The Idea Camp

Irvine, CA - and really all over the world - is host to some pretty amazing things yesterday and today. A group of people have gotten together to create "a free hybrid conference for idea makers." You can check on their group on ning (http://theideacamp.ning.com/) or just go straight over today and get in on the action: http://www.theideacamplive.com/. It is a gathering of artists, social justice leaders, musicians and really anyone interested in this idea of taking ideas and putting them into motion through God and His help.

Pretty cool stuff going over there with meebo rooms for all, live streaming video and real-time blogging and twittering. I strongly encourage you to check it out today if you have a chance.

Today in the morning session, we're going to hear from Zach Hunter (http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2951434&page=1) a 15-year old modern-day abolitionist. Yes, you heard that right. Hunter has a heart for seeing people released from the bonds of modern-day slavery and has written two books about the ways he has already been working to combat it -- including collecting loose change from people and inspiring them to "Be the Change."

What are you waiting for - check it out! http://www.theideacamplive.com/

International Justice Mission

Last year, we attended an annual event called The Leadership Summit. It's a chance to hear talks from all sorts of dynamite leaders in different industries and within different organizations. Gary Haugen was one of the first speakers as President and CEO of the International Justice Mission. It's a non-profit organization that seeks to provide justice world-wide in severe cases of human-rights violations - including sex trafficking and forced slavery.

His talk really spoke to people. His need, not just desire but outright need, for justice was inspiring to all of us, I think. IJM is based out of Washington DC (http://www.ijm.org/) and they really do tireless work around the globe. IJM and Haugen recently appeared in a fantastic 13-page spread in The New Yorker and you can keep updated on them and their work through Twitter. (@IJMHQ on Twitter). If you haven't heard of them before, I encourage you to check 'em out. Just one more group of people working toward this idea of social justice for all and not just some.

End poverty.

Sounds straightforward, right? Or "make poverty history" is another phrase becoming a part of the common American vernacular as of late. Well, for such a complicated issue as global poverty, it is going to take a lot of hard work and determination to make it happen in our lifetimes. But I do earnestly believe it can happen.

In that vein, Sojourners -- who have already been working since the mid-90s on the problem of poverty (and beyond that in just their overall mission hearkening back to the 70s) -- is hosting a national event in DC this April called Mobilization to End Poverty http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=events.m2ep&item=m2ep-home. We plan on being there to meet with thousands of other people who earnestly believe in this same vision -- that poverty can be removed from our world -- but with the understanding that it will take a mobilizing of a multitude of efforts from all sorts of people and institutions at all levels. Drop us a comment if you plan on being there, too. Or let us know if you want to go with us. Nothing like a road trip to bring people together, right?

Really, though, the task might seem daunting, but don't let it be -- we can do this. And we can do it TOGETHER.

Um, we took the long way back. ;)

Well, call us the prodigal blog, because we've returned. General busy-ness has kept us away, but we're back and hopefully, without such a long hiatus next time.

Thinking about the 10.10 Project this year and have some things on the plate, but as always, keeping mindful of different things that catch our interest and how they fit in with the heart and purpose of the 10.10 Project.

One such thing that caught our eye was a social justice movie that we showed a few weeks ago at the NECC offices in Norwalk: The Ordinary Radicals. http://www.theordinaryradicals.com/ It was an interesting take on a group of people striving to do "small things with great love." The documentary chronicled a group of 20 and 30-somethings as they travelled the US trying to spread this extraordinary message.

There was definitely some food for thought in this flick and led to a great discussion afterward. What's a good movie without a talk-back to follow, right? If you can get your mitts on a copy, I'd recommend giving it a watch and then letting us know what you think.

Who's ready for 10-10-09?

10.10 Community Day for 2008 has come and gone. There are so many stories, blessings and photos to share and we will over the next few days, but I did want to get some really initial thoughts down while they were fresh in my mind.

The spirit of kindness, of giving, of compassion,of gratitude, of love, of joy and of hope was alive at 10.10 Day and every single person involved was an integral part of that spirit -- whether you were a volunteer during the day or a person involved on the other end. My heart is bursting with joy even now to think of some of the things that happened today.

10.10 Day has been about the day, but it's always been about much more than that. As we finished our second year of committing to intentionally go out into our community and give and serve freely of ourselves, we again realized that that spirit of kindness -- that spirit of joy -- that spirit can be a part of our every days.

We will be back to share the stories of 10.10 over the next few days. It was a rich day filled with great people and great stories, but right now, the thing that stands out the most is my overall feeling: Let's make every day just like this day!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for...

I heard a story the other day that reminded me of what we're trying to crystallize on 10.10 day -- this idea of selfless giving --giving without needing or wanting anything in return.

A friend was saying how she occassionally has to walk a few blocks from her office to the post office. The other day she had to bring some money along to pay for postage, and got some change back from the transaction.

Well, not having any pockets, she didn't want to carry the bills and loose change back, so thought, What can I do with this money? She saw a young mother walking along with two small kids and thought, Bingo.

Approaching the mother, she said, "Can you do me a favor? I have some change and no pockets or anything to carry it in -- I'd love to give this to you to buy your children some ice cream?" The mother was taken aback at first -- it isn't every day that someone approaches you with pro-ice cream-directives like this. :) But then she was very grateful and said she was off to do just that.

I'd like to think that that kind of pay-it-forward thinking replicates itself. Who knows? Maybe that mom or the kids went on and gave half of their ice cream to another friend that wasn't there at the time. You just never know. An ordinary act with the possibility for extraordinary results. That's just the kind of thing we like.

As mentioned, a big component of the day is a food drive benefitting the Norwalk Emergency Shelter. Some of the specific food items the organization mentioned needing right now were:

cereal
coffee (reg/instant)
hot chocolate
sugar
butter
margarine
grape jelly
complete pancake mix
syrup
cinnamon
Sardines
cooking oil
salt/pepper
milk
powdered milk
evaporated milk
Microwave popcorn
chips
crackers
fresh/canned fruit
salad dressing
Mayonnaise
mustard
ketchup
canned tuna
bouillon
Punch (Powder Mix)
raisins
granola bars
canned pasta dinners
pork & beans
canned beef stews
peanut butter
macaroni & cheese dinners
chilies
corned beef hash
hot dogs
instant mashed potatoes
canned soups
pasta sauce
canned vegetables
canned ham
tomato sauce
pimientos
onions
cornstarch
BBQ sauce
rice
chili

I know that's a pretty exhaustive list, but somebody's bound to have some pork & beans lying around, right? ;) (It's not everyday that you get to ask that question.)

You can bring any and all food items to the Sunoco service station where we will be collecting food or to the Norwalk Stop and Shop on Main Avenue where we will also be collecting on 10.10. Check out the schedule for more details about when we'll be there to collect the food.

If you're interested in finding out more about the Norwalk Emergency Shelter and what they've been doing in Norwalk, check them out at http://www.norwalkemergencyshelter.org/