local

PM Logo

Happy New Year! #ProverbialMonday:

Every week we'll start off with our "highs and lows" and get into some important societal survival skills and general goings on of the TwinCities and neighboring communities with news about the rest of the world here and there. Participation is simple. Just give us your highs and lows either in the comments of the article or on twitter by trending #ProverbialMonday or tweeting to me @ProverbTribune.

High: Tristen Royce Howard Comer (My Son). Yea, still..

Low: So much to do, so little time. Yes, still..lol

***Waiting***

I noticed today that we spend a lot of time waiting. a huge mistake too many of us make is waiting until a moment arrives that makes us feel as though we are ready for taking the next step in life. A next step toward marriage or toward parenthood, or toward success. I've determined, based on what I've seen so far that waiting until you feel ready means waiting for a lifetime. Looking back on the most satisfying moments of my life I find that in most cases it was due to the fact that I stepped into opportunties that presented themselves, ready or not. I would not suggest that waiting is useless. There are times that waiting is important, and I still believe patience is a virtue. I suggest that if you are only waiting for your mind to change on how you feel about an opportuntiy then you are wasting your time and the time of all those waiting in line behind you. Move.

PM Logo

Happy New Year! #ProverbialMonday:

Every week we'll start off with our "highs and lows" and get into some important societal survival skills and general goings on of the TwinCities and neighboring communities with news about the rest of the world here and there. Participation is simple. Just give us your highs and lows either in the comments of the article or on twitter by trending #ProverbialMonday or tweeting to me @ProverbTribune.

High: Tristen Royce Howard Comer (My Son)

Low: So much to do, so little time.

***Ambition***

A major barrier that often hinders us from acknowledging or even recognizing our success is an inability to articulate what we want on a core level. While we have some shallow vision of what seems like a nice lifestyle we forget to ask ourselves why and deeply, honestly audit the foundation of that vision. Once you have some idea what you want to achieve ask yourself why at least 3 times before taking pursuit to ensure that you are working toward acquiring whats at the root of your goal rather than acquiring the surface level things you presume you should have as someone who is successful. To get a clear vision of what success looks like for you then investigate why it looks that way will bring you to greater understanding of what you really want and will help guide your ambition. Ambition without guidance is a thirsty fish.

Apply Now!

If you would like to download a printable version of the application it is available here: http://bit.ly/BHMSFApplication

::Congratulations to our 2012 Winners::
Aris Prince: 1st Place
Ellis Sherman: 2nd Place

Previous sponsors include:
Comcast/Xfinity
KMOJ
Twin Cities Rise!
Univ. of MN - African American and African Studies Department
Pillsbury United Communities

Additional supporters include:
Twin Cities Regional Science and Engineering Fair
National Society of Black Engineers
Crown Trophy
Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Liberation Clothing & Gifts, LLC
Minneapolis College Prep Academy
Project Footsteps

BHMSF Logo

We are currently accepting donations of any amount. Our Donor Reward Opportunities start with the "Sponsor a Scientist" level. $400 gives students a chance to earn a small book scholarship while demonstrating an investment in the success of the youth in our community. Other sponsorship opportunities include “Carver” or “Quantum” level donation; We ask that your organization assist us in reaching our goals by investing in students who might have the opportunity to change negative paradigms and successfully matriculate to colleges and careers of their choice. Your donation is tax deductible.

Please mail your contribution to:

BHMSF | Urban Institute

1119 W. Broadway

Minneapolis, MN 55411

Please make your check or money order payable to: Urban Instituted of Service and Learning. Each sponsor will be recognized on the event program and if a sponsored project wins a scholarship that sponsor will be recognized with a plaque. Additional details are provided in the Sponsorship Opportunities section of the Sponsorship Overview Available at: http://bit.ly/BHMSFOverview

PM Logo

I am truly excited for what's to come.. #ProverbialMonday:

Every week we'll start off with our "highs and lows" and get into some important societal survival skills and general goings on of the TwinCities and neighboring communities with news about the rest of the world here and there. Participation is simple. Just give us your highs and lows either in the comments of the article or on twitter by trending #ProverbialMonday or tweeting to me @ProverbTribune.

High: My Baby's due date is fast approaching 12/2/12

Low: Struggling with work/life balance.

***The Acquisition of Happiness***

The United States Declaration of Independence reads: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

While for some these unalienable rights are sufficient for others its not enough. Specifically, its not enough to have the right to the pursuit of happiness. Those like me aren’t interested in the pursuit of happiness. It is the unalienable right to the acquisition of happiness that is the truth that we hold to be self-evident. If the acquisition of happiness is not a right then what is the purpose of will?

More than the capacity to attempt, our will provides us the capacity to achieve. The difficulty in this is only identifying what brings us joy. Discovering the ingredients to happiness is what eludes us.  And, the reason it eludes us can be explained metaphorically as an inability to “see the forest for the trees”.

There are moments in life when we all experience happiness. And in those moments of experiencing joy we forget to capture it. I challenge you to remember what made you happy and allow it to make you happy again. Then find something that makes you happy enough to sustain that joy throughout your life, while knowing that you still have an unalienable right to the pursuit of even greater happiness.

On March 29^th the University of Minnesota’s Northrop Plaza will be scoured with individuals wearing hooded shirts to symbolize the wide spread outrage stemming from heinous  malfeasance on behalf of the Sanford, Florida law enforcement and the stultifying half-truths told regarding the homicide of Trayvon Martin. People around the world have rallied and petitioned to have George Zimmerman, the man who admitted to killing Trayvon, arrested. At this time Zimmerman remains free whereabouts unknown while a grand jury has been called to meet sometime during the second week of April although this death occurred on the 26^th of February.

Just last week I sat comfortable on my living room floor and listened as a recorded 911 call came through the speakers of my laptop. In the background just beyond the voices of the two women discussing what was occurring I heard a boy scream help and I grew uneasy as the inevitable approached. Screams for help persisted coming through the speakers as the woman in her Florida home explained to the 911 operator that she was inside hiding and suddenly a gunshot ended the painful cries with an immediate and deafening silence. Bringing assertion to the reality of what had transpired the operator asked a question:

… “I don’t hear him yelling anymore do you hear anything?”

I knew that eventually I would have to author this posting. I recognized that I would have to face the disgust, frustration, and fear that I feel knowing that my wife and I are planning a move to Florida in coming months and put purposeful words on an empty page. The purpose of the posting is not to bring additional awareness to the issue. The purpose of this post is selfish, I want each reader to know that I heard Trayvon’s cries, and that is worth knowing because we can recognize that when a life is lost unjustly, no matter where, the echo can finds its way around the world. Knowing this, I hope we can hold accountable those responsible for lives lost unjustly throughout this nation and the world as well as here in the Twin Cities.

-Proverb

Event Poster