Earth Day

April 22^nd is known as Earth Day. I celebrate Earth Day by making sure I turn off the lights I am not using, not letting the water run as I brush my teeth, and making as little trash as possible. But, what more can I do to properly celebrate Earth Day? As I looked into this question, I found a grand history and meaning behind this day. Earth Day was originally founded in 1970 as a day to promote education on environmental issues. Now, many schools have extended this educational holiday to celebrate Earth Week, an entire week dedicated to learning, understanding, and practicing ways to eliminate environmental issues. With a focus on students, April 22^nd was chosen specifically to reach out to students and allow them, and other participants, to get outside and truly enjoy the Earth on its’ very own day.

Earth Day was founded after the inspiration of Senator Gaylord Nelson, who was determined to express the environmental risk of the planet to the government and the nation in 1962. His idea for creating an Earth Day came from his experience in viewing “teach-ins” where anti-Vietnam spokesmen came into classrooms to spread information and educate students about the issue. In 1969 Senator Nelson invited the world to celebrate Earth Day at a conference in Seattle and the people were excited about his proposition. On April 22^nd, supporters of Earth Day and environmental issue education rallied in all major cities in the nation. They made an impact on others and truly revealed the need to understand environmental issues. Now, 200 million people celebrate Earth Day, in one way or another, around the globe.

Some people celebrate by attending information sessions on environmental issues, signing up for cleaning projects or even refusing to use their car on the day. But, no matter how you decide to celebrate the day, the most important part of Earth Day is to become educated on environmental issues. The day was founded based on the need to inform and share environmental concerns with everyone so we can protect ourselves and our planet. So, get informed, spread the word, and enjoy our great planet on this gorgeous Earth Day.

How are you celebrating Earth Day?

The Buried Life

Last week, I had the opportunity to see the cast of the MTV show, The Buried Life, present. Before going to meet them, I had not heard of the show and had no idea what it was even about. As I waited in a line of 600 people who were going to see them, I began to wonder what was so amazing about these people that so many college students were willing to wait in line on a Friday night to watch them speak. Upon entering, I was bombarded with smiles, energy, and post-it notes. I quickly learned that the catch-phrase of the Buried Life guys was "What do you want to do before you die?". As a young lady, I have never once considered this question and I politely rejected putting my answer on a sticky note for everyone to see. I began to realize that this presentation was going to have more to offer than I was expecting. I sat down in my chair and began to ponder my answer to this question. I considered giant goals that I thought I could never accomplish and small goals I could do tomorrow, but for some reason I could not come up with my answer.

Next thing I knew, four energetic and young men walked into the room. My first thought, how in the world did these four fun guys come up with a serious question that made me sit here and question my life goals? They began speaking, telling stories, making everyone laugh, and more importantly describing how they ended up with a TV show centered around the question "what do you want to do before you die?" They shared their story of sitting down together and feeling like they were not accomplishing the things they want to do with their lives. They then wrote down a list of 100 things they want to accomplish before they die, some of them were outrageous while some of them were practical. The four guys, Ben, Jonnie, Dave, and Duncan, decided to take two weeks off in the summer, rent an RV, and travel around the world while accomplishing as many things on their list as possible.

Now hearing this part of the story, I began to question these crazy boys. They traveled the world doing all of these fun things with each other and somehow ended up with their own TV show. But, just as I questioned this, they mentioned another part to their plan, with every item they cross off of their own list, they try and help someone else cross something off of his or her own list. Then it all clicked to me, these four guys had decided that they would achieve happiness by doing amazing things for themselves and helping other people do the things that they wanted to achieve. At this point in the presentation, they shared some incredible stories of their trip. They had sneaked onto red carpet premieres to meet their celebrity crushes, helped a school get new computers, made giant donations to charities, and played basketball with the President. Along with every item they could cross off of their list, they were helping strangers they had met along the way to accomplish one of their own. They helped a father find his son, a young girl start a now nationally known organization called To Write Love On Her Arms, and so much more.

It is not very often you get to meet people who live truly inspiring lives. Although a lot of the things their list are just fun things, it is important to do the things that make you happy if you can achieve them and still help out other people. I took their bravery to drop everything and do the things they truly wanted to do as an inspiration in my life. I answered the question "what do you want to do before you die?" and I am working to cross off the items on my list. Being a part of Femi Outreach, I am surround by people who I can have the chance to help every day. From the students we work with to our office success, I have a chance to change  the lives of so many people. 

It is important to remember that no matter who you are, you can do all of the things you want to do. Stay motivated, help others, and be happy. In the end, those are the most important things in life and I am excited that I had the opportunity to see people live out this lifestyle. If you get a chance to watch The Buried Life, or have any comments, please feel free to share your thoughts with us. We really appreciate all of our readers and supporters out there, and I want to leave you all with one final thought (inspired by the boys of The Buried Life):

What do you want to do before you die?

What is a non-profit?

Did you know that 90% of todays not for profit organizations have been established since the 1950s? The concept of non-profit organizations was present in charitable, educational, and religious organizations long before the official formation of non-profits in the 1970s. Now, non-profit organizations are the most rapidly growing organizations in the world.

There are many ways to define a non-profit because there are many types. They vary in degree, size, and cause for which they formed. The complexity leads to a variety of meanings of the word non-profit, which can be described by one of the twenty-eight Internal Revenue Codes. For example, Femi Memorial Outreach Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable tax-exempt organization. This Code provides specific guidelines for the non-profit to follow under government terms.

Running a non-profit is very different from running a for-profit business. In most cases, non-profit organizations are formed to provide a beneficial good or service to others without regard to profit.The goal of these organizations is not to make money through the service, but solely to help out a cause. At Femi Outreach, we strive to empower students from at-risk situations through after-school tutoring and mentoring programs. Although money is an important factor in our business; in order to pay wages, transportation costs, and much more, we do not intend to make a profit through our services. This is not to say that for-profit businesses to not strive to do good for others; many of them do, but non-profit organizations simply do not run with the intention of making a profit. The name really does say it all.

I love working for Femi Outreach, a non-profit, because we touch the lives of students everyday. I get to meet members of the community who want to be involved in changing the lives of others. Most of the people who interact with Femi Outreach are also so passionate about the cause. A non-profit business combines the aspects of business and charity in a delicate and very special way.

Presidents' Day History

     As we take this Monday away from school and work this February 18th, it is important to understand the true meaning of Presidents' Day. The holiday was established in 1885 in order to commemorate President George Washington and was originally known as "Washington's Birthday". George Washington was born on February 22nd but as the Holiday evolved, it has been moved from the 22nd to be celebrated on the 3rd Monday of February. This change was made due to the 1971's Uniform Monday Holiday Act which focused on creating more three-day weekends for workers.

President George Washington

    After this shift in the Holiday's date, many parts of the nation began to celebrate Washington's Birthday in relation with Abraham Lincoln's birthday February 12th. In combining the two President's celebrations, many people found it unfair to call the holiday "Washington's Birthday". So, in 1971 Richard Nixon claimed the day to officially occur on the third Monday of February and it would pay respect to all Presidents.
Presidents' Day is a day to celebrate our country and the achievements of all of our past and present chief executives. Many people show their respect in performing reenactments, holding celebrations, and much more. Each state holds celebration for important Presidents in their personal history, and the day is meant to spread information on the history of the Presidency in the United States.

     We hope that you truly enjoy your day off on Monday, but encourage you to take some time to look into our nation's history and take time to celebrate the accomplishments of the President's and the country. Without these leaders, nearly all of the unique aspects of being an American would not be. Thank our nation's leaders and celebrate in what way you see most fit. We will do the same.

A very Happy President's Day to all of our readers.

Femi Memorial Outreach

As we get further into this new year, we at Femi Outreach have so much to be thankful for. As a non-profit, we are blessed to have all of the support from so many people. From our partner schools (Loyola University Chicago, Dominican University, and The University of Chicago), to our host schools throughout Chicago, to our tutors, donors, and staff. There are so many people involved in what we do and we truly could not be where we are today without the support. So here is a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has been a part of Femi Outreach's journey.

Femi Memorial Outreach was founded in 2004 by Bob Pedro, to honor the life of his son, Olufemi (Femi) Robert Martin Pedro. Femi was truly an inspiration. He was an academic scholar, award-winning athlete, respected leader among his family, and all-around, a loving, trusting, and loyal person. This organization is build around the qualities possessed by Femi and his passion to do good for others. Everything that we do is to keep his legacy alive.

Our tutors are students who take time out of their lives to help improve the chances for success for at-risk students. Often, they drive long distances to meet with the children, and do it with an open heart. Bob Pedro, the executive chief officer, dedicates hours of service to the found while running his own business, being an active member of his church, and devoting time to his family and mentees. Our donors have given their support on levels that reach beyond financial help. They are the most kind-hearted and positive people who we are thankful to be supported by. 

Truly, there is no greater feeling than going into a day knowing you have tried to make a difference in the lives of those who need it. At Femi Outreach, this is our goal everyday. I am thankful to work for an organization with such a goal and I am thankful to be surrounded by people who support this goal. So once again, let me say THANK YOU on the behalf of everyone here at Femi Outreach for you involvement with our organization, we appreciate it at the highest level.

Year-Round School

When I look back to my childhood, most of my memories come straight from summertime. I remember going to the lake with my family, barbecues with my friends, playing in every backyard with my neighborhood friends, summer camps, cheerleading camps, and not having a worry in the world. This is why I decided to look further into the idea of younger generations facing year-round school. The idea of taking away a child’s summer struck me as a form of robbery. Seeing as the Chicago Public School system has embraced a multi-track approach to education, there was no better place to start my research with CPS. 

The “Track E” schools run on a year-round calendar and currently make up about one third of CPS. The original goal of creating a multi-track system in Chicago was to increase the attendance, provide a safe environment, and prevent learning loss which would essentially lead to higher test scores. Track E schools have seen an 88.1% increase in attendance in 2011 on top of an 86.8% increase the in 2010 (Source). With such high results in an important aspect of school, like attendance, I started to see the power of year-round education. In looking further into the benefits of this calendar style, I have seen arguments which state that the calendar was also providing teachers with more time to teach and go over their lessons, which lessens the amount of stress for both the teacher and student when trying to properly reach their education goals. Students also are learning in a more relaxed environment, which prompts them to become involved in more extra-curricular activities. I am seeing a large amount of benefits that come along with adapting a year-round calendar, which has strongly swayed my initial opinion on the subject.

Track E School- Photo from myfoxchicago.com

Benefits aside, I am not fully convinced that a year-round school system is a better option as compared to the Track R, or regular, school calendar. It is obvious that the cost of maintenance costs will increase, at an estimate of at least 10%. Along with the maintenance cost increase, it is most likely that adapting to a year-round calendar will increase taxation and tuition to help cover these costs. Also, as I first mentioned, students will miss out on the social benefits of having a summer. These are two extremely important factors when it comes to deciding to take the turn to a year-round calendar.

The conflicting opinions, experiences, and resistance to change have revealed themselves in every article, blog, and school who has taken a look into the idea of converting to a year-round calendar. We would like to see what you, our readers, have to say. What are your opinions? Do you have experience with the Track E calendar? Please, enlighten us with your thoughts as we want to know your voice. 

Let's Prevent Violence

It seems as if the headlines have been filled with school shootings and the need for new gun control laws lately. The nation was filled with sadness on December 14th after hearing the devastating news of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Mass killings hold devastating emotions behind them, but I think these emotions were intensified due to the young age of the 20 students, along with six school officials, shot in Newtown, Connecticut. Our nation even rallied to raise $8.5 million for the Sandy Hook School Support Foundation. Yet, since the shooting, we have seen more gun violence. The Taft Union School in California has been another headline depicting a teen’s desire to murder his fellow classmates. Every time I hear about a shooting, especially among youth, I am saddened.  Yet, the shootings all make me wonder the same thing, is this an issue of gun policies or deeper? Are the shootings a result of much deeper issues in our modern day youth, or is it simply too easy to bring a gun to school?

 These questions led me to investigate the topic more. In my investigation, I have found one thing to stand out more than others. Most of the articles based on school shootings and gun policies are opinion based. Some say these killings wouldn’t occur if guns were not accessible, others say the problem isn’t a matter of violence, but of mental health. All of the articles held points I can support whole heartedly, so it led me to this thought; why does the cause have to be directly blamed on one thing? As Americans, we like to do things quickly and efficiently, and in many cases, that is the best way. In a contrast, dealing with the human mind is not black and white. I do not believe we can solve the violence issues we have seen by simply increasing our restrictions on gun laws, or by implementing more mental health support. The only way to protect our people is to take action on a broad range of potential causes. These actions can be made with government support, an increase in prevention programs, but also by the people. In working for a business which tutors and mentors youth in underprivileged environments, I believe we can have just as much of an impact on a student who may be tempted by violence as any law. By supporting our students, preventing bullying, enhancing student participation, and becoming role models for students, we can help to provide an environment where no one feels a need to use violence.

I am not, by any means, suggesting there be no government control on issues such as gun policies. But why wait for the laws to change when we can start the change today? As citizens of an amazing country which allows us to express ourselves, we are given the power to change social issues if we are willing to work for it. But, much like many of the articles I have read on this topic, these are simply my beliefs. Either way, I am sure we all hope to see less violence in the future.

We want to know what our readers are thinking, so, please, let us know how you feel you can attribute to the issues of school violence!

27th Ward Fundraising Event

On Thursday, November 6^th I had the honor of participating in the 27^th Ward Fundraising Event at the Billy Goat Tavern located here, in Chicago. I met a lot of great leaders and life-changing people from that District and I really learned a lot from them. It was a great opportunity to see how much hard work pays off and to see the great projects that these people come together and work to get it done. Beyond the fact of being able to participate in this event, it was a great pleasure meeting Jesse White. That’s right, I said it! I met the Secretary of State. Who would’ve thought that I would’ve met Jesse White, because I sure didn’t.  For many of you who do not know him, he is not only a serious and caring man, but he is just very. He knows how to light up a room with his jokes.

Besides being Star Struck by meeting Jesse White, I had the opportunity of taking some pictures with him and talking about Femi Memorial Outreach Center. I shared with him the great progress that Femi Memorial Outreach Center has made from the time I started working for this organization four years ago. I shared with him the great opportunities that Femi Memorial Outreach Center offers not only to children within various communities, but to University students, as well. I believe that Femi Memorial Outreach Center works to educate and working with these children over the past three and a half years, allowed me to educate myself as well. I was honored in sharing with Jesse White the hard work that Femi Memorial Outreach Center has done and seeing the hard work pay off every single day through the children we provide help to in various communities of the North, West and South sides of Chicago. Although Jesse White and I spoke briefly about Femi Memorial Outreach Center, seeing the look on his face and how amazed he was in the things this organization has done really reminded me of how proud I am to be a part of positive growth and change. He was so amazed that he wanted to help out in any way he can, he let me know that if the organization needed anything, Femi Memorial Outreach Center should contact him.

Not only did I share information about Femi Memorial Outreach Center to Jesse White, but I had the great opportunity of sharing it with some Attorneys and Leaders of the 27^th Ward. They, too, seem delighted with all the hard work that Femi Memorial Outreach Center has done and accomplished. They were truly amazed to see such an organization stand strong to this very day and expanding throughout the Chicago land area. The excitement of talking about Femi Memorial Outreach Center has spread and Attorneys there were recruiting their friends to hear what I had to say. To hear them say, “Wow”, made me even more proud of being a part of Femi Memorial Outreach Center. With that being said, I did also have a lot of fun and shared a lot of laughs with some of the great leaders of Chicago. I enjoyed eating Billy Goat Tavern’s burgers for the very first time and meeting new people. An opportunity like this one couldn’t be surpassed and I am so glad that I was able to share the many great things Femi Memorial Outreach Center has accomplished throughout my years working for this organization and meeting new people, including The Jesse White. I am proud to be a part of Femi Memorial Outreach Center and I will always speak of it proudly.

Here are some pictures from the night, I know they are blurry, but we want to share the experience with our awesome readers. Next time, we will bring a better camera!

Why You Should Get Involved!

Schools provide many benefits for their students. The academic curriculum is only the beginning in the importance of attending school. Some of the best advice I have ever received about school is to get involved. Getting involved in extracurricular activities truly strengthens a student’s ability to grow on a mental, academic, and personal scale. Extracurricular activities give you a chance to explore a creative, physical, social, or career related side to yourself. You are given a chance to shine outside of the classroom. The variety of extracurricular activities ranges from varsity to club sports, competitive to just-for-fun clubs, internships, and much more. I personally believe that becoming involved in activities outside of the classroom has given me a chance to put my academic work to use. I joined clubs in my career field, which gave me a chance to see my lessons play out in the real world. I was able to join cheerleading at a young age, which formed my social skills far beyond what my shy personally would have been capable to achieve solely in the classroom. Aside from my personal experiences in joining extracurricular activities, it has been proven that the additional involvement is necessary for students. Healthykids.org has an informative article stating many benefits including the social expansion, physical gains, and decrease in potential for forming bad habits.

So, now that you know the benefits you might be wondering how you can get involved, or get your child involved, in an extracurricular activity? We believe you should find a school-based activity that fits the passions and needs of yourself or your student. There are numerous amounts of national clubs branched at school’s around the nation along with programs unique to each school. Contact your school and sign up for Newsletters to keep updated on any new opportunities. Most importantly, if you are not finding the extra commitment to be helpful, do not be afraid to keep trying. It is common for students to try many different clubs before sticking to one; it is part of the growing experience involved in after-school activities.

Femi Memorial Outreach is an academic based after-school program. We provide our students with a chance to get extra help on their homework in a positive environment. Our tutors are educated and experienced students from Loyola University Chicago, Dominican University, and the University of Chicago. Our twelve locations are spread throughout the North, West, and South sides of Chicago in order to accommodate as many students as possible. We hope to empower students to see their own potential inside and outside of the classroom. Our students come from at-risk and immigrant backgrounds. This provides students for a chance to get the help they need and make friends who may have similar situations as they do. Although we are academically based, our program strives to turn the lives of our students around.

Femi Outreach is just one example of the many great extracurricular activities available to students around Chicago. We wish that each student will take action and get involved in something positive and fun! 

Chicago Wonderland

 Last weekend, a few friends and I decided to hit the city and enjoy as many holiday festivities as we could in one. I had such a great time; I thought I would share it with our fellow readers so you could go out and enjoy your holiday break on the town.

Our adventure started at Millennium Park. We got hot chocolate and admired the lit up skyline reflection on The Bean. Now, I have seen The Bean many times before, but never in the evening. The darkness brought a whole new dimension to the skyline, which practically took my breath away.

 After taking many pictures with my friends, we decided to see what the ice skating was all about. The line wrapped around the outdoor rink but we stepped in line anyways. It was great to watch and interact with so many strangers. Behind us in line was a friendly middle-aged couple who gave us great advice on how to appreciate your blessings while you are away from home. In the rink, we saw a young lady fall and a complete stranger helped her back to her feet. It is experiences like this that make you realize how great people can be, and how the Holidays can really bring out the best in us. Unfortunately, after a half hour of waiting, we were told we would not be able to skate before the rink closed. Which leads me to my first piece of advice: If you are going to ice skate at Millennium Park, get in line before 8 p.m.. We did not let this be a setback for our festive evening, so we decided to go to Navy Pier. After much debate, we chose to walk there because of the great weather. So, the two mile walk began. Now this is where my second piece of advice comes in. The best way to make a two mile walk go by fast is to carol with your friends the whole time. We were able to get others to join along in our festive singing and even gained a small crew as we caroled down Michigan Avenue. I never knew that six silly people could bring together a large community in such a positive way. I am not sure if we can thank the Holiday atmosphere or the great people who we happened to be walking by that night. On our walk, we saw the grand Christmas tree standing in place of the famous Marilyn Monroe statue. The number of white lights on the tree gave a bright and joyful view and stood for a great place to take a break from walking. Of course, this is not the only Christmas Tree Chicago has put up. Another well-known Christmas tree viewing location is at the Daley Plaza. The remarkable tree is filled with colors and Holiday activities all day. Each tree really gets you in the Holiday spirit, and makes you wish you could fit a giant tree in your own living room. After admiring the tree, we booked it to our final destination, Navy Pier. Upon entering, the Pier is lit up vibrantly with snowflakes surrounding the entrance, but this is only the beginning.

You enter the boardwalk and can see the whole city lit up, with many buildings having messages in their windows! Once you reach the convention center, Navy Pier is transformed into a Winter WonderFest. The giant room is filled with blue carpets, lights, a giant (along with many smaller) Christmas tree, rides, attractions, great food, ice skating, and numerous chances for a good photo-shoot. We stayed at the Winter WonderFest until it closed so we could admire all of the festive decorations and activities. The families, teens, and adults enjoying the Winter WonderFest all had smiles on because of the wonderful atmosphere provided. Your children will be lit up with joy with the lights, decorations, and festive food and activities.

We had such a great time on our Holiday adventure. I would say that if you get a chance to go celebrate the season, I would recommend any and all of the events above. Some of the upcoming Holiday Events can be found HERE. Most of these events are family friendly, and the little kid inside of me was rekindled during my adventure. Also, it is a great break from school and work, so I encourage you to fill your yuletide season with as much joy as possible, because there truly is no time of the year quite like it.