Rising Up

Rise Up: Battle of the Bands

2009-06-12T08:38:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to everyone who came out to our first annual Rise Up battle of the Bands!

There were over 300 people rockin' in our new warehouse. Thanks to We are Brontosaurus, the Adventure Galley, Hunters on the Horizon, the Autonomics, and the Space Hoax. Special congratulations to The Snag who took first place in the competition. With your help, we were able to raise over $1,000 for high school scholarships. These scholarships will give students the opportunity to go to school outside of La Chureca, the garbage dump (literally) where they live in Nicaragua's capital city of Managua. To find out more visit RISE UP

Here are a few snaps from the evening.

To see the entire gallery check out the Rise Up Flickr page here.

To read a write up from the Bend Bulletin about the Youth Movement|Rise Up|Battle of the Bands in Bend click here.

Late Night: Zack Attack with the Roots

2009-06-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

When word got out that Conan was going to be taking over for Jay Leno, I was incredibly excited. I am a huge O'Brien fan! When word got out that Jimmy Fallon was taking over for Conan on Late Night, I was less than thrilled. When it was announced that the Roots (one of my favorite musical artists) would be holding it down as house band for Fallon, I figured I 'd give the show a shot.

Well, three months later I find myself trying to find excuses to give the show a 10th, 11th, and 12th shot at glory. Fallon esta no bueno as a host...but I do find myself watching next-day clips of the Roots back artists such as Paul Simon, the Lonely Island, and Public Enemy...I highly recommend checking these out.

While I am not a huge fan of Fallon as host, I do appreciate his efforts to reunite the cast of Saved By the Bell for the 20th anniversary of the show. Last night Mark-Paul Gosselaar showed up in character as Zack Morris. The references to story arcs, characters, and the infamous "time out" were priceless. If you were a Saved By the Bell fan...as I was...you have to watch this!

From Concept to Creation: Color to Completion

2009-06-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

Had my third and final sitting last week with Jeff Gogue, my tattoo artist of the last 7 years. Jeff (above) with one of his latest oil paintings.

Here are some photos of the color he added to the lantern that graces my backyard...

and the original photo...
and some more cherry blossoms galore!

You can see the before shots here.

Washington DC: Friends & Foodies

2009-06-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

For the last four years, I have been able to attend some of the most intellectually stimulating conferences around the country because the church I work at (and community I am a part of) values the continuing of my education. I have been able to learn about economics and how to be a better grassroots organizer in our nation's capital, studied adolescent development in Sacramento with fellow youth workers, and learned about immigration in Tijuana while staying with recently deported migrants. This year, I attended Sojourners' Mobilization to End Poverty (M2EP) in Washington DC. I am a firm believer that a good conference experience includes three components: education, experience, and fun. The following entries are from my trip at the end of April 2009.

Fun is an important component to any conference experience. Listening to amazing speakers, while inspiring, can leave you feeling quite saturated with information and inspiration....unless you plan moments of escape along the way. For the second year, I stayed with my good friend from high school in Phoenix- Chris Perry (CP). Chris, Heather, and Zaid (CP's roomies) showed me an amazing time. Many thanks to them! Here are some snaps from our culinary and sporty adventures.

Ben's Chili Bowl

This classic, much-talked about DC spot was founded in 1958. CP and I had both wanted to visit the jaunt made famous by Bill Cosby and most recently President Obama (who visited when campaigning with Mayor Fenty). We both had the "half-smoke" and shared some chili cheese fries. Washing it down with red drink- I found myself set for the evening! Cool historical fact about Ben's...
In 1968, the assassination of Dr. King lit a fuse of rage. Riots ensued. Most of the city closed down; Ben’s remained open. Stokely Carmichael of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which was located across the street, obtained special police permission to allow Ben’s to stay open after curfew to provide food and shelter for activists, firefighters and public servants desperately trying to restore order. After the riots, the area was in shambles. Businesses shut down. But there was some glimmer of hope in the neighborhood as the concept of "Black is Beautiful" emerged. Ben’s continued to serve an eclectic crowd of Regulars. You can read more about the history of Ben's Here.

Founding Farmers & Post-Peace Corps BBQ

My oldest friend (born six weeks apart/grew up next door to each other) Jean came down from New York to hang for the day. After we met up at the Lincoln Memorial, we began our hunt for a good breakfast. We stumbled upon a place called Founding Farmers because it was heavily guarded by police...we later found out that the cops were actually guarding the IMF from potential violent demonstrators.
Founding Farmers believes that everyone benefits by knowing more about the source of the food they eat. They understand the journey of their products from seed to harvest, and from Farm-to-Table. Owned by a collective of American family farmers, Founding Farmers exists to promote the products and services of family farms, ranches, and fisheries. They celebrate and share the long-standing connection between farmers - the first to lead the “green” movement - and their historic stewardship of natural resources (adapted from welcome statement).
The food was as good as we had hoped! I went for the Skillet House Hash with Sausage and a coffee; Jean opted for the Benedict with an Arnold Palmer. Later in the day, I re-met up with Jean at a house party thrown by one of her friends in the Howard University area. The bbq was great and filled with loads of folks who had spent time in the Peace Corps (Jean spent two years in Peru with the corps). It was great hearing stories from around the world before I began the trek back to Arlington/CP's for the night.

Rocket Bar for Game 7 of Washington Capitals vs. NY Rangers Playoff series

I have never been a big Hockey fan, but who can resist a Caps comeback from a series at 3-1? Not I. I joined CP and all of his friends at Rocketbar, a space age lounge that boasts many tv's, pool tables, and a great locale for the occasion (it was across the street from the game). Decked in Red and White, I quickly learned to chant C-A-P-S...forgoing my New York roots in favor of the underdog. It was a blast to say the least...plus they had Anchor Steam from SF on tap!Many thanks again to CP, Heather, and Zaid for hosting me! It was great to hang with you all- I look forward to my next time on the East Coast with you all!

RISE UP Event this Friday!

2009-06-03T14:00:00.001-07:00

If you are in or around Bend, Oregon this weekend...come check out the Rise Up Battle of the Bands. This event will feature six young Bend-based bands and has been put on by the efforts of Rise Up High School Senior Intern extraordinaire Dana Munson!

Washington DC: First Day of M2EP

2009-05-26T08:30:00.001-07:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

M - Th 11p / 10c

Jim Wallis

thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Economic Crisis

Political Humor

Next up was a panel of three people from the Obama administration- Josh Dubois, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership; Van Jones, special adviser for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; and Martha Coven, director of the White House Office of Mobility and Opportunity. It was great to hear about the White House's platform to fight poverty. I especially enjoyed hearing Van Jones (a TIME Magazine 100 Most Influential People nominee) talk about the creation of a green-collar economy- using the current environmental crisis as a launching pad for job creation. This got me even more excited about our high school trip to Chicago...the Windy City is leading the country in finding innovative ways to fight poverty through environmental justice.

You can read the TIME 100 article on Van Jones by Leonardo DiCaprio here.
My day concluded with an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America/ELCA (the denomination Nativity is a part of) sponsored happy hour at a local micro-brewery. While I usually am quite skeptical of ELCA functions, this was reallt great. I mean, after all...whose not gonna enjoy free rounds of beer??? Since I got lost and arrived late, I sat with some of the presenters at the conference. I thoroughly enjoyed talking with Bob Francis from the DC advocacy office of the ELCA; Alexia Salvatierra who serves as executive director of C.L.U.E. (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice) in Los Angeles; and Rachel Anderson from the Boston Faith and Justice Network and recipient of this year's Organizer Award. I kind of felt a little out of my league, but really enjoyed the connections and felt like I was able to contribute a perspective on mobilizing youth for social justice.

I often struggle with labeling myself "Christian" or "Lutheran" or even "Youth Minister." This is mostly because of the unfortunate reputation that precedes us in Central Oregon. After this first day, I was reminded that I share faith with some really great people out in the world representing well. People who are inclusive, who are fighting for those not often heard in society, who promote peace and justice as a way of life.

To all I met in DC...keep fighting the good fight!

Washington DC: Running with Rage

2009-05-26T08:27:00.000-07:00

For the last four years, I have been able to attend some of the most intellectually stimulating conferences around the country because the church I work at (and community I am a part of) values the continuing of my education. I have been able to learn about economics and how to be a better grassroots organizer in our nation's capital, studied adolescent development in Sacramento with fellow youth workers, and learned about immigration in Tijuana while staying with recently deported migrants. This year, I attended Sojourners' Mobilization to End Poverty (M2EP) in Washington DC. I am a firm believer that a good conference experience includes three components: education, experience, and fun. The following entries are from my trip at the end of April 2009.

For the last few weeks I have been training for the infamous Bend area Pole Pedal Paddle competition. The race takes place on may 16th and is a relay of sorts that starts off with a downhill ski to cross country ski to bike to 10K run to paddle on the river to sprint. To see a more detailed description of the race check out my teammate Nole's blog here. I will be running the 10K, hopping in a canoe with Nole to paddle, and closing out the race by jumping out of the canoe and sprinting to the finish.

Since I am in DC for 5 days, I have to make sure to continue with my training while here. The other morning I went for an incredible run from the Smithsonian to the Washington Monument, around the National Mall and finished with a dramatic climb up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
Running in DC is incredible.

Reason #1: Elevation
I felt like a superhero because my lungs are used to running at 3,600 feet above sea level...therefore I ran a lot longer than ever before.

Reason #2: Sights
With so much to look at- monuments, people, cherry blossoms, etc...one cannot help but be distracted from the task at hand. I am a firm believer that the sport of running is 90% psychological...in other words, I'll take all of the dirstractions I can get!

Reason #3: Musical Reflection
While running along the Reflection Pool, I couldn't help but think of all of the great protests that have taken place on the very ground I stepped on. I decided it fitting to listen to Rage Against the Machine's first album while I ran.

+Notable moments included listening to the words "all of which are American dreams," from the song Know Your Enemy while staring down the Monument dedicated to our founding father George Washington.

+ Listening to Wake Up while catching a breather and walking by the Vietnam Memorial...the words of Zack de la Rocha ringing in my ear...

"Movements come and movements go Leaders speak, movements cease When their heads are flown 'Cause all these punks Got bullets in their heads Departments of police, the judges, the feds Networks at work, keepin' people calm You know they went after King When he spoke out on Vietnam He turned the power to the have-nots And then came the shot"
+and finally, climbing the steps of the Lincoln Memorial drenched in sweat while hearing the chorus of the album's final track Freedom. When I got to the top my eyes met President Lincoln's for the second verse...I turned around walked down a few steps, looked out upon the reflection pool and saw the following at my feet- "I Have a Dream." Engraved in the marble, the words of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr...delivered here over 40 years ago.

I stood there out of breath and full of emotion. Freedom indeed.

Washington DC: Mobilization to End Poverty

2009-05-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

82 Senators and 210 Representatives received visits from Mobilization attendees during Capitol Hill Day.

353 voicemails were left on Congressional office message machines to plan all those visits.

90 volunteers served more than 540 hours to make The Mobilization to End Poverty a success.

24 denominations were represented by Mobilization attendees.

60 speakers attended The Mobilization.

15 workshops and training sessions were available at The Mobilization.

750 AIDS caregiver kits were created by Mobilization attendees through World Vision.

7 sponsors and 41 outreach partners joined with Sojourners to make The Mobilization happen.

645 tweets about The Mobilization hit the twittersphere during The Mobilization.

5 members of congress and 2 staffers spoke at the Congressional Rally.

67 news articles about The Mobilization were published.

1 Presidential Address to the conference.....click here to see President Obama's Message to the faith-based community

I look forward to posting more from my time in DC soon- it was a great experience filled with many memorable moments, new friends, and much-needed inspiration.

My Japonesa-Inspired Fresh Ink

2009-03-20T17:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I traveled to Grants Pass with my good friend Cole to get some more work done on my arm by none other than Mr. Jeff Gogue- tattoo artist extraordinaire. I have been going with friends to see Jeff and get work done for the last six years.

Back in October, Jeff spent two hours starting a Japanese-inspired 3/4 piece on my left arm...unfortunately, we only got this far...

I sent him over a photo of a Japanese lantern that my mom had given us to add to the piece. Erin grew up having these stone lanterns grace her family's yard- so for my piece, I wanted to have a symbol of home...this lantern resides in our garden.

Jeff is all about free hand tattoo work...here is my arm all marked up after he spent 30 minutes drawing on it with a sharpie (except for the lantern).

From Concept...

to Creation...

Seven Hours later...
Ties in with the Virgin of Guadalupe Jeff did almost three years ago...

I probably have about 3-4 hours left of color work to do on this piece....right now it is only black & grey.
I'll keep you all posted on the progress!

MORE Art LESS War

2009-03-18T13:46:00.001-07:00

"The opposite of war isn't peace...it's creation!" - Rent

Amigos!

Thanks for following the new Blog- if you are in or around the Bend area I encourage you to check out two special events this Thursday and Friday evenings...

"A Bend Community Gathering"
Candlelight Vigil: Thursday March 19th, 2009
marking the 6th Anniversary of the start of the War in Iraq
7-8:30pm
Brandis Square in downtown Bend
on the corner of Wall st. & Greenwood ave.
Candles will be available. Come Stand Together and Remember.

*Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it to the Peace Vigil because I will be driving back from Grants Pass after a long day of getting tattooed- I'll post the photos from my trip Friday. If someone could take photos or write a piece about their experience on Thursday night at the vigil- send it to me at RonWernerJr@gmail.com I would love to post it here.

If you are in or around the Bend area this Friday, March 20th- then you should join me at my friend Jo Lundberg's art show "CORRUPT Wood(s)." It should be an awesome time to take in some art, mingle with friends, and will most likely evolve into an impromptu dance party. Here is the show flyer...

Hope to see you there! Also, feel free to join me each Friday at Brandis square to protest for PEACE....from 4:30-5:30

Tales from the Inaugural Punchbowl: Samuel Richard

2009-03-04T13:34:00.000-08:00

The campaign, election, and subsequent inauguration of Barack Obama moved many of us to tears. I watched the 44th President take oath on a 12 inch television screen mounted on the wall of my hotel room in Barcelona. Hearing the stories from friends who were at the historic event made me feel as though I was there. I have asked three friends if I could repost their stories here. This is the third and final post in a 3-part installment called Tales from the Inaugural Punchbowl.

The following story comes from Samuel Isaac Richard- Sam turns 24 this week and is a student at Arizona State University studying Nonprofit Leadership & Management. He has volunteered for various campaigns in Phoenix (as well as for Obama), organized for multiple causes, and has a heart to see the nonprofit sector embrace technology and collaborate with one another. The following was originally posted on his blog- you can find it him at desertedafterdark.blogspot.com.

To Our Friends & Family-

We write to you with great joy and pride.

On the eve of the most historic event in our lifetime I asked my brilliant, caring, and gorgeous girlfriend, Kim, to marry me. And she said, "Yes!"

The Story

We were traveling with a few friends to Washington, DC for the Inauguration of President Obama. After settling into our temporary home we decided to take a late-night tour of the National Mall and avoid the 2 million other visitors with the same idea. We walked past the Capitol, a few Smithsonian Museums, the Washington Monument, and the White House before reaching the Lincoln Memorial.

On our way up the steps, I had handed my camera to a friend and said, "Start taking pictures." I then began a speech that I had rehearsed about 175 times, but still screwed up. It went something like, "Much change has happened here. Among many others, Cesar Chavez, John Lennon, and Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired hundreds of thousands of people from these steps, built in honor of one of America's greatest leaders. But all that pales in comparison to the change you have made in my life." Up until this point, Kim was oblivious to what was about to happen. Those who know me well can resonate with Kim, who thought that this was just another one of my pontifications about changing the world. Blah, blah, blah...

But then, I got down to one knee, pulled out the box that I had in my jacket and asked Kim to be my wife. The rest, they say, is history. And a lot of crying. :)

Ubuntu

The Zulu word, ubuntu, roughly translates, "I am who I am because of who we all are," and that definition has much relevance in our lives. Kim and I are lucky to have such a deep community to share this next chapter of our lives with, and we are blessed by the reality that marriage is about much more than just two people. It is about two families, two groups of friends - two distinct communities - converging to become one. We thank each and every one of you who has been part of this journey and look forward with expectant hope to whatever comes next!

With Much Love & Gratitude,

Sam & Kim

I would love to hear your inauguration story- post a link, or share in the comments section.

The Pseudo-Sacrifice of War...Two Years Later

2009-03-04T09:23:00.000-08:00

A few years ago on my old Political Pop Culture blog I wrote about my frustration with the lack of a war effort in a few posts called "the pseudo-sacrifice of war." The following post was written in May of 2007. As you can see, part of what I wrote included my frustration with the policy that denied media coverage of flag-draped caskets coming home. I feel as though this is an important thing for Americans to see as it reminds us that the war is actually happening...that there actually is a "cost" to the war. Last week I was incredibly excited to see that President Obama lifted the ban on media coverage that the first Bush put in place back in 1991. You can read more about that story here.

"What does a war effort look like," I asked my elder? "Oh, I guess you've never really known one," he replied with heavy eyes.

The truth is, I haven't the slightest clue as a civilian what the military words "sacrifice," "cost of war," and "war effort" mean. Apparently, those older than I- that have lived through multiple wars remember and know these words well. I have recently inquired about what daily life for civilians looked like in previous wars- the answers I got made a few of the pieces of the puzzle come together in my mind.

The war effort included rationing on the part of the people- people could only buy gas on certain days, they saved and recycled rubber goods, and were forced to weep and pray as they watched the television every night and saw the images of flag-draped caskets coming home from overseas.

Today, war looks and feels much different. A war effort does not exist- civilians know no immediate sacrifice. It has become a white collar effort back home- companies like exxon/mobil continue to drive gas prices up while raking in record breaking profits...while no mention of rationing/conserving gas on the part of the people. The images once shown on the television have been removed "out of respect for the soldier's families," and the cost of war will not truly be known until 10 years from now when the war is over physically, but not mentally for the veterans.

I am sure most of you reading this now already understand why there is no war effort this time around- if there was, and civilians couldn't live comfortably- then I think this war would have been over a while ago. This is the same reason why I am pro-draft...if there was a draft, and the upper-class had to go to war- it would be over tomorrow.

It is vital that we have a war effort back home. I think seeing images of flag draped caskets help civilians to understand and remember the cost of war. If there is no effort now, why should the administration expect there to be one in 10 years?

So I ask blog[world]...how can we create a war effort stateside? Do you feel it is too late? Can we somehow usurp the conversation and re-frame it to include the importance of civilians sacrifice/cost of war/effort?

This war is bankrupt in so many ways because stateside it is effortless.

Ron Werner Jr

May 16, 2007

While we may not be recycling rubber and rationing gasoline like wars of yesteryear, I hope that we all are making intentional efforts to remember that there is a war happening right now. As part of my Lenten journey this year, I am joining some peace activist friends (they have been doing this since the war started) on the corner of downtown Bend each Friday afternoon to protest the war and plead for peace. Come make a poster and join us- or just come by and say hi!

You can read my other posts on the "Pseudo- Sacrifice of War" from May 2007 here and here.

Tales from the Inaugural Punchbowl: Caroline Mello

2009-02-27T17:38:00.000-08:00

I got to DC early in the morning on the 20th, slept for a few brief hours on the couch of a friend of a friend and then woke up at 5 to make the trek to the Metro. I was prepared for huge Metro crowds and, at first, it didn’t really seem much worse than my daily commute on the extremely overcrowded Lexington Avenue subway. But, when I got to my stop it was clear I was wrong. There were people everywhere, so much that you couldn’t really move your arms because it was wall to wall people. I realized getting off the train that I could only expect things to get more crowded.

And, I was right. Even with tickets I stood in line for 3 hours, crammed by strangers. But, it was easily the weirdest crowd experience because everyone was so nice! Like, seriously when are folks ever happy when they are crammed by a bunch of strangers at 7am? But, it was Obama day and I don’t think that anything could have ruined our moods. It was great to talk to the people around me because everyone had their own story of how they got there and why they felt they needed to come. I think one of my favorite things about Obama is that so many people feel like they have a piece of his Presidency. It’s a beautiful thing to watch people believe again.

Once I was in the ceremony nothing else mattered. I was standing on the mall area, so about 1-2 city blocks away from the capital. So, I could see the capital, I could slightly make out the Obama’s but mostly I watched it on the jumbotan. I cried when Aretha sang and realized then just how cold it was because the tears literally froze on my face. I watched the whole thing and felt like I was holding my breath in absolute disbelief that this is actually happening. But, it did. Towards the end as Bush was leaving everyone starting chanting “nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah, hey hey hey goooood bye!” which made me feel a little bit like I was at a sporting event but was still cool. And, when Bush’s helicopter flew away I looked around and everyone around me was flipping him off. Without talking about it. I think that pretty much sums up how we all felt about his Presidency.

After the ceremony I braved the crowds to try to get out, got a little lost, found a bar with some friends and then took a quick nap before getting dressed to go the ball. I went to the Western States inaugural ball where Marc Anthony performed. He sang beautifully, mostly in Spanish and for the last sang JLo joined him on the stage. It was pretty great although at the time I desperately wished I didn’t have a small white Jewish guy as my date and instead had a man I could salsa with. Sigh. But, easily the best part of the night was when Barack and Michelle spoke and danced. I sunk into the press section of the ball so I had a close view. And, I couldn’t stop smiling.

I still can’t stop smiling. It’s been three days and already he has closed down Gitmo and has reversed the Global Gag rule, something that will greatly improve reproductive health services for women everywhere. It’s a new day in America. I can’t wait to get to work.

I would love to hear your inauguration story- post a link, or share in the comments section.

Jindal is the new Kenneth

2009-02-26T12:58:00.000-08:00

Dubbed the Republican party's debut of rising star Gov. Bobby Jindal, the "rebuttal" speech to President Obama's first address to a joint session of congress left me quite underwhelmed.

I had previously seen Jindal make comments on various 24-hour news outlets, but this time he spoke to the general public as if we were 7 years old using trite metaphors and simplistic language. Rising star? I am not so sure.

Last night's Daily Show compared him to Mr. Rogers- you can catch the clip here.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Bobby Jindal's Republican Response

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Funny Political News
Joke of the Day

More than Mr. Rogers, Jindal remided me of another famous southerner...Kenneth the page from 30 Rock! Last night Jimmy Fallon posted this clip on his new Late Night blog. This is the second time Jimmy Fallon has pleasantly surprised me (the first was announcing one of my favorite bands, The Roots as his house band)...his show debuts this Monday, March 2nd.

Let me know what you thought of both Obama and Jindal's speeches!

Barcelona Spain: Bread and Butter

2009-02-07T17:00:00.000-08:00

After three days of taking in the city, it was time to get to work.

From booth set up to making sales in broken English, the Bread and Butter tradeshow was quite the experience. It was crazy walking into the Fira de Barcelona and seeing brand and after brand that I grew up wearing. From Reebok and Levis to Saucony and rvca- it was real cool to check out their booth design and latest collections.

Did I mention that our booth was next to Apple Bottom Jeans?

Yes, they did have boots with the fur.

Perhaps the best part of the experience was getting to meet people from all over the world. I loved hearing about British comedies that haven't yet made it to the states from the guys in London, talking recyclable wear with Scandinavians, reggae music with the Riddim Driven cats from New York City, the industry from Brian at Heavy Rotation, and learning about the nightlife in Berlin that apparently goes on for days on end...

Here are a few snaps alongside Jesse (so eazy-e right now) & Maria Roberts.

Tales from the Inaugural Punchbowl: Lauren Simpson

2009-02-04T17:00:00.001-08:00

The campaign, election, and subsequent inauguration of Barack Obama moved many of us to tears. I watched the 44th President take oath on a 12 inch television screen mounted on the wall of my hotel room in Barcelona. Hearing the stories from friends who were at the historic event made me feel as though I was there. I have asked three friends if I could repost their stories here. This is the first in a 3-part installment called Tales from the Inaugural Punchbowl.

Lauren Simpson is a freshman at American University in Washington DC, former student of mine, and volunteer for Rise Up. This was taken from my facebook inbox- her response to my question.."did you go to the inauguration?"

Lauren on the right rocking the Shepard Fairey "yes we did" tee

Inauguration was probably the coolest experience of my life!!! it all started saturday when people invaded the city... which wasn't as bad as i expected it just meant spending a little more time on the escalators haha Sunday was the Inauguration Kick Off Concert: We Are One, at the Lincoln Memorial. One of my roommates got down there really early so I met her down there at around 9 and we ended up being really close to the monument. There was a ticked section on the reflecting pool and we were right behind that. So I had a pretty good view of Usher, Shakira, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Herbie Hancock, will.iam., Sheryl Crow, Mary J Blige, Pete Seeger, James Taylor, Josh Groban, John Legend, Beyonce, Tiger Woods, Queen Litifia, Denzel Washington, Jack Black, Steve Carell, Jamie Foxx plus of course the Obama family and the Bidens!!!!!!! Basically the best experience sooo much energy and excitement in the crowd, and amazing performances and speeches by everyone!

The actual Inauguration was amazing as well, although i think the crowd was a little less enthused due to the amount of tim we had all been there waiting. I caught the metro at 5, wandered around downtown "lost" looking for a line to get in for about 2 hours, because everything was blocked off. Then we finally joined a mob of about 2,000 people waiting to get through a security checkpoint, got through that at about 9 and ended up on the parade route where after much confusion and questioning, we made our way across the street to the mall. I watched the ceremony at about the third jumbo-tron. I was right across from the Smithsonian institute (before the washington monument by about 4 blocks). The post estimated that there were about 1.8 million people there. The mall is 6 miles long from the capital to Lincoln and people were backed up all the way to him. It was so amazing to be a part of history!!!!! I throughly enjoyed his speech, and caught the whole swearing in on video! Getting out of there was a mess (once again due to the parade) but we ended up walking 7 miles in a round about way to get to the Dupont metro stop and catch a train back to school. Overall i would say the best experience of my life so far, too amazing to even articulate how it felt to be there.

Sooooo a really long winded way of telling you that heck yes i went! haha

I would love to hear your inauguration story- post a link, or share in the comments section.

Barcelona Spain: the lifestyle

2009-01-26T16:58:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, Rise Up (the nonprofit I work for) partners with a clothing line to help raise money for our programs all over the world. Rise Up clothing is currently featured in over 125 boutiques all over the world. Although my day to day involvement with the fashion industry is quite minimal, in a sudden turn of events...I was asked to travel to Barcelona, Spain to act as sales rep for our booth at the global fashion tradeshow called Bread & Butter.

Two weeks later, I found myself en route to this incredible city.

People have been asking me what I liked most about my trip. Was it the modernisme Gaudi architecture? The museos? The gastronomical genius? The nightlife? My answer: The lifestyle.

My favorite moments of the trip were not found in the "destination spots." Rather, the best moments arose in the unexpected- the conversations with people from all over the world, the incredible narrow walkways spiraling through neighborhoods, the energy that lasted 'til sunrise when people went straight to work...and the afternoon siestas that made this spark possible, the i pod walks through unexpected parks and courtyards, the love for sweet boots and fresh scarves, the open-air markets, surprisingly amazing Guns n' Roses cover bands and believe it or not...lots of spontaneous dancing.

The Spanish willingness to jump into the unknown, ruminated throughout my soul as I took in as much as I could in the three days before "work" at the tradeshow began. Barcelona quickly joined my list of favorite cities in Europe. And finally, as Erin and I begin to plan a June Euro-trip...Barcelona has become a must.

What are your "must-see" cities... y por que?

New Blogs & New Years

2009-01-03T12:53:00.000-08:00

The New Year is upon us. This unique time when people all over the world simultaneously look to start over in the name of bringing forth a better future has served me well over the last few years. It has enabled me to set goals and remember that new beginnings are always available. This year is no different- yet on top of my more concrete goals, an ethereal resolution has emerged.

I want to risk more.

Often, I find myself encapsulated by fear. This paralyzing force has (in the past), helped me to check many ideas, thoughts, and visions at the door. Yet, I have noticed a pattern in great leaders- they take risks, share their ideas, spit vision and move to action in community...no matter how crazy they may seem. Some of the greatest things I have been a part of started with risk...whether it be friendships, marriage, a move, a career...all have left me without regret.

So welcome to my blog. I hope that it can be a breeding ground for collaboration. I hope that you too can be bold and risk this New Year. I hope that we can look back in one year and feel alive.

Cheers Primos!

Ron Werner Jr