Team Congo PDX Cause + Event Rundown

On Saturday, November 16, 2013 Team Congo PDX participated in Cause + Event Portland, a local running/walking event which benefits the charity of the particpant's choice.  Team Congo PDX brought 47 team members to the event, and had participant's entered into both the 10K and 5K run, as well as the 5K walk and virtual walk/run.

Group photo!

$10 of each Team Congo PDX member's registration fee was a direct donation to Women for Women International's Congo program.  In total we raised$545, which is enough to sponsor one woman for one year, plus 40% toward a second one year sponsorship.  This amount represents each team member's registration fee and donations ($470 fees / $75 donations).  

Women for Women International's one year program in Congo provides women (mainly from the east) with job training skills, as well as trauma counseling as most women have been victims of sexual assault/violence, and upon graduation are given a micro loan in order to put their newly learned job skills to use.  (Team Fundraising Page).

It was truly a fun day, and the event was well planned. About 5 months prior to the event Team Congo PDX entered into a friendly side-challenge with Team Angel MS Warriors to see who could bring the largest team.

Team Angel MS Warrior Captain Charlie & Team Congo PDX Captain Amanda

The losing team was to complete an exercise of the winning team's choice. Although Team Congo PDX lost the challenge, The Angel's were great sports & did the 80 some-odd jumping jacks with us pre-race (a great way to get warmed up)!  Rumor has it the challenge is on again for next year (Save the date: 9.13.14 Cause + Event!)

The race course itself was brilliant in that it consisted of several out & backs and so you got to pass by & high five your fellow team mates as you passed by them.  A great way to recharge your running/walking spirit! 

The after-race celebration was also upbeat & much fun.

Team Congo PDX members warming by the heater pre-race

 I enjoyed being able to say hi and thank you to as many Team Congo PDX members as possible, and was inspired at the cross section of our team: co-workers, running friends, fellow activists, high school classmates...

A special thank you to the Never Again Coalition for helping to recruit Team Congo PDX members, and of course the the Cause + Event volunteer race committee, and in particular Race Director Amy Little.

If you'd like to support Team Congo PDX, you can join us for our annual charity group walk/run on International Women's Day (3.8.14): Click here to register.

Wonder Woman Syndrome

It's been a while since the blog muse has hit me, but I've been hit smack dab with it tonight, and so here I go.

This week while expressing my feelings of doubt, my consoler launched straight into a pep talk about how wonderful and strong I am....and I immediately put the brakes on the trajectory of this well-meaning pep talk, because my more vulnerable feelings do not negate my strength or self confidence.  It's okay to just feel and let your guard down.

Source:
http://shirtoid.com/5701/wonder-woman-logo/ 

 

And this got me to thinking.  It's a misconception that to be a strong person means that you never have moments of doubt, and that if you do you are somehow weakening or belittling yourself.  This is particularly true for self-confident women.  

While I appreciate that we live in place and time where it is more possible for women to blossom into their confident and strong selves**, I do believe that many succumb to Wonder Woman Syndrome, in that they feel it is a sign of weakness to express doubt, fear and even disappointment.  

This syndrome name just came to me tonight (hey I've been a Wonder Woman fan since I was knee high to a grasshopper), and I while it's admirable to be dubbed a wonder woman, I just want to put it out there that it's more than okay to doubt, fear, and let your guard down. To do so does not make you any less strong or self-confident. In fact, I would argue it's quite the opposite to do so.  For it takes a confident person to acknowledge their feelings, and frankly confident and strong people need to be able to have moments where they aren't the reliable ever resilient rock.  

Wonder Woman herself said it best,

You must let go of your arrogance. You may need help more than you realize. 

And so, to all of you strong, confident women (and men) out there, remember that moments of doubt are not moments of weakness.  They are moments when you let go of the arrogant belief that you can be completely 100% self-reliant.  We all, from time-to-time, need a rock of our own to lean on, and it takes a strong person to recognize that. 

**I must acknowledge that gender inequality is still prevalent in our world, however, the time and place within which I live has allowed me to become the woman I am today.  A woman who confidently uses her voice. 

Team Congo PDX & Cause + Event Portand

We are now less than a month out to Cause + Event Portland's charity walk/run, and as of today's date, Team Congo PDX has 43 members, which means that simply by joining our team, our members have raised $430 for Women for Women International's Congo program (half of each team member's registration fee is a donation to our cause)! 

Our team is multi-distance: 10K or 5K run or 5K walk. The race starts at 9:00 am (individual event start times TBA).  Our team members need not worry about their individual pace affecting our team, as each team member will run or walk their own race—it’s just about numbers and raising funds & awareness for good causes (over 40 charities, including Women for Women International, will benefit from this event). 

Why Congo?  Over the past 12 years just under 6 million people have died due to violence fueled over who controls the mineral mines in eastern Congo, leaving women & children vulnerable.  There are 4 main minerals which are sourced from eastern Congo which are necessary for our every-day electronics to function properly: cell phones, computers, digital cameras, etc.  It the goal of Team Congo PDX to educate others about the conflict in the region, their inadvertent connection to the conflict, and provide positive & proactive ways to affect change. 

Perks of joining our team?  Each member of Team Congo PDX will receive a free Run for Congo Women t-shirt (if they don't already have one), and will receive an invite to our Facebook group so that we can better coordinate for race day. Also, doesn't everyone want to be in the group photo on race day with our Run for Congo Women banner?

Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions

Team Congo PDX members will also have an opportunity to win a free entry into our 2014 Group Walk/Run which is held on International Women's Day. The team member who raises the most funds for our cause via our official team fundraising page will win the free entry!

Also, this past June Team Congo PDX entered into a friendly challenge with the Angel's MS Warriors team & whichever team brings the most members will get to select which exercise the losing team has to complete on race day & our friendly challenge has caught the attention of the race organizers & so it should be a fun spectacle in front of everyone! And, the largest team will receive $250 for their charity.  

To date Angel MS Warriors have 70 on their team, but we haven't given up yet!  So, please ask your friends and family to join Team Congo PDX on 11.16.13 to support women in eastern Congo! 

Pertinent links:

Team Congo PDX Facebook Page

Team Congo PDX Website

Team Congo PDX Fundraising Page

Join Team Congo PDX @ Cause + Event

Cause + Event Facebook Page

Cause + Event Website

Inspiration Amid Exhaustion

Here it is nearly 11:00 pm, and I'm tired and plain worn out from the past week.  I'm still getting over a nasty cold, work is busy, and I'm juggling several charity projects, all amazing and also another reason why I'm tired, mentally. 

Photo by Marcus Bleasdale (source)

But, now my mind is abuzz after reading the October 2013 National Geographic which features the work of Marcus Bleasdale, a photographer who has been capturing the conflict in eastern Congo for over a decade.  This article compels me to get out of my cozy bed, boot up my computer and pound this out, because it's the only way my mind will ever find enough peace to call it a night. 

I'm inspired, and feel a kindred spirit in Mr. Bleasdale:

"When I first went to the Congo, I realized that a hundred years after Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, nothing has changed.  People were still being exploited, only now it was multinational corporations sucking up all the resources.  A report in 2004 said that more than four million people had died in what is now called Africa's first world war, and I just couldn't believe that no one was talking about this horrific death toll.  That enraged me.  At one point I was spending eight months a year photographing this war, and yet only a couple of international reporters were covering it from Kinshasa.  So I keep bringing back these images because I want to make people as angry as I am.  I want them to know the minerals in our mobile phones or computers or cameras are funding violence.  How can we make the horror stop?  It begins with a photograph." ~October 2013 National Geographic

And, so thank you Mr. Bleasdale for so eloquently explaining why it is that the Congo has changed my life.  I simply cannot bear to live in a world where nearly 6 million people can die, seemingly unnoticed, simply because their blessing is a curse, and where I am an inadvertent cause for the continued curse. Indeed, I want to live in a world where living in one of the most mineral rich regions in the world doesn't mean that you must live amid horrific violence. 

I am honored and humbled to be a part of a movement sweeping across the country, and in fact across the world, to shine a bright light on the situation in Congo, because the fact is that, "...your laptop--or camera or gaming system or gold necklace--may have a smidgen of Congo's pain somewhere in it." (October 2013 National Geographic)

And so, no matter how tired I become at times, I will persist on, and keep working to highlight the beauty of Congo, and to educate others as to the horrors which threaten to snuff out this beauty. 

Support Women for Women International via Foot Traffic Women's Academy!

Attention: Women for Women International supporters! 

Help Women Half a World Away!

Here's your chance to do something good for a fantastic non-profit AND for yourself! Run or walk with hundreds of other women as you train together with Foot Traffic Women's Academy this fall! This all-women's running and walking training program prepares members to complete a 10K (6.2 miles) or a half marathon (13.1 miles). Professional coaching, pace mentors for ALL abilities (many at the beginner level for walkers and runners), weekly group workouts and emails to keep you motivated and on task, guest speakers, technical fabric member shirts, and more await you. Program starts Sept. 14th.

Visit www.foottraffic.us/academy or email laura@foottraffic.us for more information.

PLUS, Foot Traffic will donate $40 of every half program registration and $20 of every 10k program registration to Women for Women International (WfWI)! Simply use code "WfWI" when registering!

LAST, during session I of FTWA (Spring 2013) we raised $60 for WfWI's program in Democratic Republic of Congo via FTWA registrations using our charity code. The $60 was transferred to our online Congo fundraising page last week, which means that the $60 was doubled to $120, because between now and September 30, 2013 all donations are being doubled by one of WfWI's generous group of supporters!

Please spread the word that registration is open for FTWA's Session II (Fall Session): www.foottraffic.us/academy. This go around any funds raised via our charity code ("WfWI") will benefit WfWI's work around the world (8 countries in all).  You can also make a donation directly to our online WfWI fundraising page.

Tabling at Pamper for a Purpose

     On Sunday, July 28th Team Congo PDX was privileged to table at the 3rd annual Pamper for a Purpose, which is a local benefit for Jewish World Watch's (JWW) programs in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  For $20 you could purchase a service (make-over, acupuncture, hairstylist, massage, etc.), and pamper yourself, but for a purpose! 

Team Congo PDX's table @ Pamper for a Purpose

It was a beautiful sunny day, and afforded the opportunity to meet many inspiring activists, policy makers, & Congolese and Sudanese nationals. 

   

Diana & myself

I started my day by meeting Diana Buckhantz, a JWW Board Member, who had just returned home from a trip to DRC (Read Diana's Huffington Post blog here).  Diana and I spent a bit of time chatting about her recent trip to Congo, JWW's work with Women for Women International. Diana even donated to Team Congo PDX's online fundraising page, and in return I made sure to give her a Run for Congo Women t-shirt!

Rudwan and I

Later in the day I was honored to meet Rudwan Dawod Cis, who one year ago was unjustly detained by the Northern Sudanese Government for advocating for peace in Sudan (you can read more about Rudwan's incredible story here).  Rudwan lives south of Portland with his beautiful wife and daughter, and I was tickled to meet Rudwan, his wife and daughter in person as like so many others across Oregon, and in fact the country, I was able to take part in the campaign to help bring Rudwan home.  Rudwan's story is incredible, and yet he is one of the most humble, compassionate human beings I have ever met.  

     I was able to talk to a around 150 -200 people about my upcoming Run for Congo Women events, and collected $52 in donations which has been applied to our online fundraising page for Women for Women International's DRC program.  All-in-all a wonderfully inspiring day!

Donations!

15 Things Which Will Make you Run Faster

Those of us who run regularly know at which point(s) in our run we tend to slow down and almost give into our inner voice which is practically yelling at us to stop.  Of course, once you overcome that voice you often realize that you can actually run farther than you thought, and those moments of overcoming the doubtful inner voice feel so empowering (take that inner voice!)

While about halfway through today's long run I was motivated to run a little faster as I approached an extremely smelly porta poddy.  The smell permeated for a good quarter mile, and the quickest way to get out of the danger zone, was to speed up those feet. 

That got me to thinking, and before I knew it a mile or two had gone by as I was compiling in my mind a list of the top 15 irritating things I regularly encounter on my runs which cause me to speed up, and so really these irritating motivators are silver linings, and I am begrudgingly thankful for them:

1) Smelly porta poddys

2) Off-leash pooches who think it's fun to chase you (after all that's why you are running, right?)

3) Imminent bridge lifts (while I used to find these irritating, I actually like them now as they provide an opportunity to take in a nice view & stretch a bit, but when you are cresting the bridge & see a vessel coming, it's fun to try & outrun it too!)

4) A slowly approaching freight train at the RR crossing you must pass over (longest wait at a RR crossing, over 10 mins!)

5) Creeps

6) The sudden feeling that you must use the restroom (tip: don't eat a lot of cherries the day before a long run...trust me)

7) Approaching rain clouds (while I enjoy a run in the rain, it's actually fun to try outrun the rain clouds!)

8) Crowds of people (the quickest way to get out of the bottle neck of people on foot & pedals is to find the maze within and just hoof it)

9) Runners & their dogs on long leashes (I think it's great for runner & pooch to go for a run, or walk, but please keep them on a tight leash.  When your furry friend is 10+ feet from you, you've just created an unwanted obstacle course)

10) Group mob runners/walkers (I frequent group runs, and so I get it, but please realize that just because you are in a group does not mean that you get to take the ENTIRE path. Be courteous & let us solos through too)

11) Group stroller runs/walks (don't mistake me, I have mad respect for those who can run and maneuver a stroller, but when running in a group, please recognize that you should sometimes stroll single file through congested pathways)

12) Narrow shoulder on a busy roadway (sometimes you have few options but to run along the side of a busyish road & the best way to get out of harms way is to speed on through)

13) A counting down pedestrian traffic signal (If the countdown is 6 or more, I can always sprint & clear the light before it hits 0!)

14) Hills (I have two large hills to contest with in my neighborhood & sometimes it's just easier to get them over with quickly)

15) Surreys

I HATE these!!!

I must now rant a bit. I get that surreys are fun.  They are a neat way for tourists to enjoy themselves. However, I do not appreciate them when crossing over Portland's bridges.  The surrey joyriders typically don't have the best control over the contraption, and so they are often unpredictable, and are especially irritating when crossing over the Hawthorne Bridge, because a narrow space must be shared by one-way bicyclists and both-ways pedestrians.  The surreys are only available for rental during the fare-weather runner/walker time of year, and so if you are not quick, before you know it you are stuck behind an ill-operated surrey.  I've rarely seen happy faced surrey connoisseurs when going over the Hawthorne Bridge, because by this point even they realize how precarious they are to others. My tip to fellow runners/walkers would be to use the eastbound side of the Hawthorne bridge during fare-weather running/walking season (May - September).  

All-in-all, I never let any of the above ruin a run, and in fact when you turn them in to quick footed motivators, you can begin to embrace them as opportunities to challenge yourself!

Urban vs. Suburban Running: Who Let the Dogs Out?

Mostly I'm an urban city runner, but lately I've been running more in the burbs, and sometimes just a smidgen into the country.  An observation: in the burbs, people seem to think it's okay to let their dogs roam around their yards off leash, unsupervised.

L-R: Rylee, Brenna & Bailey.
Photo taken by Samantha Ulrich

 Don't get me wrong, I love dogs, and in fact my family has three lovable, too-cute-for-their-own-good, snugly fur monsters (evidence to your left).  

However, that doesn't mean that when I'm out for my weekend run that I enjoy being chased by other people's dogs--particularly when I'm in the last grueling mile of my long run.  It's happened twice lately, and both by labs.  While I am pretty sure that in each instance the pooch was just playing, I was not in the playing mood.  Each time it took the owner several minutes to realize that their dog was enjoying a game of catch-the-runner, which for me was several minutes too long.   

So, I post this just to remind my fellow dog-owners, as is best put by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA),

Regardless of your dog’s motivation, chasing runners should be discouraged. No runner enjoys being harassed by a dog, even if the dog’s intent is playful. Your dog could be injured or frightened by a runner since the person is well within his or her rights to shout, strike out or kick at your dog in self-defense.

Read more about the types of behaviors to look for in dogs who chase runners 

Don't worry, even though the ASPCA deems it a reasonable possibility, I won't hit or kick your runner-chasing-dog, but I will tell your dog "No" and be very annoyed with you. 

To end on a positive note, I have observed very courteous dog-owner behavior along a multi-use path I frequent in my suburb running route, and thank the dog owners who make sure that their dogs don't chase others, and when appropriate keep their dogs on leash.  After all, there's no reason runners, walkers and dogs can't share the path in harmony! 

I Run to Empower

Well, today is National Running Day, which is held annually on the first Wednesday of June.  Today is a day where runners everywhere proudly proclaim their favorite pastime. There's even an official website (http://www.runningday.org/) where you can locate local running events, group runs, and even snag your own National Running Day Badge:

I never would have thought I'd catch the running bug.  Despite the encouragement of one of my high school's track & cross country coaches to come on out for a run (she literally pestered me all 4 years of high school), I was adamant that I despised, in fact hated, running.  I can't even count how many times I've declared that I will never run. 

Fast forward 14 years to the Spring of 2011, which is when my attitude toward running changed forever.  I caught the running bug mostly due to curiosity.  I thought I'd give running a try, and although I hated it for the first 6 months or so, eventually it grew on me, and when it did, there was no going back.  And here I am in 2013 training for my first half marathon (this ones for you Coach Garrison!).

Running is my time to clear my head and regain balance.  It's where I challenge myself, and insert adventure into my day.  Sometimes it's a social endeavor (**High Five** to my running buddies!). You just never know what any given run will bring.  There's lots to see: flowers, sunsets, neat cloud formations, and let's not underestimate the people (ahem, Too Short of Shorts Running Man). 

For me running is what reminds me that anything is possible.  I use running to not only empower myself, but also to empower others, and to raise awareness about causes which are close to my heart (plug website for cause here: http://amandapdxrunforcongo.wix.com/teamcongopdx).  I'm not alone in this, collectively in the last 20 years runners have raised over a billion dollars for countless causes (http://www.runningday.org/charity/make-a-difference-on-national-running-day). 

Of course not everyone can run, and you know, that's the neat thing about the running community.  Most running events welcome walkers, wheelchair runners, and even sometimes our furry friends.   And, personally, my hat's off to those who are coordinated enough to run while pushing your little one in a jogging stroller--I mean seriously, sometimes it's all I can do to get my two feet across the finish line, let alone four additional wheels!

So, whether you're a casual or super fanatic runner, today is for you!  So, what in the heck are you waiting for?  Lace up and get out there!


My running partner & I sprinting to the finish at the 2012 Red Lizard 5 Miler

The Office: More than Just the End to a Show

Today is not just any Thursday.  It's Office Thursday.  And, it's not just any Office Thursday.  It's the finale of one of the greatest shows of the past decade.  One that holds a special place in my heart, as well as those of anyone who appreciates ruining innocent sentences by spouting off with: "That's What She Said!"



Hey, I can have my own Office-Thon!

I have been a self-appointed uber fan of The Office since the beginning.  As those who know me best can attest, the humor of The Office is completely compatible with my general smart alecky outlook on the everyday.  It is the everyday after all where we all reside.  Yep, our days are filled with alarm clocks, thermostats, coffee, water coolers, copy machines, and the more than occasional paper jam. 

I so love The Office that when new episodes are being aired I go out of my way to make sure that my Thursday evenings are free of commitments, for I have a commitment with NBC to watch my favorite characters be completely ridiculous, and yet somehow remain completely relateable.  Anyone who's worked in an office can appreciate many of the subplots within each episode: fighting over thermostat temperature, the envy over how much better the ladies bathroom is compared to the gentleman's, and who doesn't want to master Flonkerton for the next Office Olympics?

I also love that the show was able to fulfill many plot lines and yet keep the show going without compromising the underlying humor and greatness that is The Office.  Jim finally got Pam (a modern day fairytale we can all aspire to), Michael got Holly (a more quirky fairytale, yet also worth aspiring to), in the end Angela got Dwight...and Dwight got a son (much to Dwight's chagrin, I cannot aspire to be a beat farmer)!

The office, however, holds a special place in my heart for another reason.  Around 2007-ish, NBC came out with Dunder Mifflin Infinity (DMI), which was an online game/social network for fans of The Office.  At that time my "social media online" presence was nonexistent.  Nonetheless, I was intrigued, so I joined the Medford, OR branch.  Initially DMI was pretty lame, and it took a few months for the DMI community to take shape. 



Kermyisgreen = Me!


The best way to describe DMI is: Facebook meets online gaming.  Each week there was a task to complete for which you could earn Schrutebucks, which you would in turn use to purchase items for your virtual desk, or gift to your co-worker's virtual desk. There was branch and then company wide voting on task submissions for which you could earn more Shrutebucks, and even really cool real-world prizes from NBC to the over-all company wide winners.

The more Shrutebucks you earned, the quicker you would advance up the company ladder.  Within your branch you could post to your branch's private forum, and if you were brave you could venture out into the public DMI forums.  Pretty soon a solid online community was formed.  To encourage social interaction, you could also earn Schrutebucks by posting in the forums, and on your co-workers profiles. During DMI's height, the writers of the show would place references to DMI within the show (every uber Office Fan's dream).

As is the usual case with me in every facet of my life, before I knew it what was supposed to be a fun non-responsibility filled endeavor, turned into a responsible commitment. For two years I served as Regional Manager (forum moderator) of the Medford, OR branch -  the home of the Rogue Beavers.  Our branch moto was: "We're Rough Around the Edges".  We were a small yet mighty branch.  The most employees we ever had at any one time was around 150 - 200, and of those only about 20 were active.  But still, I had a job to do.  No really, I did.  Every so often we had branch tasks, and it was my responsibility to coordinate the submission of  the tasks. Eventually it was also a part of my duties to appoint employee of the week, and employee of the month. And moderating the forums was a task in and of itself (no cyber bullies on my watch!).  Yep, my silly online game turned into work that sometimes kept me up late at night (don't judge).

What happened during those two years however, is that I got to know a really neat group of people from all over the country, and in fact even one cool Australian dude.  A small, but special, group from back east joined our Medford branch pretty early on, and two members of that group (Ame and Sam), really helped to make our branch fun.  We had several games to play in our branch forum (20 questions, for example), and eventually Ame started a video blog thread wherein several branch members (myself included) shared videos which captured a snapshot of our everyday lives.  Heck, we even held our own Dundee awards! Pronk & Bobuerto led our branch's fantasy sports teams, and from what I recall we actually did really well.

During the second year of DMI, a special camaraderie between branches was formed.  We hosted events in the public forums, and Medford co-founded L.E.C.O.M, which consisted of 5 branches (Lakeland, Erie, Canton, Odessa and Medford).  Together we planned and hosted an Office Olympics, Talent Contest and company picnic, which if memory serves me correctly NBC gave us credit for on the DMI homepage.  Winners were awarded nifty badges to display on their forum signatures, such as the nifty badge featured here.

 

I was able to meet Ame and Sam in person when they visited Portland in 2009, as is evidenced in a video blog Ame posted following their trip (note that apparently when I don't know what to say, I ramble about the weather...)

In 2010 after two and a half years of faithful service I resigned from DMI, because I felt it was time for me to invest in connections within my community. And in fact it was 1 year later when my current path of advocacy work began. 

I left the Rogue Beavers in the capable hands of Ame and Sam (just look at the cool DMI Medford website they made!). Eventually, however, DMI fizzled out of existence, but the bonds formed by it's members have not. In fact, I'm still in touch with several former Rogue Beavers. Some of them have supported my current projects with regard to Congo. Some beat me too often in Words with Friends, and a couple are on my Christmas card list.  And, of course, recently a "closed" DMI Facebook group has been formed so that we can reminisce about our ridiculously fun DMI days.

But all of them hold a special place in my heart, for you see when I joined DMI I was going through a difficult time in my life and needed a distraction which did not involve bonds with other people.  What I found instead was a supportive community of real-life people who unbeknownst to them helped me to refocus and regain my confidence.

And so today I lift my Employee of the Year mug to you: Ame, Sam, Travelcup, JoanofArc, Intheceiling, Ladystokecat, Ponk, Bobuerto, The Question, MellowD & the rest of the DMI community:


I bring this mug into my annual review every year--it gets a laugh every time!


 

So, you see, tonight is not just the ending of one of the best shows of the past decade, but the commemoration of the many friendships formed through love for the show. 

M otivated people who are driven to succeed
E xperts in the field to meet your every paper need
D epth of our commitment makes us stand out from the rest
F unny, smart, creative folks with whom you'll be impressed
O ffering you service full of dignity and grace
R eady for the challenges that we will have to face
D edicated to the goal of having lots of fun

 

At DMI Medford, we're number 1!

BEARS. BEETS. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.

 

One Million Bones Inspires Action; Awareness

This past Thursday (4.25), was the One Million Bones (OMB) installation at Portland State University (PSU).  The event was sponsored by Oregon Coalition for Humanity (OCH), Atma Foundation & Oregon Holocaust & Resource Center.

 

OMB is a national public arts project whose aim is to raise awareness of genocides and atrocities going on around the world, this very day in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Burma and Somalia.  Our April 25th installation focused upon raising awareness about the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where nearly 6 million people have died over the past decade due to conflict over control of minerals which wind up in our electronic devices.

 

Bones installed at PSU on 4.25.13.
Photo taken by Denise Wetherell

 

Over the past 6 months students and concerned citizens in Oregon have been gathering to make bones in honor of those whose lives have been lost to these genocides.  These bones, totalling approximately 8,500, were installed on the PSU campus April 25th.  These same bones will also be installed in our National Mall as a part of the national installation this coming June, where an advocacy day is planned for June 10, 2013.

 



PSU students support CFCI!

The OMB installation was coupled with OCH's Conflict Free City Initiative, which is an initiative whose aim is to combine awareness and action as to where the minerals which go into our electronics come from, namely the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  OCH is working to present CFCI to both the cities of Portland and Beaverton. (Click here to learn how you can support CFCI.)

 

Ann Shannon talks to the brownie troop about OMB

April 25th was an inspiring day.  An estimated 500-600 people walked through our installation.  We all had many engaging conversations. Awareness was raised, and we were able to interact with people of all ages, including a Brownie troop who walked by & then came back to help make some more bones out of clay.



We made some good connections with folks in the community, and our panel discussion was informative, and stirred up some good discussion with regard to genocide & human mass atrocity, the policy response, and what we as concerned citizens can do.  In fact, OCH hopes to institute a series of "Activism 101" panel discussions.

 

Our Panel

Top Row (L-R): Amanda Ulrich (OCH, Run for Congo Women); Francesca (From Dungu Congo) & Alysha Atma (OCH, Atma Foundation).

Bottom Row (L-R): Retired Portland State University Professor Greg Goekjian; Anna Canning from Portland's Equal Exchange Co-Op; Professor Clint B.T. Baldwin of George Fox University & Brian Plinski of Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici's Office.

 

What resonated with me the most, however, was a conversation I had with a PSU student who is a veteran of our most recent war with Iraq who is taking his experiences in war to try & leave a positive impact upon the world.  Although it was difficult for him, he shared a very personal story of the first human mass grave he witnessed when initially deployed to Iraq.  Our installation triggered this memory for him, and although he could have simply walked through our installation, he instead decided not to engage, but to also share a very personal, and horrific, memory. It was a moment which hit a deep cord both within himself and me, and is one that will stay with me for quite some time. 

 

The main take away from the day was that remarkably the worst actions of humanity also shine a light on the best parts of humanity. There are always people working for the good of all, and that we must be careful not to succumb to a more cynical and jaded view of the world.   It’s a tough battle, but must be fought.

 

Source: http://www.onemillionbones.org/

Thank you to the Portland State University Alumni Association for covering our event and publishing an alumni profile.

 

Final Stats: Team Congo PDX's Group 10K & 5K Walk/Run - 3.9.13

The final stats are now in for my 2nd Annual Team Congo PDX's Group 10K/5K Walk Run, which was held on Saturday, March 9, 2013 to coincide with International Women's Day.


Participants running (sisters Ann & Carrie)
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

Participants: 148 (10K:66 / 5K:82)

5Kers starting their route
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

Funds Raised: $4,806

(Team Congo PDX Page, Rock Creek Multi-Cultural Center & Brenna Kutch)

100% of each participant's registration fee was a donation to Women for Women International's DR Congo program, and the amount above is comprised not only of the registration fees collected, but also of the funds collected the day of the event for the purchase of raffle tickets, as well as donations collected in the months and weeks leading up to the event.

The funds raised are enough sponsor 12 women for one year via Women for Women International's DR Congo Program.  These women will be enrolled in a year-long training program which will give them the skills needed to support themselves and their families.  They will also receive trauma counseling, and at the end of the program will be given a micro loan so that they can begin to support themselves using their newly learned skills.

Volunteer Hours: 

88.5 hours / 21 Volunteers

Volunteers Patrick & Scott check-in participants at Foot Traffic
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

Volunteer hours were donated in order to ensure that the event went as smoothly as possible, and for that I thank all volunteers!  Volunteers set-up the after-event reception areas, set-up the registration area, ran-registration, directed participants out on the route and helped to clean-up afterwards. 

A special thank you to Patrick Whalen, Starbucks Manager extraordinaire, who worked hard to recruit route volunteers via the Starbucks Community Service Site.

A local massage therapist from Raven Healing Therapies donated her services by offering a 15 minute massage for the participants free-of-charge.  Photographer Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions donated her services by capturing the day in photos.  I thank them both for the generous donation of their talents.

I also thank the following volunteers: Kayla Smith (event co-coordinator), Kevin Putnam (sponsor), Craig Moore, Ann Shannon, Richa Sehgal, Alysha Atma, Allison (Foot Traffic), Dan, Anna & Hannah and Starbucks volunteers: Scott, Monica, Ramona, Susan, Anna, Sharon & Joseph.

SPONSORS: 5

($3,000 value)

I owe a BIG thank you to all of the event sponsors for without their support, my event would not have been the success it was: Swanson, Thomas, Coon & Newton, Foot Traffic, Diversitech, Starbucks & Great Harvest Bakery. 

My sponsors made it possible to advertise the event, print promotional materials, manage off-line registrations, provide the before and after event gathering spaces, and of course yummy treats to enjoy at the after-event reception. 

Most importantly, however, their sponsorship conveys their commitment to the cause, and for that I am grateful.  

RAFFLE PRIZES: 30+

($500 value)

Over 30 raffle prizes were donated to the event by the following supporters:

Thank you!

Community Support: 8 Groups

At the event were the following community groups: Oregon Coalition for Humanity, Portland's Equal Exchange Co-op, Never Again Coalition, Atma Foundation, Arise for Congo, The Embrace Necklace, & One Million Bones, all of whom sent representatives to table at the event in order to share with participants information about their work related to issues in DR Congo, and to provide information about other ways to become involved in the cause.

Also present in order to lend her support was Sarah Adkins from the Oregon Student Nurses' Association.



Participants making bones for One Million Bones
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

MORE THANK YOUS

Thank you to all of the participants who came out in support of Run for Congo Women. It was an amazing day, which would not have been possible without your support!  I hope to see you all next year (Save the date: 3.8.14).

I would also like to thank Bonnie Wilson from Run Oregon for taking time out of her busy schedule to participate in the event, and then write an event recap for the Run Oregon blog. Thank you Bonnie!

Bonnie Wilson finishing up the 10K
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

Thank you to Kayla Smith for helping me with the event--you are an amazing friend and co-event organizer!  Thank you to Kevin Putnam for running the show at the after-event reception, and for your continued support of Run for Congo Women.  Thank you also to Laura Thomas, Downtown manager of Foot Traffic, for your guidance and support. Thank you Jeanne Kraje for your support and reassurance.  And last, but far from least, thank you to my family and coworkers who patiently put up with my over-the-top stress level in the weeks and days leading up to the event.  I will not ever forget your reassuring words and support!

Happy 5K finisher
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com