Dear Boise, Dear World Yesterday I spent the evening embracing the wind and the dark gray clouds that came in over my city as the sun fell. Camel's Back Park sits nestled tightly against the foothills at the North End of Boise. The park is named rightly so. The hilly landscape takes a sudden climb and features several steep humps and bumps where park goers can hike, walk, and stroll up the trail, then be overlooking the entire city of Boise.
Standing there I looked at my city, our city, the city of Boise. "The City of Trees" as it's coined has a population of a little over 200,000 residents. From the steepest part of the Camel's Back we watched. Children playing frisbee, a group of volley ballers enjoying the last bit of sun and the several dog walkers and joggers that peppered the sidewalks. I watched.
It was inspiring.
It's inspiring because it's my city, it's your city, it's our city. There you could see the neighborhoods, the houses, the businesses, the capitol; a set of small distinct versions of skyscrapers and of course, The People. It's inspiring because we own it. As people and as Boise residents we decide what happens. It starts with us. It's our duty to get to know our neighbors, be aware of the issues that affect us, and to be involved in the social change that helps.
Dear Boise, it is us as citizens and residents of this city to do something, to act, to change things that hinder our improvement or our development of being a finer city and the change we want to see. It starts with us.
To give a population ratio, Boise is only 1/40,000th of the world's population. How minuscule is Boise compared to the rest of the World? Yet, whatever influence we have here will affect the World. Whatever change we make in Boise is a change we make in the World. It starts with us Boise.
Dear World, No matter how small or how insignificant the difference you make, like wildfire it will spread and effect an immeasurable amount of lives for generations to come. Each and every one of you are capable of it. No matter the city, the community, the state or the nation, a change you make in your community, is a change you make in the World.
Dear Boise, Dear World, act for the change you want to see. Define the change you desire and strive for it, yearn for it as passionately as you can, and let no boundaries or obstacles stand in your way. We are part of our own community, we are a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the people on this planet, yet we are capable of so much. Dear Boise, Dear World serve, inspire and act.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Create Common Good with music Good Life by One Republic
Here are a few clips and audio bits from my recent trip to CreateCommonGood a non-profit organization that trains and skills refugees in the Culinary arts. All footage was taken with my IPAD so this is not official film footage, just a few bits and pieces with a little audio. These guys are freaking awesome!!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Create Common Good: the Kitchen
After the Farm I headed to the Create Common Good Kitchen which helped newly immigrated refugees learn cooking skills, english proficiency, and american cultural immersion through a culinary arts class. It seemed interesting, yet I had no idea how profound my experience would be...
When I arrived at the kitchen, it was all smiles and the room was full of energy. Brent the Director of Culinary Training and the class instructor, was charming and spoke intelligently with his enchanting Australian accent. Originally from New Zealand and then Brisbane, Australia he gained extensive culinary and international experience with five-star hotels and restaurants. What an amazing and tremendous spirit he brings to CCG, I thought.
He greeted me promptly introducing me to the kitchen full of student refugees. I was immediately impressed with the amount of enthusiasm everyone had; laughing, playing and their contagious smiles. There were more than a half-dozen students from all over the world from Eritrea to the Congo, from the US and beyond. Several plates sat out on the stainless steel counter with freshly heaping scoops of rice pilaf. The kitchen smelled rich and flavorful as one of the students began telling me the ingredients of the main dish; an Asian stir fry with a variety of peppers and greens.
Brent and I had a brief but meaningful discussion of the program that was unfolding before my eyes. Brent personally teaches and instructs the students in not only the culinary arts, but proper nutrition, and english conversational skills as well. I asked for examples of his methods and he explained further.
The day before he taught the group how to examine a whole chicken and plan for meals accordingly. He taught a nutritional lesson, as well a responsible sustainability aspect by preventing wasteful cooking tactics. This structure of teaching helps the students not only succeed on a professional culinary level, but also allows them to function as independent individuals capable of supporting themselves and their families.
As we gathered at a long dining table in the neighboring room, Brent led us in prayer. It was perfect, and at that moment I realized how beneficial this program was to the students. These students of CCG received educational, vocational, and spiritual guidance all delivered in one lesson.
As we sat and ate I learned more about Brent and the divine intervention which brought him to Boise. Brent described his "calling to serve" the refugee community, and through a series of chance interconnections it was made possible. Brent trusted in something that was more than himself which led him to a phenomenal and meaningful project.
I look forward to spending more time with them in the coming weeks. As a native Australian, Brent is truly a remarkable individual who answers his calling to serve in a country thousands of miles away. His love for the international community, his passion for the disadvantaged, and his ability to touch and change lives make him the epitome of a true Global Citizen.
When I arrived at the kitchen, it was all smiles and the room was full of energy. Brent the Director of Culinary Training and the class instructor, was charming and spoke intelligently with his enchanting Australian accent. Originally from New Zealand and then Brisbane, Australia he gained extensive culinary and international experience with five-star hotels and restaurants. What an amazing and tremendous spirit he brings to CCG, I thought.
He greeted me promptly introducing me to the kitchen full of student refugees. I was immediately impressed with the amount of enthusiasm everyone had; laughing, playing and their contagious smiles. There were more than a half-dozen students from all over the world from Eritrea to the Congo, from the US and beyond. Several plates sat out on the stainless steel counter with freshly heaping scoops of rice pilaf. The kitchen smelled rich and flavorful as one of the students began telling me the ingredients of the main dish; an Asian stir fry with a variety of peppers and greens.
Brent and I had a brief but meaningful discussion of the program that was unfolding before my eyes. Brent personally teaches and instructs the students in not only the culinary arts, but proper nutrition, and english conversational skills as well. I asked for examples of his methods and he explained further.
The day before he taught the group how to examine a whole chicken and plan for meals accordingly. He taught a nutritional lesson, as well a responsible sustainability aspect by preventing wasteful cooking tactics. This structure of teaching helps the students not only succeed on a professional culinary level, but also allows them to function as independent individuals capable of supporting themselves and their families.
As we gathered at a long dining table in the neighboring room, Brent led us in prayer. It was perfect, and at that moment I realized how beneficial this program was to the students. These students of CCG received educational, vocational, and spiritual guidance all delivered in one lesson.
As we sat and ate I learned more about Brent and the divine intervention which brought him to Boise. Brent described his "calling to serve" the refugee community, and through a series of chance interconnections it was made possible. Brent trusted in something that was more than himself which led him to a phenomenal and meaningful project.
I look forward to spending more time with them in the coming weeks. As a native Australian, Brent is truly a remarkable individual who answers his calling to serve in a country thousands of miles away. His love for the international community, his passion for the disadvantaged, and his ability to touch and change lives make him the epitome of a true Global Citizen.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Create Common Good: the Farm
Create Common Good's farm and outreach program sits nestled just inside Surprise Valley which is just below the ridge line of the Boise Bench. The Boise Bench is a tremendous symbol and significant geographic trademark of Boise as it outlines and boundaries the ancient Great Snake River plains. As we approached our destination the sharp May sun poked over the Idaho mountains and onto the lush green of this area known as Surprise Valley.
After recent days of rain and moisture the trees were vibrant with green and color, and colorfully outlining our drive. We pulled into the farm just as the crew started unloading with their shovels and tools. Two workers began pulling at a system of flexible irrigation pipe preparing to soak the dozens and dozens of newly planted produce rows.
Tyler the director of farm sales, outreach and food operations waved us in as he directed some of the workers. We met him within the field lightly treading between the dirt rows and careful not to disturb the new sprouts. He explained to us the workers were foreign refugees mostly from Bhutan and one from the Congo.
Create Common Good was established to employ local refugees as well as provided the job training to function in the American work environment. The on-the-job training provides newly immigrated refugees with english skills as well as professional etiquette while also delivering wages and food to support their family.
As I saw the refugees work the field planting and working the soil with their shovels I noticed the traffic that drove by. I wondered if the people driving by had any idea of the tremendous story each one of them had.
We were introduced to Devi, a Bhutanese refugee who escaped Bhutan only to endure the harsh conditions of a Nepalese refugee camp. His wife and children moved to Boise nearly 4 years ago to help start Common Good. Devi was experienced and educated in sustainable agrarian farming, received his masters by a University in India before the conflict in Bhutan forced his family to flee.
Devi spoke modestly of his story, talking quietly while he patiently observed his crew tend the farmland. He knew a wide variety of organic agrarian methods. A compost pile sat in the back of the farm as he told me tricks of the trade that help keep their farm chemical and pesticide free.
Devi and Tyler both walked me through the farm explaining the variety of vegetables and fruits they expected to harvest. Tyler also explained how they depended on a volunteer base to keep things moving smoothly. Devi told me that due to cuts in grants and funding they were unable to employ as many refugees as years before. Years prior they had nearly two dozen refugees employed by the farm, yet this year they could only afford six.
Overall I learned a lot my first day with them. After meeting the entire crew and observing everything we loaded up and headed to the Kitchen.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Like a Warm Rain
She said it was like a warm rain. Today, as the rain falls here in Boise I am reminded of a missionary I once met who described a trip she took to serve in Haiti. She shared with me a story of an incredibly hot summer and a deeply personal experience that felt so intimate it has always resonated inside of me; so intimate and so touching it is what I think about anytime I see or feel the rain..
She described the summer days in Haiti as hot, a hot many of us are not capable of understanding. An unbearable hot, a hot that burns and a hot that created a thirst that no drink of water could quench. It was like an unrelenting sun, a harsh humidity, that left her arms and shoulder reddened and burnt. She told me that at the end of the hottest week she had ever experienced the clouds rolled in and a warm rain poured over the village. She said as the warm rain drenched her she stood there absorbing the warm rain, staring up to the sky smiling. She told me this in a visually descriptive way, as she physically began petting her face; her palms imitating the rain and describing the warm rain as it poured over her hair, down to her burnt shoulders and arms. She said this warm rain was so soothing, so comforting she had never felt the Grace and Love of her Higher power than those moments she stood under that warm warm rain.
She continued to tell me that Love and Grace should feel like a warm rain in the hottest part of summer. We should let it wash over us, drown out our ill feelings of the tribulations we struggle with. She said there was no other way to physically describe that Love over us; it's just like a warm rain quenching every thirst, satisfying every emotional need, soothing the burns of the hot days we face.
No matter what your struggles, what your issues, what your burns are caused from, there is always Love like that; there is always that Love that is ready to be embraced and experienced, a Love that can comfort you, sooth you, and heal the burns caused by any emotional battles or feelings of hate you may have; a Love like a warm rain.
She described the summer days in Haiti as hot, a hot many of us are not capable of understanding. An unbearable hot, a hot that burns and a hot that created a thirst that no drink of water could quench. It was like an unrelenting sun, a harsh humidity, that left her arms and shoulder reddened and burnt. She told me that at the end of the hottest week she had ever experienced the clouds rolled in and a warm rain poured over the village. She said as the warm rain drenched her she stood there absorbing the warm rain, staring up to the sky smiling. She told me this in a visually descriptive way, as she physically began petting her face; her palms imitating the rain and describing the warm rain as it poured over her hair, down to her burnt shoulders and arms. She said this warm rain was so soothing, so comforting she had never felt the Grace and Love of her Higher power than those moments she stood under that warm warm rain.
She continued to tell me that Love and Grace should feel like a warm rain in the hottest part of summer. We should let it wash over us, drown out our ill feelings of the tribulations we struggle with. She said there was no other way to physically describe that Love over us; it's just like a warm rain quenching every thirst, satisfying every emotional need, soothing the burns of the hot days we face.
No matter what your struggles, what your issues, what your burns are caused from, there is always Love like that; there is always that Love that is ready to be embraced and experienced, a Love that can comfort you, sooth you, and heal the burns caused by any emotional battles or feelings of hate you may have; a Love like a warm rain.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
The Project Proposal
The Story
Every person has a calling. Some people are called to help those in need, locally and globally. Global Citizen is the story of a man's journey as he seeks to understand those individuals who sacrifice everything to serve the oppressed, the poor, and the disadvantaged. While narrating the production through a daily journal and video blog Gabe will travel to three tormented regions of the world and meet the individuals who attempt to help. He will assist in the day to day chores they typically do, observe how they live, how they interact with friends and family members back home, how they spend their free time, and their motivations to live the life of a Global Citizen and the goals they have for their future.
Follow his journey to the most desolate villages deep in the African Jungle where he will assist in the daily chores of running a refugee camp. Watch as he joins in the aid and construction of a hospital and orphanage in Haiti. Learn from their stories as he makes an emotional connection with the individuals responsible for running a New York City rescue mission. Transform your heart and spirit as you take this life changing discovery of finding your own calling to serve, inspire, act in any capacity your heart calls you to do. Look inside yourself and determine your own destiny and become a Global Citizen.
Storyline
Our story starts in a New York City inner city project, that has been long known for it's poverty, crime, and marginalization. The host will meet those responsible for helping keep the project running. We will spend quality one-on-one time with a few individuals who truly define the character of a Global Citizen. The host will interview these individuals during the normal activities that keep the project running ie; cooking, cleaning, preparing food, going out to the street, meeting the disadvantaged etc. Through a set of conversations we will discover what purpose drives these individuals to serve and act.. We will also spend time with the individuals who have been influenced by their organization and how their life has been changed and impacted. We will meet the people who have been affected, and meet the people who still need desperate help.
Our story will dramatically change as we step off the plane in Haiti where the recent devastating tragic earthquake has left this nation-state in a constant condition of reconstruction. A small passenger aircraft will transport us to the far end of the country to a village that heavily relies on foreign aid and support. It is a relatively small town, where an orphanage and hospital are under remodel. Like NYC we will learn from the epitome of Global Citizens as they show me around, teaching me and the audience the history, culture, and political infrastructure of the area. I will delve into their very being, and search for the purpose and drive that calls them to serve. I will see what it takes to live abroad; the transition, communication with family, technology, culture barriers etc. Similar to NYC we will meet those affected and those whose life has changed as a result of these Global Citizens.
The third pillar of our story climaxes in the heart of Africa, in a country riddled by poverty, disease and civil war; the Democratic Republic of Congo. This war torn country is brittled by the lack of governmental institution and relies significantly on outside aid and humanitarianism. A small aircraft will transport us into one of the most desolate parts of this tropical nation during the wettest season of the year. We will abruptly adjust to the conditions foreign to us; the culture, the poverty, the conflict, the lack of public knowledge.
As Gabe adjusts to the harsh living conditions the Congolese are faced with, this will become the most heartfelt portion of our story as he creates the most powerful emotional connection of the film with the Global Citizens responsible and the audience. The audience will discover the commonality between all of these amazing and inspiring individuals who sacrifice all and receive nothing to make this world a better place. We will finally discover what it takes to be a Global Citizen, and how any person can live a meaningful and substantial life through contributing to society in any form, local or foreign, near or far. This is the story of finding a person's calling to serve, to inspire and to act, locally and globally.
Every person has a calling. Some people are called to help those in need, locally and globally. Global Citizen is the story of a man's journey as he seeks to understand those individuals who sacrifice everything to serve the oppressed, the poor, and the disadvantaged. While narrating the production through a daily journal and video blog Gabe will travel to three tormented regions of the world and meet the individuals who attempt to help. He will assist in the day to day chores they typically do, observe how they live, how they interact with friends and family members back home, how they spend their free time, and their motivations to live the life of a Global Citizen and the goals they have for their future.
Follow his journey to the most desolate villages deep in the African Jungle where he will assist in the daily chores of running a refugee camp. Watch as he joins in the aid and construction of a hospital and orphanage in Haiti. Learn from their stories as he makes an emotional connection with the individuals responsible for running a New York City rescue mission. Transform your heart and spirit as you take this life changing discovery of finding your own calling to serve, inspire, act in any capacity your heart calls you to do. Look inside yourself and determine your own destiny and become a Global Citizen.
Storyline
Our story starts in a New York City inner city project, that has been long known for it's poverty, crime, and marginalization. The host will meet those responsible for helping keep the project running. We will spend quality one-on-one time with a few individuals who truly define the character of a Global Citizen. The host will interview these individuals during the normal activities that keep the project running ie; cooking, cleaning, preparing food, going out to the street, meeting the disadvantaged etc. Through a set of conversations we will discover what purpose drives these individuals to serve and act.. We will also spend time with the individuals who have been influenced by their organization and how their life has been changed and impacted. We will meet the people who have been affected, and meet the people who still need desperate help.
Our story will dramatically change as we step off the plane in Haiti where the recent devastating tragic earthquake has left this nation-state in a constant condition of reconstruction. A small passenger aircraft will transport us to the far end of the country to a village that heavily relies on foreign aid and support. It is a relatively small town, where an orphanage and hospital are under remodel. Like NYC we will learn from the epitome of Global Citizens as they show me around, teaching me and the audience the history, culture, and political infrastructure of the area. I will delve into their very being, and search for the purpose and drive that calls them to serve. I will see what it takes to live abroad; the transition, communication with family, technology, culture barriers etc. Similar to NYC we will meet those affected and those whose life has changed as a result of these Global Citizens.
The third pillar of our story climaxes in the heart of Africa, in a country riddled by poverty, disease and civil war; the Democratic Republic of Congo. This war torn country is brittled by the lack of governmental institution and relies significantly on outside aid and humanitarianism. A small aircraft will transport us into one of the most desolate parts of this tropical nation during the wettest season of the year. We will abruptly adjust to the conditions foreign to us; the culture, the poverty, the conflict, the lack of public knowledge.
As Gabe adjusts to the harsh living conditions the Congolese are faced with, this will become the most heartfelt portion of our story as he creates the most powerful emotional connection of the film with the Global Citizens responsible and the audience. The audience will discover the commonality between all of these amazing and inspiring individuals who sacrifice all and receive nothing to make this world a better place. We will finally discover what it takes to be a Global Citizen, and how any person can live a meaningful and substantial life through contributing to society in any form, local or foreign, near or far. This is the story of finding a person's calling to serve, to inspire and to act, locally and globally.
Dr. Ashis Brahma on Global Citizenship
African Spring 48: What is a global citizen?
Kampala, Uganda, April 19, 2012
Mr Gabe is asking himself and plenty others the following question: “What is a global citizen?” One of Mr. Gabe’s conclusions is the passion to serve. To follow up on that thought he is aiming to make a documentary in three places around the world: Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti and an inner city in the United States. Here he will be serving in construction, education or any other role he can in smaller and bigger projects. These short working visits will be filmed and made into a documentary on what drives people to serve humanity. Does that make them global citizens?
To me there are many ways to define a ‘global citizen’. I would say the following components give you a good chance of becoming someone who engages fully by truly connecting on a multitude of levels to others around the globe:
1. A sense of humor about yourself, your culture and the amazing (tragi)-comedy that this world is. A smile opens many doors and is the key to the heart and soul of the ‘other’ .
2. An ability to listen, observe, smell, feel, taste and learn at all times. The senses can put the cerebrum in place preferring the inner voice and heart.
3. An openness of mind will lead to a natural connection, dialogue and therefore deeper communication.
4. The patience to be, just you in the sea of unknown so it can become known.
5. An acceptance that we are sometimes solitary beings, but most team players.
6. A flexibility to accept and initiate change
7. Multilingual skills will reduce confusion in understanding
8. A will and the skills to lead
9. A love of art, nature and humanity
10. A willingness to lead by serving
Two people I would like to write about to as examples of global citizens. Those sources of inspiration show that country of origin, gender, race or age are of the least importance.
The first person is Dr Dickson Ssenoga, Ugandan physician, husband to Liz, father of a brace of kids, founder of a private health clinic, an NGO and an orphanage. Crossing borders to aid in South Sudan from time to time. His passions are taking care and improving life of people living with HIV/AIDS in his ancestral home of Mubende/Mityana, near Kampala. For that for the last 10 years he has worked hard to bring dozens of clean water systems (pumps, box springs) to his region. Personally visiting the houses of his community to bring the medicine, medical care and extra food, often funded from his own pocket. Then there is the orphanage where 20 kids live, who grow their own food on their plot of land, go to school together and live, love and learn as one family
The second is F.S. , when I met her in Minneapolis, Minnesota she was 8 years old. She had heard about the genocide in Darfur and started making arm bands to sell for the people in need. Raising over $1000 that was donated to the Genocide Intervention Network. Seeing her speak at an event with around 800 people was just inspiring. Her spirit radiating as she spoke of girls of her age that should not suffer.
We do not have to travel to be a global citizen. All that is required is a willingness to listen with an open heart and act. Think/feel global, act local, be glocal. Be a glocal citizen.
Namaskar,
Ashis
Thank you very much Ashis for your special blog. Please visit Dr. Brahma's personal blog @
http://www.africashispring.blogspot.com
Kampala, Uganda, April 19, 2012
Mr Gabe is asking himself and plenty others the following question: “What is a global citizen?” One of Mr. Gabe’s conclusions is the passion to serve. To follow up on that thought he is aiming to make a documentary in three places around the world: Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti and an inner city in the United States. Here he will be serving in construction, education or any other role he can in smaller and bigger projects. These short working visits will be filmed and made into a documentary on what drives people to serve humanity. Does that make them global citizens?
To me there are many ways to define a ‘global citizen’. I would say the following components give you a good chance of becoming someone who engages fully by truly connecting on a multitude of levels to others around the globe:
1. A sense of humor about yourself, your culture and the amazing (tragi)-comedy that this world is. A smile opens many doors and is the key to the heart and soul of the ‘other’ .
2. An ability to listen, observe, smell, feel, taste and learn at all times. The senses can put the cerebrum in place preferring the inner voice and heart.
3. An openness of mind will lead to a natural connection, dialogue and therefore deeper communication.
4. The patience to be, just you in the sea of unknown so it can become known.
5. An acceptance that we are sometimes solitary beings, but most team players.
6. A flexibility to accept and initiate change
7. Multilingual skills will reduce confusion in understanding
8. A will and the skills to lead
9. A love of art, nature and humanity
10. A willingness to lead by serving
Two people I would like to write about to as examples of global citizens. Those sources of inspiration show that country of origin, gender, race or age are of the least importance.
The first person is Dr Dickson Ssenoga, Ugandan physician, husband to Liz, father of a brace of kids, founder of a private health clinic, an NGO and an orphanage. Crossing borders to aid in South Sudan from time to time. His passions are taking care and improving life of people living with HIV/AIDS in his ancestral home of Mubende/Mityana, near Kampala. For that for the last 10 years he has worked hard to bring dozens of clean water systems (pumps, box springs) to his region. Personally visiting the houses of his community to bring the medicine, medical care and extra food, often funded from his own pocket. Then there is the orphanage where 20 kids live, who grow their own food on their plot of land, go to school together and live, love and learn as one family
The second is F.S. , when I met her in Minneapolis, Minnesota she was 8 years old. She had heard about the genocide in Darfur and started making arm bands to sell for the people in need. Raising over $1000 that was donated to the Genocide Intervention Network. Seeing her speak at an event with around 800 people was just inspiring. Her spirit radiating as she spoke of girls of her age that should not suffer.
We do not have to travel to be a global citizen. All that is required is a willingness to listen with an open heart and act. Think/feel global, act local, be glocal. Be a glocal citizen.
Namaskar,
Ashis
Thank you very much Ashis for your special blog. Please visit Dr. Brahma's personal blog @
http://www.africashispring.blogspot.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)