Dinner's opening question and a short video to watch before Friday night.

Hello!
For those of you who can't make the dinner Friday night, but want to be part of the conversation and the solution to ending the cycle of poverty for girls, I'm posting the opening question and a short 3:04 video to watch.

"Has one person made a difference in your education?  If so, who was that person and what did they do for you?"

One person can make a difference.
x,
A

Updates on the first Jeffersonian Dinner

“Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action 

will delineate and define you.” 

― Thomas Jefferson

Hello!
As the first Wickersham Roundtable approaches, I thought I would send an update about the event location and talk a little more about the non-traditional development approach the Jeffersonian Dinner employs.

Location:  Due to unforeseen delays in the kitchen remodel downtown, the first dinner discussing ending the cycle of poverty for girls will be held in my Lake Oswego home.  The address is provided on the invitation.  Same stimulating conversation, excellent food and company, but in a different zip code!

Two questions have come up a few times in conversation about the dinner series:  Why a Jeffersonian Dinner and not a pay per plate dinner?  How to you connect development with a hosted dinner?

The dinner's purpose is to engage a diverse group of thinkers in a lively discussion about a topic over delicious food.  The purpose is not to actively fundraise.  To help cover dinner costs and generate support for the first dinner's partnered non-profit (Kenya Keys) I've approached local businesses and individuals for tax-deductible sponsorship.  Through sponsorship, dinner costs are covered and the non-profit organization gets some funding for the invaluable work they do furthering social justice.  It's a win-win think outside the box approach to generating support for a solvable issue we face in our world.

Thank you, Linnea Osterberg for generously sponsoring a portion of the dinner!   Also, thank you to the anonymous donor!

We are still looking for sponsors for the series.  If you or someone you know is passionate about social justice and would like to be a part of this innovative approach to discussing solutions please let me know!

I saw this yesterday and thought it was worthwhile to pass on.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/girls-education/

Warmest regards,

A

Transparency.

Transparency is such a hot topic right now in government, business, personal development, non profit organizations, and window sales (ha!).  Given the surge in awareness of open and honest business activity, I'm writing this post to enhance the transparency my projects.  Most of my supporters tell me, "I know you so I know you will do good with the donation I'm giving."  I love that trust and apply it to my daily actions.  But in this post,  I'm taking that trust a step further to inform supporters who aren't around me all the time,  or who may not know what projects I'm working on and where their efforts and financial donations are going.  If you're a new reader and want to become involved in any of these projects, send me an email and we'll get started!

A little timeline:

Water project partnership with Kenya Keys.
I started this project in fall 2008 as a chance to bring clean drinking water to a community in Africa.  Girls didn't go to school because they spent hours searching for water to drink, cook and bathe in.  Once I met the founders of Kenya Keys, we worked together to find the best fit for achieving clean water and helping girls stay in school.  With your efforts and donations, in 2011, Kenya Keys was able to build a sanitary water system in a secondary school dormitory which houses up to 80 girls!

Trafficking project.
Co-founded TORO  in 2012 with Margot Stewart.   Our goal was to bring awareness to the issue of domestic human trafficking and provide people with resources to get more information.  11% of our profits went to the Polaris Project, specifically Mei-Mei Ellerman's personal campaign.  We've taken a pause from this project but you can access some of the resources if you visit the site.

I printed up small awareness fliers that I continue to leave in hotel rooms, restaurant bathrooms, and airplane magazines all over the world when I'm traveling.  I've also been known to leave them in library books (shhh!).  I think it's a great way to inform people about this issue in a loud whisper and provide the resource line if someone needs to use it.  Let me know if you'd like to be a part of this project and I'll mail you some fliers.

Social justice/human rights/advocacy work.
I continue to be involved with local agencies in the Portland area addressing women's rights.  I work with survivors, write grants for special projects, serve on development committees, and work on creative projects all geared towards advancing women's and girls' socio-economic standing.

Wickersham Roundtables.
I'm hosting a series of Jeffersonian dinner parties (Fall 2014-Spring 2015) in my historic downtown Portland condominium.  The first dinner is planned for late September.  Dinner guests will engage in a roundtable discussion about working towards ending the cycle of poverty for girls.
More about this project later.  This post is getting a little long…..

Happy warm weather everyone.
x,
A

There is good and happiness everywhere if you just look for it.

I'm reading Half the Sky.  It's heartbreaking, agonizing, and makes me angry.  I can't even get through more than about 20 pages or a chapter in one sitting.  It's too much to take in.

So.....when I saw a post from Megan Wilcken, it lightened my mood and reminded me of the good we can find if we just look for it.

"I love this video! Here's what the artist had to say about it:

Whenever I see and hear reports of Africa in the media, more often than not, they seem to regularly convey war, poverty, and economic strife. I believe that generally we get what we look for, so I decided to look for and highlight the beauty of the land, the zestful enthusiasm for life in the brothers and sisters, and the innocent youthful joy of the children.  Guess what? We found it!"

"Investment in girls education....

may be the highest return investment in the developing world."  Lawrence Summers, Chief Executive-World Bank.

The water project still needs support and donations.  If you would like to help bring clean water to the girls dormitory,  send me a message.  Any creative idea will be considered.  I've updated my etsy site with a few new items and have a few more coming.  Check early and often!!

We are still counting on numerous, small donations to reach our goal of $10,000 ($7500 to go!).   Recently,  I've branched out into professional fundraising:  grant writing and corporate sponsorships.  If any readers have tips or suggestions, please send them my way.
Below is a link updating you on the Samburu Girls Dormitory.

http://www.kenyakeys.org/Area/Projects.aspx

Thanks for reading!

Crafternoon Event Scheduled for Feb.1

I've been talking about having one of these afternoons for a very long time, and now the first one is on the calendar. Come work on your projects and visit with other creative people. Whether you knit, paint, scrapbook, make cards, create jewelry, do embroidery, you will have your own designated space to finish your current projects, start new ones, make valentines, or whatever you feel like.


Details: Sunday, Feb. 1 from 10-5 in a light filled artist's studio on second floor in NW Portland. We'll provide light snacks and beverages. Lunch is on your own (there are many restaurants in the area to choose from, or bring your own, there's a fridge and microwave at the studio). Bring your own supplies and/or share with others. Donations welcome and will benefit CFAC. Our current project is bringing clean, accessible water to a community in Samburu, East Kenya, Africa. RSVP to frenchstyle712@aol.com to reserve your space. As always, feel free to invite your friends. Do something creative everyday!

CFAC will join efforts with Koins for Kenya for first water project

CFAC will join efforts with Koins for Kenya for its first water project in Samburu, Eastern Kenya, Africa. Specifically, we'll work with directors of the local branch for Koins, located in Portland. Their geographical proximity, willingness to give CFAC hands on participation throughout the project, established relationship with the Samburu community, and non-profit status is just the type of organization I was looking for. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to help CFAC and Koins bring accessible water to a community in Samburu, East Kenya. Checks should be made payable to Koins for Kenya and sent to Create For a Cause, Attn: Andrea, 5440 SW Westgate Dr. Suite 300, Portland, OR 97221. Be sure to write: "CFAC-water" in the memo line. 100% of your donation will go to the water project. Thank you, Andrea