Honestly, if you find yourself with some extra time, please pick up and read "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close." It has been one of the best books that I've read in a very long time. You will learn, laugh, cry, and ponder your own life as you read this irresistible novel. As many probably know it is also a movie that's currently out in theaters starring Sandra Bullok and Tom Hanks. Though, I would urge anyone to read the book before seeing the movie.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Life... It Gives Me Heavy Boots
“I felt, that night, on that stage, under that skull, incredibly close to everything in the universe, but also extremely alone. I wondered, for the first time in my life, if life was worth all the work it took to live. What exactly made it worth it? What's so horrible about being dead forever, and not feeling anything, and not even dreaming? What's so great about feeling and dreaming?”
Monday, February 6, 2012
Educating Homeless Children = A Civil Rights Issue
Did you know that there are more than a thousand children and youth right now in our area that are experiencing homelessness as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act? Well, if you didn't then you need to wake up and start to notice this very invisible group.
What is even more pressing is that these children and youth have a tendency to suffer educationally because of the situations and circumstances that they are in (not necessarily to any one person's fault).
Though, the education of these children and youth is a civil right as stated by US Attorney David Hickton of Pennsylvania's Western Region. These young ones deserve more. They deserve hope for their future and the best avenue for it (besides shelter and food of course) is through an adequate education.
This Friday, US Attorney David Hickton, along with Brett Keisel of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dr. Linda Lane of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, and Dr. Linda Hippert of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit will unite at a Press Conference that is being organized by the Homeless Children's Education Fund. Each will discuss the education of these vulnerable children and will plead the importance of their identification and attendance in school.
Be aware of the issue and tune in this Friday for coverage of the Press Conference. It is the hope of HCEF and others that this will be the start ot impacting these children youth in a brighter and more collaborative manner. To provide them Hope through Learning.
For more information, please visit www.homelessfund.org - or e-mail me at zmarsh@homelessfund.org.
What is even more pressing is that these children and youth have a tendency to suffer educationally because of the situations and circumstances that they are in (not necessarily to any one person's fault).
Though, the education of these children and youth is a civil right as stated by US Attorney David Hickton of Pennsylvania's Western Region. These young ones deserve more. They deserve hope for their future and the best avenue for it (besides shelter and food of course) is through an adequate education.
This Friday, US Attorney David Hickton, along with Brett Keisel of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dr. Linda Lane of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, and Dr. Linda Hippert of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit will unite at a Press Conference that is being organized by the Homeless Children's Education Fund. Each will discuss the education of these vulnerable children and will plead the importance of their identification and attendance in school.
Be aware of the issue and tune in this Friday for coverage of the Press Conference. It is the hope of HCEF and others that this will be the start ot impacting these children youth in a brighter and more collaborative manner. To provide them Hope through Learning.
For more information, please visit www.homelessfund.org - or e-mail me at zmarsh@homelessfund.org.
One Step Closer.
Every person is one step closer to something.
Your mom may be one step closer to baking her finest cake; your brother may be one step closer to graduating from college; you may be one step closer to helping that man find his way out of addiction; your friend may be one step closer to reaching her dreams. Others may be unfortunately one step closer to suicide; that man walking down the street may be one step closer to murder; that woman sitting in the coffee shop may be one step closer to stealing out of hunger.
My point is that we are all one step closer to something, but it doesn't always mean that we are heading in the right direction. For some it may be toward a road of darkness, lonliness, and utter confusion - asking themselves, "What is this life? What is my purpose?"
Others again, may be one step closer to reaching their dreams.
Think for a second the direction that you are heading and ask yourself, what are you stepping toward? Is it toward your dream, toward a bad choice, toward love, toward hate. Why did you decide to step in that direction in the first place? Was it out of passion, or out of lust, out of love, or out of revenge?
I am never too sure anymore what direction the steps of my feet are taking me in. There are some days that I feel I am heading toward my dreams of impacting others in a significant way. Then there are days when I feel like I am stepping back toward a hole of darkness, and finding myself lost in this confusing life.
It is so hard for a person to take that first step, but we all have to step toward something. My hope is that you are stepping toward something extraordinary.
-Picture by Peter Chace
Your mom may be one step closer to baking her finest cake; your brother may be one step closer to graduating from college; you may be one step closer to helping that man find his way out of addiction; your friend may be one step closer to reaching her dreams. Others may be unfortunately one step closer to suicide; that man walking down the street may be one step closer to murder; that woman sitting in the coffee shop may be one step closer to stealing out of hunger.
My point is that we are all one step closer to something, but it doesn't always mean that we are heading in the right direction. For some it may be toward a road of darkness, lonliness, and utter confusion - asking themselves, "What is this life? What is my purpose?"
Others again, may be one step closer to reaching their dreams.
Think for a second the direction that you are heading and ask yourself, what are you stepping toward? Is it toward your dream, toward a bad choice, toward love, toward hate. Why did you decide to step in that direction in the first place? Was it out of passion, or out of lust, out of love, or out of revenge?
I am never too sure anymore what direction the steps of my feet are taking me in. There are some days that I feel I am heading toward my dreams of impacting others in a significant way. Then there are days when I feel like I am stepping back toward a hole of darkness, and finding myself lost in this confusing life.
It is so hard for a person to take that first step, but we all have to step toward something. My hope is that you are stepping toward something extraordinary.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)