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South Africa Update

Sorry, no picture but there are some bandwidth limits that won’t allow my to upload photos where I’m at, but I will if I have a chance.  Anyway, things have been interesting so far.  There have been riots in the township of Masiphumelele which have kept us from being able to go in yet.  The issue is housing, and many of the residents may potentially be forced out by the government so there is a lot of tension in the area right now.

Things have cooled down a bit and are supposed to stay that way at least until Thursday, when the government is supposed to make an announcement regarding the issue,  so we will be going in today to help at a “creche” (which we call a daycare).  The crush is run by a township woman who has offered to watch the children of other residents  for free while they work, so we’re going to help her today.  There are so many people here, both local and foreign who are helping to make life better for others, I can’t wait to tell you more stories soon.

-JH

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Cape Town, Here We Come!

Ok, so even though we won’t get there until tomorrow night, we are off to Cape Town, South Africa today; and we are so excited for this opportunity to spend the next couple weeks there helping our friends and hopefully making some new ones too! 

We should have internet from time to time, so we will be posting updates on here as much as possible, so be sure to check in and see how things are going, and in the meantime keep making good news in your own circles of influence.

-JH

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Some Inspiration…

Sorry the posts have been a little sparse the last couple days, we are making final preparations for our trip to Cape Town, South Africa (we leave tomorrow morning!)

So, while we finish packing, we thought we’d share this video that was one of our inspirations for going on this trip (and starting Majority Mag, for that matter…) Its a little long, but its worth it…hopefully it sparks something in you too.

-JH

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Superheroes Anonymous

Superheroes Anonymous trailer from beginnorth on Vimeo.

We all know Superman and Batman, but what about Geist or Amazonia?  The latter, are just a couple members of Superheroes Anonymous, a network of hundreds of real life heroes making a difference in their communities and beyond.  Whether its fighting crime, volunteering with kids, or helping the homeless Superheroes Anonymous aims to show that everybody can do something super.

To find out more about upcoming SA events or how you can be a Superhero, click here.

-JH 

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U.S. Senate Apologizes For Slavery

In conjunction with today’s Juneteenth holiday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution, yesterday, apologizing for slavery and the subsequent Jim Crow laws that continually furthered racial discrimination.  Several individual states have passed similar legislation, but this is the first official apology from the federal government.

While some criticize these types of resolutions because they don’t provide any tangible change, apologies are still very important as they often serve as a great starting point for improvement in the future.

-JH

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Help Josh Build A Well

One of our favorite bloggers, Josh Spear, celebrated his 25th birthday last month and instead of asking for gifts, he asked his readers to help him build a well.  We thought this was a noble cause, and although we are a little late to the punch, it seems he hasn’t quite reached the $5,000 goal yet.  So, if you like the idea and want to contribute just click here. Every little bit helps.

-JH

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Teen Saves Woman’s Life On BART

Sixteen year-old Sara Broski was honored this work for her heroic efforts that helped save the life of 52-year-old woman suffering cardiac arrest.  Broski, who had just recently gone through CPR training for a summer lifeguarding job, sprang into action when the BART operator announced that a passenger was having health issues and needed help.

Broski performed CPR until the paramedics arrived, a step they said was essential in keeping the victim alive.  Broski plays down the hero title, and says that being able to perform CPR is something everyone should learn how to do. (watch video)

-JH

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The Philanthropist

After a life changing experience in Nigeria, billionaire playboy Teddy Rist decides to dedicate his life, and fortune, to helping others.  That’s the concept behind NBC’s new series “The Philanthropist” which debuts next Wednesday.  We haven’t seen any episodes yet, but it sounds like a cool concept at least.  Check out the trailer and let us know what you think.

-JH

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The Baby Safe

One of the organizations we are excited to have the chance to serve during our upcoming trip to South Africa is The Baby Safe.  With numerous resources such as counseling for pregnant teens, training for new mothers, career development programs, and even foster care services, The Baby Safe is offering a multi-dimensional solution to the issue of child abandonment.

We are definitely excited to be a part of what they are doing, and you can be a part of it too; click here to find out how.

-JH

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NYC Green Carts

In some of New York’s lower-income neighborhoods, you have to take a subway, or maybe even two, if you want to find a store that carries fresh fruits and vegetables.  That lack of access can make eating healthy a lot more difficult, and costly.  The solution: NYC Green Carts.

Green Carts are mobile fruit and vegetable stands that have been given special permission by city ordinance to set up shop in specific neighborhoods identified as having limited access to healthy produce.  In addition to providing healthier eating options, the stands are providing business opportunities for enterprising residents of these same neighborhoods. (Check out more in this NY Times article)

-JH

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