The Power of the Blog: Blog Action Day 2008:Poverty

ou already know what a blog is. If not, you're very very lost in Internet space (word of advice, go back to google). Today, there is an immense community of writers of all kinds typing away daily to entertain, educate and inspire millions of reader on just about any topic under the sun.

When I heard about Blog Action Day, I'm sure you can imagine how thrilled I was to join an initiative with fellow bloggers around the world. Considering blogs are a type of media outlet, they can be a powerful message outlet. Blog Action Day was created as an annual nonprofit event that unites bloggers to post about the same issue on the same day to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion. Hence to say I signed up as it makes a great topic for this week's Non-Profit of the Week entry!
The topic of discussion this year is Poverty. Talk about general. I've been thinking this through all day as to what to discuss (all the while dropping off a bulk mail, finalizing Gala Sponsorship levels and completing the Edward Grant invites) and I kept thinking, Poverty is an issue drilled into our head, "Poverty is bad, we must solve." But has anyone really gone in to further thought of the roots of this crusade to end poverty?

This question sent me right back to Holy Cross Elementary School, circa 1991 in theology class. We were learning about the 3 necessities of life. My dearest teacher Mrs. B told us that everyone in this world deserves food, clothing and shelter; meaning a full belly, clothes on your back, and a roof over your head. Anything else is an added plus that we don't necessarily need. Jumping right back to 2008, i define poverty as the exact opposite: those without food, clothing and shelter. Put those two together and you have inequality. By fighting to end poverty in every way around the world we are working towards equality between every person on this earth.

As one of the biggest issues facing the world, right up next to war, it's going to take alot to solve it. So where do we start? Can one person make a change? Of course you can. And you don't have to empty your pockets on every city street corner to help either.

You can start by making a food donation to your local food pantry. Thanksgiving is just around the corner so make sure every family has stuffing and cranberry sauce to eat.
Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity one Saturday afternoon. You'll literally be building the roof for someone else.
Or go on-line. I just discovered a great site called Save the World With Music. There you can answer music trivia questions and every time you answer a question correctly, we give a donation which is enough to provide one person with clean water for one day.
There are an infinite amount of possibilities out there for you, you just have to find one.

Artists Give Amsterdam's Red Light a Green Light

Through the city-wide project initiative, called Project 1012, Amsterdam is pulling a Giuliani and cleaning up the streets, especially the notorious Red Light District.

This lovely city filled with wooden shoes and windmills (not to mention plenty of other things for adults only) has made a promise to the people of Amsterdam to clean up its world-famous Red Light District by upgrading the 750-year-old neighborhood over the next ten years including a ban of window prostitution. By closing most of the windows the city hopes to curtail both human trafficking and the white-washing of money by criminal gangs. So, by clearing out most of the "windows", coffeeshops and "riff raff", the city hopes to recapture the historic sense of Amsterdam and preserve the architecture.

So with all this real estate popping up, who is coming in? I'm glad to say it's artists! The city government is working with private enterprises to replace the bordellos with studio space for fashion designers and artists. Real Estate company, De Key, has already purchased ten buildings in the Red Light District to accommodate painters, sculptors and other visual artists. These spaces will be made for both living and working. De Key hopes "to strengthen the residential quality and livability of the area, as well as to contribute to the preservation of its rich historical architecture." De Key has even announced that in the beginning phases they will collaborate with Topstad Amsterdam and Kunstenaars and Co., to select young Dutch artists to live and work in the new properties and also exhibit their work. So there will still be something to look at in the windows of the Red Light District wont there?

It's pleasing to see that cities continually recognize that art in the community not only raises real-estate values but also contributes to the general quality of life of everyone living in it. As seen in Amsterdam, artists living, working and exhibiting in the city are helping to improve the city and the district for everyone. The Biggs is working hard to do just the same: to not only contribute to making the city of Dover a wonderful place to live, but for the entire State of Delaware as well. I guess I should put it as, "We're here for ya."

In The News: WAMU Whams Seattle Art Museum

Banks have been falling like prices at Wal-Mart these days. This is leaving most museums and non-profits in the U.S. stir crazy. Most of us are thinking... what happens now? The Seattle Art Museum certainly has a few words to toot after the collapse of Washington Mutual Bank (WAMU).... What kind of relationship does WAMU have with Seattle Art Museum you ask? Seattle Art Museum happens to be WAMU's landlord.

In 2007, Seattle Art Museum made an impressive expansion to their building, to 268,000 from 150,000 square feet, so that it could persuade local donors to augment its permanent collection, in time for its 75th anniversary. This expansion added almost 1,000 new objects to the permanent collection, a Curator's dream basically. Seattle Art Museum partnered with WAMU and leased the top 8 floors of the building to them for use, which then prompted WAMU to build its own new headquarters on museum land adjacent to the expansion, purchasing development rights for $18 million, an $8-million discount on the appraisal. Will JP Morgan Chase then occupy the building since their foots are in WAMU's doors? According to SAM, WAMU is still paying rent.

On the East Coast in good ole' Philadelphia, Philadelphia Museum of Art is in Partnership with Wachovia, which was just bought out by Wells Fargo (too bad, Citigroup). Wachovia charitable giving focused on community development and education. Wachovia funded the Wachovia Education Resource Center at PMA to promote arts education with Philly kids. A pretty nice gift with a tag of $750,000 to construct the center, which opened in 2007. They also threw in another $500,000 for good measure for free admission to the public for the past four months.

So... the question is, will this become the Wells Fargo Education Resource Center now? Or does that depend on future funding from Wells Fargo.

I'm sure this is happening around town alot for both large and small art museums. Banks are good to art museums when it comes to grants and funding for programs, restoration, preservation and fundraising. But with all the falling, will there still be enough to go around?

We shall see.

Blips taken from Culturegrll and Art Net News.

Cause of the Week: Pink Power!

First Lady Laura Bush really started Breast Cancer Awareness Month off right by flipping the light switch and illuminating the White House pink. Laura Bush was quoted last night:

"We're showing our support of breast cancer awareness and research in a historic way. In recognition of the mothers, daughters, sisters and wives who struggle with this disease, we're lighting the White House in pink, which is the color of the cause. May our lights tonight shine as beacons around the world, a signal of the United States' commitment to saving lives for breast cancer."

As the most common cancer in women in the United States, having affected over 2 million women, it is vital that everyone unites together, not only in October, but all year-round to fight this disease. Fortunately, everyone is fighting. Just by googling breast cancer, you will see the hundreds of local, regional and national organizations working together to not only finding a cure for breast cancer but also promoting prevention through education and screening and providing support to breast cancer patients and survivors.

Now I'm sure you've heard of the big guys, Susan G. Komen (racing peeps) and Breast Cancer Research Foundation (scientist peeps). These two organization provide opportunities to support the cause, but why not make your efforts hit closer to home by supporting your local organizations working to help your neighbors. This month, there is an abundance of opportunities to support breast cancer, starting with shopping!

Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition has teamed up with Tanger Outlets to offer The Power of Pink coupon. Each coupon is $1 a pop and entitled you to 25% off one item from an participating store. And good news, Coach and Cole Haan are in the deal.. talk about a huge discount and a huge help to DBCC.

On October 10th, "Good Morning America" co-anchor and breast cancer survivor Robin Roberts will speak at 7 p.m. at the DuPont Theatre in Wilmington. She's going to discuss her fight against breast cancer and the importance of screening. Call the theater at 656-4401 for tickets ($15-$50). I'm more than willing to put my Today Show preference aside for this talk.

On October 12th, The American Cancer Society is hosting the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Race/Walk to be held at the Wilmington Riverfront. The event begins at 7 a.m. For more information, call (410) 933-5134.

My mother, a breast cancer survivor, is constantly reminding me that screening is the key to early detection. Which means self-checks and mammograms are a must. On October 8, 15, and 22, Bayhealth Medical Center will offer $15 mammograms to uninsured and underinsured patients from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Women's Center at Dover, Women's Wellness Center at Milford and the Middletown Medical Center. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Bayhealth's breast care coordinator at 744-6773. Check with your local hospital for opportunities to get screened today.

Last but not least, if shopping is your thing, pick up any women's magazine at your grocery store. Almost every issue this month, Shape, Glamour, Cosmo, People... list stores and web-sites offering limited edition products that are donating proceeds from the sales to Breast Cancer organizations. I particularly loved Bath and Body Works Cancer Vixen products. Maker of the products C.O. Bigelow has teamed with renowned cartoonist Marisa Acocella Marchello, and her book Cancer Vixen, to offer several body products and are planning to donate all of the proceeds to Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Who doesn't like berry scented soap?

Funny Things in Art Museum Gift Shops

Forget those canvas tote bags and post cards, museums are ramping it up in their gift shops with creative gifting. I had to share with you one gift being offer at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Ladies and gentleman, meet the Hot Man Trivet.....

Any lady in the hot kitchen could use a real man to help out.... with open arms of course. He'll sit on your fancy marble counter tops and protect them from your hot hot lasagna. Since his mouth is forever open (don't worry he won't touch the casserole) you can hang him up on a hook. It's not too early to start your Christmas shopping with this guy for only $24. If you're really up for some VISA charging (and I mean only if you're up for it) go to MOMA's store.... you'll never want to close your browser.

And doesn't the say go.... "if you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen" ??

The Weekend's Delaware Delights: Fall Funness

The foilage may not have arrived yet, but you can still kick off October with a bang at a few of these great events!

University of Delaware's Coast Day - Sunday, October 5, 11a.m. to 5p.m. UD's Hugh R. Sharp Campus, Lewes, DE.
Never ever underestimate the power of your ocean! This family-oriented event had loads of fun on the itinerary. Start off by picking up your Treasure Hunt map for chances to win prizes and then learn learn and learn more about environmental science. Meet scientists, tour boats, see sharks and learn how these guys down in Lewes are working hard to preserve our coasts. But in all honesty, all you need to know to go is four words, Crab Cake Cook Off. Go to http://www.ocean.udel.edu/coastday/ to plan your coast day activities and practice your crab walk too while you're at it.

Delaware Auto Show - All Weekend, Chase Center, Wilmington, DE, $7 for Adults, Free for Children Ages 10 & Under
The inaugural auto show was such a hit last year it's back! Over 200 cars will be under one roof in Wilmington this week-end along with a slew of famous characters like YouDee and Swoop the Philadelphia Eagle.

Governor's Annual Fall Festival - Saturday October 4, Dover, DE 10 a.m. to 4 p.m Free
The Biggs will be there and so should you! The weather is lookin' real fine for a nice day in downtown Dover, including includes a morning 5K run/walk, entertainment, children’s games, a moon bounce, pony rides, face-painting and over 40 craft booths for all to enjoy. Local entertainment will be on hand to keep the fun rolling all day. This program is in conjunction with First State Heritage Park's First Saturday Free program.

A Colorful Kind of MySpace

Purple has always been my favorite color. Purple was the first and only color I ever mixed in art class during the primary colors lesson. Just mix the red and blue paint and voila, purple. Add a dash of white for some lavender and you've got yourself a 5 year old girl's dream bedroom wall paint. If you've ever delighted in color mixing, enjoyed paint shopping at Home Depot or just plain like your world filled with color, you're going to love the website: Colour Lovers

Colour Lovers is a networking and creative site for all color lovers and users that monitors and influences color trends. The site caters to design professionals but all color lovers have been joining Colourlovers.com for fun. You can begin by browsing through different swatches, patterns and palettes created by fellow users for inspiration for your own projects (the living room is screaming for a fresh coat and your 10 year olds' Book Report Cover needs revamping) and then go ahead and start color matching on your own. Join a group or a discussion and make friends with others who have similar tastes (I'm currently on a search for the other purple lovers...)

And did I mention there's a blog to go with? Yes, the blog section of Colour Lovers is a great way to keep up with color news and how color palettes are extracted from everyday life. Case in point, in light of the current economic downturn, a entry was most recently posted about Color Palettes in an Economic Downturn. and different colors of camo. My thoughts on all of this? Mono chromatics better beware.