The pressure is on + An Entry from my journal while in Mali

 

Vaughn in small rural village in Mali 2009

Less than three months left.  I feel the team is getting tired. The preparation is demanding..both on the individual level and as a collective.  The stress cloud of raising the money hovers above our head.  The uncertainty of Senegal is creeping in.  We have lost 3 members and gained 2 others and group dynamics since the get go have been a challenge.

 

and I love every second of it.

Senegal 7: If there ain’t no sweat, blood and tears….well something nah right!  The learning curve is steep but enriching and worth it.  Relish in the pressure and enjoy the tension.  Claim your weaknesses and identify your strengths. Let’s do this properly.

 

Anyhow, I was at my mom’s house the other day and found my journal from my trip to Mali in 2009. If our suscribers like it and show us some love (both through comments and through a little financial support !)  I’ll write some more entries..including my memorable stay at the Malian Clinic.  Enjoy!

 

June 16th , 2009

Paris- De Gaule Airport.

 

A young mother swings her baby over onto her back and in an effortless motion wraps the child firmly around her body with a colourful piece of fabric.  She then pics up her two bags and walks towards the boarding line.  I am going to Africa.  A young boy holds his little brother’s hand firlmly and gives him the ‘keep quiet’ frown.  The youngest obeys and they both stand in line wine with their ticket in one hand, carry-on in the next, all dressed up in their Sunday best.  I am going to Africa. A dread hails the I; his skin clean and dark, his hair and eyes a light brown of experience.  I hail him back and he nods. I am going to Africa.  The long line dwindles down and the intercom politely says that it is this is the final boarding call.  I am going to Africa.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH FUNDRAISER!!!! SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2011

Levée de fonds pour le mois de l’histoire des noirs.
Les profits iront au groupe Senegal 8 de Root.Ed. Notre groupe est en partenariat avec deux organisations (Alternatives et Head & Hands) qui envoient 8 stagiaires Montréalais au Sénégal en Afrique pour 2 mois cet été afin de faire de la sensibilisation sur la souveraineté alimentaire ainsi que la sécurité alimentaire. Nous réaliserons également 3 documentaires sur ces sujets.
Visitez notre site : rootedmontreal.wordpress.com
Il y aura des performances par différents artistes (connus et pas (encore) connus, mais tous excellent. Ils seront annoncés plus tard), de la sensibilisation pour le mois de l’histoire des noirs et sur le stage.

50 Premiers billets à 5$
A la porte : 10$-$15 (votre choix )
LES GENS DE TOUS LES ÂGES SONT LES BIENVENUS (pour les enfants de moins de 10 ans, le prix est un dons à votre discrétion, OUI, pour une piasse votre enfant sera le bienvenu )

Il y aura de la nourriture, des performances, de la musique par les DJ (DJ Blaster & DJ Drunken Disciple), des drinks et un vestiaire OPTIONNEL.
Il y aura également un tirage avec prix ET un 50/50.
2 enchères auront lieu pour 2 prix provenant de 2 femmes d’affaires noires de Montréal.

A Sala Rossa. 4848 St Laurent (proche du metro Mount Royal)

Les portes ouvrent à 6pm
Le spectacle commence à 7pm

Plus d’infos sur la cause? rootedmontreal.wordpress.com
Plus d’infos sur la soirée ? Écrivez-moi votre numéro ou écrivez-moi à misterh@live.ca

J’ai aussi un groupe qui explique notre cause. (en bas)
__________________________________________________________

Black History Month Fundraiser. Proceeds go to Root.Ed’s Senegal 8. We are under 2 “tag-team” organizations (Alternatives and Head & Hands) sending 8 Montreal young adults to Senegal, Africa this summer for 2 months of raising awareness of food security and food sovereignty. We will also film 3 documentaries in Senegal for our cause.
site is rootedmontreal.wordpress.com

Performances from various artists (well-known and not-so-known, but ALL good and TO BE ANNOUNCED AT A LATER DATE) and awareness of Black History Month and the cause it is for.

1st 50 tickets : $5
At the door : $10-$15 (your choice )
ALL AGES ARE WELCOME (for children under 10 the fee is YOUR donation choice.. YES, if you drop a looney at the front, your child may come in )

There will be food, performers, music from the DJs (DJ Blaster & DJ Drunken Disciple), beverages and an OPTIONAL coatcheck.
Raffle tickets also being sold for prizes and a 50/50 draw.
2 Auctions being held for 2 gifts from 2 Montreal based Black businesswomen.

At Sala Rossa. 4848 St Laurent (close to Mount Royal metro)

Doors Open at 6pm
Show Starts at 7pm

info on the cause can be found on our website : rootedmontreal.wordpress.com
For more info;
Inbox me for my number
Or email me at misterh@live.ca

I also have a group for our cause on facebook if you would like to visit the link

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_166225716756754&ap=1

Buying Black in Mtl!

Economics!

I took an Economy class a few years ago and although I could not retell most of the information that was given, I do remember the teacher saying one thing. He said it very matter-a-factly as though he was quoting Adam Smith himself (and maybe he was) but he goes on to say: ” Economy is the study of Well Being. Period”. Then he took out his ipod and connected it to the class speakers and played Kanye’s “Wait till I get My Money Right.” and walked out of the classroom with the hardest gangsta lean. 

That latter part was a slight embellishment but did say the quote..and it stuck with me till this day.

Ujamaa, fourth day of Kwanzaa, is the day where we uphold the principle of Cooperative Economics.  Supporting Black business in our community.  All Black Everything (Yup, I quoted Soulja Boy in my blog!) E-ver-y-thang? (Yup, quoted Katt Williams..)

Here is a video of a couple who decided to commit one year of their lives to only supporting Black owned businesses. From buying shoes to gas to groceries, they made a serious effort to make sure that their money was going to support black owned stores and businesses.  There website is www.EEfortomorrow.com and here is a clip of how their Empowerment Experiment came to existence.

Impressive! A pioneering endeavour albeit a few wrinkles (in my opinion) that need to be ironed out.  In the effort to help out Black businesses, there is an importance to integrate “The Green Factor”..which really in a sense, is just being aware of the how much you consuming  is costing your community, your environment, your health ( Ecological Footprint much?) etc..  For example, doesn’t feel too right to support a Black-owned Clothing company in Montreal that gets its product from a sweatshop somewhere in Asia and then the product has to travel all the way here via ship etc…  It’s even more of a challenge, but as consumers we need to be more knowledgeable of these things.  Buying Black means that its not just the consumer’s responsibility to support Black businesses, but the Black businesses responsibility to support Black communities and show transparency and accountability in their business practices.  In the long run, this will not only create more jobs and business ventures for our communities..but jobs and businesses that are conscious and promote healthy and aware lifestyles!

Amazing book by Van Jones Jr called The Green Collar Economy.  He discusses two main problems in the States (which we can extrapolate to Canada).  One being the draining consumption of energy and the need for a eco-aware economy. And second, the fact that there is a whole bunch of people that have been laid off (recession or otherwise) in low-income coloured urban communities who not only are the first to feel the stab of environmental racism but are in desperate need of jobs and to re-establish a healthy economy in their hoods.  Check it out!

Finally…an encouragement to support some Black businesses in Montreal. Here’s a few to start off with.

Jean’s Restaurant.  My Gosh…if you don’t know this Trinidadian restaurant in NDG..you are missing out! Good food, great service, my favourite is The Pumpkin Potato Roti..you can tell Val that Chris from Head&Hands sent you…it won’t get you a discount or anything..but hey..maybe it’ll get me a discount for reffering clients!

Conscious sistren Odessa Thornhill manages Cultivate Your Own, her practice is based on well-being and natural solutions to your aches and pains.  I go to her for both her amazing hair locking skills and her amazing and informative massages.  I don’t know how she figured out that that I had jaw tension issues by massaging my feet..let’s just say the woman knows what she is doing!

I need to also big up my soap dealer, Waahli Yussef!  This talented musician from Nomadic Massive makes some serious home-made soaps! Got that Oregano Soap, that Tea tree, that Lavender..whachu need son? Support good business

Happy Ujomaa

ps: here is a site that has a list of many Black restaurants in Mtl.

pps: did you check the link to the Kanye video at the beginnng of my blog?

Zombies in NDG!!

Wow! I love NDG..not only for its diversity, its hood-celebrities and its all around chill vibe…definitely for it`s WALKING DEAD!!!  I just saw the NDG Food Depot`Thriller Zombie Walk clip in promotion of their FOOD DRIVE on Saturday December 4th..CLASSIC!

Since 1986, NDG Food Depot (located on Oxford, corner Maisonneuve) have been fighting the good food fight..helping the NDG community secure food in an respectul and empowering way.  Orgs like these are truly the backbone of a healthy community and I encourage everyone to check them out and support the drive!

How much?

Today alone I spent $12 bucks on food…and I haven`t even had dinner yet.  Falafel and tabouli at a local cafe cost me 7 bucks.  Coffee and a donut at Tim Hortons cost me another $2.57.  There goes my money..down the drain (after passing through my digestive system)

I decided to write a quick blog before I rummage through my girlfriend`s food pantry.  So check this: seeing how Root.ED is going to be taking 8 Montreal youths to Senegal next summer, and since we are going tbe on a tight budget…I thought it would be worthwhile to see how much people across the world spend on food.

Check some numbers

Let`s start off with our close cousins:the USA:  This North Carolina family spends $341.98 on food per week.  Real talk though..can a brotha get some greens up in here? Cheez on bread! Smiling with big pizza in hand, this is not a game boss!

Next up..let’s take it to Kuwait:

This family spends $221.45 a week on food.  More than 100 bucks less than the American family…and double the family size. 

Moving on to South America:

This family is from Ecuador and they spend about 32 bucks on food.

This Chinese family spends $155 on food.

And last but definitely not least…I&I people from the Continent.  This pic is of a Sudanese family in a refugee camp in Chad.  They spend $1.23 a week on food.  

Note that these are just examples…the differences in how much people spend on food in a week can be drastic even within the limits of a city like Montreal. 

Different realities..but we all got to eat.  Stay updated with Root.ED as our participants explore the many complexities of food security as they embark on this enlightening journey from Montreal, Canada to Dakar, Senegal.

*this info is from the book Hungry Planet by Faith D`Aluisio