NorCalUrban

Just saw a video from my friend Travis at The Work of the People featuring Chris Seay. It's a great piece on our affluence and world poverty. See the video here. I deal with poverty issues each day and, for sure, the issues folks deal with in the US are real and at times desperate. However, extreme poverty in other parts of the world is a whole different issue altogether. In the end, I can say that I'm blessed to live in this country.

CDI presents “The Other America,” a film by Allen Willis of Dr. King’s April 1967 speech at Stanford. Discussion to be facilitated by Brandon A. Smith of the Martin Luther King Jr. Research & Education Institute, Stanford University. A discussion of how our own economic success as a diverse and growing community is integral to building a sustainable and economically just community as envisioned by Dr. King. Thursday, June 28, 2007, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Faith Baptist Church, 835 Runnymede, East Palo Alto

I just finished Anne Lamott's book, "Plan B - Further thoughts on Faith". I really enjoy Anne's writing. She's brutally honest, funny and insightful. I appreciate her candid approach to life, faith and her view of the world. Some Christians can't handle her type of straight forward writing. She can be at times irreverent. But, when I'm alone or with those I'm most comfortable I can also be 'somewhat' irreverent (those of you who know me know what I mean), sarcastic and sardonic. It's not that my heart is bad, it's just that I've seen a lot. Anne's worldview is refreshing to me as someone who is still trying to define who I am in Christ. Anne is a unashamed democrat and has an more liberal view of theology that I'm used to. But - her love for Jesus and honesty all but makes up for her strong views on the Bush administration. If you're looking for theology, then you should look elsewhere. If you're looking for a someon...

Early Wednesday morning, June 20, 2007, a fire devastated a North Philadelphia neighborhood causing 100 residents to evacuate. Among those affected by this fire was CCDA board member, Shane Claiborne and many of his neighbors and fellow workers of the Simple Way. You can get more information at the Simple Way website. Please keep Shane and all of his neighbors in prayer, as many of them have been left homeless.

Played golf with my normal crew this morning at Palo Alto Muni. My Friday morning partners are a bunch of retired guys and a couple of pastors who have welcomed me into their normal group. It's good to be the youngest! They really are a great group of men. I feel honored to be with them One man is 82 years old and is still walking 18 holes! I can't complain about my sore feet when I'm with them. I shot a horrible 53 on the front nine then parred 4 holes in a row to shoot 43 on the back ending with a score of 96. Not great, but getting better! My handicap is now 24.3, down from around plus 30 6 months ago. The Yankees are in town this weekend playing the Giants. I like both teams, but I'm a Yankee fan at heart. The Giants are my National League team. It's the first time the Yankees have played in San Francisco. I couldn't get tickets - but I'm watching it on TV. This week is our yearly Church of God in Christ California Northwest Holy Convocation. This year...

Last Monday I went to LA to meet with Amy Sherman. We went down to talk to the California / Nevada Credit Union League about Amy's Econonmis program. Economis is an excellent web based 'token economy' that teaches kids econonic literacy through a very like program. We're looking to impliment the program in a local East Palo Alto school and offer the program to three to five other community partners. We had a great time with the League and then headed back to the Ontario airport for our trip back to San Jose. Amy is a great person. Very engaging and bright. She's written a few books including this one. She's recognized as a national leader in CCDA circles. NCUD is thrilled to be workign with her. In EPA we had a great time meeting with our potential partners. I'm especially excited about working at my son's school East Palo Alto Stanford Academy. Jenni and I have alot or work to do to get ready for the roll out of our financial literacy initiative...

Good ideas from the folks at FROG via Guy Kawasaki. I'm rethinking some of the ways my organization does things. I need to look more into google docs. and other free web applications. Any of you used google docs? What's been your experience?

Check out truemors.

It's been a tough year for a Yankee fan. But - all is looking better. Yankees get 7th straight win, Abreu is looking like his old self. The Rocket has relaunched... Now all we need is for the Red Sox to get a little of the negative mojo we had for the first two months of the season. Forget you, Steve Joh! We'll see how things end up!

Great new band. Kind of like the Beatles meet the Knack meet the Strokes... English dudes. Check 'em out on itunes or your favorite music site...

Rueters reports: HEILIGENDAMM, Germany, June 8 (Reuters) - Rock star Bono denounced world leaders on Friday for producing a "deliberately misleading" pledge to fight AIDS and other killer diseases. "I am exasperated," Bono told Reuters in a telephone interview at the Baltic resort where leaders from the world's rich nations were rounding off their three-day summit. "I think it is deliberately the language of obfuscation. It is deliberately misleading," he added. G8 leaders announced a $60 billion pledge to fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis with great fanfare but many activists were disappointed that they failed to set a timetable for the spending plans and that it contained little new money. "They have taken language hostage. We wanted numbers but this is burobabble," Bono said, criticising the lack of a timeline and the fact that the pledge did not apply specifically to Africa. "It is not real in any language. We are looking for acco...

Had a great time in New Orleans. The conference was great. I made some good contacts and heard more about what is was going on in the community development credit union world. By chance my sister Kelli and her family were in town. I don't get much time with Kelli - but I love her a ton. Saul and the kids (Noah and Lilli) were also there. It was great to see them... Came back on Saturday night - and promptly go the flu. I went to church yesterday, had much with Max (who is in town for a BCM training) then went to bed. Had crawfish (yes, I sucked the heads) gumbo and all the favorite New Orleans stuff. After many years it was a trip to be in the city. I had lots of flashbacks. When I was with YWAM schooling we did the first part of our Discipleship Training School outreach in New Orleans. It feels like that was a lifetime ago. The last time I was in New Orleans was when Melissa and I stopped in during our first California to Florida trip when we were engaged. I have some very inte...

Starting September 2007 TechMission assists organizations in using technology in urban ministry to help address injustice and develop at-risk communities. Starting this Fall, TechMission Corps' AmeriCorps program is offering one-year full-time paid internships serving in urban ministries in Boston, New York, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles. The following are available: After School Program Coordinator Positions This AmeriCorps position will assist with a K-8th grade after school program based in a church or faith-based organization, serving through mentoring, providing basic technology activities, coordinating volunteers, and providing overall support. Teen Program Coordinator Positions This AmeriCorps position will assist with a teen program based in a church or faith-based organization, serving through tutoring, mentoring, college prep, assisting with web-based academic enrichment elements, conducting community & parent outreach, assisting with community and school par...

So - I'm on my way to the NFCDCU conference in New Orleans. I was asked to sit on a panel that is talking about emerging models in the community development credit union world. I'm looking forward to hearing and seeing more about other youth programs around the country. My flight has been delayed two hours. A bunch have been cancelled, so we'll see what happens... I should be working - I have a ton to do. BUT - I got up at 4:00 am and have the attention span of a flying bat right now - so I might as well blog. I've been somewhat sporadic in my postings, so now is a good time to catch you up on the last few weeks. Random comment - There are two adorable little girls next to me, it's been fun talking to them. It seems like the whole airport is delayed. Random comment - 4:05 departure... Had a great time with Jeremy in New York a couple of weeks ago. Jeremy scored tickets for the Yankees / Red Sox game. Jeremy is a good guy. It's been good getting to know him o...

Palo Alto Daily News editorial: Immigration officials continue to wreak havoc in the Bay Area through misguided enforcement efforts, uprooting longtime community members and creating hostility in the process. Our advice to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security: Harness the resources you use to drive assimilated Bay Area families out of the country and use them instead to protect our infrastructure, inspect shipping containers and capture terrorists. It makes sense to deport people who are here illegally but it's not clear that the federal officials can carry out that mission. Some of those caught in ICE's net have been here so long they have U.S.-born children in their teens. The raids drew complaints from San Mateo County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Jacobs Gibson complained that the federal agents identified themselves as "police." This can be a problem for...

that I'm now officially an 'old guy'. (Birthday in 17 days...) hmmmm. Time to start wearing black socks with velcro tennis shoes.

Man, I really want one of these. Might have to wait a while, though. I like my Treo, but it can be a little 'buggy' sometimes. I just had do do a complete reset to it and download all the software again. Apple and Google just can't stand to be apart. Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced this week that Apple TV will soon play YouTube videos. Google recently unveiled a desktop search program especially for Mac users. And Google tools increasingly appear to be a key part of the secret sauce behind Apple's signature new gadget, the iPhone, set for release in June. Both brands are beloved by legions of fans, and with Google CEO Eric Schmidt embedded on Apple's board of directors, the companies have gotten wise to the benefits of synergistic coupling. Call it the power of Gapple. The iPhone's Web widgets and browsing software will enable access to a wide range of Google applications, with built-in tools for Google Maps and searches. A number of the portal's other mobi...