We need to get our collective asses out and start helping right now.

not be resolved because the RACIAL Issue is what will be used to DIVIDE us

My sorority (of course)

100 Black Women, DC Chapter and the NBJC - a political organization for black gay men and women. Sorority (19 years); 1BW (about 12 years) and NBJC (about 6 years). I also do things in my current home which is probably not the kind of thing you're talking about, but are focused on improving indigenous issues.

You know what I also did recently? I took a MOOC on philanthropy. It was the Giving 2.0 MOOC out of Stanford. Gave me SO many good ideas on how to spread the wealth, or rather "wealth." This type of thing would also be a good start for people that want to do more but don't know how.

And the indigenous people - ARE important. And that's what I'm talking about. I just got home from a meeting -civic focused . . . I can't change everything but I can fix my own damned backyard!

You got it going on. The NBJC, the 1BW, the MOOC and other numbers and letters too!

Seriously, I'm interested in the MOOC thing. I might ask a woman (who I like, why not combine it with fun!) to maybe take one with me. Thanks to your mention, I found the MOOC list. https://www.mooc-list.com/?static=true

P.S. Stanford - Corey Booker's alma mater.

REPRESENT, baby!!!

Re: MOOCs, Coursera has some really great ones and EdX is a great resource too. https://www.edx.org/ Most of the courses are free and can be done over a few weeks.

I am all about life long learning. And the Internet makes it all too easy now.

L O V E!

Oh yeah!

Thanks for the info!

We're going to read Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. It's released July 14, and we're excited to read & discuss. I'm inviting people who are active in civil rights work. I look forward to getting more involved. I promise I won't wear an afro wig and a spray tan.

Also I donated again to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Outstanding organization with a great web site.

Thanks for your wonderful work JustAnotherGen. You rock.

As far as what I do, I can't show the kind of bonafides the other people in the group have. My work is real life, too.

When health permits, I advocate for those who are disabled of all kinds, and am not paid for it, for whatever they need and want, and public services.

There are 3 groups I work with plus some personal work for these folks. Again, no payment, but I do contribute to those who are 'lobbyists' who advocate and keep track of things.

Such as who is in what position in the legislature, the agencies, and the bills as they are being written and work to influence them as they are in process. No money is changing hands, there is no personal profit. We are in opposition to those who want to sell public sector work to the lowest bidder for profit. There is no honorable profit to be made off the lives of these folks.

So we follow and talk to the legislators with bills in process, to make sure they consider all options for the vulnerable, keep track of all the votes and talk to all the legislators and groups that will permit us to talk. Some who are making money off selling off the Commons are very hostile, dismissive and exclusionary.

They particularly want to stifle the professional and otherwise learned persons who know these populations well, from having a voice as they are in a big hurry to get those bucks.

You would not believe the amount of hell we get from right and left when both are robbing the helpless, and the abusive methods they use. The stunts they've pulled are shocking.

They don't see these folks as anything but numbers on a balance sheet. Even if people die, and they have when there is negligence. That's all I can do.

I feel you guys, like 1SBM, are really making an difference in your communities and are going to enlighten America.

I daily see the people that care the most, AAs, hispanics, Asians, Africans and a community of Scandinavian descent who are devoted to these causes. They are all religions and pagans, too.

I have watched them all come together since Trayvon Martin's murderer got off and the shock, grief and disbelief we all felt. It was the kind of thing that all you could do is look each other in the eye and connect. There are no words adequate.

You guys have really got it going on though. Proud to get to talk to you here.

Well, nothing political except supporting Donna Edwards and even that is backburnered. Squeeze generation: working, visiting mom 3 times a week, playing grandma for the summer. I just don't have time, or money, to make a difference. The only thing I am able to do is post on social media and try to get people to look at things they might not have otherwise seen.

I am not proud.

If I was not overextended, I think I would be working with incarcerated women. And Hospice. I would be checking out local organizations that value time over money. But I have found that my primary energy is around women, and encouraging men to help men. I think it's hard for women to help men. And when I mean help, I mean help them step up and be men, be providers, be fathers, be educated, find "hustles" that are legal and earn enough for illegal gains to look unattractive. If you give a man a choice between illegal activity and flipping burgers, that's not a good choice.

<RANT OFF>

So maybe I'll also work on literacy.

in solidarity.