Kindness Quest: A Roadtrip of Random Acts of Kindness

by Elisa | Jul 26, 2018 | Adventure, Art of Advocacy, Being World Changers, Children-in-Need, Community, Create Awareness, Family & Relationships, Giving Back, United States

Road trips are both a regular and vibrant part of my life. Although I would often prefer to travel the world and do humanitarian work or support far-away missions, in this season with young kids my wanderlust is usually sadiated through trips across the country. This...

Freedom and the Fourth: With Gratitude to Bring More

by Elisa | Jul 4, 2018 | Anthropology Psychology Sociology, Create Awareness, Seeking Justice, United States

We might not have utopia, but we do have freedom. It is a nice thing to have. My ancestors were welcomed into the United States, although they might have been hated for their Irishness, or whatever was considered deplorable in the last one hundred and two hundred...

Our New Addition: When Social Justice Becomes Family

by Elisa | Jun 21, 2018 | Art of Advocacy, Being World Changers, Busy Moms, Children-in-Need, Community, Family & Relationships, Seeking Justice, Stuff of the Heart

At Average Advocate we talk about finding our best role to change the world on global social issues, and in doing so, we are always asking ourselves what it means to truly love others. We are spurred by "what isn't right," our holy discontent, wanting to do something...

27 Million or 45 Million: Which Human Trafficking Statistic is True?

by Elisa | Apr 27, 2018 | Human Trafficking, Sex Trafficking

Modern slaves: how many are there? 21 million? 27 million? 32 million? 45 million? Whether we quote our favorite number with burning holy anger, morbid glee, heartbreak, or detachment, one thing for sure is that this little piece of data isn't little and it isn't easy...

The True Meaning of Rest

by Elisa | Apr 10, 2018 | Being World Changers, Fully Alive, Identity

Last week, when we first finished the LBD.Project I knew I needed to rest, and not just the ignore the kids and sleep-in type of recovery, but by really embracing the true meaning of rest (see, I am already talking about it here). Resounding loud, clanging and gonging...

An Ancient Expectation of Hope (Pause and Celebrate)

by Elisa | Apr 3, 2018 | Being World Changers, Fully Alive, Life Purpose

The other day a friend was blithely expressing that all of these spring holidays were basically the same thing, built around the vernal equinox. I can't disagree with that, as last week I went to a neighbor's Nowruz party, then there was Passover, and of course...

BLOC: Doing Something About Sex Trafficking & Addiction in Cincinnati

by Elisa | Mar 28, 2018 | Good Charities, Human Trafficking, Sex Trafficking, Your Stories

Sex Trafficking and addiction in Cincinnati, Ohio? Sometimes we forget what is really going on in our neighborhoods in the United States. This article is even more curious because it questions who the trafficker is. Sex trafficking is typically defined as sex used in...

Human Trafficking in San Diego (From the LBD.Project)

by Elisa | Mar 25, 2018 | Create Awareness, Human Trafficking, Sex Trafficking, United States

As I've begun to form relationships with local anti-trafficking organizations as I lead the LBD.Project on the west coast, I've gathered together some research about what human trafficking in San Diego looks like. Whether you are participating with us in the...

How to Start Good Fires for Social Change (Not Angry Activism)

by Elisa | Mar 15, 2018 | Art of Advocacy, Being World Changers

There are two types of anger--one that helps you change the world and the other helps you destroy it. But the line between a righteous anger, or holy discontent, is a fine line. If we aren't careful, instead of lighting good fires for social change, we can...

Adventure

Swamp Wisdom: An Ecclesiastes on Human Rights

Ever heard of ancient King Solomon? He was said to be the wisest of them all as he philosophized...

Busy Moms, Community, Family & Relationships, Raising Kids

Storm Chaser; Change Chaser: On Saying Goodbye

How Can Anyone Say Goodbye? I’m starting to feel all panicky that I am leaving all my...

Anthropology Psychology Sociology, Mental Health, Recovery, Safe Spaces

Understanding Terms for Poor Nations vs. Rich Nations

Terms of Poverty Whether in public political addresses or in pleas from non-profits, we have all heard some of these terms thrown around at some point or another. But just because we can infer their general meaning, I...