Don't Speak the Language?

Well no fear, World Lens is here.

Enough said.

Checking My List

For the past few months I've been working hard to get all my ducks in a row for my Fellowship to Jordan. I've been relocated to different offices twice, even before I've stepped foot in the country and I've even started looking for an apartment to stay which hopefully won't be too far from the office where I'll work. Fortunately I've had to sit down and use my organizational skills to prepare myself as best as possible. Here is a small list of just a few things that I'm working on.

Study Arabic:
Studies show that Arabic is the second hardest language in the world to learn behind Mandarin. If you've never tried to learn a new language on the fly before - let me tell you that it isn't easy depending on your language. I started taking an Arabic class a few months ago but it seems pointless since the class only taught modern standard and for this trip I'm going to need to learn colloquial Leventine Arabic.

If you don't know much about Arabic and how it goes I'll give you a small break down. Imagine learning a language in which you can speak to people and everyone understands roughly what you're saying, but in turn you have a hard time understanding them. I'd be able to read my reports coming in from the field as student information comes in, but I'd have a hard time conversing with a lot of the people around me.

I've been studying Arabic from a ton of books that I've bought and I'm finally getting comfortable speaking to many of the Arabic speakers at my job. I'm still a long way from having a meaningful conversation, but you have to start somewhere. Just like the old saying goes, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice!"

Fundraising:
The fundraising efforts have been a true test of endurance. I first mentioned my trip to a crowd of people at the Code Poetry Night event in July and collected just under $200. A month later on August 15 I put the marathon task in high gear. So far I've collected 3/4 of my goal from recycling bottles, donations from community members, old friends, new friends and anonymous people who believe in the cause of education and microfinance.

I've worked on so many campaigns including making bean pie, writing fundraising letters, creating a website and working on a fundraising video. So many donations have come with heartfelt letters from people I've met over the years and some I haven't seen in a long time. It's really a great feeling to know that so many people support the project I'm working on.

Fortunately I'm only a few thousand away from my goal of $7,500 and I'm waiting to hear back from a couple of donors. I'll be sure to keep all of you posted as thing move along. If you haven't already done so, DONATE!

Microfinance:
A couple of months ago I downloaded and began learning about microfinance formally through an online course through the United Nations Capital Development Fund. Thanks to the power of the internet it seems that resources are endless, but with these endless resources comes the challenge of finding the time to read and digest all the information.

Thanks to a chance meeting with microfinance enthusiast Drew Meyers - I've been put in contact with some amazing people including former Kiva Fellow and Social Entrepreneur Sloane Berrent. Both of these people have helped me find renewed motivation throughout the process of working toward my Fellowship. During those time of doubt about raising money and the huge task of starting a new REGIONAL program, their blogs reminded me of the mission ahead and the possibilities it will hold.

Learning about the process of microfinance has proven to be interesting to say the least. There is so much to learn and so many areas to cover, from savings to insurance. I'm very excited to have the opportunity to see all of this in motion while working to create a new area in which this MFI can utilize. I'm not an Economist or a banker by training, but I'm a student of life and learning something new is my biggest motivation to crack open my UNCDF book. In this case, a little motivation can go a very long way.

Irbid in Focus

It has been a little over one month since I started my fundraising campaign for my Fellowship to Jordan and I've been more than overwhelmed by the kindness of new and old friends. I've received donations from people I've known for years and some from people I've never met face to face. I've spoke to lots of people who've given me tons of great ideas on ways to fundraise and now I'm just a little ways off from the half way point of my goal. Being so close to this milestone I felt it's only right to tell you a little more about where I'll be stationed during my trip to the Middle East.

September 15 is exactly 120 days away from my departure window, I know this because because I'm be keep tracking on the calendar next to my bed. Everyday I switch on my computer to learn something new about the city I'll be calling home for 4 months. Thank goodness for wikipedia and other travel sites for all the information that they've given me. So far it seems that Irbid isn't the most boring place in Jordan, but rather a bustling metropolis in the north of the country since 1991.

Known as the "Bride of the North" it's also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The biblical name for Irbid was Arabella and changed during the advent of Islam in the entire region. Depending on which source you find, Irbid is the second or third largest city in Jordan behind the capital Amman which sits 120 miles to the south. Located in the northwest portion of the country near the Syrian and Israeli border not far from the occupied Golan Heights, the cities was made famous by the extremely fertile soil that surrounds the land. Unfortunately since the development boom in 1991 most of the precious soil used by farmers for generations has been covers by concrete for office buildings and parking lots. Now instead of being the agricultural capital of Jordan - Irbid has become one of the educational capitals. Instead of planting and cultivating corn and wheat, the city cultivates knowledge to thousands of Jordanians and some Palestinian refugees.

The most interesting fact about Irbid has to be that it holds the World Record for the most internet cafes per square mile, boasting well over a 100 in a relatively close proximity. University Street is home to the majority of these cafes which means lots of choices and cheaper prices while I'm there. The city is also home to a few of Jordan's most prestigious universities, namely Yarmouk University and the Jordan University of Science and Technology. I'm sure that the majority of students I'll be meeting and working with will come from these two schools.

I haven't lived in a college town since my undergraduate days in the Midwest, but living in a Middle Eastern college town should put an interesting spin on things. I'm counting down the days until I start packing my bags, but until then I'll keep you posted on where I'm going and what I'm doing.

On a final note I'd like to thank the following people for their contribution toward my Fellowship thus far. Most people have written checks instead of used my chipin widget, but all of it goes toward the same cause. Thanks for your help everyone!

Shams Kazi & Shazia Bhombal
Nadia Aftab
Sophia Rahman
Kareem Ali
Jihad Turk
Mouna Mana
Fizzah Raza
Sarah Peters
Malik Aziz
Mona Sharif
Mia Cramer
Almaas Shaikh
Ozma Khan
Larvell & April Hood
Laila El-Hajoui

Also I'd like to thank a few generous donors who wish to remain anonymous. I hope I didn't forget anyone.

Cause-Filled Life

What do you fill your life with? What small thing could you do to bring about a positive change toward the many who are in need of help? These questions are only a few out of the many that I ask myself each day when I wake up. Like so many people in their early 30's I've reached that crossing point between the priorities in my life and how to skillfully prioritizing them. For years in the entertainment industry as I lived on soup and Baja Fresh leftovers - the celebrities I worked for ate from a buffet whose price tag is more then two months of my salary. I'll admit that I have a very high propensity to dedicate my time toward helping groups and people I feel are in need - while most only want a job that lets them live comfortable sheltered lives. The idea of an altruistic nature rests dormant in many, but I've chosen to awaken the sleeping giant within.

Taking a page from the book of Sloane Berrent - I've worked hard to live a "cause-filled life." Creating, organizing, implementing, restructuring and cherishing projects that benefit people who I'll never meet to give them a step up in life. A perfect example of this idea came to me recently while talking to many youth who had outgrown the services of the youth group that I head. All they wanted was a place that taught them a certain level of skills such as scholarship research, college information and searching for jobs. Most of them wanted a centralized place that they felt comfortable to ask questions and get information specific to their needs, so I took the high road and build a computer lab just for them.

It didn't take an exhausting amount of effort as I used Facebook and professional connections to reach out to individuals who wanted to help. One person donated five unused computers from their job while other people gave away a computer or laptop which had been using up precious closet space. After a few weeks of reaching out to a select group of people I collected 10 computers and 2 laptops and located them in a space at the community center which has been used for book storage. Now working with two other people the room currently being connected to the centers network. In less then a few months and with a lot of persistence a computer lab was created in order to educate a large number of youth from high school to college age.

I'm not bringing up this story because I want thanks, although it seems that many people I work with think I'm begging for accolades, but I'm using myself as a model towards a greater idea and purpose. Living a "cause-filled life" doesn't have to be hard if you're using the right tools of creativity and diligence. Anyone can do something small that later turns into a bigger project toward to larger goal. Putting together this project taught me that anything can be done on a small budget, but the impact of that which is created can be long lasting and beneficial to so many.

Watching news reports from all over the world - I began to notice that so many school programs are being cut because of funding and budget issues. Community centers around the world often serve to fill the void left by the public school systems to build a space for all people, whether they're excelling or struggling with the issues that life has thrown at them. For those of you out there wanting to live a cause filled lifestyle I suggest that you visit a community organization near you to access their needs. Sometimes their needs are purely monetary, but often times they lack services to bring new people into their space such as basketball courts, tutors or even a computer lab. For any serious non-profit looking to be a beacon of the community - your presence and assistance will bring in more funds to help them become sustainable, thus being able to help more youth and adults in need of help.

So what's your project? What gets you out of the bed in the morning? What tugs at your heart-strings or creates a smile that your face can hardly contain? Isn't that why so many of us do the things that we do, because they serve a purpose? Just as all the matter in the universe is found here on earth, every aspect of life is contained in the world around us. While so many people have become clockwatchers at a job were time doesn't move fast enough - others have careers to where 24 hours in a day isn't nearly enough. Is that job or career you invest so much time in filled with a cause? Does it create a new way of thinking for the many or does it only serve the few who stand to benefit from it? What's your cause?

Microfund in Jordan: The Company

I'm sure that many people are wondering exactly who I'll be working with while I'm serving my Fellowship in Jordan. Lucky for you I'm here to explain it a little better. Microfund for Women isn't a name that should ring a bell for most people although their accomplishments are incredible. Nestled in the streets of so many cities in Jordan - MWF helps female clientele primarily in low-income situations to further empower the women it serves and their families. The numbers they have posted are very impressive and admiringly ambitious in my opinion but what is it exactly that makes MWF so special?

The result of years of product testing throughout Jordan, Microfund for Women was initiated as a pilot called Group Guaranteed Lending Program in the capital Amman in 1994 to help women entrepreneurs become income earners. By working with these entrepreneurs from all over Jordan they've created successful programs which have helped hundreds of thousands of women nationwide. These programs become so successful that the groups changed it's name to MWF after it became an independent entity in 1999. In 2002 it became a fully sustanable venture and reached the 25,000 active-client-loan mark in 2006.

Looking at exact numbers shows that MWF has over 56,000 active clients (97% women) and a repayment rate of 99% since it was established. In 2006 they received the Sanabel Best Microfinance Investment award for the Arab Region. Nationally it has grown in ten years to only a few people to 234 staff members in 22 branches, one of which will be the branch I'll be working with in Irbid located 120 miles north of Amman. I'll get into more information about Irbid in later postings.

Still confused? Lets take a story directly from MWF to illustrate. In one story a woman named Shaikha wanted to generate income to help her husband and family. Shaikha takes out a loan, creates her business and begins contributing more to the household finances in a short amount of time. The key is the final line in her profile which states, "She has also been able to send her son to university." The MWF branch I'll be assisting is proactively creating a program to help the children of women like Shaikha reach their goals of an educational. The information collected from the first young adults participating in this program will be gathered after I arrive in Jordan to flush out viability of such a program on a local and national.

Shaikha's son could have waited years until his mother had enough to send him back to school, but with MWF and Vittana a lender could be only a click of the mouse away from lenders willing to help them. Both of these organizations are quickly receiving a great reputation for making positive change as they each post high repayment rate. Although the end result is still forming, its exciting to know that I'll be one of the people that helps to make this project a reality.

Nothing Says 'Thank You' Like Bean Pie

After one month of fundraising for my Fellowship to the Middle East I've been humbled by the friends and strangers who have given from their own pockets to help me reach my goal. I still have a long way to go until I reach the magic number - so with the help of a friend I've come up with the perfect 'thank you' gift. Bean pie!

If you've never heard of bean pie then you're missing out on a treat that's more American than Apple Pie. What better way to say thanks then with a treat that no Ramadan iftar or movie night at home should be without. Starting today and until I reach my fundraising goal I'll be giving away small bean pies to everyone in the Greater Los Angeles area who donates $15 or more through the Chipin widget on my blog. KFPK has books, DVD's and movie tickets for $150 donations, but you can acquire this sweet treat that I make myself for donations to my Fellowship.

At the end of each week I'll gather all the names of people who've donated and find a way to deliver your pie using my trusty rickshaw service. This isn't a bake sale or fundraising with those chocolate bars that children and parents alike push for new band uniforms - this is the perfect gift from my kitchen to your stomach. Donate, enjoy and thanks again.

I Need Your Help!

Dear Family and Friends,

As many of you have heard, I was recently given a Fellowship opportunity with the Vittana Foundation. My placement will be at the Microfund for Women which is located in Irbid, Jordan. For 16 weeks in 2011, I'll be assisting in efforts to help alleviate poverty in the area through microfinance and education. To say this honor bestowed upon me is a once in a lifetime opportunity is definitely an understatement. I will be helping to start a program that doesn't exist anywhere in the Middle East.

If you're hearing about Vittana for the first time, you're not alone. Vittana is a non-profit that allows you to lend capital to a specific low-income student in the developing world. In increments of $25, you choose who to lend to - whether an Accounting student in Paraguay, a Business Administration student in Peru or even a Medical student in Vietnam. As they repay their loans, you get your money back. You can either re-invest your money, withdraw it or donate it to Vittana. It's a powerfully inspiring and sustainable way to empower someone to break the cycle of poverty and an innovative way to see how you make a difference on a global scale.

Since Vittana was founded, over $324,000 have been distributed by more then 2,900 lenders in 35 countries. That money has funded hundreds of students in 5 different countries. The default rate on repayment is 3%. It's incredible to see that 97% of loans given out are repaid.

My job as a Fellow will be to assist my MFI (Microfinance Institution) partner and be the bridge between the MFI and Vittana. It will be my responsibility to add new students to Vittana's website by writing their stories and photographing them, as well as creating partnerships with schools in the region to reach more students in need of this service. I will not only assist with Vittana work, but also help train the staff of Microfund for Women on how to best implement Vittana's online platform to help them fund the less fortunate students in need of assistants. The Fellowship program is unique in the variety of tasks that I will undertake and the potential for a lasting impact on the people of the city I'm placed, the staff of the MFW and Vittana.

My Fellowship is scheduled to take place in the beginning of 2011, just as I complete my applications for Graduate School programs concentrating in microfinance and international affairs. I should note that the Fellowship is not paid and I am responsible for raising support to cover airfare and living expenses for the duration of my 16 weeks aboard. I'd be grateful if you would consider joining me and financially supporting my Fellowship.

I have created a full budget of my expenses and I'm looking to raise $7,500. Every little bit counts so please give what you can! Your contribution is extremely needed and appreciated!


There are a few ways to give:

1). Donate via my ChipIn:



2). Send cash or check payable to NATHAN RICHARDSON: please contact me for my address.

3). If you'd like to donate airline miles or help support my trip in other ways, please send me an email. wray (dot) richardson (at) gmail (dot) com.

Final notes:
*This is a donation to fund my participation with Vittana. Unfortunately due to non-profit tax laws, tax-deduction are not possible since the donation isn't to Vittana itself. However, I will be sending EVERYONE acknowledgments thanking you for your donations.

Fundraising Incentives

$100 donation = I will send you a personal postcard from my location. I'll compile the list just before I go.

$250 donation = A personal souvenir from Irbid will be sent to you upon my return to the States.

$500 = A personal 3x3 accordion picture album of the people and places from my Fellowship.



*All those who donate will get personal recognition on any publications pertaining to my Fellowship unless anonymity is requested. All monetary donations are welcome.

Thank you to everyone! Your support is my inspiration and fuels me daily to help in the fight to alleviate poverty and help people in Jordan to be the best they can be with the help of Vittana.

Sincerely,
Nathan Richardson

Sacrifice Our Youth for Truth

Let us kill off youth

For the sake of truth
We who are old know what truth is-
Truth is a bundle of vicious lies
Tied together and sterilized-
A war-makers' bait for unwise youth
To kill off each other
For the sake of
Truth.

Comment on War - Langston Hughes

What do you do on your weekend off? After a long tiring and exhausting week of work do sleep in on Saturday and Sunday? Do you just lounge around the house and watch television all day? Maybe you're one of those people who just powers up the Playstation to immerse yourself in hours of Halo or Metal Gear Solid. Why not take some time in those 48 free hours and give them to someone who needs your help, your guidance or inspiration? All around the world countries and communities are dealing with tight budgets from the downward spiral of their respective economies. In an effort to save money many city councils around America and the United Kingdom are slashing budgets and programs in order to stay afloat. The average person is often unaware of these things because these budget cuts don't effect them in anyway, but take a closer look at the programs and services being cut and you'll see a trend that could have dire consequences for our collective future.

One night while watching television I happened to see a program on BBC which centered around this very subject. All across the United Kingdom programs are being cut in order to close budget gaps for many cities. In places like Fife and Glasgow community centers and school programs are first items on the chopping block since many of these programs generate little to no funds. Public swimming pools are closing, after school programs like music are ending and personnel for senior housing are working twice as much with little to no compensation. The only thing saving the after school programs is a small stream of volunteers from local community members who've seen the benefits of these programs no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. One community center in England is still open only because community members have stepped up to fill the void due to staff reduction. Seeing how the center affects the balance of their community more volunteers jumped on board as not to overwhelm the first few volunteers. These few people took matters in their own hands and slowed down, if not stopped the closing of their community center.

But what if this center would have closed due to budget cuts from the local City Council? One woman interviewed by BBC News talked about the roaming drunken teenagers who have nothing else to do and who lack a creative outlet for their energy. It has made her small city unsafe and made her think twice about taking her small children for a walk or even to their theater class at the local community center, which has just enough money to service elementary age children but not older youth. She made an excellent point of how these children were the product of other closed centers that would have catered to their interest. This isn't to say that if programs aren't available then kids will always turn to the extreme vices of life, but there does need to be activities for young people to express themselves and be an outlet for their often misunderstood creative side. Now it seems that communities like these risk loosing their youth to the sterilized truth and the consequence of that can have repercussion for an entire generation.

In the United States we have similar issues that needs to be reevaluated by the community at large. Speaking from my own experience working with youth there is an extreme lack of individuals wanting to give their time and pass on their knowledge to young people who are looking for guidance. Today it seems that the young are lost, but not in the sense that they're roaming the streets at night although there are many doing this. So many young people in high school have no idea about their futures, how to obtain money for college, have no role models and have no idea how to become a leader in their community. Leaders are not born but they are shaped by the people close to them and their surroundings. If we aren't fostering a sense of leadership in the youth then we are neglecting them and dooming these same youngsters to a future of being followers and mindless cogs in the machine of society. I often make parallels to issues in the UK and here, as it seems that without role models in their 20's and 30's the youth often seem apathetic to anything in life that requires effort. A long time ago I was one of these youth and so many of my friends and I were inspire by volunteers who gave us their time to teach us about life.

Just as Langston Hughes states many youth are sacrificed for the truth. Take into account No Child Left Behind, where most of us see it as a ploy by special interests to take money away from "failing" schools to reroute those same funds to other schools the establishment favors. More often than not these "failing" school are located in lower income neighborhoods with a high minority population. After school programs are cut and teachers are loosing their jobs at alarming rates, but what most people don't know is that No Child Left Behind gives the military unlimited access to schools and student records. Most of these kids don't have community centers where volunteers can inspire them to take the scholastic high road. Instead the Army, Marines and Navy set up ROTC programs in schools and have information booths at college fairs to recruit our young people for an ever-expanding imperial global military. So it does seem that the youth are being killed off for the sake of truth, but it depends on which truth they are being killed off or sacrificed for.

Langston Hughes must have being able to see into the future as spoke about the youth of his time and ours in his poem which seems very reminiscent of George Orwell's prediction of the future in his book 1984. A war-makers' bait for unwise youth or the collapse in the structure of community preservation, you make the call. In America today most of us tend to be very selfish with our time and rightfully so as our time is spent as slaves to another persons schedule. But why not take two hours a week or a few hours a month and build on the future of your respective community? It sounds like such a daunting task to save the world, but think of it as participating in the tradition of "paying it forward" for the next generation. Somewhere along the line our generation become too busy with our gadgets and television programs, we forgot that we were raised in the village mentality as people other then our parents scolded us if we did wrong. For the sake of not sounding like an ABC After School special, our youth really need help to make it in this world and without your help what are they do to? As the saying goes, "hindsight is always 20/20," so think of the future of the youth as they are being sacrificed for another man's truth. Help them see the bundle of lies and the ways that it's been tied together and sterilized.

Malcolm X: The Struggle Continues from South Africa to China

May 19, 2010 marks the 85th birthday of one of America's most misunderstood and underrepresented voices of the turbulent Civil Rights era of the 1960's. On May 19, 1925 Malcolm X, or Malik Shabazz as he has come to be known, was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Like so many from previous generations I was extremely influenced by his autobiography, quotes and speeches he gave during his lifetime to bring a voice to African-American pledged by the injustice of a racist American society. Unfortunately many people in these times compare and contrast Malcolm to other leading figures of that time such as Martin Luther King, but this tactic often seems like an old trick used by the powers that be to filter many icons we consider heroes to water down history so the establishment can dictate who our heroes should be. As we study Malcolm's life we should see the world as a web of connected and collective struggles to understand how this great American hero is still relevant to the world today.

In South Africa during the height of the apartheid regime many blacks in the rundown townships fought to bring an end to their plight and usher in a new era of the painstaking painful process called progress. During uprisings in places like Soweto people carried banners and posters of Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko and Malcolm X as they rallied in the streets to voice their opposition to apartheid. Malcolm's words of self-empowerment and justice resonated with South Africans as they searched for their yellow brick road to the land of self-determination. Malcolm used South Africa as an example many times in his speeches as a comparison to the practices of their government and that of the United States. He made the link of how the collective white societies saw the "American Negro" and blacks in South Africa as extremists and terrorists if they fought back against their oppressors to achieve their justice and how the "majority" instead felt safer by teaching blacks to subscribe to the oppressors language of passively loving your neighbor as they kill your family and refuse to uphold the law. One of the best links between Malcolm and the South African struggle is during the conclusion of Spike Lee's 1992 film "Malcolm X" where Nelson Mandela speaks to a room of school children and quotes one of Malcolm's most famous speeches which ends with the line "by any means necessary." To stand up and obtain a persons freedom is the overarching message of many of Malcolm's speeches, not just to Americans but to all people of the world. "I'll stand with anyone in the world to fight along side them to help change their miserable condition."

Many times in the collective minds of activities around the world it seems that the greatest apartheid regime of the day is Israel, but another country struggles for their freedom despite the extremely pour coverage by media outlets around the world. This location where the words of Malcolm could one day begin to resonate is in East Turkistan or Xinjiang (Western China) as it's known to most of the world. The struggle of ethic Uyghurs in East Turkistan is not known to many Muslims in the world, but their struggle is just as important as Palestine. Since Mao lead the Chinese Cultural Revolution into this region in the 1940's the Muslim Uyghurs have met with extremely resistance to pass down their culture and practice of Islam. Unlike in Palestine men aren't allowed to attend their local mosque from the age they're eligible to work until they have retired and women aren't allowed to attend at all. These restrictions have been put in place by the government, not a radical fringe of conservative Muslims. Their mosques are often closed down without notice, their rights are regularly trampled and each time they stand up for their right to exist the Chinese government works harder to erase as sign of them. The words of Malcolm have brought hope to so many people around the world, but it seems almost impossible for Uyghurs to learn about his life when they're unable to teach their own history. As he often talked about the mental and physical chains of colonialism that plagued Africans and African-Americans, it seems only fitting to include Uyghurs who are taught of their inferiority as their language, history and religion are written out of their collective history books. What would Malcolm say about these people and their struggle? How would he bring it to the attention of the world at large? He'd do it the best way he knew how, by mobilizing people to make a change for their human brothers and sisters' trapped in a dire situation.

Throughout history there have been many people all over the world that have embodied what Malcolm has come to mean to so many. One of my favorite speeches Malcolm gave that I listen to often is from an open debate at Oxford Union in 1964, where he argued that "extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice; moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue." He spoke about how in America at that time if a black man stands up for himself then he's labeled an extremist, so it's thought by others that he should have no feelings, become passive, sit back and love his neighbor. What he spoke about still rings true today in many regions of the world where people who are bombed, economically strangled and humiliated are told be to passive and looked down upon for standing up for themselves. Like Malcolm I don't believe in unprovoked violence, but what are people in these situations suppose to do? Are they to stand idle and watch their families starve and be killed? What reaction do you think they should have? Even Nelson Mandela said that he felt it was pointless to talk to a group of people who only understand violence.

As a youth I talked to my parents often about people we've come to admire in our history books. My father being from the Iowa and Missouri had a different experience than my mother from New Jersey. Many African-Americans had become tired of turning the other cheek, mainly because many of them saw that in the 100 years since the abolishment of slavery it had gotten them nowhere. Malcolm spoke to the collective minds of African-Americans more then any history book or media outlet will ever tell you. But he didn't just belong to African-Americans, Muslims or American history but he belonged to the world as a man who wasn't afraid to speak the uncomfortable truth. Malcolm exists in Palestine, East Turkistan, South Africa and everywhere people need his words. He exists in their faces, you can see him in their eyes and hear him in the voices of the oppressed. This is one point Spike Lee makes at the end of his film when one by one all the children from America to South Africa stand up and say "I am Malcolm X."

Activism at Gunpoint

Growing up in Middle America wasn't nearly as boring as many of my friends in California think. Although it wasn't nearly as glamorous as living in Los Angeles, we found many ways to keep active while remembering those in need through constant interactions. I remember participating in community service activities at church as my planted the seed of communal responsibility in the fertile soil of my consciousness at a very young age. Ever since I entered college I've worked to bring about change in the lives of others through any means possible. It can be a struggle and very taxing emotionally to do the right thing sometimes, but in the end the reward outweighs all the time put into it. Often times though picking up the torch to be a "Good Samaritan" can be just as dangerous as it is rewarding, but we owe it to ourselves to give what we can whether it's what little money or time we have. One story in particular from my college days reminds me of just how fragile the lives of human beings are, both those trying to help and those who need it.

Years ago in college I was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (Upsilon Chapter) where I participated in a multitude of community based projects from highway clean-ups to youth mentoring programs. Since those college days have swiftly passed one of the greatest lessons that still resonates with me is a phrase stated as one of the founding purposes of the fraternity which is the "love for all mankind." A certain project in particular stands out in my mind called "Project Homeless Alpha" where members of the fraternity slept and lived on campus for a week to simulate the lives of the homeless population living in our small college town of Lawrence, Kansas. To make things as realistic as possible we only equipped ourselves with our school books and the clothes on our backs. We couldn't eat anything unless someone on campus gave us food and we had nothing to sleep with unless people donated blankets and pillows. Our objective was to raise awareness about homelessness in the city and raise money for the local shelter to continues their much needed operations. To say that it was a very humbling experience does not do this project any justice.

The year prior to my joining the fraternity during one of the first nights of the project, a homeless man wondered on campus to the site where my friends were sleeping under the stars. He crept over to their location ever so slowly in the dead of night and woke everyone up as be began to loudly ramble to himself. As everyone woke from their uneasy slumber in the midst of a chilly night the man removed a gun from his pocket and began pointing it at the five young men who sat motionless on their beds of concrete. As he flashed his weapon mainly for show he gazed deeply into their eyes and began to pour his heart out about the lose of everything from his job, his home, his family and his dignity. He believed he had nothing left to live for and saw no hope in sight. After a few hours of talking he was emotionally spent and flopped on the cold hard concrete exhausted from the defeat that had become his life. Soon he gathered his thoughts and his gun and disappeared back into the night where he emerged from.

Visibly shaken everyone took stock of the recent event but pushed on with the rest of the project despite their fears. At the end of the week when all the money had been collected and given to the shelter their lives went back to normal. Back to the hours of studying in their warm dorm rooms and partaking in generous portions of food in the cafeteria. Although this story is one of fear and frustrations, there is something to be said about those that need hope when all else fails. My friends chose to take the road less traveled to help others in need. They didn't just visit the shelter that housed these people once a year or hold a one-time rally on campus where other students could bring their homemade signs, but rather they lived the life of those they wanted to help.

In the end they were able to go back to living their lives of college student "luxury," but a connection with the homeless population was made on a much deeper level. This is what giving back should be about instead of participating out of guilt or obligation to satisfy some kind of service requirement. It's easy to often forget about those people we all want to help, but we should strive to plant the seeds of volunteerism, action and the idea of giving back in the consciousness of the youth because one day they might be doing something to help us. Giving back should be something we all do on a regular basis instead of waiting for some event once a year to make ourselves feel better. While you are reading this in a nice warm room others are still living on the streets because they are homeless everyday, not just on the days people come to help. I challenge everyone to go out and make a difference at your community center, a youth group or even a senior home. Sometimes doing the right thing can be dangerous or exhausting, but the rewards that come from it are things that will shape you for a lifetime.

Women in Microfinance Conference

On Wednesday April 28 the UCLA Anderson Business School and Yale Club of Southern California co-hosted the Women in Microfinance Conference to an audience of nearly 100 people. The room was filled with women, men, students, professionals and general enthusiasts of the microfinance platform in order to make a change in the lives of low-income people in the United States and abroad. A lot of good information was given from the panelists and many audience members shared their experiences from over the years, but it seemed to fall short of a lot of peoples expectations as to what the conference should have offered.

The night opened with UCLA Anderson Professor Bhagwan Chowdhry as the Keynote Speaker as he shared his Financial Access at Birth (FAB) Campaign, where every child born in the world is given an initial deposit of $100 in an online bank account to guarantee that everyone in the world will have access to financial services. He approached the idea as potentially being tested in Uganda and Haiti where many people have little or now savings to help with today's reality of health care, food and other basic service costs. One of the campaigns overall goals is to teach habits of saving funds to ensure a more financially secure future. The idea met with stiff resistance from panelist Dean Karlan, a Professor of Economics from Yale University, who didn't see how the program would give people the incentive to save. Quickly a member of the audience aswered his question by giving examples as to who this system has already having shown promise in the UK.

After the Prof. Chowdhry concluded the rest of the speakers came one by one to pitch their organization which included such notable people as Dean Karlan, Bhalchander Vishwanath: Founder and CEO of United Prosperity, Eric Weaver: Founder and CEO of Opportunity Fund and Jon Yasuda: VP of Opportunity International. Although it seemed disheartening to be speaking about women in microfinance with absolutely no women on the panel, Jessica Jackley joined the panel late due to a flight delay from San Francisco. Some people may know Jessica as the Co-Founder of Kiva, which has set the standard for peer-to-peer internet lending. She gave her personal story on how she chose to start Kiva by adding a human touch often missed by the some of the speakers.

All of the panelist spoke of their organizations briefly and attempted to shed new light on their efforts to assist those who need. Eric Weaver spoke about how his organization was focused on teaching people in the San Francisco Bay Area about financial literacy through free classes and savings account matching. Jon Yasuda briefly spoke about Opportunity International being created for women around the world in mind. Bhalchander Vishwanath brought up the link to his website on the large screen to show how his organization uses microfinancing with a different twist of guarantees and bank cooperation to fund entrepreneurs in India. Jessica talked about how she saw a need to strengthen the ability of banks around the world to service clients in low-income situations to begin process of poverty alleviation. But the most interested speech of all came from Dean Karlan who spoke about the so-called impact of microfinance around the world and how people measure success. It seemed to most of the panelist and audience that he was the antagonist of the night, but he brought up many great points of how tests should be done to truly measure the impact microfinance has.

While many of the panelist made great points and presentations it seemed that the "women" focus of the conference was overlooked. During the question and answer portion of the night one women asked, "I thought this was suppose to be a conference about women in microfiance. Why is there only one woman on the panel?" All of the questions and comments for the rest of night ranged from ideas to get women easier access to banks, the impact it has on home life and how many women staff member the organizations employed. Another audience member talked about her experience working in Southeast Asia where microfinance is having a huge impact on the overall well-being of women involved with it say "making money to help their families has given these women a rest to hold their heads high."

Here are some facts to be noted: Opportunity International's primary focus is women in the international community, Kiva's borrowers to date are over 82% women, over two-thirds of Opportunity Fund is staffed by women, and United Prosperity borrowers are all women.

Overall I believe the conference was a great way to bring people together to speak about the issues of women, but many felt it should have given more ways to get increase female participation in the movement. Dean Karlan seemed to be the voice not often heard in these discussions about people in the movement patting themselves on the back for giving money when we should be more concerned with the realities of the long term effect. His point was to remind people that a one time loan of $200 doesn't bring a person out of poverty, but rather that it takes roughly five years to break that barrier with the first loan being the beginning of a process to a better future.

Little Known Microfinance Groups

While surfing the internet not long ago I began to come across many different sites that use the same peer-to-peer lending model like Vittana and Kiva to serve the growing needs in the world. Over the past five years many organizations have seen the effectiveness of what this platforms have to offer and spawned groups of their own to test the water of financial global change. From educational funding to energy needs these groups are looking to take back control of their dollars to help others in need, instead of leaving it up to government and NGO's to spend our tax dollars to improve conditions for those living under the poverty line.


LEND FOR PEACE
In the Southern California Muslim community a lot of our energy is often focused on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and creating ways to bring attention to the plight of those suffering on both sides. Many people outside of the "balanced" news loop lack vital information about the facts on the ground and rely solely on FOX News and CNN for their coverage which too often paints a one sided portrait of the situation. According to their website "Lend for Peace" was established by two Israeli's students and two Palestinians students to make a tangible different in the conflict, regardless of their faith background. Although their catalog of entrepreneurs is small, the people who created it have good intentions to bring peace and prosperity to those in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Although small, the group does offer the opportunity for individuals and students to get involved through volunteer and internship positions. Using the popular lending platform, people all over the world can lend to Palestinian entrepreneurs to create and expand their business and create opportunities for themselves and their families. From grocery stores to farming, the group reaches a number of people who look to serve others with food and other vital supplies.

Taken from the popular Israeli "Land for Peace" mantras of the past, this organization looks sheds new light on the human aspect of the conflict and not the political aspect. In one short year LFP has recieved grants from foundations such as the Clinton Global Initiative and recruited members such as Craig Newman to their advisory board. Most know Craig Newman as the founder of the popular site Craig's List. Although the International Monetary Fund has showed that economic recovery in the West Bank could come soon, it should be noted that micro-enterprise makes up almost 95% of all business in the West Bank and Gaza according to a 2007 article from MicroCapital. Due to certain boarder issues the numbers possibility of growth can only plateau instead of rise.

The site is worth looking into and should inspire the average person to learn more about what's happening in the Middle East and why such an organization is needed. The old saying is true that knowledge is power.


ENERGY IN COMMON
As the world become more industrialized pollution will only worsen. Many groups are dedicated to saving the environment such as Green Peace, but there are only a few that have attempted to combine microfinance with green technology and energy independence. To some it may not seem like a big deal but if you're in that camp you're unfortunately wrong. Many issues stem from the availability of energy for entrepreneurs to run a "successful" business while keeping the health of mother earth in mind. One should take into account the issues of deforestation in the Amazon and Madagascar where these countries have cut down large swaths of forest for business purposes, often by impoverished individuals selling items like charcoal to meet energy demands. In many other places such as remote areas in Africa the problem of energy poverty and pollution grow as people rely on the use oil, dung or kerosene for their energy needs.

Energy in Common is an organization founded by a young Australian entrepreneur named Hugh Whalan and a New York carbon credit and green energy specialist named Scott Tudman. Their goal to deliver green energy to 15 million people within five years seems hard, but in today's green revolution this might be a venture worth considering. Their site profiles businessmen and women looking to purchase solar panels to light their homes where they run their businesses, but we should look at this in a larger context. It is a real solution which makes things like studying after dark, refrigerating medicine and vaccines and pumping clean water to remote communities a possibilities. Often the little things can make a huge difference in many avenues to improve the lives of millions. You can read more about EIC, their mission and their founders through an interview conducted by the Huffington Post.

Kiva & Sam's Club: Change Made Simple

Kiva is one of four finalist in the Sam's Club "Giving Made Simple" campaign to win a $1 Million grant for their social activism using microfinance. Anyone who is a Sam's Club member can go on their "Giving Made Simple" website and vote as many times as you'd like for companies who's causes you share an interest in. Not only is this a great way to use your Sam's Club membership for more then just shopping, but it also is a way to give back and get more out of your member fee.

For all those who don't know, Kiva is the pioneer of peer-to-peer internet microfinance lending. Connecting the average person with an internet connection to entrepreneurs in 52 countries in an effort bring them out of poverty. Since Kiva was incorporated in 2005 lenders in 196 countries have lent well over $130 Million to over 400,000 entrepreneurs, helping them start or expand their small businesses. They've also created a huge network of volunteers and Fellows who represent Kiva by working directly with their international banking partners to disburse funds lent from people like you and me. I first learned about Kiva while watching a PBS Frontline special about them years ago. Since then I've become an advocate for their work and their goal of poverty alleviation by respecting the needs of those whom they assist in the developing world.

Kiva plans to multiply the impact by 10 by generating approximately $10 Million more in loans from the Internet community, helping approximately 25,000 entrepreneurs in the US and around the world. With the ability to turn around funds and help even more people with a "simple" $1 Million grant, five a few moments of your time and put that Sam's Club membership to good use. Now giving back to the world has been simplificed and all you have to do is click a button. No money given and no funds transfered. Voting ends on May 1, so act fast!

Here is an excerpt from the Frontline special about Kiva.

The Dreams of A Man

"The most dangerous man in the world is the man with nothing to loose. You don't need ten or twenty such men to change the world. One will do."

-The Honorable Elijah Muhammad


This month marks one years since a major turning point in my life. The point when all my contacts in the entertainment industry dried up and I was left with nothing and little direction. After frantically calling every contact I had, I felt the time had come to make a choice and choose my path. Is there ever a time when it's too late to dream? Is there ever a dream that seems to far out of reach?

The answer of these questions might be different for everyone, but I believe it's never too late to dream. I chose to follow a dream that I'd put off for way too long but no longer. I decided to walk the path of a social entrepreneur and change the world, or at least my little corner of the world. Although it can never be said that my timing isn't great, I still believe that this is my time and I'm not running away from the challenge.

Choosing the worst possible time to do this with the economy failing, I took the label of "social entrepreneur" to heart. I've struggled to find work since this reinvention began, having to take a job that put me in more debt then anything else. I have attempted and failed many times to save and go back to school and it feels as if I've gotten nowhere. I've written eassys for scholarships and tried to study for the GMAT on my own, but I'm thankful that I'm able to stay in Los Angeles where I'm able to reach many communities. With all the ups and downs, hits and misses, ins and outs of reinventing myself I've learned that the struggle of life never ends, but rather changes forms as we age.

Like so many other people, I voted for Barack Obama with much joy. But unlike so many people, I'm never upset or disappointed when he enacts a policy I don't agree with. I voted for him because I believe in the idea of him. Not a black man being President, but rather someone who gave hope to millions of people that they should follow their heart and their dreams. I voted for him, because I AM him. I don't wait for him to change the world, instead I do it myself. This is the reason that I work with youth and strive to give others a chance to go to college. I believe that by doing these things I'll make the world a better place and hopefully get some good karma to make my goals come into view.

I'm hoping that with a new direction of my blog that I can reach even more people to spread the word and bring about the winds of change and hope. Hope comes from the people and not one man in Washington.

The Vittana Challenge: Part II

In March Vittana held its first ever fundraiser called March Microfinance Madness. The goal of the fund drive was to raise $50,000 to fund student loans in countries like Vietnam, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Peru and Mongolia. Little did the people at Vittana know that the public would respond with overwhelming support.

Looking back at the month of madness, people from the United States, Europe and Australia signed up and lent as little as $25 and as much as $500 to help students build a foundation toward their dreams. Like me, these students are paralyzed by a never ending circle of financial uncertainty. While most people watched Northern Iowa shock Kansas in the NCAA tournament, lending groups from businesses, social groups and religious organizations sprang up to lend over $55,000 and fulfill the loan profiles of 105 students.

The two groups I created put Southern California lenders on the map. The Muslim Youth Group of the Islamic Center of Southern California lent $344 and the CommUnity Funders group lent over $100. Although it should be noted that the Muslim Youth has lent over $1,400 to date, being apart of the fundraiser was just another means for the youth to become involved in the wider global community. While tons of emails were sent out to friends all across the country, the CommUnity Funders group attracted many people from all walks of life including a newlywed couple who chose to use their wedding gift money to support educational efforts.

For Vittana and myself this is only the beginning to tackle the greater problem of financing education. The fundraiser is over but the work has just started. In due time Vittana will expand and rightfully so. Twice during the final week of the fund drive it "sold out" of students and worked frantically to post more profiles. It seems that many people around the world have not forgotten the dreams they held while forging toward an educational goal. This is the connection that Vittana was created for and March showed all of us that no dream is too small as long as their are people in the world who are willing to give you a helping hand.

The Vittana Challenge

Not long ago I came in contact with a man named Kushal Chakrabarti who heads a microfinance venture called Vittana. Vittana passes micro-loans from lenders in the US to people all over the world in order for them to pay for their vocational classes, thus lifting them out of poverty. He came to the Islamic Center where I work and presented. Just a few months earlier the youth I work with raised over $1,300 to donate to a worthy cause, so we choose Vittana. I spoke with my youth about it and they seemed very into it, especially since after 18 months the students receiving our loans repay them to us to relend again interest free.

Shortly after that I contacted Vittana to become more involved, since I'm hoping to enter a Masters or MBA program concentrating on microfinance. And within a few weeks I was working to create lending groups and spreading the word about Vittana's mission. I am the first person in their Ambassador's program and I'm happy to set the bar for all those who come after me.

During the month of March, Vittana has put together their March Micro Madness project in order to get more lenders and spread the word about them. While trying to secure speaking engagements in high school and universities, I've create my own lending group to do my part. My challenge is to secure at least 50 new lenders to lend at least $25 each to someone through Vittana. I believe it to be a challenge in these rough economic times, but I'm up to the task.

So today begins the challenge. 50 new lenders by March 31. To be continued....

Mazhab Cinta (The Path of Love)

Have you ever seen once of the really corny videos and for some reason you can't stop watching it? Maybe it's the lyrics, or maybe it's what's going on in the video. I believe in Islam and I consider myself a Sunni, Shi'a and a Sufi, whatever those terms actually mean. I like to read poetry by Rumi, Imam al-Ghazali and Imam al-Mawlud but I'm sure there is one person you've never heard of. His name is Shiekh Fattaah.

I'll give you the short version of this story. He is a Sufi teacher who writes the most beautiful poetry about The Beloved (Allah). He writes poetry in a number of languages including Indonesian, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Chinese, Spanish and English. But that's not the most interesting part. There is a musical group in Indonesia who use his poems as lyrics for their songs. Funny enough, no one in the group consisting of over 15 members is actually Indonesian. They are all Muslims from the many ethnic communities of America.

I'm not writing this post to print his words or give a voice to the group, named DEBU which means dust. But I am here to give you a song that always makes me smile. Maybe I should watch it more often these days.

I am not a person that likes nasheed songs so I don't consider this to be one. Maybe it is, but without the annoying high pitched voices of men. It's a little different, but check it out.

So without further delay, I give you....The Path of Love (Mazhab Cinta).

Shiekh Fattaah even makes a guess cameo at 2:24.

2010! A Change is Gonna Come

A song I remember hearing once as a kid spoke to me. A song by a special young man named Sam Cooke. The song was, "A Change is Gonna Come." The first time I heard it was while watching the movie "Malcolm X" with my parents. "I was born by the river, in a little tent. Oh and just like the river I've been running, ever since"....the song starts out. I seemed to grasp metaphors from a young age, but this lines stands out in my head. Sometimes I feel that it speaks to me, even today.

It's been 11 months since I last worked in television and since then I feel like the old Nathan has floated down stream, but he planted a seed along the banks before he left. Now the new person begins to grow so close to the river. Although the roots are solid, the river could sweep me away. If I were to sit here and tell you that my life has been easy, I'd be joking. If I were to tell you that its been hard, I'd be severely understating. I have a job and I think Allah for it even though sometimes I'd rather die then go into work. But if it's one thing I've learned is that God willing, a change in gonna come.

I'm saying this because I have to believe it. If I didn't my soul would die on a daily basis knowing that nothing better is in sight. In the past I've been running like the river looking for something to fulfill who I was, even though I wasn't even sure of who I was. I'll give you a brief breakdown of the last few years. 2004 & 2005 kicked ass, since I finally got to travel the world. 2005-2008 were great because I moved to LA and fell in love with sunny SoCal. 2009 was the worst since I lost my job and had to take one that...well lets just say I'm counting the days until something better comes along. 2010 has to be the year. The year of Nathan! The year for change!

I'm giving myself a deadline. I have to find a new job by Ramadan or it's back to Iowa. I'm not happy with the situation, but honestly I'd be a fool to stay somewhere that I don't belong. A friends father once told me, "being a man means you have to do a lot of things you don't want to do." Well I'll add to that by saying that being a man means knowing when to stay and knowing when to go. I hope I can stay, but I need to prepare to go and run with the river.