AUSTIN ARI

PTerry's Does the Soul AND Body Good

2009-09-02T09:54:00.000-07:00

So just when things were looking grim, and nothing was going right, the universe smiled on us and granted us a good day. S and I headed down to the springs to contemplate life and figure out where it was taking us. It was one of those perfect days when you can smell the grass, the sun kisses you, doesn't burn you, and the water is just right. When hunger struck we mosied on down to PTerry's, of course.

A tall and handsome boy named Matt was our cashier. He asked S how she was doing. Since they were already well acquainted, she decided to opt out of replying with the typical "well, how are you?" and laid it on him. She told him all about her life's troubles: losing a job, losing a boy, losing a friend.

He said, "You know, all I hear are opportunities. You have an opportunity to get a new and better job, a new and better boy, and a new and better friend." Then he handed us free shakes to go along with our AMAZING burgers. What a terrific lunch. PTerry's not only made my tummy feel better but they put my mind at ease too. Are you hungry and in need of life advice? Go to PTerry's on BSprings. Matt'll take good care of ya.

Thanks Matt! Keep rockin that burger stand.

Do The Right Thing

2009-08-30T17:59:00.000-07:00

My roommate and I have been experiencing very similar happenings. I was in a car wreck last week, this morning hers broke down. Our cell phones malfunctioned today. Work's been rough. Last but not least, we were dumped for other girls this month. The first three I can understand, but the last makes me feel like we've done something wrong and karma, or God, or little goblins are out to get us.

It was the manner in which we were dumped that frustrates me most. I guess the boys had good intentions--they are definitely not bad guys. I suppose they were simply trying to "do the right thing". In short, both men had former flings visiting Austin for this month so they asked if things could be placed on "pause" until the flings left town again. WHOA.

Since when did women become winter coats?! You can't just hang us up in the closet for the summer and take us back out again just as soon as that gust of cold air reminds you how lonely you are. I've had a lot of awful things happen to me, relationship-wise, but this was a first for me. And people wonder why I have a cold attitude towards love. Just when I start to actually like a kid, he's gotta go and do something silly like ask me if he could put me away for a month.

Apparently, he did the right thing. He was honest with me... brutally honest. Who said honesty was the best policy? The truth hurts yo! I suppose I can't be upset, but being upset and being hurt are two different things.

So the moral of the story is: DO THE RIGHT THING, and try your best not to hurt people's feelings.

And if you're suffering of a broken heart, head down to the Springs. It always helps in matters of the heart.

Gina LaMotte: Transforming Austin's Educational Spaces

2009-07-06T02:40:00.000-07:00

Sophia & Gina at the Bead It Benefit

Through her educational work in several developing nations and a wealth of experiences, Gina LaMotte came to realize the opportunity to drastically improve the Austin Educational system. After working on a graduate project at UT, the idea of Uplift Austin was birthed. Gina’s story is an inspiration to anyone that feels as though they have something to contribute to the world. She creatively crafted an organization in which her unique skills and knowledge could be applied to make a huge difference in a meaningful way.

ARI: What, specifically inspired you to found Uplift? (Is there a lovely tale of an epiphany you had?)

GINA: *** THERE WAS NOT ONE SPECIFIC THING OR MOMENT THAT INSPIRED ME – IT WAS MORE A CULMINATION OF EXPERIENCES…. REFLECTION AND BUILD-UP FROM YEARS OF GATHERING INFORMATION AND IDEAS…. ALTHOUGH SOME SPECIFIC THINGS THAT INSPIRED ME: nonprofit called PubliColor, Extreme Makeover Home Edition (I thought, “why don’t they do this to school buildings?”), the movies 11th Hour & Inconvenient Truth, green leader Van Jones and his organization Green for All

In 2003, I moved to Austin, Texas and began working with the public school district as the director of an after-school program. This position was incredibly valuable for it familiarized me with the landscape of educational programs in Austin and offered collaborations with dozens of nonprofits working with youth in creative ways. After two years, I entered graduate school at the University of Texas. While studying sustainable development and nonprofit management, the first visions of UpLift Austin surfaced in my imagination.
Much of my inspiration occured after I purchased a house and intently studying interior design and environmental psychology, I became fascinated with the relationship between space, health and wellness. Having spent the last eight years working in impoverished communities throughout developing countries and the United States, I had come to consciously recognize the effect dismal spaces had on people’s health and self- esteem. This seemed particularly true in urban, public schools where white cinderblock walls, florescent lights and yellowed grass landscapes contributed to a sense of imprisonment and poverty.
Inspired by the work of PubliColor in New York City, I began developing my own venture which places students as leaders of change in their schools. Whereas PubliColor teaches students professional painting skills and then proceeds to paint the entire school fresh, spring-like colors, UpLift Austin focuses on sustainable design which goes way beyond painting, and includes landscaping, interior design and green retrofitting trades. As my own awareness grew about the urgent need for environmental education and the development of green jobs, I decided that the beautification of the school could not be separate from the discussion of a healthy people and planet. In this way, UpLift Austin combines the issues most important to my heart: empowering education, respect for the earth and the advancement of public arts and beauty.
My final semester of graduate school, I developed a business plan for UpLift Austin to submit to the Social Innovation Competition, a national contest hosted by my university. The competition awarded $50,000 to a social entrepreneur with an idea which was considered viable and innovative by a panel of local experts. Though UA was not awarded the grand prize, it advanced quite far in the competition and garnered the support and interest of many local leaders. As I consulted hundreds of people about the development of UpLift Austin, it became clear that this nonprofit would become a reality sooner than I imagined. With overwhelming support and interest from designers, artists, schools, nonprofit leaders and government officials, I decided to honor the momentum UpLift Austin had created and begin putting the idea into action.

ARI: Why focus on space?

GINA: Environmental psychologists and public health experts have proven what many people intuitively know: the spaces in which we surround ourselves - both public and private – deeply influence our mental, emotional and physical well-being. Unfortunately, application of this knowledge has yet to reach most underprivileged populations who live, work and play in buildings that are often neglected as well as toxic. Public clinics and hospitals often feel bleak and institutional. Children attending impoverished public schools refer to their campuses as “prisons” with their derelict buildings, florescent lights and white cinderblock walls. At all of these sites, both staff and residents experience a profoundly dehumanizing message: they are trapped in a cycle of poverty and they are not worthy of beauty, art and nature. Compound this unspoken message with its physical ramifications and the results are low self-esteem, high attrition rates, violent behavior, poor health and performance.
In the last ten years, many studies have shown that natural light, plants and specific color schemes enhance student performance in schools and healing rates of patients in hospitals. Renovation projects in low-income communities reduce crime rates and cultivate respect and self-esteem among its residents. If done properly, a school renovation project will elevate health, self-esteem, academic growth and a sense of community. UpLift Austin helps school districts leverage their facility investments to engage students, prepare them for promising careers, and create a healthy, attractive neighborhood center for environmental education and sustainable living.
**** IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT UPLIFT HAS 3 OBJECTIVES – ONLY ONE OF WHICH DEALS WITH SPACE…. THE OTHER TWO ARE: • Environmental Stewardship: Students learn about climate change, sustainable living, conscious consumerism and waste disposal by measuring the eco-footprint of their school and family. • Career Readiness: Students learn about the educational requirements and fundamentals of sustainable architecture, interior and landscape design, as well as specific green fields such as solar, recycling and rainwater collection.

ARI: Why is it important to incorporate environmental education in our school systems?

GINA:
Consider:
• 1300 scientists from 95 countries found that 15 of the 25 ecosystems vital for life on earth are now degraded or overdrawn. By 2050, scientists predict that climate change will displace 150 million refugees.

Far from advancing a vision for a sustainable future, our nation's public school system compounds our environmental, economic, and social problems. Most school buildings waste scarce resources while failing to provide healthy, productive learning environments. Students practice rote memorization instead of developing the critical thinking skills needed for a sustainable economy. Worse yet, the school system deepens our nation's economic divide, often leaving low-income students in failing schools, isolated from the resources and social networks that would open opportunities for them in a new green economy.

By introducing low-income students to concepts of sustainable design and connecting them with "green" professionals to renovate their own schools, UpLift Austin will empower young people to jumpstart the new green economy.

ARI: How can Austin community members get involved?
GINA:
Visit our website www.upliftaustin.org . Under the Participate page, there is a form where you can contact us with a personal note about your specific interests and skills. UA offers volunteer opportunities in a variety of capacities and can work with each individual to see where they may best serve. Currently, we are looking for assistance with event planning, marketing and media.

Come Out, Come Out

2009-06-02T00:18:00.001-07:00

Last night Soph and saw “Outrage”, a film by Kirby Dick. It’s definitely something for everyone, of all political views, to go out and see. Dick argues that for too long closet case politicians have been legislating and bullying against fellow gays to draw attention away from themselves.

Gay Rep. Barney Frank ( D-Mass.) urges, “There is a right to privacy but not a right to hypocrisy”. He persuasively demonstrates that an outed politician will better defend the rights of citizens they are to represent if they are outed.

I just don’t see what the big deal is. Why are we not passed this? How can American people still be oppressed, and by their own kind nonetheless? Harvey Milk said it best when he urged all to come out to their friends and family, so they would know that the homosexual population is a huge percentage of the people in this country.

Soph and I are contemplating staging a “coming out” for our loved ones that just don’t seem to get it.

Did you know that Governor Crist of Florida is a closet gay that harshly rules against gay rights AND he’s thought to be one of the R party’s top runners for Presidential Candidate in 2012. He’s been staging heterosexual relationships with women and in 2008 when he thought he had a shot at being McCain’s running mate, he decided to get married. Poor wife of his.

Before his death, Milk said, “If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.” Hope Crist gets his closet door opened.

Go see the film! Here in Austin it’s playing at the Regal Arbor Cinemas.

A Testimony to Eating Real Food

2009-06-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

A couple months back I strolled into the American Apparel Flea Market during SXSW week. Great stuff. I found a pair of jeans for $8! I was so excited about my find that i didn’t even bother to see what size they were or try them on. Turns out they are a 25 waist and I am a 27. These babies wouldn’t even come close to buttoning up.
I got into work out mode. I was jogging around the lake every single day and eating anything that said “low fat”, counting calories, and against my will (Sophia! haha) measuring everything that I was cooking. Two weeks later.... no change. The pants did not fit.
2 1/2 weeks ago I read “In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan. I know too much now and I completely changed the way I eat. I can proudly say that I’ve only been eating real food. Well, I’ve tried really hard. The second day into it I realized that the FDA will lets bread companies put a “whole wheat, whole grain” label on their packaging so long as at least 50% of it is whole wheat, whole grain. Ugghh!
But no worries, luckily I live in the best city in the world, and it’s easier than you think to eat real food here in the ATX.
I’m no dietician and of course I realize that everyone has a different body, different metabolism and what works for one person doesn’t always work for another. That said, I got my pants to zip up all the way! I haven’t been exercising, and I’ve been eating WHATEVER I wanted, just as long as it was actual food. Goes to show if you give your body good, real food, it knows how to process it and burn the fat, because it’s natural fat, not crummy, pseudo, man-made fat.

Check out the book at Book People. It had so much info that I can’t cover in 500 words. Basic rule: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly Plants.” Simple.

Visit Somnio’s here in Austin off of S. 1st. They’ll give real, delicious food relatively fast for slow food.

Poison Ivy

2009-06-01T13:53:00.000-07:00

Nature is a powerful force indeed. The first time that I really believed that Mother Nature was a force that demanded respect was when I was attacked by monkeys. My interns and I didn’t ask Her for permission to enter a rain forest reserve and as a result we were attacked by its guardians. But I saw nature’s wrath take another victim. The other day my mother instructed my father to cut down 30+ trees in my backyard. He had already cut down a good 5, but that wasn’t enough to suffice her thirst for green blood.

My Mother is not what you would call an outdoors kind of person. She likes to get her nails done, likes to shop, doesn’t like to sweat, and her ideal vacation would be spent in a Hawaiian hotel... at the bar (since she hates the beach because sand is dirty). Well while she was in the backyard instructing my father, she bent over to pluck a plant from the ground. She realized a couple minutes later that the poor innocent plant was actually a vicious poison ivy. Bwhahahaha. Don’t mess with nature or she’ll give you a rash!

I’ve been thinking of ways that I can do my part now that I’m no longer working with Finca Project. (Which btw is a wonderful organization that you should support if you have some extra cash aching to fund a good cause.) Besides trying your basic stuff like domestic energy conservation, recycling bla bla bla, I’m thinking of putting together a group of masked crusaders that will dedicate one month a year to touring rain forests across the globe planting trees!! Next stop is Thailand! Who’s with me?! Oh and we don’t really have to wear a mask, but I’m thinking they should be green if we do ;)

Photograph: Michael Selman in the rain forest with Finca Project 2008