read a number of entries and plan to read more. Please click it and read Tuesday’s story as well. Pray for Tuesday and her family. I’ll be adding a link to the right in the Blogroll as well.
