Sarajean's notes

40 years ago this spring and summer – youth all around the world stood up and protested in a way that surprised many people in power. Students in Paris New York and all across Latin America, Europe and Asia. For today I want to write about the Columbia University protests. The protest linked many different groups and movements Started with the plans for a new gym => separate entrances for locals and students Which meant that a very white school in a mostly Black neighborhood meant segregation. Issues related to Columbia finances and relationship to classified military research were at the heart of the fire but the gym was the catalyst. (Currently Columbia does not do such secret research directly but, according to students, it outsources and invests in this type of research.) Consider the atomosphere: middle of the Vietnam war, the assasination of MLK was only 3 or 4 weeks prior, people could not vote until 21 yo but knew that they would likely have to go to Viet Nam upon graduation...

Oxfam youth The OXFAM Japan international volunteers did a presentation last night that was excellent. Their energy and positive-ness was infectious. They did a good overview of Oxfam and the trailwalker event in May. It was great to see such a diverse and energized group interested in doing something to change the poverty in the world.

Doing a party with many different groups has been a good learing experience. Why not just spend the time doing my own party? One of the goals is collaboration – getting groups to work together. I could do a sarajean party but I have no interest in doing that. I was to get groups together to work together for some community groups in need. Why are you doing this? I have no good answer This has been in mind for a while – I just do not have the confidence to start it. I love parties What do you get? The groups being able to meet the needs of their target populations better New friends new networks new members new doors open Satisfaction if we succeed

Join theEarth Day events in Yoyogi Party all day all weekend! When its done join the Parties 4 Peace event Sunday April 20th, 4 - 11 pm => a Vegetarian and organic foods BBQ and International DJs, Parties 4 Peace supports BEE - Bicycle for Everyone`s Earth, 1000 yen entry

I keep doing this workshop once a year to prove to my self that understand the concepts and convey what it is to others in a way so that they may utilize them. This was the most difficult one I ever did and it will be the last one I do at Temple. Why tough? Only 3 people and 2 people who just wanted to study English. And that was 10-5pm. I have done this one other time this was but this was not an interactive group nor was it an imaginative trio. Maybe creating a new workshop on social mobilization. Or maybe I just need to join a class my self! Find out about the real training program at the Midwest Academy.

Saturday April 12, to Friday April 25, 2008. 11:30am to 11:30 pm Amnesty International (AI) will be holding a two-week photo exhibition and series of public events - to celebrate 60 years since the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, and the launch of a new campaigning group in Tokyo, AITEN. Location: Ben's Café in Takadanobaba, Tokyo. 1-29-21 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku. 03-3202-2445 Map at http://www.benscafe.com/ For details of the evening schedule, see our website at http://www.aig78.org/ PSC will be holding our monthly networking event there on Friday April 25. Hope to see you there.

Why is corporate outreach so hard? I am asked this a lot – most will blame the nonprofit ngo staff for meting lousy at pr and marketing. I do not deny the lack of people with skill and experience in this area however there is a certain level of condescension. Then there is just a lack of understanding in general that this is a profession. This is a career not a hobby. But that applies not just to people in the nonprofit NGO sector but also consultants – who do you work for? That question is only hard to answer because there is an expectation that if you do not work for a large and famous org then you are pursuing a hobby. Let me share a personal story. I went to a CSR event in March where I met many people from many companies. Among the people I met was a person from a certain well-known American apparel company who contacted me shortly after the event. I was asked to meet. I was asked about coming to my office but since we do not have a meeting space and I share with 5 groups I though...