Back 2 school: Some kids have more challenges

I felt it would be appropriate, on the eve of the real end to the summer, when tomorrow will be the day that all kids are back in school, I post a little post.

In today’s Toronto Star, we are reminded that so many children – right here in our own neighbourhoods, let alone backyards – are struggling to have a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. The article introduces us to a few children in the area: Tyler, Rylee and Miguel, all of whom are faced with challenges, sourced from different reasons, for not having a home.

Those of you who have followed the blog (though some of you may be new – check older posts) will remember a few different times where I’ve suggested you imagine the life… Imagine being a 12-year old boy (influential), going to your ninth school (no stability), and not having a desk or quiet place to do homework in (no security). This scenario doesn’t even include Tyler’s opportunity (or rather, lack thereof) to partake in normal extra-curricular activities like, say, soccer or swimming (no social life structure). I must admit, as I read this, despite the difficulties this family is facing, I had to applaud Tyler’s father for having the sense to say that he would take his son to a library or café to allow him the place he needs to do his homework.

I have, on a number of occasions throughout this blog, offered that access to education is a pivotal key to the reduction of poverty and homelessness. I genuinely believe this! These children who get tossed around from school to school because their family can’t find stability are in a very precarious situation. I will not condone the actions of “grown-ups” who make their choices, but when there are children involved, we must find a way to provide the support needed to give these kids a chance to not repeat the mistakes of their parents – or their parents’ parents. Often times, the “grown-ups” we see in these types of situations were once children like Tyler.

I am absolutely NOT suggesting that every “Tyler” grows up to make these mistakes. But if his family and the assistance programmers cannot come together to give him the educational opportunity and support he needs to get his chance, then how can we turn a blind eye and say “it was all your fault, Tyler” when he doesn’t grow up to be say a stand-up young man?

There are as many ways as you can dream of to help these children: from donating school supplies, to providing breakfasts and lunches, to volunteering with local shelters and support groups. Do we all need to do something? Well, I guess not… But, then I would also suggest that those of us who do nothing should not judge the results of inaction.

Don River Trails - A home for the homeless

I just had a colleague of mine in my office, and we were both chatting about a shared passion for trail riding. Yup - hopping onto a pretty darn cool 2-wheel, human powered trail/mountain bike and tearing the terrain up!

He mentioned that one of Toronto's neatest spots would be the Don River trails - an urban oasis for hikers and mountain bikers. What he also mentioned is that, if you go at certain times of the day - dusk, really - you will see that the Don River trails also host some of Toronto's homeless.

These people live under the bridges, on the trails, by the river. Some take their daily baths in the river, some start fires and cook what they found (or fished) during the day. And, though to us, it sounds like a summertime camping perfect picture, it is not for these people... it is their life.

It reminded me that, the summer is an easy time for us to help out... We may feel - perhaps - more guilty or more touched by the plight of the homeless in the winter. Of course, the cold - the biting Canadian cold - will do that to your psyche. But, in the summer - we have a bigger window for opportunity.

When I was lifeguarding (years ago), one of the important things to remember about triage was that you should help those people who had injuries which were quick to resolve so that you could make the biggest impact in the shortest amount of time.

So, in the summer... since you're likely to be out on these trails (or any trails) anyways, why not pack an extra sandwich, or loaf of bread? I still firmly believe that the solution to homelessness and poverty overall is to provide education and hope - but, it's hard to learn on an empty stomach, and harder to have the will to learn when you're daily fight is to get food.

So, if you're on the Don River trails this summer... can you make a difference?

"Tweet" to end global poverty?

When I began writing this blog, one of my premises was that "I would be remiss in not taking advantage of a global online community of conversation." So - this post is specifically about that... the online conversation!

Here's an incredibly novel way to use Twitter: if you are on Twitter, you should totally check out: http://twitter.com/endpovertynow. For the first time ever, there is a "tweet-a-thon"; oh yeah - you heard (read) that right! If you add the tag: #apowerfulnoise to the end of your tweets (only until tomorrow, March 5), NCM Fathom will donate $0.50 to CARE Globally to give hope and opportunity to women and girls living in poverty.

If you're not on Twitter - check this Website out for more details: http://apowerfulnoise.fathomevents.com/tweet-a-thon. A cool concept - the Lemon Tree may just need to borrow that someday! (Theodore Levitt, an icon in the field of Marketing, would call that: Innovative Imitation!)

In the mean time, the posts in the month of February have been entertaining (to me - and I hope to you too) in the sense that I've had a fantastic opportunity to showcase some really interesting "conductors and connectors" all working toward an end to poverty in North America; all providing hope and opportunity to so many people who need it...

As for the last 2 posts, specific to education: post-secondary, in particular have focused on Canada. I will come back to that issue, as it is one incredibly near and dear to my heart! So, keep voting - still 1 day to go.

The education rant - WHAT? Tuition hikes!

OK guys... I have to apologize right now, before I get into this text – because, of all the posts, this one will seem more like “improv” than previous posts. And so, with that:


25% Tuition Hike Touted

Um, pardon me? Last I checked the world (not just our precious little country) was undergoing what is all but called a depression! And, last I checked the Ontario Government has a plan in place to reduce poverty in the province by 25% within 5 years. OK – so, that’s an Ontario-only plan, maybe we don’t need to worry about the rest of the country?

Have we absolutely gone mad?? HOW DO OUR GOVERNMENTS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS DARE TELL US THAT EDUCATION HAS TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE? How can you increase fees for education while trying to reduce poverty? It must be nice to be making a six figure salary in the stone towers of Parliament Hill or Queen’s Park and to think that the rest of Canadians can just “pay” for their own, or their kids’, education over and above what it already costs. Craziness!

Meanwhile – and here’s the fun optic – President Obama has made education in the US a priority... committing to making post-secondary education affordable, and committing $53B US to American education institutions and systems; asking Americans to commit to at least 1 year of post-secondary education. So, maybe Canada has a slightly reasonable logic behind this ridiculous imposition (is that even possible?); but Canadians can also tune into NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN and even Fox... so, if you think people are just sitting around saying “Oh, OK – let’s pay more for our education”, you’ve lost your mind! Canadians are ticked! They’re saying: “how can a country, that is WAY deeper in debt than us, put a priority on education, and we can sleep at night asking our citizens to pay more!?” Take a look at the 5th bullet on this page of the America Recovery Act.

Now, and when I’m not ranting I’ll spend more time on providing facts about this, in Europe, there are some countries (Scandinavian countries, Greece) who pay for the students’ undergrad degrees – ah, wouldn’t THAT be nice? Some people might question the quality of a “free, public education”, but according to research from the Canadian Council on Learning, we could question our own:

• More than one million Canadians aged 25 to 44 have not completed high school and approximately 1.6 million 16- to 25-year-olds have less than Level 3 literacy, the standard considered the minimum to function effectively in a knowledge-based society such as Canada. (pg.8)


• In 2005, Canada placed 22nd of 26 reporting countries in the share of public expenditures on PSE. At 55.1%, Canada’s share was well below the OECD average of 73.1% and the EU average of 82.5%. (pg.10)


• In 2005-2006, nearly 350,000 full-time students received close to $2 billion in financial aid from the Canada Student Loans Program. (pg.10)


• Undergraduate tuition fees increased 36.4% between 2000–2001 and 2008–2009. Since 1996–1997, the rise in undergraduate tuition costs has exceeded the rise in the Consumer Price Index every school year except 2005–2006. (pg.10)


• Both the number of students borrowing, and the average amounts they borrowed have increased substantially in recent years. (pg.10)

It’s ALL ridiculous, and I hope the people from the “educational think-tank”, the non-profit Educational Policy Institute, are reading this! If you are – check this out (and, FYI – I am educated... and in debt because of the loans you claim I didn't need):

WE ARE ON THE BRINK!

We are on the brink of taxing and imposing costs on my country’s future for the mistakes of my country’s past. Ah – go for it, call me a “typically complaining and unhappy Gen X’er – I won’t be offended (for once)!

NO!! Canadian families cannot afford increases in their children’s tuitions – they’re losing their jobs!
NO!! Students can’t find part-time jobs as easily as you ($100K+ folks) think; the jobs – if the companies aren’t closing – are being given to those parents who are losing their jobs!
NO!! Canadians won’t stand for your recommendations; and I can only HOPE that our Governments won’t cave to such ridiculous pressures!

If we want a strong future for OUR country, and for OUR culture, and for OUR youth – then THIS is not the way to go! Talk to students, talk to families and talk to people – you may be enlightened to find out that they’re not interested in tuition hikes.

And, I’d also like to go on record as saying that I do understand the important value of post-secondary institutions. Believe me, I’m probably one of the biggest fans.

But, if you turn these institutions into country clubs for rich kids, then what kind of vision are you building for the future of this country? My Country! And, yours too – right?

Feature Conductor: Big Brothers & Big Sisters

I’ve spent a significant amount of time in the first series of posts setting the stage for why this blog, and being aware of this issue is important. I’d like to spend some time in the next few posts highlighting some real success stories, and offering some options to those of you interested in contributing to the solution.

Feature: Big Brothers & Big Sisters (BBBS)

BBBS America and BBBS Canada have been around for over a century! In 1904, a New York City clerk named Ernest Coulter saw the need for adult mentors to help young boys stay out of trouble; he started recruiting volunteers. At around the same time, a group called Ladies of Charity began a similar program for young girls. Since then, the BBBS movement has grown to include all 50 states, and 12 countries around the world.

In Canada, for over 80 years, the BBBS program commits to young people that they will provide them with the highest quality, volunteer-based mentoring programs.

Here are some interesting facts that intimately link the successes of BBBS to the purpose of the Lemontree (Source – Project Impact, Social Planning Council of Hamilton and District of Hamilton, 2004):

• The BBBS Littles* go on to graduate from high school at a rate of 20% higher than the national average;


• 78% of the BBBS Littles who come from social assistance background no longer rely on this kind of income; and


• A disproportionately high number of Littles graduate from college and/or university compared to others in their age group

* A Little is a young person who has a Big Brother or Big Sister.

The BBBS programs clearly provide hope through rich mentoring relationships for all children who need it. In addition, these volunteer mentors offer encouragement, advice and additional learning. It is a truly fantastic program, and one I would qualify as a connector. Take another look at that second bullet point: a very real impact on the future of poverty in Canada; and no doubt in the US.

If you are interested, the BBBS movement is always looking for volunteers and donations... And, if you’d like to inject a little fun – here’s something you can do with your own Littles:

From now until the end of May, right across Canada, the various BBBS agencies are putting on the

Bowl for Kids’ Sake event. Create a team, set up an event, go out and bowl – and just have some fun for a great cause! If you want to bring the fam, look for the Family Day events. I, for one, will be checking out the event listings and heading out to at least one...

Baby, it's cold outside... Some people don't have warm clothes!

Are you cold? Lord knows I am!

If you are below 39°N of latitude, you may not be quite as frigid, but let me share some temperatures with you (including wind chill).

• Toronto: -25°C (-13°F)
• Montreal: -29°C (-20°F)
• New York, NY: -17°C (5°F)
• Washington, DC: -18°C (1°F)

So, say you wanted to go out in temperatures like this, you’d likely require: a good winter coat, and preferably a multi-layered one, a tuque, gloves, a scarf, maybe a few extra layers of clothes, and I’d also recommend a decent pair of boots. Wouldn’t you agree?

Unfortunately, in the cities mentioned above, there are so many people who do not have proper clothing; who might not have shelter; and who probably need something warm to eat. I encourage you to check out the local missions or food banks, the Salvation Army in the US or in Canada, and of course there are a plethora of other sources. They are all in need of donations; can you help?

___

It’s funny – not “funny, ha-ha”, just funny interesting – to mention this today. I recall, a few weeks ago when the winter cold settled into the GTA, we had to buy scarves. When we did, Nichole turned to me and said: “OK, how do I do this?”

“Um, do what?” was my answer.

“Put this scarf on? I’ve never had one – so not really sure how this goes.”

WOW! The things we take for granted. I’m sure she could have figured out how to put it on, but when you have to rush through something you’ve never done, the simplest things seem so foreign.

Nichole never owned a pair of snow pants or water proof (resistant) boots; not even as a child. And, to be clear, she did not live in an area “below 39°N of latitude” so certainly, those pieces of winter clothing would have been welcomed!

___

What does any of this “cold air” have to do with learning and generating hope? Well, a couple of things, among others…

First, if you are in the situation Nichole was in – or anyone who does not have proper food, shelter or clothing – what are the chances of success in school? It is proven that children who are hungry have weaker academic performances. The Children’s Emergency Fund gives us a few indications of what happens when children go to school hungry.

Secondly, if you have opportunities: a regular (reasonable) pay check, transportation, and a basic education (high school graduation), your chances are much higher that you can acquire the above-mentioned clothing for yourself and for your family.

Take a look at this survey from the Daily Food Bread food bank. The additional questions I would ask are: “Which of these do you have?” and “Which of these are you willing to give up?” I could, for example, see how one might think that something like “access to Internet” is not a mandatory requirement for surviving in Ontario, but are you willing to give it up? And, if you lost it, how would you feel?

We take so many things for granted, including (often times) the warmth of our homes and clothes. We are quick to judge what “basic needs” are without truly being willing to give up on things we consider “luxuries”. It’s time, this year, to give back… And, I would encourage you, in these frigid temperatures, to help keep people warm!

If people feel safe, warm, fed, and hopeful, they will be have more clarity to seek out, to identify, and to seize the opportunities which will allow them to become self-sufficient.

CLARIFIER:

I believe that if you work hard for something, you deserve it. I believe that no one should take that away from you. But, I also believe that if you’ve worked hard for something, you probably had an opportunity to work hard for it. Therefore, what I am saying here is not to give anything up, but rather to allow others the opportunity; to help them find it. If people have opportunities and do not seize them, then we’re having a different conversation altogether. However, in many instances of poverty and homelessness, people have simply not had opportunity, or have had opportunity taken away from them.

Job loss - The future of poverty

Hooo-eeee! Any of you guys picked up a newspaper today?

• Canada’s jobless rate is up to 6.6% - a loss of 34,400 jobs in December alone!
• US experiences worst “job year” since 1945 (unemployment rate: 7.2%) – a loss of 524,000 in December alone (1.9 million in the last 4 months of 08).

Take another look at yesterday’s post: Poverty solutions. In that 3rd paragraph, I dared suggest how close we all were to living in poverty. I think you might agree – the numbers that came out this morning just reinforced that reality.

Since the millennium, world-wide groups have banded together begging governments to invest in ending poverty. We’ve seen some changes, but not very many. In fact, my hometown, Toronto, or rather its region, the GTA, has officially been dubbed: Ontario’s Child Poverty Capital. Now that is a legacy to behold! Take a look at a recent report released by the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto: Greater Trouble in the Greater GTA.

One of the numbers that blows me away in this report (and many of its facts are just shameful) is that a single parent with 2 children who makes less than $23,380 a year is considered to be living in poverty. Um… Is anyone reading this familiar with the cost of living in the GTA? That amount of money wouldn’t sustain a single parent of 2 cats! Absolutely sick. Whoever chose that number to be the one we should go with might want to attempt living on that income him/herself. What about the person making $25,000 or even $30,000 for that matter?

In every report, on every Website and in every article – when poverty is referred to, one of the recommendations is to invest in education – education for children, and for their parents. We know that jobs requiring a higher education tend to pay more, hence lifting the “owner of that job” out of the risk of poverty. What we should also consider is that someone who has broad education may be more versatile in times like the ones we are experiencing these days.

OK – so, we can’t change the recession. (Where is “I dream of Genie” when you need her. C’mon, just blink your eyes once!) But what if we said: Now is the time to invest in education. Now is the time to lift people out of their poverty. Now is the time to give people hope for a brighter future. Now is the time, and education is the way!

We have to make a change!

____

Take a look at Marty’s comment in the previous post… There’s a lot of truth there: enjoy those institutions of arts and culture; we can learn a lot. Many, in fact, give back to the community and support the causes we refer to in this blog.

Housepaint, for example, is an exhibit currently on at the ROM (click on Exhibitions & Galleries). Housepaint brings together exceptional “street artists” to showcase and commemorate homelessness and represents it through graffiti, or street art. An “out of the box” exhibit for the ROM, to be sure, but one that is so important and draws together the value of arts to the cause of poverty.

What I’d like to add to Marty’s comment is that the learning doesn’t only come from “arts and culture”. It comes from people’s talents and passions. Everyone has talent and passion: for some it’s the arts, for some sports, for some it could be cooking. The point is, we need to encourage people who are living in poverty – heck, we need to encourage each other – to find those niches of passion and lose themselves in the learning and the hope that comes from it.

Learning expands our ability to hope; hope gives us direction; direction gives us purpose; and purpose can pull us out of our darkest hours…

Sometimes hope is in the journey;
The destination never comes.
It’s not about left or right;
It’s not about right or wrong.

Sometimes hope is in the movement;
The destination doesn’t matter.
It’s not about where you land;
It’s that you bothered.

Sometimes hope is all we have;
The destination is a dream.
It’s about when you’re awake,
And a safe place for you to sleep.

Sometimes hope is the answer;
The destination is the guide.
It’s about making the right choice;
It’s about taking the ride.

Sometimes hope…

- Judi Samuels
January 9, 2009

Poverty solutions could help the economic crisis

According to financial advisors – at least, those I spoke with in early 08 and in 07 – a person is considered “rich” when they have saved 3 months worth of their salary, not including RSPs. (For any American readers, an RSP – Retirement Savings Plan – is a Canadian version of a 401K… kinda.) I’m just curious, and I’m also well aware that no answers will actually be given, but think about how many people you know who actually have that amount of money set aside… I would guess it’s not very many, if any. Now, turn on the TV or read the newspaper or check out your favourite Website’s newsfeed, and it doesn’t quite take a genius to know that there’s a pretty grim economic situation “out there”.

• People are getting laid off: In a strange and twisted way, it’s better than quitting or being fired because it gives you the opportunity to seek government assistance. But – in a crazy cycle – this would then put the government back into more debt…
• Banks aren’t lending (although, apparently in Canada, they’re going to start again): But credit isn’t exactly the best solution.
• Businesses are closing doors or going bankrupt.
• Stock markets are crashing – so, watch those RSPs and 401Ks!

In short: it’s ugly. And if you’re not one of those “rich” people (see above), losing your job may mean you could be about 2-3 weeks away from living in poverty… I’m sorry; I don’t mean to scare the pants off you (please, it's too cold - keep them on), but it’s a reality we live in.

Why did I bring this up? And, why so early in a New Year when we are all suppose to be chipper with positive vibes and grand intentions?

I bring it up because I think it’s important for all of us to be aware that the issue of poverty is not happening just to “other people” who have made mistakes. It could happen to anyone of us; and it could happen outside of this economic crisis. I bring it up because we need to seize this time as an opportunity to understand the importance and urgency of programs that make a real and significant impact in the lives of those who do live in poverty. We need to invest in them and make them work now. (Check out other posts for info on such programs.)

If you’re not a softie and you need more hardened facts, let’s go back to the “Coordination Team” post. If we can take people living in poverty, provide them with the skills needed, they can help fill the gaps in the shortage of labour issue. If we teach the new skills (for example renewable energy vs. coal) then we create a generation ready for the next challenge. And, if we do this with more people – meaning more people in more jobs getting paid – then we can let the people inject money back into the economy. Ever heard of supply and demand?

Don’t raise your eyebrow(s)! (The plural possibility is because I don’t know what kind of frowner you are…) I’m not suggesting that this is going to be an overnight success, nor am I suggesting that this is a miracle cure. I’m simply suggesting that this might be something we want to explore.

We’re bailing out the car industry – to the tune of multiple billions of dollars. We’re bringing down interest rates and attempting to increase accessibility to credit – because of course, indebting the nation even further will no doubt help us in the long run. (Please note the sarcasm.) So why can’t we focus on the people and give them a genuine opportunity to make a difference in their lives, in the future of their country, and – who knows, in the future of the world? Notice the suggestion of giving opportunities, not fish.

Did you know that there are 293 ways to make change for $1.00? Then, there must be as many ways - if not more - to positively impact the world we live in. If so, then I'd like to count the ideas proposed in this blog as some of the possible ways to have a real impact in the lives of those living in poverty, in our communities and in our countries.

(Check out www.thestar.com/poverty for some news on how Ontario is planning to deal with the issue of poverty. Got comments and ideas, let me know!)

Psst… Digg it!

A "Zone" of Hope for Harlem's Children

Don’t Blame Me

The girl’s mother said, “Don’t blame me.
Her father left when she was three.
I know she don’t know her ABCs, her 1,2,3s,
But I am poor and work hard you see.”
You know the story, it’s don’t blame me.

The teacher shook her head and said,
“Don’t blame me, I know it’s sad.
He’s ten, but if the truth be told,
He reads like he was six years old.
And math, don’t ask.
It’s sad you see.
Wish I could do more, but it’s after three.
Blame the mom, blame society, blame the system.
Just don’t blame me.”

The judge was angry, his expression cold.
He scowled and said, “Son you’ve been told.
Break the law again and you’ll do time.
You’ve robbed with a gun.
Have you lost your mind?”
The young man opened his mouth to beg.
“Save your breath,” he heard instead.
“Your daddy left when you were two.
Your momma didn’t take care of you.
Your school prepared you for this fall.
Can’t read, can’t write, can’t spell at all.
But you did the crime for all to see.
You’re going to jail, son.
Don’t blame me.”

If there is a God or a person supreme,
A final reckoning, for the kind and the mean,
And judgment is rendered on who passed the buck,
Who blamed the victim or proudly stood up,
You’ll say to the world, “While I couldn’t save all,
I did not let these children fall.
By the thousands I helped all I could see.
No excuses, I took full responsibility.
No matter if they were black or white,
Were cursed, ignored, were wrong or right,
Were shunned, pre-judged, were short or tall,
I did my best to save them all.”
And I will bear witness for eternity
That you can state proudly,
“Don’t blame me.”

‐ By Geoffrey Canada
February 2007

Geoffrey Canada grew up in the South Bronx, in a neighbourhood notorious for poverty and for crime. He was gifted with academic success, despite the surroundings, and dedicated his career to helping those who are faced with similar challenges he once knew. In a very personal account, he speaks about the rise in violence in the US. His book: Fist Stick Knife Gun (link on the right menu) is his story, meshed with society’s impact on the rise of violence.

Since 1990, Geoffrey Canada has been the President and CEO of the

Harlem’s Children Zone. The “Zone”, as it has come to be known, has seen, and helped with, issues like truancy, crack, and “open-air drugs”. The “Zone” offers support to all families including schooling and career coaching. The “Zone’s” philosophy: Whatever it takes!

The bottom line is that if you want to take a child living in poverty and give them a real chance in the world – it isn’t about just one program. It’s about transcending the source of the issues, overcoming the challenges – continuously – until that child has graduated from college and can progress into “middle-class” without slipping back into the life of poverty they were born into. So many programs (as I mentioned before in this blog) have time-specific help… we give them fish. And boy, are we good at “fish giving”! But, like Geoffrey Canada, we need to find ways to teach them how to fish, and then we have to find ways to make sure they never forget.

President Clinton said: “I wish every city had a Geoffrey Canada....His vision of a renewed Harlem community, and his accomplishments toward achieving it, attest to the power we all have to overcome poverty and hopelessness in America." (Dare I say, North America?)

When I worked at the Canadian Tourism Commission, we once had a campaign which stated: The World could use a little more Canada. After learning more about Geoffrey, I would agree. Wouldn’t you?

Whether you are Canadian or not, you can be the one who injects a little more Canada into the world… I’d love to hear what you’re doing. You can click on the “comments” link at the end of this post, or send me an e-mail at: thelemonheads@rogers.com. I’ll include some of your stories in the blog too.

Don't forget to Digg the blog (right-hand menu)

The very sour link between poverty, lack of education, drugs and death...

Happy New Year and welcome back…

It is 2009 and as is customary (in my world) I hope you’ve made some good resolutions for the year. I’ve made a few: I’ve planned them and on day 3 of the New Year I’ve already started on a few. The big one is to increase awareness about the issue of poverty, and in particular its link to lack of education, throughout my circle of influence.

I am currently working on a program I plan to implement once the snow melts. It involves a GPS and various geographic coordinates throughout North America. I’ll keep you posted, but here’s the clue: ever heard of Geocaching? (Yes, there will be a very clear link and application to the blog topic.)

Now – let’s get back to Nichole and her family. It’s been too long and I apologize for the lag in getting back to this story. Though Nichole has told me many of her experiences, I don’t know them all intimately. She is ready and willing to share the stories, but she needed a little break. It’s not easy to reminisce on this type of life; and even harder for someone who may have a little of what I call survivor’s guilt. (Nichole wonders, at times, why her? Why did she have the chance to get out?)

CAUTION: The following content contains mature subjects.

Four years ago, Nichole’s brother Alex, died. He was 35 years old.

Alex grew up just like his sisters. He was the only boy and once their father left, he was also the man of the house. Shouldn't every 8 year old be the man of the house? He would help clean, he would discipline his sisters, he would take care of himself and his mother – just as a father would… but Alex had a problem of getting in trouble at school, and sometimes getting kicked out. In the US, if you are under 18 and out of school you end up in juvie. Alex learned that one at a really young age...

At the age of 10, his mother told him that his next offense would lead him straight to living with his father. Sure enough, young Alex got into yet another fight and got suspended. Nichole’s mom packed his bags and drove him to his father’s – he was dropped off at the door. It took two years of Alex’s rebellious behavior to get him into trouble so big that his father greeted him with a swift “punch in the face”! His mom was quickly at the door to pick up her son and bring him home.

Alex never had a role model, and never had discipline. He didn’t always have meals, and when he did, they were rarely healthy. His behavior made him lose his football privileges. At the age of 12, this boy was losing more than he had before – which wasn’t very much to begin with; he wanted a normal life…

He didn’t graduate high school, but did get trained to be an electrician. The money was good enough to buy the drugs that made life easier - "weed", "coke", heroin, among others. He bought drugs; he used drugs; he sold drugs… (To quote Nichole: “There is more to this story, but I don’t know everything. And, I never want to.”)

May I state the obvious? Drugs lead to addictions, and addictions are generally bad news! In order to make more money for drugs, Alex decided to run his own business… He started overcharging, and one of his clients noticed. He was writing checks to himself – from other people; those people noticed. Someone called him in! Alex was arrested and went to prison.

While doing his time, Alex finished his GED. It appeared that he had a second chance… He was released at the age of 35... back into the world he knew.

One Saturday morning in April 06, Penny went to visit her brother… He wouldn’t answer the knock on the door. She knelt down by the window of his sub-ground apartment and peered inside to see Alex, lying on the couch motionless. Penny ran into the building and broke down his door. He had tissues in his nose, full of blood, and he was grey. Alex was dead!

He had been battling pneumonia and taking the meds; he was drinking with friends the night before; he was taking diet pills (the same that Anna Nicole Smith was taking); and he was taking Vicodin. Big news – those things don’t mix!
The vicious circle is perpetuated - fatally... If little Alex, at the age of 10, had had the opportunities that you and I are familiar with, he may never have been lying dead on his couch at the age of 35. Now, Alex will never have that chance.

You and I do. Yyou and I have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of 10 year olds we know, and even some we don’t. Check out organizations like: Street Kids International, Big Brothers or Big Sisters, and Mentoring.

Make 2009 one to remember; make a difference.

A different kind of "Butterfly Garden"

When Nichole was in grade 9, she had severe back problems. She missed more school then she was allowed to but received doctor’s notes for justification. In some US states, students need to receive up to 4 “credits” between grades 7 and 9 to be granted entry into high school and begin grade 10. Nichole received 3.5 credits…

After a few months in grade 10, Nichole was called into the high school counsellor’s office. This counsellor informed Nichole that she was revoking her 3.5 credits since she had missed too many school days in grade 9. Nichole argued that the doctor’s notes were provided. The doctor’s notes were not on file and Nichole’s mother hadn’t kept them in a safe place. According to the counsellor, if Nichole wanted to stay in school, she had to prove the reason behind the absences.

Nichole was faced with peer pressures and influences. Some days, she wouldn’t go to school because there were no clean clothes. Some days, she went to school to be picked on because of tattered clothing or out-of-style clothes. Nichole was too embarrassed to bring any friends home for fear of finding her mother drunk. Food was scarce, and certainly wasn’t healthy.

When she realized that there was no way to recover the missing doctor’s notes; Nichole dropped out of high school… With what surrounded her, and the challenges she faced just to be in school, she didn't see a good ending to staying (or trying to stay) in school.

There are days now, when Nichole’s nephews are given permission to stay home because their mother (Penny) is too tired to get up and get them ready. What will happen to them when it is time for them to go to high school?

I'd like to introduce you to Sandra McBrayer . In 1987, Ms. McBrayer founded and developed the first successful school in the United States for homeless and unattended youth, serving as head teacher for the Homeless Outreach School (now known as Monarch High School) in San Diego until 1996.

You need to check out the Monarch School; the evolution of the school Sandra McBrayer founded. Please go through this Website and get to know the school. Monarch School provides the basics, the education and the programs. Their program recognizes all the issues that people who are homeless or living in poverty face, including abuse, hunger, and no place to take a simple shower. Their program provides equal education to their students; many of whom graduate and get scholarships to continue their studies. Their programs also provide assistance after graduation, and provide additional "normal events" such as birthday parties or graduation ceremonies. Kids are allowed to be kids...

Monarch School is the only one of its kind in North America… Their mantra: to restore hope and unleash dreams. This is one idea I would love to see expanded more broadly throughout. Imagine the impact of such a school in the Bronx, or in the “Jane and Finch” neighbourhood of Toronto.

I say it’s time to create a new version of “Butterfly Gardens”…

Link to Youthworks

A quick apology for not having posted yesterday, but we are now on "holiday hours". All that really means is that we are running around trying to get errands done before we get into the Christmas week.

During this special time, where people are encouraged to celebrate with friends and families, share in meals, presents and the "spirit of giving", I wanted to provide you with a link that I hold close to my heart.

When I worked at Direct Energy, we had the luxury of supporting a great cause called "Raising the Roof". This charity helps solve the critical issue of homelessness. In 2006, Raising the Roof launched "Youthworks", a program specifically focused on eliminating homelessness at the beginning - not the end. There are approximately 65,000 young people who have no place to call "home"; not because they got angry and ran away, but because they had no choice. If you take a close look at the program's initiatives, you will notice that one of their main goals is to ensure proper access to education for these youth. The link between "poverty and homelessness" and "education and opportunity" is so strong!

In this time of celebration, I encourage everyone to do one special deed to promote hope to all those who are not quite as fortunate.

I'll be back later tonight with the next installation of the Lemon Tree.

Thanks again for your support and interest...

Judi

chief lemonhead

Lemon Tree Idea Gallery – The Boulder Remover

(Lemon Creek Glacier, Southern Alaska)

There is a philosophy in management studies which suggests that the key to being successful as a manager is to remove obstacles from the path of your teams, and then get out of the way to let them do what they’re good at. The obstacle in question is usually something within the internal operations of the business.

It has also been proven time and time again that employees who have less personally stress, strife and distraction contribute more significantly and more productively to the organization than those who have more. In fact, SAS, a research software development organization in Cary, NC has – for eleven consecutive years – been in the top 30 of Fortune’s Top 100 Best Companies to Work for in America. One of SAS’s successes during their 30+ years, is the way it treats its employees, including providing: onsite subsidized medical centres, onsite subsidized gourmet cafeterias, subsidized health and daycare programs, among others. SAS believes that by helping employees relieve their personal pre-occupations, they will have employees who contribute more to the success of the organization – and they do!

This doesn’t mean that people who have more personal issues aren’t as smart or as capable; rather, they are distracted. You might think that one should separate their personal life and work life. To a degree, I’ll agree with you. But what if the “distraction” is the concern of whether this week’s pay check will be enough to pay rent, bills and to put food on the table for your 2-year old? Do you still believe it’s easy to just leave the personal problems at home? To so many, these issues are like a boulder in the middle of the highway and you’re driving towards it at over 100mph (160km/h)!

What if we could expand these business theories and practices into society at large? We all want our communities to continue improving – so, let’s be a part of the movement!

Those boulders I referred to are usually major hope crushers for so many people living in poverty. They may want to change their lives, learn, grow, earn and stand on their own two feet, but these big huge rocks (among others) are in their way:
• Who is going to take care of the kids while I go to school and learn?
• If I study, and give up or reduce my salary for 6 months (the average amount of time required to get a certificate), how will I make ends meet?
• Even if I study part time to not give up my salary – can my body handle the demands and stresses?
• Even if I get a job, I can’t leave the kids because I still can’t afford daycare!
• Will I make it through? And, even if I do, what’s at the other end? What if it’s all for not?
To make matters worse, these rocks are next to impossible to budge – and these people are usually alone (remember the reliability issue in "Lemons have families too..."). So there’s no help to even try to move them. What would you do? Over time, most people give up. Voilà: hopelessness!

What if we could create a movement whose key goal is to remove these boulders from the paths of people who aren’t quite as privileged as many of us? Don’t worry about the “how” right now? Worry about the “who”… If we could all commit to “creating a world with no borders where everyone can have true equal opportunity to improve their life”, we would all find the right ways to budget, nudge and even remove these boulders.

Boulder Removing Experts

Here’s idea #2… and, to tell you the truth, I don’t think I’ve heard of this kind of program in existence. Imagine with me:

…An organization that people can turn to for support in order to remove boulders from their path when they want to work toward self-sufficiency. In order to qualify, you need to be willing to work with a counsellor/case worker who will evaluate your needs and ambitions. Let’s be clear – this group is not going to help you get a BMW! But if you work with them, you could be able to get your own.

Independently of what your problems are, this organization removes the boulders. You can get a job, but you can’t leave your children because you can’t pay for daycare: we’ll help you cover daycare. You realize it’s time to get a high school diploma because no matter how hard you try, you can’t get a full time job that pays enough to cover rent and the bills: we can help you get that diploma. You have been working for years in a basic paying job without benefits or savings and now you’ve been laid off: we’ll make it easier for you to find another job and bridge the gap.

You’ll notice that the “helps” provided are built to remove boulders. These individualized programs are temporary. You and your case worker build a plan and timeline together (which unto itself is a learning). Once the boulder is out of your way, and you’re on your way, we get out of your way and you live your life. The point is to get you to self-sufficiency, to teach you how to fish.

There are two small additions to the organization and its programs: 1/ if you want to stay in touch, you are always welcome; and 2/ please pay it forward.

What do you think?

It may sound like welfare – but, I’d like to think it’s better. If this is what welfare is supposed to be then I apologize to those who created the welfare programs. I would suggest that those programs get better managed. I know people who live on welfare, and they really don’t believe there’s a way out. They almost seem to think that it’s going to be “welfare forever”.

In the meantime, feel free to share these ideas with anyone you think could contribute to making a difference. We need to take a stand today. The longer we wait, the more the issues proliferate. The more the issues proliferate, the more we get comfortable with the idea that “this is just the way it is”. I don’t know about you, but I refuse to accept poverty as a norm that just is…

Lemony Lessons: Climbing the pyramid

Many of you are probably familiar with the Chinese proverb: Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for life. One of my favourite business/self-help writers/speakers, Stephen Covey takes it a step further and suggests that if we create a generation of teachers of fishing, we will lift all of society. And, I believe that!

I also believe that many of the existing government programs that support those who live in poverty do so by “giving fish”. These programs deal with the symptoms: hunger and homelessness (among others). Don’t get me wrong, of course we need to deal with these symptoms otherwise we’d be faced with not only people in poverty but people who are dying from starvation and exposure to the elements (which I recognize happens in many other countries). Now, I’m not a psychologist and I don’t pretend to be, but I will wager that those who live at the poverty level are likely, psychologically speaking, at the bottom end of

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

And I believe that with all good intentions, those government programs I am referring to were built – at least in part – to respond to those “deficiency needs” shown at the bottom of the pyramid.

I’d like to “throw something out there”… Might it be possible to work through the pyramid rather than step by step? (Yup; I sure did just question Mr. Maslow, the Father of Modern Management Psychology.) Here’s what I’m thinking: Instead of these government programs focusing solely on giving the physiological needs to those living in poverty, why wouldn’t we expand the focus into teaching how to get those needs on their own? That way, people can become self-sufficient rather than continually relying on others.

I can appreciate that some of these programs might already exist but I would question their accessibility. And I can appreciate that some people might question the time required and cost involved in “hand-holding” some of the people to access these teaching/learning programs if we want to move them from dependency to self-sufficiency. But, if we spend the extra effort now to make a real difference, we might actually be able to reduce the problem significantly. Who knows? Maybe one day we can actually eliminate poverty – like so many governments, world-wide, have committed to doing!

I believe that if we could build a culture where teaching and learning combine to drive people to self-sufficiency, we will see a world where the intensity of poverty begins to lighten. I believe that the teachers, who are likely higher (psychologically speaking) on the Pyramid will find themselves “self-actualizing” and that the learners will find themselves striving for higher levels with each new lesson they can take away. We could actually expand hope.

I remember being a kid and learning to ride my bike. I don’t think there was anything more exciting than showing everyone that I could do it on my own! The sense of pride that I actually learned to do something by myself was amazing. It was that feeling – remembering that feeling – that made me want to learn the next thing. What I’m driving at is that if we can learn one thing and feel good about it, we’ll likely want to learn one more… This new cycle continues until learning becomes a habit. And from the lessons come growth, self-sufficiency, pride and self-respect.

Lemons have families too...

I'd like to give you a little extra background on Nichole and her family:

Nichole’s mom graduated from high school – with honours; she was even enrolled in college (but never had a chance to graduate). She took care of her kids while her husband worked. It was the late 70s.

But papa was a rolling stone. He was in a rock band and drove race cars on the weekends. He thought he was one “hot tamale”! Then, the bottom fell out... He lost his job, lost the house and cheated on his wife. Little Nichole was only 2 when her dad left. A single mom with 3 kids and no income doesn’t make ends meet very well. And, Nichole’s dad was not into paying child support!

Oh, there goes gravity… (Eminem, Lose Yourself)

Nichole’s mom turned to county (State) support. A few food stamps and housing subsidies later, none of which provided a good life for a family of 4 in which 3 of the people were under the age of 18, Nichole’s mom gave into the vices that grip people who begin to feel hopeless. She started smoking and drinking heavily – and Lord knows what else – but, the point is that the pressures were too much!

Nichole’s mom – a grown woman – had to work for minimum wage at the local grocery store. She had a job which did not provide her with any family benefits so she remained a “client of welfare”; she did not get time off – she worked weekends, evenings, and sometimes nights. Nichole, her sister (4 years older), and her brother (8 years older) spent nights alone – fending for themselves. The kids would often wake themselves up and get themselves ready to go to school by themselves because their mom was too tired. Can you understand why, sometimes, the laundry didn’t get done?

The subsidies allowed the family to get a used car – sometimes the car started, sometimes it didn’t. Often, it didn’t start because they couldn't afford gas! (Would you believe that food stamps don’t buy gas, either?) When the car didn’t start, Nichole’s mom couldn’t get to work which meant she didn’t get paid. Oh yeah, I know what you’re thinking: call for a ride, take the bus. I thought that way too – but, let me enlighten you:

When you live in many small towns that are in the suburbs of small cities, there is no public transit! So, that option is out the window. And, when you live in areas where poverty is the norm, reliability is not a trait you find in others very easily. So, you just stay home. It doesn't happen over night; at first, you try. But, over time, when you are continuously met with this kind of challenge and obstacle, it's hard to find the strength to push through.

Shall we recap?
• From a life with hope, to hopeless and alone
• From regular meals to food stamps and housing subsidies
• From stay-at-home mom to minimum wage work with no benefits
• From a nice home to no stability
• From race cars to a car that might not start
• And, no reliable people or public transit

Sounds dreamy, doesn’t it? These were the realities that this family lived with… So, it’s no surprise when I tell you that there were often nights when splitting a baked potato for dinner was something you just had to do. Nichole recalls many nights where her mom actually gave up eating so that the kids could get a larger portion. Did I mention that her mom weighs about 90lbs all wet?

What’s the point of this story? The point is that poverty is a cycle. Somewhere, somehow, the cycle has to be broken. Here’s the big challenge: How do you break the cycle of poverty, create value for education, and mitigate the negative influences, without losing the fact that in the middle of it all, there exists a family?

Lemon Tree Idea Gallery - The Coordination Team

There are many more stories I intend to share on behalf of Nichole over the course of this blog. But, I think it’s also important to inject some ideas that we might all be able take action on and maybe make a difference. So, that is what I plan to do tonight.

Your contributions to the posts in the “Ideas Gallery” are particularly important. Click on the “comments” link at the end of the post to provide your thoughts. Feel free to provide your comments at any time…

It takes a village…
I’d like to remind you of 2 expressions that I’m sure you’ve heard before: 1/ It takes a village to raise a child; and 2/ Lead by example. What I get from putting these 2 expressions together is that, in order to raise a child – in all the positive sense of the term – we must model the behaviour we want to see.

If we want to make a real difference in bridging the gap between poverty and lack of education, we have to remember that contributing to this gap are, in no particular order of priority, communities, families, and schools. So, when we build out our programs, we have to find a way to link positive support at all the influence points.

The Coordination Team:
What if there was a "coordination team" whose job it was to work within specific communities and draw together those groups who focus on different aspects of the poverty spectrum: Food Banks, Adult education & job placement, Community improvement, Mentoring, Sports, etc… This very targeted focus would likely make a real impact and could transform areas over shorter periods of time than if we hit each individual issue on its own.

You’ll notice that I’m trying to stay away from government support. This doesn’t mean that these families and communities shouldn’t continue to get the support that they are entitled to, but the point is to help them improve to a level where that support is not required. Education is key!

Adults, like children, must learn. They have to be able identify those opportunities where they can apply the learning, and then they have to get paid for it. They also need the support required to feed and shelter their family. Don't forget, they have to be able to get to work too!

Corporations who are part of the broader community should get involved! If labour shortage is an issue – and it is today – these corporations would benefit tremendously from a program that would help people living in poverty acquire skills for future application directly with them. Imagine the employee engagement that comes from helping someone help himself?

A great example of an organization doing just that is RONA. The RONA Foundation makes a difference – one youth at a time. As a sponsor of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic games, RONA has provided materials for the legacy housing which will house athletes during the Games, and be transformed into subsidized housing after the games. Over 150 housing units will be available. In addition to this, RONA’s “How-to” team also worked with homeless and underprivileged youth in the Vancouver area to build various Olympic venues. By providing skills and training to these youth, RONA has given hope and made a difference in these communities. Want to hear the best part? These youth are now training other youth to build more venues, and they are getting paid for it!

For the record – the RONA Foundation and the RONA How-to team provide support to underprivileged communities across Canada.

Lemon-scented laundry...

Well, now that I’ve introduced you to Nichole, I’d like to walk you through a few episodes of her life. The following stories might get you emotional – they sure did me. Nichole’s life and life experiences are about as clear an example of how lack of education and poverty become part of an endless cycle until someone finds the hope and strength to break it.

Laundry detergent – is it a right or a privilege?

You know what I think is interesting: the term “underprivileged”. According to the

Merriam-Webster online dictionary, underprivileged refers to those deprived through social or economic condition of some of the fundamental rights of all members of civilized society. When most of us think of people who are living in underprivileged conditions, we think of subsidized housing and lack of food. Would you have even considered that access to laundry detergent, or clean clothes, would actually be restricted? I mean, I’m not trying to feign ignorance here but laundry detergent is not something top of mind… not even in our own daily lives, but it is very important.

When Nichole was 9, getting ready for school she often woke up to put on dirty clothes. There were days when the laundry just didn’t get done: without hope or when you're short on food, it’s hard to have the energy to clean clothes. Many times, it was simply a question of not having laundry detergent to begin with. Nichole even has memories of clothes being washed in the bathtub with dish soap because it is cheaper than laundry detergent. Not to mention that it was the only thing left in the house which could clean clothes… well, at least until the welfare check came!

Now, it’s hard enough being a kid who lives below the level of poverty. Add to it the regular stresses of going to school, throw in a dash of “out-of-style” clothing, and for good measure – make those clothes dirty! Do you want to keep going to school?

Here’s the thing – food stamps do not buy laundry detergent. When we look for ways to help bridge the gap between poverty and lack of education, we need to create an educational environment that breaks down (as much as possible) the silos that society creates and then imposes on our children. Those silos make it hard for “over-privileged” children; imagine what they do to underprivileged children?

* The image of the Sunlight detergent is simply used to depict a "lemon-scented" laundry detergent.

My Lemon Tree Inspiration: Setting the stage

I’ve spent some time in the first 5 posts showing why this cause is so important to our communities. Of course, there are many other reasons which I will discuss over time; this is just a beginning.

Over the next series of posts, I’d like to demonstrate why this issue is so important to me personally, and introduce you to my inspiration for the Lemon Tree.

My inspiration:
A little over 5 years ago, I met someone incredibly special. A person with a big heart and a great mind, but who had never had the opportunities I got. This person grew up in a small community in the US – though she would argue that the “small community” she grew up in was no small community at all because it’s the seat of government for the county. But, here’s the back story…

Nichole grew up in a world that I had only seen in movies and on TV (sure, maybe I was a little sheltered): Her family was on welfare and food stamps. (A little fun fact about food stamps: they only buy food. No soap, no toothpaste, no toilet paper. And, they’re actually called “food coupons”. Want more info, click here.) Nichole rarely, if ever, had new clothes – being the youngest of three, she usually received hand-me-downs. Their home was provided, in part, by county subsidies. And, the odds that their car would start in the morning were as good as the odds you’d win at a game of slots at the casino.

You’d like to think that was the worst of it, but such is not the case. Poverty often breeds despair; Nichole witnessed teenage pregnancies, drug use, abuse and overdose, alcoholism, and domestic assault.

Not that anyone should, but humour me… Can you imagine growing up in this environment and succeeding in school? Nichole quit high school in grade 10.

Over the course of the next week, I’ll share some personal stories on behalf of Nichole, and lead up to her ambitions, dreams and plan of attack.

A word of caution here: The posts may contain mature subjects. Reader discretion is advised.

Lemon Tree Facts: Canada and the US

One of the things you will notice throughout this blog is that I am focusing on Canada and the US.

Why?

Well, it’s certainly not because poverty or lack of education doesn’t exist anywhere else. In fact, I know it is rampant in some countries that didn’t make my shortlist. I am focusing on these countries because it’s where I live and it’s likely to be the area where I can make a larger and more realistic difference. The ideas that will be generated, I hope, could be exported to other areas of the world; and as I mentioned before, if ideas are already working in other places, maybe those could be imported here.

Now, to get back to your question: “Why?” I’ll take you back to the last paragraph of my last post: the notion of the stone in the water creating ripples. It’s important to make a difference in our “circle of influence” (Stephen Covey, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People). Sure, I’d like to save the world; wouldn’t we all? But, we have to focus on where we can make the biggest impact, and hope that the positive changes we truly influence will generate ripples into the future, and maybe even into the larger global community.

I mean, most poverty-targeting charities are focused on under-developed countries. And, I’m not suggesting (as mentioned before) that there isn’t a need to help the people in those countries, but who’s looking at the issues on our streets, and in our cities? The poverty-targeting charities in Canada and the US usually only garner media attention around the holidays, or around natural disasters (think Katrina).

How is it that we get “guilted” into focusing our charities and efforts on these places miles and oceans away from us when there is poverty in our own city – if not on our own street? How can we then turn around and dare ask why there is crime in our schools; why so many of our youth choose "the wrong path"; and why so many people in our towns are homeless?

So, that’s why I am focusing on Canada and the US: I believe that if we focus on our streets, our neighbourhoods, our families, our communities, our cities, our countries – we can more likely have an immediate impact, a more direct influence, and make a bigger difference in the long run. When those we help choose to “pay it forward” – maybe even like Chris Gardner did – perhaps the greater circle of influence expands into other parts of the world.

So… what does the picture look like in Canada or the US? Well, I suppose you could say it’s like Vegas, to quote the new and improved INXS, “It ain’t pretty, after the show!”

Canada (stats from

www.makepovertyhistory.ca):
• One in six Canadian child is living in poverty;
• Canada’s child poverty rate of 15% is 3x higher than the rate of child poverty in Sweden, Norway or Finland;
• Every month, 770 000 people in Canada use food banks; 40% of those are children!

USA (stats from http://www.heartsandminds.org/articles/childpov.htm):
• One in four American child is living below the official “poverty line” (who knew poverty had a line?);
• 22% of Americans under the age of 18, or 25% under the age of 12, are hungry, or at risk of being hungry;
• Everyday, 2 660 children are born into poverty; 27 die because of it;
• Children and families are the fastest growing group in the homeless population, representing about 40%!

If these stats aren’t enough to convince you that there is a real problem here, you could always Google the issue for yourself and see how many links you could check out!

To be clear, I am not suggesting that the poverty issue is not very real in other parts of the world; I know that it is. But, if we can turn this blog into a movement over time, the goal needs to be to focus at home and bridge the gap between lack of education and poverty. I believe that by keeping our focus on our true circle of influence, by becoming teachers and by modeling the concept of paying it forward, we will positively impact the bigger community, and maybe even the world…

We can be the stone and we can create ripples in the water.

Once Upon Chris Gardner's Lemon Tree

“Born February 9, 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Christopher Paul Gardner's childhood was marked by poverty, domestic violence, alcoholism, sexual abuse and family illiteracy. Gardner published his autobiography out of a desire to shed light on these universal issues and show they do not have to define you. Gardner never knew his father, and lived with his beloved mother, Bettye Jean Triplett (nee Gardner), when not in foster homes. Gardner is indebted to Bettye Jean for his success as she provided him with strong "spiritual genetics" and taught him that in spite of where he came from, he could chart another path and attain whatever goals he set for himself.” (http://www.chrisgardnermedia.com/main/biography.htm)

If this passage about Chris Gardner’s life doesn’t ring a bell for you, maybe clicking here will jar your memory.

Chris Gardner’s secret weapon for survival: his mind! Even at a young age, Chris knew how to read and realized that this unto itself would provide hope for him. His ability to expand his hope through learning is inspirational. His sacrifice, even beyond the pain he was already experiencing, for the chance to improve his life and his son’s life is one that many of us might not have the strength to make.

As if that weren’t enough, what else makes Chris Gardner special? Chris has taken his lessons and recognizes that without the help he did get, the teachers he did have, he may not have succeeded. He is now “forwarding” the favour by:

• Sitting on the Board of the National Fatherhood Initiative;
• Sitting on the Board of the National Education Foundation and sponsoring 2 awards;
• Sitting on the Board of the International Rescue Committee;
• Remaining committed to the Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco;
• And helping to fund low-income housing project and employment opportunities for Tenderloin (a notoriously poor area of SF).

See Chris on 20/20:
• Part 1
• Part 2

What’s my point?
My point is that when people have the hope to pull themselves out of poverty, can find the right teachers so they can learn what is required to stand on their own feet, and then expand their hope to reach incredible heights, they give back. It’s like the concept of the stone in the water and the ripple it creates.

I believe that each of us have the opportunity to be the “stone”. Help people find their hope; help people learn; and watch them make a difference. If you can teach - and make it a habit to teach - you’ll keep creating ripples. This does not cost money, takes less time than you think, and makes a world of difference!