Community Matters

(Community Matters) Abby Productions is presenting four of Allan Baker’s short plays at the Off Center Stage.  Steven, Michael Mitchell and I enjoyed the evening – especially the blow-me-away piece, 5 Minutes – three powerful vignettes from 9/11 – Jude Hickey and Blake Smith were riveting; Gina Houston, Feliz Dia McDonald, Sean Stogner & Franc Frye also powerful and convincing.  Also very worthy is Voices, a piece we’d seen in workshop a couple of years ago.  Sharon Elmore gives a standout performance in the short piece.

Allan’s a 20-year friend, a long time LGBT activist & leader and a playwright since 2004.  His short pieces have been recognized by Frontera Fest and the Emerging Artists Theatre’s Fall Festival of Short Plays in NYC. Connect runs through April 17 at the Rude Mechs’ Off Center and should be seen.

(Community Matters) ST and I first saw an abridged version at the Alamo. Now, whenever one of us is in a foul mood, we can talk about feeling like a cinnamon bun

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(Community Matters) A super duper day . . . including picking up this car2go smart car to drive over the long weekend.  We’ll announce on Monday that Entrepreneurs Foundation member companies and nonprofits with which we’re engaged can now sign up to drive these cool, shared vehicles.

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) – terrific breafast this morning with colleagues who have also served or are serving on the HRC board – John Kerrigan, Daniel Brennan and Lynn Yedell, discussing the organization’s Austin history, the recent Black Tie Dinner, and future fundraising opportunities.

The Harlem’s Children Zone – Dell executive Glen Neeland is on the steering committee and further filled me in on Austin’s plans for the program (at yesterday’s KDK-Harman board meeting we voted to support financially).  If you haven’t heard about this program on NPR you should listen.  That they may bring this program to St John’s in Austin is huge.  Southwest Key Program is also vying for a federal grant, though readers of this blog won’t be surprised that I wouldn’t support their bid.

Meeting with Leigh Christie and Brenda Thompson – planning all sorts of things including how we might distribute 43 iPads as part of our project.  Collaborating with Amanda, Shobie & Peter on the everyday things that engage our 1,200 volunteers and hundreds of donors to HelpHaiti, TEDxAustin and ongoing projects.

Lunch at today’s PeopleTalk listening to Cecilia Estolano, Chief Strategist for Green for All, for a dynamic presentation on Clean Energy opportunities for underserved communities.  “Let’s rebuild the country’s middle class while we’re rebuilding the economy w/ green jobs,” and “the green revolution is coming but it won’t lift all boats unless we’re strategic, deliberate & bold.”  Council member Sheryl Cole introduce Cecilia, noting, “let’s not look back and see another ‘digital divide.'”

Regrettably, I missed the Annie’s luncheon, the AARO social equity luncheon and (completely broken hearted about missing) Julie Speed’s opening in New York tonight at the Gerald Peters Gallery.

We did attend the beginning of Council member Cole’s reception for the Texas Relays (and heard she subsequently referenced my excited phone call about the relays last year).  And, a fanastic dinner tonight at Suzanne & David Booth’s for Gustavo Araoz, president of  the International Council of Monuments and Sites.  Much fun with many of the guests, especially spending time with Alexa Wesner and Jeanne Klein.

(Community Matters) Two events unfolding really may change the world as we currently know it – the deterioration of American relations with Afghan president Hamid Karzai and the Vatican’s bumbling handling of pedophile scandal now directly implicating Pope Benedict.

Karzai really expects us to continue funding a war and placing Americans in harms way while he entertains Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?  Does the Vatican believe their defense should include the fact that families never contacted the police for 20 years?

(Community Matters) We continue to raise and grant money for HelpHaiti – we’ve raised $1.3mm and have now granted nearly $1mm.  It’s not easy – there are so many organizations doing such good work, yet so many people still not being reached.

Telephone conference calls & online research today including Can-Do.org founder Eric Klein who is over-the-top aggravated by the slow pace of recovery.  And, Leigh Carter, Fonkoze’s US-based ED about the needs of 45,000 women enrolled in Fonkoze’s programs, about the malnourishment of their children and how most have lost everything.  Leigh herself was in Haiti during the earthquake and fell from a second story floor, breaking her back.  Fonkoze lost 2 Haitian employees and over 160 lost their homes.  We’re talking about the possibility of stipends for their workers who did lose their homes.  We’ve already funded continued training for 2,000 women on business practices and disaster recovery (mitigating risks).  The HelpHaiti grants committee intends to invest a portion of monies raised in helping Haitians in economic recovery (as well as physical).

(Community Matters) We joined Amy & Kirk Rudy and lots of their family and friends for Seder last night.  What a wonderful tradition.  Loved seeing Kirk’s mom & step dad (Janice & Jim).  Sorry his dad & stepmom weren’t able to make it after all (Alan & Stephanie).  Special treat that Sam extended his spring break from Colorado U.  Many family & friends.  A wonderful way to celebrate the holiday.

(Community Matters)

Happy Passover

(Community Matters) Inkydinkyparlezvous, the blog of my very dear friend Lilly Archuletta.  She’s a cerebral and manic sorta friend – the kinda friend that excites creativity, smoking and drinking.  She’s also a very good cook. . . oh, and she’s very well read. . .  and she’s bred some fine off-spring.

update: Lily just wrote to remind me, her father is Raul Archuletta from St. Petersburg, Russia.  Her mother is Rose Quintanilla from Claunch, New Mexico

(Community Matters) Regrettably, we’re almost sure to see the loss of blood before some of these people accept a multi-cultural USA, where power is shared with minorities, women, non-Christians, LGBT and foreign-born Americans – the blood of patriots indeed.  Frank Rich’s column

“A threat to the very essence of our basic system” and a “usurpation” of states’ rights that’ll “destroy the free enterprise system.” “A federal dictatorship.” “Take our country back!”

“The Republicans haven’t had a single African-American in the Senate or the House since 2003 and have had only three in total since 1935…. Their anxieties about a rapidly changing America are well-groomed.”

(Community Matters) Nice press in THE paper of record

Once a sleepy state-government and university town, Austin is now a cultural and technological hub as well. . . . There is a notion, made famous by Richard Florida, that cities can prosper by putting in bicycle lanes and nightlife districts and the rest. These amenities attract the savvy young knowledge workers of the creative class, who in turn attract business. But perhaps the causal connection runs in the other direction. If a city has enough engineers in its tax base, the bike mechanics can scrape together a living alongside them. Either way, Austin has pulled it off.

(Community Matters) Last night we agreed to launch a new dinner club (The Lake Dinner Club) after the stunning meal prepared by Penny Wilson & Jeff Browning and enjoyed with Kim & Kyle Hughes. They cooked Indian out of Vij’s cookbook. And, we had the best time with four very dear friends.

they have 5 rescue dogs, all some form of bull dog – each precious as hell (with plenty of property to roam)

the view from Browning Bend

Not to mention Jeff’s & Penny’s new home – omg – meticulously conceived, carefully engineered, dark wood, natural light and radio controlled.  In the heart is a kitchen (plus an outdoor kitchen) in which twelve people can comfortably create. I no longer have ambition to return to Las Brisas in Alcapulco, I’m just going to Jeff’s & Penny’s for a long weekend! An incredibly wonderful evening.

(Community Matters) Just won an eBay auction benefiting this year’s Twestival for Charity : Water’s Scott Harrison – well for him for lunch with 5 friends that is. Met Scott this week at breakfast with Ross Garber and through Doug Ulman. In 3.5 years, they’ve raised almost $14mm and brought water to over 1mm people. Scott’s plans are to raise $2B in ten years, bringing water to 100mm, or 10% of those suffering from lack or reliable, clean water. Their Haiti program in video below:

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