Financial troubles at every turn...Dear Blog and Followers, So... today was just one of those busy days, but at least, I’m finally developing a routin

Dear Blog and Followers,
So... today was just one of those busy days, but at least, I’m finally developing a routine, and writing EVERYDAY which is a good thing. Today I have not touched any of my academic research. This is due, in part, to distress in the realm of my internship. Upon my arrival back home in Charlotte, NC, not only was I faced with the tightening budget of my family, but also with the tightening budget of the County in which I live. It seems that while I was gone, the economic crisis hit my home especially hard. You should see how services are being cut left and right here: Public Libraries are facing a 50 percent budget cut, and the local school system is firing teachers when it desperately needs to be hiring some. In the face of all of that, the non-profit that I am working for this summer is in limbo.

I work for the Charlotte Coalition for Social Justice, working on a Health Disparities project. I decided to come back because the organization has made such an important impact on my life, and the way that I view the world. It even led to my current interests in health disparities. But this organization is facing being cut from one of its major contributors: The Charlotte-Mecklenburg County. We met with one of the County Commissioners to try and persuade him to change his vote. He was very candid, which I appreciate, the meeting instigated my passion and fire, and I’m afraid that amidst all of that my points may not have been taken well. It’s just that, this organization means so much to ME. I even spoke about how my work with this organization led to my scholarship to WUSTL. And now younger students will not have the opportunity to experience the wonderful-ness of it because the county is considering cutting it.

Now don’t get me wrong. It is JUST as important to fund the schools and the library; however, I make the case that even with budget cuts these resources will still be OPERATIONAL. That cannot be said about CCSJ, which is requesting an incalculably small percentage of the county budget. And what really irritates me is that I cannot convey HOW MUCH this organization actually impacts students’ lives. They don’t see that there are salient, tangible benefits from their money. I don’t know. I’ve sent emails, I’ve called, and I’ve met. I want people to really KNOW—THIS IS WORTH IT. So if you live in Charlotte, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE contact your commissioners within the next 24 hours and tell them to keep CCSJ alive.
Well it is 11:00 pm. I still need to compile my update email for my research fellowship administrators to be sent tomorrow. This entails compiling an annotated bibliography, which I have NOT been keeping up with…so I’ll be up for a while... and then waking up early to attend a meeting with another local leader in the morning. It’s tiring, but I’m glad that I’m actually becoming an active member of my home community.

Anyway... I’m super tired, but I still have to stay up…I need some caffeine…it feels like I’m back in school (which it shouldn’t because it is the summer)…anyway….
- Until next time