"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted." = Martin Luther King, JR.
The Federal Government has declared the fisheries along the Yukon in Alaska a Disaster (Another Link with Video http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=11830390)(finally). What that exactly means and what it might recognize, solve or cure is unclear. This is announced on January 15th days within the moment the world is shocked by the devastating Earthquake in Haiti. An estimated two hundred thousand are dead and one point five million homeless. In the aftermath of this nightmare I fired off several emails looking for an opening to work or volunteer for an NGO on the ground there, idealistically thinking of taking a leave of absence from my job and leaving my goals here in Anchorage somehow for a few months. As snowflakes swirl out the windows of the coffeeshop from which I write these twin crisis interrupt my thoughts time and time again and I question their unfortunate alignment, their deeper meaning, and realize the depth and power of my connection to Alaska and the clarity of the divide between those with opportunity and those without all over the world.
The question of solutions hangs in the cold air like the breath of the hungry at soup kitchens and aid stations the world over. This past weekend saturday night barrel fire sparks at the half pipe competition in Girdwood when the power went out part way through, people hanging in the chairlift, catcalls in the dark, events people working hard, heavy snowflakes.
After a slew of photos are taken doubling back to Anchorage to Wilda Marsten Theatre where Alaska Communities For Social Justice hosted a powerful event that included an outline of a terrible local case of racial profiling, the trauma the case created for twelve year old son and family, daughter gives mother flowers on stage
... standing ovation. Voices break when words are spoken. Outside snowflakes pouring out of the streaming dark, midnight ice rink without midnight skaters, midnight stars lost in clouds from the same streaming sky over Haiti's lost fortune... like loss of cold to warmth to forever life cycle held lightly in remembrance sever quiet sky clear and starless.I have a lot of big ideas about how to bring about transformative social change @ scale, I don't blog about that. I focus on these Alaska-Based projects. I will be testing out some of the media-making skills I have been working on developing this weekend with the first Walk for Haiti:
Pasted From the Above Link:
Like all of us, I have been overwhelmed by the devastation in Haiti and struggling to find a meaningful way to help. At this moment, it seems the most effective action we can take is financial... Many of us don't have a lot of money to spare, or are not in a position to travel to Haiti. This walk is a natural and healthy way to make a difference, to address the tragedy in Haiti and honor the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
On Saturday January 23rd, friends and I are going to walk across the City of Anchorage, taking a creative path for about 15 miles from Kinkaid Park to Downtown, to raise support for Haiti. It would mean a lot if you would support us by giving $1, 5, or 10 per mile, or any other amount. We'd like to direct the money to Partners in Health, an organization with long standing relationships and a deep commitment to Haiti in the short and long term. You can start from Kinkaid (skiis and bikes welcome as well), direct pledges here and decide on your own route during the day. We can reconnect during the evening in Anchorage.
Great people in Manhatten did #15 miles last Sunday and raised over 6 k ...
If you are in Anchorage or close by, join us for a few blocks or a few miles!
You can also follow our progress on twitter at #15miles!
How to pledge online: cut and paste this link and send to your network...
http://act.pih.org/page/outreach/view/haitiearthquake/faceaids
If we donate thru Faceaids a investment firm will match up to 50,000 dollars
Email me your name + any questions : lastfrontierecoalliance@gmail.com
Green Drinks after...
And please join us for a walk through the city, which we will document with a collection of hundreds of beautiful photos and video interviews of people from all walks of life about the disaster in Haiti and the disaster of the Yukon Fishery here in Alaska http://bit.ly/7sd2LG . Even if we don't raise a lot of money here in Anchorage, we intend to use the day to get a better perspective of our community and create positive social impact. The resulting media project will help us explore our sense of interconnectedness, while appreciating the unique beauty of our city on a winter day. Thank you for your time, energy and spirit.
JT HESSERT www.lastfrontierecoalliance.com
