Reading Rainbow

As previously mentioned, one of my new resolutions is to read more. I used to devour books, and I simply didn't have the time to read for pleasure while I was in college. And now I've just fallen out of the habit of reading. So my solution is to simply make myself. My goal is to read for at least an hour every day, and so far it's been pretty good.

I'm currently in the middle of three different books. I didn't read like this in high school, but this seems to be working for me, so I'm sticking to it. I think the combination of books is what's keeping me interested. With a good variety, I always have something on hand that I'm in the mood for, so I'm not diverting from my goal due to lack of interest.

Currently reading:

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

When we first meet 14-year-old Susie Salmon, she is already in heaven. This was before milk carton photos and public service announcements, she tells us; back in 1973, when Susie mysteriously disappeared, people still believed these things didn't happen.
In the sweet, untroubled voice of a precocious teenage girl, Susie relates the awful events of her death and her own adjustment to the strange new place she finds herself. It looks a lot like her school playground, with the good kind of swing sets.
With love, longing, and a growing understanding, Susie watches her family as they cope with their grief, her father embarks on a search for the killer, her sister undertakes a feat of amazing daring, her little brother builds a fort in her honor and begin the difficult process of healing.
In the hands of a brilliant novelist, the author narrates the THE LOVELY BONES through the eyes of her winning young heroine. This story of seemingly unbearable tragedy is transformed into a suspenseful and touching story about family, memory, love, heaven, and living.

Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe by Greg Epstein

With the current state of the economy, the ongoing wars that rage across the globe, and the unsettling changes to the earth's climate, questions about the role of God and religion in world affairs have never been more relevant or felt more powerfully. Many of us are searching for a place where we can find not only facts and scientific reason but also hope and the moral courage needed to overcome such challenges. For some, answers to the most challenging questions are found in the divine. For others, including the New Atheists, religion has no place in the world and is, in fact, an "enemy."
But in Good Without God, Greg Epstein presents another, more balanced and inclusive response: Humanism. With a focus on the positive, he highlights humanity's potential for goodness and the ways in which Humanists lead lives of purpose and compassion. Humanism can offer the sense of community we want and often need in good times and bad, as we celebrate marriages and the birth of our children, and as we care for those who are elderly or sick. In short, Humanism teaches us that we can lead good and moral lives without supernaturalism, without higher powers ... without God.
In this constructive response not only to his fellow atheists Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris but also to contemporary religious leaders such as Rick Warren and Jim Wallis, Epstein makes a bold claim for what nonbelievers do share and believe. At a time when the debate about morality rages more fiercely than ever—and when millions are searching for something they can put their faith in—Humanism offers a comfort and hope that affirms our ability to live ethical lives of personal fulfillment, aspiring together for the greater good of all.

Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father by Augusten Burroughs

“As a little boy, I had a dream that my father had taken me to the woods where there was a dead body. He buried it and told me I must never tell. It was the only thing we’d ever done together as father and son, and I promised not to tell. But unlike most dreams, the memory of this one never left me. And sometimes…I wasn’t altogether sure about one thing: was it just a dream?”When Augusten Burroughs was small, his father was a shadowy presence in his life: a form on the stairs, a cough from the basement, a silent figure smoking a cigarette in the dark. As Augusten grew older, something sinister within his father began to unfurl. Something dark and secretive that could not be named. Betrayal after shocking betrayal ensued, and Augusten’s childhood was over. The kind of father he wanted didn’t exist for him. This father was distant, aloof, uninterested…And then the “games” began. With A Wolf at the Table, Augusten Burroughs makes a quantum leap into untapped emotional terrain: the radical pendulum swing between love and hate, the unspeakably terrifying relationship between father and son. Told with scorching honesty and penetrating insight, it is a story for anyone who has ever longed for unconditional love from a parent. Though harrowing and brutal, A Wolf at the Table will ultimately leave you buoyed with the profound joy of simply being alive. It’s a memoir of stunning psychological cruelty and the redemptive power of hope.

With a combination of a popular novel, nonfiction, and a memoir, I'm whipping through my reading. And I'm really excited about it!

Coming up on the list:
A Lesson Before Dying By Ernest J. Gaines
Angela's Ashes By Frank McCourt
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life By Barbara Kingsolver
Bowling Alone By Robert Putnam
The Case for God By Karen Armstrong
Cheating on the Sisterhood: Infidelity and Feminism By Lauren Rosewarne
Dreaming in Hindi By Katherine Russell Rich
The Jefferson Bible By Thomas Jefferson
Jesus : A Story of Enlightenment By Deepak Chopra
Laid: Young People's Experiences with Sex in an Easy-Access Culture By Shannon T. Boodram
Let Your Life Speak By Parker Palmer
The Prophet By Kahlil Gibran
The Purity Myth By Jessica Valenti
Religious Literacy : What Every American Needs to Know--And Doesn't By Stephen Prothero
Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife By Irene Spencer
Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood By Koren Zailckas
The Spiral Staircase : My Climb out of Darkness By Karen Armstrong
The Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore By Deepak Chopra
Three Cups of Tea By Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
Wake Up : A Life of the Buddha By Jack Kerouac
You Shall Know Our Velocity By Dave Eggers

That should keep me occupied for a while! Let me know what you're reading, what you thought of the books on my list, and if you have any suggestions!

Slash It

Yesterday I came across some news about a New York City H&M that has been doing something that I think is pretty terrible. According to a  New York Times article, "at the back entrance on 35th Street, awaiting trash haulers, were bags of garments that appear to have never been worn. And to make sure that they never would be worn or sold, someone had slashed most of them with box cutters or razors, a familiar sight outside H & M’s back door."

I was pretty horrified about this. Working with Habitat, sharing property with a food pantry and a soup kitchen, and dealing with countless people looking for assistance, I'm well aware of the need in the area. I see no need for H&M to not only throw away, but deliberately ruin their unsold clothing. Donation is so simple and in the quantities available from such a large retailer, it could have an incredible impact.

But that was about it for me. I thought "How terrible!" and posted a link on Facebook, and moved on. That is, until my friend Beth read the article. I had mentioned in my post that the article made me mad, and she responded with "And it should make you mad!!!!! Thanks for posting. I know where I won't be shopping."

It was a pretty simple comment, and one that would be expected from Beth, but it caught me off guard. I know where I won't be shopping. She made it clear that she wasn't just going to say "That sucks," and let it go. She was going to do something. But she wasn't organizing a big protest. She was simply making a personal choice. She disagreed with the store's practices, so she was going to stop shopping there.

It seems obvious, but how many of us actually make and stick to such choices? Nike was using Third World child labor, but people were still buying their sneakers. Walmart wreaks havoc on the global economy, but so many of us still shop there. And H&M has some really awesome stuff, so I'm sure that even the majority of the people who have come across this story will continue to shop there.

But I won't. It's a small impact, I know. One that the corporation won't even feel. But it's not about them. It's about me. This year I want to be more conscious of my own actions, to do things with intention and purpose. It might not be easy, and it will take some self control, but for the time being I'll be staying away from H&M because I can and I think I should. And I want to.

I Resolve

1. No more Road Raging.
I get really angry while driving. I mean, I do all of my driving here, on Long Island, where people drive like crazy nutters, so it's not really all that surprising. But it's really not worth getting so worked up over. I've noticed that when I take the time to yell and gesticulate about the guy who just cut me off, it ruins my mood and puts me in a really negative mindset that I have trouble getting off of. So instead I'll just sigh and let it go. Unless someone's life is in danger, it's all okay.

2. No more texting while driving.
I'm really guilty of this one. I didn't start doing it until a few months ago, and I'm pretty good at watching both the phone and the road. I've never even come close to being in a dangerous situation because of it. But I think that has a lot to do with luck. Also, I think that texting while driving should be illegal, so on principle, I'm going to stop.

3. Staying out of Walmart.
I am well aware of the terrible effect of Walmart on our global economy, and I never used to shop there because there weren't any around. But now I live directly across the street from one, and I find myself popping in out of convenience. That's no good. I can drive the extra ten minutes to Target.

4. Blogging more.
I have so many good ideas and topics to blog about! I just keep putting them off, telling myself I'll type it up later...and then I feel like it's no longer relevant. My new goal is to follow up on my ideas as soon as I can, and to be more regular with my updates.

5. Being more conscious of what I eat.
I've been a vegetarian for a little more than a month now. I've been a veggie before, but it's never really lasted long. I tend to eat mostly vegetarian food anyway, but I do still like some meat dishes. Every once in a while I think that meat is pretty gross and don't want to be eating it, and I end up sticking with vegetarianism for a month or so. Right now I'm doing well without the meat, but I'm not promising to stick to that. I am promising to realize what I'm ingesting and why.

6. Rolling with the punches.
I'm a planner. I like to know what's going on and how it's all going to happen. I'm a list queen. But it got to the point where I was getting anxious and/or angry when things were deviating from the plan or chaotic in general. I realized that I can't take myself so seriously. Things are probably going to work out just fine without me freaking out about it. Of course I still like to know where I'm going and how to get there, but I don't want to let all of those Murphy's Law occurrences ruin my fun.

7. Reading.
I used to read like a fiend, and then when I went to college I found that I didn't have any time for pleasure reading. During my four years at SU the only thing I read besides my text books was Harry Potter. I have a huge stack of books that I really want to read, but I never seem to get around to them. I want to make more time for reading. I want to make the decision to read one of my books rather than watching something on Hulu.

Gleetastic!

Inspired by this post, I wanted to post my top ten favorite performances on Glee during this first half of the first season.  The list actually features a dozen numbers, but I'm okay with that.

Honorable Mention. "Single Ladies" from "Preggers"




The cast doesn't actually sing this song, so I don't want to include it in my top ten, but it definitely deserves a shout out because it is just plain fabulous.  Kurt rocks that dance better than any YouTuber and Tina and Brittany make for some fabulous backup girls.  Plus, this dance leads to Kurt "auditioning" for the football team and the delicious scene where the jocks do the dance out on the field in the middle of a game.

10. "Jump" from Mattress



Come on, don't you wish you and your 11 best friends got to wear comfy pajamas, jump around on giant mattresses, sing a fun song, and be on tv?  Because I most certainly do.  This one makes the list just because it's probably the most awesome thing to happen in those kids' lives!

9. "Endless Love" from "Ballad


If only because Mr. Schuster's facial expressions are totally priceless, this duet needs to be on the list.

8. "Push It" from Showmance



Hot damn!  That is one scandalous number!  The Glee kids performed this at a school assembly in an attempt to get some new members.  Definitely a better option than Mr. Schuster's choice of "Le Freak."  To be honest, that's probably a little more raunchy than I would have been comfortable with performing, but kudos to the club for doing what they thought needed to be done for the survival of their group.

7. "Bust Your Windows" from Acafellas




I would venture to say that this is Glee's most get it number.  Mercedes totally rocks it with her belting, her moves, and an overall sense of fierceness.

6. "Keep Holding On" from Throwdown




I think this was the first tear-jerker of the season.  In fact, I teared up watching this number as a preview on Hulu before the episode even aired.  It was an incredibly emotional hour: Finn struggles with his waffling feelings for Quinn and Rachel, the drama increases between Will and Terry at their fake OB/GYN appointment, and Quinn's pregnancy is revealed to the entire school.  The culmination of the episode with this number was very intense.  Even the choreography lends itself to displaying the Quinn-Finn-Rachel love triangle.  Quinn's tearful sigh, closing out not only the song but the episode, leaves you thrilled to see how the story unfolds.  

5. "Ride With Me" from Throwdown



I picked this one for the nostalgia factor.  Some of my favorite memories from high school are of just hanging out with my friends around the piano and belting out some good tunes.  This number really displays the true essence of Glee Club: it's fun!
 
4. "Lean on Me" from Ballad



The "aww" factor in this number just can't be ignored.  It's incredible the way this group of a dozen misfits bands together to take care of each other.

3. "Proud Mary" from Wheels


This one is just all around amazing.  The lyrics are meaningful, especiallly for this group that's just trying to keep it all together.  The vocals are incredible, and it's awesome that Artie, Mercedes, and Tina get to take the lead on this one.  And,  best of all, they are all in wheel chairs!  The choreography in this number is probably ten times better than anything they've ever done on their feet. 

2. "Halo/Walking on Sunshine" and "It's My Life/Confessions Pt II" from Vitamin D






I couldn't decide between these two, so they are tied for second.  Vitamin D was probably my favorite episode because everyone was acting so nutty, and the resulting numbers were absolutely incredible.  I don't even like "Halo" but the girls' rendition is stellar, especially in combination with the cheeriness of "Walking on Sunshine."  Plus I love the adorable yellow dresses!

The boys' number is kickass!  While Finn does look like a crazed maniac because he's hopped up on Pseudoephedrine, it's totally made up for by banging moves of Other Asian (Did you know his name is Mike Chang?) and Artie's smooth stylings.

1. "Dancing With Myself" from Wheels



It's no secret that Artie is my favorite character.  I definitely think that his brand of awkward is the most endearing.  On top of that his voice is awesome, and his looks are not too shabby either.  I absolutely loved this Artie-centric episode which offered hilarity in the form of juicy discoveries in addition to a lesson about maintaining a sense of community duty.  Artie's solo is really touching, pushing a formerly background character into the spotlight, and giving us cause to root for him instead of just cringing when he gets shoved in a porta potty. Plus this is the first glimpse we get at one of my favorite ships, Artie and Tina. Super special bonus: This was the first time I noticed that Artie's wheels light up, à la L.A. Lights, when he rolls around.

Renewal

One of the sad realities of Habitat for Humanity is that sometimes families are unable to stay in their homes.  Sometimes life circumstances get the best of them and they can no longer afford the mortgage.  Sometimes they choose to stop making payments.  At our affiliate, these former Habitat homes are typically cleaned up and rehabbed a little bit before being sold, but recently the decision was made to rehab one for a new Habitat family.

It was our first time doing that, and from a Family Services standpoint, we weren't quite sure how to go about it.  At our affiliate the wallraising and the key ceremony are the two most important days for our family.  But since this house already had walls, we needed to think of a new way to make it special.

I came up with the name: Renewal. It's only one word, but it carries so much in its meaning and connotation.  It definitely set the stage for a good event.

At wallraisings, volunteers typically write their sentiments on the studs.  We didn't have exposed studs, but we still wanted to give people the opportunity to leave special messages for the family.  We decided to roll with the season, and brought a small fir tree with ornaments that people could write on.  It looked cute, was perfect for December, and will certainly be special when the family gets to plant it in their yard.

But the best part of this Renewal was most definitely the family.  They are the most gracious couple I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.  Both husband and wife come from very humble backgrounds and could not be more thankful that they are receiving the opportunity to be homeowners.

From the moment she stepped onto the site Antonia was squealing with joy, hugging everyone in sight and exclaiming about how perfect everything was going to be.  Robert stood in more quiet contemplation, soaking it all in.  When we started, Robert offered the opening prayer, repeatedly voicing his gratefulness that the people of Habitat exist and work hard daily to make home ownership a reality for low income families. 

It's so interesting to me to see how different homesteaders react emotionally to the Habitat process.

There are tears, there are smiles.  Some are talkative, some can't find the right words.  The common thread is that they are all thankful, but the pure joy displayed by Antonia and Robert was definitely my favorite Habitat aura thus far.  Their presence at their Renewal certainly helped to renew my dedication to my service this year.

Stick it to Stupak

As a young American, the health care bill is really important to me.  As someone who is currently dealing with no longer being covered by my parents' insurance policies and trying to figure out my own, the health care bill is really important to me.  As a woman who cares about having control over my own body , the health care bill is really important to me.

There are so many issues at hand with this health care bill.  Our lives are literally on the line, so it is no wonder that people are scared and worried.  It's especially scary because it's just not feasible for the average citizen to wrap his or her mind around the entirety of this bill, no way to read every page and provision, no way to understand every proposed amendment.

Still, several issues have managed to make their way to the forefront because of their partisan and controversial nature.  I am not registered with an political party because I am unable to align myself enough with any one to justify doing that, but I am very sure of my thoughts on many of the issues being currently discussed by our Senators today.

When the bill went through Congress, Congressmen Stupak (D-MI) introduced an amendment that was subsequently accepted by Congress.  To overgeneralize, this amendment bans any coverage of abortion in the public option and also stops those who receive a federal subsidy from getting an insurance plan that covers abortion.  What it comes down to is a huge, likely impossible, hurdle for many women to get an abortion in America.  Is that fair?  Me thinks no.

So I decided to do something about it.  I, like many people, am often angered by the actions of our politicians.  I talk about what I wish Congresswoman Soandso had done or how I wish Senator Fillintheblank had voted.  But I, like most people, never told my Congressperson or Senator that.  I came to realize today that this was silly and Senators Gillibrand and Schumer should know exactly what I thought about Stupak and his ideas.

I was super nervous at first, but I called the general operator that can connect you with any Congressional office.  She told me that the line at Senator Gillibrand's office was busy but offered me the direct number so I could call myself, and then proceeded to also give me the number for Senator Schumer.  This woman was totally awesome and, without actually saying it, totally encouraged me to continue on my mission.

I called Gillibrand first because I knew that she is very set on preventing Stupak-esque language from entering this health care bill.  I was put on hold and after a few minutes a young sounding aide answered and listened to me talk about how this health care bill is really important to me as a young American woman and he assured me that the Senator is working hard to make sure my voice and opinion is heard, at which point I asked him to thank her and wished him a great day.  Not only was it easy, it was super exciting!  When I put down the phone I had such a rush!

Unfortunately, Senator Schumer's office had a busy signal that I could not get past even though I called repeatedly throughout the day.  Still, I am happy that I did something rather than sitting idly by, hoping Congress does not take away my reproductive rights.

Aid and AIDS

Today is World AIDS Day.  According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "World AIDS Day is observed every year on December 1st. The World Health Organization established World AIDS Day in 1988. World AIDS Day provides governments, national AIDS programs, faith organizations, community organizations, and individuals with an opportunity to raise awareness and focus attention on the global AIDS epidemic."

Why should we care though?  What makes AIDS so important that it needs a day where the whole world should contemplate, learn, and take action?

Well, contemplate this: over one million Americans are living with HIV. One Million.  That's a huge amount of people.  Contrary to popular belief that it's a problem from decades ago, or that you only have to worry about it if you're gay, HIV and AIDS are prevalent in this country.  It's a very significant problem in America, effecting every race, gender, age group, and social class.

I really like the suggestion made my Samhita at Feministing.  In her post she says "As someone who has friends that have suffered with and without support, through shame and a world that discriminates, and has worked to overcome my own fears, I strongly recommend reading some stories, educating yourself and breaking out of the cycle of shame by talking."  So take a look at the stories from the AIDS Memorial Quilt, or people currently living with HIV.  Read about Ryan White, and his struggle with discrimination and perception.

But don't stop there.  Learn about the global problem.  Throughout the day I've come across these facts: 

• Africa is home to ony 10% of the world's population, yet that's where 67% of all HIV cases are.
• 2 Million children under the age of 15 live with HIV.
• 2008 saw over 2 million AIDS related deaths.
  

I know that Africa is suffering from the widespread damage of HIV.  I know that globally lots of children have the disease.  I know that many people die each year from AIDS related causes.  But seeing the numbers written out like that makes my heart stop.  They are cold hard facts that many of us already know, but don't these number scare you?

So we contemplated.  We learned.  What do we do now?

There's actually a lot to do, and if you've read this far, you're already equipped to do it.  Advocacy may seem like a small thing, but it can make a huge difference.  Awareness about HIV/AIDS is very much needed.  People need to know how HIV can and cannot be contracted and what it is doing to our global community.  You don't have to become a professional AIDS educator and make those presentations that many of us snoozed through in grade school.  You can tweet a link to the World AIDS Campaign, or post a Facebook note about travel restrictions placed on people who are HIV positive.  You can wear a red ribbon to show your support for the cause.  Show it off.  Tell people about it.  Encourage people you know to wear one too.

And as cheesy as it sounds, you can by something from (Product)RED.  Sure, it might be better to send $50 directly to HIV/AIDS research, but let's be honest...are you actually going to do that?  I know that I haven't.  But I also know that I would have bought that cute Inspi(red) tee shirt from Gap even if the proceeds weren't going to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS.  At least this way 50% of my money was donated.  I get to wear a cool new shirt, feel good about shopping with a conscientious company, know where my money went, spread the word, and show people I care without even trying.

I leave you with a grammar lesson.  "HIV virus" is redundant, as HIV stands for Human immunodeficiency virus.

Now go off and advocate!

Popcorn, Santa, and That Scary Place Called Tomorrow

I'm in a weird place in life, trapped somewhere between being a child and an adult.  I'm just beginning to break out on my own, taking care of myself and my necessities, and it's making me miss my childhood.

This weird nostalgia started on this very day, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, last year

Hicksville is kind of an odd town.  It's pretty big so people don't know each other and there are no town issues or meetings.  Not really a big sense of community.  But they still have a few standing tradition, one of which, in my mind, stands out amongst all others.

Every year on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, firefighters get on their firetrucks with one guy dressed as Santa, and they ride through the streets with their sirens blaring, and they throw popcorn balls to all of the people who come and stand out on their lawns.

It's kind of silly really, and not all that thrilling when you think about it.  I don't remember being very excited about it when I was a kid.  But last year I was overjoyed.  In years past I had already been back in Syracuse by Sunday afternoon, so I had missed the tradition for a while.  Plus I was approaching the end of my college career and worrying about what I was going to do after graduation.  I think I was just so desperate to grasp on to some sense of stability and protection, and this little piece of my childhood was exactly that.

I was out there dancing on the lawn, cheering, and waving...basically making a fool out of myself to guys I probably went to high school with.  But I didn't care.  At that moment I was in bliss.

A year has gone by, and in that time I've graduated, interviewed, worked, and become an AmeriCorps.  And now I'm kind of feeling like I was this time last year: terrified because I have no idea what's next.  Grad school is hard to apply for when you aren't 100% sure about your direction.  The job market is "eh" at best.  There is so much I want to do and I don't know how to go about it.

But things like Popcorn Ball Sunday remind me that it's okay.  It's all going to work out.  It's the little things like that one day a year when Santa hurls a sweet treat at year that really matter.

I'm Bound To Thank You For It

I love Thanksgiving!  In theory, it's my favorite holiday.  Everyone you love all together in one room with lots of food and thankful spirit...what could be better?

I say "in theory" because life really isn't in my hands, and that includes Thanksgiving day being somewhat out of my control.  This year my mom is in India for Thanksgiving.  My twin cousin (we're just a few months apart) and her parents are in Chicago visiting her brother.  All of my friends are scattered across the country.  My aunt who is hosting Thanksgiving is doing all of the cooking.  So today, I won't exactly be with everyone I love, and I have no idea what's on the menu for dinner, and I have zero control over people's thankfulness.

But it really doesn't matter.  I can always dream of the day when all of my family and friends are gathered around an enormous feast talking about all of the great things in our lives.  None of that changes the fact that I have so much to be thankful for in my life right now.

I am thankful for my college degree.  For my brother and my parents.  For all of my friends, near and far.  For my job as an AmeriCorps with Habitat for Humanity.  For my faith and spirituality.  For all of the luxury I have in my life.  For scrapbooking, and books, and podcasts, and Hulu. 

There is just so much that we all have in our lives that we take for granted.  And it's hard to put it all into perspective and humbly be grateful for it all.  But I'm glad that we have a day designated for it.  Thanksgiving seems to be dwindling a little in our culture, becoming more about the Macy's parade, or the turkey, or football, or the sales that are just a few hours away... but I'm trying my best to make thankfulness the central conviction of my day.

The Youth is Starting to Change

When I was on the board of the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity at Syracuse someone was trying to start a Youth United group.  At the time it was way over my head, and I had no understanding of what it was.  There was discussion of building bird houses with middle school students, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out how that was connected to Habitat.

When I started at HFH Suffolk, I learned that Youth United is in fact a program from Habitat for Humanity International that is run by youth for youth, bringing together young people from all walks of life to play active roles in transforming their communities.  Essentially, YU brings together people between the ages of 5 and 25 to sponsor and build a house in their community while also increasing advocacy.  What it comes down to, in my opinion, is that Youth United is pretty freaking awesome!  It's education, it's service, it's leadership, and best of all, it's fun!

In September I added Youth United to my action plan for the year.  I made it my goal to learn more about the program and to see if I could help implement it here at HFH Suffolk.  I attempted to tackle it later that month by checking out the website.  I thought it was a little vague and found myself going in circles around the site, so I quickly gave up.

Fastforward to the National Service Leadership Conference a few weeks ago.  At a Baptist retreat center in Talladega, Alabama, approximately 700 Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps came together to train, learn, and share.  That was where I met one of my new favorite people, Larry.  Larry is an AmeriCorps member working in Americus, Georgia for Habitat for Humanity International as a Youth United specialist.  Get it!  I made a mental note that Larry would be my key to success in forming a Youth United here.

Fastforward again to the end of the conference, and press skip through scenes of two dedications, a week without a boss, and various other displays of chaos.  As I checked my emails and phone messages, I got a phone call from none other than the fabulous Larry from Youth United!  He was calling to let me know that in his work he found out that someone from Habitat Suffolk had actually submitted a YU letter of intent in 2003, meaning that, technically, we already have a Youth United group.  According to Larry, we already have some great things in place.  Our annual Student Build involves hundreds of students from dozens of schools who are already involved with fundraising and building, and many of them practice advocacy as well.  We also work with Girl Scout troops to do other types of service work, including serving meals to volunteers and putting together gifts for Habitat families.  If we can pull it all together with a youth-run governing body, we will have all the pieces we need for a legitimate Youth United group.

Needless to say, I'm really excited about this.  I found our last Student Build to be pretty anticlimactic because none of the students seemed to have a personal connection to Habitat for Humanity, but I feel really optimistic about the fact that Youth United can be the factor that ties it all together.  With help from Larry I am excited to see the young people of this community come together to advocate, fundraise, and build.