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… other than taking care of grandparents, organizing Moral Monday and Justice Brigade shenanigans, sorting out life changes, working 2-3 jobs, building a home and garden, and writing, singing, learning, and making music….

Okay so, you all will be proud of me.  I put together a great portion of my thesis paper.  I only have 2 small papers left and some evaluative thinking caps to put on.

The thesis is my evaluation of my work with Democracy Matters over the past three and 1/2 years and my attempt to situate the organization and its efforts with college students into the context of the larger Money in Politics movement in the United States. First and huge chunk of Capstone to turn in.

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As I sit here watching through the window, at the thankful birds as they hop around in the feed I’ve just thrown.  I think about the little bits of heaven that are right here in my home.  Days like today teach me more gratefulness than I’d have come up with on my own.  Days like today when it’s impossible to drive, wreckless to try, and smart just to stay inside and say praises for the seeds we’ve sewn.  Today I read, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” and cried out loud for what it means.  I read her words, and Maya Angelou makes truth ring.  She talks about birds and of freedom and things, letting loose a symbol, a feeling, an understanding that only poetry can bring.  I share with you today, something that I know to be true.  I share with you today, one of the reasons why I work for You.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
an the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

Maya Angelou

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Op-ed to local newspapers, Times News, out of Burlington, NC.

alamancenaacp's avatarAlamance NAACP Blog

Stand Up Alamance County - The Time Has Come

In a time where the future of this country is unknown, there is something to celebrate. In North Carolina, thousands of people have connected their personal lives to the disparity of others. There is a rising awareness that our lives are intrinsically connected to that of our neighbors, our friends, our families, and even people we disagree with. Never has there been in our recent history a more important time to be a North Carolinian. We face, together, trials and tribulations that will create for us a need to ask the question, “What can I do, what SHOULD I do to make this world I live in a more safe, healthy, and just community?” We feel the effects of poverty all around us. Our jobs have been lost, we are seeing people around us die and suffer from inadequate access to healthcare, education is being privatized and public funding put…

View original post 444 more words

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Tonight, I am watching this documentary.  I am reminded that none of you will have to endure this type of violence to fight for your rights and your lives.  Please remember this when you think that time is too limited, that life is too complex to fight for injustice.  Remind yourselves that you are standing on the shoulders of Giants, brave men and women who truly had their lives to lose – that your work is a reflection in these pools of history. If you do not continue the work of our ancestors, our future may drown in inequality, proliferation of poverty and war and the corruption of OUR democracy. Sending my thanks for your dedication DM students, here’s to a challenging and beautiful Spring semester. http://video.pbs.org/video/1925571160/

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Practicing: understanding “how to make love stay”.  Making sure I step on-board and run to the back where the bumps are.
Searching out actively the hearts in everything and the rough patches through the woods.
Living and non-living and radiating alike, Grinning and ho-humming along.
That smile, a sunbeam through the clouds on a gloomy day of a weary sailor.
That smile, a moonbeam into the backseat window of a ’51 Chevy, on the crown of a little girl who loves to stare through the hole in the floor.

Didn’t take my new baby cause she won’t fit in any box I have.  Took her in mind.  I have her resonator in mind.
Accumulating pebbles in my pocket and ideas in my head to play on her when I get home.  Thank you rocks.
Home is here, with the theatrical, sappy woman on the intercom.  Her voice is soothing, in a giggle-plex sort of way.

The snow on the mountains was sitting so calmly as if to say, “Don’t wait, melting is inevitable!”

“Be happy” is what is on my mind, and if I’m lucky I won’t be thinking that at all!

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There’s always magic when you’re falling in love

and when LIMG_0415ove has fallen from your grasp

Magic revisits, uninvited, wearing grief as its mask

Just to remind you of all the eternities

the ones you’ve lived and the ones you’re yet to know

that Magic never left, and Love was the seeds you’ve sewn

Yes, Magic comes when you’re falling in love

Like frost comes to tell stories of Winter’s return

Let us all live as if we’re falling in love

with the wonder and the lust and the wanderlust

Let all the Magic in, conscious of it, kneading it and thanking it, placing it

into your every moment.  Every moment.