Nelly Cheboi
I always enjoy watching CNN's Hero of the Year program, where you learn about the power of people to make a huge difference in the lives of many, in places all over the world. Every one of those celebrated are heroes!
This year's grand winner is a woman named Nelly Cheboi, born in 1992, who grew up in a poverty stricken area of rural Kenya and in 2012 won a scholarship to Augusta College in Illinois to study computer science.
During her third year of college, Cheboi had already started giving back. Realizing the importance of education, she built a school, Zawadi Yetu, in her home country. And after realizing how much goes to waste in the United States, she started shipping used computer equipment from the U.S. to Africa.
In 2019, after quitting a lucrative job in the tech industry, she founded a nonprofit called TechLit Africa (along with Tyler Cinnamon) which focused on building computer labs in Kenya. Partnering with schools, TechLit presently teaches over 4000 students basic computer skills using recycled technology, providing a curriculum focused on self-efficacy, troubleshooting and internet skills, teaching coding, graphic design, audio and video production. There are currently 10 labs in Africa with their eyes on building 100 more.
A Pastor's Story
Found this on facebook the other day and thought it was worth repeating here.
A pastor transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the church that he was to be introduced as the head pastor at that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service. Only 3 people said hello to him, most looked the other way. He asked people for change to buy food because he was hungry. Not one gave him anything.
He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was told by the ushers that he would need to get up and go sit n the back of the church. He said hello to people as they walked in but was greeted with cold stares and dirty looks from people looking down on him and judging him.
He sat in the back of the church and listened to the church announcements for the week. He listened as new visitors were welcomed into the church that morning but no one acknowledged that he was new. He watched people around him continue to look his way with stares that said you are not welcome here.
Then the elders of the church went to the podium to make the announcement. They said they were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation. "We would like to introduce you to our new Pastor." The congregation stood up and looked around clapping with joy and anticipation. The homeless man sitting in the back stood up and started walking down the aisle.
That's when all the clapping stopped and the church was silent. With all eyes on him....he walked up the altar and reached for the microphone. He stood there for a moment and then recited so elegantly, a verse from the bible.....
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me.’
After he recited this, he introduced himself as their new pastor and told the congregation what he had experienced that morning. Many began to cry and bow their heads in shame. "Today I see a gathering of people here but I do not see a church of Jesus. The world has enough people that look the other way. What the world needs is disciples of Jesus that can follow this teachings and live as he did. When will YOU decide to become disciples?
He then dismissed service until the following Sunday as his sermon had been given.
Andy Goldsworthy
click image to see a brief video about Andy Goldsworthy
Green leaves
Maple leaves, water
English sculptor, photographer and environmentalist Andy Goldsworthy is hands down one of my favorite artists and he works with unconventional materials--his medium being nature itself. He uses such things as ice, leaves, sticks, stones, sand, and rain to create his mostly ephemeral work--and because of its impermanence (and unless you are onsite with him when he is creating it), one can experience it through his photographs, videos and books. All photos courtesy Andy Goldsworthy.
leaves in autumn
Ice
Sticks
stone
Grass, berries, water
Rain Shadows
Charity of the Week:
Tech Lit Africa
Click on image to support and donate to TechLit Africa
Studio Shot of the Week
Mid-Coast Maine, March 2023
Boycott Walgreens
Walgreens confirmed to Politico last week it would not sell or ship mifepristone, which is used to terminate a pregnancy, in at least 21 states after Republican attorneys general had sent requests for the pharmacy not to—including in some states where abortion remains legal, such as Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Kansas and Montana.
Walgreens is coming under an increasing amount of scrutiny and a boycott of all their stores (including Duane Reade) has been called. Boycotts are a very effective tool and I hope you will consider staying away until they decide to reverse their policy.
New York, NY 2022
About The Author
New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.