XiaolinMama

Since when is an ear infection a pre-existing condition?

I had the opportunity to meet the amazing Valerie Jarrett, Advisor to President Obama, while at BlogHer earlier this month.  The 10 bloggers, including my lovely MOMocrats or so in the private session were all verklempt listening to stories about health care nightmares (I was crying like baby) and gave input on what needed to be done to take the message to back to our home towns and blogs.  I left inspired to do more, but wasn't quite sure until I chatted with the fine folks at People Acting in Community Together. 

Yesterday my kids and I had the opportunity to give testimony on health insurance reform at a rally outside Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren's office.  About 175 clergy and community leaders gathered to add our stories to the health care insurance reform debate.   Representative Lofgren spoke briefly and complimented the group on the peaceful demonstration.  She relayed that the night before she had attended a meeting expecting 40 people.  Instead she was greeted by more than 300 rowdy protesters, and most were not ready to debate civilly. Oy vey! 

This afternoon's gathering was hosted by a Rabbi, blessing shared by a Baptist minister and the crowd sang, "This little light of mine".  It was a far cry from the events seen all over the news featuring town halls shut down by angry protestors.  I was proud to be amongst this group of smart and compassionate people. 

When my friends asked me to speak last week, I did not hesitate to volunteer.  But as I watched the news and read online accounts of what was happening at rallies around the country, I began to wonder what I had gotten myself into.  Moreover, when the head organizer mentioned that agitators were seen at other rallies around the country and that a large group off Teabaggers assembled at an event the night before I began to worry about what I had gotten my kids involved with.   But as I stood in a circle surrounded by preachers, community activists and friends, I knew there was no other place I would rather have been.

Valerie Jarrett challenged us to take to streets and get our stories told. I did just that and so have many others. Now it is up to us all to make sure our elected officials stand up too and roll up their sleeves to get it done.  We need access to affordable health are. My kids can't wait.

Techmama's HP Magic Giveaway - My nomination, Akemi and PACT

Beth at Tech Mamas has a great giveaway - an fatty HP prize package.   It is awesome!  You should nominate someone.  Iam nominating Akemi Flynn and PACT one of my favorite organizations.  Check it out.  If we get picked as one of the top 20, then I'll need your votes to win over $6000 in prizes which will be quickly donated to PACT.   Even if we don't get that far - PACT is an organization you NEED to know about.  Watch this video.  It will inspire you - I promise.

NOTE: I didn't win, but I am going to enter the same HP giveaway contest over at the Living in Theory Blog.  So cruise over there and check out another great blog.  You should enter too!  Hero Daddy and Shellie won and certainly deserved it. Congrats and wish me luck.

PICK PACT AND AKEMI for the TechMama's (and Living in Theory's) HP Magic Giveway!
Community Organizers got a bad wrap this past election cycle.  But we all know that organizers are the ones who work for little pay and behind the scenes to make big things happen.  In Silicon Valley - the land of plenty, there are many that live in the shadow of the venture capitalists, Steve Jobs types and internet gurus.  They are the ones who clear dishes at restaurants, provide janitorial services, stock our grocery store shelves and teach our children.

I am nominating my friend Akemi Flynn for this honor because she is a community organizer - both formally and informally.  The organization she works for is People Acting In Community Together (PACT).  Yesterday, I had the honor of attending a fundraiser and was moved to tears by this video.  Akemi and PACT work to ensure that everyday people lead the change they need, like health care and safe after-school programs.  Her organization is on the front lines of fighting for quality education for students in East San Jose.  They recently led the ONLY local summit to help our elected officials see how home foreclosures are affecting people in Silicon Valley.  They give regular folks the tools to advocate for themselves - to take power and to have the confidence to make change.  Akemi, PACT and the leaders they organize are a vision to behold.  I promise you would be blown away!

How would they use the HP Magic package?  Personally, I would keep the HP Mini, but donate the rest of the package to Akemi and PACT.  They have a plan to create a team of community bloggers, who will write the stories of Silicon Valley's neediest.  They will train grandparents, monolingual spanish speakers and youth to gather the stories and move people to action.  Again - real people telling their stories and engaging others to be part of their movement .  These tools are vital in helping them kick start this effort.

On another note, Akemi teaches sunday school at the Mountain View Buddhist Temple.  She is also a First 5 commissioner, where she volunteers tirelessly to make sure that all kids in Silicon Valley under the age of 5 have access to the resources they need to grow up healthy.  Most importantly, she is a mother who tries to keep it together. She is not perfect. She forgets to eat lunch, she picks up take out for dinner and sometimes doesn't put her laptop away when she should.  But we (her family and friends) love her.  Our community is lucky to have her working behind the scenes.  She is a true hero  and she works with hundreds of other folks to see that they are heroes too. 

Yes, you CAN help!

Mark you calendars! Next month, the women of Silicon Valley Moms Blog are hosting a bone marrow donor drive. 

We are all super busy but this really shouldn't take that long. No needles, just a quick swab of your cheek.  This is even more important for us folks of color, as finding a bone marrow donor is close to impossible.  Think now about if your are of mixed heritage - you got it, the chances are even slimmer.  If you can't go to this event, make an appointment or stop by a booth next time you see a drive happening near you.   Jill, one of th co-founders of SV Moms Blog has written her story and that of her mother's battle with Leukemia.  She is one of the lucky ones, who will be receiving a transplant soon. There are many more waiting for someone like you.

You can help give the gift of life....

• Date:  Saturday, April 19, 2008
• Location:  95 Crescent Drive, Palo Alto, CA  94301 (right near highway 101)
• Time:  9:00am to 3:30pm
• To be eligible to donate, you must be between the ages of 18 to 60.