Nonprofit ReGeneration

Way to go Urban. Like Andrew Sullivan often says, ...

2009-12-08T14:17:31.106-05:00

Way to go Urban. Like Andrew Sullivan often says, citing facts like these will have an impact on most people, once the heated rhetoric is defused and people remember that we are talking about human beings with human needs. I really do think that most people who aren't yet on board with same-sex marriage would still be in favor of eliminating disparities like those noted below. It'll happen, even if change seems to be going at a snail's pace for now.

But Baltimore and Prince George's County are f...

2009-12-04T14:13:01.477-05:00

But Baltimore and Prince George's County are far from stellar examples of public school reform. Like DC, they both have quite a long way to go, even if they have tried to implement policies. I do disagree with the lack of real reform/action in DC. But I think there is value in seriously evaluating reforms before implementing them. A bigger mistake would be to jump into a reform with out a full understanding of its implications, and then the reform leaves you in the same place or worse off than before. DC, as do most urban public school systems, needs a large, coordinated, comprehensive reform plan.

-Tamica D.

JOHN BROWN WAS GANGSTA

2009-12-03T16:50:22.279-05:00

JOHN BROWN WAS GANGSTA

Thanks for posting this. I really liked it and wou...

2009-12-01T11:56:08.134-05:00

Thanks for posting this. I really liked it and wouldn't have found it otherwise!
Megan Brauner
www.HappyHealthyWellAdjustedAndPopular.blogspot.com

I love the topics you are covering here and I like...

2009-11-15T16:04:53.570-05:00

I love the topics you are covering here and I like your blog. It is a great idea and your content is very original and thought out.

Thank you for sharing.

I was surprised and disturbed that there was so li...

2009-10-30T20:14:08.067-04:00

I was surprised and disturbed that there was so little coverage of this!

I weighed in on this topic on my own blog. It is a...

2009-10-11T10:45:05.702-04:00

I weighed in on this topic on my own blog. It is a different perspective than Sonya and Tamara have to offer, but nonetheless interesting. Check it out at : www.youngflyeducated.blogspot.com

I'm torn on this one. Yes, I'm surprised. ...

2009-10-09T12:37:20.913-04:00

I'm torn on this one. Yes, I'm surprised. I can't put Obama in the same league as Mother Theresa and Nelson Mandela...yet. But I'm not going to hate on this decision either and cry about it being premature. In a short time, Obama has changed the tone of the conversation between America and the rest of the world. Even Obama said according to the WaPo, "To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize," But he said the peace prize has often been used "to give momentum to a set of causes."

In that spirit, I say, Congrats, Mr. President. (And repeal DADT)

Pilar is going to flatten me for saying this, but ...

2009-10-09T09:45:57.573-04:00

Pilar is going to flatten me for saying this, but I think it's fairly outrageous that President Obama was awarded this. And that's coming from someone who loves Obama. While the spirit of the award is right on, let's be honest about the fact that the US is still mired in two wars with no legitimate exit strategy. You don't award the Nobel prize for promoting an aura of peace, you award it for bringing peace. I don't doubt that Obama will get us there, but we're not there yet.

And by the way, can someone (ehem, Obama) repeal DADT already?

Regardless of the motivating factors (of which I t...

2009-10-02T09:48:23.337-04:00

Regardless of the motivating factors (of which I think there are many... both racist and political and economic and, and...let's not forget the "consequences," as Sonya brilliantly said. Wilson raised millions in campaign dollars after that outburst. He didn't have explain his point. He made it, and thousands rallied around. The bill in the Senate Financial Services Committee was substantially changed regarding undocumented immigrant access to health care, which if you run the numbers, actually may cost the system more since they will continue to use emergency services rather than preventative, regular care, which is CHEAPER. The insured will pay more in the end. But politics is politics, and Wilson was genius. Forget race, but consider who is going to win it.

I think the link between Wilson, Williams, and Wes...

2009-09-15T11:51:11.907-04:00

I think the link between Wilson, Williams, and West is dead-on, and David Brooks also noticed a seeming trend in his column in todays New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/opinion/15brooks.html?_r=1&ref=opinion).

And I absolutely think that Obama has an uphill battle with the South. But instead of focusing on Joe Wilson's existant or nonexistant issues with race, House Democrats would be supporting their leader best by dropping the push for additional apologies and adopting Obama's interest in passing healthcare policies with bipartisan support. Ongoing discussion about the outburst is simply counterproductive at this point.
-pilar

In light of Rep. Wilson's outburst, Serena Wil...

2009-09-15T11:28:09.267-04:00

In light of Rep. Wilson's outburst, Serena Williams's death threats to a line judge, and Kanye West's outrageous behaviour at the VMAs, I've been doing some serious thinking recently about social norms.

We can never really say what motivates people to do things "in the heat of the moment." What is more interesting is the reaction that spreads after such a clear violation of a social norm. How we (collectively) react says a lot more about who we are than the behavior of a single person.

While the VMA crowd booed Kanye West for the rest of the evening after he stole Taylor Swift's thunder (although some point to a racial undertone driving both the action and the reaction here as well), one can't help but wonder how a man shouting "you lie!" at the President of the United States should result in pride and endless t-shirt slogans.

On the other hand, no one in Congress may have shouted and pointed fingers at President Bush, but surely we can't name a president who was more roundly and widely raked over the coals at every opportunity.

Whether racism drove this incident or not, this surely won't be the last time President Obama has to demand respect from his opponents.

I actually think that Maureen is making a valid po...

2009-09-15T11:06:07.533-04:00

I actually think that Maureen is making a valid point. Although I did not think about it in the moment (I was too focused on the maternal look of consternation that came to Nancy Pelosi's face immediately), the South has a history that we (you and me) Northerners do not know well. Their is a Southern perspective that is pervasive and has remained unchanged in many ways for a hundred years-- just hidden from sight post-Civil War/Civil Rights federal and state policies. But legal writings do not change a culture and an attitude...and that world view inspired and allowed the South Carolina politician's outburst.

-pilar

I totally feel for you on this one. I've found...

2009-09-01T10:11:53.139-04:00

I totally feel for you on this one. I've found the trick with the Dupont market (because it is significantly larger than many other open markets in the city) is to take a deep breath and do a full lap through the market before making any purchases. Stands at the entry points of the market tend to be the most expensive and the general aura of sweaty chaos can propel the shopper to value speed above all else. I learned my lesson after dropping $9 on kale. Two weeks later after I worked me and my wallet out of that shame spiral I spend only $15 and got two full bags of organic, local goodies. It can be done.

I love that you posted this picture for two reason...

2009-08-22T15:23:00.416-04:00

I love that you posted this picture for two reasons 1) it's of Michael Jackson - the King of Pop and 2) I've seen it! It's in Hawai'i behind a small restaurant my friends and I just ate at this summer. Live on, Pop King, Live on! May your legend inspire us all in all we do!

I recently came across your blog and have been rea...

2009-08-17T03:22:25.303-04:00

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Margaret

http://grantfoundation.net

I was about to write a post about this, when I saw...

2009-07-22T13:14:21.853-04:00

I was about to write a post about this, when I saw that you beat me to the punch. At first I was irate-- incredulous that such a well-known academic could be subject to police action for a non-cause. However, as I thought about it, I got more frustrated because this incident hogs the headlines, but generates a feeling of incredulity in onlookers precisely because of Gates' fame-- and not because he is an average citizen experiencing an average encounter with law enforcement. I would prefer that news headlines focus on the more common events-- where low-income minorities regularly encounter law enforcement, and, when they are mistreated, are not given an apology by the city of Cambridge or coverage on CNN.

-pilar

I definitely see what you mean now, Kehinde. In th...

2009-07-12T22:28:04.551-04:00

I definitely see what you mean now, Kehinde. In that situation, I think I'd be inclined to explain things in the simplest way possible: basically by saying something along the lines of, "Well, honey, there are lots of ways that people try to make their families bigger. Some mommies need a little extra help, and are lucky enough to find someone to grow their babies for them until they're ready to meet them. Think of how special you are, to be able to have TWO mommies!"

It really is a sensitive subject, though, and I'm not sure I'd have the grace to explain it in a way that would convey just how selfless and wonderful the act of surrogacy is. =)

(Oh, and the boys are doing great! We just celebrated our toddler's 2nd birthday and had a blast. Kids are so much fun!)

Ihotu - I agree that the weakest part of the artic...

2009-07-12T21:36:13.416-04:00

Ihotu - I agree that the weakest part of the article was the "we are all African Americans" bit. I'm not quite ready to sing Kumbaya when half of the people in the US (or the West) don't know that Africa has 54 countries and that there is more to the continent than HIV and corruption.

I certainly think that Ghana should get some credit. It has instituted several mechanisms for accountability and growth. Of course it still has miles to go. Ghana has also benefited from debt forgiveness; many other African nations have not been as lucky (Liberia being a powerful exception). I guess one can ask where the initial debts came from (answers may include, but are not limited to, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, etc).

I agree that it remains to be seen how Ghana's oil will play a role in its future. Most of my Ghanaian friends are troubled because of the potential for the resource curse extending into Ghana. Although to be fair, they have had some success with gold and cocoa. We'll have to wait and see.

I hope when the story is told, it's by Ghanaians themselves and not by Sir Bono.

Tania, you are right. I did mean conception - I st...

2009-07-12T21:13:52.055-04:00

Tania, you are right. I did mean conception - I stand corrected.

Your two-year old may not ask you about his conception. However, if he had a surrogate mother who was in his life, he may be inclined to ask that question when at five - when he sees that many of his friends have two parents, but he has two parents and a mother.

PS: I hope your two adorable kids are doing well!

Kehinde, this is definitely an interesting article...

2009-07-12T18:07:18.539-04:00

Kehinde, this is definitely an interesting article. I think, given his audience, Bono does a good job. His aim is to "rebrand" Western views of the continent much like he believes Ghana is "rebranding" (by not screwing up) the sense of prosperity and good governance among Africans. He probably is changing many people's minds, which is important. I just find he doesn't tell the WHOLE story about corruption.

Obviously he's using broad brush strokes since yep there are a LOT of people and countries he describes very simply, and I think he's far too idealistic and kumbaya-ish with the African-American phrase at the end...however what stood out to me was the phrase: "Ghana is well governed." Also: "The country’s economy was growing at a good clip even before oil was found off the coast a few years ago." He's assuming that good governance and a strong economy is dependent entirely on factors within a country... productivity of workers, "honesty," civic participation, etc. He doesn't mention how much debt has been paid to wealthy countries (that will remain nameless) from struggling economies...money that might otherwise have gone into building stronger institutions and funding civil society organizations. He misses the fact that discovering oil in a country actually has less positive impact on its people, but is known by the UN as the "natural resource curse" that leads to back-door deals with importing countries and government officials suddenly swimming in Swiss bank accounts and further emboldened to ignore their constituencies. Look at Nigeria, Bolivia, and others.

I won't go on since obviously I am very passionate about this... but Bono's assertion that "we are all African-Americans" just proves his naivete. If we really were all looking out for one another's interests, Bono would be leaving the task of "fixing" Africa to a few lucky reformers who have had public success in their anti-corruption work. We are all in this together...so let's praise ALL that deserve praise, and criticize ALL that deserve criticism for contributing to corruption. We may find much of the finger pointing goes both ways.

I think the issue here is that "childbirth&qu...

2009-07-12T11:54:47.870-04:00

I think the issue here is that "childbirth" and "conception" are two different things. There are only two methods of childbirth - vaginal and Cesarean - whereas there are MANY forms of conception - natural, via IVF or IUI, surrogacy, etc. Factor in adoption, and it becomes clear that the real issue is explaining to our children the various methods that people use to expand their families - something that most kids don't wonder about until they're a little older and better able to understand certain concepts. I'm fairly certain, for example, that my 2-year old won't be asking me how he was conceived any time soon, just how he got here - via growth inside his mommy, and then surgery to help him out.

Hope that made sense... =)

hahah great post, Kehinde!

2009-07-09T14:31:34.528-04:00

hahah great post, Kehinde!

I think the ridiculously high expectations we deve...

2009-07-09T14:30:10.924-04:00

I think the ridiculously high expectations we developed during the presidential campaign are in part to blame for our disappointment with Obama's nonchalance toward certain policy issues...

I certainly agree that we should be careful. In th...

2009-07-02T13:23:43.321-04:00

I certainly agree that we should be careful. In the same token, I hope the government would keep their definitions at the time the bill passed.

The definitions of eligibility are: "In most cases, eligibility is based on whether you work for an eligible employer. Your job is eligible if you:

* are employed by any nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization;
* are employed by the federal government, a state government, local government, or tribal government (this includes the military and public schools and colleges); or
* serve in a full-time AmeriCorps or Peace Corps position.

If you don't meet these criteria, the Department of Education's regulations create a two-part test of other circumstances under which you may still be eligible:

(1) your employer is not "a business organized for profit, a labor union, a partisan political organization, or an organization engaged in religious activities, unless the qualifying activities are unrelated to religious instruction, worship services, or any form of proselytizing;"

and,

(2) your employer provides any of the following public services: emergency management; military service; public safety; law enforcement; public interest law services; early childhood education; public service for individuals with disabilities and the elderly; public health; public education; public library services; and school library or other school-based services. "