Letter of “Congratulations” to Del. Tiffany Alston
Welcome to another installment of Hands and Feet highlighting folks on the ground and in the trenches, fighting for their families and communities. Prudence Juris and I have only been friends for a short while, but in that time I have learned many valuable lessons, the most important being about patience. She recently penned this [...]
World Refugee Day 2010 – Crisis on the Horizon….
Tomorrow is World Refugee Day, a day on which we are called to remember the tens of millions of people around the world who have been displaced, forced to flee their home amidst ethnic, religious or political conflict! Many remain displaced for years, even decades or generations, without an opportunity to safely return to their [...]
Facing Deportation – Stand with Julio and Denis
I recently posted about the impending deportation of Julio Maldonado and Denis Calderon after being falsely prosecuted for defending themselves against a racially-motivated attack. I recently received the below email from Dave Bennion of Citizen Orange which he received from the families. Join me tomorrow at a community meeting and rally for Julio and Denis! [...]
Crosspost – Swirl Standing with Atlanta's LGBT Community
This is crossposted fromthe SwirlBlog: From time to time we are compelled to stand up for what is right and condemn what is wrong. Swirl is a committed ally of the LGBT community. Therefore we felt compelled to voice our outrage about the recent Atlanta Police Department raid of the Atlanta Eagle, a long-standing LGBT [...]
Act Now! Stand with Atlanta’s LGBT Community
Update: Come out on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at the Atlanta Eagle for a conversation with the new Atlanta PD LGBTÂ Liaison, Brian Sharp, and staff of the Atlanta Eagle to answer questions about the continuing developments of the 2009 raid and the ways in which the Atlanta police department is working to reshape their interactions [...]
IdeaCamp Here I Come
After heading out to Philly Sips with ABC Pastor otherwise known as LT, I decided that I would make an appearance at IdeaCamp DC. IdeaCamp is one of several unconferences that have ignited throughout the country – a grass roots movement if you will. The DC edition will focus on cultivating relationships, providing technical assistance [...]
New Chapter for New Beginnings
A passionate advocate, a “pesky” reporter and a few blog posts, and the Bensalem Township School Board decided to “reconsider” it’s ruling to cut the New Beginnings Program at Bensalem High School. The trade off – 700 service hours in the upcoming fiscal year instead of 1000. I learned something new today about Patti’s program. [...]
"New Beginnings" at Risk
As many of you know, I have been attending The Well in Feasterville, PA, since January of this year. While my transition from the Orthodox Church to an evangelical Protestant church has been challenging at times, I have begin to make some connections that are important to me. The people at The Well are what [...]
Fragments of Life Converge…..
When I was working in the corporate sector, I held a series of jobs. Strung together they constructed a fairly successful career. Yet, there was always something missing. I always ended my day feeling unfulfilled and drained. Never did I feel like I was making a positive impact on someone’s life. In fact, I often [...]
International Women's Day 2009
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY! Please take this time to remember the incredible women in your life and those that paved the way before you! I could not have asked for a more perfect day! I started my day in fellowship at The Well and then participating in the IWD 2009 Conference in Center City, Philadelphia. [...]
Say What?
This current election makes me wish I could vote. Unfortunately I am not a citizen. Although I have had my green card for almost two decades, and am eligible to file the Certificate of Citizenship (as opposed to the traditional naturalization process), I have always chosen to remain a German citizen. Under no circumstances will [...]
Blackface Alive & Well in Germany (and elsewhere in the world)
A Slant Truth and a post on BlackGermans recently reported on two incarnations of blackface in pop culture – one in Kansas and another in Germany. Spiegel Online recently ran an article about German Dollmaker, Marcel Offermann, and his newest creating – a blackface Barack Obama doll. This stereotypical depiction yet again illustrates the way [...]
Literary Activism Reincarnate: ChangeMakers/ChangeBloggers Initiative – Coming to Your Town!
I was eight years old when Rushdie published The Satantic Verses and when Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini unleashed his retaliatory fatwa firestorm throughout the Muslim world. I read The Satanic Verses when I was in high school, and have since re-read it at different points in my life. The themes he addresses in the novel – [...]
STAND UP – Day of Blogging for Community Organizing Justice
The Francis L. Holland Blog: Day of Blogging for Community Organizing Justice: “I Am a Community Organizer” I support the Day of Blogging for Community Organizing Justice: “I Am a Community Organizer”, and I support this initiative. I, along with hundreds of other Community Organizers will come together and blog on the topic on Monday, [...]
