Something to make you think: Their year of Buying Black

This is a pretty interesting article. Do you think as a community, if individuals are self selecting to only buy from businesses of people that look like them,is that a step forward for social justice? Or is this an example of moving away from a multicultural society and back to "we take care of our own" type of mentality? What do you think? Is there positive value in harnessing economic power around race and ethnicity in 2009?


Their year of buying black
OAK PARK Family's commitment could hold key to community prosperity

December 20, 2008
BY CHERYL V. JACKSON cjackson@suntimes.com
Consumers worldwide might be tightening their belts, but Maggie Anderson's mind is black with plots to spend.
Her Oak Park family is publicly committing to a year of buying from black-owned business and supporting black professionals exclusively, starting Jan. 1.
» Click to enlarge image
Maggie Anderson, daughter Cara and husband John vow to buy only from black-owned firms in 2009. (Scott Stewart/Sun-Times)
These days, she's searching frantically for black-owned firms for staple items and services, until she and her husband, John, can broaden their awareness of businesses and professionals.
That means she's got to find a new dry cleaner. She's looking for a place to gas up the family's two cars. And locating black McDonald's franchises is a must. "My girls love the fries," she said of her two daughters.
Her family's efforts will be followed by a team of college researchers as part of a project called the Ebony Experiment to determine the impact of the Andersons' spending if extrapolated to a larger portion of black America.
Proponents of buy-black initiatives say they are key to community prosperity, as studies indicate black-owned enterprises are more likely to hire black employees. Those firms are likely to sponsor community programs and their owners participate in institutions such as churches that provide community services, said Steven Rogers, director of the Kellogg Entrepreneurial Practice Center at Northeastern University's Graduate School of Management.
Book to detail experience
"It's not just a simple effort for the sake of show and a superficial statement about racial pride," said Rogers, a project adviser. "It comes from the desperate need for us to have a role in our own economic destiny."
The Andersons, who plan to spend about $10,000 a month next year, will move their checking account to and refinance home and car loans with black organizations. They'll seek black-owned firms to do home improvement projects and handle vacations they've put off until next year.
And they want black America to watch as they discover companies with which to do business.
The couple -- she's a lawyer; he's a financial adviser -- will blog and post videos at EbonyExperiment.com to document their spending, and invite people to offer their own accounts of shopping black.
"If we can get 3 percent of us to commit to doing this, that will translate into millions and millions of dollars going into our community," Maggie Anderson said.
Coming out of the project will be a database of black-owned businesses and professionals and a university-based study. Social commentator Michael Eric Dyson is on the team and will pen the foreword for a book detailing the experience.
"They have decided to put their money where their mouth is and forge connections within their own community to strengthen economic and social networks and ties that bind us together," said Dyson, a Georgetown University professor. "Hopefully, this will inspire others to take up the call."
'It takes some effort'
The couple are prepared to potentially pay more for services and put more miles on their cars to patronize the businesses.
"I'm ready to buy $300 worth of groceries at a time," Maggie said.
Michael Bennett, director of DePaul University's Egan Urban Center and a researcher helping to measure the Anderson impact, said this effort stands out from the loads of buy-black initiatives he has seen over his 64 years.
"What's different about this one is you have a family with an income level that will allow them to search out goods and services to be extremely intentional about doing the research about following up," Bennett said.
There'll be challenges, he noted. Finding a black barber is easy enough, and there are plenty of black medical professionals to choose from in Chicago. But finding a black-owned utility provider? That's tougher, he said.
Even a black-owner auto repair shop might prove difficult, Bennett said, as today's computerized vehicles call for more capital-intensive operations.
"It takes some effort. And that's what I like about the Andersons. They want to make the effort to see," Bennett said. "They don't know yet how difficult it's going to be."

Snow has taken over Seattle

While we are all snowed in this week trying to figure out what to do with ourselves (besides eat and shovel snow), here are some radio programs to stimulate your brain:

*WEDS DEC 24, and subsequent Wednesdays, 2 - 3 p.m., on
KKNW, 1150 AM radio or live at http://www.1150amkknw.com ;
Northwest Interfaith Community Outreach takes a step
forward with the new, weekly INTERFAITH TALK RADIO SHOW
featuring Rabbi Ted Falcon, Muslim Sufi Minister Jamal
Rahman and Pastor Don Mackenzie. Listen in and contribute
to the growing and deepening interfaith dialogue on matters
of SPIRITUALITY, FAITH, COMPASSION, INCLUSION AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE. info http://www.interfaithtalkradio.com [updated
4/30/07]

**WEDS DEC 24, and subsequent Wednesdays, 6 p.m. on KBCS-
FM, 91.3, online at http://www.kbcs.fm ; Live call-in talk
show "VOICES OF DIVERSITY" will focus on topics related to
CULTURAL DIVERSITY, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES. The show
is produced by Community Volunteers. Show is sponsored by
the City of Bellevue Parks and Community Services
department and KBCS; We'll also be taking calls from our
listeners at 425-564-2424. This show: A Year of Thought-
Provoking Conversations. We present HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS
PAST YEAR's most compelling Voices of Diversity programs.
info Callie Shanafelt 425-452-7922 or
cshanafelt@ci.bellevue.wa.us or http://www.kbcs.fm

*THURS DEC 25, and subsequent Thursdays, 1 - 2 p.m., on
KKNW-AM, 1150,and streaming live at
http://www.1150kknw.com/ and on http://afragenesis.net ;
Culture Talk, with Kevin P. Henry, on Alternative Talk and
on the Afra Genesis Network. We talk about the hot topics
related to CULTURE, SOCIAL AND HEALTH ISSUES, live. info
Kevin Henry khenry@bellevuewa.gov [added 1/4/08]
*WEDS DEC 24, and subsequent Wednesdays, 5:30 pm, at YWCA
Opportunity Place, 2024 Third Ave, Between Virginia &
Lenora, Seattle; The BILINGUAL SPANISH & IMMIGRATION LEGAL
CLINIC. To schedule an immigration appointment, call 206-
587-4009. For all other legal issues arrive at the clinic
at 5:30 to sign up for an appointment, with 8 appointments
available to those on a first come first serve basis. Both
clinics provide free 30 minute appointments with an
attorney for advice and consultation only. These attorneys
do not provide representation. Interpreters Provided. info
Arielle Rosenberg 206-267-7027

**THURS DEC 25, 6 p.m., on KBCS-FM, 91.3, online at
http://www.kbcs.fm ; Families Sending Holiday Greetings to
their Incarcerated Loved Ones. Calls From Home is a
special holiday program that presents the voices of FAMILY
MEMBERS OF PRISONERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. The program
highlights the intimate power of families speaking straight
to their loved ones who are behind bars.

Here are some exciting events to look forward to:

**MON DEC 29, 7 pm, at the Langston Hughes Performing
Arts Center, 104 - 17th Avenue South, Seattle; The
Langston Hughes AFRICAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL presents the
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FILM SERIES, A Cultural Journey to
Freedom through the Lens of Black Cinema, with a full
season of provocative narrative and documentary films.
This film Trouble The Water. Directed and produced by
Fahrenheit 9/11 producers Tia Lessin and Carl Deal and
executive produced by Danny Glover, Trouble the Water won
the 2008 Sundance Grand Jury Prize. See this woeful story
of governments unwilling to help their constituents people
and the optimistic story of PEOPLE BRAVELY WORKING TO HELP
THEIR NEIGHBORS. An aspiring rap artist and her streetwise
husband, trapped in New Orleans by deadly floodwaters,
survive the storm and then seize a chance for a new
beginning. It's a redemptive tale of self-described street
hustlers who become heroes that takes you INSIDE HURRICANE
KATRINA in a way never before seen on screen. Trouble the
Water opens the day before Katrina makes landfall, just
blocks away from the French Quarter but far from the New
Orleans that tourists know. Kimberly Rivers Roberts is
turning her video camera on herself and her 9th Ward
neighbors trapped in the city. "It's going to be a day to
remember," Kim says excitedly into her new camera as the
storm is brewing. It's her first time shooting video and
it's rough, jumpy but dense with reality. Kim's playful
home-grown newscast tone grinds against the audience's
knowledge that hell is just hours away. Suggested donation
$5. info 206-326-1088 or
http://www.langstonblackfilmfest.org or
http://lhaaffbside.blogspot.com

**THURS JAN 1, 1 - 4 pm, in Seattle; New Years Circle.
"Skills for LIVING WELL IN TROUBLED TIMES" Applied
Meditation with Bill Aal & Margo Adair, authors of
Practical Meditation for Busy Souls. Transformation
Emerges Out of Deep Listening to the Self, Others, the
World and the Planet. Working with Energy Circles we will
reflect over the last year and align with positive vision
for the New Year; we will envision ways to meet personal
goals as well as the larger challenges of our times. Fees
based on your generosity and ability to pay. Pre
registration required by Dec 26. info or to register
info@toolsforchange.org or 206-329-2201, info
http://www.toolsforchange.org

Have a great day, stay safe and warm!

Education for all youth

Are you passionate about education for all youth, are you interested in what's going on in South Seattle and South King County with education for youth of color? Come to this forum to learn more!!

Educational Success for All Our Youth Community Forum

with Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu

Emphasizing the Education of African American Males (Grades K-8)

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - 6 pm – 9 pm

Dr. Kunjufu, a nationally recognized educational consultant, will highlight why we are failing and share with educators, parents, youth, and communities what can work for
African American male students.

Join us at a FREE Community event!

Who: Educators, parents, youth, and concerned community members in South Seattle and South King County including Auburn, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, Renton, Tukwila, and Seattle school district areas
Location: Blackriver Training and Conference Center, 800 Oakesdale Ave SW, Renton, WA (Parking is available.)

Food will be served! Teachers: Clock hours are available!

Sponsors: King County Civil Rights Commission, Seattle Office of Civil Rights,
Puget Sound Educational Service District, and Casey Family Programs in partnership with the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle . . .
This location is accessible and reasonable accommodations provided on request.
For More information, contact the King County Civil Rights Commission
206-296-8610
Rights.commission@kingcounty.gov

Fun, education and holidays

In these wild economic times, it is a great opportunity to go to low- cost events and educate yourself about what are some of the social and economic conditions around the country. Check out some of these events:


Acclaimed New Orleans Activist Malik Rahim in Seattle December 8-14 The co-founder of Common Ground New Orleans, Rahim recently won the Thomas Merton Human Rights Award for his heroic work on behalf of his fellow Katrina survivors. Common Ground has provided direct humanitarian aid to over 80,000 people since the Katrina disaster and is leading the struggle to rebuild New Orleans in a socially just and environmentally sustainable manner. While in Seattle Mr. Rahim will talk about the current situation in New Orleans and what we can do to help. He will also promote a spring 2009 social justice trip to New Orleans by students and staff of Nova High School, along with Katrina survivors living in Seattle. · Thursday December 11 7 pm Talk by Malik at New Hope Baptist Church116 21st Ave. in the Central District. Introductory remarks by Rev. Robert Jeffrey, pastor at New Hope and long time social justice advocate. · Saturday December 13 at 7 am Malik will appear at KBCS radio 91.3 on the program "Mind Over Matters" with host Mike McCormick · Saturday December 13th 2-4 pm Talk and Fundraising Reception at the Home of Joe Szwaja 2021 NE 75th Street in Ravenna. Tax deductible donations to help Common Ground and Nova High School's New Orleans Social Justice trip can be sent to Nova PTSA (memo New Orleans) c/o Nova 2410 East Cherry StreetSeattle 98122. To buy fair trade and eco friendly products to help Nova's New Orleans efforts (fair trade chocolate, stainless steel water bottles and envirosax shopping bags) go tohttp://www.nwgreenschools.com For more information about Malik's visit or Nova's Social Justice Trip to New Orleans call (206) 523-3656

________________________________________________

Dr. Robert Bullard to speak at Human Rights Day Celebration Author and professor Dr. Robert Bullard will speak at a free evening event to celebrate Human Rights Day in Seattle on Thursday, December 11, 7-9 pm at Town Hall Seattle on 8th Avenue and Seneca. The evening event also will include presentation of the 2008 Human Rights Awards to local human rights leaders NW Immigrant Rights Project, Somali Community Services of Seattle, YWCA GirlsFirst and Michael Neguse. WHAT: Seattle Human Rights Day 2008 WHERE: Town Hall Seattle on 8th Avenue and Seneca WHEN: Thursday, December 11, 7-9 p.m. Speaker Dr. Robert Bullard also will speak from 11:30 am to 1 pm on December 10 in Seattle City Hall’s Bertha Landes Room. WHY: The 13th annual Seattle Human Rights Day event commemorates the sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted December 10, 1948. FEATURED SPEAKER: Dr. Bullard is the Ware Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Director of the Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University, and one of the leading experts on environmental justice and race. He has authored fourteen books on environmental justice, environmental racism, housing and transportation, including Confronting Environmental Racism. For more information call the Seattle Office for Civil Rights at (206) 684-4500 or check the web at http://www.seattle.gov/civilrights/events.htm. Human Rights Day 2008 is produced by the Seattle Office for Civil Rights, Seattle Human Rights Commission and United Nations Association-Seattle, with support from Seattle Commission for Sexual Minorities, Seattle Women’s Commission, Seattle Public Utilities Environmental Justice and Service Equity Division, King County Civil Rights Commission, WA State Human Rights Commission, Community Coalition on Environmental Justice, Youth for Human Rights, Youth for Human Rights, Ingalina’s, Teatro Zinzanni and The Chiropractic Center.

2 Multicultural Holiday Fairs worth going to:
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An Ethnic Holiday Gift Show!! - Saturday, December 13th JOIN US For A Cozy Ethnic Holiday Gift Show A Festive Day of Refreshments, Fun, and One Stop Shopping Some of the products distributed by our vendors include: Silpada Jewelry - Body Care Essentials – Handmade Quilts Designs by Sharron – Lula & Mi Shea Butters – Custom Greeting Cards Warm Spirit – Calendars - Ethnic Art & Artifacts - Serenity Soul Body Butters Xscapes Toiletry & Travel Paks - Black Dolls Delicious Homemade Cakes, Pies & other Goodies & Other Unique Gifts. WHEN: Saturday, December 13, 2008 WHERE: 3128 – 34th South (the house is located between South Hanford Street & Mt. Baker Blvd – near Franklin High School) TIME: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM Please be our guest… Skip the malls, come shop in a relaxing environment and enjoy hot cider, coffee, wine and light refreshments. Do your holiday shopping with our unique vendors. BRING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
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MUSICA Entertainment & Early Education The Columbia City Holiday Kids Fair At the Historic Columbia City Theatre Saturday, December 13th, 2008 Noon - 3:00 pm Early learning, birth to five education, school readiness, families & fun! MUSICA Entertainment is proud to present events that focus on literacy, health, education and safety of children birth through 8. Several studies show that music helps focus attention and provides a motivating environment for learning. As young children grow and develop, music continues as a basic medium, not only of communication, but of self expression as well. Through all of our youth events we reinforce the role of parents as their child's first and most important teachers. The Columbia City Holiday Kids Fair is an opportunity to have family fun experiencing fantastic entertainment, music while visiting the historic Columbia City neighborhood. Columbia City, located just southeast of downtown Seattle is sometimes referred to as the "Neighborhood of Nations". Shop in the unique business district which has everything from the Columbia City Art Gallery to funky boutiques to children's apparel and, cuisine from traditional American to Cuban, Mexican, Cajun soul, Ethiopian and more! The Columbia City Holiday Kids Fair takes place in the Columbia City Theatre, Seattle's oldest vaudeville theatre. Formerly a playground for Jimi Hendrix music wizardry, the current theatre offers a classic show stage, a state of the art audio recoding studio, and a video production facility. Kids of all ages will enjoy this production of music, dance and fun! The event will be hosted by none other than Frosty the Snowman. Frosty's guests include, yes of course Dear ole' Santa Claus, who will stop in for a visit and pictures. Frosty's performers and friends include jazz guitarist Michael Powers who'll be performing holiday tunes for the young and the young at heart, along with the lovable education mascot Rodney Raccoon, who teaches kids about hygiene, their ABC's and 123's, all to cool hip hop music. The amazing EriAm Sisters featuring 11 year-old Haben Abraham will be joining Frosty to present an amazing performance of the latest top 40 tunes as well as a preview of music from their forthcoming album. Northwest Tap Connection, the incredible Seattle youth Tap group has performed all over the United States and will again amaze audiences with their tap, dance and showmanship. Lots of surprises, face painting, interactive games and balloon making only add to an afternoon of fun, learning and music! Toddlers are welcomed and encouraged at this all ages family friendly event. At MUSICA Entertainment we are excited to provide families with the opportunity to enjoy a fun, safe learning environment full of Holiday spirit and good cheer. As proponents of Early Education we're just as excited to be able to connect you with organizations like Thrive By Five Washington, The Foundation For Early Learning and Atlantic Street Center. You'll learn more about the Atlantic Street Center, home of the very successful Parent/Child Home Program and other valuable resources in regards to early education, parenting and school readiness during our live webcast of the event if you can't make it in person. If you have crafts to display or would like to be a vendor, we have limited table space available and of course the product must be kid friendly. Please contact emoreem@musicaentertainment.org. Advance tickets available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com or at the door. &&&HTTP://WWW.MUSICAENTERTAINMENT.ORG

Have a great evening!

Engaging Youth as Leaders

This is a cool event that I just found out about today that some of you may be interested in. It also happens to be today so hopefully you can make it. It should be a really fabulous event.


WEDS DEC 3, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., at Seattle MarriottWaterfront, 2100 Alaskan Way, Seattle; The nonprofitorganization, Global Washington, presents GlobalConnections: PREPARING YOUTH TODAY FOR LEADERSHIP Tomorrow.Keynote Speaker: Representative Adam Smith, D-WA, sponsorof the Global Poverty Act. Join us to celebrate the stateof Washington's achievements in global citizenship andglobal learning, be a part of the dialogue about theimportance of GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP in building a movement forsocial change and find out more about how Global Washingtoncan contribute to your success. Program 4:30 - 5:30followed by Cocktail reception. Registration or infohttp://www.globalwa.org or events@globalwa.org, info 206-652-8725

Puget Sound Off

Hey, I read an article today about Puget Sound Off, A YMCA, University of Washington and City of Seattle partnership to engage youth civically. I think it is a super cool program and since I work for the YMCA I have to shamelessly plug it.

Please read below, not just youth can get involved, young professionals and educators can also participate.

PugetSoundOff.org Makes Social Activism Easier than Ever Before
Posted by digitalnatives in civic_engagement, digital civic engagement
Tyler Goulet updates us on the Center for Communication and Civic Engagement’s latest initiative: PugetSoundOff.org
According to John Palfrey and Urs Gasser in Born Digital, “the ability of networked activist to transform politics in some countries could prove to be the single most important trend in the global Internet culture… If these early signs turn into a bigger movement, politics as we know it is in for big changes.”
We at the Center for Communication and Civic Engagement believe these big changes are right around the corner and we’re trying to make them happen.
So far, things that happen on the internet, and stay on the internet, are not helping social movements grow as much as some hoped. An example of this is when users on social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook join causes or groups that are dedicated to raising awareness about a social movement. This is often seen as the equivalent of putting a “support your cause” bumper sticker on your car.
However, social networking sites are making it much easier for anyone to connect, communicate, and organize with people in their local area as well as around the globe. The internet has made creating and executing social movements much easier than ever before. This is great and all, except the most popular social networking sites focus more on gossip within your social network than on creating positive change in your community.
The solution to this is to create a social networking site that focuses on the goal of creating positive change in your community.
PugetSoundOff.org is a revolutionary site that does just that. The focus is to connect teens in the Puget Sound area that care about the same social issues so that they can create positive change in their communities.
Here’s how it works.
Sean, a junior at Bellevue High, loves art. He respects the street art culture, but also knows it creates problems within a community. When an artist paints on the sidewalk or the side of a building, people become upset and damage is done.
To solve this problem, he’d like to have the city install an Art Wall, where street artist can go and display their art legally. However, he can’t do it alone and doesn’t know any of his friends who would be interested in helping him get the Art Wall installed.
Sean decides he’ll hop onto PugetSoundOff.org and write a blog about the problem he sees, what he wants to do about it, and if anyone else wants to help.
A few days later he sees he has 3 comments from people saying they would like to work with him to make this happen. He organizes a meeting with them so that they can do more research on the problem and solution so that they can create an action plan to make it happen.
Now, Sean is in a group of 4 people who really want to make this happen. However, they’ll need more support to really make this happen.
They decide to make a group on PugetSoundOff.org so that they can invite their friends to join the cause.
The group features an information section which teaches people about the problem and solution. It lets people know when they are getting together to talk about and implement the plan. It also has a few documents promoting the cause that people can download, print out, and distribute to their friends.
After a few weeks of hard work and determination the group has grown to 200 people who support the cause.
Now that they have the support they can really start to make an impact in their community.
And so the story goes Sean and his group follow their action plan and get the Art Wall to be installed so that everyone can enjoy the street art culture legally without any problems.
By using the site, Sean was able to connect with other teens that cared about the same problem as him. They worked together to create an action plan and gain enough support to implement the plan so that they could solve the problem they care about.
It’s a beautiful thing. However, PugetSoundOff.org, as a new initiative, is still working out all the kinks.
Check out the site and let us know what you think. What works, what doesn’t? What would make the site easier and better to use? Through comments and suggestions from you we can really make these types of sites powerful political tools.
Tyler Goulet is a Junior at the University of Washington, Seattle, where he is currently triple majoring in Communication, Political Science, and Community Environment and Planning. He has been a Research Assistant for the CCCE for nearly a year. For more information on Tyler Goulet check out www.tylergoulet.com.

Post Thanksgiving- Connect with Community Radio

Hey all, hope you had a wonderful holiday and that you are having a successful and productive first day back to work, I know it's hard :).

Below is some information about my favorite community radio station, KBCS that offers some great radio programs and also free workshops. Definitely check out what they have to offer:

Bankruptcy in Washington State on Voices of Diversity

Wednesday December 3rd , 6 p.m.According to a recent article in the Seattle Times, bankruptcies in Washington State increased by 40% in the first ten months of this year. We’ll explore how people are struggling to stay afloat during difficult economic times. We'll also get advice from financial counselors, and speak with people who are currently facing or have gone through bankruptcy . Upcoming Public Affairs Trainings and Free WorkshopsWe’re growing a volunteer-powered and social justice-focused newsroom, where reporters and producers are community members committed to skill sharing and facilitating media making of, by, and for our communities. KBCS offers free community journalism workshops. To get involved, come to one of our monthly public affairs workshops. They are the first four Wednesdays of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the KBCS studios. You’re also invited to come by any Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. to observe and/or assist in the production of Voices of Diversity and One World Report. RSVP to Joaquin Uy at (425) 564-6195 or juy@kbcs.fm.

Upcoming Wednesday Night Workshop Schedule: Art of Interviewing

NOTE SCHEDULE CHANGE: Interviewing workshop offered instead of the orientation.1st Wednesday (December 3rd)A good interview is based on asking the right questions, and we’ll show you how to do just that. Radio Journalism2nd Wednesday (December 10th)This workshop covers the basics of radio journalism. We’ll go over our approach to media in community radio, ethical standards, libel, First Amendment, and the elements of a good story.

Writing for Radio 3rd Wednesday (December 17th)This workshop covers specific techniques and standards of writing for radio. Practice includes writing for One World Report.

Have a nice day!