Cynthia Chavez was among 250 public and private thought leaders around the country invited to a national dialogue on the vital role of the nonprofit sector in our nation’s economic recovery. White House officials, leadership program providers and funders focused on strategies to invest in leadership to support the sector’s growth. Our thanks to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, who paved the way for Cynthia’s participation, and to the American Express Foundation (a LeaderSpring funder) and others who made this ground-breaking event possible. Click here for more information.
TIDES is a values-based platform for social change.
We're using Tumblr to show the positive social impact of Tides' projects, peers, and grantees! Have something to share? Please email it to us at discourse@tides.org or Submit it here.
We're using Tumblr to show the positive social impact of Tides' projects, peers, and grantees! Have something to share? Please email it to us at discourse@tides.org or Submit it here.
Posts tagged tidesprojects.
Tides Project LeaderSpring’s Executive Director Cynthia Chavez goes to the White House Forum
Breaking the Silence - A CALL TO MEN
Breaking the Silence
By Co-founders - A CALL TO MEN
“There’s a code of silence that we don’t dare speak; There’s a wall between and the river’s
deep…” -- Bruce Springsteen “Code of Silence”
In the recent tragedy at Penn State it is reported that trusted Coach Jerry Sandusky was arrested on 40 counts related to allegations of sexual abuse of eight young boys over a 15-year period. This allegedly occurred while other coaches looked on and kept silent about what they saw, what they knew and perhaps even tried to cover up for their colleague and “the program.”
As men we have a long history invested in collusion with other men and codes of silence. Also known as codes of honor, vows of silence, the blue curtain of silence with names like “the family” or “the brotherhood.” Many of us, in our youth and adulthood, have participated in defining violators of the code of silence as haters, suckers, punks, rats, snitches, weasels, a snake and much worse.
This pervasive silence among men in our culture to protect the status quo, to win at any cost, and never tell on your brother is a glaring example of how destructive the current model and definition of manhood operates to demean, diminish and oppress anyone who is not considered a “real man” in our society. Our fear of being perceived as less than a man or weak, keeps us in line with these codes, regardless of right and wrong. This fear is running rampant and dominating our sense of righteousness. Dare we be a “whistleblower” when most of us as boys have been told “don’t be a tattle tale.”
This code protects men from confronting or challenging other men about their behavior, no matter how violent or inappropriate. This agreement has at its foundation the belief that men have more value and should receive entitlements and benefits, even if it compromises the rights and humanity of anyone else and therefore should be given priority, protection
and the benefit of the doubt in cases of any wrong doing. These social and cultural norms, that have been established by men for the benefit of men, are steeped in our history, laws and tradition and we continue to pass this belief system down to our sons and boys.
While all of the perpetrators of the Penn State incident need to be held accountable and dealt with swiftly by the law, it does not let the rest of us off the hook. What happened at Penn State is “a cough in the cold,” a symptom of the illness. While clearly, there are specific individuals involved and responsible, we believe that this is not just an individual ill but a social ill requiring a social response.
As men, we must join the growing movement of men and women, willing to challenge these age old notions and norms defining manhood. We must be willing to escape the fear of being viewed as less than a man and branded an outcast or “traitor” of the unit, the organization , the team. We must be willing to step outside of what we at A CALL TO MEN call “The Man Box”. We must be willing to break the code of silence which continues to restrict us and compromise our humanity…
“We keep pretending that there’s nothing wrong; But there’s a code of silence and it can’t go on” — Bruce Springsteen “Code of Silence”
A CALL TO MEN
Tides project AIDS_Free_World launches First-Ever Legal Challenge to #Jamaica's Anti-Gay Law.
The First-Ever Legal Challenge to Jamaica’s Anti-Gay Law
October 26, 2011
KINGSTON, JAMAICA, Oct. 26 — At a press conference in Kingston today, Jamaican attorney Maurice Tomlinson announced that his organization, AIDS-Free World, has presented a first-ever legal challenge to the country’s anti-gay laws. AIDS-Free World has filed a petition at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on behalf of two gay men whose names are being withheld to protect their safety. A legal team assembled by AIDS-Free World argues that by criminalizing homosexuality under its constitution, Jamaica is in violation of international human rights law. (See details about the legal case and Commission procedure in the attached Q&A.)
Big Picture Arts Project’s Andrew Johnstone receives 2011 Alameda County Arts Leadership Award. Congrats!
via Tides project @C_G_S: #Police Balk At Submitting Their Own #DNA to Forensic Databases
For over two decades, local, state, and federal law enforcement have insatiably pursued the radical expansion of DNA databases. This is typically driven by two arguments. First, that having more profiles at their disposal increases the likelihood of catching perpetrators and, secondly, that DNA forensics’ technical sophistication ensures that innocent people have no reason to worry about being falsely accused. These demands and assurances by law enforcement have played a pivotal role in drastically shifting public policies. When first brought into practice in the 1980s and 90s, DNA databases typically only included individuals convicted of serious crimes such as murder and rape. Now, a number of jurisdictions are including individuals merely arrested for certain crimes…
Congrats to Tides Project @CANFIT's Scholarship Recipients, supporting students working improve adolescent #nutrition & #fitness!
By providing undergraduate and graduate scholarships, CANFIT hopes to encourage more students to consider careers that will improve adolescent nutrition and fitness. Click here to read more about CANFIT’s Scholarship program.
Ashley Morisako
Santa Clara University
Public Health
“Everyone deserves to have the quality of life they wish to have. Through my experiences in college, I have now realized that I wanted to be involved in the community and promote healthy lifestyles. My personal goal is to start an intervention and prevention program that offers support for children and their families as they struggle with health-related illnesses. To instill long-term lifestyle change, I would like to include a nutrition and diet component as well as a physical fitness and education component. My experiences (working in the community) have primed me for what is to come in my future.” 
Matthew Vazquez
Long Beach State University
Kinesiology/Exercise Science
“I want to work to seek out better food and safe recreational environments for our children. As an adult in my community, I still fear strolling to the park because of crime, but one day I know that when I have my children, they will be able to go to that park without hesitation at anytime of day without the fear of being assaulted, kidnapped or followed. I will implement my role to prosper and with the assistance of others, this wondrous dream can one day become a pleasant reality for us all.” 
Adrien Wilson
San Francisco State University
Dietetics
“I know that 89.9% of dieticians are Caucasian but the vast majority of nutrition related illnesses are found in community of color. When I was at a school working with children, I saw how necessary it was to have people that look like you, grew up eating the same foods as you, has the same body type as you, and can empathize with your situation and not just sympathize. I am very grateful to everyone who works with organizations that bring nutritional understanding and food justice to communities that are food deserts and children who need it. I know I would be happiest serving the community in the field of dietetics and this is the direction that I am going.”
#Arab Voices Unplugged: Open Mic Featuring @ProfKahf, 11/12, SF, via Tides Project AROC.
Arab Voices Unplugged: Open Mic Featuring Mohja Kahf
Arab Voices Unplugged is a poetry night feautring stories of migration and immigrant rights. This is the second event in the Zeitو Za’atar series, which uses art performances and workshops to build understanding, cultural appreciation, and artistic skills in our communities.
Saturday, Nov. 12th, 5 to 8 p.m.
at Philz Coffee in the Mission
3101 24th Street, SF
Mohja Kahf is a Syrian poet, novelist, professor of comparative literature, and activist for the Syrian Revolution. In 2010, Kahf won a Pushcart Prize for an essay in Riverteeth Magazine. She is currently tweeting for the Syrian Revolution @ProfKahf. Her books include Emails from Scheherezade, The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf, and Western Representations of the Muslim Woman: From Termagant to Odalisque
Fragrance Free: Please make events accessible to people with chemical intolerance by refraining from wearing scented products.
ZEIT و ZAATAR [go together like arts and social justice] Zeit and Zaatar is a delicious combination of thyme and olive oil in Arab cuisine, and an art performance & workshop series which centers on social justice issues and aims to build awareness, cultural appreciation, and artistic skills in our communities.
EVENT WILL INCLUDE READINGS IN ENGLISH AND ARABIC.
Co-sponsored by ACCC and Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC).
For more information: info@araborganizing.org or (415) 664-2200
The United States isn’t broke; we’re the richest country on the planet and a country in which the richest among us are doing exceptionally well. But the truth is, our economy is broken, producing more pollution, greenhouse gasses and garbage than any other country. In these and so many other ways, it just isn’t working. But rather than invest in something better, we continue to keep this ‘dinosaur economy’ on life support with hundreds of billions of dollars of our tax money. The Story of Broke calls for a shift in government spending toward investments in clean, green solutions—renewable energy, safer chemicals and materials, zero waste and more—that can deliver jobs AND a healthier environment. It’s time to rebuild the American Dream; but this time, let’s build it better.
Vote for Tides Project Out of Site Youth Arts Center for #SF's Favorite #Charity in @7x7Magazine! (Hint, they're #28.)
Vote for Tides projects in the 7x7 Magazine charity competition — help them win up to $10K!
28. OUT OF SITE YOUTH ARTS CENTER
Out of Site provides free after school and summer
programming in visual and performing arts to public high school students in San Francisco. Stu
dents come
to Out of Site for a chance to experiment in the arts and a place to be themselves; they find artistic training, new mediums for self-expression and a diverse and supportive community.
Congrats to @RWG_Margaret, ED of Tides Project @Rightsworking, who was named a Rockwood "Leading from the Inside Out" Fellow!
Margaret Huang | Executive Director, Rights Working Group
Margaret Huang is the Executive Director of the Rights Working Group (RWG). As a national coalition of more than 320 civil liberties, immigrant rights and human rights organizations, RWG seeks to ensure that the rights of everyone in the United States are respected regardless of citizenship or immigration status, race, national origin, religion or ethnicity. She has published articles and op-eds on human rights and RWG advocacy campaigns, and she authored a chapter in Human Rights At Home. Currently, Margaret sits on the Steering Committee of the Human Rights at Home Campaign. Her previous work experience includes serving as Director of the U.S. Program at Global Rights, as Program Director of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights, as Program Manager at The Asia Foundation, and as Committee Staff for the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Margaret received a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, and a B.S.F.S. from Georgetown University.
MO Project is a media contest for California youth ages 13-18 that want to make a difference and see health changes in their community.
Being healthy is a big deal and all youth deserve to grow up in places that support being healthy. Although that’s not always the case. Many youth across the state are working to make their school or community a safe, active or healthier place. CANFIT wants to hear DIRECTLY from YOU(th)!
WHAT’s YOUR MO’ STORY?
Are you working to improve your school food? Creating safer parks? Working in a garden? Educating your family or community about eating healthy and being more active? In 90 seconds or less, Tell us What YOU are doing to make a DIFFERENCE and WIN an iPad or other cool prizes. Check out the details.
Tides project @C_G_S celebrates @OBOShealth's "Turning 40, Going Global."
That book was, of course, Our Bodies, Ourselves, whose fortieth anniversary will be celebrated this October, when it will be issued in a ninth edition. Published since 1973 by Simon & Schuster, it has sold 4.5 million copies in 26 languages, including Braille, and is arguably the most influential work on women’s health and sexuality in history. By performing the radical inversion of giving female experience and knowledge primacy over that of physicians and medicine with a capital “M”, the women who collaborated on the text helped spawn the consumer health revolution.
@DetentionWatch's new Dignity Not Detention campaign
The U.S. is the world’s leading jailer. Over the last 30 years, harsh sentencing laws and the progressive erosion of social programs has caused the prison population to increase by 500%. Today, more than 2.3 million people are behind bars in this country, and the vast majority are people of color.
Among those locked up as part of the explosion of the prison system are thousands of non-citizens, who have been targeted for deportation and are seeking the right to remain in the U.S. Throughout this process, they are imprisoned by the government and subjected to extreme physical and mental suffering, without any of the standard legal protections that are the hallmarks of true democracies.
"'Your 9/11... is our 24/7', 10 Years of Fighting State Violence" via Arab Resource & Organizing Center.
Ima
gine one day, you oversleep your alarm clock by a few hours. You wake up, and the world is a different place. You leave your house and your neighbors look at you with suspicion. You walk down the street and racial slurs are shouted your direction. Your sister is harassed at her workplace. Your brother, a lawful resident, is forced to give his fingerprints to immigration. Your cousins are made refugees in their homeland (again). Confused, you turn on the news and see two planes have hit the World Trade Center. Your world has changed forever.
Ten years later, this is the legacy and impact of the attacks of September 11th, 2001 for members of the Arab community in the US, as well as other Muslims, South Asians, and Middle Easterners. Unfortunately, the time since 9/11 has been a time of continued tragedy and grief for our communities in the US, as well as for our families in our countries of origin.
Tides Project @VoteSolar says "Reports of #solar’s death are greatly exaggerated."
The solar company Solyndra recently filed for bankruptcy, which media reports have depicted as the end of solar power in the U.S. This is like saying there is no future for the internet because Netscape went out of business.
The molar-grinding irony of it all is that Solyndra was the victim of a big success – the price of solar power has fallen rapidly, making more expensive technologies like theirs uncompetitive, but more importantly making solar power a real player in the U.S. energy economy.
