COMMON GROUND CONSULTING LLC

Boy, 7, Raises $200,000 for Haiti

This is for all of us who want to help in Haiti and for all of us who fundraise for the causes we care about so deeply.

London, England (CNN) -- He's no Wyclef Jean or George Clooney, but that hasn't stopped seven-year-old Charlie Simpson from raising more than £120,000 ($195,000) for the Haiti earthquake.

Simpson from Fulham, west London had hoped to raise just £500 for UNICEF's earthquake appeal by cycling eight kilometers (five miles)around a local park.

"My name is Charlie Simpson. I want to do a sponsored bike ride for Haiti because there was a big earthquake and loads of people have lost their lives," said Simpson on his JustGiving page, a fundraising site which launched his efforts.

"I want to make some money to buy food, water and tents for everyone in Haiti," he said.

Donate to Charlie Simpson's Haiti fundraising page

And with that simple call, messages of support flooded the site.

"Such a big heart for a young boy, you're a little star!" wrote one supporter. "Well done Charlie. A real celebrity," said another.
More donations began pouring in after the story caught the attention of the British media -- with many cheering Simpson past the £100,000 mark.

[From Boy, 7, raises $200,000 for Haiti appeal - CNN.com]

International Grants & Awards

A few terrific opportunities assembled by our friends at Youth Service America:

Disney Friends for Change Grants (Deadline: January 29) Disney's Friends for Change is a program that encourages kids everywhere to take steps together with their friends to help the planet. The Friends for Change Grants will fund kids' projects that help the environment and will look to engage children ages 5-18 as leaders in their communities. Disney, working with YSA, will award 150 $500 grants throughout 2010.Disney's Friends for Change Grants are open to schools, organizations and individuals planning service projects and will focus on projects implemented by children and youth ages 5-18. The goal of each grant is to inspire children to work with their families, friends, schools and communities to address critical needs in their local, national and global communities. To be eligible, projects will need to be done any time during 2010 and should include one service or celebratory component on Global Youth Service Day, April 23-25, an annual campaign that mobilizes young people around the world to make a positive impact in their communities. http://www.ysa.org/grants/announcements/friendsforchange Starbucks Shared Planet Youth Action Grants (Deadline: Letters of Inquiry by January 30) The primary purpose of the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) is to strengthen the voice of The Starbucks Foundation will solicit applications from organizations that provide young people a continuum of services in developing creative approaches to address pressing concerns in their communities. Please complete a letter of inquiry for your organization. The Starbucks Foundation will contact you if we'd like to request a full grant proposal. Successful grant applicants will exhibit all of the following qualities: Deliver services to youth, ages 6 - 24; Preference will be given to organizations that focus on young people in the age range of 12 and older, when they are able to take independent action; Provides opportunity to combine learning with action that support communities and further global citizenship; Deliver services, disseminate information, provide training and/or build broad networks; Provide opportunities for Starbucks partners and multiple stores to be engaged in community service. The Starbucks Foundation reviews the submissions on an annual basis; letters of inquiry submitted between October 1, 2009 and January 30, 2010 will be reviewed and considered for the spring 2010 grant round. Organizations selected to advance in the process will be notified to complete a full application by February 15, 2010.www.starbucks.com/aboutus/globalyoungsocialentrepreneurs.asp Open Meadows - Ellen Dougherty Activist Fund for Young Women (Deadline: February 15) The Open Meadows Foundation is a grant-making organization for projects that are led by and benefit women and girls, particularly those from vulnerable communities. Open Meadows Foundation funds projects that do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender identity and expression, sexual identity and expression, age or ability. It offers grants up to $2000 to projects that: are designed and implemented by women and girls; reflect the diversity of the community served by the project in both its leadership and organization; promote building community power; promote gender, racial, social, economic and/or environmental justice; and have limited financial access or have encountered obstacles in their search for funding.In addition to the general fund, Open Meadows has seven special funds, including The Ellen Dougherty Activist Fund for Young Women which provides grants to young women 19 and under who propose to develop and lead projects that are focused on activism and social change. www.openmeadows.org Get Ur Good On Grants (Deadline: February 22) Get Ur Good On Grants are available for youth-led service initiatives on Global Youth Service Day, April 23-25, 2010. Available to children and youth around the world, YSA's Get Ur Good On Grants will award 100 $500 grants to support projects addressing critical community needs such as poverty, education, and environmental sustainability. Grant applications are due February 22, 2010. To learn more about Get Ur Good On Grants and to take the eligibility quiz, visit www.YSA.org/grants Peace Child International Be the Change! Programme Grants (Deadline: March 31) "Be The Change!" is a youth-led sustainable development Action Programme related to the Millennium Development Goals which aims to empower young people around the world to "be the change they want to see in the world." The Be The Change! grants supports young people under age 25 with projects that concentrate on the development of local communities. The kind of projects supported are projects that are genuinely youth-led, which benefit the community rather than an individual need, are projects up to £500 with a detailed budget, have two experienced and committed adults to mentor the project, have measures of achievement (indicators) by which projects may be evaluated, and can be either income-generating (funds to start up a small business and creating jobs) or it can be non-income generating (for health, education, environmental clean-up or community improvement) social programmes which are of genuine and lasting community value. www.peacechild.org/btc/startown

Mobile, Alabama: The Food

Alright, so my plan was to maintain a healthy diet while I'm on the road this month. I did well in Bolivia, but here in Alabama, I just couldn't help myself. In addition to the great people I've been working with these past few days, I've been eating some really great food! Each of these meals gets a "Three-Fork Throwdown" rating from me!

Check out these three terrific restaurants and the incredible dishes I enjoyed.

Spicy as its name applies, Saucy Q is owned by barbecue aficionado, Elbert Wingfield, an Alabama native. Elbert says when he started this business his family--Jacquelyn, Jarret, and Darnell--had three things in mind as to what a customer wants: good service, a good attitude and good food, and they provide all three of these aspects and more.

For this meal, I had Southern fried riblets (yep, fried!), a pulled pork sandwich, creamy potato salad, and, of course, baked beans. One of my new friends here in Mobile told me not to miss out on their cream cheese poundcake, and thank goodness I didn't! It was amazing! The bbq sauce here is both spicy and sweet and I'm going home with a couple of bottles!

    

Located in beautiful downtown Mobile, across from Cathedral Square on Dauphin Street, The Spot of Tea has been open and "under same management" for fifteen years. It's a crazy eclectic little place with a decor that makes very little sense. Having said that, the food rocks!

I walked by this place the first night I arrived and I harassed our training group for three days, finally convincing them to do lunch here. Once again, I probably overdid it a bit! I had both the Banana's Foster French Toast--thick egg battered french toast topped with hot banana's foster sauce and bananas, served with grilled ham steak AND C.J.’s cayenne crab bisque--some of the best seafood bisque I've ever eaten. It was topped with a delicious crab cake and sautéed crawfish tails and served with grilled pistolette. Apparently, this dish has been tested and approved by local Councilman Clinton "C.J." Johnson!

    

And last but certainly not least, I have to tell you about the first place I ate when I arrived here, a Mobile institution--Wintzell's Oyster House. Wintzell's, a landmark on lower Dauphin Street for decades, is known far and wide for its oysters--"fried, stewed or nude." It was founded in 1938 by Oliver Wintzell and through economic boom and bust, Wintzell's has been continuously at its original location.

I know I shouldn't have done it, but the man shuckin' oysters at the bar—Mr. Willie Thomas--convinced me to start with a cup of the famous (Gulf Coast rated #1) gumbo, move on to the fried green tomatoes (topped with crawfish sauce), and finish up with the Fried J.O. Platter, which would give me ample portions of fried stuffed crab, fried crab claws, fried oysters, shrimp, and flounder, as well as hushpuppies, creamy cole slaw, and cheese grits. All of this topped off with their housemade hot sauce (oh yeah, two bottles packed and ready to go home with me).

Are you kidding me with this meal?!

      

    

Mobile, Alabama: The Work

For the past few days, I've been here in Mobile, Alabama facilitating a workshop on leadership and youth engagement for the Emerging Leaders Network of the Gulf Coast Sustainable Communities Network. This amazing group has been working on community recovery and sustainability post-Katrina and Rita, convened by our friends at the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC).

"When ISC began working with Moss Point, Mississippi residents in 2005, they knew that it was just one of many communities along the Gulf Coast grappling with rebuilding in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The hurricanes laid bare many issues with which the communities had long been struggling, and many are realizing that rebuilding with sustainability in mind will help them find creative solutions. In response, ISC launched the Gulf Coast Sustainable Communities Network that connects coastal communities to one another, helping them take practical steps to make housing more affordable, create economic opportunities, foster a healthier environment and mitigate the impacts of climate change—to make informed choices about their future.

The network's growing geographic reach extends from Beaumont, Texas in the west to Mobile, Alabama in the east—an area covering a distance of approximately 400 miles of coast line and representing nearly 750,000 residents. There are now 28 community organizations from 12 distinct communities in all four states that are actively participating in the network. These organizations primarily serve the most disadvantaged communities and populations within the region."

It's been an wonderful few days with an incredible group of young leaders. I've been so impressed by their passion, their wisdom, and strategic thinking. I can't wait to see how they will express their leadership over the coming months and years.

Click here to download a fact sheet on the project: Gulf Coast SCN v1(1-09).pdf

Open Training Position: NCCC AmeriCorps

Assistant Program Director for Training

SALARY RANGE: 57,408.00 - 62,408.00 USD /year	OPEN PERIOD: Monday, January 11, 2010 to Monday, January 25, 2010
SERIES & GRADE: NY-0301-03	POSITION INFORMATION: Full Time Excepted Service Permanent
PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 03	DUTY LOCATIONS:   vacancy(s) in one of the following locations: 1 vacancy - Vicksburg, MS
WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED:   US Citizens and Status Candidates

JOB SUMMARY:

This position is located in the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), Department of the Chief Operating Officer, Corporation for National and Community Service. Relocation expenses will not be paid.

ABOUT US: The Corporation for National and Community Service was established as a Federal agency in 1993 to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in community-based service. Together, its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs promote the ethic of service and help solve critical community problems in every state, many Indian tribes, and most U. S. territories. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Americans are joining forces to address community needs in education, homeland security, housing, health care, environmental protection, and disaster relief. Interchange Agreement: The Corporation for National and Community Service (Corporation) has an approved (by the Office of Personnel Management) civil service interchange agreement. The Corporation is an excepted service agency. Under the terms of the Interchange Agreement, permanent Corporation employees may be considered for appointment to positions in the competitive service in the same manner that employees of the competitive service are considered for transfer to such positions.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

Applications will be accepted from U. S. Citizens. This is a Full-time Permanent, Excepted Service Position. Relocation expenses will not be paid. A 2-year probationary period is required for new Federal service employees. Status candidates must submit a copy of SF-50 verifying status and grade.

Daily Practice: Today's Book: "Spiritual Liberation"

DAY 9 of my Daily Practice using the PhilosophersNotes Challenge begins with a reading of "Spiritual Liberation" by Michael Bernard Beckwith.

  

According to Beckwith, his central message is "not about religiosity or churchianity. It is about aspiring toward spiritual liberation, which [he] defines as becoming free from the narrow confines of fear, doubt, worry, and lack, and living instead from a conscious awareness of one’s Authentic Self, one’s true nature of wholeness."

I consider myself a spiritual person, if not a religious one. I was raised Presbyterian and I consider myself a Christian, though most of the time I'm not such a fan of organized religion. It sure seems to create a lot of trauma and drama in the world.

Having said that, so much of what Beckwith talks about in this book focuses on our individual journeys toward self-actualization. He writes a lot about discipline, especially self-discipline. And he speaks at length about ego, personality, and character. Check out this great vision:

“The Spirit of the living God is knocking at the door of your heart, reminding you that you are an exquisite, precious, and powerful being. Shine! Sing! Be bold enough to articulate what you are sensing, feeling, and knowing. Now is the time for you to partner with that immense power. Allow the tidal wave of the divine inspiration to wash over you and express in, through, and as you. Consciously and confidently enter the sacred process of co-creation, because That which expresses as you does not happen through anyone else in quite the same way. Become a master of your own divine, radiant creative expression.” Whoa!

I also really liked this quote from Beckwith: "Circumstances arise and hard times come so that we may grow through them, so that we may evolve. I like to say that a bad day for the ego is a good day for the soul. When we look back on some of our most challenging experiences, we admit that we wouldn’t trade what we gained from them for remaining the same as we were. Something within acknowledges that during those times when we are pressed against the ropes of life, we learn to become more generous, to forgive, to never give up on ourselves or others. We learn to regenerate, to rejuvenate, to surrender.”

I love that!

About the Author of “Spiritual Liberation” MICHAEL BERNARD BECKWITH

As one of the foremost spiritual leaders, founder of the Agape Spiritual Center, and a featured teacher in The Secret, Michael Bernard Beckwith is a powerful force for change. As a cofounder of the Association for Global New Thought and the Season for Nonviolence, Beckwith combines spiritual, educational, scientific, governmental, economic, and social elements. He teaches meditation and scientific prayer, conducts retreats, and speaks at conferences and seminars around the world. He is the originator of the Life Visioning Process and author of Inspirations of the Heart, 40 Day Mind Fast Soul Feast, and A Manifesto of Peace (from the book). Learn more at AgapeLive.com!

The Balkan Burger Unites All Factions

Alright, you've read my postings here a dozen times about my favorite "burger" in the world—Serbian pljeskavica. Now here is the New York Times story. But first, click this to read one of my many posts on the subject.

AMERICANS might think themselves masters of the all-beef patty, and Germans may claim bragging rights for its point of origin. But there is no burger passion greater than the one for pljeskavica.

Pronounced PLYESS-ka-vee-tsa, this burger as wide as a birthday cake is beloved in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Montenegro; and more recently in Italy, Germany, Chicago as well as Queens.

“I never thought I would miss them so much,” said Irena Kuzmanovic, a bartender in Manhattan who is from Novi Sad, in northern Serbia. “American burgers seem strange: soft and without much flavor.”

Throughout the western Balkan region, ground meat is raised to an art form.

Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is famous for sausage-shaped cevapi, the size of a fat pinky finger, served piled on bread or eaten by hand.

“When I was young we would go to Sarajevo and instead of going skiing, I would go to the town and get literally drunk on cevapi,” said Vladimir Ocokoljic, the owner of Kafana, a cozy Serbian restaurant in the East Village. “I could eat 50 at a time.”

Since the fall of Communism and the breakup of Yugoslavia, many young people from the region have arrived in New York seeking work, education and adventure. Charcoal-grilled pljeskavica and cevapi, pronounced chay-VOP-ee, have become common in neighborhoods like Astoria and Ridgewood in Queens, where Bosnians and Croatians, Serbs and Montenegrins now open businesses side by side.

[Keep Reading! The Balkan Burger Unites All Factions - NYTimes.com]

Check out this great recipe (I'm making it the first day I'm home again).

Daily Practice: Today's Book: "Real Magic"

DAY 8 of my Daily Practice using the PhilosophersNotes Challenge begins with a reading of "Real Magic" by Wayne Dyer.

  

“Let your one delight and refreshment be to pass from one service to the community to another, with God ever in mind.”

This isn't from Dyer's "Real Magic," but rather from Marcus Aurelius. Nevertheless, it sums up much of what's in this book. Another way of thinking about it comes from Brian's PhilosopherNote: "A key aspect of Dyer’s “Real Magic” formula is to live a life of purpose—where we’re less focused on “outcomes” and more focused on living with integrity to our highest purpose. The book is all about getting in touch with that purpose and rockin’ it from there."

One of the most Disruptive Thoughts in this book for me, was the emphasis on the dual ideas of purpose and service. For 20 years, I've been writing and thinking about the interplay between these two concepts. It has informed my Infinity Training Model (ITM) and is at the heart of the book I've been writing in my mind for the past two decades.

Dyer says it this way: “When you are able to shift your inner awareness to how you can serve others, and when you make this the central focus of your life, you will then be in a position to know true miracles in your progress toward prosperity.”

Entrepreneurial in spirit and team-based in approach, ITM is an approach to leadership development that builds upon the experiences, knowledge and skills of a diverse group of people to create a cadre of leaders committed to public service and public problem-solving. It is intended to teach the skills and concepts that they can then teach to others. This ripple effect has the potential for reaching thousands with renewed hope and an increased involvement in participatory democracy.

Philosophically, ITM recognizes the natural tension that exists between individual and community development—and by focusing on six key concepts—works to maximize personal leadership potential while making positive, community-based social change possible. ITM combines many of the country's most innovative training practices in a way that supports the development of authentic leadership and ensures community development.

More from Dyer: “When you go beyond outcome in life you find yourself unconcerned about what is in it for you. Thoughts, feelings and behavior focus more and more on the fulfillment of your purpose. You go beyond success, achievement and performance as indications of your life’s mission. Instead, every moment is lived fully and lovingly."

In Mobile, AL the other day, my cab driver was also a local Baptist minister and he and I chatted about the idea that Dyer calls "Acting As If." He had a more spiritual spin on it. I had a more secular idea. But, we both agreed with its importance in achieving the goals we set for ourselves. Then I re-read Dyer and he says the same thing. It's another disruptive thought and I really like it!

“The fact is, for myself, I know that if I believe strongly enough, and have enough confidence in myself to learn what I need, then there are very few things that I could not accomplish in a rather short period of time. Once you know you can do it, and act that way, the means will be obvious. Acting as if you were what you want to become and know you can become is the way to remove self-doubt and enter your real-magic kingdom.”

About the Author of “Real Magic” DR. WAYNE D. DYER

Wayne W. Dyer, Ph.D., is an internationally renowned author and speaker in the field of self-development. He’s the author of 30 books, has created many audio programs and videos, and has appeared on thousands of television and radio shows. His books Manifest Your Destiny, Wisdom of the Ages, There’s a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem, and the New York Times bestsellers 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace, The Power of Intention, and Inspiration and now Change Your Thoughts—Change Your Life have all been featured as National Public Television specials. Dyer holds a doctorate in educational counseling from Wayne State University and was an associate professor at St. John’s University in New York. (Adapted from DrWayneDyer.com.)

Daily Practice: Today's Author: Paulo Coehlo

DAY 7 of my Daily Practice using the PhilosophersNotes Challenge focuses on the works of Paulo Coehlo.

Alright, here's the deal. If you don't love Paulo Coehlo, it may not be possible for us to be friends. This guy ... he gets it. And I am in awe.

“There is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it’s because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It’s your mission on earth… And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

That's Paulo Cohlo in one of the most amazing books of all time, "The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream."

When you talk about Disruptive Thoughts, this is THE BOOK to read. Honestly, it changed my life. And I'll bet it will change yours.

“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.”

That's him again, also in "The Alchemist."

That makes me think of Montaigne, who says, “My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened.”

In my last job, I had the chance to work directly with Russell Simmons on HIV prevention efforts. The guy is very cool and it doesn't surprise me that he said it this way: “The pain that’s created by avoiding hard work is actually much worse than any pain created from the actual work itself. Because if you don’t begin to work on those ideas that God has blessed you with, they will become stagnant inside of you and eventually begin to eat away at you. You might seem OK on the outside, but inside you will be ill from not getting those ideas out of your heart and into the world. Stalling leads to sickness. But taking steps, even baby steps, always leads to success.”

Alright, two more thoughts from Coehlo:

“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure."

“We wouldn’t worry nearly as much about what others thought of us if we recognize how seldom they do.”

Damn! I get it universe, I have work to do on this one.

Do you want to know me? This—from Coehlo's "Warrior of the Light"—this is me:

“Join with those who sing songs, tell stories, enjoy life … because happiness is contagious. Join those who walk with their heads high even when they have tears in their eyes. Avoid those who … have never shed a tear.”

Finally, IF YOU’RE GOING TO FALL…

“A fall from the third floor hurts as much as a fall from the hundredth. If I have to fall, may it be from a high place.” From the author's book, "By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept."

About the Author: PAULO COELHO

The Brazilian author Paulo Coelho was born in 1947 in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Before dedicating his life completely to literature, he worked as theatre director and actor, lyricist and journalist. He is one of the best-selling and most influential authors in the world. The Alchemist, The Pilgrimage, The Valkyries, By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept, The Fifth Mountain, Veronika Decides to Die, Eleven Minutes, The Zahir, and others have sold more than 100 million copies in 150 countries and have been translated into 60 languages. Visit him online at PauloCoelho.com.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?"

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

How will you answer Dr. King’s question?

In 1994, Congress charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with encouraging Americans to celebrate the holiday as a national day of service. Today, people all over the country are volunteering in their communities in response to Dr. King's question.

What's Happening Now

Click here to check out the LIVE HandsOn Network MLK Day Virtual Town Hall!
8:30 am to 4:00 pm on January 18

[From Serve.gov | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service]