6.22.09
Yesterday marked the 100th anniversary of Fathers Day. I spent time thinking about what it means to be a father. I thought about the lessons a father must teach(and learn), I reflected on what the effects of fatherless homes have done to many of my close friends and general peers. Also, I took the time to appreciate the contributions my father gives my life and the wholeness that all active fathers create in the life of their children. I spent most of the day revisiting the life of Chris Adagbonyin, and agonizing over the fact that of all the things he lost when he lost his life, he lost the golden opportunity to be the great father he longed to be. Chris has a magnificently beautiful daughter named Tylen, whose pretty little faces radiates with his image like that of a mirror. In the midst of all of her innocence and preciousness, their is a void, left by the brutal murder of her dad. I love her as my own. I dream for her as my own. I will care for her as my own. But yet, I wish she still had her own and that Chris could have his. I know Chris would have continued to be an exemplary father to his daughter because it's what he set out to do everyday since her inception. Here's a salute to stand up guy and a standout dad. "Happy Fathers Day Big Bun".
Omo
6.19.09
"Civil Rights to Silver Rights"
http://summit09.operationhope.org/
"Good entreprenuers have courage, creativity and are innovative"
"There are other children in the world that are saving"
"One president at a time"
"Dreamers with shovels in your hands"
"The way you fulfill the dream is to turn the first shovel"
"What are you going to make me do"
"I have nothing to show for a lifetime of work"
"Got started by giving myself a start"
"If you're riding in it or wearing it, it's not in the bank"
"A financial head start"
http://www.childtrustfund.gov.uk/
"Without rights in democracy you're a slave, without access to capital in a capitalist system you're a slave"
"The fortune is at the bottom of the pyramid"
"Spiritual creatures having a human experience"
"You've got to keep working, you've got to keep giving, you've got to keep serving, you've got to keep living"
"Only a global solution to poverty"
"Even if you want to distribute money like a socialist, you have to generate money like a capitalist"
"I'm tired of being experts for what we're against"
"There go my people, I must catch them, I am their leader"
Albert Sykes
6.15.09
We in YPP MS are in a very great position. We are at a point where we have seen and experienced enough to lead our work going forward. It is hard. It takes more than I think any of us thought it would. We have had to relearn each other and in some cases re-evaluate and relearn ourselves. I have seen us begin to have a new trust and sense of family in the last couple of weeks. Coming from where we've come (YPP's origins), to being where we are now took a lot of time, effort, commitment and trust. It also took a certain level of vulnerability, the ability to expose ourselves and our individual stories and struggles to our peers. What will be developed here will be beautiful because it comes from the true heart of YPP. It comes from the very folks who reaped the benefits of having a man like Bob and people like his family dedicate themselves to young folk like us. This work will be beautiful because it is work that is led and developed by young leaders and organizers in MS. The spirit has been revived,the work is being rebuilt and the torch is being passed. Hold it and run!!!
Albert Sykes
6.9.09
I haven't been here in a while. It's good to be blogging again, or at least it's gotta be good because it's in my job description. I'm supposed to post bi-weekly blogs as part of my duties as an organizer in YPP. So, get ready to listen to me rant (and rave) for at least the next six months. I'm actually behind on one or two posts so I may write more than once some weeks to keep the count accurate.
