Earth Day: Being Green, Trendy, and Advocating for a Cause

by Elisa | Apr 22, 2010 | Anthropology Psychology Sociology, Art of Advocacy, Fair Trade Products, Spiritual Discipleship

I once heard some very smart person say that the people whose beliefs are most suited for celebrating Earth Day are Christians. Why? Well, because we believe we are given a gift of creation. We are part of that creation which has purpose, while the opposing view is...

Global Socioeconomic Perspectives: Sustainable Development

by Elisa | Mar 22, 2010 | Uncategorized

The following is my intro & thesis for the class research paper in Global Socioeconomic Perspectives (International Relations, LIB 320). I am really proud of it, because it took me forever to say just what I wanted to say! If you have any grammar...

Global Prayer Day for Burma 2010

by Elisa | Mar 14, 2010 | Conflicts, Wars, Genocides and Atrocities, Seeking Justice

I believe I might have written about Burma, before. Although my rumpled Spanish might seem like a clue that I have a thing for South & Central America, my heart is full for Asia. Considering Burma, (politically referred to as Myanmar, though not international...

Child Protection Compact Act

by Elisa | Mar 11, 2010 | Spiritual Discipleship

I was reading this blog the other day, its a good reminder how blatant human trafficking or sexual slavery can be in other parts of the world. Eastern Europe, is, sadly infamous for human...

International Women’s Day 2010

by Elisa | Mar 8, 2010 | Poverty, Women's Empowerment

Okay, I am far from a feminist. In fact, in looking at the International Women's Day Website (http://www.internationalwomensday.com/default.asp) I realized I really, personally care less about many of the issues. Maybe this is only because, generally, I am treated...

Love Haiti. Love the World.

by Elisa | Feb 22, 2010 | Spiritual Discipleship

Please Love Haiti. But PLEASE only do so with the understanding that your love cannot begin & end there:"Esther Duflo, a professor in MIT's economics department, said, that every day, 25,000 children die of preventable causes, adding up every eight days to the...

Thing's I Learned From my Night with a TV

by Elisa | Jan 17, 2010 | Spiritual Discipleship

My daughter's friend decided to ride her choo-choo train down the stairs. The result of this thrill-ride, was pain, I assume. Especially as she has spent much of the past few days in-and-out of the hospital, getting her little arm put back together again. I have been...

Faith Enough to Seek Justice

by Elisa | Sep 12, 2009 | Spiritual Discipleship

Luke 18 (The Message)The Story of the Persistent Widow 1-3Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, "There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A...

A Social Problem: Stay-At-Home-Parent

by Elisa | Sep 9, 2009 | Community

This is one of the short essay discussions I did a couple weeks ago for the current class I am in, Social Problems in the workplace (SOC 402). Please note that for reading ease, I used the term "mom" but this would really apply to any male or female caretaker and...

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

Identity Crisis #3467 – My Messy Beautiful

The other day, my daughter was excitedly expressing her admiration of the teachers and helpers at her school. I usually resist the temptation to to ask my kids what they want to be when they grow up because at some point in 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...

Ethical Fashion, Fair Trade Products, Giving Back, Socially Conscious Brands

Everyday People Doing Something About Human Trafficking And Refugees

Can an everyday person make a difference for refugees? Yep. They can! Just as I’ve seen it...

Children-in-Need, Clean Water, Conflicts, Wars, Genocides and Atrocities, Global Health, Good Charities, Helping that Doesn't Hurt, Human Rights, Poverty, Refugees and Immigration, Seeking Justice, United States

Notes From Birmingham Jail & 60th Anniversary of the March

Honestly, I’ve never read more than clips of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s works, even though I’ve talked them up. A major world-changer, Dr. King is mostly known for his “I Have a Dream” speech...

Human Trafficking, Sex Trafficking

Why We Need To Start Talking To Our Kids About Modern Slavery

Update 2021: This course is currently offline. Since, it has been renamed Conversations With...

Leadership

A New Year, They Said: A Poem for Changemakers in January

Its a New Year, and with it, demands for volunteering, ministry, activism, and more more more! This satirical poem addresses giving from fullness and restful changemaking

Spiritual Discipleship

When Our Best Yes Meets Humble Service: When Should Changemakers Clean Toilets?

Often Changemakers find themselves doing the faithful background service of doing things like changing toilets. How to we balance our "best yes" with humility?