When you have 20 minutes, please watch this awesome devotion from our chaplain, Rev. Ronnie Miller Yow, given at the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church Annual Conference in Rogers several weeks ago. He received a standing ovation- from what I told is a rare occurance.

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http://www.arumc.org/wednesday_devotional.php

Forever a fan.

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June 24, 2009

Lawrence Hamilton and ‘Renaissance Choir’ to appear on NBC’s TODAY Show

@ 7 a.m. Thursday, June 25

With the hard-hit economy, many Americans are in need of a little help this year. That's why the TODAY Show’s Al Roker is continuing his Lend a Hand trip. In its eighth consecutive year, Lend a Hand helps small charities across the country that work toward improving conditions in their communities. On tomorrow, Thursday, June 25, Roker’s goodwill road trip will bring him to Little Rock, where Lawrence Hamilton and a choir comprised of Philander Smith College alumni will perform as part of a surprise tribute to a local charity.

The TODAY Show airs locally on KARK-Channel 4.

Here is an entry from Gerald Thomas, who has been interning with The Source Magazine since the fall.

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Today is one of those days where I am working extremely hard to meet deadlines. I am here in Newark, New Jersey writing non-stop so that my future is somewhat secured. Attending round table meetings, consistently hearing that I am not good enough and networking is the daily routine. Here at The Source, they have one simple motto “If you want to stand out, don’t be different: be outstanding”. I wake up every morning at 5am to start my day, just because I want to be the best. My experiences thus far have been mind-blowing, this opportunity with The Source only started as a school job, however being so determine it became an internship, and I must add I am holding down my own weight.

Having an internship with The Source in my opinion is beyond words. This company is the second largest magazine of its kind, bringing a Bigger Better and Bolder persona and I am a part of that. In addition to writing non-stop, I find time to read four different books one being “Between Barack and a Hard Place- Racism and White denial in the age of Obama” by Tim Wise and this book will be the centerpiece of my final project entitled “The Crisis of America: It’s still a Black and White thing. The biggest lesson I can say I have learned thus far is to aim for success, not perfection. To never give up my right to be wrong, because then I would lose the ability to learn new things and move forward in my life. Even while writing this I still cannot fathom that finally reality is better than my dreams. I can only hope that in near future, bigger and better things will come because of this.

Gerald

Gerald Thomas
English/Philosophy 12'
Campus Rep Intern c/o The Source Magazine

Lauren Allen is participating in the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries Living Justice Seminar Program in New York City. The purpose of this event is to provide an introduction to the issues related to the health of women and children, and to foster discussion among young adults who share a common interest in the intersection of faith and justice. Below is part of a summary of her experiences during this program, as well as some pictures. Enjoy.

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Lauren is 1st on the left sitting

The next day we went to the CCUN, Christian Church of the United Nations I believe, owned and operated by the United Methodist women. They allow other denominations to have offices in the building. We had speakers come and speak to us about the disparities of health in various countries and right here in the U.S. We watched a movie when the bough breaks (I had already seen it, Dr. Rush showed it in our applied ethics class) it was a study done on how racial tensions cause African-American women to have a higher mortality rate than any other race. It is depressing and eye opening. The day before we had watched a movie called "In sickness and health" and it was about how no matter how much education or economic status we have we are still at a greater risk than any other race for health issues. We then had speakers come in and talk about poverty issues in other countries and the lack of resources. 

Later that night during our bible study and debriefing we played a game the pursuit of happiness. And we drew a slip of paper from a basket that placed you in a certain community. I was in the poorest group. We had to build schools, hospitals, a government, houses, etc. Our community had no resources, so we had to be really creative. Then what would happen was that a crisis in the world would happen. And the people in the rich community had to make a decision and in our group someone had to die.  So we were the first to lose a member, and then we lost another and then another. So our community was wiped out. Then in another community they worked together the poor and the rich to build a utopian society. It sounded good in theory, but had us thinking could this actually ever happen.

This “game” opened my eyes to what really happens in the world. I always viewed poverty as a mismanagement of resources. I believed that the rich would herd all resources for themselves or that the people would somehow do something wrong. I was shown that this isn’t the case. These people were never given the necessary tools to survive, and then the poor are the first to die.

- Lauren Allen

Here are more pictures from the Budgetball event in Washington, D.C.

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The Team: Jessica, Chris, Alex, Schrell, Joshua, Lameisha, and Byron

PSC Panthers versus the Miami Hurricanes

Touring D.C.

Debriefing the activity

With Dr. Bryna Helfer, Senior Director of Civic Engagement, National Academy of Public Administration

With Congressman Vic Snyder (Arkansas)

Here is an article about Budgetball from POLITICO.

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The Hill plays 'Budgetball' By: Melanie Mason June 14, 2009 07:48 PM EST

There was a new game in town Sunday on the National Mall. Alongside the old standards of dodgeball and soccer, it looked like any other sport: players in gym shorts and brightly-colored t-shirts making diving catches and fast passes, jawing good-naturedly with referees and gathering in team huddles to talk strategy. But the day’s play-by-play announcer quickly made clear this was no typical team sport: “Treasury’s going to deficit-spend in this budget session.” This was Budgetball, a new game developed by the National Academy of Public Administration and the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. The goal is to raise awareness about the federal debt. And a few months after its inception, the game had its D.C. debut on Sunday with the “Budgetball on the Mall” tournament, featuring competitors from Treasury Department, the House Budget Committee and the White House Office of Management and Budget. Also playing were teams from local think tanks, as well as two college teams that earned a trip to Washington by winning Budgetball tournaments at their schools. “From the federal government’s perspective, one of the great challenges we face as a nation is restoring and preserving fiscal responsibility. Part of that effort includes engaging American citizens about the issues and options involved,” Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said in a statement read before the games began. “This is why I support initiatives like Budgetball, which seek to broaden public awareness of the need for responsible financial behavior in our private and public lives.” David Walker, the former comptroller general who is now president and CEO of the Peterson Foundation, said that Budgetball was a fun way to teach people financial strategies. “You get physical and financial fitness,” Walker said. “Lord knows, we need more of both.” Budgetball takes cues from Ultimate Frisbee, as players use quick passes to reach the end-zone and score points. But points can also be accumulated through smart management of “Budgetbucks.” Teams can spend their bucks on “Powerups” – advantages such as an extra offensive or defensive player – or they can earn bucks by taking on “Sacrifices,” handicaps such as wearing a pair of oven mitts, or balancing on one foot whenever the player has the ball. Angela Kuck, a player for the House Budget Committee’s “Budget Hawks” team, found the game a fun way to demonstrate the principles of fiscal health. “The idea is not to have a deficit,” said Kuck, the committee’s Republican communications director. “If you spend your money on feel-good things, like an extra player, you get in the hole.” Still, for all their financial know-how, teams from the House Budget Committee, the Treasury and OMB fell short against the teams from University of Miami and Arkansas’s Philander Smith University. The college teams battled it out in a close final match, with University of Miami ultimately talking top tournament honors. The Miami players were secretive about their strategy—”take your sacrifices early” was all that one player revealed before his teammates cut him off. But it didn’t hurt that the team was comprised of flag football players and a track and field runner. As Walker said, when asked to describe the ideal team, “You want at least one person who can add and think strategy. Then, you probably want five athletes.”

Saturday, I was in Tallahassee moderating a panel featuring four international presidents of the Divine Nine Black fraternal organizations. The event was organized by InSpire Magazine, led by Dr. Lee Jones. I have known Lee for 15 years now, so  I was pleased to participate in this event. The discussion was very open and honest, with the presidents indicating the historical strengths, but realizing that there are lots of problems that exist.

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Here is a copy of an article about our PR director, Sericia Cole, who was listed in Soiree Magazine as one of 27 Women to Watch in 2009.

Congrats Sericia!

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