Helping Doesn't Have a Season

Helping Doesn't Have a Season

By: Shannon Mouton

From Thanksgiving to Christmas, the downtrodden, the less fortunate and the those generally in need find themselves the beneficiaries of kindness, care and generosity. They receive traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas meals; they receive gifts and their children receive toys. Many people give during the holiday season. This is when they make their annual donation, when they give or do extra and for some, it spurs them to giving for the first time.

This is wonderful! America is giving country and her citizens a giving people, with a spirit for helping those in need. America is blessed beyond measure and it is only right that those with more help those with less. Americans should be proud of themselves...for 31 out of 365 days, you take time to see what you daily ignore. Bravo! Yes, you are reading sarcasm.

What about the rest of the year, the other 334 days?

What will they eat?

Where will they sleep?

What will their children play with?

This is not an indictment of what Americans don't do, rather it is a clarion call to keep it up throughout the year. Let this season be the beginning of a life of giving, sharing and caring for your neighbors, not just a one time event.



VIDEO: Black Barbies Get 'Natural' Makeovers For Holidays

Black Barbies Get 'Natural' Makeovers For Holidays

By: Ryan Duncan

It's the holiday season and that spells s-t-r-e-s-s for so many Americans trying to complete their holiday shopping lists. The true meaning of the season, "Peace, love, and good will towards all men" is usually passed over as an after thought, while over-consumption and the race to buy this year's hottest toys take precident. So it is truly refreshing to hear this wonderful story via CNN.com about a Black Barbie Drive. People bring in their barbies and transform them into natural hair barbies, free of alterations and chemicals. Their message:

"I just want them to know it's ok to be who you are. And if you don't accept who you are, no one else will." Helping little girls realize their worth. Now that's a gift that keeps on giving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

McKinney & Associates would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving holiday, and if you're traveling, please be safe!

Comm in The Storm will be suspended for Thursday and Friday and will return next Monday the 28th.  

Best Wishes!

Trade Tip: Breathe & Delegate

Breathe & Delegate

By Nicole Hayes

We’re entering the time of year when holiday parties, gatherings with out of town family and friends, and lengthy “to-do” lists will have us scurrying to and fro, hopefully without injury. Meanwhile, we diligently strive to finish all work assignments, post to the blog, send out that tweet, prattle off emails, attend meetings, and oh yes—take kitty or puppy to the vet and go to that necessary doctor’s appointment. If you had a clone, you just might get it all done without breaking a sweat. But since none of us have clones, here’s how you can survive and thrive (particularly for “A-type” personalities who need to “do-it-all”):

1. Delegate what you can to others. Give the person clear directions on what needs accomplished and the end goal. Provide the “who, what, when, where, why and how,” along with your expectations.
2. Be confident in others’ abilities. You’re a superman or superwoman in your work, but even superheroes have to recharge to stay powerful. Once you’ve given clear instructions on delegated assignments, have confidence in that person’s ability and talents to see the task through. They want to please you in the process and appreciate your trust in them (although the occasional “touch base” never hurts).
3. Learn to say “No” where you can. If you’re asked to host 20 people for Thanksgiving dinner but view this as unrealistic with your schedule, culinary skills or kitchen amenities, let people know and say what is feasible for you. People will typically understand.
4. Make lists. If you think you’ll forget something, write it down. If your brain is still thinking of tasks before you go to sleep, write it down. Sleep won’t come if you’re dreaming deadlines and spreadsheets.
5. Control what you can, manage your time. Consider what items you can knock out easily that require less time and will eliminate last minute rush. (Ex: Writing your blog posts or tweets beforehand). This will ensure these tasks occur uninterrupted when unexpected happenings pop up (and they will).
6. Take lunch breaks. Get up and walk around, reenergize yourself by stepping away from the work. You’ll be more insightful and productive when you return to the task.
7. Exercise! If your proverbial response is, “I don’t have time,” the answer is: “Do you have 10 minutes?” Even a few jumping jacks, brief stretching, walk around the block can increase endorphins giving you energy and pull you out of a slump.
8. Pamper yourself. Getting the manicure, pedicure or ‘do done, can do wonders and take your mind off the to-do lists.
9. Voicemail—use it! Don’t be afraid to let some calls go to voicemail if your time is tight. Allow yourself to finish your task where you can return the call and be fully present in the conversation. If the person calling typically spends 45 minutes catching you up on the latest reality show, you can probably send that call straight to voicemail.

Study the pros for more tips. A quick read of best-selling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven R. Covey, may offer you great insight in successfully addressing personal and professional dilemmas.

WINTER IN AMERICA AND STILL THERE IS HOPE THAT WE CAN

(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WINTER IN AMERICA AND STILL THERE IS HOPE THAT WE CAN

By: Gwen McKinney

It’s winter in America.  The official date is about two weeks away, but I can’t help but reflect on the Gil Scott-Heron tune from the 1970s. Many might be too young to remember Gil and that era.  Trust that the Vietnam war, the Black Power Movement, Tricky Dick and the so-called “silent majority” were creating a world filled with turmoil and confusion.

Watch: Gil Scott-Heron | Winter in America - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGlRsjHTkbs

That season of  frozen dreams and promise offer parallels to today. 

The message of Gil Scott-Heron and the fathers of rap, The Last Poets, struck a resonating and unapologetic chord of militancy and resistance.

Watch: The Last Poets - When The Revolution Comes - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M5W_3T2Ye4

It was an era when people were in the streets making their voices heard. Back then ideals mattered and revolution was not something to be left to George Washington’s army or the Tea Party movement of an earlier century.  Revolution was change and hope. Those who dared to believe could.

Once again the forecast is cold and dark, even as we prepare for frosty and bitter days in the depths of winter.  Soaring joblessness (in some communities higher than the rates of the Great Depression), families out in the streets homeless, people who dreamed of retiring at 67 still working – if lucky enough to even have a job.  And still billionaires get the break.

It’s hard to believe that less than three years ago, we were hopeful.  The Obama slogan “Yes We Can” was touching hearts and souls, stoking the imagination we didn’t even know we had.  When Will.I.Am talked about what inspired that masterpiece, he confessed that  until then, he was not clear or resolved to anything political.  Then he heard the words of Barack Obama’s New Hampshire speech, profoundly touching his inner core “like nothing” before.

Read: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william/why-i-recorded-yes-we-can_b_84655.html

How could someone with so much magic and audacity leave us at such a grim and lonely place?  Caving. Capitulating.  Betraying the spirits that he touched as he soared?  We soared with him and now feel left hanging and drained of hope.  The millions who were mobilized to believe are now in the wilderness.  We have collectively lost our way.  I can’t imagine why people are not in the streets, chaining themselves to the White House or confronting congress.  Shaking up. Breaking up.  Turning despair into outrage that can be felt and acted upon.  Is it Obama’s fault alone?  Are the Dems in power (or losing power) the only group to be blamed or held responsible?  What happened?  In many ways, all of us are accomplices in these continuing crimes.  This untenable circumstance in which our nation is trapped has demobilized action as much as it has torn apart lives.  Perhaps, the only path to finding our way is to begin again to believe.  To hope. Yes we can.

So here, I leave you – some 21,532,692 hits later, backed by Common, John Legend and the hope of a nation -- with Will. I. Am/Blackeyed Pea’s inspiration.  

Watch: Yes We Can - Barack Obama Music Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY

Tis' the Season For Giving To Those Who Do Good!

Tis' the Season For Giving To Those Who Do Good!

By: Ryan Duncan

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, the holiday season has officially begun! It's a wonderful time of year, packed full of holiday cheer, parties with friends and families, and of course the giving and receiving of presents. Lots and lots of presents...

A week ago marked the official start to the holiday shopping season, Black Friday, traditionally the busiest shopping day for retailers all year. As the tradition goes, stores opened their doors at the break of dawn, luring in rabid shoppers eager to snatch up huge deals and discounts on their holiday gift giving. But in this difficult year of economic calamity and constant speak of recessions, depressions, budget deficits, and high unemployment, I wondered if Americans would really be lining up to quickly spend what's left of their hard earned dollars?

Apparently America wasn't too worried about these issues, as 2010 Black Friday holiday sales results showed improvement over last year's numbers. And out of a scene from the 1996 Arnold Schwarzenegger film Jingle All the Way, news outlets reported huge stampedes and trampled shoppers at several large retail chains.

Just take a look at this madness!

This week's Newsweek cover story was on "The Urge to Splurge" and America's inability to stop spending, whether they can afford to or not. The article blamed "frugality fatigue" as reasoning for America's new drive to burn their money. And what does purchasing all this new stuff get us? Well, I urge you to watch this incredibly informative video on "The Story of Stuff". It's a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view.

Instead of just giving more stuff this year, why not instead donate money to a charity that does good all year long? Then, not only will you be rewarding those that do good and help others all year, you'll also be helping our planet. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving! And as you may have heard, we here at McKinney & Associates, have been huge supporters of Susan Burton and her "A New Way of Life Reentry Project", which provides sober housing and other support services for formerly incarcerated women in South Central Los Angeles. Susan was a top 10 nominee for CNN Heroe's for her incredible work, and though unfortunately she didn't end up winning that, she's still a winner in our book! And as a thank you for all their hard work and incredible dedication towards helping others, Facebook has agreed to open up donation pages on all the Top 10 CNN Heroe nominee's Facebook Fan pages! That means, through Dec. 31st you can log-onto Facebook, sign-up to be a fan of Susan Burton's A New Way of Life Reentry Project, choose the "Donate Now" tab and make an easy online supportive contribution to her wonderful work. Facebook is even donating its processing fees as part of the campaign!

Not a fan of Facebook? Well, the Los Angeles Times ran a story last week on Southern California charities seeking help for the holidays and how you can help as they face a surge in need and a drop-off in donations. Susan Burton and A New Way of Life were featured in this article and were noted as needing "women's undergarments, baby clothes, diapers, toiletries, cleaning supplies, grocery store gift cards, a cargo van, financial contributions and volunteers who can donate counseling, dental care, household maintenance and legal services." You can give directly to: PO Box 875288, Los Angeles, CA 90087. (323)-563-3575 or for more info visit: http://www.anewwayoflife.org/

Read the Article:  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-charity-list-20101125,0,6312125.story

Happy holidays everyone and please remember to give wisely!

Author’s ID: Ryan Duncan is the New Media Coordinator for McKinney & Associates and manages all web2.0 and social networking activities for the firm and it's clients. For more info visit: http://www.mckpr.com/