Company Shops Market & Project 50/50 – Initial Support Newsletter v0.09

SpareChangeNews.com – Initial Support Newsletter v0.09

editor@sparechangenews.com twitter: @sparechangepaul

Today, I was pleased to tour for the first time the Company Shops Market in Downtown Burlington, NC. Their slogan is “Local Food for Local People”. They are a co-op structured supermarket and eatery that focuses on excellence. You can buy a share of the market and become an owner, you will get a discount, be eligible for specials, and get dividends as the market makes money. They are located at 266 E. Front St. Burlington, NC 27215. Their hours are 8am-8pm. You can find them on the web at: http://www.CompanyShopsMarket.coop and can call them at 336-223-0390.

There will be a Grand Opening Celebration on June 11th from 11am-5pm.
I got the inside scoop on the band schedule which is not on their website yet!

11:00 -12:30pm Grey Matter

1:00 – 2:30pm Mr. Hand

3:00 – 5:00pm Big Something

While I was there a representative of Larry’s Beans was there because she will be doing a demonstration there at the Grand Opening. Apparently so will 50 other vendors. If you buy a share in the coop ($100 for an individual $150 family) and open a bank account with Fidelity Bank they will give you a $150 gift card to the market.

Other news, I have been following Project 50/50. A married couple with nonprofit status that is travelling to all 50 states in 50 weeks, volunteering, collecting and donating goods to the homeless and poor along the way. To keep it real they are living in their truck while they do it. Their newest project is to feed and help the pets of homeless people. They are looking for a good name for the project. If you have any good ideas then let me know and I’ll pass it along. You can follow them at http://twitter.com/#!/Project5050 and at http://www.Project-5050.com.

Today’s topic: Alternative Transportation in Durham – Initial Support Newsletter v0.07

A report I would like to read is Modern Money Mechanics. If you have a copy of it in print, please lend it to me for a tad. It outlines how money is created by the Federal Reserve, the banks, and the system of lending.

I changed the header today on the website and the newsletter to a picture I took on the platform of the Amtrak Station in Durham, NC. It seems we might have a running theme of alternative transportation in our headers with the last header being Bike Man’s bike frames of the Bikes for Children program – http://SouthSideBike.Info.

When my 2 year-old daughter hears the train in the background, she says, “Daddy, Daddy”. I ride the train from Durham to Burlington so often, that my children believe that I live on the train.

Amtrak in North Carolina

On two trains a day in each direction, on the train that is called The Piedmont, there is complimentary LeBlue bottled water, coffee, and tea in the Snack Car. Other eating options are the Vending machines.

On those two local North Carolina Amtrak trains called The Piedmont, you can take your bike with you without having to pack it up, but you do need a reservation. The rules are more narrow on the train called The Carolinian.

To my motorist friends: Very likely you bought a copy of Spare Change News from me off the median. I can appreciate that we all seem to be in a hurry in what Bob Marley called The Rat Race, but please consider bicyclists, moped riders, trucks, and other vehicles on the street with you. Please share the road.

More Bike Info

Posted on local bulletin board: Trinity Park Bike Workshop -Saturday – May 21st 3pm-6pm  In Trinity Park @ Watts & Trinity. Bring Your Bike! We’ll Help You Fix It Up. Contact Matthew Carter with questions 805.881.2235 matthewkaicarter@gmail.com

The Bikes for Children plans on giving away 1000 bicycles by Christmas. The website is http://SouthSideBike.Info. We are taking donations for and of helmets, safety vests, and safety lights.

Feedback, Donations, and Subscriptions

Feedback & donations can be received at: Paul Gydos 1263 Maple Ridge Drive, Burlington NC 27217  Subscription of next 15 issues sent first class $20. Please write Check or Money Order to Paul Gydos

“A Dollar Short and A Day Late” – Support Newsletter v0.06

“A dollar short and a day late” is a phrase my wife used to say which would really infuriate me. Its true: People measure you by your timeliness as well as quantitatively in the way you pay.  Nobody likes being paid late, and when you are the one paying late, you feel like a loser.  At the moment I am writing this I am $10 short and 2 days late for rent, what makes it awkward is I live with my landlord; And yes, when people don’t get paid completely and on time they get mad.  Nonetheless, I am thankful for what I have and I pray to God that he will allow me to prosper and be a good Dad.

Entrepreneurship isn’t for everybody. Most small businesses go under. In my case I’m a boot-strapper. That means I’m trying to make something happen out of not very much, and against all odds. I would always prefer a job, because you will never average out above minimum wage, soliciting on the street, unless you have a scam. And I could never be comfortable running a scam. However I can’t say I’m above Barnum’s logic, “You’ve got to have a gimmick.”. Gimmick as it may be, it gives an outlet to express myself, and is not particularly gimmicky in that it has not produced much revenue thus far. When you need immediate money though, you usually must choose entrepreneurship over a job, because waiting to get paid can actually make you homeless, and then what good was the job?

Selling a newsletter generates less than collecting donations alone, plus, I have to spend money and time to produce it, while taking in even less. So I must ask myself, why am I doing it? Right away I get to exercise my language skills, my ability to use the media to distribute a message. Also I get to advertise other things that I do.

For instance a manager at Papa John’s asked me to stop by tonight and we will talk about distributing his coupons. That’s right I’m in the advertising business. First of all I’m going to mention this about the Papa John’s over by East Campus (If you’re reading this on the internet, I’m talking about Duke University as I am in Durham, North Carolina): They are really nice people, and if you are into delivery pizza thus I endorse them because they have a good attitude towards the community. Whether I’ll be able to help them further is up in the air.

As soon as I am out of the immediate pickle that I am in, My friend in Chapel Hill is going to give me an opportunity to try and solve his network problem. I am that friend that might know something about computers that you don’t, and will often try and help you solve a problem. If I am able to help you with your computer, I don’t mind if you help me back.

I am hoping that The Bikes for Children project will be received well by the community: http://SouthSideBike.Info is the website. It turns out our initial location might not be the right place to launch. So we are going to have to do think about doing it in another way. We are taking donations for and of helmets, safety vests, and safety lights.

Feedback & Donations
Feedback & donations can be received at: Paul Gydos 1263 Maple Ridge Dr. Burlington, NC 27217  or you can direct your email to: editor@sparechangenews.com

Initial Support Newsletter – v0.05

As I take advantage of this time with the hail and the crazy electric storm to write, I reflect on my personal situation.  Somehow I went through most of the day without realizing that I did not have my glasses on, and its not entirely clear when I lost them.  So please excuse any typos as I am working blind on this one.  Hopefully by the time when you receive this, I will have my glasses on my head  So this gave me a moment to consider:  Normally I would not go so long without having noticed that I did not have them.  I was so focused on trying to catch the early train to see my children and take them swimming,  I didn’t check to see I had them on.  Is this an analogy to how humans are about so many things?  I feel as though we have been going without our glasses on for a period of time because we had our collective mind on somethings that were so important, that we didn’t notice that we weren’t seeing clearly.

portrait of Paul Gydos

“I feel as though we have been going without our glasses on for a period of time because we had our collective mind on somethings that were so important, that we didn’t notice that we weren’t seeing clearly.” – Editor of SCN

Bicycle Stuff

Take that as you will. Last night while downtown I had a chance to talk with a young gentleman who participates in the the Durham Bike Co-op. He told me where they are located and when they operate and the status of the Bike Co-op. It sounds as though we have a very active and healthy bike co-op here in Durham and I can’t wait to check them out. http://durhambikecoop.org is the website.

I am hoping that The Bike for Children project will be received equally well by the community: http://SouthSideBike.Info is the website. While downtown yesterday, I noticed the bike rack by The Pinhook on Main Street. We would like to build a bike cage in The Bike Man’s backyard with the same type of construction where we weld together old Bike Parts together in an artistic fashion.

Feedback & Donations

Feedback for  Paul Gydos can be received on my blog.  You can direct your email to: editor@sparechangenews.com

How SouthSide Durham got a bike co-op

Wednesday night I was finishing some work for Ed Jacobsen on his computer when his neighbor stopped through. Earlier Ed had taken my bicycle to get some milk and some childeren there on Southside made comments so he spun around to talk to them. Finally one child broke the silence. “Could, I, I, I… have your bike.” (Smile). Ed explained that he wish he could because he was leaving to California in a few days, but the bike wasn’t his. Now his neighbor was there, and Ed said, “How much would you charge for fixing up those bicycles in the back and giving them to the children.” As they spoke, I went ahead and purchased for him: http://SouthSideBike.Info

Friday afternoon I went by to pick up my buckets and Ed had already given him $20 before he went to get his Greyhound bus and be done with Durham. His last act of kindness to Durham.

So the neighbor wants to be called The Bike Man from now on and we all agreed Bikes for Children. First of all we need to collect helmets, safety vests, and bike lights. We also need old bicycle frames and parts. Then we need some funds to pay for parts thatare rarely donated like inner-tubes, tires, rims, brake parts, and grease. Major donation opportunities are in we need a spray gun, an airbrush, a bicycle stand, etc.. Bike man hopes the kids will learn how to do repairs themselves and pay it forward. I suggested we adopt a portion of the Bike Path and do some cleanup.

I am accepting donations on behalf of The Bike Man currently, just specify that your donation is initial support for http://SouthSideBike.Info

I have already found four more frames to give The Bike Man and he said he started renovating the first one with the money from Ed. We are hoping to be in full gear soon, and have the high ambition of 1000 bicycles by Christmas.

Paul Gydos

1263 Maple Ridge Dr.

Burlington, NC 27217

You can reach me at: editor@sparechangenews.com

We still need many donations to make SpareChangeNews a reality for Entrepreneurs!

v0.03 initial support newsletter

I finally got to see The King’s Speech, and on the same day as the royal wedding.  $1 on Redbox. The main focus was about King George’s relationship with a common man, his speech therapist.  My focus is not on the marrying rich but my own common marriage.  My twins just turned two.  Friday we took them to the Little Gym and Saturday to the YMCA for their first swim lesson. I just found I could get an itty-bitty grill welded onto my bicycle for about $200 and a local food business incubator just opened to be used as a base kitchen, so I can serve up some of our famous local food as a fundraiser for aforementioned family and this newsletter.  Also purchased a 5.1 MegaPixel camera brand new at evil Walmart for $29.++, so I should be able to update the website soon with pics and little videos.  Internet has been taken care of through Cricket Broadband $40/mo plan, but I really need a new laptop about $300+tax at OfficeDepot. I like our public transportation.  North Carolina has three trains daily in each direction at most stations. We need 5 a day so one could actually commute.  The 10 ride ticket is the deal.  So internet now is through an Augen Genbook 108- an Android 2.1 without Market in a 10″ netbook form factor.  My cost was $129.50 for factory refurb shipped.  If enough Android and ARM specialists could be mobilized (or a port a linux-variant), we could have a decent digital divide computer.  As it stands its not very useful.  Please donate (sorry no tax deduction as of yet – Type D fiscal sponsorship under your nonprofit anyone?)

editor@sparechangenews.com

I need a POB ($24)

Paul Gydos

1263 Maple Ridge Dr.

Burlington, NC 27217

Initial Support Newsletter v0.02

The weather was perfect and my twin boy and girl were turning two years old.  We had a chance to go to the museum of Life and Science with the grandparents and other family members together.  What a blast. (What a…) fine institution – (but) a bit pricy for those on the lower side of the economic spectrum.  // I am not goint to speak without qualifying that I am not an attorney; nor (do I) know too much about software law.  Nonetheless if you own a copy of Windows 7 media and authentication there is a way to create a bootable live cd for your own use, A copy that runs a limited version from the optical drive.  //  Is there anything else going on besides the royal wedding? Oh  yeah the usual bad news. Let’s skip that for some good news:  John 1:12-13 “But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the son of God, even to them that believe on His name which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

editor@gydos.com  THANK YOU!

http://Orig.in/al – New Shortcut for Sparechangenews.com – Initial Support Edition v0.01

I shouldn’t have to tell you – It’s not about the bunny, right, OK. In brief you should of heard by now about a Jewish man named Joshua who was given the greek name Jesus because he took care of a not so small problem of the human condition that the old folks call sin. Hello! Get right or get left. Moving right along now.  We want to know about what you think of our public transportation system. Lately I’ve been in a combination of walking, biking, using the bus, AMTRAK, and even occasionally driving a car.  I saw my first Chevy Volt on Thursday in a fast food parking lot and spoke with the driver, pretty cool – if you don’t know, it’s more of an electric car than a hybrid.  In taking a risk in getting the Tin Foil Hat Award, I advise you to Google the term HAARP and if what you read doesn’t have you wondering about what’s going on then I don’t know what will. My netbook went on the fritz, I’m still going to try and rescue it with a little bit of solder but I had peanuts to work with as far as a replacement so I bought an Augen Genbook 108 on ebay for $129.50 – a barely used factory refurb, its Android 2.1, an older O.S. made fro a phone but in a netbook form factor. Weird and interesting – and probably not useful enough for most folks, even though I’m not going to recommend it, I am going to write about it extensively because it is relevant to the topic of the Digital Divide. I’ll put all my posts at http://genbook.info. Hey when you see me, please buy the newsletter; We need toner, a new PC, internet access, an office, etc., etc.. I’ll try and put a new Paypal donate button up.

What experiences have you had with the behavioral health system in North Carolina?

I am currently researching the behavioral health system in North Carolina.  What kinds of experiences have you had with this system in North Carolina? How about your relatives?

Spare Change News – Greensboro becomes Spare Change News – North Carolina

I anticipate spending some time in Orange County, home of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough.  Nothing is clear right now, but my time in Greenboro has dwindled to almost nothing so its hard to report on Greensboro events.  Plus much of my time has been devoted to my own personal health, my family, and topics around computers.  Nonetheless it was time to change the byline of the blog.  What else will change will be determined over time.  I have spent some time learning CMS and broadcasting across multiple mediums so that might be some changes you might see as well.  Goodbye for now, hope to connect with you again soon.

“Kicking It!” a movie about the Homeless World Cup, don’t laugh.

Everybody knows that in the United States we call it “soccer”, and the rest of the world calls it football.

But did you know that over 1 billion people in the world are homeless! And what’s the most popular sport in the world? “Kicking it”, the ball that is.  All over the world, one sees the poor taking a refreshment from their daily trials on the field, and for those minutes or hours they are as a rich in enjoyment as the greatest of professional game players.  Furthermore a championship world cup in the world’s most popular sport and one that draws only from the 1/5 to 1/6 of the world’s most vulnerable population is one of the most incredible ideas I have heard of for a long time.

Last night I had the privilege of watching the film “Kicking it!” about how a ball can change the life of a displaced person in the most dramatic of ways. It chronicles the lives of six homeless or formerly homeless individuals from five countries and how participating in playing in organized street ball can be taken all the way to a very real world championship tournament, in this case in South Africa emceed by  Bishop Desmond Tutu.

The idea was founded in 2001by  Mel Young co-founder of The Big Issue Scotland, and Harald Schmied, editor of Megaphon, a street paper in Austria while attending the International Network of Street Papers conference that was in Cape Town, South Africa. (wikipedia)

Colin Farrell gives the intros and exits to the documentary but the real characters are the six otherwise marginalized people who have the privilege of playing in the tournament:  Najib from war torn Afghanistan; Alex from the slums of Kenya; Damien and Simon from the drug rehab clinics of Dublin, Ireland; Craig from the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina; Jesus from the overflowing public shelters of Madrid, Spain, and Slavan from the shadow culture of the illegal rural immigrants to the big city of St. Petersburg, Russia. (movies.aol.com)

For those who care about the human condition, those in the poverty scene looking for ideas,  fans of any sport will enjoy this movie.  I enjoyed writing this article particularly to learn that other writers in my sector were responsible for making this happen.  I hope you’ll watch it then take some action in your area with a great idea as well.

btw I saw it on hulu.com, but I ‘m sure you can find the movie elsewhere.

Paul Gydos

New Website for Discussion on Transitional Housing – http://hafup.com

I put a little bit of time in to crafting a website for The Discussion on Transitional Housing dubbed, Homeless and Friends United – Piedmont(HAFUP).  You all can see the results at http://hafup.com.

I purchased a short domain name which only costs $1.99 the first year.  Then I forwarded the domain to point to a free webserver service.

I put on the front page a widget which allows you to see the headlines and first few lines of each post on the Google Group Listserv which we created.  If you press on the right links there you can either come into the Google Group interface or read the whole story/post.

I also included a Google Calendar.  I gave access to change the calendar to Theresa Hicks, Liz Seymour, Jennifer Worrells, and myself (Paul Gydos).  If you require any training on Google Calendar feel free to contact me or if I missed someone who should be able to adjust
the calendar.

I included a Google Map for the Greensboro Central Library which for this week is pushed down in favor of a Google Map for the Greensboro Cultural Center.  You can get directions from wherever you are if you study the map widget.

So if you need to post to the website all you need to do is be on the Google Group listserver, then create a post from the Google Group interface or send an email to: homeless-and-friends-united-piedmont@googlegroups.com

I’m a total noobie when it comes to doing this kind of stuff, so I kept it simple for now, as some of what I included was already an exercise for me.

I hope that you like it.  Hopefully will create a list of weblinks soon.  I’m open to suggestions.

Paul Gydos
hafupadmin@gmail.com (for purposes of this discussion)
paulgydos@gmail.com (for general correspondance)
336-965-1816

Functicafe.com will hold its first Words event at the Baobab Tree Cafe in the Historic Glenwood Neighborhood of Greensboro, NC

Functicafe.com invites you to participate with your presence, your poetry, and your words, this Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at The Baobab Tree Cafe in Historic Glenwood, Greensboro, NC for Poetic Relief / Words – The address is 1404 Glenwood Avenue (near the intersection of Grove Street) and not to far from Florida St.. The event will begin at 7pm and likely continue until about 9pm. The Words event will be preceded by a free vegetarian meal at The Hive 1214 Grove Street presented by Food Not Bombs.

The event is hosted by the founder of functicafe.com, the artist and thinker known as Anton Bell.

Anton Bell is a contributing editor of sparechangenews.com. He is currently a resident at The Hive, with the WE! (Winter Emergency) program. Overcoming many difficulties, Anton approached Liz Conrad of The Baobab Tree Cafe and convinced her to let it be the initial location for Poetic Relief / Words an event of Anton’s new events company, functicafe.com.

A website was promptly formed with a domain name (functicafe.com), and imbeded google map, administrative and public emails, an imbedde google events calendar, a wordpress blog (functicafe.wordpress.com) and all out of free resources that cost nothing to maintain.

The Baobab Tree Cafe is a multi-use facility. For sales of local crafts, cottage industry, and micro-enterprises, a place for events, and sometimes to stop in and have some food and beverage. Liz reported that the store had been largely closed and on odd hours as of late. But Anton’s interest in the place seems to have sparked it alive again. Now one sees a posting that hours will be kept again starting the day following the event. Look further and their are ambitious plans for food and drink on menues that could activated at that time. More information forthcoming.

Liz Conrad is a Greensboro native, and world traveler who has returned to Greensboro about 2 years ago from Africa. Liz reports that The Baobab Tree Cafe is more than a crafts and art gallery, but the holder of a vision for encouraging the community during these hard encomic times, using the same tactics that have helped in developing world; facilitating cottage industries, crafts, and microenterprises, and acting as a point for communication and commerce. More information can be found by calling her at 336-286-1174.

Paul Gydos of gydos.com (myself) has facilitated with some of the media aspects discussed above. Paul reports, “This is Anton’s inspiration and obviously it is contagious. I hope that many come and express themselves and share with the community. I also want to point out that my belief is that the event itself is a medium in an of itself. I see that Poetic Relief / Words as hosted by Anton Bell’s functicafe.com will be one of those types of event where it transcends being just entertainment or a party and becomes something that is more becoming and therefore is a medium and art in an of itself seperate from the mediums and art that are being showcased, in that the community will come alive around such a thing.”

Paul facilitated by doing the webwork and designing the flyers. Paul himself is a resident at The Hive. “I have twins on the way arriving in May. There really is some pressure to make something out of nothing. So although I can’t yet afford a residence, I went ahead and set up an office to help with my facilitation services, webpresence packages, and ecommerce. Since I am totally new to this, I more affordable than anyone else. I’m sure that I can help get my customer up and running on the internet in a way that gives them basic representation. I look forward to this time as I will be able to learn and test my skills and eventually become a full fledged web designer. Right now I can help you get a unique and effective domain name, basic website, with many useful features such as maps, calendars, blogs, listserves, and paypal. I am immediately expanding into ecommerce next and whatever the needs of my customers and my existing business will be is the priority.

Food Not Bombs Monday Dinner at Library time change on 1/26/09 – ie poetry workshop with Glenis Redmond

Liz Seymour annouced today that Monday’s Food Not Bombs dinner usually scheduled at 6:00pm will be serving at 5:00pm this Monday January 26th at the Central Branch of the Greensboro Public Library.  This is to allow a poetry workshop with renowned poet Glenis Redmond at 6:00pm (sounds like a treat!) 

Those of you who are in or involved in the poor and homeless community that is served by the regular free meals around Greensboro are advised to get the word out verbally as there will be no publishing and distribution of the Hungry in Greensboro list until next week.

Thank you  – Paul Gydos 336-456-3723 ircgreensboro@gmail.com

You can find information about Glenis Redmond at http://www.glenisredmondstore.com/

The Free Meals in Greensboro list can be found at: http://sparechangenews.wordpress.com/free-food-guide-and-updates/

Housing Summit – February 26th, 2009 (@Revolution Mills Studios hosted by Greensboro Housing Coalition) Register by Feb 19th

     from Beth McGee-Huger to Liz Seymour to Day Center Program Committee to you (SCN readers)

Liz, for the Housing Summit, we want to have everyone “at the table” to make
decisions about the priorities and strategies for housing in our community
in the next five years. We have scholarships for anyone who does not have
the money to pay.  Can you come and encourage people you know to register
and speak up in the table discussions?  I am attaching the brochure.

            Beth

   transcribed from the brouchure

Housing Summit February 26th, 2009  9am -1:30pm (@Revolution Mills Studios 1000 Revolution Mill Dr. Greensboro, NC 27405)  Register by Feb 19th

Transforming the housing Crisis into Opportunity
Keynote Speaker Martin Eakes Founder of Self-Help Credit Union.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: February 19
Registration form:
Name: _________________________
Address: _______________________
___________________Zip_________
Telephone: _____________________
Email: _________________________
Organization: ___________________
Registration fee: $25 ($20 for seniors and
students)
Become a member today and save! Registration
is $10 with your $50 or more annual
membership contribution.
Make checks payable to:
Greensboro Housing Coalition
122 N. Elm Street Suite M6
Greensboro NC 27401
Scholarships available—call 691-9521

Schedule:
8:30 Doors open for registration
9:00 Welcome and Speakers on
Greensboro’s transformation:
⇒ Dennis Quaintance: Quaintance Weaver
⇒ Tom Low: Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co.
⇒ Equal Access to Safe Affordable Homes
⇒ House Calls
⇒ Housing First
10:45 Table discussions: Participants will break into groups to brainstorm ideas about what we can do together to move from a housing crisis to new housing opportunities by
2014. The discussions will be used to create GHC’s annual action plan (virtually every item from last year’s plan was addressed!) and will be used in the City’s 5-year Consolidated Plan.
11:45 Buffet lunch
12:00 Awards ceremony
12:30 Keynote address by Martin Eakes

Martin Eakes, CEO and founder of Self-Help, graduated from Yale Law School and the Woodrow Wilson School of International and Public Affairs. He received the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship in 1996.

Dennis Quaintance builds environmental sustainability into his successful hotels and restaurants—including the Platinum LEED certified Proximity Hotel.

Tom Low is director of the Charlotte office of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (DPZ). Andres Duany is the “‘father” of New Urbanism. DPZ’s architects and town planners designed Willow Oaks and Southside.

Equal Access to Safe Affordable Homes: 25 of Elon Law School’s best students researched policies and strategies that can be used to promote fair housing so that everyone can have for safe, affordable housing.

House Calls: 17 organizations in the HealthyHomes Greensboro collaborative work
together to diagnose unhealthy housing conditions, prescribe healthy solutions, treat
the underlying problems safely, and assess outcomes. Video by McWhorter Concepts.

Housing First: Partners Ending Homelessness focuses on implementing, evaluating, and updating Guilford County’s ten year plan, Partnering to End Chronic Homelessness. The group uses the Housing First approach to end chronic homelessness.
Presentation by Jehan Benton.

Transform Crisis into Opportunity?
⇒ Inspire bold partnerships and projects
⇒ Identify what we can do together to turn the corner on the housing crisis
⇒ Set priorities for Greensboro’s 5-year Consolidated Plan
The Housing Crisis: Losses…
⇒ Rising foreclosure rates
⇒ Declining property values
⇒ Rising energy costs
⇒ Declining employment
⇒ Rising health care costs… and New Beginnings
⇒ Moving homeless families and individuals with mental illness to housing: Partners
Ending Homelessness, Beyond Pathways, WE! (Winter Emergency Communities)
⇒ Preventing health problems, conserving energy, reducing disparities: Healthy Homes
Greensboro Initiative
⇒ Restoring neighborhoods and stability: Preserving Homeownership, housing bond, Neighborhood Stabilization Program
⇒ Finding common ground among residents, policy makers, and developers for fair and sustainable housing practices

Finally had a chance to post up the Free Meals in Greensboro list, Whoa!

Under the Tab Free Meals in Greensboro, NC you will now see an actual list of free meals in Greensboro, NC updated on 01/15/09.  This is a big improvement over the empty space that was under that tab as of yesterday.
Yeah!

Blog Spinoffs like crazy!!!! ‘Niche-ify’ ‘Niche-ify’

I started yet another wordpress blog in an effort to further ‘niche-ify’ my work.  So much of what I wanted to post about in postalheaven.wordpress.com and then sparechangenews.com was technical stuff about computers and as of late that is specifically studies about Linux.  So the name is a tribute to my wife who came up with the term I was looking for for a miniscule linux operating system – minilini.wordpress.com.  Minilini.wordpress.com will not only be about small linux operating systems and their hardware friends tiny pcs (there will also be www.tinypcnews.com launching in a short time) but about all my experiences trying to work with Linux.

Talking about my wife, she has spunoff preborn.wordpress.com  from noblevine.net at my suggestion for her Pro-Life work specifically, in an effort to further ‘niche-ify’ her work.

My WordPress dashboard will never be the same again.

Video of Paul Gydos at Food Not Bombs farewell at St. Mary’s House – Greensboro

The link is:

You have to sign in to your facebook account to access this.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=24115427988&refurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fs.php%3Fref%3Dsearch%26init%3Dq%26q%3Djordan%2Bgreen#/video/video.php?v=25007022502&oid=24115427988

The Paypal buttons I’ve added

So far somehow the paypal buttons I’ve added have only thrown me a donations page once. The rest of the time while I’ve tested them they only gave me a click here to retry page at paypal. Please leave a comment and tell me what you get when you click the button on the Help fund SpareChangeNews.com page or on the link in the right side bar.

Thanks

Tyler Perry: From Poverty to Prosperity

Actor, Tyler Perry said in a recent television interview that, “Whatever circumstances you go through in life are intended to form you into the person you are supposed to be.” Perry was homeless for eight years and is now a millionaire and a movie star. Some people may know him from the “Medea” movies and from “Diary of a Mad Black Woman”, or “Woman Thou Art Loosed”. He wrote them.

Perry is just one of many examples of those who have risen out of poverty-stricken circumstances, abuse, and homelessness. For those who have computer access I would recommend a bio on Perry at this link: http://www.tv.com/tyler-perry/person/300574/biography.html. In this article, the journey from Perry overcoming an abusive childhood and taking responsibility for his destiny is detailed.

My point in specifically pointing to a successful individual is to say that perhaps if he can do it you can do it. It may take a miracle but Perry shows it is possible. One pivotal thing that Mr. Perry did on his journey to sustaining himself, and eventually accomplishing many of his dreams, is that he wrote a letter to himself detailing all of his feelings and thoughts, including past hurts and abuse. He felt doing that helped him to see the road of depression and negativity that ended up in his homelessness. One can see that faith in God definitely played a large role in his success. He is truly an inspiration, in my opinion.

I have tried to make the practice of “journaling” a habit in my life and though it’s been an off and on thing at times, in reflection, I have found it quite enlightening. I would encourage anyone who is struggling and finds themselves in the very unfortunate place of homelessness to explore and write down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I believe wisdom for your circumstance can be found, and faith does not hurt either.

God Bless, LG