http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/user/217393 trinachi Playcity Blog en-us Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:10:21 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss playcity@youthnoise.org http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13180 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:10:21 GMT I love public parks. They make cities happy by giving urban dwellers space to run around, host activities and events, and see some green in the midst of an overwhelming tangle of concrete. But when cold strikes Chicago, casual meandering through the park transforms into impatient shivering while waiting for pet dogs to do their business. Alas, the winter months usually result in less outdoor exercise and more efforts to rationalize indoor laziness. The Chicago Park District offers an excellent solution to this problem: free access to indoor fitness facilities. Between Jauary 2 and the 16th, Chicago residents can kick off the New Year and perhaps address their New Year's resolutions to adopt healthier lifestyles by using gym equipment and fitness centers in 60 locations around the city. This program makes fitness more accessible to those who 1) aren't sure if they're ready to commit to a gym membership, and 2) can't really afford a private gym membership. It's an excellent excuse to bust out of the house and get away from the television for awhile. Comcast cable service isn't that great, anyway. [Below: Chicago Park District promotional video about Free Fitness Weeks] http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13180 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13167 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 12:15:25 GMT No, not that kind of trashed. We're talking recycling here, people. Global Inheritance came up with the brilliant idea of turning environmentally friendly practices into currency. You can't refute the fact that Americans love to buy stuff. At the very least, we can persuade others to dispose of their waste responsibly by offering stuff-crazy consumers more stuff. Here's how it works: the TRASHed Recycling Store sets up shop at wicked cool events around the country. The store encourages participants to collect points by contributing old bottles and cans, or passing brainy eco-knowledge tests. Accumulated points can then be traded for a range of hot items, from skateboards to Netflix. The Store will travel to Colorado later this month for the Winter X Games, tapping into the green conscience of extreme sports fanatics. While I support recycling and environmental awareness, I wanna mention that recycling alone is not enough. Recycling helps, but you can't just chuck a bottle into a blue bin and assume that our ecosystems are hunky-dory. Offering treats for good behavior is an effective strategy, but it's misguided to think that you can simply buy your way to sustainability. We need to celebrate innovative recycling incentives AND push for environmentally friendly legislation, corporate responsibility, and sustainable lifestyle choices. * photo courtesy of kingdesmond1337, licensed under these terms http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13167 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13160 Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:28:58 GMT Honestly, I thought I would chicken out at the last minute. But when I arrived at the beach and found hundreds of people screaming and throwing their bodies into the icy lake, I just couldn't resist. I stripped down to my bathing suit and ran through the snow towards the water with my friend Annie and four Sarahs. My, that was refreshing! I felt somewhat loopy afterwards my head clogged with a combination of endorphins and hypothermic-style disorientation. We pulled out some warm tea and shook out our frozen hair. I couldn't stop smiling at the rippling heather clouds hovering above the city skyline. It turns out that the North-Avenue-Beach New-Year's-Day Polar-Bear-Swim is an annual event. Really, I can't think of a better way to kick off another twelve months (unless it involves saunas and hot tubs). Some may call us crazy; I prefer the term adventurous. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13160 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13151 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:06:26 GMT Two weeks ago, I made a promise that I'm about to regret: I told a couple of friends that I would join them for a polar bear swim in Lake Michigan on New Year's Day. Yikes. Today it's 13 degrees in Chicago, and tomorrow probably won't be any better. My basic emergency medical knowledge tells me that a bit of dabbling in hypothermic conditions probably won't kill me. Nonetheless, I'm silently repeating old sayings from my high school white water kayaking instructors, frequently uttered on those bitterly cold days of paddling through New Hampshire river systems in March: What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Pain is weakness leaving the body. That'll put hair on your teeth. I wonder if hairy teeth still chatter. To mentally prepare for my arctic plunge, I remind myself about all of the other senseless polar bear swimmers (or martyrs) who continually freeze their butts off to promote good causes. Polar bear charity events span from the cold winter waters of Maine to the (artificially chilled with bags of ice) waters of Hawai'i. Cold-water fools I mean champs dive in to raise money for myriad causes, such as special Olympics, the domestic violence (DV) movement, animal welfare, and other equally worthy endeavors. I'll let you know how the swim goes after my fingers thaw, of course. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13151 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13117 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:49:05 GMT Okay, so I missed the Globetrotters' performance earlier today, but I still caught a whole lot of awesomeness at Mayor Daley's Holiday Sports Fest this weekend. The three-day annual event draws some 85,000 participants from all over Chicagoland. The event is free and open to the public, thanks in part to the city's Special Events Office, Chicago Public Schools, and the Chicago Park District. After reading a description of the event, I thought it sounded kinda cool. But after walking inside the luxurious we're talking indoor fountains and marble staircases building and witnessing the incredible scope and scale of the event, I came to the realization that this was much more than kinda cool. Archery, golf, martial arts, adaptive sports, fencing, gymnastics, basketball, ping pong, aerobics classes, climbing walls, skateboarding...if you can name it, then they had it. See for yourself. I couldn't resist flip-camming the heck out of that space. I love community events that give people the chance to play together. What a great way to spice up the winter break. So rad :) http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13117 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13114 Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:34:34 GMT Good news for differently-abled young athletes in Chicago: Yesterday, a partnership of thirteen organizations announced plans to launch the Chicago Paralympic Development Program. Set to begin in February, the program will provide training facilities, equipment, and professional coaches for visually and physically impaired youth in Chicago and other parts of Illinois. Young people with disabilities must work through many obstacles in order to play sports. With $450,000 set aside to get the program started, the Chicago Paralympic Development Program will help disabled youngsters stay active, build self-esteem, and perhaps earn a Paralympic medal. Paralympic gold medalist Ann Cody won a National Coucil of Youth Sports Award earlier this year for her efforts to bring more sports opportunities to disabled youth. She serves as Chair of the Women in Sport Committee, a group that helps girls and women with disabilities pursue athletics. Cody began wheelchair racing and played wheelchair basketball while going to school at the University of Illinois. With the new youth program in place, we may begin to see more Paralympic Illinoisans racing wheelchairs to gold. Thanks to Ann Cody and to all of the participating organizations for taking steps to make adaptive sports more accessible to youth. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13114 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13103 Sat, 27 Dec 2008 09:21:59 GMT Pull your feet up, Jim! My muffled yell successfully navigated through layers of wool; Jim's feet rose a few inches above the ground, activating the descent of our plastic sled. With my hands braced firmly against Jim's shoulders, I ran through thick powder for a few seconds and hopped aboard. Acceleration makes the process more interesting. Like pro luge competitors, Jim and I ducked to cut wind resistance, and shifted our body weight to avoid smashing into trees. Then, WHAT? A four foot jump?! No way! It was too late; we had too much speed; we had no choice...SLAM!! Our bodies launched over the ramp, scattered limbs crashing into a soft snow-fluff landing pad. The sled flew down the hill and abruptly collided with an innocent fir. Then deep laughter rose above the bruises, continuing until our tired abs pleaded for mercy from the intensity of our giggles. Apparently the snowboarders had built a jump earlier that morning. Apparently we destroyed it. Extreme Sledding 101: expect crashes, expect pain, expect a wild ride. Over the years, I've tried a lot of stupid/dangerous sledding maneuvers. One of my favorites was an activity we called stackers' sledding . In this extreme sport, the largest kid lies on his belly on the sled. Other kids lie face down on top of the first kid, creating layers of bodies. Then another kid pushes the whole mass down a steep sledding hill. We found that we had a natural stacking limit of about five or six teenagers. More than five led to a very unstable stack, especially at the top of the pile; over-stacking usually resulted in the entire stack tumbling within a few feet. More than five stackers also meant that the poor kid on the bottom of the pile could no longer breathe. I'm totally psyched to go sledding this winter (last winter I lived in Hawai'i, where sadly, I didn't play in the snow). Now I'm still bumming due to a lack of snow. All of the winter storms in the past week were for naught; the warm rain hitting Chicago this weekend wiped out what little snow we had. So I'm temporarily relegated to enjoying the snow vicariously through other extreme sledders. Here's a hilarious video of extreme sledders launching off some very large jumps. This guy discusses high-tech sleds specifically designed for different types of extreme sledding. They are huge improvements to the classic plastic rectangular sleds from my childhood. The Mad River Rocket a Vermont-based freestyle sled is all the rage in extreme sledding. But you don't need a Rocket to get outdoors for some winter play. All you need is some snow and gravity to enjoy the wonders of sledding. Snow isn't even an essential element I had some friends who took their old ratty skis and flew down sand piles in the summer. I'm sure you could take a sled to a sand pit and have a grand time. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13103 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13080 Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:50:50 GMT Over my morning cup of tea, I read an article in the New York Times that piqued my interest. Not only did the article quote one of the senior scientists who I worked with at the Environmental Working Group in D.C. (rock on, Anila!) it also discussed toxic chemicals commonly found in water bottles. Mounting scientific evidence shows that bisphenol-A (BPA) harms human health. Increased risks of heart disease, liver disease, and diabetes are just a few of the nasty side effects associated with exposure to this chemical. You can find BPA in many sports bottles, baby bottles, soup can linings, and other common products. Many environmental and consumer advocacy groups support regulatory measures to ban BPA production. Some companies (such as Nalgene) have voluntarily stopped using plastics containing BPA. Most plastics companies insist that consumer choice should be the deciding factor, not government regulation. The problem with this approach is that it only works if all consumers have adequate information about the potential health risks associated with BPA, and also know which products contain the chemical. I'd wager a guess that most people don't have this info readily available when standing in line at the checkout counter. I always found the craze over fancy sports bottles somewhat perplexing. Nalgenes became trendy a number of years ago among outdoorsy types, but then spread quickly throughout the general populace. My rock climbing and hiking buddies often said they liked the bottles because of their durability. They would then slam bottles against rocks to prove this supposed strength. Admittedly, I used to be pretty impressed by the rugged nature of the bottles. Yet only the bottle itself is able to withstand this type of abuse. The screw-top lids bust open just like any other bottle when dropped the wrong way. Nalgenes aren't really all that tough. I also noticed an ironic trend when hiking on the Appalacian Trail a few years ago: none of the thru-hikers (those who hike the full 2,200 miles rather than a short section) carried the classic polycarbonate sports bottles, at least not the ones that I met. Distance hikers care more about ounces than looking cool, and swear by empty Gatorade bottles as the lightest and most efficient way to transport water over the long haul. This leads me to the conclusion that polycarbonate bottles primarily appeal to wannabe outdoor enthusiasts not the real ones. It's also funny to note that a manufacturer of plastic laboratory containers ended up becoming THE big name in outdoor sports bottles. I find it somewhat silly to spring $10 for a bottle, especially one that may be detrimental to human health. But I'll admit that drinking water is super important, and given the fact that most Americans are chronically dehydrated, I support most hydration efforts. If buying fancy bottles will motivate more people to drink more water, then buy fancy bottles. Just be aware that nasty chemicals lurk inside some sports bottles. If you want to play it safe, metal bottles are a good way to go. Personally, I carry an empty glass peanut butter jar with a screw-top lid, usually filled with water or tea. Nothing fancy, but it keeps me hydrated and never leaks. * photo courtesy of darrylh, licensed under these terms. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13080 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13057 Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:13:56 GMT Here's a quick homework assignment. Google your local newspaper and click on the sports section. Count the number of articles profiling female athletes. Count the number of articles profiling male athletes. Take out your calculator and do the math. The answers are not in the back of the book; they're right in front of you. Thirty-six years after Title IX brought national attention to gender discrimination in school sports, the mass media still spend a grossly disproportionate amount of time covering men's sports while ignoring, marginalizing, or trivializing women's sports, says Michael A. Messner, author of Taking the Field: Women, Men, and Sports. This is not so different from 1970, when gender inequity [in sports] appeared so natural [to Messner], it was invisible. At that time, our mothers and grandmothers could participate in intramurals, cheerleading, and a few other loosely organized athletic activities. But they lacked uniforms, funding, official teams, favorable press coverage, and most importantly respect on the playing field. Since then, women have worked hard and played hard to gain widespread recognition for their athletic talents. Still, women's sports achievements often appear invisible to the mainstream media. Here's your next homework assignment: analyze this trend in a broader context. Does the shortage of women's sports coverage reflect that fewer women care about pro sports? That fewer women play sports? That there are fewer paid positions in pro sports for women? That the press doesn't care as much about women's sports? That their target audience doesn't care as much about women's sports? Short answer: yes. Next question: why? Old habits and expectations are difficult to change. Girls need female sports role models. They need to see their heroines on television and in the news. They need to see professional opportunities for female athletes. They need to see that others actually care about women's sports. Parents need to see this, too. If our culture doesn't demonstrate that women can gain respect through athletic prowess, then why would responsible parents encourage their daughters to pursue sports? Fortunately, we've got lots of young girls and women willing to challenge archaic belief systems about femininity and athleticism. Not all of these women approach sports from a feminist perspective. They might not care about social history or gender politics. Some girls just like the feeling of sweat pouring down their mud-stained faces, muscles driving forward across the field. Some girls do it to win, training months or years for that moment when they cross the line first. Some girls just want to play, and they won't listen to any excuses about why they shouldn't. Lack of prominent female role models in sports? Perhaps. Lack of girls and women muscling their way past social disparities and kicking butt on the field? I think not. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13057 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13041 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:42:13 GMT I flew to Maine a few days ago to visit my folks in the woods. They live in a small New England town with about 250 residents. Median household income in our town was about 21k in 2007 well below the state average of 46,000. Yeah, I had to check a couple of different sources for this one because I actually had trouble believing the Census Bureau. Is it really true that people in central Maine only earn 45% of what other Maine residents earn, or about 40% of the national average? I knew that my home town was poor, but I had no idea that we were that poor. I spent some time perusing economic statistics for our region, and frankly, I was blown away. I've witnessed central Maine's poverty on a personal level but had never seen it from a statistical standpoint. But when I think about it, it makes sense. Wal-Mart and Hannaford (big grocery store chain for you west coasties) are the two largest employers in the state; neither company offers incredible wages to average workers. In the past, Maine residents earned cash by selling off the most valuable resource they had the forest. These days, the US logging industry thrives primarily on west coast lumber. The backcountry macho woodsman identity lives on in our state, but the feller-buncher operating jobs no longer exist. Tourism is now the biggest industry in Maine, but it brings a lot more money to the coastal areas than to the inland regions. A few years ago, many local residents embraced the idea of building a new electric plant to burn toxic demolition debris and old construction materials from Massachusetts. Some people posted signs that read, Tell Mass to Keep its Trash. Others said, Hey man, we really need the jobs and the tax breaks. What's so bad about a little lead poisoning on the side? Some Mainers are willing to sacrifice the woods, water, air quality, and anything else of natural value for jobs. They make a good point what good is a pretty place with clean air if you can't afford to eat? Local economic distress affects more than job-seekers; it also affects children. Based on the fact that local school systems operate largely on local taxes, a lack of taxable income and taxable assets means that our public schools ache for better funding sources. In an era of No Child Left Behind a program that financially rewards/punishes schools based upon standardized test performance poor schools have a huge incentive to drop all programs beyond english, math, and science. Art, music, and athletics vanish first. I had a chance to interview Barbara, who has worked as a social worker in the local school district for 22 years. Here she speaks about the relationship between budget cuts and athletic programs for elementary school students. I don't know the solution to this problem. As an economics student in a Maine college, I learned quite a bit about the state-wide economic climate and major development proposals. Most initiatives such as Moosehead Lake regional development proposed by Seattle company Plum Creek, often referred to as Scum Creek involve out-of-state companies that want to extract large amounts of labor and natural resources for pitiful compensation (the political brawl arises when attempting to figure out what terms constitute pitiful compensation, and what legal contracts are fair). But I digress. My point is that many kids in central Maine don't have access to the athletic programs they deserve. While the public schools try very hard to make do with the meager resources they have, there's just not enough money. Also consider that many kids in central Maine live off of food stamps, WIC, free school lunch, and other sources of cheap but nutritionally inadequate calories. This means that they have an even greater need for exercise, since childhood obesity in the United States is linked to poor dietary habits often exacerbated by poverty. Kids need exercise. Schools need money for sports programs. What's new? http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/13041 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12999 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:55:02 GMT Yesterday an Iraqi journalist became an international celebrity after he threw his shoes at president George W. Bush at a news conference in Baghdad. You can see from the video footage that the man has excellent aim, and Bush has equally impressive reflexes. Which makes me wonder how do Iraqi athletes hone their throwing techniques? Although I m not sure about the athletic background of the Baghdad shoe-thrower, I do know that some disabled Iraqi war survivors enjoy throwing shot put. Athletic training is no easy task in a nation ravaged by violent conflict. Yet the country's paralympic team is strong, and the athletes even stronger. Shot put is not Iraq s most popular sport, but it is one endeavor that can help maimed athletes cope with their disabilities and continue to lead active, healthy lives. Shoe throwing is rapidly growing in popularity, according to numerous news reports. [Note: For the record, I do not condone throwing shot put balls at a person s face. Marshmallows are okay, and the occasional well-ripened tomato although generally regarded as clich is also acceptable.] http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12999 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12983 Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:23:36 GMT I stepped out of the cold of December and into a polka-dot stairwell on Milwaukee Ave. The steps led to a smooth wooden dance floor with a couple of cozy couches, a windchime, and a bright orange parachute draping across the room. I found myself hanging out in Silverspace, a Chicago dance studio where performance art projects thrive. I biked over to Silverspace to participate in a movement workshop led by esteemed tap dancer, alternative movement artist, urban street performer, and awesome friend Annie Rudnik. Following Annie's expert facilitation, the seven participants explored motion and physical activity through moving meditation and other exercises intended to increase our mind/body awareness. I was able to snag a quick video interview with Annie, who embraces movement as a richly rewarding component of her life. But wait here's another video of Annie tap-dancing in a completely different context. In this video she's rocking out to the music of Pussywillow Sparks at the Alche Circus (which took place at my very own humble abode), in the company of our favorite Chicago contortionist, Jackie. Thanks to Annie for bringing people together to enjoy movement. And thanks to Silverspace for providing a place for Chicago dancers to move. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12983 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12977 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:58:34 GMT So I ll admit it my fair state has been under a bad press storm for the past few days. After the immense pride of bringing Obama into office, Illinoisans now hang their heads in shame. Our guilt stems from a collective inability to elect respectable, honest leaders. Who on earth thought it would be a good idea to appoint Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in the first place? Aside from attempting to sell senate seats to the highest bidder, Blago also tried to use pro sports sales to boost his PR leverage in Chicago Tribune editorials. Apparently Rod-man doesn t like it when the press calls him out on his corrupt activities. He even went as far as to say that the Tribune s financial troubles can be attributed to its stinking editorial staff: Chicagoans no longer want to read the Tribune because of the habitual slander against their esteemed governor. Oooh, snap! Blago mistakenly believed that helping to sell some key Tribune assets the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field would put the Tribune in a position of forced gratitude. In Blago s corrupt world, the favorable sale should amount to favorable press. Man, did that ever backfire. Now Roddy faces obligatory resignation or possible impeachment. And the Tribune isn t exactly shying away from reporting all of the nasty details of Rod s schemes. As the editorial in yesterday s Tribune clearly stated: Selling the Cubs is a key step in the Tribune Co.'s financial strategy. But the integrity of the editorial page is not for sale. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12977 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12975 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:12:10 GMT I wouldn t call him a champ, but I d definitely call him a star. His name is Ken Mink and he s the oldest dude on the court at Roane State in Tennessee. It might be a little bit out of the ordinary, but you can t really blame a 73-year-old man for wanting to play college basketball. [Check out the NY Times story.] Mink is now a local icon whose very presence consistently boosts game attendance. His 68-year-old wife even dressed up as an old-school cheerleader at his first game. The other teams might mock Mink but who cares. It s perfectly fine for an old geezer to have a bit of fun. Just because he s past his prime (whatever that s supposed to mean) doesn t mean he s incapable of playing a little bball after classes. Age is just as much a state of mind just as it is a state of wrinkles. Mink proves that it s never too late to do what inspires you. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12975 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12966 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:18:51 GMT To put it bluntly, Arlene Blum rocks. She led the first women s team up Mt. McKinley and has climbed around all over the Himalayas (including Everest and other significant peaks in Bhutan, Nepal, and India). She carried her baby daughter on her back while traversing the European Alps. She leads mountaineering expeditions around the globe. She has won numerous awards for her accomplishments in the mountains. She has written best-selling books about her trips, and has written articles for major publications. Blum also holds a doctorate in biophysical chemistry. She has taught at Stanford, Wellesley, and UC Berkeley. She gives international lectures and seminars on cross-cultural awareness. She founded the Green Science Policy Institute. Her research on flame retardants has played a critical role in informing policy decisions for tris and Fyrol, two toxic chemicals known to cause DNA mutations. Mountaineer, feminist, environmentalist, human rights activist, public health pioneer, entrepreneur, mother, scientist...Whew, that s a hefty resum . Blum is also a native of Chicago. Yeah, represent. Lately, Blum has been working hard to protect public health by calling for policy changes regarding harmful flame retardant chemicals in furniture and clothing. In this video clip, Blum speaks out about the toxic chemical soup in which we live. (Actually, she describes it as more of a minestrone). http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12966 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12941 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:09:32 GMT Today I decided to file myself as a financial institution in distress. Bail me out gov-gov; I want my slice, too. But alas, it looks like Detroit will be more successful than I in securing moolah to keep its failing business model on life support a little bit longer. Top execs in the Big 3 auto companies say they ll take home a one-dollar salary if the U.S. government will only give them a few more buckets and deckhands to delay the demise of their sinking ship. Shhh...don t mention that the same execs will still take home millions in benefits and stock options. Never mind the fact that these buckets will cost billions in U.S. taxpayer dollars. What s good for GM is good for America at least that s the word on the (wall) street. I have a better idea. Why not take those billions of dollars and invest in something we actually need, like safe and efficient urban transportation systems? Why not create jobs by hiring planners and construction workers to build sustainable and affordable bike/walk/bus options? We can widen sidewalks, construct more bike lanes, install public bathrooms and water fountains, get rid of ridiculous laws that make skateboarding for transportation illegal in many metropolitan areas, and build mass transit systems that make multi-modal transportation a feasible option for average people. Face it: we re ready for better transportation choices. We re dealing with volatile gas prices, global climate change, increasing awareness about the negative health effects of auto air pollution, the constant problem of limited urban space (made worse by on-street parking and traffic congestion), and other auto woes ad nauseum. Now we re investing billions in private auto companies that have heretofore been so preoccupied with mass-producing Hummers and other gas-guzzlers that they neglected to respond to our changing social climate. Seriously folks, this is absurd. United Cyclists and Pedestrians of America, it s about time for us to get together and propose a bail out plan to save our sidewalks from icy conditions and general neglect. I ll even accept a $1 salary for it. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12941 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12930 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 06:56:00 GMT While biking to work one morning on a beautiful summer day in Washington, D.C., I caught a glimpse of a couple of women riding fully loaded touring bicycles down 16th Street. I never pass up an opportunity to chat with cyclists on an adventure; I took a cross-country bicycle trip a couple of years ago and have retained a healthy level of curiosity when I see other bikes hauling sleeping gear. At the next light, we all came to a stop. Where are you coming from? I asked, slyly checking out their gear and quietly estimating the total weight of their load. Oh, this is actually our first day. We re leaving on a women s garden bicycle tour, biking up to Canada, she said, We re visiting sustainable farms and gardens along the way, to help out and to learn. Awesome. You re gonna have a total blast. Best of luck to ya The red light turned green and they took off. Or to be more accurate, I took off. They were loaded down with heavy gear and moved much more slowly. I definitely remember the initial sluggish feeling of hauling equipment across U.S. cities and states. I also remember the feeling of riding on air when I finally unhitched my trailer after pulling a heavy load of tools, food, and camping gear for thousands of miles. I had almost completely forgotten about those women until my buddy Katie sent me a link to their project: the Women s Garden Cycles Bike Tour. Complete coincidence, but kinda cool nonetheless. Turns out they shot a film about their journey, which documents numerous community agriculture projects. Even cooler, their documentary was recently awarded as the Official Selection for the 2009 Princeton Environmental Film Festival in January. [Below: Official trailer for the documentary.] The Washington Post noted that their focus on sustainable agriculture is part of a much broader youth movement a movement championed by young people concerned about carbon footprints, chemical fertilizer and synthetic pesticide use, mono-cropping and soil erosion, and other environmental woes produced by industrial agriculture. Instead of griping about it, these young people are doing something about it by taking an epic bike trip and supporting community gardens. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12930 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12923 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:51:42 GMT Today I want to share an interview with sports-for-change activist Danielle Silva. She heads the LEAD LA Play City project team in Southern California, another incredible project that arose from the YouthNoise/Nike boot camp last summer. [Above: the LEAD LA team at the summer training camp. Danielle is on the far right.] Here's what Danielle has to say: Can you explain exactly what LEAD LA does? Lead LA works with local children near the USC campus to put on a weekend program that mentors and plays sports with them. We have a rigorous schedule of monthly sessions that will be followed up until there is a main event for the kids at the end of the school year. We are hoping to partner with a couple youth organizations to launch for the spring 2009. How did it get started? Lead LA was born in Culver City during the first Youthnoise/Nike Training Camp Internship. Basically, most of the USC students at camp teamed up together and created a program that would work with local children in the area to join the sport for good movement. Who's involved? There are 8 USC students, and one student from Pepperdine University involved so far. We hope to launch the club in the spring, so we are still prospectively seeking children in the area. What sports do you play? I actually retired from sports when I came to college. I ran a lot in high school as a varsity track and cross country athlete. I only run for fun now, but the other students in Lead LA are all current athletes from the track and field, diving, and basketball teams. Their talent is quite amazing! What are your personal reasons for getting involved? I personally have felt the need to get involved with my community ever since I came to USC. Before college I volunteered a lot, but the help I gave was nothing compared to what my local community in South Central needs! How can others get involved? Once we become a recognized student organization at campus, we will be able to recruit volunteers in addition to kids, for now if anyone is interested they are more than welcome to email us at: pctc-leadla [at] youthnoise [dot] org. As the main representative of our organization, I will most likely be the one answering to any questions people may have. Much thanks to Danielle and everyone else involved in this project. Your efforts are super important and very inspiring to all of us here at Play City. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12923 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12909 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:37:31 GMT Everyone knows that ballet is for skinny people. To look good on stage, ballet dancers must be flexible, muscular, and oh-so-svelte. Or so cultural assumptions would have us believe. One Cuban dance project is challenging this stereotype and empowering people of size through a ballet troupe known as Danza Voluminosa. NPR reported that members weigh an average of 200 pounds, and practice a fusion of classical ballet and contemporary dance. Formed by obese dancer Juan Miguel Mas, the troupe helps people of size combat low self-esteem while improving personal health. When the troupe began in 1996, they were frequently mocked by locals (who were probably just jealous because they lacked mad dance skillz). Now the group is internationally known and receives state money to continue dancing. 43-year-old dancer Xiomara Gonz lez told the Herald Tribune, We have always had those who laugh at first, but by the end of the show there is a standing ovation... And this is a beautiful thing, a very beautiful thing. I m psyched to see these dancers take center stage and reclaim space for diverse bodies in ballet. Who s starting the U.S. chapter? [Below: A short segment on Danza from Reuters News.] http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12909 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12899 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:34:03 GMT Attacks on Mumbai last week left hundreds dead or injured and shook our global community to the core. In the aftermath of the tragedy, some have suggested using cricket as a means to ease tension, bring social cohesion, and help to heal a population in deep distress. Whenever there has been tension (between India and Pakistan), cricket diplomacy has helped it, said Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik, quoted by the Herald Tribune. Some English players have voiced safety concerns regarding the planned cricket tour in India, which is scheduled to start in mid-December. The Guardian blog says it s doubtful that the Indian team will follow through with its January cricket tour in Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board is pleading with India not to cancel the tour, saying that the tour will help relations between the countries. Reuters reported that a true love of cricket is already aiding emotional recovery for many Indians. Despite the probable shuffling of games and tour dates, Indians will continue to play and continue to recover from the tragedy in Mumbai. [Below: News segment on possible postponement of cricket tour.] http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/12899