Building Homes of Hope/Meet DHF's newest Board member

I wanted to introduce our DHF family members to Scott Blackshire, the newest Board Director for DHF located here in Austin. Scott brings his specialization in nonprofit management, development, and strategic planning. This background offers a unique perspective to the goals of DHF through a business–creative career path that intertwines the nonprofit, investment banking, and performing arts sectors. He has served as the Managing Director of Golden Children, Inc. constructing a children’s village in Cambodia and managing its organizational and programmatic development in New York City. Currently, Scott coordinates the efforts of the University of Texas Urban Leadership Collaborative Project (UTCULP), a $3M federal grant committed to preparing educators to lead and promote academic achievement in urban and high-need secondary schools. We are excited for Scott to bring his passion to our family and looking forward to you “Austinites” meeting him personally.

On May 16 at 4:30pm we’ll host our next event, Building Homes of Hope, at the home of John Thornborrow, Board President. We’ll be done in time for you to enjoy the rest of your Sat evening plans if you are here in Austin. If you are interested in attending, email me at maggie@discoverhopefund.org.

We hope you’ll consider joining us to support our three initiatives for the event:
Provide 10 families with 7 months of home focused health education training to improve health conditions, including weatherproofing their earthen homes and installing brick stoves for cooking and sanitation.
Provide at least 120 women in poverty participating in microcredit village banks with access to training and education in order to support personal, financial, and entrepreneurial goals.
Provide small microcredit loans to 35 women in poverty to initiate and grow small businesses

Wherever you may be, we invite you to consider contributing to an entrepreneurial framework for women in poverty to actively participate in their own economic advancement, personal empowerment, and life transformation.

Honoring you, MM

Compras, Compras

Today is registration for BUY DAY (Dia de Compras), right here in the HopeHouse. It is a fun day for me because I get to see the labor of our women's work and select their best work to send to YOU in the USA! This morning one of our women, Aurora, who makes really great macrame belts, came to the office with more than 20 belts. We had put a limit on the number of items that each women could enter to make it fair and even for everyone and also respect the space we have. I had put a cap on belts: 6 max. I wasn't going to turn away all her lovely work, so it is in the office on "Exposition" in hopes that tomorrow the belts that DHF doesn't buy (which will be more than 6, by the way) other invited community members might buy. Everyone is hoping for a sale, including me.
Paz ~ Nora

Play for Hope

On Saturday, I had the amazing fortune to spend my day with the Baylor Women’s Soccer Team. What an absolutely beautiful group of young women. This is the second year in a row Baylor Women’s Soccer has hosted the “Play for Hope” tournament and clinic—an-all day women’s spring season soccer tournament with several Universities featuring an end-of-day clinic for youth soccer players ages 5-18.

On the sunny and windy Saturday in Waco TX, Baylor women won both of their games to end their off-season and hosted approximately 50 kids at the clinic, yielding just over $2000 for DiscoverHope’s work.

What astounded me was the kindness of these young women, and their willingness to serve as positive role models for younger soccer players. The day began with clouds and ended with sun and laughter and cheering youth who boasted their “victory dances” with the Baylor team. Marci Jobson, Head Women’s coach (and my little sister!) even sported her “Sprinkler” victory dance for the young kids with her almost 10-month pregnant belly. The young girls from the local church fell in love with Marci’s soon-to-be baby boy and temporarily named him “Raindrop.” I am thankful for the boldness of the team in spreading the world in the local soccer community to generate abundance for DiscoverHope. Equally amazing were many of the parents of the players who came out to support the soccer and our work. I’m looking forward to supporting these women in their fall season as the Bears look to “sic ‘em.”

As the day came to a close, I snapped pictures of the entire group. I thought about how I was witness to true selfless caring and spreading of joy under the beautiful skies. There is something really incredible going on inside of us right now…and that is LIFE.

To awakening Hope, MM

Faces of the Week

Just a brief picture show of the faces of the week. What was Discover Hope Fund up to this week? Ribbon, Fashion rings, Artisan bags, Marmalade!Paz ~ Nora

The shape of the world

Any John Gorka fans out there?

I was listening to Gorka as I sat in prayer last night before resting my eyes. It was a tough afternoon. Sometimes my afternoons are filled with joy. Sometimes sorrow. Sometimes both. The shape of my world changes daily. We held some fun-filled classes this week - Artesan bags, fashion rings, and marmalade still to come. I see women gather, learn, listen, share, grow. But, I also see women in pain, suffering and surviving in violent homes and uphill battles. I seek peace as I enter into these two arenas that consume the women's lives. I take in both and I struggle. I cry. And I pray.

Don't want to waste what I have to give.
In all the time I have left to live....
Don't want to waste what I have to give. In any of the time left.
I can do more than I thought I could.
Work brings more luck than knocking on wood.....
more Good luck...

You ask the world and the world says, NO.
It's the world's refrain.
Mine says GO.

May peace enter the shape of your world, as I open my heart for it to enter into mine.
~ Nora

Technology in the Campo

We held our third health presentation in the countryside today. I found it especially striking today that GyC shared their information with the small little laptop that they had brought along. The past two presentations were also held in the countryside, underneath a humble roof and dirt floor, with successful projections from the laptop to projector to wall. Home movie! We had a connection mis-hap that kept us from showing the "movie," which caused some disappointment. As we were setting up the projector and the initial image of birds (that is the set-up image) came up, before we found out the connection wasn't going to happen, the women were getting so excited and impressed with the projector set-up. Probably something they have never seen in their community. We'll have to get it working for next time.

Any at rate, the presentation was a smashing success as we huddled around the laptop images. Everyone in the group motivated to sign up to....better their homes and ultimately better their health!

Paz ~ Nora

Volunteers make the world go ‘round

I grow everyday from the people who work so hard to lift DiscoverHope Fund. This week I was ultra-inspired to be in the Presence of absolutely amazing volunteers—who indeed frame DHF with positive power to ground and grow. I was reminded of my thoughts on servant leadership and letting people do what inspires them and TRUSTING!

At the beginning of the year, the Board of Directors challenged me to “let go” of some of planning details to other talented folks. Most of you who know me know that I am all about the nitty gritty fine points. I am a “list making” woman through and through. For example, I just came home from a fun evening of bluegrass music at Old Settler’s music fest here in the muddy Austin rain (to personally thank Great American Taxi who has done two benefit shows for DHF and never before met me). But alas, on this Friday night I have two more things to check off the list, and I will do them before I lay down to watch a movie. Trust me, I don’t always “love” this quality of mine, but it does help organize DHF to some extent and has its positives. Regardless, my challenge as issued by the Board this year has been to ask people to do what they love and to trust them to do it.

This week it really dawned on me how joyful this process of letting go can be. Maybe it’s because I’ve truly noticed that three months of trusting and cultivation of relationships with people who work as volunteers for DHF is blossoming into vision beyond what I imagined. The volunteers around DHF are absolutely powerful, compassionate, and loving people. The implementation of our programs thousands of miles away begins with motivated people who are working to create a web of energy: For example,

The Board Finance committee creating our projections that…
drive the fundraising plan created by the Fundraising Committee that…
is carried out by really zealous volunteers who sit around tables and figure out how to enact the plan that…
intertwines with the Marketing committee and the sense of building brand for DHF that…
is planned and carried out by the Website Team and Branding Team that…
creates messages that interest people who work with our Speaking Engagement Team that…
spread the vision of DHF into the world that…
brings in support for what we do and we are humbled to send forward the abundance.

All accomplished by volunteers. People who give of their time because they want to be part of something. Wherever I look in the folds of this organization, it is flowing with awesome Beings. They teach me so many things. They open my horizons in unspeakable ways. At the beginning and throughout and the end of all these circles within the circle of DHF, I have absolute Gratitude. They give DHF charisma and strength.

It reminds me of a Rumi quote I love, “Be a lamp, lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone’s soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.”

I am so thankful for all of these that have come my way.

Be strong, be wonderful, be you, MM