Pangea Educational Development Seeks to Strengthen Education Worldwide

By Carolina Nascimento, Nicole Armour and Sam Rathke

Slide Show about PED

In an ordinary apartment on an ordinary tree-lined street in Wrigleyville is the home and headquarters of something out of the ordinary.

Pangea Educational Development (PED) is a non-profit organization run by two college students and a fifth grade teacher out of their apartment on the North side of Chicago.

PED is an organization that focuses on the importance of education as a means of unity and empowerment in both in the US and abroad.

Pangea volunteers tutor at inner-city schools and refugee centers including Refugee One and Sunlight African Community Center. PED launches campaigns, hosts fundraisers and takes service trips to Uganda every year.

Pangea Educational Development was founded one year ago by Andrew Bauer, 25, Drew Edwards, 20 and Kevin Oh, 20.

The three met in June, 2010, on a service trip to Uganda to work with underprivileged and underfunded schools in Uganda. The trip focused on spending time with the students and community members, forming deep friendships and offering encouragement.

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While traveling between sites, the three young men sat in the in the back of a bus dreaming of a Uganda not reliant on external donations and aid from foreign countries, which are all just short term solutions.

The men said they believe in creating a sustainable education within the communities in Uganda that lack essential resources and opportunities.  The reality of these pressing needs led to the creation of PED.

PED is currently running the “Soles for Schools” campaign which consists of gathering thousands of shoes from high schools and universities to donate across seas.  Also PED is trying to partner with Chicago Public Schools to strengthen their existing academic programs and bring awareness to PED.

Running a non-profit while also teaching or attending school, working, extra curricular and having a social life does not come without its challenges.

Bauer said, “I wake up at 5:00 [a.m.], I’m out the door by 5:30, I get back at 5:30 p.m. Knowing when we’re free and knowing we have separate lives other than this is key. Generally we work on weekends, too. Saturdays and Sundays are big for us.”

The men keep each other accountable throughout the week and their system and organization is impeccable. Their apartment is covered in lists and calendars with everyone’s responsibilities for the week, with either PED business and other obligations in their life that keep them incredibly busy. But at the end of the day, PED is the tying factor in all their lives.

PED is a volunteer project with a community-oriented focus, based on building relationships with our client sites and building relationship within PED making it a more personal experience.

“We work tirelessly because of our love for people, for students, and the world,” said Bauer.

Last year, the men spent two weeks in Uganda with 20 volunteers, this next summer they plan on going to Uganda for two months with hopefully 50 volunteers.

As PED grows, the founders and volunteers are searching for new ways to address what the community in Uganda needs.

PED volunteers are in the planning stages of a possible new initiative dealing with women’s health and education in Uganda with an existing Women’s Empowerment group.

“If they develop in the right direction and our board approves of them as a branch of our organization, it’s something that could launch this summer,” Edwards said.

Edwards explained, “The girls on the trip recognized that girls don’t really have options past high school.  The girls thought that what if they had more opportunities beyond that, what if we were able to establish a scholarship fund where they were making something and the money we brought in from what they were selling and making went into a scholarship fund.”

Within the year, PED has accomplished more than they thought possible and continue to pursue new initiatives revolving around strengthening the education system.

Oh said, “Education is the avenue to empowerment.”

View the story “Pangea Educational Development ” on Storify

NBA Lockout What Would You Do?

Explaining the options.

Play overseas- Many players are leaving the United States to play basketball abroad. Since the NBA is in a lockout players are allowed to leave and play wherever they want. Players like Deron Williams (Turkey) and Wilson Chandler (China) have already made the lead. Players like Kobe (Italy) and Pau Gasol (Spain) are waiting to see what happens in the next few weeks. Positives are getting paid and playing competitively. Negatives are injury risk and having to adjust to a new culture.

Players deal- As mentioned in the audio above, players are looking for a deal in which they receive an equal amount of the revenue as the owners do. The players are represented by Derek Fisher and many other players. Support has been given by the leagues best and brightest. Many players have said they will wait patiently to get the deal they believe they deserve. Pros are letting your body heal and getting the deal you believe you deserves. Cons are losing a sizable part or potentially an entire season as well as not getting in-game experience.

Play around- Over the lockout players have been holding games across the country. Some have called it a basketball renaissance of sorts. Players like Lebron James and Kevin Durant have headed games all of the US just so that they can continue playing the game they love. Many players have turned to this medium during the disagreements. Pros are playing the game you have a passion for while still in the states. Cons are that you are not getting paid for what you have trained hard for.

Accept the deal- Although no players have openly said this yet, some must be concerned about not getting paid. There has never been an agreement made where the players got a significantly better deal after a collective bargaining holdout. Some players must be fearful of that and just upset about missing games. An agreement now would limit certain hassles. Positives are getting paid and playing in the NBA again. Negatives would be a deal you didn’t want and letting the owners show their power over the player yet again.

Chicago Marathon 2011

Sunday October 9th marked another year of Chicago’s Marathon. 45,000 people registered to run the race. People spanned the 26.2 mile course for a variety of reasons. Here is an overview of the marathon using an assortment of social media.

The course! (Video takes 8 minutes and 46 seconds… The winning time of the marathon took 2 hours 5 minutes 37 seconds.)

The Weekend ended with two historic finishers….

“	Big day of racing today: Chicago Marathon won by Moses Mosop (2:05:37 Course record) & Liliya Shobukhova (2:18:20).
	Scienceofsport October 9, 2011

“	Race Report: Liliya Shobikhova wins #ChiMarathon in 2:18:20. It was her 3rd straight win in the Windy City. null
	RunCompetitor October 9, 2011

“	Congratulations to Bank of America Chicago Marathon winners Moses Mosop and Liliya Shobukhova (who becomes the "Second-Fastest Woman Ever").
	LondonMarathon October 10, 2011

Moses Mosop
Photo by karlyb314 on flickr

A little something for everyone to think about….

“	Run! Run! Run! The Chicago Marathon is here! Here’s something to keep your mind running: a cheetah runs faster than a sand gazelle, which is speedier than a zebra, which is faster than a kangaroo, which outruns a human, which can outleg a rhino.
	Svitlana Kurylo October 9, 2011

Watching the race
Photo by vonderauvisuals on flickr

Thoughts from some of the estimated 1.7 million observers….

“	What a beautiful day for the chicago #marathon!
	RepinChitown October 9, 2011

“	Saw this. So cool RT @not_margaret: Photo-A blind runner is guided during the start of the Chicago Marathon http://ow.ly/6RYzU #cm11 #RunCHI
	samsanator October 10, 2011

“	Watching my little brother finish Chicago marathon. Amazing! You rock Bro!!
	Ron Mirenda October 9, 2011

“	Gatorade and free hugs | Photos from Chicago Marathon passing through Lincoln Park http://t.co/cq4vkkaZ #cm11 #marathon @chimarathon
	TimeOutChicago October 10, 2011

“	Congrats to all those who stood at the start line of CHicago marathon! Whether u finished or not, u got farther than most! #cm11 #chicago
	Katiescribe October 9, 2011

Chicago Marathon
Photo by Eric B. Shanks on flickr

And then there were those who ran….

“	Today I finished the Chicago Marathon!!!!!!
	kate_winslow October 9, 2011

“	Despite a brief stint in a wheelchair at mile 25 (no joke), I survived to finish the Chicago Marathon in 3:39:02.
	cbcox October 9, 2011

“	thinks toenails are over rated..haha!Hurts so Good,but totally worth it! CHICAGO MARATHON FINISH 3:40 & qualified for Boston yesterday!
	PatriciaAlcivar October 10, 2011

“	Just finished Chicago marathon! Destroyed my time from last year, feelin good!
	Sam Ball October 9, 2011

Fist Bump, Gorilla Style
Photo by Andy Marfia on flickr

As well as those with jokes….

“	Activity for the day: put on running clothes and limp around Chicago AS IF you just finished the Marathon.
	jaimelynbeatty October 9, 2011

“	26.2 mile tour of Chicago in 4:08 – the sun is not my friend #bald #chicagomarathon
	okrafka October 9, 2011

“	When you get to the airport at 5:30am and a quarter of the people look/walk/smell like zombies you know… Chicago Marathon weekend.
	popplemusic October 10, 2011

“	RT @nbcchicago: PHOTOS: Some of the #weird and wacky runners we saw along the marathon route: http://t.co/i0XXjpNQ #chimarathon
	chitownstories October 9, 2011

Water! Victory!
Photo by Andy Marfia on flickr

Another great race ends. Many will be looking forward to The 2012 Chicago Marathon or as those who tweet would put #CM12.

Chicago CTA: 63rd Red Line Station Resource Map

This is a map that highlights resources for children in the Englewood neighborhood just off of the CTA’s 63rd redline station. The map is marked the locations, businesses, and schools that could help children in the neighborhood. The map was co-created with Brittany Paris.

Each of the following markers could help a child’s development. The community has focused on developing its youth, mapping these resources shows the dedication to the children of the neighborhood. Each of the points below serve as positive points that promote growth and health for the youth.

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10 Quotes Tuesday

Hey everyone like I have let many of you I want to keep posting regularly. Tonight I have quite a bit of work so I thought I’d post 10 quotes that I really enjoy. I think that this will be a weekly thing. I would really appreciate if you guys would give me suggestions on what quotes to put up next week. In addition to that I just love reading new quotes. Let me know which if any of these make you think. Hopefully You enjoy them as much as I do.

“Be prepared and be honest.”
-John Wooden

“The time is always right to do what is right.”
- Martin Luther King Junior

“If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over? “
- John Wooden

“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.”
-Henry Ellis

It is not length of life, but depth of life.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Family is not an important thing, it’s everything.”
- Michael J. Fox

“Every closed eye is not sleeping, and every open eye is not seeing.”
- Bill Cosby

“As a child my family’s menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it.”
- Buddy Hackett

“If you can dream it, you can do it.”
- Walt Disney

“I haven’t a clue as to how my story will end. But that’s all right. When you set out on a journey and night covers the road, that’s when you discover the stars.”
- Nancy Willard

On top of the quotes you should give this a little listen. I really like these guys and this is a pretty nice set up. The band is called NEEDTOBREATHE if you are interested in hearing more of their stuff. Enjoy!

Waking up Wondering

This is a post that in all honesty should have been written one week ago. Being real, I needed the time to proccess and reflect. Here is what I came up with.

This post goes out to a young man on the west side of Chicago who wakes up to a world someone his age should not have to face.

Seven days ago I witnessed the mother of a young man I know come to pick him up completely intoxicated. She walked through the door at 5 p.m. and had clearly been drinking for hours already.Unfortunately this mom created an enormous scene which many people including her son had to witness. I don’t want to dwell on the happenings that took place last Monday, rather I’d like to think about why what took place was troubling to my eyes.

It is easy to demonize and judge. It truly is, and while reading this it may sound strange coming from someone who takes morality very seriously. I say this and mean it, that does not mean however that I dwell on these two words that can offer us as human beings an easy way out from a situation. In this post I really want to take different spin, explain how I felt as a witness, and offer you as a reader the opportunity to agree or disagree with my thoughts. Trust me if you finish reading this and feel completely different from the way I do I will not be offended. The purpose for my writing is not to give you an opinion but rather to open the door for you to formulate your own thoughts.

I sat and watched a young man who was broken by his mothers brokenness. A young man with a future, with dreams, but all the while confused because of the obstacles life has presented him. I will be honest and say witnessing all of this was pretty crushing. So many people who I care about were getting upset by this mother and her actions. It got me upset because of the way she was acting, but what really go to me is knowing that this is not the first time her son has seen this. In fact I believe this young man wakes up each day wondering which version of his mother he will see. And for that reason alone I am saddened.

It scares me to think that this is one of many kids who wake up to a world of uncertainty. Especially when that uncertainty is coming from the person who should be his shoulder when he is facing these issues. I wish that we could all realize how important it is to be there for the children around us. It hurts my heart to know there are parents that do not realize how truly are for the life they created.

I sit here tonight and think about what my role is in a situation like this or what any of our roles are when events like this take place. I wish myself or any of you reading this could be the absolute answer. The reality however is that we coexists. I believe we must realize where we are in our lives and take the time to think how we can simply be there for someone else. We will never has the ability to fix a situation, change a human being, or fix someone’s brokenness for them. On the flip side of this coin we all do have the ability listen and care. And where that trade off may not seem fair, for one young man on the west side of Chicago that may be enough to change the path.

I’d love to hear all of your thoughts on this. Leave comments or ask questions if you are moved to do so.

What do we wake up and know will be consistent from the day before? Photography by: Molly Ruppel

Huff: Gapers Block Hacking and Business

Andrew Huff speaks to a DePaul journalism class on Sept. 12. (Photo by Mike Reilley)

A Business section will be coming to Chicago’s community blog Gapers Block. The site and its founder hope to reach a greater audience throughout the city.

Andrew Huff, co-founder and publisher of the blog Gapers Block, stood in front of a DePaul University online journalism class and spoke about his creation. As the primary writer and editor of the site he stays up late in the evening to work on his craft and continues dreaming of living off of what Gapers Block makes him.

“The goal is to make this my full-time job,” Huff said multiple times throughout his presentation.

Huff is one of 80 volunteer writers that contribute to the content of the website. Other writers range from college students to lawyers to bartenders. All of whom write for various sections including food, music, arts, books, politics and sports. And as he announced to the class that soon there will be a business section added.  His two primary competitors in the Chicago blogging sphere do not have business sections, so this will help Gapers Block hit a new demographic.

As Huff spoke and showed the class his site, he became increasingly aware that it was being hacked as he spoke. This was not a ploy to gain attention. He stood in the pocket and answered questions, although it was clear he wanted to go take care of business. He was at the front of the class as his site was actively being hacked for nearly an hour.

“I’d really like to get out of here and fix the problem,” he said showing poise in the face of adversity.

Gapers Block has been Huff’s primary medium as a writer since he co-founded the site with Naz Hamid in 2003, an idea they created in a coffee shop in the  Lakeview area. Hamid his since moved on from Gapers Block, leaving Huff with the majority of the overseeing power. Huff continues the site which he refers to as a “labor of love.”

Huff spoke to the class about his path after obtaining a journalism degree from Ohio State University. He has held several other jobs to help maintain his ability to run Gapers Block. He worked on a social justice blog for Kenneth Cole, Lobby.com, and ran A&E channels “Paranormal State” blog. He works these jobs because his own blog is not yet at a place where he can sustain a living from of it alone.

Huff encouraged students in the class to find their voices in writing, because obtaining an appropriate voice is key. When writing for the paranormal blog, he used the voice of a “skeptic believer,” but he explained that each site and writer has their own voice that works.  The trick is to imagine who you are writing too when you develop your voice.

“Gapers Block has a voice that is distinct and unique,” said Huff detailing, “it is pro city, but with no blinders.”

His voice, and the voice of his writers, is being read nearly a half million times each month. Gapers Block has grown in recognition across the city, as it presents real stories from writers located in each corner of the grid. Despite hoping to make this his only job, he maintains his hope of informing the people of Chicago.

“It’s not about getting hits, it’s about getting a larger audience.” Huff said.

Meeting Micah

Hey everyone. Sorry I haven’t posted anything for a couple of days now. I don’t have anything very introspective to write about this week but I thought I would update you all on my life a little. As many of you know I am a co-coordinator of Hoops and Hopes here at DePaul. Over the past three years I have fortunate enough to form relationships with fellow volunteers, YMCA staff members, and students. Last year I made a short film about the YMCA and what it stands for in the eyes of the people who spend every day inside its walls. During the filming one young man came to me and expressed a desire to be a part of the film. His name was Micah and he was in 6th grade. From the first interview to the last Micah was honest, deep, and determined to be the best person that he could possibly be. Throughout the interviews his comments teetered from confident to fearful. Expressing the safety net he  had at the YMCA with the questions that were waiting for him just outside its doors.

This year when I returned to the Y Micah was not there. I spoke to some of the guys and they told me that he would not be coming back this year. He is in 7th grade now so he stays at school for an extra hour and then heads straight home from there. When I heard this I wasn’t all too surprised, a lot of times when the guys get older they stop coming to the Y. I have seen this the past two years. But Micah is a kid with an enormous amount of potential and I know how driven he is to reaching and achieving what he dreams of. I really didn’t want our relationship to end there so I took a chance and gave his mom a call. Unfortunately she did not answer and I had to leave a message. I was pretty discouraged about not being able to speak with her, and in all honesty when I left the message I could hear the defeat in my own voice.

Thankfully Micah’s mom heard the message and the next day she returned my call. We spoke for quite a while and have decided that sometime in the next week we will be getting together for either lunch or dinner. The hope is that after getting to know each other a bit better that Micah could come and spend time with me and my roommates. I am not sure where this all will go but I am thankful that the opportunity is on the table. I will make sure to keep you all updated.

I think this a nice relaxing listen to close the weekend. Let me know what you think about it. Hopefully you can find something in it you appreciate.

Healing with a Helpful Hand

(A reflective piece from my freshman year at DePaul.)

It is a fairly typical day of procrastination sitting on my bed in my dorm room when I receive a phone call from a buddy of mine back home. He talks to me about the shocking shift of culture on the football team at my old high school. It’s fun for me to hear about the change because I hated sitting in the snow cheering for a team who always lost by forty or more points. The conversation was all very lighthearted until he told me something that plunged to a very serious depth. He told me that his father was diagnosed with prostate cancer and that it was serious.

Hearing this made my heart sink. Our friendship was kindled by him listening with love in his heart to the story of my father passing away. We often discussed how I tried to turn that loss into a positive despite numerous obstacles. It was so odd to think that so recently after talking to me about the struggles that he would face the same. I told him that my prayers and positive energy would be sent up to Fargo, North Dakota. He thanked me and then told me how hard it was to see his father defeated.
Why do men in society feel that they cannot lean on others in a time of need? It is an almost painful thing for a man to ask for help or to say they are in need of a shoulder. Each generation is engrained with the statement “man up”, but why? Why can’t we look for help and support when we need it. What are we afraid of?

Sickness is an unavoidable thing but thankfully in today’s society we are able to counteract sickness with modern medicine. It is truly incredible how far we have come in  order to protect and heal our friends and relatives. I know if it were not for modern medicine I would have lost more people I love, so I am very grateful. I do believe however that the best and most important medicine is and always will be the love and care of the people around you. Your loved ones.

Modern medicine has made many advancements in order to heal and cure sickness and disease but unfortunately there have been no advancements made towards helping patients and their families cope with the reality of the illness. There is no vaccination for stress,no pill for grief, and no surgery for a broke heart. So for now, the doctors will take care of the body and the family must take care of the spirit.

In the end I am left thinking about how my friend was always there there to help a fallen teammate after a loss, and how he helped me talk about my own sadness. In life, like football, you must have belief in those by your side. There is a bond that must take place with those who surround you, where you can look into their eyes and know they will help pick you up. The beautifully somber reality is that sometimes it takes getting hit before you realize a hand is there to help you up.

Photograph by: Molly Ruppel

A Parent Talks to a Child Before the First Game

“This is your first game, my child. I hope you win.  I hope you win for your sake, not mine.  Because winning’s nice.  It’s a good feeling. Like the whole world is yours.  But, it passes, this feeling.  And whatlasts is what you’ve learned. And what you learn about is life. That’s what sports is all about. Life. The whole thing is played but in an afternoon. The happiness of life.  The miseries.  The joys.  The heartbreaks.

There’s no telling what’ll turn up. There’s no telling whether they’ll toss you out in the first five minutes or whether you’ll stay for thelong haul. There’s no telling how you’ll do. You might be a hero or you might be absolutely nothing.  There’s  just no telling. Too much depends on chance. On how the ball bounces.

I’m not talking about the game, my child. I’m talking about life. But it’s life that the game is all about. Just as I said.  Because every game is life.  And life is a game.  A serious game.  Dead serious.  But that’s what you do with serious things.  You do your best.  You take what comes.  And you run with it.

Winning is fun. Sure. But winning is not the point. Wanting to win is the point.  Not giving up is the point. Never being satisfied with what you’ve done is the point. Never letting up is the point. Never letting anyone down is the point. Play to win. Sure. But lose like a champion.

It’s not winning that counts. What counts is trying.”

-Unknown Author

An exert from Wooden:a Lifetime if Observations and Reflections on and off the Court