helpin' the little guy

Realizing I was one of the few people of color involved in OYFP, I thought about posting a nice and sassy entry on race/ethnicity and politics in light of recent comments and controversies both local (Diane Wilkerson) and national (John Mccain). But I decided I, myself, needed a little respite from the heated, intense discussions surrounding this issue.

So, here's some good news:

Not only do you get to "fall back" and sleep on extra hour this weekend (thank you, Daylight Savings, and sorry, Indiana, for this thorn in your side.), you also give your little ticker an edge. Swedish researchers have analyzed data from the past twenty years and found that the number of heart attacks dropped on the Monday following Daylight Savings (Interestingly enough, the number of heart attacks rose the week after clocks were moved forward an hour in spring!).

I'm happy to hear that. 'Cause Lord knows, after Tuesday's election, my chance of having a heart attack just might increase, and that little guy will need all the help he can get (my heart, that is)!

takin' off her pants...

So if you've been wondering why it's been relatively quiet on the Miss Sassy-Pants front, it's because she's been pretty busy getting ready to exchange those pants for a dress. Yup, Miss is becoming Mrs. in just a few weeks. Yikes.

I did, however, want to take a moment to throw a quick shout out to Bridal Garden in New York. Why am I talking about a bridal boutique in a blog for non-profits and volunteerism? Whoa, Nelly, slow down there. It's a-comin' (Can you tell I'm heading back to the great Republic of Texas for the nups?).

I don't remember where or when I first read about this organization, but I'm glad to have learned about it. Bridal Garden is New York City's ONLY non-profit bridal boutique.

How does that work? Well, various stores and designers have donated their sample dresses to Bridal Garden, which then sells them at ridiculously discounted rates (some up to 75%!!) to benefit New York city kids. They also have headpieces and veils for sale as well. Don't be fooled by what appears to be a dingy, small space. In their one-room venue, they carry hundreds of designer and couture dresses from over 60 designers, and the inventory changes daily.

Want to check them out? Bridal Garden is by appointment ONLY so make sure you call before you head over. And just in case you forgot, they're located in New York City, so if you don't have a car, check out the boltbus or other cheap options to get over there while saving gas and the environment (you know how OYFP is loves behavin' green).

Only one question remains: Did Miss Sassy-Pants find her gown here?

You betcha. For less than $500 and in about 45 minutes! I'd upload a picture of the actual gown, but it's presently in Texas gettin' altered (and I also have no idea how to do that anyway!). But I'll take one when I get down there and send it to Casey, who is beautiful and fabulous with all that website internet stuff.

So, come August, when I walk down that aisle, I know I'll feel like a *million* bucks. No, not because of the gown or the fake lashes, but because I'll know that my purchase won't make some rich designer even wealthier. It will help students at the Brooklyn Charter School in the Bedford Stuyvesant area of New York City receive the best education they can get. Now, that's sassy.

Hopefully this will be Hannah and her honey on their
wedding day - feelin' like a million bucks!

Related Posts: Bringing Sexy Back~; Spring Cleaning, part deux; Clean out your closet for a good cause
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Dery photography.

the deal of a lifetime [volunteer opportunity]

So budgets are tight and pennies are gettin' pinched, but it doesn't mean you have to put giving on hold... Listen up, kiddos, for a FREE (that's right, F-R-E-E) way to help some families out.

On Saturday, June 14th, OYFP and Christopher's Haven are hosting a Volunteer Work Day from 11AM-4PM. Christopher's Haven provides temporary housing for families who are here in Boston because their children are receiving cancer treatment at Mass General Hospital.

The organization has just acquired a new apartment to open up to another family, but they need help setting it up. Tasks include opening boxes, setting up the new kitchen, assembling IKEA furniture, and maybe even walking around the block to pick up menus from nearby restaurants and shops.

And did I mention that a PIZZA lunch will be provided? How can you beat that? Good times with OYFPers (who have been known to bust out and let loose on several occasions!) AND pizza AND a chance to create a warm, welcoming home for a family in need of some care ALL AT NO COST TO YOU.

So whatcha' waitin' for?! Sign up today by contacting Hannah Kim at hannah.kim@oyfp.org

Related posts: Pick our new partner; We Rocked; Salsa one step at a time

All photos are from the ChristophersHaven.org website, and are of families staying with Christopher's Haven while their kids get treatment for brain cancer.

bringing sexy back~

i've never been one for "fashion." in fact, i'd probably be a prime candidate for "what not to wear" since stacy and clinton cringe anytime they hear someone say she dresses for comfort.

well, guess who's a (comfortable) fashionista now?!

apparently, social issues, volunteering, and blogging about social issues and volunteering is the hip new thing. kenneth cole has begun the AWEARNESS blog, which is a blog that "provides daily updates under four socially-aware pillars of discussion: Social Rights, Well-Being, Political Landscape and Hard Times [and] hopes to raise awareness around the issues that fall under these four areas in a dynamic and engaging format."

The blog also features "Q&As, original content from Kenneth Cole himself and contributions from staff members of Kenneth Cole Productions."

you can also contribute to the AWEARNESS fund, which is a not-for-profit established by Kenneth Cole, by purchasing an AWEARNESS t-shirt. the non-profit currently helps fund amfAR, the Foundation for AIDs research, and Help USA, which provides homes, jobs, and services for america's homeless.

so, who knew you could look so good just by bettering the world around you?! what are you waiting for? fashion doesn't get any easier or more comfortable than this!

(of course, if you've met the rest of the oyfp crew, you already knew that caring is sexy!) ;)

after you're done perusing the awearness blog, make sure you scoot on over to the Best of Blogs site and vote for the Volunteer Boston Blog as the Best Hobby Blog.

Images taken from the Awearness blog and Awearness site.

Food Crisis - Get on the Seoul Train

Let's stick around the Asian continent for a bit..

In the past ten years, approximately 3 million North Koreans have died from a food crisis and other persecutions committed by their government. As a matter of survival, about 250,000 North Koreans have escaped to China - only to live in worse conditions there. Some women are subjected to lives as prostitutes or as brides to Chinese farmers. Men end up working as farmhands or living homeless in the woods, while children become homeless street kids.

If the North Koreans are are caught in China, the Chinese Government arrests and send these refugees back to North Korea (hundreds each month), directly violating international laws under which China is held liable as a member of the UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees). Defecting from North Korea is a capital offense, and these repatriated refugees endure such abuses as concentration camps, torture, forced abortion, and executions.

Seoul Train* is a documentary aimed at raising awareness of the plight of these North Koreans and their only hope - an underground railroad reminiscent of those from the histories of America and Nazi Germany. Harvard's Asian Pacific American Society will be showing this documentary tonight, Friday, May 2nd at 5PM in Larsen G08 (on the campus of Harvard Graduate School of Education).

To find out more info about the film, the dire situation facing North Koreans and North Korean refugees, and how you can get involved, check out www.seoultrain.com.

*fyi: Seoul is the capital city of SOUTH Korea. Since the armistice ending the Korean war, only about 6,000 North Koreans actually have found freedom in the south. Most North Koreans travel via the underground railroad over thousands of kilometers of Chinese territory and head to Mongolia or Southeast Asia.


Photo courtesy of Eric Lafforgue.

move your bloomin'... *ahem* true ladies don't swear.

it's hard enough to find a place up here that does country fried steak right, let alone find a way to join in on the festivities of the Kentucky Derby!

but don't pack those white gloves just yet! don on those puppies along with your widest-brimmed hat and head on over to the Italian Home's "Derby Day Boston" at the Harvard Club Downtown, an event being held on Saturday, May 3rd, 2008 from 4 to 8PM.

the ticket price may be steep, but the views of the harbor and the city as well as the mint juleps will make it all worthwhile - not to mention, the proceeds will benefit the programs and services provided by the Italian Home.

For more details or to purchase tickets, contact Alicia Chick at aliciachick@italianhome.org or call 617.524.3116 ext. 349.

OH, and if you mention OYFP, you can get a discounted ticket ($200 each, which is $50 off the original price!)

so, all you people born north of the mason-dixon line, start practicing that southern drawl and ask a georgia peach how to tilt your hat just so! and my fellow southerners out there, let's show these yankees what the kentucky derby is all about~ (we'll work on the country fried steak another day).

*ps. mention Derby Day Boston at Toppers on the Common and receive 10% off your purchase!

You could look as fashionable as this fine fellow!

Photo of the lady courtesy of KentuckyDerby.
Photo of the gentleman courtesy of LR Monkeytoes.

World Autism Day in BostonNOW

A snippet from Hannah's blog post on World Autism Day (which is today, btw) was featured on page 6 of April 2's BostonNOW.


Congrats, Hannah! I'll see you at KO Prime tonight! Oh wait, I have floor hockey... I don't know that running around like a chicken with your head cut off is a good idea after eating a luxurious steak dinner...

world autism day: boston

good morning, folks.

did you realize that 1 in 150 children (and 1 in 94 boys) are unable to say "good morning" without intervention because of autism?

tomorrow, april 2nd, is the very first world autism awareness day. according to autismspeaks.org:

"On December 18, 2007 the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 62/139 declaring April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) in perpetuity. This UN resolution is one of only three official disease-specific United Nations Days and will bring the world's attention to autism, a pervasive disorder that affects tens of millions.

The World Autism Awareness Day resolution encourages all Member States to take measures to raise awareness about autism throughout society and to encourage early diagnosis and early intervention. It further expresses deep concern at the prevalence and high rate of autism in children in all regions of the world and the consequent developmental challenges."

for those of you who have read my entries before, you know children with autism and their families hold a very special place in my heart. and with more and more children being affected by this disease every year, more than likely you personally will know someone who is impacted by it.

here are some more tidbits of info from www.worldautismawarenessday.org:

• Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the world
• More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with diabetes, cancer, & AIDS combined
• Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
• There is no medical detection or cure for autism, but early diagnosis and intervention improve outcomes
• Autism does not discriminate by geography, class, or ethnicity

so, you rightly ask, "what can i do?"

firstly, get edumacated. check out www.worldautismawarenessday.org and www.autismspeaks.org. talk with people in the field of education as well as in hospitals. find families impacted by autism and learn how their lives are affected by it.

then, get involved. here in massachusetts, there are two specific ways you can get on your feet for autism:

The LADDERS program in Boston, MA is organizing a movie screening of "Mozart and Whale" on April 2 based on the biography of Jerry Newport at the Belmont Movie Theater (376 Trapelo Road in Belmont, MA). The movie will be followed by a panel discussion that includes: Dr. Margaret Bauman, Child Neurologist, Director of LADDERS; Stephen Shore, Ed.D, author of "Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome;" and Sheldon Wagner, Ph.D, Behavioral Psychologist. The film will begin at 7 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, April 2.

Also, in celebration of World Autism Awareness Day, chefs from around the country have agreed to help raise awareness and funds for autism by promotions and events on April 2. In Boston, Chef Ken Oringer from KO Prime is participating, and this special benefit dinner will begin at 7:00 pm. For reservations or more information, please call 617-772-0202 or visit their website. KO Prime is located within the Nine Zero Hotel at 90 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

so, there you go. get edumacated. get involved. get on your feet.

image courtesy of www.sabrihakim.com

Bigfoot Seen in Charles River...?

i always knew i lived in a unique place. i used to think it was because boston was such an intellectual hub of bright minds and motivated, impassioned people. now i find out we gots dirty water and bigfoot, too!

okay, not really, but here are two cool ways to get involved locally to keep boston the funky town it is:

"Dirty Water":
The Charles River Watershed Association has been working to protect the health and beauty of the Charles River since 1965. They will be holding their 26^th Annual Run of the Charles Canoe & Kayak Race, which takes place on the Charles River in Boston, MA. They are looking for volunteers who would like to spend a great day helping 1,500 paddlers enjoy this historic river.

Volunteer tasks include check-in/registration, set-up, boat number spotting, safety, and clean-up, and experienced canoeists/kayakers are also needed to follow racers on the river as “sweep” boats. Please contact Meg Schermerhorn or Sally Berkowitz at (508) 698-6810, rotc@crwa.org, or visit www.crwa.org.


"Bigfoot"
826 boston is the 7th branch of author dave eggers' non-profit (826 national) which started with 826 valencia in california. they are dedicated to helping students from the ages of 6 to 18 develop their expository and creative writing skills.

in order to raise funds, inspire creativity, and advertise their programs to each local community, most of the writing centers include a street-front retail store filled with unusual products, entertaining signage, and their books for sale. in boston, it's the greater boston big foot research institute. as they prepare for the grand opening of this store front, they're looking for volunteers to do various tasks:

1) Product Assembly
Help us bag monoculars, label piasa bird talons, and tie leather tags onto camo vests. Reply to info@826boston.org if you are able to come for any part of the following times to 826 Boston:
Thursday, March 27, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 29, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Monday, March 31, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

2) Publicity Pick-Up
Our lovely intern, Katie, will be at the Tam, 222 Tremont St. (right at the Boylston T Stop), from 3:00-5:30 p.m. on this Friday, March 28, with posters, postcards, and other promotional materials. Swing by, grab some promotional materials, have a pint, and then flyer the town with the lovely NASSR postcard (which is also downloadable from our website). Katie will be the one with the GBBRI T-Shirt on.

3) Events & Fundraising Team Meeting
Help us pin down the logistics leading up to April 12, organize and assign tasks, and plan additional fundraising opportunities for that day & night. Reply to info@826boston.org if you are able to attend the meeting on Thursday, April 3, 6:00 p.m. at 826 Boston.

*casey inevitably will find some nice pictures to accompany with this post! she's an internet superstar (you know what i mean. keep it clean, people, keep it clean.)

Photo numero uno is courtesy of http://www.waterwatchonline.org/ma/.
Photo numero dos is courtesy of some random site posted on berkeley.edu.

"champions" of a cause

i stand corrected... sort of.

professional athletes have been the source of many a (heated) discussion for me. i just can't accept the fact that these sports "stars" make such exorbitant amounts of money but don't give back to their communities to the extent that they are able.

for example, i have always thought, "how cool would it be if the superbowl champions chose *not* to get superbowl rings and *instead* donated that money to charity? how big of an impact would that make?"

then, i find out that the colts did something with a few of their rings - they held a raffle for five superbowl rings in hopes of raising $1 million. not nearly the impact they could have made if they donated *all* their rings (apparently, the nfl fronts $5000 per ring for up to 150 rings, and the teams make up the rest. recent superbowl rings have been appraised for about $20,000, which means 150 of them amount to $3 million.) but it was something nonetheless.

furthermore, the red sox and patriots aim to do quite a bit in the boston area (in fact, we're raffling off a baseball signed by youkilis at our next concert event on april 10th), and i read that the celtics and bruins are looking to increase their giving as well. but when i think about what these individual players could be doing, especially when they get signed to multi-million dollar contracts, i feel the heat rise up within me.

according to fox sports, the patriots make $122,890,313 as a team. if they gave just 10% of that (i mean, i can't ask for more than god himself asks for, right?), imagine how many families impacted by AIDS might find hope or how many families would have clean water or how many cancer patients could find a cure... i imagine it sometimes and then force myself think about all the good (no matter how disproportionate) the players and teams do in order to remain positive.

but here we are, all these non-profits, thinking about and searching for ways to get people involved and committed to a cause. we strategize to get joe-schmoes to volunteer, donate, and remain connected to their communities. and while these "average" members of society try to better the world in which we all live, these so-called superstars dump a few pennies into the proverbial bucket without a second thought and call it an act of charity.

now i don't mean to forget or ignore the individuals and teams who might be doing more (and if you know of any, please comment because i certainly would be encouraged by any and all such stories), but how often have you heard of a player say, "i only need $50,000 to live comfortably. i'll give the rest of my salary for this one year to autism research."?

random post, i guess. but something i've been chewing on for quite some time, especially in this time of recession fears and so many families becoming homeless. and although i will admit that professional athletes and teams are doing *something,* i won't concede that it's enough. and please, don't even get me started on hollywood...

10,000 Reasons to Buy...

i'm sure many of you have heard about, passed by or even shopped in a store called ten thousand villages. if you've never heard of this store, listen up 'cause you're in for a treat.

ten thousand villages is a company whose inception was inspired by mahatma gandhi's following quote: “…India is not to be found in its few cities but in the 700,000 villages…we have hardly ever paused to inquire if these folks get sufficient to eat and clothe themselves with.”

the company extrapolated from those words their guiding principle: "each village in the world represents a unique, distinctive people…offering extraordinary products born of their rich cultures and traditions."

as one of the largest fair trade organizations in north america, this company brings in the work of artisans from over 30 countries in asia, africa, latin america and the middle east to the US. they maintain long, nurturing relationships with these individuals and offer them not only a means to live but also dignity.

ten thousand villages stores has partnered with the national coalition against domestic violence, and during the month of march, they are celebrating international women's day by hosting community shopping benefits for local domestic violence prevention agencies and shelters near the 80+ store locations throughout the country. during these events, ten thousand villages will donate a percentage of purchases to the local agency to help provide needed services, all in a concerted effort to build a global community of empowered women.

there are over 160 ten thousand villages stores across the counry, and there are three stores in massachusetts. i know budgets are tight, and pennies are being pinched, but they have items in a wide price range, so maybe you'll scrounge under those couch cushions and come up with a few dollars to impact the village in which you live. (but if you still don't think you can spare even just a few dollars, let me be the blunt woman i am and tell ya: we *are* the richest amongst all the villages.)

besides, we all deserve to live with a little dignity wherever we are, no? (although sometimes oyfp members push it a side for a little while - for a stinkin' good reason, of course!) ;)

Everyone needs a little handmade Peruvian wool vicuna love in their lives.
Yes, vicuna. They're related to alpacas and llamas.

i like to move it, move it~

alright, party peoples. get your moneymakers ready.

this wednesday, february 13th, from 8-10PM OYFP will be hosting "Bring the Latin Heat" at An Tua Nua on behalf of Christopher's Haven (a home for kids when cancer hits home). you'll get a free salsa lesson, free apps, and a chance to go buckwild for kids (ain't nuthin' sexier than someone gettin' down and dirty for little ones~).

tickets are $15 when purchased in advance online or $20 at the door (but let me strongly encourage you to sign up early since we won't be gettin' them stimulus package checks for a few months, and a penny saved is a penny earned. thank you, mama kim).

so, to recap: this wednesday, february 13th at An Tua Nua. get your tickets here. oh, and stretch before you come. who knows? you may move and groove so well, your moneymaker will become a lovemaker ;) (is that too risque for a non-profit blog?)

mic check! one, two, one, two~

youtube has taken the world by storm... and by storm, we mean the perfect nor'easter. you can't escape it. i even know of a church that used the site to sponsor a homemade video contest about one of their events. but aside from some laughs, gasps of "are you serious?" and maybe an occasional video to raise awareness for a cause, youtube's contribution to humanity is limited in scope and depth (unless i'm completely unaware, which is not an unlikely possibility).

enter "five for fighting" and their newly created video community. it's the first one to "give back" because they believe that "we are all connected to one another through our actions [and] each person has the ability to make a difference."

you simply create a video that answers the question, "what kind of world do you want?" and for each hit, the site will donate $1.00 to specific charities (there is a limit, but they also take general donations, and 90% of those donations go directly to the charities).

so, bust out that gel, lacquer up those lips, and put on your snazziest threads. you're up next. what kind of world do you want?

heart to heart

children with autism hold a special place in my heart, and presently 1 in 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism. it's more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined.

i can't say i've listened to this band (five for fighting) or have even heard of them, but i'll gladly pass on the link to their video because they're donating $1.00 to Autism Speaks each time it's viewed. the funding will go towards research studies to learn more about autism. when you get a moment, please visit the link below to watch the video, and spread the word to your friends and family. they're aiming for 10,000 hits (meaning $10,000 for autism research), but let's help them surpass this goal. watch the video already!

speaking of hearts, 1 in 3 women gets heart disease, and it is the number 1 killer of women. "Go Red for Women" is the nationwide movement of the American Heart Association to raise awareness about the risk of heart disease and to mobilize women to "fight back."

on friday, february 1st, AHA sponsors "national wear red day," and on that day (which is tomorrow) if you wear red to Macy's, you will receive an all-day savings pass for an extra 15% off apparel and accessories. or, if red isn't your color, you can make a $2 donation to the AHA's "go red for women" movement in the accessories department and receive a red dress pin and an all-day savings pass as well.

What are you waiting for? Get on your feet, and make sure you're wearing red!

Eyes Wide Shut

you'd be surprised by the range of skills teachers are asked to teach to their students. for example, yesterday, while walking down the hall with my class after lunch, i had to explain to a child that when you walk, you've got to walk with your eyes open.

but then, i got to thinking (i know, dangerous). the other day, liz posted about creating non-profits that instill a sense of community in its "consumers" in hopes of not simply recruiting them but also retaining them. while i agree that non-profits must transform donors, volunteers, members, and similar interested parties into "champions of the cause" for sustained success, i also wonder how effectively non-profits can penetrate deeply embedded principles of consumerism (as well as other life-structuring ideologies)...

repeatedly, we bemoan the seemingly high ticket prices of events which are being held to benefit populations that are disenfranchised, marginalized and frequently forgotten by the sane, healthy and (more often than not) unintentionally oblivious rest of the world. but then we don't question dropping easily $50 for dinner or an even heftier sum for a night of fleeting inebriated revelry (or maybe we actually did question but then answered with a resounding opening of the wallet).

we even go so far as to offer our money in a concerted effort to save a small business seized by the government in response to unpaid back taxes because we "care about having a city that is filled with more than global chains" and "[support] an enriched urban life" (check out the front page of the cambridge chronicle for more info about that doozy.).

i'm certainly not saying people don't have the right to spend their money in whichever manner they wish, and i'm definitely not saying i'm not guilty of unbalanced spending either (heck, my whole life is a little helter-skelter).

but i do wonder... have we truly matured beyond my six-year-old student? are we walking with our eyes open? 'cause if we were, i'm sure we'd be spending our time, money, and lives much more differently when we saw what, or more importantly who, was around us. we may even become those long-term, committed "champions of a cause" (and who doesn't want to be a champion?!).