Getting it Right

These past two weeks have been pretty great. I've received some comments lately that have reinforced where I'm going with my life, and make me feel like I'm doing something right. Maybe not everything, but something.

Abby contacted me about looking for volunteer work for her daughter. I know, this isn't huge, and I'm sure she could have just looked something up online, but...she asked me. I was her go-to person, and I thought that was pretty fabulous.

A couple days after that, I got a message from someone I went to undergrad with. He's now doing some pretty great things, including working towards a Ph.D. He's part of an organization at his school that does some community service projects, and he messaged me asking about some of the organizations I have worked with. We still have to chat a little about what he needs/is looking for, but again...he thought about and contact me when needed to talk to someone about this.

Then, my friend Annie posted this on my wall (not the actual wall of my room...but you know...the cyber kind of wall):

"I was just thinking...Steve Jobs started Apple out in his garage and now, its this incredible company changing the lives of so many people in the world (not to mention, he was the CEO of Pixar, movies I love). If he can do it, I know you can too. Go make your dreams a reality, Alex! I am here every step of the way to support you! Love you!"

Seriously? Amazing.

Finally, yesterday after tutoring I stopped by my mom's house for a little visit. Her work has these jobs once a year where nonprofits and charitable organizations come out, and try to get you to donate a couple bucks from each of your paychecks to them. My mom picked up a book for me, as well as some other material from a nonprofit called "Zambia's Scholarship Fund." Inside the book was the business card for the President of the organization, and a handwritten dedication:

"Alexandra, thanks for your good works."

All of this has been almost surreal, to be quite honest. I feel really happy that when people want to participate in volunteer work or charity work, I'm the person that pops into their head. I guess part of it is because sometimes I feel guilty or silly about all the stuff I post on here and facebook about this kind of stuff...I feel like it may not really matter, or that no one really cares. Getting these messages from people, however, makes me feel like I'm doing the right thing.

I feel like I should add a disclaimer here. I'm not sharing these vignettes because I think they're right, or because I think I deserve it, but because it is really encouraging, and gives me hope that I'm on the right path. Sometimes I feel like I've let people down by not pursuing a traditional legal career, or any traditional career. Hearing these comments and getting these emails/messages from people helped me realize that I'll be okay no matter what. Regardless of what nonconventional path I follow, I have people who are interested in what I do, people who will support me and my endeavors, and people who appreciate the kind of work I hope to keep doing.

Thank you :)

Charity of the Month: No One Without

You know how there are certain people that come into your life, and you just know they were put in your life for a reason? That's the behind the scene story for this month's Charity: No One Without ("N.O.W.").

Gaston, founder of N.O.W., used to be a full time real estate investor, and indeed thought that was what he would do for the rest of his life. His ultimate career plans changed, however, when he drove to Los Angeles on a mission trip with his church in 2009, and experienced the pain and suffering of the homeless through new eyes. After sharing breakfast with a homeless man, Gaston knew he had to do something different with this life, something that involved putting others first. The question was, how does he do that? The answer started to become apparent after he received a pair of TOMS shoes for his birthday, and the model of ONE-for-ONE blew him away. For those unaware, for every TOMS pair of shoes purchased, TOMS donates a pair of shoes to those most in need of them. Gaston thought of doing the same, but with clothes. But he wanted to take that model a step further: why not support non profits that are doing amazing work in various meaningful areas while you're at it?

In the words of Helen Keller: "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."

Cue Kelli. Gaston and Kelli met through a mutual friend, and they were instantly connected through their passions, their ideas, and their desire to make something happen that could have a real impact. As N.O.W.'s Director of Operations, Kelli makes it all happen. Gaston's dreams and business sense, combined with Kelli's relationship building strategies (not to mention prior work experience with TOMS!), were the perfect combination. Through this partnership, N.O.W. began to take shape, launched, and is beginning to help make a difference.

N.O.W. was founded as a "for purpose" company, meaning that the motivating factor is not "for profit" or "not for profit," but rather "for the greater good." How does it do this? For every product purchased, 20% of that purchase goes directly to funding efforts of N.O.W.'s non-profit partners. One of the great things about how N.O.W. is set up is that it does not restrict who they are helping. This is something I struggle with in trying to figure out what I want to do with my career: there are so many challenges in this world, and so many areas that I feel I could dedicate myself to, how could I pick just one? Well, N.O.W. found a way around this: help them all! N.O.W. can pick non-profit partners involved in so many different facets of work, and support each of them through "purpose driven consumerism."

As of now, N.O.W.'s non-profit partners include:

• More than Me (getting girls off the streets and into schools in Liberia, West Africa);
• These Numbers have Faces (providing college scholarships to local Cape Town universities);
• Thirst Project (raising awareness and money to provide clean drinking water); and
• the Chisomo Idea (connecting privileged young to issues of poverty in Africa and providing them with a framework for action).

Not a bad group, huh?!

N.O.W. is off to a solid start, and as Kelli said: "there's nowhere to go but up." They are looking to expand their clothing line, as well as working with advisors in the fashion world and funding some great projects.

So what can you do? Check out N.O.W.'s store to see how you can become a purpose driven consumer. Like them on Facebook. Join them on Twitter. And most importantly, check out how you can help N.O.W. earn $5,000.00 to allow them build their line (which will give you more shopping options in the future and more ways to be a purpose driven consumer!). They have 27 days as of today to raise $4,174.00. As I like to say, no amount is too small...every $5 counts :)

This blog is already verging on the long side, but a huge thank you to Gaston and Kelli for taking the time to answer my questions, and letting this blog take "Charity of the Month" one step further than it's ever gone before.

Job Interview #342

Not really. But you know what I mean.

Had an interview with a legal nonprofit in Riverside today. I interviewed with a 5-person panel: three of the staff and two board members. Slightly intimidating to begin with, but everyone was super sweet and made me feel comfortable from the get go. I think I've finally gotten down my answers to most standard interview questions...taken me long enough!

With that said, I'm still torn about the position. When in doubt...to a pro and con list!

Pro's:

• It's public interest, so I'd be doing what I (think) want to do, although it would be mostly in areas of family law and landlord-tenant which I have no experience in, which leads to...
• Good learning experience
• Networking in a new geographic location
• The organization looks like a great place to work, although super small (staff of about 4, helping over a thousand clients a year!)

Con's:

• It's about an hour commute each way
• No immigration work due to funding
• Requires a lot of driving for the job (position is for clinic manager, so 2-3 days a week I'd be driving to Ontario and other locations in the Inland Empire)
• Clinics on 2 days a week run late, which means getting home around 8 or 9pm (although I wouldn't be starting until 10 or 11am)
• Salary is less than $45,000. It would be almost an extra $2,000 a month from what Jeff and I are surviving on right now, so it's not an issue of not paying our bills...but thinking long term I just don't know if that salary is worth all the driving and slightly unconventional hours. On the other hand, I have to start somewhere...and it would be enough to pay our bills, credit cards, a meager loan payment, and maybe even start saving a little...MAYBE.

I guess I should have started by saying that they haven't offered me a position yet...this is me getting ahead of myself.

If you were in my shoes...what would you do?

Shopping for a Good Cause!

So yesterday Concern America was selling stuff at my church, and I thought I'd pass along their link. It's a pretty cool non profit that goes to developing countries, such as Guatemala and El Salvador, and works with the indigenous communities down there. They bring whatever crafts those communities make to the United States, sell them, and send them their money. I was surprised at how interested the residents of Aliso Viejo were in all the goodies.


As you probably know from my previous posts, Jeff and I aren't in the greatest financial situation, but I know most people in Guatemala, etc., are probably worse off than we are. That's why I decided to splurge on my tortilla holder :) IT'S PURPLE!

I'm posting links for two catalogs that Concern America has out right now. I think this is a great way to get some Christmas shopping out of the way. These particular catalogues may not have what you are looking for, but I encourage everyone to get some of their shopping done through non-profits that support some amazing causes. It's a great way to buy gifts that are not only unique, but also help those who are in desperate need.

2008-2009 Catalogue: http://www.concernamerica.org/CraftCatalog08_09.pdf

Fall 2009 Holiday Catalogue:http://www.concernamerica.org/NewCrafts2009.pdf

Feel free to post links to your favorite charity/non-profit that has gift catalogues.

Happy Shopping!