Community Service Day - Part 1

Well, here it is. Literally 4 months worth of research, begging, borrowing, planning, and worrying all came down to one day. Every year, BCG does a community outreach day. It is a time for all of us white collar folks to get out of the office, away from computers and blackberries, and have a physical hand in helping the community. Yes, we do lots of pro-bono work, and yes, we are active individually in community and charity efforts, but 1 day a year, we literally close the office, and nearly every person out of 100 people comes to lend a hand.

This year we picked KIPP Ways Academy:


They are 5th-8th graders who are in a zip code where every school is failing on standerdized everything. They go to school from 7:30 am - 5:30 pm, attend school on Saturday at least 2 out of 4 every month, and 3 weeks of summer school every year. They are the 4th best middle school in the entire state of GA, and the best middle school in Atlanta Public Schools. They are literally working 60% more than every other student out there, but that is why they are so successful. Can I get an AMEN? So, yes, I picked this school again, and yes, they are deserving, but what, may you ask, do you DO to help this place?

Well, here goes.
1) Build an outdoor classroom. The end result:

Working it out...

Before we got started

Pushing hard...

2) The amphitheater:
Before, and after. I mean, is their really any comparison? And BTW, the entire campus had ZERO, and I do mean, not any, flowers, on the property. We added two flower beds, one here, and one at the outdoor classroom.

3) The Band Room
New Shelving, 3 new murals, organizing, the works!

4) Classroom materials –

Now this one I pulled out of my booty. They needed bookcases, storage cabinets, filing cabinets, teacher’s tables, and the works! I did not have the money to make this happen. I did however get people to give me things at cost. And about 5k of stuff donated. Thank the good lord.

See the next post for the rest of the projects!

Community Service Day - July 11th, 2008 - Part 2

Please note that this entry it too long, and I had to post it in two parts.

5) The PE/Art storage room. This room is what people would make out in and get caught being stupid in back in the day. It was disgusting, filled with a few measly dilapidated shelves, and no system to organize anything. We changed that. DRASTICALLY. =)

6) New computers:
Both the library, and some individual teachers got new computers. YAY! BCG donated 5 or 6 of them, and Emory donated 5 or 6. Not too shabby!

7) Reading diagnostic:
All of these kids are new to the school. They are all on different grade levels, and with the help of about 5 or 6 of us in the morning, all 125 new students were tested and placed according to current ability.

8) Whew, yes, there is still more! We had a sports camp that rotated with the reading diagnostic that morning. GA tech sent out 8 b-ball players, male and female, and about 5 football players, all wearing GA Tech gear. We were also to get a former GA Tech player, and current Cincinnati Bangle to come out as well. The kids were VERY excited!

9) The afternoon was an arts rotation. Band, Chorus, Drama, and Art all had 30 minute windows to talk to the kids and give them some exposure to what they were going to be doing for the year.

Now that I’ve written all of that down, it seems more overwhelming. Believe me, it was a big effort, but everyone had a great time, the kids were so happy, the teachers and administrators, so appreciative. It was a great day, and I’m so glad that we got everything done!

August 2nd

On August Second, one of my oldest friends is getting married in Tampa. And of all my friends, I thought she'd be the last. She lives in NY, and is getting married to, I have to say, her soul mate. He balances her, keeps her in check, but makes her feel complete, loved, and worshiped without being whipped. He is masculine without being insensitive. He is attractive, but she is better looking. All-in-all, I can't think of a person more perfect for her. Most important to her, he carries his faith outwardly, and practises what he believes without making other people uncomfortable. He makes her a better person, and she is literally more whole with him than without him.

It is amazing to see her so happy, and I'm happy for her. Genuinely excited for her. I met her on my first day of college, in my FOG (freshman orientation group), and we are so similar, it made us fight sometimes. Both so stubborn, smart, strong willed... but of the two of us, she was the one who loved to play the field, and I was the one who wanted to be in love. Funny that I got engaged first, but she's getting married first.

I love her, and I love my friends, and as we move physically farther apart, it makes me appreciate how much I need them in my life. I'm not a person that requires alone time, "me" time, pretty much ever. But i am a person that requires girl friend time, and time away from the love of my life. So I can be with friends, and he can get alone time, and we both function much better.

ANYWAY, I haven't blogged in a while, mostly, b/c things have been so hectic. I have to write all about Community Service Day and how great it was, and post tons of pictures, but again, too busy to talk for long, so I leave you with this thought:

When life is hard, and you lose faith in yourself, you question if you are making good decisions, and sometimes feel lost and alone, just think about all the people who don't have access to pina' coladas and turn on your blender. :)