The Moth: Preserving the Storytelling Tradition

Stories attract people like moths to a flame.  Poet and novelist, George Dawes Green considered this in naming his foundation, The Moth.

George wanted to recreate, in New York, the feeling of sultry summer evenings in his native Georgia, where he and his friends would gather on his friend Wanda’s porch to share spellbinding tales. There was a hole in the screen which let in moths that were attracted to the light, and the group started calling themselves The Moths. The first New York Moth event was held in George’s living room, but word spread fast, and the events soon moved to cafes and clubs throughout the city. 

The not-for-profit organization is dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. Experts and novices alike are allowed to share their stories as performance pieces. The former police officer in the video above tells of a humiliating experience as a rookie when he locked himself in the back of his own squad car.

Since 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide.

Phoenix Multisport: choosing health and sobriety

Scott Strode offers choice to people recovering from alcohol and drug addiction.  Strode battled addiction himself and knows one of the struggles is tearing away from social circles that help perpetuate continued substance abuse.  He founded Phoenix Multisport as a place for those facing these sorts of challenges.  The name is Phoenix alludes to the the mythical creature rising new and alive from its own ashes.  Stode's sports club welcomes anyone with 48 hours of sobriety free of charge.  Participants have instant camaraderie and a range of activities that promotes healthy living and fun.

"Life should be better once you get sober," said Strode, 38. "(We want to) help people build a new life, a new self-image and have fun without getting high." (CNN)

More than 4,700 people have participated in Phoenix which Strode started in 2007.  He is now featured as one of CNN's Heroes for 2012.

The Soup Movement

GPSoup is a gathering of like-minded citizens whose goal is to fund local initiatives by providing them with seed money that launches an idea or project.  It started with twitter and emails then became a monthly gathering.

Now GPSoup meets the last Sunday of every month. Everyone is asked to bring a $10 donation and a can of soup to be donated as well.

The $10 donation gets participants three things. A bowl. A spoon. A vote.

After a meal of soup and bread we will, as a group, listen to proposals from members of our community. Each proposal has five minutes to explain to those gathered why their idea would benefit the citizens of their community.  At the end of the presentations, you will be asked to submit your vote as to which idea has the most merit. We are not looking for the biggest, or the best idea. We as a group will have roughly $500-$1000 to grant someone, that's not a lot of money, unless there's some real ingenuity involved.

The idea should be new and something that hasn't been done before. It should be a new solution to an old problem.  Groups brainstorming for solving social issues are popping up throughout the U.S. and Canada.  NPR has more.

Heart Healthy Tips for Heart Health Awareness Month

The Eric De La Cruz Hope for Hearts Foundation raises Heart Health Awareness this month through social media.  Small changes in lifestyle and behavior can lead to better heart health.  Tips include:

• Cooking more at home
• Getting a check-up and having your cholesterol checked every 5 years
• Adding green tea to your daily diet
• Getting proper sleep
• Laughing more
• Choose whole grain breads
• Taking a tech break
• Raising heart health awareness by sharing tips via social media.

Hope for Hearts founder Veronica De La Cruz explains in this public service announcement how you can be heart smart while shopping:

The Hope for Hearts Foundation's was created in memory of Eric De La Cruz (Veronica's brother) who died while waiting for a heart transplant.  The organization helps people navigate the medical and financial hurdles heart transplant candidates face.  Presently Hope for Hearts is working with a new patient, Colby Salerno, who is waiting for a heart. He is celebrating his 24th birthday this month.

"We are trying to organize a donor drive online for him, since there are a shortage of organs and he has been waiting for a heart now for more than a year. His arteries are hardening and his heart is turning into scar tissue. The only thing that can save him is a heart transplant."  --Veronica De La Cruz, founder

If you're interested in helping Colby you can donate here.

Georgia's Friends of Refugees

The Perennial Plate Episode 90: Refugee Garden from Daniel Klein on Vimeo.

Friends of Refugees nurtures the Atlanta Metro area's refugees through relationships and opportunities that "provide for their well-being, education and employment as they become contributing members of society."

Thousands of refugees come to the U.S. each year seeking a better life. In the community of Clarkston, GA, near Atlanta, approximately 60,000 refugees have settled since the 1990s.  More 150 different ethnic groups are represented and Clarkston has been named “the most diverse square mile in America” by the New York Times.

Community Gardens are one way Georgia's newest residents can develop friendships while providing fresh, wholesome food for their families. Iraqis, Nepalese, Bhutanese, Burmese and others make the opportunity to raise produce.  Friends of Refugees also offers employment help, English classes, and after-school tutoring.  Literacy classes and summer camps are also provided by this 501 (c)(3) nonprofit.

Operation: Glass Slipper

The Ordway’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's “Cinderella” partners with a nonprofit to bring fairy tale moments for girls in low-income families. Operation Glass Slipper is the fairy godmother to these girls who dream of attending their high school proms.  The project provides dresses, new shoes, and accessories hoping to make a memorable prom experience in the spring.

“Its such a lovely mission that Operation Glass Slipper has,” said Ordway president Patricia Mitchell. “The Ordway was really happy to be a part of helping them achieve it.”

In January, Operation Glass Slipper received 200 dresses, 40 pairs of shoes and 50 pieces of jewelry.  Besides individual donations, the nonprofit also received help from local bridal and prom shops, as well as corporations.

In 2011, Operation Glass Slipper helped 1,100 girls prepare for prom.

Archi's Acres: From Combat Fields to Farms

Archi's Acres understands the problems facing veterans leaving combat service.  One of the farm's founders served as a Marine.  Colin Archipley and his wife Karen started farming with avocado trees.  When their methods proved unprofitable, they went for more sustainable methods by switching to raising basil and using hydroponic methods.  Their choice brought them success; so, they wanted to share their knowledge with returning veterans:

The USDA has a push right now to create a 100,000 farmers per year over the next five years.  They're not going to meet those goals, but we think we have a population that can certainly help who have the motivation and the willingness to do this; as well as the leadership skills and the management ability to operate a business.  --Colin Archipley

About half of veterans come from rural areas.  The Archipleys see farming as a natural transition back home for a veteran and the active military spend a lot of time outdoors.  Archi's Acres offers Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training (VSAT) through a local community college.

With the help of VSAT, retired Marine Mike Hanes invented a wholesome and nutritional hot sauce called Dang!.